The ceasefire is "strained"?
Palestinian militants in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip fired five rockets at Israel on Saturday, according to the Israeli military, further straining a fragile month-old ceasefire.. Palestinian militants have fired more than 100 rockets and mortar rounds at Israel since the fragile January 18 truce that ended Israel's massive military offensive on Gaza, which killed more than 1,300 Palestinians and 13 Israelis.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Quote of the Day
From Hot Air-
Which is most reassuring — Biden heading up the stimulus, Panetta learning intel on the fly as head of the CIA, or our new energy secretary needing to be told that he’s responsible for, um, energy?
And this one came a very, very close second-
How does that Hope and Change feel now, Obama voters? Anyone ready to give President Bush an overdue apology?
Which is most reassuring — Biden heading up the stimulus, Panetta learning intel on the fly as head of the CIA, or our new energy secretary needing to be told that he’s responsible for, um, energy?
And this one came a very, very close second-
How does that Hope and Change feel now, Obama voters? Anyone ready to give President Bush an overdue apology?
Monday, February 23, 2009
Bill Dodger
So Obama owes Chicago money for his election party. Turns out, he also owes Philadelphia.
BARACK OBAMA spent a record $760 million getting himself elected president. But his campaign, Obama for America, still owes Philadelphia nearly $24,000 for several pre-election events, and the cash-strapped city hasn’t given up its collection efforts.
The most expensive event was an Oct. 4 rally on the Parkway, featuring Bruce Springsteen. The city’s expenses came to $9,050, including sound systems, lighting, platforms, bleachers and clean-up costs.
There were smaller charges for a series of Obama appearances on Oct. 11, at Progress Plaza, the Mayfair Diner and Vernon Park, and $3,666 for a Joe Biden rally at Marconi Plaza the day before the election.
Answer me this- why is a city spending their taxpayers' money on partisan electioneering?
Perhaps in future US cities will know to make sure that politicans pay up front for things like this.
Gloom
It must be contagious-
I've been stuck in the house by the weather, and I've been fairly broke-ish for the last couple weeks, which has amplified my cabin fever, which is in turn reinforced by the short days and gray skies, which has caused me to write less. And the writing less has made me feel non-productive, which makes me feel more depressed. Which has in turn... Well, you see where this is going: Lather, Rinse, Repeat.
I've been staring at blank pages for the past few weeks and...nothing. Not being able to write is maddening.
I've been stuck in the house by the weather, and I've been fairly broke-ish for the last couple weeks, which has amplified my cabin fever, which is in turn reinforced by the short days and gray skies, which has caused me to write less. And the writing less has made me feel non-productive, which makes me feel more depressed. Which has in turn... Well, you see where this is going: Lather, Rinse, Repeat.
I've been staring at blank pages for the past few weeks and...nothing. Not being able to write is maddening.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The Kerry Letter
There's some controversy about a letter John Kerry received on a Mid-East trip- he was given it and asked to pass it on to Obama. And now it turns out that the letter originated with Hamas.
Kerry claims to know nothing about the sender.
U.S. officials are furious with the United Nations for its role in Hamas' attempt to enlist U.S. Sen John Kerry to transfer a letter from the Palestinian militant group to President Obama during Kerry's trip to the Middle East, an official source told FOX News.
One thing bothers me about this- why is a United States Senator acting as a mail delivery boy for the UN or Hamas or anyone really?
I mean, do Senators normally personally receive mail from one group to deliver it to another? I could maybe understand it if the UN group he was meeting with said, "oh by the way, here's a letter for the President- would you mind delivering it for us?" and then Kerry let his aides take care of it. But for him to personally accept the letter and then deliver it?
Something not quite right about that.
Kerry claims to know nothing about the sender.
U.S. officials are furious with the United Nations for its role in Hamas' attempt to enlist U.S. Sen John Kerry to transfer a letter from the Palestinian militant group to President Obama during Kerry's trip to the Middle East, an official source told FOX News.
One thing bothers me about this- why is a United States Senator acting as a mail delivery boy for the UN or Hamas or anyone really?
I mean, do Senators normally personally receive mail from one group to deliver it to another? I could maybe understand it if the UN group he was meeting with said, "oh by the way, here's a letter for the President- would you mind delivering it for us?" and then Kerry let his aides take care of it. But for him to personally accept the letter and then deliver it?
