Attacking Palin

So the Obama camp attacks on Palin have begun-

“Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency. Governor Palin shares John McCain’s commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil and continuing George Bush’s failed economic policies — that’s not the change we need, it’s just more of the same.”

I see that they neglect to mention her executive experience as governor of Alaska. And Obama's foreign policy experience is? Anyone?

Barack Obama has virtually nil to show for his brief time in Congress- where's the work of the "change candidate" in Washington? What exactly has he to show for all his lofty talk- what change has he personally been responsible for?

Unlike Obama or his VP pick- in Washington since the early '70s- Sarah Palin actually has something of a record of change-

“At a time when many Republicans are still clinging to pork-barrel politics, Governor Palin has quickly become a leader on this issue,” said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey. “She is a principled reformer who understands how badly wasteful spending has marred the Republican brand.”

Governor Palin has proven herself to be a reformer unafraid to take on the establishment, which she did early on when she took on the incumbent Republican governor of Alaska in 2006. Only nine months in office, Governor Palin instructed the state to abandon the notorious pork project secured by Alaska’s politicians, the $223 million “Bridge to Nowhere.”

Can Obama claim to have done anything similar?

Palin For VP

Wow. Discussing McCain's selection of Sarah Palin for VP, CNN criticises her- wait for it- experience.

And one of the prerequisites, we'd like to believe are prerequisites, for picking a vice presidential running mate are a person who can step into the office at a moment's notice and not miss a beat, a person who is prepared to be President of the United States. Now, she is a manager. She is the governor of a state. She does have limited experience, though. She's also been the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. And for a time she was the ethics chairman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

And the punchline of the joke-

But that does not add up to broad experience, particularly the type of broad experience that you think should launch you to the national level.

And Obama has more experience than her in what way?

Stanley Kurtz

Doing investigative journalism into the background of a Presidential candidate, Stanley Kurtz is looking into the link` between Obama and terrorist William Ayers. A link Obama himself brushed off by saying that Ayers was just someone who lived in his neighbourhood. As has been demonstrated, that is a lie.

LGF has audio of Kurtz's appearance on radio- a show the Obama campaign urged its supporters to contact because Kurtz was smearing Obama. Worth listening to- because the Obama callers buy into the "smear" tag wholeheartedly and never once question any of the facts that Kurtz has uncovered. Either that or they complain that it isn't fair that the Obama camp isn't on the show- even though they were invited. And have their campaign HQ just down the street. More than once we hear that Kurtz shouldn't be allowed to talk because the Dems are having their convention and, you know, no one could possibly leave HQ, walk down the street and come on the show for a few minutes. Nope, they're too busy to do that.

Not one seems to think it might be because they couldn't challenge any of the facts.

Interesting Point

Campaign Spot posts this-

If Barack Obama serves a full term as president, it will be the longest time he has served in a full-time job.

He's 47 years old and he's never held down a single job for more than four years in a row? Little wonder his record of accomplishment is so thin.

Obama's Record

I've got to admit that the only one of these I caught at the time was Biden's claim about Obama and Walter Reed.

Doing the work that the MSM refuses to regarding their favoured candidate, here's the Weekly Standard on Biden's list of Barack's "accomplishments".

Mr. Biden also praised Mr. Obama for three specific legislative accomplishments.

Okay? Here we go-

One of them was an ethics bill, called by Mr. Biden in his acceptance speech "the most sweeping in a generation." However, many critics--including Hillary Clinton--criticized it as weak. For example, under Mr. Obama's bill, lobbyists may buy politicians meals if they are eating standing up but not if they're sitting down. Mr. Obama's bill didn't ban privately funded travel for congressmen or authorize an independent investigation office.

Fair enough, Obama did do something. And the other two?

Mr. Biden asserted Mr. Obama "made his mark literally from day one, reaching across the aisle to pass legislation to secure the world's deadliest weapons," a claim similar to one Mr. Obama made earlier in the campaign.

Wow. Important stuff this.

In reality, the Lugar-Obama Bill was passed on a voice vote on December 11, 2006. It was so routine, there was no recorded vote. The media didn't consider it important or controversial. Neither the New York Times nor the Washington Post reported its Senate passage...It was not the subject of a story on the CBS, ABC or NBC evening news--not when it passed, not when it was signed, not ever. No story about it appeared in Roll Call or The Hill, the daily newspapers that cover the minutiae of Congress.

