Sunday, February 28, 2010
Harry Reid's Reelection Prospects Worsen, Obama Visit Cost Him Votes
"The latest opinion polls in Nevada show that Harry Reid's reelection prospects continue to fade even worse for the Senate Majority Leader, the recent trip by President Obama to help the Senator actually cost him some votes."
Eight Traits of the Disinformationalist
"1) Avoidance. They never actually discuss issues head-on or provide constructive input, generally avoiding citation of references or credentials. Rather, they merely imply this, that, and the other. Virtually everything about their presentation implies their authority and expert knowledge in the matter without any further justification for credibility.
2) Selectivity. They tend to pick and choose opponents carefully, either applying the hit-and-run approach against mere commentators supportive of opponents, or focusing heavier attacks on key opponents who are known to directly address issues. Should a commentatorbecome argumentative with any success, the focus will shift to include the commentator as well.
3) Coincidental. They tend to surface suddenly and somewhat coincidentally with a new controversial topic with no clear prior record of participation in general discussions in the particular public arena involved. They likewise tend to vanish once the topic is no longer of general concern. They were likely directed or elected to be there for a reason, and vanish with the reason.
4) Teamwork. They tend to operate in self-congratulatory and complementary packs or teams. Of course, this can happen naturally in any public forum, but there will likely be an ongoing pattern of frequent exchanges of this sort where professionals are involved. Sometimes one of the players will infiltrate the opponent camp to become a source for straw man or other tactics designed to dilute opponent presentation strength.
5) Anti-conspiratorial. They almost always have disdain for 'conspiracy theorists' and, usually, for those who in any way believe JFK was not killed by LHO. Ask yourself why, if they hold such disdain for conspiracy theorists, do they focus on defending a single topic discussed in a NG focusing on conspiracies? One might think they would either be trying to make fools of everyone on every topic, or simply ignore the group they hold in such disdain.Or, one might more rightly conclude they have an ulterior motive for their actions in going out of their way to focus as they do.
6) Artificial Emotions. An odd kind of 'artificial' emotionalism and an unusually thick skin -- an ability to persevere and persist even in the face of overwhelming criticism and unacceptance. This likely stems from intelligence community training that, no matter how condemning the evidence, deny everything, and never become emotionally involved or reactive. The net result for a disinfo artist is that emotions can seem artificial. Most people, if responding in anger, for instance, will express their animosity throughout their rebuttal. But disinfo types usually have trouble maintaining the 'image' and are hot and cold with respect to pretended emotions and their usually more calm or unemotional communications style. It's just a job, and they often seem unable to 'act their role in character' as well in a communications medium as they might be able in a real face-to-face conversation/confrontation. You might have outright rage and indignation one moment, ho-hum the next, and more anger later -- an emotional yo-yo. With respect to being thick-skinned, no amount of criticism will deter them from doing their job, and they will generally continue their old disinfo patterns without any adjustments to criticisms of how obvious it is that they play that game -- where a more rational individual who truly cares what others think might seek to improve their communications style, substance, and so forth, or simply give up.
7) Inconsistent. There is also a tendency to make mistakes which betray their true self/motives. This may stem from not really knowing their topic, or it may be somewhat 'freudian', so to speak, in that perhaps they really root for the side of truth deep within.
I have noted that often, they will simply cite contradictory information which neutralizes itself and the author. For instance, one such player claimed to be a Navy pilot, but blamed his poor communicating skills (spelling, grammar, incoherent style) on having only a grade-school education. I'm not aware of too many Navy pilots who don't have a college degree. Another claimed no knowledge of a particular topic/situation but later claimed first-hand knowledge of it.
8) BONUS TRAIT: Time Constant. Recently discovered, with respect to News Groups, is the response time factor. There are three ways this can be seen to work, especially when the government or other empowered player is involved in a cover up operation."
2) Selectivity. They tend to pick and choose opponents carefully, either applying the hit-and-run approach against mere commentators supportive of opponents, or focusing heavier attacks on key opponents who are known to directly address issues. Should a commentatorbecome argumentative with any success, the focus will shift to include the commentator as well.
3) Coincidental. They tend to surface suddenly and somewhat coincidentally with a new controversial topic with no clear prior record of participation in general discussions in the particular public arena involved. They likewise tend to vanish once the topic is no longer of general concern. They were likely directed or elected to be there for a reason, and vanish with the reason.
4) Teamwork. They tend to operate in self-congratulatory and complementary packs or teams. Of course, this can happen naturally in any public forum, but there will likely be an ongoing pattern of frequent exchanges of this sort where professionals are involved. Sometimes one of the players will infiltrate the opponent camp to become a source for straw man or other tactics designed to dilute opponent presentation strength.
5) Anti-conspiratorial. They almost always have disdain for 'conspiracy theorists' and, usually, for those who in any way believe JFK was not killed by LHO. Ask yourself why, if they hold such disdain for conspiracy theorists, do they focus on defending a single topic discussed in a NG focusing on conspiracies? One might think they would either be trying to make fools of everyone on every topic, or simply ignore the group they hold in such disdain.Or, one might more rightly conclude they have an ulterior motive for their actions in going out of their way to focus as they do.
6) Artificial Emotions. An odd kind of 'artificial' emotionalism and an unusually thick skin -- an ability to persevere and persist even in the face of overwhelming criticism and unacceptance. This likely stems from intelligence community training that, no matter how condemning the evidence, deny everything, and never become emotionally involved or reactive. The net result for a disinfo artist is that emotions can seem artificial. Most people, if responding in anger, for instance, will express their animosity throughout their rebuttal. But disinfo types usually have trouble maintaining the 'image' and are hot and cold with respect to pretended emotions and their usually more calm or unemotional communications style. It's just a job, and they often seem unable to 'act their role in character' as well in a communications medium as they might be able in a real face-to-face conversation/confrontation. You might have outright rage and indignation one moment, ho-hum the next, and more anger later -- an emotional yo-yo. With respect to being thick-skinned, no amount of criticism will deter them from doing their job, and they will generally continue their old disinfo patterns without any adjustments to criticisms of how obvious it is that they play that game -- where a more rational individual who truly cares what others think might seek to improve their communications style, substance, and so forth, or simply give up.
7) Inconsistent. There is also a tendency to make mistakes which betray their true self/motives. This may stem from not really knowing their topic, or it may be somewhat 'freudian', so to speak, in that perhaps they really root for the side of truth deep within.
I have noted that often, they will simply cite contradictory information which neutralizes itself and the author. For instance, one such player claimed to be a Navy pilot, but blamed his poor communicating skills (spelling, grammar, incoherent style) on having only a grade-school education. I'm not aware of too many Navy pilots who don't have a college degree. Another claimed no knowledge of a particular topic/situation but later claimed first-hand knowledge of it.
8) BONUS TRAIT: Time Constant. Recently discovered, with respect to News Groups, is the response time factor. There are three ways this can be seen to work, especially when the government or other empowered player is involved in a cover up operation."
Accelerating the Speed of Lies
“His primary rules were: never allow the public to cool off; never admit a fault or wrong; never concede that there may be some good in your enemy; never leave room for alternatives; never accept blame; concentrate on one enemy at a time and blame him for everything that goes wrong; people will believe a big lie sooner than a little one; and if you repeat it frequently enough people would sooner or later believe it.”
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Minority Advocates, Constituents Differ on Immigration
"While it is sometimes assumed that minorities, particularly Hispanics, favor increased immigration and legalization for illegal immigrants, a new Zogby survey finds that minority voters' views are more complex. The poll of Hispanic, Asian-American, and African-American likely voters finds some support for legalization. But overall each of these groups prefers enforcement and for illegal immigrants to return home. Moreover, significant majorities of all three groups think that the current level of immigration is too high. These views are in sharp contrast to the leaders of most ethnic advocacy organizations, who argue for increased immigration and legalization of illegal immigrants. The survey used neutral language, avoiding such terms as 'amnesty,' 'illegal alien,' or 'undocumented.'"
Van Jones Award Reveals NAACP’s Leftism
"There are countless other black individuals to be honored for their accomplishments and contributions to society. Clearly, Van Jones does not make the cut."
‘Unsustainable Deficits’ and Bond Boycotts: Panic at the Fed or Back to Financial Normalcy?
"In brief, the United States economy, though no one is willing to say so, is caught in a Third World-style ‘debt trap.’ If the Government cuts the deficit, the economy sinks deeper into depression. But if it continues to print money and sell debt, buyers of US Treasury debt will at a certain point refuse to buy, meaning US interest rates could be forced severely high in the midst of depression conditions—equally catastrophic to the economy."
Are Climate Change Moonbats Combining Their Efforts With "Save The Whales ?"
"According to a new report, scientists are saying that killing whales causes global warming. That's right, the whaling industry is contributing to the heating of the atmosphere which, according the global warming people,is making the outside of my house look like the north pole."
Mr. President, We Are Still Waiting For You To Answer Paul Ryan
"It is interesting that in the 24 hours since the end of the health summit, the President's ample response squad has not come up with responses to the Ryan's pointed charges including:
* "This bill does not control costs (or) reduce deficits. Instead, (it) adds a new health care entitlement when we have no idea how to pay for the entitlements we already have."
* "The bill has 10 years of tax increases, about half a trillion dollars, with 10 years of Medicare cuts, about half a trillion dollars, to pay for six years of spending. The true 10-year cost (is) $2.3 trillion."
* "The bill takes $52 billion in higher Social Security tax revenues and counts them as offsets. But that's really reserved for Social Security. So either we're double-counting them or we don't intend on paying those Social Security benefits."
* "The bill takes $72 billion from the CLASS Act (long-term care insurance) benefit premiums and claims them as offsets."
* "The bill treats Medicare like a piggy bank, (raiding) half a trillion dollars not to shore up Medicare solvency, but to spend on this new government program."
* "The chief actuary of Medicare (says) as much as 20% of Medicare providers will either go out of business or have to stop seeing Medicare beneficiaries."
* "Millions of seniors who have chosen Medicare Advantage (Medicare through a private insurer) will lose the coverage that they now enjoy."
* "When you strip out the double-counting and ... gimmicks, the full 10-year cost of the bill has a $460 billion deficit. The second 10-year cost of this bill has a $1.4 trillion deficit."
* "The 'doc fix' (restoring cuts in Medicare reimbursements) costs $371 billion ... a price tag (that) made the score look bad. (So) that provision was taken out, and (put) in stand-alone legislation. But ignoring these costs does not remove them from the backs of taxpayers. Hiding spending does not reduce spending."
* "Are we bending the cost curve down or are we bending the cost curve up? If you look at your own chief actuary at Medicare, we're bending it up. He's claiming that we're going up $222 billion, adding more to the unsustainable fiscal situation we have."
* "This bill does not control costs (or) reduce deficits. Instead, (it) adds a new health care entitlement when we have no idea how to pay for the entitlements we already have."
* "The bill has 10 years of tax increases, about half a trillion dollars, with 10 years of Medicare cuts, about half a trillion dollars, to pay for six years of spending. The true 10-year cost (is) $2.3 trillion."
* "The bill takes $52 billion in higher Social Security tax revenues and counts them as offsets. But that's really reserved for Social Security. So either we're double-counting them or we don't intend on paying those Social Security benefits."
* "The bill takes $72 billion from the CLASS Act (long-term care insurance) benefit premiums and claims them as offsets."
* "The bill treats Medicare like a piggy bank, (raiding) half a trillion dollars not to shore up Medicare solvency, but to spend on this new government program."
* "The chief actuary of Medicare (says) as much as 20% of Medicare providers will either go out of business or have to stop seeing Medicare beneficiaries."
* "Millions of seniors who have chosen Medicare Advantage (Medicare through a private insurer) will lose the coverage that they now enjoy."
* "When you strip out the double-counting and ... gimmicks, the full 10-year cost of the bill has a $460 billion deficit. The second 10-year cost of this bill has a $1.4 trillion deficit."
* "The 'doc fix' (restoring cuts in Medicare reimbursements) costs $371 billion ... a price tag (that) made the score look bad. (So) that provision was taken out, and (put) in stand-alone legislation. But ignoring these costs does not remove them from the backs of taxpayers. Hiding spending does not reduce spending."