Something not quite right about that.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Iranian Nuke
Iran apparently has enough material to make one nuclear bomb. The world just got a whole lot more dangerous.
In a development that comes as the Obama administration is drawing up its policy on negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear programme, UN officials said Iran had produced more nuclear material than previously thought.
They said Iran had now accumulated more than one tonne of low enriched uranium hexafluoride at a facility in Natanz. If such a quantity were further enriched it could produce more than 20kg of fissile material – enough for a bomb…
The question now is- will anyone act to prevent them from actually producing a nuclear weapon? Because further negotiations aren't going to cut it- and anyone with half a brain cell in Obama's administration must know that.Stimulus RAT
Wow, here comes some more "hope and change" courtesy of the Obama administration.
You’ve heard a lot about the astonishing spending in the $787 billion economic stimulus bill, signed into law this week by President Barack Obama. But you probably haven’t heard about a provision in the bill that threatens to politicize the way allegations of fraud and corruption are investigated — or not investigated — throughout the federal government.
The provision, which attracted virtually no attention in the debate over the 1,073-page stimulus bill, creates something called the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board — the RAT Board, as it’s known by the few insiders who are aware of it. The board would oversee the in-house watchdogs, known as inspectors general, whose job is to independently investigate allegations of wrongdoing at various federal agencies, without fear of interference by political appointees or the White House.
In the name of accountability and transparency, Congress has given the RAT Board the authority to ask “that an inspector general conduct or refrain from conducting an audit or investigation.” If the inspector general doesn’t want to follow the wishes of the RAT Board, he’ll have to write a report explaining his decision to the board, as well as to the head of his agency (from whom he is supposedly independent) and to Congress. In the end, a determined inspector general can probably get his way, but only after jumping through bureaucratic hoops that will inevitably make him hesitate to go forward.
Wonderful. Chicago politics meets Pelosi's "most ethical Congress ever".UK Bailout
The US isn't the only nation which bailed out its banks. The UK did the same thing.
Super.
Japan
So they plunged us into incredible debt for what exactly? It seems to me we're no better off with a couple of banks propped up than we would be if we'd let them fail and not put our national debt at post-WW2 levels.
I wonder what the figure will be for the US.
The staggering total of
That represents £33,000 for every man, woman and child in the country.
Super.
Official debt figures had already shown public borrowing spiralling to a new record, reaching £67.2billion between last April and January. The deepening recession also led to a £7billion fall in the amount of tax paid by individuals and businesses last month, compared to January 2008, leaving a yawning black hole in Government finances.
So they plunged us into incredible debt for what exactly? It seems to me we're no better off with a couple of banks propped up than we would be if we'd let them fail and not put our national debt at post-WW2 levels.
I wonder what the figure will be for the US.
Mexican Civil War
The day will come- sooner rather than later if things continue as they are- when American voters are going to start asking their representatives why they have valued illegal immigration over the security of the nation.
A shootout in a border city that leaves five alleged drug traffickers sprawled dead on the street and seven police wounded. A police chief and his bodyguards gunned down outside his house in another border city. Four bridges into the United States shut down by protesters who want the military out of their towns and who officials say are backed by narcotraffickers.
If Washington had any sense they would have acted to secure the border right after 9-11. If Mexico does fall into anarchy then it will be too late to act.
A shootout in a border city that leaves five alleged drug traffickers sprawled dead on the street and seven police wounded. A police chief and his bodyguards gunned down outside his house in another border city. Four bridges into the United States shut down by protesters who want the military out of their towns and who officials say are backed by narcotraffickers.
That was Mexico on Tuesday.
What is most remarkable is that it was not much different from Monday or Sunday or any day in the past few years.
Mexico, a country with a nearly 2,000-mile border with the United States, is undergoing a horrifying wave of violence that some are likening to a civil war. Drug traffickers battle fiercely with each other and Mexican authorities. The homicide rate reached a record level in 2008 and indications are that the carnage could be exceeded this year.If Washington had any sense they would have acted to secure the border right after 9-11. If Mexico does fall into anarchy then it will be too late to act.