That's some mark you made, Barry.

And the last?

Saturday, Biden proclaimed: "But I was proudest, I was proudest, when I watched him spontaneously focus the attention of the nation on the shameful neglect of America's wounded warriors at Walter Reed Army Hospital." The problem for Mr. Biden (and the object of his praise, Mr. Obama) is the problems at Walter Reed were revealed in articles in the Washington Post, starting February 18, 2007. Unless Mr. Obama writes for the Washington Post under the nom de media of Anne Hull or Dana Priest, he didn't "spontaneously focus the attention of the nation." The two reporters did. The legislation to correct the shortcomings emerged from a Senate committee Mr. Obama doesn't serve on and he played no significant role in drafting or pushing it through the legislative.

But this is all common knowledge- the national media has, of course, covered these embellishments in detail. On prime-time TV. I mean, the watchdog press wouldn't let a VP candidate get away with trying to pull the wool over the American voters' eyes would they?

Right?

Almost forgot this part- Biden's not the only one talking up Obama's negligible record, his wife does it too.

Monday night, Mrs. Obama talked about "what he's done in the United States Senate, fighting to ensure that the men and women who serve this country are welcomed home not just with medals and parades, but with good jobs and benefits and health care--including mental health care."

That would be this-

an apparent reference to the Dignity For Wounded Warriors Act, a bill Mr. Obama introduced that never made it out of the Senate Armed Services Committee, despite its Democratic majority.

Even with a Dem majority he can't get anything done? I'm shocked.

Ayers On Bombing

Obama claimed that because William Ayers committed his terrorist acts when Obama was only 8 years old that it's somehow okay for Obama to befriend him. Does that make it okay for Obama to lie to the American public about the extent of their relationship too?

Anyway, we all know that Ayers is unrepentant about his crimes and that only a "work accident" prevented him and his ilk from murdering US servicemen. His Sept 11th 2001 (published) interview is already reasonably well known (although not as widely as it should be- thanks to the MSM's singularly uninterested view of a major issue). After all, Obama touts his judgement as proof of his ability to lead America in place of executive experience. Never mind that his judgement was wrong on the Surge- what about his judgement in befriending a terrorist? In launching his political career at the home of a terrorist and using that terrorist's contacts to advance himself? What does that say about Barack Obama's judgement?

Have you ever been a friend or business associate of a terrorist? Not someone who, to your shock and horror, turned out secretly to have bombed government buildings. No, the question is whether you’ve ever befriended an unreconstructed radical whose past was well known to you when you entered his orbit and walked through doors he opened for you. Have you been chummy with an unapologetic terrorist who, years after you’d known and worked closely with him, was still telling the New York Times he regretted only failing to carry out more attacks — and that America still “makes me want to puke”?

Is that what American voters look for in a Presidential candidate these days?

What might not be quite so well known is this comment from Ayers, in his book-

I can't quite imagine putting a bomb in a building today--all of that seems so distinctly a part of then. But I can't imagine entirely dismissing the possibility, either.

This comes from a review at Slate from 2001-not a time when Barack Obama was 8 years old. Note at the link too, the crimes Ayers committed while on the run from the law.

Throughout Fugitive Days, Ayers reminds his readers that he's had to omit or change many facts throughout his narrative because they describe actions on his part that are, well, illegal.

No leadership experience, no record of accomplishment, close ties to a corrupt financier (Rezko), and close ties to a terrorist who carried out bombings on US soil.

How did Obama get to where he is today with a CV like that?

The Bi-Partisan Candidate

A certain political campaign is touting itself as being post-partisan. It will heal divisions and bring Democrats and Republicans together to get things done. Blah blah blah.

Facts have a nasty little habit of getting in the way of the words that come out of Obama's mouth, don' they?

Over at Ace's place, they note that Obama, allegedly the post-partisan healer of divisions, voted with the Democrats 96 percent of the time.

Biden votes with his party 96.6 percent of the time. Kerry's 95.6 percent.

McCain votes with his party 88.3 percent.

Want to vote for a post-partisan candidate? You might want to rethink your choice.

Groupthink

Seems like the Obama campaign doesn't just want to clamp down on criticism from without but also to control entirely the message from within- can't let those pesky voters know what Democrats plan after the election, eh?

