Inside the Asylum

Obama also planned to ask Congress to crack down on tax havens and implement a major shift in the way courts view guilt. Under Obama's proposal, Americans would have to prove they were not breaking US tax laws by sending money to banks that don't cooperate with tax officials. It essentially would reverse the long-held assumption of innocence in US courts.

Let's quote that again shall we, just to make sure that you didn't miss it. Obama plans to "reverse the long-held assumption of innocence in US courts."

I posted previously on the appalling precedent of retrospective legislation being used to target AIG bonuses, and here's another case of a terrible precedent that is very likely to come back and bite the American people in the rear end. I said it then in somewhat different words, and I'll say it again: when you're one step away from tyranny, what is the next step?
[Update] Associated Press, ever eager to shill for Obama, spins the story thus

Congress leery about Obama's plan on tax loopholes

The story also manages to conveniently leave out the details described above. Well done AP! After all, it's not like we want people to know that the president who claims (or not*) to have been a constitutional law professor is either so ignorant of the fundamentals of western democracy that he'd suggest something this bad, or (even worse) is fully aware of the implications and wants to do it anyway.

*Barack Obama: “I was a constitutional law professor.”
The ABC: “[Obama] taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago.”
Obama press secretary Robert Gibbs: “You’re incorrect that he taught on constitutional law.”
From Tim Blair

[Further Update] This story concerning Obama's handling of Chrysler certainly seems to match what I've been saying. He doesn't care what kind of awful precedents he is creating, nor care which fundamentals of western democracy he tramples, because "anything goes" as long as it furthers his agenda.

The sources, who represent creditors to Chrysler, say they were taken aback by the hardball tactics that the Obama administration employed to cajole them into acquiescing to plans to restructure Chrysler. One person described the administration as the most shocking "end justifies the means" group they have ever encountered... One participant in negotiations said that the administration's tactic was to present what one described as a "madman theory of the presidency" in which the President is someone to be feared because he was willing to do anything to get his way. Via Hot Air

TEHRAN, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton contradicts U.S. President Barack Obama over Iran's ties with Latin America, the local Press TV reported on Sunday. In a response to Clinton's recent remarks regarding the U.S. concerns over Iran's growing ties with Latin American countries, Mottaki said that Clinton's remarks do not go with Barack Obama's foreign policy views. "Clinton's statements are in direct contradiction with those of the U.S. president," he was quoted as saying.

This is interesting not so much for what Obama actually thinks, but for what Iran thinks Obama thinks.

She described Iran's attempts in the U.S. backyard as "disturbing" and "they are building strong economic and political ties with many of these (Leftist Latin American) leaders." ... Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is scheduled to visit Brazil, Venezuela and Ecuador on May 7 to 8... which Clinton says "I don't think that's in our interest."

So let's think about this: Iran's foreign minister says that he believes Clinton is here contradicting Obama. Let's work backwards and see what is the opposite. Iran's foreign minister apparently believes that Iran's attempts to gain influence in Latin America are the opposite of disturbing = pleasing to Obama. Clinton said it is not in USA's best interests, so apparently Iran's foreign minister believes that Obama thinks it is in USA's best interests. I'm sure Dr Strangelove can offer some sage words about the interesting aspects of the interplay between the meaning intended by a speaker and the meaning that is understood by the listener, and which meaning is more important, particularly with respect to big power politics and speeches by national leaders.

The "Buy American" measures in the newly adopted stimulus package by the Obama administration, which bar the use of foreign iron, steel and manufactured goods in public works projects, have aroused concerns among other countries about the U.S. protectionist moves... At the summit, the G20 leaders reaffirmed their commitment to resist protectionism and push for an ambitious conclusion of the Doha Round global trade talks. Looking back, they committed themselves to free trade at the Washington summit last year, but not all of them have kept their words... If the world's major economies, in particular the G20 member states, put their promises into practice, confidence will be restored that the political leadership is capable of meeting difficulties and challenges, and pulling the world economy out of mire. It is not picky to demand to see tangible actions and deeds, even though the world media and the public save no words to hail the G20 summit. Instead, we should remain sober and critical... We need to wait and see.

Pretty reasonable stuff. The source? A commentary from the news website of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Copyright @China Military Online

Another shameless attempt at more traffic!

Two females are entangled in dogfight during a distinctive Women's Mud Wrestling Match, as some 40 female contestants from both China and overseas take part in this very amusing sport with the skin-friendly slurry and mud from the deep sea, in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, May 3, 2009.

On his very popular TV show, John Stewart claimed that Harry Truman was a war criminal, because he used atomic weapons against Japan. Stewart apologized for it a few days later, admitting that it was a dumb thing to say, but failing to give any explanation of why it was a dumb thing to say. In between Bill Whittle delivered this timely history lesson, that gives the missing explanation. It's worth watching even if you already know the history.