Pelosi Rules
You know, I could have sworn that Obama campaigned on bringing a new kind of politics to Washington. Who knew that what he meant was a tyrannical Pelosi regime. Not only has she shut Democrats out of the normal bill-crafting process- not to mention completely excluding Republicans from the Stimulus- but now comes the news that she planned on changing the normal rules of Congress to dis-allow the minority party from even proposing legislation.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi plans to re-write House rules today to ensure that the Republican minority is unable to have any influence on legislation. Pelosi’s proposals are so draconian, and will so polarize the Capitol, that any thought President-elect Obama has of bipartisan cooperation will be rendered impossible before he even takes office...
There seems to be no news of this since January. Any one know of any updates?
And anyone care to bet that had the Republicans been in charge and proposed such a rule-change that the MSM would have been so dis-interested?
When the Republicans do come back to power in Congress, I hope they very loudly proclaim that they will be following the rules initiated by Pelosi.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi plans to re-write House rules today to ensure that the Republican minority is unable to have any influence on legislation. Pelosi’s proposals are so draconian, and will so polarize the Capitol, that any thought President-elect Obama has of bipartisan cooperation will be rendered impossible before he even takes office...
There seems to be no news of this since January. Any one know of any updates?
And anyone care to bet that had the Republicans been in charge and proposed such a rule-change that the MSM would have been so dis-interested?
When the Republicans do come back to power in Congress, I hope they very loudly proclaim that they will be following the rules initiated by Pelosi.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Twilight Zone Politics
You are now entering the Twilight Zone- otherwise known as the Obama Presidency.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has warned the US against repeating the mistakes the Soviet Union made.
"We must not revert to isolationism and unrestrained economic egotism... Excessive intervention in economic activity and blind faith in the state's omnipotence is another possible mistake. True, the state's increased role in times of crisis is a natural reaction to market setbacks. Instead of streamlining market mechanisms, some are tempted to expand state economic intervention to the greatest possible extent... In the 20th century, the Soviet Union made the state's role absolute. In the long run, this made the Soviet economy totally uncompetitive. This lesson cost us dearly. I am sure nobody wants to see it repeated."
Yep, you know that things are getting really weird when Putin is telling the US to engage in less socialism.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has warned the US against repeating the mistakes the Soviet Union made.
"We must not revert to isolationism and unrestrained economic egotism... Excessive intervention in economic activity and blind faith in the state's omnipotence is another possible mistake. True, the state's increased role in times of crisis is a natural reaction to market setbacks. Instead of streamlining market mechanisms, some are tempted to expand state economic intervention to the greatest possible extent... In the 20th century, the Soviet Union made the state's role absolute. In the long run, this made the Soviet economy totally uncompetitive. This lesson cost us dearly. I am sure nobody wants to see it repeated."
Yep, you know that things are getting really weird when Putin is telling the US to engage in less socialism.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Inmates Running The Asylum
In the UK a man confronts a drug dealer and flushes his stash of heroin down the toilet. He's arrested and imprisoned.
In the US, a rancher apprehends illegal aliens crossing his property. He's fined $78,000.
What the heck is going on?
In the US, a rancher apprehends illegal aliens crossing his property. He's fined $78,000.
What the heck is going on?
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Quote of the Day
Yet again, the audacity of Barack Obama's hypocrisy-
In a passage from his 2006 book, "The Audacity of Hope," [Obama] sounds like a Republican complaining about the stimulus. "Genuine bipartisanship," he wrote, "assumes an honest process of give-and-take, and that the quality of the compromise is measured by how well it serves some agreed-upon goal, whether better schools or lower deficits. This in turn assumes that the majority will be constrained — by an exacting press corps and ultimately an informed electorate — to negotiate in good faith.
"If these conditions do not hold — if nobody outside Washington is really paying attention to the substance of the bill, if the true costs . . . are buried in phony accounting and understated by a trillion dollars or so — the majority party can begin every negotiation by asking for 100% of what it wants, go on to concede 10%, and then accuse any member of the minority party who fails to support this 'compromise' of being 'obstructionist.'"
Honour Killings
Atlas Shrugged has a post up showing the pictures of Western victims of "honour" killings. It's disturbing how often "UK" shows up.
Can of Worms
Obama's decision to close Gitmo is sure to open a legal can of worms.
In a small room at Guantanamo Bay, plain white except for an American flag hung on the wall, Abdul al Rahman al Zahri sat shackled in front of three military officers at a hearing to determine whether he continued to pose a threat to the United States and its allies.
In a small room at Guantanamo Bay, plain white except for an American flag hung on the wall, Abdul al Rahman al Zahri sat shackled in front of three military officers at a hearing to determine whether he continued to pose a threat to the United States and its allies.