Rep. Jose Serrano wanted to mention immigration in his speech at the DNC this week but the Obama campaign censored removed the reference.

Mr. Serrano’s experience is one that many convention speakers have had this week, and some are grumbling about it. While all presidential nominees try to put their own stamp on the convention, Democrats say Mr. Obama’s vetting team has been especially aggressive.

“They kept saying it was for space,” Mr. Serrano said. “They never said it was for content. They said they wanted it to be 280 words. But when you read it, they took out the meat of the message.”

Shutting Down Criticism

Aren't liberals supposed to be dedicated supporters of free speech? Oh wait, that's right- only where their speech is concerned. If you happen to hold an opposing position however...well then...the view seems to be shut up.

After trying to use the Justice Department to silence a group which aired a factually correct TV ad, the Obama camp is now hounding a journalist.

They are shamelessly attacking National Review investigative journalist Stanley Kurtz — one of conservatism’s most thoughtful and penetrating writers on academic and educational affairs. Kurtz has been at the forefront probing Obama’s relationships with left-wing ideologues. It was his public information request and public call for help that led to the University of Illinois - Chicago finally releasing tons of files that shed light on the Obama/Ayers working relationship. The Obama camp is condemning Kurtz in harsher terms than it ever condemned the terrorist Ayers. Kurtz has been attacked now as a “right-wing hatchet man” and “slimy character assassin.”

Anyone else think of Obama branding those questioning his stance on infanticide "liars"? You know, the people who had their facts right all along.

Obama's Pork

Another explanation for why Obama chose Biden as his running mate?

Sen. Barack Obama sought more than $3.4 million in congressional earmarks for clients of the lobbyist son of his Democratic running mate, Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, records show. Obama succeeded in getting $192,000 for one of the clients, St. Xavier University in suburban Chicago.

Hope! Change!

Obama And Ayers Again

Another quickie post: this time on Obama's supposedly mainstream buddy, William Ayers. Barack would like voters to believe that because he was a child when Ayers was plotting to murder US soldiers (a point that the MSM often seems to think not worthy of mention) and was carrying out other attacks, that his current associations with him- which he has lied to voters about- are nothing more than a distraction.

Only Ayers is not remorseful about his actions- he's in no way disavowed his terrorism or apologised for it. He is not a reformed character despite his current job. Nor, for that matter, is his despicable wife who once gloated about the murder of Sharon Tate.

Remember- Obama first of all claimed that Ayers was nothing more than someone who lived in his neighbourhood. His home, in actual fact, was where Obama launched his political career. Ayers and Dohrn hosted that event.

As with other incidents- Obama lied about the truth of the matter and then, when the real facts were exposed, he's tried to brush it aside.

As an outsider looking in, I honestly can't see how Obama- a man who befriended a terrorist couple who once plotted to commit mass-murder of US troops- is in the position he's currently in.

Seriously, Democrats- you want to make the friend of a terrorist Commander-in-Chief?

Chicago Style

Lots I've wanted to blog about lately but time and pain keep getting in the way.

This warrants mention though- a link between Obama, Rezko and - wait for it- Biden.

Biden has described himself as a 30-year friend of a key figure in the Rezko trial who’s pleaded guilty to a federal extortion charge in Chicago and is awaiting sentencing.

When the Delaware senator began contemplating his own 2008 presidential run, he initially was helped by Chicago lawyer Joseph Cari Jr., who also served as Biden’s Midwest field director in his failed 1988 bid for president.

In 2005, Cari admitted to taking part in an $850,000 kickback scheme that prosecutors say was part of a larger political fund-raising operation for Gov. Blagojevich overseen by Rezko, who was convicted in June of wide-ranging corruption involving state deals.

Thoroughly old-school Chicago politics now spread wide on the national stage. And the hope-and-changers still seem to think they're voting for a new breed of politician?

Chilling Free Speech

Liberal politician and so-called Constitutional law expert Barack Obama doesn't seem to be too enamoured of the First Amendment. Upset that a group called American Issues Project has produced a factually correct ad pointing out his relationship with an unrepentant terrorist, the Obama camp has not only tried to pressure TV stations into pulling the ad but they are even calling on the DoJ to investigate. So here it is- why not spread it around?

