Santorum and American Education's "New Values"

MANIFESTO

I continue to be struck by presidential candidate Rick Santorum's assertion that the shortcomings of US students in history is the result of

a conscious effort on the part of the left who has a huge influence on our curriculum, to desensitize America to what American values are so they are more pliable to the new values that they would like to impose on America.

It's not even worth referring to the ridiculous textbook standards that are now in place nationwide. Santorum's argument lacks substance and demonstrates a lack of the very standards he bemoans.

My real question is this: What "new values" is Santorum referring to? He doesn't say, and so the statement is ridiculous on its face. Whatever they are, the left "would like to impose [them] on America." The statement has all the echoes of a McCarthy-like attack on some unnamed menace.

Fortunately, this moron doesn't have a chance of winning the nomination, but we'll still have to listen to his shibboleths until he goes back under his rock.

When is a war not a war?

MANIFESTO

The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig,
and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.

— George Orwell, Animal Farm

The semantic gamesmanship the Obamans are displaying these days is both fascinating and horrifying. The War Powers Act's ninety day limit vis-à-vis Libya ends in a few days, but the White House is adamant that

President Obama ha[s] the authority to continue the military campaign without Congressional approval because American involvement [falls] short of full-blown hostilities.

No matter what their intentions are, the Republicans are absolutely correct in this episode, asserting that "the creative arguments made by the White House raise a number of questions that must be further explored."

Legal aide to BO, Harold Koh, who certainly should know better, gives a justification for this non-action that's as half fast as anything the Bushies ever propounded:

"We are not saying the War Powers Resolution is unconstitutional or should be scrapped or that we can refuse to consult Congress. We are saying the limited nature of this particular mission is not the kind of 'hostilities' envisioned by the War Powers Resolution."

So how's that "change" thing going, Barry?