Zahri, a Yemeni captured in Afghanistan in 2001, was clear on that point. “I do pose a threat to the United States and its allies,” he said, according to a transcript of the 2006 hearing. “I admit to you it’s my honor to be an enemy of the United States. I am a Muslim jihadist, and I’m defending my family and my honor.”
And then we move on to this-Zahri said he heard the call to jihad outside a mosque in Yemen in early 2001, and he decided to go to Afghanistan as a trainee to eventually fight Russian forces in Chechnya, according to military documents. Within a week, he met bin Laden at an al-Qaida guesthouse, one of 10 meetings that military officials allege he had with terrorist leaders.
“The detainee stated he attended a meeting prior to 11 September 2001 in which an upcoming operation was discussed,” according to military documents.
Zahri went to the front lines in Afghanistan to fight the U.S.-backed Northern Alliance, where he was wounded, captured and eventually sent to Guantanamo. But despite his statements and some potential evidence — he was captured with a bag of various currencies and passports from several countries — some legal experts say it may be difficult for the United States to bring charges against him under the law as it stood in 2001.
One thing seems certain- the "rights" of these terrorists will most likely win out over the rights of their potential victims and the security of the USA and its allies.The White House Lawn
I wonder how many liberals are astonished that an Obama presidency hasn't resulted in America suddenly become loved by its enemies?
Following are excerpts from a speech by Kuwaiti Professor Abdallah Al-Nafisi, which aired on Al-Jazeera TV on February 2, 2009.
Following are excerpts from a speech by Kuwaiti Professor Abdallah Al-Nafisi, which aired on Al-Jazeera TV on February 2, 2009.
Abdallah Al-Nafisi: "Four pounds of anthrax - in a suitcase this big - carried by a fighter through tunnels from Mexico into the U.S., are guaranteed to kill 330,000 Americans within a single hour, if it is properly spread in population centers there.
"What a horrifying idea. 9/11 will be small change in comparison. Am I right? There is no need for airplanes, conspiracies, timings, and so on.
"One person, with the courage to carry four pounds of anthrax, will go to the White House lawn, and will spread this 'confetti' all over them, and then will do these cries of joy. It will turn into a real 'celebration.'
Green Hypocrisy
This seems to be getting a fair bit of coverage but just in case you missed it-
THEY may shout their green credentials from the rooftops, but some of Britain’s most prominent environmental champions are living in homes that produce up to half a ton of excess carbon dioxide a year.
An audit of properties, measuring heat loss, has revealed that Chris Martin, the pop star, Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, and Sir David Attenborough, the broadcaster, are among those who reside in homes that are “leaking” energy. Some lack even the most basic energy saving measures such as cavity wall insulation and double glazing.
I guess the American equivalents are Al Gore and Barack "thermostat" Obama.
Simon Hughes, the Liberal Democrat energy and climate change spokesman, owned the least energy-efficient property. He bought his £150,000 flat in Southwark, south London, 25 years ago but has failed to fit it with any significant insulation. Only last week Hughes unveiled plans to make every home in Britain energy efficient within the next decade. He could start with his own flat.
True in so many cases with politicians, isn't it?
Pistol Drills
The Firearm Blog linked to some new (to me) gun blogs and I've checked them out. IMHO, the stand out of the crowd is Project U23- particularly the cool video clips posted over there. Head on over and check it out.
In the meantime, here's one I'm going to snag for myself- Clint Smith showing some pistol malfunction drills.
In the meantime, here's one I'm going to snag for myself- Clint Smith showing some pistol malfunction drills.
Firearm Legislation
GOA has a page up on firearms legislation currently in Congress. The most worrying of these is HR 45-
This bill would require a license for handguns and semiautomatics, including those currently possessed. The applicant must be thumbprinted and sign a certification that, effectively, the firearm will not be kept in a place where it would be available for the defense of the gun owner’s family. The applicant must also make available ALL of his psychiatric records, pass an exam, and pay a fee of up to $25. The license may be renewed after five years and may be revoked. Private sales would be outlawed, and reports to the attorney general of all transactions would be required, even when, as the bill allows, the AG determines that a state licensing system is sufficiently draconian to substitute for the federal license. With virtually no exceptions, ALL firearms transactions (involving semiautos, handguns, long guns, etc.) would be subject to a Brady check. In addition, the bill would make it unlawful in nearly all cases to keep any loaded firearm for self-defense. A variety of “crimes by omission” (such as failure to report certain things) would be created. Criminal penalties of up to ten years and almost unlimited regulatory and inspection authority would be established.