Quote of the Day

This made made me laugh.

Michelle Obama sniffs when talking about "bringing her baby home from the hospital." A year ago, pre-parenthood, I would have rolled my eyes. But the "firm embrace of a father's love" lines appeal to my sappy new dad side.

"Someday you're going to be telling your children about what we did together in this election." Indeed. "Son, I gave the Obama campaign headaches 24-7."

Heh. This is a close second-

Michelle Obama, discussing her husband's values. "Your word is your bond, and you have to do what you say you'll do." Two seats down from me, David Freddoso's head exploded. He literally wrote the book on this.

She really said that? Quick get it in a campaign ad.

Biden

So Biden is Obama's running mate- who would have guessed that Barack would pick a guy who exaggerates and lies about his accomplishments? Note too that the agent of change, the man who was supported by Teddy Kennedy- the supposed old guard he railed against- picked one of the longest serving Senators in Washington to be his running mate. Care to lay odds that there'll be much change going on once he gets elected?

Are you disappointed Obama primary voters- has there been a big issue so far where he hasn't let down those those who propelled him to his current position?

Teleprompter Addiction

The most eloquent man in politics needs a teleprompter even during his townhall events?

According to several Democrat political consultants presumptive Democrat presidential nominee Barack Obama spent part of his Hawaiian vacation working on weaning himself from a heavy dependence on teleprompters. Even in what are staged as "town hall" events for Obama, remarks are scripted or formatted into bullet points that scroll on teleprompter screens. Obama has had several embarrassing events where the teleprompter either malfunctioned or the screens were not fully visible.

Look for suspicious wires or bulges under his suit jacket during the debates!

Obama's Failing

Obama is asked about his own failings and he claims that he- and Americans- are selfish.

Americans gave nearly $300 billion to charitable causes last year, setting a record and besting the 2005 total that had been boosted by a surge in aid to victims of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma and the Asian tsunami.

It's true that Obama's own charitable donations are not anything to brag about but he slanders the USA when he brings them into the discussion.

Gaudiani said Americans give twice as much as the next most charitable country, according to a November 2006 comparison done by the Charities Aid Foundation. In philanthropic giving as a percentage of gross domestic product, the U.S. ranked first at 1.7%. No. 2 Britain gave 0.73%, while France, with a 0.14% rate, trailed such countries as South Africa, Singapore, Turkey and Germany.

He then went on to accuse Clarence Thomas of not being experienced enough to sit on the Supreme Court. Thomas has been criticised for serving only a year in the DC Court of Appeals. As opposed to Barack Obama's 143 days of experience before he thought he was experienced enough to be in the White House.

An American Carol

Spoofs like this aren't usually my cup of tea but the jokes in films like Airplane and Hot Shots tend to come so thick and fast that they can be watchable. And some of the visual gags are pretty clever. I'm really rooting for An American Carol to be good- the start of some conservative-friendly flicks coming out of Hollywood? There's a lot riding on it.

Lawgiver

This may take a little time to read through but a quick skim makes it seem quite compelling- a discussion about various science fiction weapons from a real world point of view. The whole website covers a remarkable variety of topics but the "sidearms" section is one that I'm most interested in.

Found it when I was reminiscing about reading 2000AD as a kid and I did a quick search for Dredd's Lawgiver. They seem to have updated the design in the comic with a Mk II. Loses the aesthetic appeal of the original as far as I'm concerned.

Gaza Building Better Rockets

Terrorists in Gaza showed off a training area and rocket-building facilities to a group of journalists. CNN was the only Western organisation to take part in the terrorist propaganda exercise.

The militants terrorists showed off what they said was a new rocket, called the Nasser-4, which can travel 25 km (16 miles) -- double the range of the existing Nasser-3. If true, larger Israeli cities like Ashkelon and Ashdod would be under threat of attack.

The careful preparations showed just why explosions sometimes occur in Gaza-

Inside the "factory" -- a tiny room with rockets lining the walls -- masked men tried to light a fire from a gas canister in order to heat the explosives to liquefy them so that they could be poured into the shells. But despite the apparent painstaking planning that went into the display, the rocketmakers sometimes fell short.