* "Are we bending the cost curve down or are we bending the cost curve up? If you look at your own chief actuary at Medicare, we're bending it up. He's claiming that we're going up $222 billion, adding more to the unsustainable fiscal situation we have."
Yid with Lid: New Climate Change Scandal; National Climate Data Center "Cooked The Books"
"But there's a problem: Nearly every single weather station the U.S. government uses to measure the country's surface temperature may be compromised. Sensors that are supposed to be in empty clearings are instead exposed to crackling electronics and other unlikely sources of heat, from exhaust pipes and trash-burning barrels to chimneys and human graves."
NBC Chastised by Congressional Black Caucus Members for Lack of Diversity
"Well Olbermann's explanation, and all of the race-baiting 'reporting' done by his vile network, apparently wasn't nearly good enough for Congresswomen Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas) and Maxine Waters (D-California), two members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC)."
Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/seton-motley/2010/02/26/nbc-chastised-congressional-black-caucus-members-lack-minority-hiring#ixzz0gkUA3R9b
Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/seton-motley/2010/02/26/nbc-chastised-congressional-black-caucus-members-lack-minority-hiring#ixzz0gkUA3R9b
Friday, February 26, 2010
Black Leader Critical of NAACP Image Award for Van Jones
Washington, D.C.: The NAACP’s decision to bestow an Image Award on radical activist and former Obama Administration official Van Jones is drawing a stern rebuke from Mychal Massie, chairman of the Project 21 black leadership network.
"I understand that it's their award and the NAACP can give it to whomever they want," said Project 21's Massie. "But an Image Award is supposed to be reserved for 'outstanding achievement.' Can they really justify Jones' failed tenure in government and his continued wrong-headed views for such an honor? At this rate, I expect next year's ceremony will honor Lil' Wayne."
Jones, a one-time self-avowed communist who was appointed the Obama Administration's "green jobs" czar, left the White House in a storm of controversy in September 2009 after his radical beliefs (including past support of 9/11 conspiracy theories) and his vulgar comments about political opponents were reported in the media.
In a commentary justifying giving Jones an Image Award that posted on CNN.com, NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous called Jones "an American treasure" who is "the most misunderstood man in America."
Massie replied: "Contrary to what Jealous asserts, the real story pursuant to Van Jones is that not even the Obama White House could support his radicalism. They threw him under the bus late on a Saturday night."
Jealous also wrote that Jones is "America's champion for green jobs" and "Van is working to make sure that our country does not lose out to India, China or Germany in the green industrial race."
"In this time of economic uncertainty, throwing our lot in with pipe dreams such as green jobs and cap-and-trade are suicide for the American worker," noted Massie. "An analysis of Spain's very aggressive green jobs program by Professor Gabriel Calzada of Madrid's Juan Carlos University found that each green job created there came with a $774,000 price tag, destroyed 2.2 regular jobs in the process and still had only a ten percent chance of actually becoming permanent. The cap-and-trade emissions regulations the White House is still pursuing is estimated to destroy millions of jobs annually and dramatically reduce national and individual earnings. And this would be done unilaterally, guaranteeing America could not compete with India and China. Quite simply, the Jones agenda is economic suicide. This I understand."
Brushing off Jones' previous radicalism, Jealous justified the award by saying Americans "ultimately judge people on what they are doing today for tomorrow, not for what they did yesterday." He cited the forgiveness of the late reformed segregationist Alabama governor George Wallace (D) and Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) for "having defended racist organizations."
Massie responded: "Did Jealous forget that Byrd didn't just defend racists but was a member and recruiter for the KKK? I also didn't remember such forgiving attitudes toward Trent Lott, Don Imus and or conservative nominees to the Supreme Court in recent memory. This is all about the NAACP hitching its wagon to the political fringe and trying to make the best of what they must know in their hearts is a very bad thing."
"There are black doctors, lawyers and captains of industry who are better suited to be held up as the best of black America," said Project 21's Massie. "Giving an Image Award to Van Jones is a disservice to the NAACP and to America."
The NAACP Image Awards will be presented live on the Fox television network on February 26.
In 2004, Project 21 objected to the nomination of R. Kelly in the category of "outstanding album" at a time when he was facing charges of child pornography. The controversy led the NAACP to considering a morals clause for future nominees. Jones' award is a special one separate from the entertainment-related process related to Kelly's nomination.
Project 21, a leading voice of black conservatives since 1992, is sponsored by The National Center for Public Policy Research (www.nationalcenter.org).
"I understand that it's their award and the NAACP can give it to whomever they want," said Project 21's Massie. "But an Image Award is supposed to be reserved for 'outstanding achievement.' Can they really justify Jones' failed tenure in government and his continued wrong-headed views for such an honor? At this rate, I expect next year's ceremony will honor Lil' Wayne."
Jones, a one-time self-avowed communist who was appointed the Obama Administration's "green jobs" czar, left the White House in a storm of controversy in September 2009 after his radical beliefs (including past support of 9/11 conspiracy theories) and his vulgar comments about political opponents were reported in the media.
In a commentary justifying giving Jones an Image Award that posted on CNN.com, NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous called Jones "an American treasure" who is "the most misunderstood man in America."
Massie replied: "Contrary to what Jealous asserts, the real story pursuant to Van Jones is that not even the Obama White House could support his radicalism. They threw him under the bus late on a Saturday night."
Jealous also wrote that Jones is "America's champion for green jobs" and "Van is working to make sure that our country does not lose out to India, China or Germany in the green industrial race."
"In this time of economic uncertainty, throwing our lot in with pipe dreams such as green jobs and cap-and-trade are suicide for the American worker," noted Massie. "An analysis of Spain's very aggressive green jobs program by Professor Gabriel Calzada of Madrid's Juan Carlos University found that each green job created there came with a $774,000 price tag, destroyed 2.2 regular jobs in the process and still had only a ten percent chance of actually becoming permanent. The cap-and-trade emissions regulations the White House is still pursuing is estimated to destroy millions of jobs annually and dramatically reduce national and individual earnings. And this would be done unilaterally, guaranteeing America could not compete with India and China. Quite simply, the Jones agenda is economic suicide. This I understand."
Brushing off Jones' previous radicalism, Jealous justified the award by saying Americans "ultimately judge people on what they are doing today for tomorrow, not for what they did yesterday." He cited the forgiveness of the late reformed segregationist Alabama governor George Wallace (D) and Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) for "having defended racist organizations."
Massie responded: "Did Jealous forget that Byrd didn't just defend racists but was a member and recruiter for the KKK? I also didn't remember such forgiving attitudes toward Trent Lott, Don Imus and or conservative nominees to the Supreme Court in recent memory. This is all about the NAACP hitching its wagon to the political fringe and trying to make the best of what they must know in their hearts is a very bad thing."
"There are black doctors, lawyers and captains of industry who are better suited to be held up as the best of black America," said Project 21's Massie. "Giving an Image Award to Van Jones is a disservice to the NAACP and to America."
The NAACP Image Awards will be presented live on the Fox television network on February 26.
In 2004, Project 21 objected to the nomination of R. Kelly in the category of "outstanding album" at a time when he was facing charges of child pornography. The controversy led the NAACP to considering a morals clause for future nominees. Jones' award is a special one separate from the entertainment-related process related to Kelly's nomination.
Project 21, a leading voice of black conservatives since 1992, is sponsored by The National Center for Public Policy Research (www.nationalcenter.org).
Losing Faith in Barack Obama
"I was an unabashed supporter of Obama, but that ended a couple months ago. For me the last straw was the announcement at West Point of the Afghanistan buildup, which ironically was not a broken promise, but combined with everything else, that was it for me.
"I've returned to a very cynical attitude towards politicians in general, including Obama. I think he's a puppet for the Military Industrial Complex, the Insurance companies and the Banks."
"I've returned to a very cynical attitude towards politicians in general, including Obama. I think he's a puppet for the Military Industrial Complex, the Insurance companies and the Banks."
Thursday, February 25, 2010
CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS LIVING IN FEAR OF SARAH PALIN
"As always, democrats tell you who they live in abject fear of. There are no 'stop Olympia Snowe before we all die' campaigns out there!"
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Valerie Jarrett, Americans are Idiots, Obama Too Intelligent For Words
"President Obama's Intelligence is a Burden Because it Enables Him to See His Mistakes Right Away."
Translation: He is so smart, he recognizes when he is a screw up before anyone else can.
UPDATE on today’s latest attacks on us at Daily Kos
"Daily Kos has been calling us RAAACISTS some more, by playing the game we all know so well after a full seven days of these assaults:
"(1) TheBigotBasher, a man in the UK, calls us RAAACISTS on his WordPress blog
"(2) WordPress refuses to abide by its TOS policy and remove libelous content like this, even though every day WordPress is notified by us what TheBigotBasher is doing…and under existing law, as we understand it, WordPress will probably join Daily Kos, Democratic Underground, and other sites perpetuating BigotBasher’s libel as co-defendants.
"(3) Daily Kos picks up BigotBasher’s libelous attack, and posters there advocate finding us in person, attacking us physically, and much worse.
"(4) DU and others then echo whatever Kos is saying, treating it as gospel.
"If you think this won’t happen to you some day for speaking out against this current administration and what the Democrat Party we used to know has become — just remember before they came for us, they hunted other PUMAs and came for them. They called the Clintons themselves RAAACISTS. Sarah Palin and John McCain were called RAAACISTS too. Everyone who opposes the Left is a RAAACIST. So, if you didn’t think tonight’s State of the Union Address should be carved into the moon with a sphinx-head of Dr. Utopia himself staring down on us, then you are a RAAACIST too.
"We appreciate the support we’re receiving from all of you who recognize these attacks for what they are.
"Others who have been attacked by the Left like this have families to think about, or are scared of losing their jobs or whatever. Well, we’re single gay guys without kids. The Left already cost us jobs. While we do believe these people will attempt physical violence against us, and that is in truth the goal of Daily Kos when it runs BigotBasher’s calls to violence, we’re a mix of ex hockey, rugby, water polo, and track and field guys here. So, depending on what we’re up against, we’ve got some chance of making it to another day.
"As we keep wondering: if these Leftists were really right. If they REALLY knew best. If The Golden Age of Hope and Change under this president was really so magical, then why do they need to resort to brown shirt tactics to take down anyone who opposes Dr. Utopia?
"Why?"
"(1) TheBigotBasher, a man in the UK, calls us RAAACISTS on his WordPress blog
"(2) WordPress refuses to abide by its TOS policy and remove libelous content like this, even though every day WordPress is notified by us what TheBigotBasher is doing…and under existing law, as we understand it, WordPress will probably join Daily Kos, Democratic Underground, and other sites perpetuating BigotBasher’s libel as co-defendants.
"(3) Daily Kos picks up BigotBasher’s libelous attack, and posters there advocate finding us in person, attacking us physically, and much worse.
"(4) DU and others then echo whatever Kos is saying, treating it as gospel.
"If you think this won’t happen to you some day for speaking out against this current administration and what the Democrat Party we used to know has become — just remember before they came for us, they hunted other PUMAs and came for them. They called the Clintons themselves RAAACISTS. Sarah Palin and John McCain were called RAAACISTS too. Everyone who opposes the Left is a RAAACIST. So, if you didn’t think tonight’s State of the Union Address should be carved into the moon with a sphinx-head of Dr. Utopia himself staring down on us, then you are a RAAACIST too.
"We appreciate the support we’re receiving from all of you who recognize these attacks for what they are.
"Others who have been attacked by the Left like this have families to think about, or are scared of losing their jobs or whatever. Well, we’re single gay guys without kids. The Left already cost us jobs. While we do believe these people will attempt physical violence against us, and that is in truth the goal of Daily Kos when it runs BigotBasher’s calls to violence, we’re a mix of ex hockey, rugby, water polo, and track and field guys here. So, depending on what we’re up against, we’ve got some chance of making it to another day.
"As we keep wondering: if these Leftists were really right. If they REALLY knew best. If The Golden Age of Hope and Change under this president was really so magical, then why do they need to resort to brown shirt tactics to take down anyone who opposes Dr. Utopia?
