President Obama has invited Republicans to a health care summit but influential conservatives such as Michelle Malkin and Rush Limbaugh are warning the GOP that it could be a trap.

First, Michelle Malkin says:

Please.

The White House spends a full year trashing Republicans for having no ideas on health care reform.

The White House spend a full year promising transparency while subverting it.

And now, after a year’s worth of closed backroom meetings and midnight holiday weekend legislative sessions in which Republicans had severely curtailed ability to offer amendments, President Obama wants to invite them to a televised health care summit to talk about the GOP alternatives he said didn’t exist?

Rush Limbaugh agrees…

And what do you know? The Washington Post is now reporting that the Republican Party might be listening…

Leading House Republicans raised the prospect Monday night that they may decline to participate in President Obama’s proposed health-care summit if the White House chooses not to scrap the existing reform bills and start over.

In a letter to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (Ohio) and Minority Whip Eric Cantor (Va.) expressed frustration about reports that Obama intends to put the Democratic bills on the table for discussion at the summit, which would be held Feb. 25.

“If the starting point for this meeting is the job-killing bills the American people have already soundly rejected, Republicans would rightly be reluctant to participate,” Boehner and Cantor wrote.

How does that old saying go? Fool me once…

Well well well…

Another stinking corrupticrat announces retirement and not a moment too soon…

Embattled Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd (D) has scheduled a press conference at his home in Connecticut Wednesday at which he is expected to announce he will not seek re-election, according to sources familiar with his plans.

Dodd’s retirement comes after months of speculation about his political future, and amid faltering polling numbers and a growing sense among the Democratic establishment that he could not win a sixth term. It also comes less than 24 hours after Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) announced he would not seek re-election.

State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is widely expected to step into the void filled by Dodd and, at least at first blush, should drastically increase Democrats’ chances of holding the seat.

Yeah, right. Just keep telling yourself that, WaPo….

Dreaming worked out well in the Virginia governor race, didn’t it?

Buh-bye, Dodd.

Good riddance.

This should send the left into fits. Sarah Palin has written an op-ed piece for the Washington Post regarding Copenhagen and ClimateGate. I’m publishing a few excerpts from the piece below.

“Climate-gate,” as the e-mails and other documents from the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia have become known, exposes a highly politicized scientific circle — the same circle whose work underlies efforts at the Copenhagen climate change conference. The agenda-driven policies being pushed in Copenhagen won’t change the weather, but they would change our economy for the worse.”

“This scandal obviously calls into question the proposals being pushed in Copenhagen. I’ve always believed that policy should be based on sound science, not politics. As governor of Alaska, I took a stand against politicized science when I sued the federal government over its decision to list the polar bear as an endangered species despite the fact that the polar bear population had more than doubled. I got clobbered for my actions by radical environmentalists nationwide, but I stood by my view that adding a healthy species to the endangered list under the guise of “climate change impacts” was an abuse of the Endangered Species Act. This would have irreversibly hurt both Alaska’s economy and the nation’s, while also reducing opportunities for responsible development.”

“Our representatives in Copenhagen should remember that good environmental policymaking is about weighing real-world costs and benefits — not pursuing a political agenda. That’s not to say I deny the reality of some changes in climate — far from it. I saw the impact of changing weather patterns firsthand while serving as governor of our only Arctic state.”

“What Obama really hopes to bring home from Copenhagen is more pressure to pass the Democrats’ cap-and-tax proposal. This is a political move. The last thing America needs is misguided legislation that will raise taxes and cost jobs — particularly when the push for such legislation rests on agenda-driven science.”

“Without trustworthy science and with so much at stake, Americans should be wary about what comes out of this politicized conference. The president should boycott Copenhagen.”

AND right on cue, the Huffington Post is not only going after Palin but attacking the Washington Post just for publishing her piece.

“Wednesday’s edition of the Washington Post features an op-ed by Sarah Palin, who reprises her call — first made in a Facebook post last week — for President Obama to “boycott” the major climate talks in Copenhagen due to the “Climate-gate” controversy (actually a non-controversy).”

“The reaction to Palin’s latest piece, however, is focused not on what she wrote, but on the fact that the Washington Post chose to run it in the first place.”

Unbelievable.

After all, when a guy who has the words “Soldier of Allah” on his business card shouts “Allahu Akbar” as he opens fire on American soldiers with the intent of mass murder, there can be only one explanation: He’s just a poor, misunderstood crazy person, right?

“Retired Col. John Galligan, who has been hired by Hasan’s family to defend him against murder charges, said the Army psychiatrist remains in the intensive care unit of a San Antonio military hospital, where he is in great pain, except for his legs.”

“Galligan said he will seek a psychiatric evaluation of Hasan as he prepares to defend him. He noted the allegations that Hasan opened fire without warning in a Fort Hood waiting room and the comments of former colleagues that he sometimes seemed mentally unstable. “Mental responsibility” will be an issue, he said.”

Former psychiatrist Charles Krauthammer has a more sensible take on this.

