FIVE YEARS AGO TODAY: The definition of 'progressive'. Truth stands the test of time....

JEFF JACOBY: A 'right' to recline?

Most air travelers, most of the time, don’t descend into rudeness and selfishness. But as the obnoxious “I-have-a-right” mindset grows ever more entrenched, clashes like the one involving the Knee Defender are apt to proliferate. Barro wants to be paid not to recline into the lap of Darlin, sitting behind him. Darlin claims the freedom to “reallocate” Barro’s ability to move his seat. Compromise? Consideration? Thoughtfulness? Nothing doing. For some people, the right to be a jerk trumps all.

Jerks -- the latest victim group to believe they're the 'entitled' ones.

CARS THAT THINK: Why Can't the Government Run Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications?

Wrong question. The right question is "Why should they?"

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT in the mainstream media (which you certainly did), this letter from the parents of a heroic Navy SEAL demanding that President Obama resign from office.

After finally choosing to view the barbaric, on-camera beheading by ISIS of freelance war correspondent James Foley, I have been left with a level of rage known only to those of us who have sacrificed unspeakable offerings on the altar of world peace.

My offering was my only son — Aaron Carson Vaughn. Aaron was a member of SEAL Team VI. He was killed in action when a CH47D Chinook, carrying thirty Americans and eight Afghans was shot down in the Tangi River Valley of Afghanistan on Aug. 6, 2011.

Many times over the past three years, I have been asked what drove my son to choose his particular career. What made him want to be a Navy SEAL? My answer is simple.

Aaron Vaughn was a man who possessed the courage to acknowledge evil. And evil, once truly acknowledged, demands response. Perhaps this is why so few are willing to look it in the eye. It is much simpler — much safer — to look the other way.

That is, unless you are the leader of the Free World.

As Commander-in-Chief, your actions — or lack thereof — Mr. President, cost lives. As you bumble about in your golf cart, slapping on a happy face and fist-pounding your buddies, your cowardly lack of leadership has left a gaping hole — not only in America’s security — but the security of the entire globe. Your message has come across loud and clear, sir: You are not up to this job. You know it. We know it. The world knows it.

Please vacate the people’s house and allow a man or woman of courage and substance to seize the reigns of this out-of-control thug-fest and regain the balance we, America, have provided throughout our great history.

Thanks to your “leadership” from whatever multi-million dollar vacation you happen to be on at any given moment, the world is in chaos. What’s been gained, you’ve lost. What’s been lost, you’ve decimated. You’ve demolished our ability to hold the trust of allies. You’ve made a mockery of the title “President.” And you’ve betrayed the nation for which my son and over 1.3 million others have sacrificed their very lives.

But this should come as no surprise, since your wife uttered a vile statement on Feb. 18, 2008, during the primary campaign — one that speaks volumes of your true convictions. “For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country,” she said.

I am sure my deceased son thanks you for that, Mrs. Obama. Oh, and you’re welcome.

Never in my lifetime have I witnessed such despair and such growing fear that the world’s last best hope, America, has finally been dismantled. Perhaps the better word is transformed — fundamentally transformed. Come to think of it, it’s become difficult — if not impossible — to believe things haven’t gone exactly as you planned, Mr. President.

Amazingly, in five short years, your administration has lurched from one disaster to another. You spearheaded the ambitious rush to end the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan — with no plan on how to do so effectively. Also, the release of “the Taliban five” in exchange for one American — without consulting Congress — is also on your shoulders.

You have been at the helm during unprecedented national security leaks — including, but not limited to the outing of SEAL Team VI on the Bin laden raid, the outing of the Pakistani doctor who provided the intelligence for that raid, the outing of Afghanistan’s CIA station chief, and the outing of your personal “kill list” to make you look tough. In addition, 75 percent of American deaths in Afghanistan and 83 percent of Americans-wounded-in-action have occurred on your watch, according to icasualties.org.

And now, we have this recent, heinous event: the beheading of an American citizen by a barbaric organization you foolishly referred to as “the JV team” in your statements to the New Yorker magazine in January.

You, sir, are the JV team. It’s time for you to step down and allow a true leader to restore our honor and protect our sons and daughters.

America has always been exceptional. And she will be again. You, Mr. President, are a bump in our road.

In point of fact, I would submit that Obama has already resigned from office; he's just collecting a paycheck for the next 2-1/2 years.

RECLINER RAGE forces another flight to land. Drive if you can.

THEN THERE'S Michelle Obama's War on Men.

IMMIGRATION: Surge will cost schools $761 million. At least some of that money is coming out of Prince William County coffers (read as my property taxes).

Thank you, Mr. President Sub Par.

MICHAEL BARONE: Democrats look increasingly like the party of the past.

PRESIDENT AWOL: "He’s kind of giving up on his job," said The Hill’s A.B. Stoddard. "He’s planning his post-presidency ... having lots of dinner parties where he doesn’t talk about policies or politics but the NBA playoffs. Anything but his job."

That -- and vacations.

ROSETTA SPACECRAFT set to begin 'capture' manoeuvres.

The Rosetta probe is about to begin the manoeuvres that will place it properly into orbit around Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

The European spacecraft is currently flying arcs over the "ice mountain" that take it no closer than 52km.

But from Wednesday, Rosetta will gradually drop this distance so that come next week it will be at an altitude of just 29km.

At that point, 67P's gravity should capture the spacecraft.

Let the landing begin.

IT'S A WAR, DUMBASS: You don't 'manage' an enemy; you destroy it.

Dictionary.com: destroy.

1. to reduce (an object) to useless fragments, a useless form, or remains, as by rending, burning, or dissolving; injure beyond repair or renewal; demolish; ruin; annihilate.
2. to put an end to; extinguish.
3. to kill; slay.
4. to render ineffective or useless; nullify; neutralize; invalidate.
5. to defeat completely.

That is the meaning of 'war'.

PRESIDENT SUB PAR: Amid crises, Obama’s busy social schedule means double duty for Air Force One. Obama plumb wore it out.

RAPE CULTURE? What rape culture? More http://pjmedia.com/instapundit/194312/here.

So much for the Democrats' "War on Women" meme....