"Why?"
Hypocrisy, Thy Name Is Democrat
"Harry Reid has strongly criticized Republicans who object to the methods being brought to bear to get Barack Obama’s health care reform package passed into law. '…realistically, they should stop crying about this. It’s been done 21 times before,' he said.
"Reid is correct that it has been done before, but never has it been used on legislation that would fundamentally transform 1/6th of the American economy. Surely legislation of this magnitude should require more than just a simple majority to become the law of the land.
"But that’s beside the point. In 2005, it was the Democrats who were 'crying about' the use of measures to circumvent the filibuster, referred to then as the 'Nuclear Option.' However, Reid’s implicit accusation that Republicans did it first is disingenuous. The Republicans ended up not exercising that option in that case, and Democrats have also used similar measures before."
Brother X: "It's not hypocrisy when we do it!"
"Reid is correct that it has been done before, but never has it been used on legislation that would fundamentally transform 1/6th of the American economy. Surely legislation of this magnitude should require more than just a simple majority to become the law of the land.
"But that’s beside the point. In 2005, it was the Democrats who were 'crying about' the use of measures to circumvent the filibuster, referred to then as the 'Nuclear Option.' However, Reid’s implicit accusation that Republicans did it first is disingenuous. The Republicans ended up not exercising that option in that case, and Democrats have also used similar measures before."
Brother X: "It's not hypocrisy when we do it!"
CBO Report Was Pre-Ordained to Show the Stimulus Succeeded
"The problem here is obvious. Once CBO decided to assume that every dollar of government spending increased GDP by the multipliers above, its conclusion that the stimulus saved jobs was pre-ordained. The economy could have lost 10 million jobs and the model still would have said that without the stimulus it would have lost 11.5 million jobs."
Victor Davis Hanson: Is there a philosophy of hypocrisy?
"In contrast, to this day, there is no in-depth analysis of Kerry’s disastrous pick of the first-term, uninformed Senator Edwards as his VP choice in 2004. And it took the National Enquirer to inform us of his later conspiratorial lying and bribery involving his illegitimate child—sordid facts apparently well known to—and hushed up by—the mainstream media. Remember, later presidential candidate Edwards was not just inexperienced, but as a confessed wonk, did not open a book. He was the owner of a mansion who preached about “two-nations” inequality, and he alternately used and humiliated his alternately heroic and conniving cancer-stricken spouse."
Obama’s Murder Inc.
"We have a 'gangsta' presidency and a Congress that isn’t any better. Only Congressman Dennis Kucinich was willing to go on the record in opposition to these crimes. “Even the most superficial reading of Article XIV makes it clear that extrajudicial killings of U.S. citizens by the U.S. government or its agents are by definition outside the law.” Kucinich’s colleagues, most of whom are lawyers, apparently are unable to perform even a superficial reading of the document they are sworn to uphold."
From Cindy Sheehan to President Obama
Dear President Obama,
A contingent of Peace Groups and Activists will be setting up a Peace Camp across the street from your house on the lawn of the Washington Monument called, Camp OUT NOW.
After over one year of your presidency, it’s become crystal clear to even those who supported you, that your foreign policy is as much of a disaster as was George Bush’s.
On Sunday, 27 civilians were killed in a bombing raid on a caravan, and no matter how many times you or your generals say, “Sorry,” innocent civilians will always be killed in these insane wars of profit and occupation, and since, by your regime’s own admission, they “can’t be avoided,” these wars must come to an immediate end.
It’s also quite tragic that your war in Afghanistan has victimized more of our troops than when Bush was president, and more of our returning vets are committing suicide with most of their needs still going unmet.
For all intents and purposes, Mr. Obama, you have had a blank-check from the U.S. anti-war movement since you were elected, and certainly being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize gave these wars some international legitimacy, but those days of your free pass to carry out and magnify the Bush regime’s crimes against humanity are over.
Even though there have been those of us in the anti-war movement who never dropped the ball, or passed it to the Democratic Party, many of the ones who supported you are also starting to wake up to the harsh reality that you are only keeping your campaign promises and they don’t like that.
Mr. Obama, your anti-war base is an awakening sleeping giant that you will have to deal with in this election year. People are fleeing your party with the same regularity that they fled the other party when Bush was president. This waking giant is also realizing that with a Democratic majority everywhere, your failure in proceeding with a progressive agenda is abysmal.
Every time you are “contemplating” sending more troops to Afghanistan, you have countless meetings with what you have called your “War Council.” The very name implies a foregone conclusion that you will send more troops and that other, more rational, more humane, and more peaceful solutions are never even considered.
In 2005, I asked for a meeting with President Bush that was never granted, and as you know, Camp Casey in Crawford became the spark that lit a prairie fire of anti-war sentiment that swept you and your cohorts in the Democratic Party back into power and now we are coming to collect the spoils of that victory–which is not more war–but more Peace. You Democrats owe much to your anti-war base–and we will not be quiet nor be ignored as we were in the previous administration. It’s time for you to pay the Peace-piper, Mr. Obama.
Our demands are profound, yet simple for you to perform: troops out of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (where three soldiers were just killed); no more drone bombings anywhere; close the permanent bases and torture prisons; and bring the mercenary soldiers home, too. We will not be closing up Camp, or the movement until positive progress in the direction of Peace is noted.
The first week of Camp (March 13-20), we are asking for a meeting with you to discuss setting up a Peace Council that you will regularly meet with that will have a seat at the table when decisions that will kill, maim, displace, or harm our troops or civilians in any way are being discussed. We also demand that this Peace Council be comprised of grassroots members of the Peace Movement and not rubber-stamp status quo worshipers, or other “Peace” Prize laureates like Henry Kissinger, who already, reportedly, has your ear.
If you do not meet with representatives from Camp OUT NOW, we will be a thorn in the side of the War Machine, and we will not go away without a struggle. If you do meet with us and agree to a Peace Council, we will pack up our tents, but we will still be a thorn in the side of the War Machine until Peace is finally achieved–the only difference is that we won’t be camped across the street from your home.
During your campaign, you often quoted Roosevelt as saying that if the voters wanted him to do the right thing, they would have to “make him.” Well, Mr. Obama, we are the bosses of you–not your corporate masters–and we will be in DC to “make you” do the right thing.
I can be reached at anytime through my email:
Cindy@PeaceoftheAction.org
In struggle until there is finally Peace,
Cindy Sheehan
A contingent of Peace Groups and Activists will be setting up a Peace Camp across the street from your house on the lawn of the Washington Monument called, Camp OUT NOW.
After over one year of your presidency, it’s become crystal clear to even those who supported you, that your foreign policy is as much of a disaster as was George Bush’s.
On Sunday, 27 civilians were killed in a bombing raid on a caravan, and no matter how many times you or your generals say, “Sorry,” innocent civilians will always be killed in these insane wars of profit and occupation, and since, by your regime’s own admission, they “can’t be avoided,” these wars must come to an immediate end.
It’s also quite tragic that your war in Afghanistan has victimized more of our troops than when Bush was president, and more of our returning vets are committing suicide with most of their needs still going unmet.
For all intents and purposes, Mr. Obama, you have had a blank-check from the U.S. anti-war movement since you were elected, and certainly being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize gave these wars some international legitimacy, but those days of your free pass to carry out and magnify the Bush regime’s crimes against humanity are over.
Even though there have been those of us in the anti-war movement who never dropped the ball, or passed it to the Democratic Party, many of the ones who supported you are also starting to wake up to the harsh reality that you are only keeping your campaign promises and they don’t like that.
Mr. Obama, your anti-war base is an awakening sleeping giant that you will have to deal with in this election year. People are fleeing your party with the same regularity that they fled the other party when Bush was president. This waking giant is also realizing that with a Democratic majority everywhere, your failure in proceeding with a progressive agenda is abysmal.
Every time you are “contemplating” sending more troops to Afghanistan, you have countless meetings with what you have called your “War Council.” The very name implies a foregone conclusion that you will send more troops and that other, more rational, more humane, and more peaceful solutions are never even considered.
In 2005, I asked for a meeting with President Bush that was never granted, and as you know, Camp Casey in Crawford became the spark that lit a prairie fire of anti-war sentiment that swept you and your cohorts in the Democratic Party back into power and now we are coming to collect the spoils of that victory–which is not more war–but more Peace. You Democrats owe much to your anti-war base–and we will not be quiet nor be ignored as we were in the previous administration. It’s time for you to pay the Peace-piper, Mr. Obama.
Our demands are profound, yet simple for you to perform: troops out of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (where three soldiers were just killed); no more drone bombings anywhere; close the permanent bases and torture prisons; and bring the mercenary soldiers home, too. We will not be closing up Camp, or the movement until positive progress in the direction of Peace is noted.
The first week of Camp (March 13-20), we are asking for a meeting with you to discuss setting up a Peace Council that you will regularly meet with that will have a seat at the table when decisions that will kill, maim, displace, or harm our troops or civilians in any way are being discussed. We also demand that this Peace Council be comprised of grassroots members of the Peace Movement and not rubber-stamp status quo worshipers, or other “Peace” Prize laureates like Henry Kissinger, who already, reportedly, has your ear.
If you do not meet with representatives from Camp OUT NOW, we will be a thorn in the side of the War Machine, and we will not go away without a struggle. If you do meet with us and agree to a Peace Council, we will pack up our tents, but we will still be a thorn in the side of the War Machine until Peace is finally achieved–the only difference is that we won’t be camped across the street from your home.
During your campaign, you often quoted Roosevelt as saying that if the voters wanted him to do the right thing, they would have to “make him.” Well, Mr. Obama, we are the bosses of you–not your corporate masters–and we will be in DC to “make you” do the right thing.
I can be reached at anytime through my email:
Cindy@PeaceoftheAction.org
In struggle until there is finally Peace,
Cindy Sheehan
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Government schools are watching you
Holy George Orwell, Batman!
"The incident revealed that the school district had the power to remotely turn on the webcam in the MacBook at any time and record the images.
"Blake's parents have sued the school district in federal court accusing the district of spying on the students and their families and asking for an injunction preventing the district from remotely activating the webcam, or recalling the MacBooks for fear the district will erase evidence of the cameras' activation."
"The incident revealed that the school district had the power to remotely turn on the webcam in the MacBook at any time and record the images.
"Blake's parents have sued the school district in federal court accusing the district of spying on the students and their families and asking for an injunction preventing the district from remotely activating the webcam, or recalling the MacBooks for fear the district will erase evidence of the cameras' activation."
Monday, February 22, 2010
Christian Support for Obama Declines
"Barack Obama was swept into office on a wave of hopes and dreams founded on his promises of a better life and a more competent government. With this first year in office now behind him, many Americans are considerably less enthusiastic about his performance than expected. A new survey conducted by The Barna Group shows that Christians, who formed a large segment of his support, are even less enthralled with the president’s handling of the job than are other Americans."
Needed: An English-Democratic Party Dictionary?
Understanding what President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are saying is difficult; for, though the language may seem to be English, in reality, they speak a different language, the language of the Democrats in DC. To understand exactly what they are saying, Americans need an “English –Democratic Party Dictionary. Here is a sampler of some of the most important words and phrases that cause confusion:
INVESTMENT: President Obama and Speaker Pelosi frequently talk about the need for “investments”. For example, ” President Obama recently identified a need to invest in American infrastructure (and education) What Mr. Obama and Nancy Pelosi really seem to mean when they talk about “investments” is that government needs to spend more. Democrats have learned from extensive polling that disguising calls for more government spending, and even greater national debt, are more palatable (to those that have not yet figured out the scam) if, they talk about spending as “investments”. As most Americans know, making an investment implies a return worthy of the risk. Investors always want their money back and a profit to boot. Fat chance of that! According to the Democrat-version, “investments” are just spending by another name. There will never be a return, and taxpayers putting their money are risk will never get their funds back, nor is there any chance of a decent return.