“It’s been decades since I practiced psychiatry. Perhaps I missed the epidemic.”

“But, of course, if the shooter is named Nidal Hasan, whom National Public Radio reported had been trying to proselytize doctors and patients, then something must be found. Presto! Secondary post-traumatic stress disorder, a handy invention to allow one to ignore the obvious.”

“And the perfect moral finesse. Medicalizing mass murder not only exonerates. It turns the murderer into a victim, indeed a sympathetic one. After all, secondary PTSD, for those who believe in it (you won’t find it in DSM-IV-TR, psychiatry’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual), is known as “compassion fatigue.” The poor man — pushed over the edge by an excess of sensitivity.”

“Have we totally lost our moral bearings? Nidal Hasan (allegedly) cold-bloodedly killed 13 innocent people. In such cases, political correctness is not just an abomination. It’s a danger, clear and present.”

I wonder if there’s any possibility that the prosecutor in this case would call Charles Krauthammer as an expert witness. That would be something to see.

Rasmussen Reports released a new poll today which shows a majority of Americans oppose ObamaCare:

“Now that the Senate Finance Committee has passed its version of health care reform, 42% of voters nationwide favor the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats. That’s down two points from a week ago and down four from the week before. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 54% are opposed to the plan. The numbers have been remarkably stable throughout the debate.”

The Washington Post claims today that it has a new poll which shows a majority of Americans support ObamaCare:

“A new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows that support for a government-run health-care plan to compete with private insurers has rebounded from its summertime lows and wins clear majority support from the public.”

Rasmussen Reports was proven to be the most accurate polling organization in the 2008 presidential election.

The Washington Post is actively campaigning for Democrats.

Which poll do you believe?

UPDATE: The Washington Post poll was skewed towards Democrats. Well, what a surprise.

Virginia is looking good for Republicans right now. The Washington Post, which has been actively campaigning for Deeds, has been forced to report the following:

“Republican Robert F. McDonnell has taken a commanding lead over R. Creigh Deeds in the race for governor of Virginia, as momentum the Democrat had built with an attack on his opponent’s conservative social views has dissipated, according to a new Washington Post poll.”

“McDonnell leads 53 to 44 percent among likely voters, expanding on the four-point lead he held in mid-September. Deeds’s advantage with female voters has all but disappeared and McDonnell has grown his already wide margin among independents.”

I wonder if McDonnell’s lead has anything to do with his awesome campaign ads….

A tale of two headlines….

The Washington Post NOW:

“Generals Shouldn’t Disagree Publicly With the Commander in Chief”

The Washington Post THEN:

“Renouncing Bush’s World View”

Funny that.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before…

Three traveling terrorists approach a farmhouse and demand food and lodging from the farmer. The farmer says no, causing the terrorists to attack him.

The farmer’s daughter jumps out from under a bed, hacks one of them with an axe, disarms him and then goes postal with his AK47.

Gotta love those farmers’ daughters…

“Rukhsana Kausar, 21, was with her parents and brother in Jammu and Kashmir when three gunmen, believed to be Pakistani militants, forced their way in and demanded food and beds for the night.”

“When they forced their way into Miss Kausar’s home, her father Noor Mohammad refused their demands and was attacked.”

“His daughter was hiding under a bed when she heard him crying as the gunmen thrashed him with sticks. According to police, she ran towards her father’s attacker and struck him with an axe. As he collapsed, she snatched his AK47 and shot him dead.”

“She also shot and wounded another militant as he made his escape.”

“Police have hailed the woman’s bravery.”

Good for her.

The police were right to praise her bravery.

It’s a good thing Miss Kausar wasn’t attacked by a European film director. Otherwise, Hollywood elites and the Washington Post would probably blame her for encouraging the attack.

More coverage at Memeorandum.

Roman Polanski should go to jail.

Thirty-two years ago when he was 43 years old, he drugged and raped a 13 year old girl in the State of California. He broke the law and he acknowledged his guilt but fled the country before he could be sentenced.

In spite of what is being said by his defenders, it doesn’t matter at all that the rape occured 32 years ago.

No one in America would object the prosecution of a Catholic Priest who molested a 13 year old in 1977, even if the crime was discovered as late as 2009. Polanski’s crime has been known for the last 32 years.

No one would protest the prosecution of such a priest even if the abuse survivor said he or she said they didn’t want their attacker to be held accountable, as Polanski’s victim has stated.

We are a nation of laws and everyone is supposed to be equal under the law. Our laws apply to movie directors as well as priests.

Still, there are people who have rushed to defend Polanski’s heinous actions.

The Washington Post’s Anne Applebaum delivered a passionate defense of Polanski without disclosing the fact that her husband is a Polish Official who is actively fighting for Polanski’s defense, a fact uncovered by internet press watchdogs at Patterico.

There’s Harvey Weinstein, the co-founder of Miramax films:

“Weinstein entered the fray at the personal behest of Cannes film festival director Thierry Fremaux and will now use his considerable influence and campaigning heft to enlist the support of Hollywood.”