First, the lighter didn't work. Then, a leak in a canister filled the room with suffocating gas. Explosions, euphemistically called "workplace accidents," occur in Gaza from time to time, but the men building the rockets handled deadly ingredients and warheads in a visibly relaxed manner.

The PR stunt is a win-win for the terrorists- if Israel takes no action over the provocation they can crow about another "victory" to their supporters. If Israel does take action to protect its citizens from terrorist attack, the terrorists can claim that Israel broke the ceasefire and that they are entitled to "retaliate".

The wheel keeps turning. It seems to me that the only thing which could break the cycle of violence is if Western nations stop funding these terrorists and actually make the so-called refugees stand on their own two feet- they might be too busy actually trying to make a living instead of using aid to finance their genocidal plans.

Would it be so hard to say, yes, you can have millions of dollars in aid but first you have to stop the terrorism?

The Obama Way

A trio of Obama stories today. First this-

“You are required to volunteer.” That would normally be a splendid example of an oxymoron, but it also describes the process for those who want to see Barack Obama speak at Invesco Field as he accepts his nomination.

Apparently the free tickets require the recipients to perform some compulsory volunteer work for the campaign with one ticket being worth two three-hour shifts. Then there's this-

Since 1884, the Democrats have conducted a roll-call vote to nominate their candidate for the presidency, and most expected to have that same opportunity in Denver. However, the Barack Obama campaign — fearful of a floor revolt by Hillary Clinton die-hards — has tried to strike that tradition in order to have Obama nominated by acclamation.

Compulsory volunteer work and then dismantling a decades old democratic system- anyone see a pattern emerge? See if this one helps-

[Sacha] Millstone acknowledged she was frustrated over how the Obama campaign was treating delegates who supported Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and told a fellow delegate, in what she believed was a private e-mail exchange, that she was not sure she could vote for Obama at the Democratic National Convention later this month.

The other delegate apparently filed a complaint with the state Democratic Party suggesting Millstone lose her status as a delegate.

Rather than dismiss the complaint - free speech and all that- the Democratic Party issued this statement-

“You are directed to come in to the Party Headquarters and explain your comments and why you should remain a national delegate…”

So much for freedom, democracy and dissent, eh? These all seem to be excess to requirements in the world of Obama and his supporters.

The Tyre Theory

Obama keeps touting this tyre-inflating theory and how many millions of barrels of oil it will save the US. There's just one thing that I have to ask- where are the hard figures which categorically prove that millions of cars in the US are currently driving around with under-inflated tyres?

How many cars out of the total vehicles on the road are under-inflated? By how much are they under-inflated? Are the savings for each kind of vehicle on the road the same? Because it seems to me that without solid evidence like that it doesn't matter how many people calculate the end savings of doing this simple task. Does Obama know these things? Where's the solid definitive proof for his claimed savings- rather than guestimates.

Notice too how the post-partisan candidate is anything but- saying that Republicans take "pride in being ignorant" because they're mocking his energy policy.

Rich coming from Obama who wants to concurrently reduce electricity consumption but also add a million electric-powered hybrids to America's roads. Not to mention the many other factual mistakes he's made during the campaign.

MoveOn Attacks Obama's Plan

MoveOn is apparently upset that Republicans are doing something about high oil prices rather than wailing about saving the planet.

“Speaker Pelosi blocked their plan because it won't help lower gas prices—but it will line the pockets of Big Oil executives, the same people donating millions of dollars to Republicans,” the e-mail said.

“We’ve invited the media, and having a good crowd is critical to show them that voters don’t want oil industry gimmicks—they want real solutions like alternative energy to solve our energy crisis,” the e-mail said.

MoveOn acknowledged that “Republicans have been dominating the debate around gas prices for weeks with their sham drilling plan,” adding that the House protest is “getting a lot of press coverage.”

What's strangely missing from their missive is any mention of Barack Obama who flip-flopped on the issue in Florida- he too now says that he will support Big Oil drilling.

So, MoveOn is campaigning against one of Obama's new platforms? I hope they don't forget to mention him when their protest begins.

Obama's ego

It seems that the pretend Presidential Seal of the Obama campaign and the need for reporters to remind his staff that he isn't in the actual Oval Office yet aren't isolated incidents but are symptomatic of a culture of "we're already there".

For instance, here's Obama's seat on his campaign plane-

Forget audacity, the gall of this man is unbelievable.