WORKING MAN: A favorite chestnut of Democrats, which really means Union Worker. Lots of Democrats talk about being the Party of “the working man”, but what they are really saying is that we need to support Unions and Organized Labor. Other Americans, that actually work very hard in a thousand different industries, and especially entrepreneurs, and small business owners, are not ever considered to be “working men or women”. Sure they might work 90+ hours a week, to build their business, but that matters not at all. Democrats support, and honor, only the unionized employee as a “working man or woman. All other, hard working, Americans are an afterthought, and none merit much attention beyond how much more their taxes should be raised.
ENTITLEMENTS v. RIGHTS: When Democrats speak of “rights” most people mistakenly assume that they are talking about constitutional rights, that are specifically enumerated in the Constitution, But, that is a big mistake, for Democrats, and Progressives, have so misused and bastardized the “rights” to portray their expansive vision of government ,and the many false promises of something for nothing. For example, “it’s my right to have cheap healthcare.” Nowhere in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights is healthcare identified as a “right“, nor is the concept even discussed. Progressives also point out that, “it’s every American’s right to have a decent standard of living.” Wrong again. What Americans have been promised in our Constitution is an equal opportunity to pursue their own dreams and pursue happiness free of excessive government control . Similarly, it is important to remember that Entitlement programs are not “rights” either.
JOB CREATION: Democrats in government talk a lot about job creation and the urgent need for government to create more jobs. But, government does not create any jobs in the private sector, and the only jobs it does create are government jobs, that can only be funded and supported by additional taxes on those that do create jobs.
SHOVEL READY: Remember this one? “Shovel Ready” projects were supposed to result in the immediate launch of any number of new construction projects, creating jobs across the country. But that was a myth; very few “shovel ready” projects ever existed. Instead, the vast majority of new construction projects were tied up in nightmarish, regulatory processes; scoring rules, prospectuses, approvals, assessments, FONSIs (Finding of No Significant Impact) and Permitting, are just a few of the obstacles that must be overcome before a project is “shovel ready.” Had President Obama really wanted to push infrastructure projects, he could have eliminated or reduced any or all of the many different bureaucratic hurdles that a building project must navigate. Instead, the President merely called for more money to be placed into the maw of a process that grinds too slowly and at great expense to taxpayers. There are all sorts of infrastructure projects that could be made “Shovel Ready”, but that would require dedicated leadership willing, and able, to curtail excessive bureaucratic reviews and focus more on the actual building of new infrastructure, versus a timid, rote adherence to an unsuccessful process that does not serve the nation.
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE: Critical infrastructure should be restricted to a very narrow definition– roads, bridges and buildings essential to continued or increased commerce of the nation. But Dems in Congress have, in the Stimulus, expanded the definition to include water parks and studies of the Harvest Marsh Mouse. According to this view, building new tennis courts, water parks, and stadium parking lots, (especially if they are targeted into their own districts) are all now labeled as “critical infrastructure”. What Dems in Congress cannot, and will not, ever do is to actually prioritize the nation’s needs, and have the courage and leadership to decide which projects would provide the greatest benefit to the nation as a whole. Instead, a “critical infrastructure” is defined as any building project, or any spending plan, that will bring federal funds to their home districts.
SPENDING CUTS / CUT TO THE BONE: Washington is always talking about “cutting to the bone”, but that is a fiction. There is so much blubber in the budget that it’s been many a decade since Americans saw the “bones.” When Dems use the term SPENDING Cuts — as in “we must reduce federal spending”, what is really meant is: let’s cut the amount of the increase to the budget line item. Memo to Congress: cutting an increase is not a budget cut.
STAR PARKER COMMENTARY: Time For A New Generation Of Black Americans
"The claim that the black poverty in the United States has hardly budged since the 1960s is wrong. The black poverty rate was between 32%-39% in the late 1960s. It is now 'only' 25%, and was in the low 20s in the late 1990s to early 2001. Far too many black conservatives and black liberals have an investment in putting more doom and gloom in Black America's statistics than actually exists, so suit their respective agendas. While I concur that Black America has its challenges, this doom & gloom focus must be resisted."
Dallas Tea Party Takes On Keith Olbermann and 'White' MSNBC
KEITH OLBERMANN: Let me ask all of you who attend these things: How many black faces do you see at these events?
NARRATOR: Well, Keith, we see a whole lot more at our events than we see on MSNBC. In fact, we have more diversity on our three-person steering committee than your entire TV network line-up...Something tells me you've never been to a Tea Party. We think it's time you get out of your bubble.
Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2010/02/22/dallas-tea-party-takes-keith-olbermann-and-white-msnbc#ixzz0gIxxSSkg
NARRATOR: Well, Keith, we see a whole lot more at our events than we see on MSNBC. In fact, we have more diversity on our three-person steering committee than your entire TV network line-up...Something tells me you've never been to a Tea Party. We think it's time you get out of your bubble.
Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2010/02/22/dallas-tea-party-takes-keith-olbermann-and-white-msnbc#ixzz0gIxxSSkg
Smiley Vs. Sharpton: Obama & The Black Liberal Agenda. Bookerista Perspectives
"Tavis Smiley, a prominent U.S. black liberal journalist, and Rev. Al Sharpton, a prominent U.S. black liberal Democratic activist, are having a pissing contest over how much U.S. President Barack Obama has - or has not - advanced a black liberal agenda. Mr. Smiley appeared on the "Tom Joyner Morning Show" to slam black liberal leaders for giving President Obama a pass. Rev. Sharpton later called into the show to take issue with Mr. Smiley's comments. Mr. Smiley later called into Rev. Sharpton's radio show. Bookeristas weigh in on the catfight."
Climategate: The World’s Biggest Story, Everywhere but Here
"It’s been called the 'biggest scientific scandal in history.' It has everything to earn Pulitzer consideration: lies and misconduct in high places, political implications, even massive financial transactions that may or may not be legitimate or even legal. It’s big news … as long as you read the Telegraph, the Guardian, the London Times, or even major Indian papers.
"It’s no news at all if you read the U.S. mainstream media."
"It’s no news at all if you read the U.S. mainstream media."
What Americans Don't Understand about Obamacare
Here is a short list of what we specifically don't understand:
How will our health care system improve by giving a $300-million payoff to Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu in Louisiana in exchange for her vote?
Three hundred million was the price tag for Landrieu's "yes" vote on the 3,000-plus-page Obamacare bill. This may improve the health of Senator Landrieu's reelection prospects, but not the health of our nation.
What is positive about exempting Nebraska from having to pay future Medicare costs but making other states foot the bill?
Democratic Senator Ben Nelson was the final Democratic senator holding out support for the bill. After closed-door negotiations, Senator Nelson provided his full support. The reason for Nelson's sudden change of heart? His state was given a special exemption and would not have to pay the projected billions of dollars in additional Medicare costs that Obamacare would create.
Why are labor unions singled out from all other Americans and given an eight-year pass on paying taxes, while non-union workers have to pick up the tab?
In another closed-door negotiation, this time with Big Labor bosses and lobbyists, union members were exempted from paying the dreaded "Cadillac tax" on premium health care plans until 2018. In dollar terms, this would save union workers over $60 billion, while the rest of us have to come up with an additional $90 billion over the same time period.
Why should taxpayers be forced to pay for elective abortions?
After being repeatedly reassured by you, Mr. President, that taxpayer-funded abortions would not be included in your health care bill, why did your Secretary of Health and Human Services brag to the pro-abortion lobby that the Senate version of Obamacare includes taxpayer-funded abortion? How does this improve our health care system?
How does putting the federal government between Americans and their doctors improve anyone's health?
The Senate version of Obamacare would make Americans enroll in a "qualified health care plan" and then dictates that doctors may receive compensation under such plans only if they perform procedures allowed by the federal government.
How does a closed-door legislative process help us understand the complexities of Obamacare?
If health care is a "complex issue" that requires clear explanation to the American people, then how does it help when all of the explaining is being done to lobbyists behind closed doors?
Mr. President, what we don't understand is why a bill that is so good and necessary requires secrecy, bribes, and lies to ensure its passage. Why do you feel the need to hide the bill from us? Why do your biggest supporters need their palms greased before they come on board with your plan? Why do you tell us one thing about the cost of your bill, only for us to find out later that you understated the actual cost by over 300 percent?
In short, Mr. President, why should we believe anything you tell us about health care anymore?
How will our health care system improve by giving a $300-million payoff to Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu in Louisiana in exchange for her vote?
Three hundred million was the price tag for Landrieu's "yes" vote on the 3,000-plus-page Obamacare bill. This may improve the health of Senator Landrieu's reelection prospects, but not the health of our nation.
What is positive about exempting Nebraska from having to pay future Medicare costs but making other states foot the bill?
Democratic Senator Ben Nelson was the final Democratic senator holding out support for the bill. After closed-door negotiations, Senator Nelson provided his full support. The reason for Nelson's sudden change of heart? His state was given a special exemption and would not have to pay the projected billions of dollars in additional Medicare costs that Obamacare would create.
Why are labor unions singled out from all other Americans and given an eight-year pass on paying taxes, while non-union workers have to pick up the tab?
In another closed-door negotiation, this time with Big Labor bosses and lobbyists, union members were exempted from paying the dreaded "Cadillac tax" on premium health care plans until 2018. In dollar terms, this would save union workers over $60 billion, while the rest of us have to come up with an additional $90 billion over the same time period.
Why should taxpayers be forced to pay for elective abortions?
After being repeatedly reassured by you, Mr. President, that taxpayer-funded abortions would not be included in your health care bill, why did your Secretary of Health and Human Services brag to the pro-abortion lobby that the Senate version of Obamacare includes taxpayer-funded abortion? How does this improve our health care system?
How does putting the federal government between Americans and their doctors improve anyone's health?
The Senate version of Obamacare would make Americans enroll in a "qualified health care plan" and then dictates that doctors may receive compensation under such plans only if they perform procedures allowed by the federal government.
How does a closed-door legislative process help us understand the complexities of Obamacare?
If health care is a "complex issue" that requires clear explanation to the American people, then how does it help when all of the explaining is being done to lobbyists behind closed doors?
Mr. President, what we don't understand is why a bill that is so good and necessary requires secrecy, bribes, and lies to ensure its passage. Why do you feel the need to hide the bill from us? Why do your biggest supporters need their palms greased before they come on board with your plan? Why do you tell us one thing about the cost of your bill, only for us to find out later that you understated the actual cost by over 300 percent?
In short, Mr. President, why should we believe anything you tell us about health care anymore?
Matthews: We're Learning Obama Can't Change Things With Just The Power Of His Personality
CHRIS MATTHEWS: You know, if he says what he really believes, Savannah, based upon your reporting over there, would it be popular? That's the key question. Can he be a populist when the country is so anti-government, anti-liberal, anti-spending? The things he wants to do. If he were truly honest, would the public want to hear it?
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, NBC WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think that he is a practical president. I think that there's a lot of tension and frustration. I hear it all the time. Why doesn't he just get in there and crack skulls? Why can't he be like LBJ and get Congress in line? Come on, you have the Democratic majorities. He is a consensus builder. This is his core identity. He ceded a lot of the healthcare reform bill to Congress, and perhaps that's why some people view it as a left of center product, because he wasn't in there dictating the terms. But, I mean this is the reason he ran for president. It goes back and we all know the story. He feels that he has some ability to bring people together. And they're very frustrated that he hasn't been able to execute that.
MATTHEWS: Okay, this is a key question. Helene, you're at the White House, too. Last question here: How can you be a man of, a leader of the progressive movement, really do things that enlarge the role of government in the healthcare field for example, and in financial regulation, and still make the country in this Kumbaya, we all get along mood? If you change, it bothers people.
HELENE COOPER, NEW YORK TIMES WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I think that, that is so much at the center of why Obama, President Obama is having so many problems right now. There's he, there's this fundamental belief that he can change, that the power of his personality and the power of his oratory can change people and that just doesn't happen. There's this over-reliance I think at the White House that if the President gives a very big speech, or if he comes out there, that his, that he can persuade people and he can do it. And at the same time you don't have anything changing at the bottom of the way Washington works.
MATTHEWS: He promised change, and yet what he said what the change was...
COOPER: But you can't just do it with the power of your personality.
MATTHEWS: Well, we're learning that.
Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2010/02/21/matthews-were-learning-obama-cant-change-things-just-power-his-person#ixzz0gHUVbSAo
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, NBC WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think that he is a practical president. I think that there's a lot of tension and frustration. I hear it all the time. Why doesn't he just get in there and crack skulls? Why can't he be like LBJ and get Congress in line? Come on, you have the Democratic majorities. He is a consensus builder. This is his core identity. He ceded a lot of the healthcare reform bill to Congress, and perhaps that's why some people view it as a left of center product, because he wasn't in there dictating the terms. But, I mean this is the reason he ran for president. It goes back and we all know the story. He feels that he has some ability to bring people together. And they're very frustrated that he hasn't been able to execute that.
MATTHEWS: Okay, this is a key question. Helene, you're at the White House, too. Last question here: How can you be a man of, a leader of the progressive movement, really do things that enlarge the role of government in the healthcare field for example, and in financial regulation, and still make the country in this Kumbaya, we all get along mood? If you change, it bothers people.
HELENE COOPER, NEW YORK TIMES WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I think that, that is so much at the center of why Obama, President Obama is having so many problems right now. There's he, there's this fundamental belief that he can change, that the power of his personality and the power of his oratory can change people and that just doesn't happen. There's this over-reliance I think at the White House that if the President gives a very big speech, or if he comes out there, that his, that he can persuade people and he can do it. And at the same time you don't have anything changing at the bottom of the way Washington works.
MATTHEWS: He promised change, and yet what he said what the change was...
COOPER: But you can't just do it with the power of your personality.
MATTHEWS: Well, we're learning that.
Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2010/02/21/matthews-were-learning-obama-cant-change-things-just-power-his-person#ixzz0gHUVbSAo
AP: Democrats worried about Obama track record
"In interviews at the National Governors Association's weekend meeting, several Democratic governors faulted the White House for losing the communications war against Republicans over what Obama has accomplished in his first year.
"'We fought back only sporadically and pretty ineffectively,' Rendell said, adding that 'right out of the box, we lost the spin war' on the $787 billion economic stimulus bill passed in 2009.
"Several Democratic colleagues agreed, and lamented that voters thought Obama focused too much on overhauling the U.S. health care system. Others fretted that Obama may appear to be out of touch with the concerns of Americans.
"'I think he's got more work to do on that,' said Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, an Obama friend and ally."
"'We fought back only sporadically and pretty ineffectively,' Rendell said, adding that 'right out of the box, we lost the spin war' on the $787 billion economic stimulus bill passed in 2009.
"Several Democratic colleagues agreed, and lamented that voters thought Obama focused too much on overhauling the U.S. health care system. Others fretted that Obama may appear to be out of touch with the concerns of Americans.
"'I think he's got more work to do on that,' said Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, an Obama friend and ally."
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Joseph Farah: The political spectrum 101
"Just to the right of them, but still way over on the left side of the spectrum, would be fascists, those who are still totalitarians, but don't insist that government own all the means of production. Fascists are content to control the means of production.
"Just to the right of these folks are those in our society who call for a "mixed economy" in line with the European model. You could also call it "soft socialism."
"In other words, what truly defines the political spectrum is attitude toward the proper role of government."
Brand Spanking New ACORN Scandal Illegally Using Tax and SEIU Dollars To Support Progressive Agenda
"According to a new report issued by the House Oversight Committee (full report embedded below), the relationship between ACORN and the SEIU remains strong and in fact, represents a criminal conspiracy."
Does Obama Have Cocaine-Related Mental Impairment?
"The reference adds that prior marijuana use (to which Bill Clinton as well as Barack Obama admitted) is not an automatic disqualifier. The bottom line is, however, that prior history of cocaine use disqualifies a member of the Armed Forces from touching a nuclear launch key, or indeed any access to weapons of mass destruction. The idea of giving someone with that kind of history the authority to order the use of such weapons, or even access to the codes for launching such weapons, should therefore appall all."
Young Voters Dramatically Shift Away From Obama and Dems
"In a move that the White House would probably call both 'unexpected' and 'unprecedented,' (because they call just about everything 'unexpected' and 'unprecedented') the latest Pew research study indicates that President Obama's Democratic Party may be losing its stranglehold on young voters of the millennial generation (aged 18-34)."
Do you know why? Those voters thought they were going to get some "hope and change."
They discovered that the best change comes from Coke machines.
Do you know why? Those voters thought they were going to get some "hope and change."
They discovered that the best change comes from Coke machines.
The 'Stimulus' Actually Raised Unemployment
"In reality, as the CBO explains, 'five programs accounted for more than 80% of the outlays from ARRA in 2009: Medicaid, unemployment compensation, Social Security ... grants to state and local governments ... and student aid.'
"In other words, what was labeled a 'stimulus' bill was actually a stimulus to government transfer payments — cash and benefits that are primarily rewards for not working, or at least not working too hard."
Congressional Black Caucus rips New York Times piece
"This week, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation on its website called the article 'tasteless,' and said that Times readers were likely unaware of the foundation’s civil rights work."
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/33142.html#ixzz0g5eDvXQj
Brother X: "The New York Times is RACIST!!!"
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/33142.html#ixzz0g5eDvXQj
Brother X: "The New York Times is RACIST!!!"
Friday, February 19, 2010
Why I love watching Keith Olbermann
"Well, Mr. Olbermann, you can go here and check out the pictures from my post about Fort Worth's 9-12 rally. Hispanics, if memory serves, were possibly over-represented. African-Americans were probably under-represented, especially women, but the men were there in fairly large numbers. (Mostly older guys, ex-military, and wearing their camo/caps/etc. with insignia to designate their branch of service.)
"And please indulge me for indulging in this stereotype: I've NEVER seen Asians at these events, probably because they're too busy working. You can go here to see that the Asian vote is almost evenly split between Republicrats and Demoblicans. So far, they've resisted left-wing victimization programs.
"I didn't take these pictures with the goal of filling racial quotas, as Olbermann seem to advocate, but the random sampling I posted kinda indicates that the 9-12 rally was a lot more diverse than (ahem) Mr. Olbermann's employer."
"And please indulge me for indulging in this stereotype: I've NEVER seen Asians at these events, probably because they're too busy working. You can go here to see that the Asian vote is almost evenly split between Republicrats and Demoblicans. So far, they've resisted left-wing victimization programs.
"I didn't take these pictures with the goal of filling racial quotas, as Olbermann seem to advocate, but the random sampling I posted kinda indicates that the 9-12 rally was a lot more diverse than (ahem) Mr. Olbermann's employer."
Barack Obama ’83, My Columbia College Roommate
"Based on my six years of knowing him in college and the years immediately after, I can vouch that Barack is a man of character, and I trust him to do the right things when he is President."
A man of character? Do the right things? Now I'm suspicious of the authenticity of this article.
A man of character? Do the right things? Now I'm suspicious of the authenticity of this article.
Racist Garofalo to the Rescue
"As a black man, I love it when ignorant white women like Janeane Garofalo speak for all blacks. It's thrilling to me that Janeane would take time out of her busy Hollyweird life to protect me and my peeps -- the downtrodden, the oppressed...the lowly Negro.
"For her efforts, I thank Garofalo, and anoint her Janeane Garofalo: White Chick Protector of the Lowly Negro.
"Who better than she to offer such protection? Garofalo, after all is an American hero! And I bet you were wondering who could possibly replace the likes of Barbara Streisand or Susan Sarandon…Madonna?
"Garofalo is so in touch with the black condition, that she is uniquely qualified to assess and understand my people's 'condition.' Her intimate knowledge of blacks allows her to interpret how blacks think, and then translate 'black-think' for the rest of America. "'Cuz Lawd knows, we kaints do dis for ourselfs.'
"One source of Garofalo's insights into the black community, ergo the 'black condition' is no doubt from Hollywood, as she is a product of that culture. Garofalo probably has in her movie collection films like Cleopatra Jones, the black heroine who is oppressed by the man.
"What 'White Chick Protector of the Lowly Negro' collection would be complete without Superfly. Talk about learning how to stick it to the man, Superfly is the boilerplate, dare I say the White Chick Protector of the Lowly Negro' roadmap on how to stick it to the man. Further, Ron O'Neal, the actor who played Superfly, the black protagonist of the movie could easily be the predecessor for our first half-black president. Who can argue that Obama is indeed 'sticking it to the white man?'
"The irony of Garofalo's comments is that they point directly at her own racist party: the Democrats!
"I am always amazed at how well Democrats argue the tenets of racism…against themselves. The party that founded the Ku Klux Klan has the nerve to proselytize to Republicans about racism.
"Democrats have done nothing, repeat nothing for blacks, except to exploit blacks for Democrats' own racist agendas. If you don't believe me, look at, well…Janeane Garofalo!
"Garofalo is a failed comedian, a hack of an actress, a failed radio talk-show host, and essentially has been out of the mainstream since making B-movies that had the viewership of an Olbermann segment on MSNBC! I get more views on my YouTube videos of racist Democrats picking lent from their navels and eating Cheetos. Admittedly those are funny, and the hit count is rising.
"In typical racist Democrat elitist fashion, Garofalo feels the need to meddle in the black community. I can't imagine a life where I wake up in the morning and say something like, 'I think today I will read an article on [insert oppressed here], and then go on [insert oppressed here] TV to protect those pitiful, stupid, weak [insert oppressed here]. Kevin…you are a wonderful man for caring about these people who obviously have no spokesperson, and can't protect themselves! I love me some ME!' Such is the life of a racist Democrat elitist. Protectors of the World…oh, and their own agendas!"
"For her efforts, I thank Garofalo, and anoint her Janeane Garofalo: White Chick Protector of the Lowly Negro.
"Who better than she to offer such protection? Garofalo, after all is an American hero! And I bet you were wondering who could possibly replace the likes of Barbara Streisand or Susan Sarandon…Madonna?
"Garofalo is so in touch with the black condition, that she is uniquely qualified to assess and understand my people's 'condition.' Her intimate knowledge of blacks allows her to interpret how blacks think, and then translate 'black-think' for the rest of America. "'Cuz Lawd knows, we kaints do dis for ourselfs.'
"One source of Garofalo's insights into the black community, ergo the 'black condition' is no doubt from Hollywood, as she is a product of that culture. Garofalo probably has in her movie collection films like Cleopatra Jones, the black heroine who is oppressed by the man.
"What 'White Chick Protector of the Lowly Negro' collection would be complete without Superfly. Talk about learning how to stick it to the man, Superfly is the boilerplate, dare I say the White Chick Protector of the Lowly Negro' roadmap on how to stick it to the man. Further, Ron O'Neal, the actor who played Superfly, the black protagonist of the movie could easily be the predecessor for our first half-black president. Who can argue that Obama is indeed 'sticking it to the white man?'
"The irony of Garofalo's comments is that they point directly at her own racist party: the Democrats!
"I am always amazed at how well Democrats argue the tenets of racism…against themselves. The party that founded the Ku Klux Klan has the nerve to proselytize to Republicans about racism.
"Democrats have done nothing, repeat nothing for blacks, except to exploit blacks for Democrats' own racist agendas. If you don't believe me, look at, well…Janeane Garofalo!
"Garofalo is a failed comedian, a hack of an actress, a failed radio talk-show host, and essentially has been out of the mainstream since making B-movies that had the viewership of an Olbermann segment on MSNBC! I get more views on my YouTube videos of racist Democrats picking lent from their navels and eating Cheetos. Admittedly those are funny, and the hit count is rising.
"In typical racist Democrat elitist fashion, Garofalo feels the need to meddle in the black community. I can't imagine a life where I wake up in the morning and say something like, 'I think today I will read an article on [insert oppressed here], and then go on [insert oppressed here] TV to protect those pitiful, stupid, weak [insert oppressed here]. Kevin…you are a wonderful man for caring about these people who obviously have no spokesperson, and can't protect themselves! I love me some ME!' Such is the life of a racist Democrat elitist. Protectors of the World…oh, and their own agendas!"
Dear Janeane Garofalo, No I do not hate the color of my own skin
"Janeane, Janeane Janeane. Is it your intention to transform the term 'racism' as insignificant, as benign as, I don’t know..let’s say the word 'rock'? You know those inanimate objects that are rattling around in your otherwise empty skull.