“We’re calling on every film-maker we can to help fix this terrible situation,” Weinstein said, reviving a theme he adopted earlier in the year after he bought international distribution rights at Sundance to the HBO documentary Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired.”

There’s Joan Z. Shore of The Huffington Post who blames the rape victim for seducing her attacker:

“The 13-year old model “seduced” by Polanski had been thrust onto him by her mother, who wanted her in the movies. The girl was just a few weeks short of her 14th birthday, which was the age of consent in California. (It’s probably 13 by now!) Polanski was demonized by the press, convicted, and managed to flee, fearing a heavy sentence.”

(One has to wonder if Joan Z. Shore has daughters and also if she would be OK with them being raped at age 13 by a 43 year old man if they had “seduced” him.)

Then there’s Whoopi Goldberg, who played a rape victim in “The Color Purple” and says of Polanski’s crime, “It wasn’t rape-rape.”

“I know it wasn’t rape-rape. It was something else but I don’t believe it was rape-rape. He went to jail and and when they let him out he was like ‘You know what, this guy’s going to give me a hundred years in jail I’m not staying,’ so that’s why he left.”

One is left to wonder why Roman Polanski is so special among Hollywood types who are convicted of rape.

In 2004 Scott Bairstow, a star of the TV show “Party of Five” then 33 years old, was convicted of raping a 12 year old girl. He served a prison sentence of just four months.

“EVERETT — Hollywood star Scott Bairstow and his attorney told a sentencing judge yesterday that the actor’s time behind bars is threatening to cut into his time before the camera.”

“Out of sight, out of mind has never been more true than in the entertainment industry,” said Mitchell Egers, the Los Angeles attorney representing 33-year-old Bairstow.”

“The California actor, whose big-screen credits include “Tuck Everlasting” and “The Bone Snatcher,” pleaded guilty in December to second-degree assault of a young girl, a plea acknowledging he assaulted the victim with intent of second-degree molestation.”

“Yesterday Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Linda Krese sentenced the actor to four months behind bars.”

The damning evidence against Bairstow came in the form of a phone call between him and his accuser, which was recorded by police:

The following conversation was recorded by police last month after the girl told her family about the alleged sexual abuse, according to charging documents filed by prosecutors:

Bairstow: OK. Um, I mean, ho, how are you feeling, are ya, are, are you mad?

Girl: Um. I don’t know. I think it’s affected me in a lot of ways, but …

Bairstow: It has?

Girl: Yeah. I don’t know. I don’t really know what to feel, ya know?

Bairstow: Have you told anyone?

Girl: No, but I’m thinking maybe I should.

Bairstow: K, um, why are you thinking that?

Girl: I don’t know. I just, I don’t know. You don’t think I should tell anyone?

Bairstow: Well … I’m like a dad, and I’ve got a job, and if you were to tell anyone, I would be thrown in jail for 10 years.

Girl: Are you serious?

Bairstow: Yeah, yeah, I’m not kidding around … it would destroy my life.

Another case of a Hollywood film director who served jail time for a similar crime is Victor Salva, who made the popular horror films Jeepers Creepers and Jeepers Creepers II. Prior to making those movies, in 1998 at the age of thirty, Salva was convicted of molesting a 12 year old boy, a crime for which he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

“He’d just made “Clownhouse,” a low budget horror film about three boys terrorized by circus clowns, that screened at Sundance and was bankrolled by Francis Ford Coppola, then one of the most influential filmmakers in Hollywood. To shoot the movie, Coppola even gave Salva the cameras George Lucas had used to make “American Graffiti.”

“But in 1988, as he was fielding offers to make high-profile studio films, Salva was charged with having oral sex with 12-year-old Nathan Forrest Winters, while directing the boy in the movie.”

“After confessing to the crime, Salva was sentenced to three years in state prison, serving 15 months before his release in 1989.”

These men were found guilty of rape and served surprisingly short prison sentences for their crimes. Roman Polanski admitted to his crime and his lived a charmed life of privelege for thirty-two years.

No Hollywood or politically connected advocacy can change the bottom line.

Roman Polanski raped a 13 year old girl.

Roman Polanski should have gone to jail 32 years ago.

Even the LA Times is now conceding that the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office made multiple attempts to arrest Polanski over the years.

“A spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office declined to comment on what role if any the court filings by Polanski’s attorneys played in the arrest. But the office produced a list of eight instances since 1978 in which prosecutors took steps to apprehend Polanski.”

“Those attempts were not successful. This attempt was,” spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said.”

The question of the man’s guilt was settled over 30 years ago.

It’s time for Roman Polanski to go to jail.

Follow up reading:

Kate Harding at Salon.com “Reminder: Roman Polanski Raped a Child”

More at Memeorandum.

Here’s Jonathan Capehart of the Washington Post on MSNBC’s Morning Joe discussing the problems facing ObamaCare. In a moment of accidental honesty, he refers to the White House and Democrats as “we.”

It’s OK Jonathan. We already knew anyway.