Keep watering it down and that may eventually be the ends to your means.
"Proud of yourself? You race card playing self hating bigoted mentally disturbed loon."
Keep watering it down and that may eventually be the ends to your means.
"Proud of yourself? You race card playing self hating bigoted mentally disturbed loon."
Obama supporters are starting to push back
"Now that plans are being finalized for the trial in New York starting May 14th, Obama supporters are starting to get nervous. The fact that Manning can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Barack Obama never attended Columbia University, at least not in any capacity as a student, is not what the Obots want to hear."
Team Obama Wrong about Iran--Again
"Last week when Iranian tyrant Ahmadinejad announced that his country was upgrading their uranium enrichment to 20% the Obama administration was skeptical. Spokesman Robert Gibbs said:
'Quite frankly, what -- what Ahmadinejad says -- he says many things and many of them turn out to be untrue,' Gbbs said. 'We do not believe they have the capability to enrich to the degree to which they now say they are enriching.'
"Today the United Nations weighed in and and made an announcement proving once again that our President is absolutely wrong about Iran:
'An International Atomic Energy Agency report expresses worry that Iran may be working on a nuclear warhead, despite a 2007 U.S. intelligence assessment that found the Islamic Republic stopped such work in 2003.
'The United Nations' nuclear watchdog also confirmed that Iran had indeed enriched uranium to nearly 20 percent, a claim made by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during revolutionary anniversary festivities last week but rebuffed by the White House.
"'We do not believe they have the capability to enrich to the degree they say they are enriching,' White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said at last Thursday's daily briefing.
"But the IAEA report, a confidential document obtained by the Associated Press, said that Iran had hit 19.8 percent enrichment on two days last week.
"'I think the conclusions of the report are consistent with what the secretary was saying in the region this week,' State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Thursday. "We have ongoing concerns about Iran's activities. We cannot explain why it refuses to come to the table and engage constructively to answer the questions that have been raised, and you have to draw some conclusions from that."
"The report by the new head of the IAEA, Yukiya Amano, appears to raise greater concerns about Iran's capabilities than the assessments of his predecessor, Mohamed ElBaradei."
'Quite frankly, what -- what Ahmadinejad says -- he says many things and many of them turn out to be untrue,' Gbbs said. 'We do not believe they have the capability to enrich to the degree to which they now say they are enriching.'
"Today the United Nations weighed in and and made an announcement proving once again that our President is absolutely wrong about Iran:
'An International Atomic Energy Agency report expresses worry that Iran may be working on a nuclear warhead, despite a 2007 U.S. intelligence assessment that found the Islamic Republic stopped such work in 2003.
'The United Nations' nuclear watchdog also confirmed that Iran had indeed enriched uranium to nearly 20 percent, a claim made by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during revolutionary anniversary festivities last week but rebuffed by the White House.
"'We do not believe they have the capability to enrich to the degree they say they are enriching,' White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said at last Thursday's daily briefing.
"But the IAEA report, a confidential document obtained by the Associated Press, said that Iran had hit 19.8 percent enrichment on two days last week.
"'I think the conclusions of the report are consistent with what the secretary was saying in the region this week,' State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Thursday. "We have ongoing concerns about Iran's activities. We cannot explain why it refuses to come to the table and engage constructively to answer the questions that have been raised, and you have to draw some conclusions from that."
"The report by the new head of the IAEA, Yukiya Amano, appears to raise greater concerns about Iran's capabilities than the assessments of his predecessor, Mohamed ElBaradei."
Thursday, February 18, 2010
I WISH JOE STACK HAD NOT KILLED HIMSELF
"His manifesto clearly reveals bitterness and resentment toward the IRS, the tax system, the banker and Big Business government bailouts, and the emergence of police-state attitudes and actions in the aftermath of 9/11. He expressed disdain for "the monsters of organized religion." He talked about his move from California to Texas. He referred to a divorce and the way his savings and retirement had been wiped out after a career of working '100-hour workweeks.'"
Obama / Biden: Can’t Keep Their “Stimulus” Lies Straight
"Sooo we’ve gotten our moneys worth huh? 10% unemployment, actually 18%+ when you count those who have given up looking for a job… and we got our money’s worth? We spent $862,000,000,000 ($1.3 trillion with interest) that we don’t have (we dug out nation further into debt) and, by the way Joe we lost another 2,000,000 jobs last year. We didn’t save 2 million jobs, we lost over 2 million jobs… and we got our money’s worth? Are these guys nuts!?
"These are the same clowns that said that if we passed their so-called “stimulus” boondoggle, that unemploment would go over 8%… would you say that the stimulus has done it’s job?"
"These are the same clowns that said that if we passed their so-called “stimulus” boondoggle, that unemploment would go over 8%… would you say that the stimulus has done it’s job?"
Guardian: We're Anti-War, But We Can't Be Anti-Obama
"Well, this is a load of whatever they call such a load over there. If you read it, there's no logical reason at all for them not being as anti-war as they were under Bush - except that it's Obama's war, now. They even point out Obama's flawed strategy of announcing an exit a year out. But they still end up concluding, well, ... what else can we do but support it."
White House Won’t Rule Out Attacking Iran
You mean the Nobel Peace Prize winner will not rule out making war on Iran???
Reuters: IAEA fears Iran working now on nuclear warhead
"The U.N. nuclear watchdog fears Iran may be working now to develop a nuclear-armed missile, the agency said on Thursday, throwing independent weight behind Western suspicions of an active Iranian weapons program."
Reason.tv: Dramatic Olbermann vs. Dramatic Chipmunk or, Premature Obit for the Capt. Queeg of cable news
No one is more self-dramatizing on cable news than male hysteric, unsolicited janitor of Cooperstown, and Countdown host Keith Olbermann, who includes more special effects during his Castro-length “Special Comment” segments than Mikhail Kalatozov did in I Am Cuba (one cinematically exemplary rant remains Commandante O’s multi-camera denouncement of Hillary Clinton during the 2008 campaign).
When Olbermann is not ripping “tea-baggers” (get it, har har har) or slagging honest reporters such as Miami Herald TV critic and Reason contributing editor Glenn Garvin (who committed the unpardonable crime of reporting that Olbermann donned a Bill O’Reilly mask and did Nazi salutes in front of a room full of TV critics), he is courageously taking a stand in favor of English-only at schools, judging Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News as “worse than Al Qaeda,” and extolling Sen. All Aboard Amtrak, Joe Biden, who embodies the Holy Trinity of Olbermannia: “passion, detail and eloquence.”
Countdown—it’s like Rupert Pupkin finally did get a talk show that could broadcast far past the paneled walls of Mom’s basement and reach most of the neighborhood—is must-see TV, as riveting as a nail gun powered by nuclear energy on steroids, the sort of can’t-turn-away-from-car-wreck-like commentary usually associated with CNN hosts who have actually been in car wrecks (like this guy and this one).
And yet, even (or perhaps especially) in Obama’s America, where Dick Cheney is still making millions of ill-gotten gains by keeping unemployment high and sending troops to the Middle East and Central Asia to secure Haliburton’s ultra-lucrative tapioca concessions, there are signs that this world was never meant for one as beautiful as Olbermann.
“Has the countdown begun for the end of ‘Countdown with Keith Olbermann’?” asks The New York Post. “With his ratings in free-fall, and his hateful histrionics reaching new highs, even Olbermann’s former supporters on the left are tuning out.” Indeed, The Los Angeles Times reports, “In the most desirable TV demographic of 25-54, which Keith will soon outgrow himself, ‘Countdown’ lost 44% of its audience from the beginning of President Obama’s term until this year.”
As a public service, and before Keith Olbermann joins the likes of failed talk show hosts such as Jerry Lewis, Chevy Chase, J.D. Hayworth, and former ESPN colleague Craig Kilborn, it’s worth remembering just how damn good Olbermann was before he lost the pop on his bat and could no longer backpedal with the sun in his eyes.
Like some small-screen, basic-cable Capt. Queeg without the strawberry fetish, Olbermann was staying up late and counting and recounting his vote for the Worst Person In The World (surprise! Bill O’Reilly won again!) while the rest of us were tearing it up on the playing fields of Princeton the Xbox version of NCAA Football. While the rest of us were arguing about politics, going to work every day, paying our taxes, protesting stupid policies…who was standing guard over this fat, dumb, happy country of ours, eh? Not us. Oh, no, we knew you couldn’t make any money in the service in cable TV. So who did the dirty work for us? Queeg Olbermann did! And a lot of other guys. Tough, sharp guys who didn’t crack up like Queeg Olbermann.
Before he descends to that green room below, the one where you have to do your own makeup and bring your own Evian (which is really tap water poured into a bottle you found behind the local 7-11) and use a Johnny-on-the-Spot (or better yet, just hold it until your 30-second spot is over and you can use the can in the nearby Waffle House, as gross as it is), gaze upon Olbermann throwing down against the single most dramatic figure on this damnable series of tubes we’ve come to rely on even more than latter-day Eric Sevareids and low-rated, histrionic opinion journalists.
And as Olbermann fades from memory even though he’s still on the air, like Diagnosis: Murder or DeGrassi Junior High, The Joe Franklin Show, and Oliver North’s War Stories, all of which may well be producing new episodes, ask yourself: Didn’t he take it to the chipmunk (which is not really a chipmunk, we know) like a pro? Go tell the Spartans, or at least Roger Ailes, that this was one Cool Hand Luke who could really take a punch!
Phil Elmore: We're all on Obama's enemies list
"When Barack Hussein Obama's audacious power grabs affect the daily lives of broad swaths of our citizenry, as they do whenever he targets consumer technology, many people are rightly alarmed. We've seen this over and over again. He and his storm troopers want to be able to track your phone without a warrant and whenever it suits them. Will it be such a leap when they decide your phone calls are no more private than your GPS location data? These are the people, after all, who want to control the Internet (when they're not turning over control of key portions of its infrastructure to foreign powers). These are also the people who set up an e-mail address so your fellow citizens could inform on you to Glorious Leader Obama whenever you dared to express an opinion contrary to the Democratic Party line."
I feel like Dirty Harry. Make my day.
I feel like Dirty Harry. Make my day.
The most convoluted Tea Party=RAAACIST smear ever
"By all accounts, Bishop was extremely liberal and a huge Obama fan (to the point of being described by someone who knew her as being obsessed with Obama).
"But in keeping with the attempt to smear as crazy the Tea Party movement specifically, and anyone who is not a Democrat generally, now comes the inevitable attempt to link the Tea Parties and Bishop, centered on a charge of shared racism."
"But in keeping with the attempt to smear as crazy the Tea Party movement specifically, and anyone who is not a Democrat generally, now comes the inevitable attempt to link the Tea Parties and Bishop, centered on a charge of shared racism."
Spotlight on Leftist Feminist Thinking: Don’t Acknowledge Fetuses!
"Thank you, Chris Chase at Yahoo! Sports for perpetuating the myth that fetuses are people and that they are capable of Olympic curling."
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
French troops used as 'nuclear guinea pigs' in the 1960s
"France used its servicemen as human guinea pigs to test the effects of radiation exposure, it was claimed yesterday.
"Le Parisien said that in April 1961, about 300 soldiers were sent into areas of Algeria where atomic devices had been set off.
"Quoting from a government report, it said the aim was to study 'the physical and psychological effect of atomic weapons on humans.'"
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1251437/French-troops-used-nuclear-guinea-pigs-1960s.html#ixzz0fqu4PJ83
"Le Parisien said that in April 1961, about 300 soldiers were sent into areas of Algeria where atomic devices had been set off.
"Quoting from a government report, it said the aim was to study 'the physical and psychological effect of atomic weapons on humans.'"
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1251437/French-troops-used-nuclear-guinea-pigs-1960s.html#ixzz0fqu4PJ83
J. Speer-Williams: Executive Orders: The Hallmarks of Fascistic Tyranny
The Executive Branch of our federal government has become a 500 pound tick that’s being fed by a 50 pound dog (the American people) due to presidential Executive Orders (EOs).
EOs – not to be confused with Eos, the supernaturally beautiful goddess of Greek mythology – have become an ugly fact of American life, ever since our terrible conflagration known as the American Civil War.
An Executive Order (EO) is an order made by a president that has the full force and effect of any laws constitutionally passed by congress, and signed by the president.
In a representative democracy, laws are made by duly elected representatives, not by a head of state, by mere edict, with no debate, or samplings of public opinion, such as EOs are made into law: The former is known as “rule by law,” the latter as “rule by men.”
When establishing our Constitutional Republic, our founding fathers instituted the principle of government known as the Rule of Law (as opposed to the Rule of Men), which was intended to be a safeguard against arbitrary governance, and the unconstitutional edicts imposed by would be tyrants, which were not in accordance with written, publicly disclosed laws and enforced within legally established guidelines and procedures made by congress and signed into law by our chief executive, the president.
When a president tries to effect one of his Executive Orders into being a national law, he is attempting to circumvent congress, and contravene our Constitution, and move us closer to being a country ruled by men rather than a nation ruled by laws.
This whole unconstitutional seizure of congressional power was done slowly, over time, incrementally, and began innocuously enough as mere directives, or memos, to the offices of the executive branch of our federal government. George Washington was the first to set the dangerous precedent of issuing orders that had the full force and effect of legislative law, with his directive that forbade Americans from trading, or even associating with any of the countries in Europe, who were then at war.
It’s not that Washington idea was bad; what was illegal was Washington, single-handedly, made a law, when he had no legal authority to do so, either in the Constitution, or in any statute law passed by congress. Making laws was meant to be the job of congress; vetoing or signing and then enforcing laws the job of the president.
Washington, in effect, took the law into his own hands, and violated our principle of the Rule of Law, the very basis of a republican form of government. Allowing Washington to create a law, he could by rights only legally enforce, is akin to letting our police establishment create the laws they are commissioned to enforce, and begins the destruction of our “separation of powers,” another fundamental in any real constitutional republic.
Freedom and living by the Rule of Law have been rare commodities during the long and tumultuous history of Earth; and perhaps, America has enjoy the longest run of any nation to have been so ruled. But since Washington’s time, our Constitution has been breached in thousands of ways, until at last, we’ve become a nation ruled by the law of men … very elite and secret men, who have long controlled the Office of the Presidency.
Very few Executive Orders (or Directives) were issued by the fourteen presidents that followed Washington. It was Lincoln’s “dictatorship” that began the onslaught of laws issued by one man, but secretly supported by hidden men.
Yes, the Great Emancipator controlled the Union like a dictator, exercising autocratic rule by claiming “war powers”after the attack on Fort Sumner, South Carolina; and then, running the federal government through Executive Orders, Lincoln utterly by-passed the US congress. Without Ole Abe there might not have been a war that denuded America of over one million of its finest men, when the entire population of the United States was not much more than thirty million people.
It is reported that Lincoln made many enemies, ranging from newspaper editors to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, as he repeatedly broke the fundamental law of our land. Lincoln even had editors arrested, and went so far as to draft a warrant for the arrest of Chief Justice Roger Taney, all because they objected to Lincoln throwing our country into the hands of those who would rule our country by men rather than by laws.
Ever since Lincoln’s administration, he has been both the model and excuse for almost all modern presidents to make up their own laws, to the point such gross violations of our Constitutions are now widely and routinely accepted.
Our 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt, widely considered one of our greatest presidents (who is even enshrined on Mt. Rushmore, as was Lincoln) used the White House as his “bully pulpit,”and from there issued more EOs than all 25 presidents (other than Lincoln) who preceded him. Roosevelt even formed a national police force, an idea that had always been rejected by American congresses, and was deeply abhorred by our founding fathers.
By calling his national police force a mere “investigative bureau” of his federal branch of government, Roosevelt was able to avoid wide public resistance; in those days, Americans were wisely antipatheic to national police forces. Today, however, there is scarcely a citizen who would suggest we do away with Roosevelt’s FBI, or even curb their bestial practices.
William Howard Taft and Woodrow Wilson, who followed Roosevelt as presidents were no better than Teddy in obeying our Constitution.
Democratic President Wilson even imprisoned some 5,000 Americans, who opposed his World War I, the war he had promised to avoid if he were elected president. It was Wilson who was the first to declare “National Emergencies,” in order to assume even more powers not granted by either our congress or our Constitution.
Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt (distant cousin to Teddy Roosevelt), our 32nd president, was presented by his “advisors” with a most clever way for presidents to assume even more dictatorial powers, with the mere labeling of domestic problems as “Wars.” In this way, presidents could cite the unconstitutional “war powers,” brought into acceptance by Lincoln, in their pretended wars on drugs, poverty, CO2, or any phony excuse used to expand presidential powers.
Franklin D. Roosevelt ended up issuing over 3,000 Executive Orders, thus destroying much of what was left of the American democracy.
In only one term of office, President Jimmy Carter had the nerve to add about 24,500 pages of EOs to those he had already issued, during his last 90 days in office.
Not to be out done, Democratic President Bill Clinton added another 30,000 pages of EOs, during his last 90 days in office.
The Federal Register and the Cato Institute gives us the numbers of Executive Orders ( not the number of pages) issued by 20th century presidents: Theodore Roosevelt – 1,006; William H. Taft – 698; Woodrow Wilson – 1,791; Warren G. Harding – 484; Calvin Coolidge – 1,253; Herbert Hoover – 1004; Franklin D. Roosevelt – 3,723; Harry S. Truman – 905; Dwight D. Eisenhower – 452; John F. Kennedy – 214; Lydon B. Johnson – 324; Richard M. Nixon – 346; Gerald R. Ford – 169; Jimmy Carter – 320; Ronald Reagan – 381; George Bush – 166, Bill Clinton 364; and the numbers of EOs signed by presidents continue from there.
But there are also Presidential Directives, that are a form of EO, that are issued by presidents with the advise and consent of the unelected National Security Council, which have the full force and effect of constitutionally passed laws. But the real kicker is these Presidential Directives are classified, using the old “National Security” ruse. This is how America, now, officially tortures human beings in military bases all over the world … torture in the name of every American, living or dead.
Additionally, back in 1916, Democratic President Wilson began creating many of our federal agencies, by the use of EOs, each of which has ballooned to about the size of a large foreign government, each of which is headed by un-elected directors, each issuing their own thousands of orders and directives, that have the full force and effect of constitutionally passed laws.
One such agency, the Internal Revenue Service has issued a tax code that is over 60,000 pages long, and growing.
Moreover, Americans today are burdened with thousands of pages of President Review Directives (PRDS), Presidential Decision Directives (PDDs), National Security Reviews (NSRs), National Security Directives (NSRs), National Security Presidential Directives (NSPDs), and even Homeland Security Directives, all having the full force and effect of law, and all in addition to EOs.
In order to maintain the illusion of a democracy, we are still allowed a presidential election every four years; and no one president can serve more than two four year terms. But, it’s not any one president who has become a dictator, it is the Office of the Presidency, and those faceless autocrats who control the presidency that has become dictatorial, without many of us ever knowing it.
No, we are hardly a democracy. Our beloved United States of America has become a fascist dictatorship, and will remain so, until the majority of Americans come to realize the sad state of our ship of state.
Stimulus Failures
STIMULUS FAILURE BY THE NUMBERS
One Year After February 17 Signing Of Stimulus,
17 Numbers You Need To Know
View This Research Briefing At GOP.com
Follow RNC Research on Twitter
Learn More in our "Stomping Grounds " Blog
3.5 MILLION: Jobs Obama Promised Stimulus Would Create By End Of 2010. (President Barack Obama, Remarks At The Signing Of The American Recovery And Reinvestment Act, Press Release, Denver, CO, 2/17/09)
2.8 MILLION: Jobs Lost Since Obama Made That Promise. (U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 2/16/10)
6.3 MILLION: Jobs Obama Must Now Create To Keep Promise By End Of 2010.(President Barack Obama, Remarks At The Signing Of The American Recovery And Reinvestment Act, Press Release, Denver, CO, 2/17/09; U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 2/16/10)
1.1 MILLION: Jobs Obama's Economists Project Will Be Created By End Of 2010.(David Jackson, "Obama Economic Report: Stagnant Job Growth This Year," USA Today, 2/11/10)
5.2 MILLION: Jobs By Which Obama's Economists' Projection Leaves Him Short In Keeping Promise. (U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 2/16/10; David Jackson, "Obama Economic Report: Stagnant Job Growth This Year," USA Today, 2/11/10)
6 PERCENT: Not Surprisingly, Number Of Americans That Say Obama's Stimulus Created Jobs. A staggering 94 % said it not create any jobs. (Stephanie Condon, "Poll: Economy Brings Down Obama's Job Approval Rating,"CBS News' "Political Hotsheet" Blog, 2/11/10)
7.7 PERCENT: Unemployment Rate When Obama Was Selling Stimulus In January 2009.(U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 2/16/10)
8 PERCENT: Unemployment Rate Obama Pledged Stimulus Would Prevent Us From Reaching. (Christina Romer and Jared Bernstein, "The Job Impact Of The American Recovery And Reinvestment Plan," 1/9/09)
9.7 PERCENT: Current Unemployment Rate. (U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 2/16/10)
16.5 PERCENT: Current Unemployment Rate When Underemployed And Discouraged Workers Are Included. (23million people)-(Sara Murray, "Signs Of Hope As Jobless Rate Dips," The Wall Street Journal, 2/6/10)
334,000: Americans That Have Given Up Looking For A Job Since Stimulus Was Signed.(U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 2/16/10)
47: States That Have Lost Jobs Since Stimulus Was Signed. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 2/16/10)
10: States That Moved From Single-Digit To Double-Digit Unemployment Rate Since Stimulus Was Signed. (U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 2/16/10)
$862 BILLION: Updated Cost Of Stimulus, $75 Billion Increase From Last Year's Cost Estimate.("The Budget And Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2010 To 2010," Congressional Budget Office, 1/26/10; Douglas Elmendor, Director, Congressional Budget Office, Letter To Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 2/13/09)
440: Number Of Nonexistent Congressional Districts That Received Stimulus Funds. (Richard S. Dunham, "Site Lists Jobs In Imaginary Texas Districts," Houston Chronicle, 11/18/09)
$6.4 BILLION: Amount Of Stimulus Funds That Went To Nonexistent Congressional Districts.(Richard S. Dunham, "Site Lists Jobs In Imaginary Texas Districts," Houston Chronicle, 11/18/09)
$18 MILLION: Cost Of Stimulus Website, Recovery.gov.(Rick Klein, "$18M Being Spent To Redesign Recovery.gov Web Site," ABC News' "The Note" Blog, 7/8/09)
One Year After February 17 Signing Of Stimulus,
17 Numbers You Need To Know
View This Research Briefing At GOP.com
Follow RNC Research on Twitter
Learn More in our "Stomping Grounds " Blog
3.5 MILLION: Jobs Obama Promised Stimulus Would Create By End Of 2010. (President Barack Obama, Remarks At The Signing Of The American Recovery And Reinvestment Act, Press Release, Denver, CO, 2/17/09)
2.8 MILLION: Jobs Lost Since Obama Made That Promise. (U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 2/16/10)
6.3 MILLION: Jobs Obama Must Now Create To Keep Promise By End Of 2010.(President Barack Obama, Remarks At The Signing Of The American Recovery And Reinvestment Act, Press Release, Denver, CO, 2/17/09; U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 2/16/10)
1.1 MILLION: Jobs Obama's Economists Project Will Be Created By End Of 2010.(David Jackson, "Obama Economic Report: Stagnant Job Growth This Year," USA Today, 2/11/10)
5.2 MILLION: Jobs By Which Obama's Economists' Projection Leaves Him Short In Keeping Promise. (U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 2/16/10; David Jackson, "Obama Economic Report: Stagnant Job Growth This Year," USA Today, 2/11/10)
6 PERCENT: Not Surprisingly, Number Of Americans That Say Obama's Stimulus Created Jobs. A staggering 94 % said it not create any jobs. (Stephanie Condon, "Poll: Economy Brings Down Obama's Job Approval Rating,"CBS News' "Political Hotsheet" Blog, 2/11/10)
7.7 PERCENT: Unemployment Rate When Obama Was Selling Stimulus In January 2009.(U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 2/16/10)
8 PERCENT: Unemployment Rate Obama Pledged Stimulus Would Prevent Us From Reaching. (Christina Romer and Jared Bernstein, "The Job Impact Of The American Recovery And Reinvestment Plan," 1/9/09)
9.7 PERCENT: Current Unemployment Rate. (U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 2/16/10)
16.5 PERCENT: Current Unemployment Rate When Underemployed And Discouraged Workers Are Included. (23million people)-(Sara Murray, "Signs Of Hope As Jobless Rate Dips," The Wall Street Journal, 2/6/10)
334,000: Americans That Have Given Up Looking For A Job Since Stimulus Was Signed.(U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 2/16/10)
47: States That Have Lost Jobs Since Stimulus Was Signed. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 2/16/10)
10: States That Moved From Single-Digit To Double-Digit Unemployment Rate Since Stimulus Was Signed. (U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 2/16/10)
$862 BILLION: Updated Cost Of Stimulus, $75 Billion Increase From Last Year's Cost Estimate.("The Budget And Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2010 To 2010," Congressional Budget Office, 1/26/10; Douglas Elmendor, Director, Congressional Budget Office, Letter To Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 2/13/09)
440: Number Of Nonexistent Congressional Districts That Received Stimulus Funds. (Richard S. Dunham, "Site Lists Jobs In Imaginary Texas Districts," Houston Chronicle, 11/18/09)
$6.4 BILLION: Amount Of Stimulus Funds That Went To Nonexistent Congressional Districts.(Richard S. Dunham, "Site Lists Jobs In Imaginary Texas Districts," Houston Chronicle, 11/18/09)
$18 MILLION: Cost Of Stimulus Website, Recovery.gov.(Rick Klein, "$18M Being Spent To Redesign Recovery.gov Web Site," ABC News' "The Note" Blog, 7/8/09)
Stimulus to Nowhere
"Where are we today?
"Well, President Obama promised the creation of 3.5 million jobs in his Stimulus To Nowhere. There have been 2.8 million jobs lost since then.
"The unemployment rate was 7.7% when Obama was pushing his federal boondoggle. It stands at 9.7% today.
"Forty-seven states have lost jobs since the Stimulus To Nowhere was passed.
"And, where has all of this money gone? Well, in June 2009, Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) published a listing of 100 questionable pork barrel projects that are to be funded by the Stimulus To Nowhere. These wasteful projects amounted to $5.5 billion of the stimulus money.
"As Sen. Coburn points out, this legislation was passed without a single legislator actually reading the entire bill!
"And, now President Obama is pushing for passage of another so-called stimulus bill. This is irrational thinking. If a trillion dollar boondoggle failed, why does Obama think that another one will succeed?
"What America needs is tax cuts, a halt to binge spending, and a reduction in the control that the federal government has over our economic well-being. The feds should get out of the way and let the free market operate.
"But, these rational suggestions will not be considered by a man whose vision is for a federal government that controls literally every aspect of our lives. President Obama has a socialist utopia in mind – something that never has and never will exist on this planet.
"Americans must reject Obama’s socialist schemes – and they have the opportunity for 'change' and 'hope' as the November elections approach."
"Well, President Obama promised the creation of 3.5 million jobs in his Stimulus To Nowhere. There have been 2.8 million jobs lost since then.
"The unemployment rate was 7.7% when Obama was pushing his federal boondoggle. It stands at 9.7% today.
"Forty-seven states have lost jobs since the Stimulus To Nowhere was passed.
"And, where has all of this money gone? Well, in June 2009, Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) published a listing of 100 questionable pork barrel projects that are to be funded by the Stimulus To Nowhere. These wasteful projects amounted to $5.5 billion of the stimulus money.
"As Sen. Coburn points out, this legislation was passed without a single legislator actually reading the entire bill!
"And, now President Obama is pushing for passage of another so-called stimulus bill. This is irrational thinking. If a trillion dollar boondoggle failed, why does Obama think that another one will succeed?
"What America needs is tax cuts, a halt to binge spending, and a reduction in the control that the federal government has over our economic well-being. The feds should get out of the way and let the free market operate.
"But, these rational suggestions will not be considered by a man whose vision is for a federal government that controls literally every aspect of our lives. President Obama has a socialist utopia in mind – something that never has and never will exist on this planet.
"Americans must reject Obama’s socialist schemes – and they have the opportunity for 'change' and 'hope' as the November elections approach."
Janeane Garofalo: Air America Was Too Kind To Succeed
In a sign troubled actress/ angry comedian Janeane Garofalo's mental state has further deteriorated, the former libtalker now claims Air America's demise was partly the result of 'kindness' in a nasty industry. So much for stolen charity funds, calling Hillary Clinton a 'whore', etc, history has officially been re-written."
A white woman who outblacks Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and Louis Farrakhan.
What Rachel Maddow Wants Taped to Bathroom Stalls at the DNC
IT IS 'BROKEN,' BUT WHO BROKE IT?.... Again, this is the right sentiment, but it's incomplete.
Vice President Joe Biden doesn't seem to miss his days as a senator.
In an interview with CBS "Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith, Biden was blunt about the nation's political system. "Washington, right now, is broken."
Having served in the Senate for more than 30 years, Biden has seen a fair share of gridlock in Congress, but the current version is the worst ever, he said.
"I don't ever recall a time in my career where to get anything done, you needed a supermajority, 60 out of 100 senators.... I've never seen it this dysfunctional," he said.
Right. The system in Washington is "broken." Every effort does require an inexplicable "supermajority." The entire policymaking process is "dysfunctional."
But what officials need to understand is the importance of taking the next step -- explaining why this is and who is responsible.
As much as I'm sympathetic to the vice president's entirely accurate concerns, his omissions make all the difference. For viewers who don't know what filibusters or cloture votes are, they're thinking, "There's a Democratic president and a Democratic Congress. If the system is broken and dysfunctional, maybe it's Democrats' fault."
Except, for anyone interested in reality, that assumption couldn't be more wrong. If legislation received up-or-down votes in both chambers -- the way Congress operated for the better part of two centuries -- the system would work quite well and the dysfunction that drives everyone crazy would largely disappear.
Biden, in other words, needs to name names -- Republicans broke the American legislative process. They did so deliberately, during a time of crises, because they're desperate to undercut the Democratic majority, regardless of the consequences. The GOP's tactics have no precedent in American history, and violate every democratic norm that keeps our system moving.
It's not enough to share Americans' disgust; Dems need to help the public understand this mess. They can do so by avoiding jargon and legislative terminology, and calling Republicans' obstructionist tactics what they are: a dangerous political scandal.
Don't talk about "filibusters" or "supermajorities"; talk about the Republican "scandal" that has brought the system to a halt. Talk about Republicans "shutting down" the American policymaking process, and ignoring the will of the voters.
--------------------------------------------------------------
The woman is desperate in misdirecting the voters. The voters are angry at the Democrats and rightfully so.
Vice President Joe Biden doesn't seem to miss his days as a senator.
In an interview with CBS "Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith, Biden was blunt about the nation's political system. "Washington, right now, is broken."
Having served in the Senate for more than 30 years, Biden has seen a fair share of gridlock in Congress, but the current version is the worst ever, he said.
"I don't ever recall a time in my career where to get anything done, you needed a supermajority, 60 out of 100 senators.... I've never seen it this dysfunctional," he said.
Right. The system in Washington is "broken." Every effort does require an inexplicable "supermajority." The entire policymaking process is "dysfunctional."
But what officials need to understand is the importance of taking the next step -- explaining why this is and who is responsible.
As much as I'm sympathetic to the vice president's entirely accurate concerns, his omissions make all the difference. For viewers who don't know what filibusters or cloture votes are, they're thinking, "There's a Democratic president and a Democratic Congress. If the system is broken and dysfunctional, maybe it's Democrats' fault."
Except, for anyone interested in reality, that assumption couldn't be more wrong. If legislation received up-or-down votes in both chambers -- the way Congress operated for the better part of two centuries -- the system would work quite well and the dysfunction that drives everyone crazy would largely disappear.
Biden, in other words, needs to name names -- Republicans broke the American legislative process. They did so deliberately, during a time of crises, because they're desperate to undercut the Democratic majority, regardless of the consequences. The GOP's tactics have no precedent in American history, and violate every democratic norm that keeps our system moving.
It's not enough to share Americans' disgust; Dems need to help the public understand this mess. They can do so by avoiding jargon and legislative terminology, and calling Republicans' obstructionist tactics what they are: a dangerous political scandal.
Don't talk about "filibusters" or "supermajorities"; talk about the Republican "scandal" that has brought the system to a halt. Talk about Republicans "shutting down" the American policymaking process, and ignoring the will of the voters.
--------------------------------------------------------------
The woman is desperate in misdirecting the voters. The voters are angry at the Democrats and rightfully so.
Maher Strikes Again: Americans 'Not Bright Enough to Really Understand the Issues'
It's not the Americans who has the problem.
This website wants Obama to serve more than 2 terms
Huh? Suspended?
It wanted Obama to serve (rule) beyond 2016. The website could not survive Obama's first term!
It wanted Obama to serve (rule) beyond 2016. The website could not survive Obama's first term!
Excuse for Obama Failing
“The Republicans, especially Bush, messed things up so much it needed a superhuman effort to make things right. It probably needed more than 8 years by Obama to fix it!”
Jill Stanek: The abortion clinic and other novel ideas of Adolf Hitler
"Did Hitler support abortion?
"Yes. In fact, he was the first major Western leader to allow abortion even for reasons of the stress of the mother – thus making it legal in nearly every circumstance. His idea was to limit the growth of populations (lessen them, actually) in the Eastern territories where he wanted the German empire to expand – while increasing pregnancies and births to 'Aryan' couples."
"Yes. In fact, he was the first major Western leader to allow abortion even for reasons of the stress of the mother – thus making it legal in nearly every circumstance. His idea was to limit the growth of populations (lessen them, actually) in the Eastern territories where he wanted the German empire to expand – while increasing pregnancies and births to 'Aryan' couples."
Jealous doesn't know Jack about Jobs
"What really set me off, however, was Mr. Jealous' attack on Senate Republicans who oppose the so-called 'jobs' bill. Mr. Jealous, in the time-honored tradition of past NAACP leaders, pulled the race card from the bottom of the deck:
'The Senate Republicans want to keep on using tactics, quite frankly, from the last that were used against black people in this century against working people. It's not enough to say no, no, no when people are suffering, suffering, suffering across the country...Unfortunately, yesterday's Dixiecrats have switched parties in too many instances.'
"What in the name of hyperbole does the Republican Party's principled opposition to the mislabeled 'jobs' bill have to do with the Democratic Party's racist past? The 'Dixiecrats,' disgruntled Democrats who wanted the party to continue its support of segregation and institutionalized discrimination, were obstructing equal justice under the law.
"Today's Senate Republicans, on the other hand, are acting as prudent stewards of the taxpayer's money, particularly after the debacle of last year's equally mislabeled 'stimulus' package, which was supposed to bring joblessness below 8 percent, but failed to keep it from reaching 10 percent."
'The Senate Republicans want to keep on using tactics, quite frankly, from the last that were used against black people in this century against working people. It's not enough to say no, no, no when people are suffering, suffering, suffering across the country...Unfortunately, yesterday's Dixiecrats have switched parties in too many instances.'
"What in the name of hyperbole does the Republican Party's principled opposition to the mislabeled 'jobs' bill have to do with the Democratic Party's racist past? The 'Dixiecrats,' disgruntled Democrats who wanted the party to continue its support of segregation and institutionalized discrimination, were obstructing equal justice under the law.
"Today's Senate Republicans, on the other hand, are acting as prudent stewards of the taxpayer's money, particularly after the debacle of last year's equally mislabeled 'stimulus' package, which was supposed to bring joblessness below 8 percent, but failed to keep it from reaching 10 percent."
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