As always, the time to fight an un-Constitutional measure like this is now. Gun owners in America need to get serious about defending their rights.
This bill would require a license for handguns and semiautomatics, including those currently possessed. The applicant must be thumbprinted and sign a certification that, effectively, the firearm will not be kept in a place where it would be available for the defense of the gun owner’s family. The applicant must also make available ALL of his psychiatric records, pass an exam, and pay a fee of up to $25. The license may be renewed after five years and may be revoked. Private sales would be outlawed, and reports to the attorney general of all transactions would be required, even when, as the bill allows, the AG determines that a state licensing system is sufficiently draconian to substitute for the federal license. With virtually no exceptions, ALL firearms transactions (involving semiautos, handguns, long guns, etc.) would be subject to a Brady check. In addition, the bill would make it unlawful in nearly all cases to keep any loaded firearm for self-defense. A variety of “crimes by omission” (such as failure to report certain things) would be created. Criminal penalties of up to ten years and almost unlimited regulatory and inspection authority would be established.
As always, the time to fight an un-Constitutional measure like this is now. Gun owners in America need to get serious about defending their rights.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Kids With Guns
Another update on how that total handgun ban here in the UK is working out.
One shopkeeper said: 'You have to be careful who you deal with or you could get lead in your ear. This area used to be lovely, but it's gone really downmarket. Carrying guns is a way of life for some of these people.'
There you have it- the UK had low gun ownership before the ban took effect, it's an island so the borders are secure compared to, say, the USA- and yet a complete ban on handguns has not decreased gun crime at all. In fact, since it was put into place gun crime has risen. It's now at the point where kids riding bikes are not only carrying guns but willing to use them in public places.
Two teenagers were shot repeatedly by a gang of boys who demanded their iPods and phones.
The victims, brothers aged 18 and 19, were left writhing in agony outside a McDonald's in Neasden, North-West London.
One was hit in the stomach, leg, groin and arm and the other was wounded in the chest and stomach.
The brothers, believed to be eastern European, had been challenged by the gang, some of whom were on bicycles, who asked them what they were doing there and then told them to hand over their valuables.
And get this-
Police today said two boys had been arrested in early morning raids, one of them 14, the other 15. Officers said they were looking for five boys in connection with the attack.
So here we have kids riding around on bicycles carrying handguns. Wow, that ban sure has had a dramatic effect, hasn't it?
One shopkeeper said: 'You have to be careful who you deal with or you could get lead in your ear. This area used to be lovely, but it's gone really downmarket. Carrying guns is a way of life for some of these people.'
There you have it- the UK had low gun ownership before the ban took effect, it's an island so the borders are secure compared to, say, the USA- and yet a complete ban on handguns has not decreased gun crime at all. In fact, since it was put into place gun crime has risen. It's now at the point where kids riding bikes are not only carrying guns but willing to use them in public places.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Economic Warfare
Was the US financial meltdown the result of deliberate action?
On Thursday Sept 15, 2008 at roughly 11 AM The Federal Reserve noticed a tremendous draw down of money market accounts in the USA to the tune of $550 Billion dollars in a matter of an hour or two. Money was being removed electronically.
The Treasury tried to help, opened their window and pumped in $150 Billion but quickly realized they could not stem the tide. We were having an electronic run on the banks. So they decided to closed down the accounts.
Had they not closed down the accounts they estimated that by 2 PM that afternoon. Within 3 hours. $5.5 Trillion would have been withdrawn and the entire economy of the United States would have collapsed, and within 24 hours the world economy would have collapsed.
Now, there are two obvious explanations- either Paulson was lying in order to garner support for the bailout, or America was deliberately targeted by...who?
If what Kanjorski says is "fiction," Americans, particularly Americans in Kanjorski's 11th district of Pennsylvania, need to know. After all, this isn't a story that just goes away on its own, particularly not when Paul Kanjorski is chairman of the Capital Markets Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee.
Diane West notes some comments which, in light of this, begin to sound altogether more ominous.
On Thursday Sept 15, 2008 at roughly 11 AM The Federal Reserve noticed a tremendous draw down of money market accounts in the USA to the tune of $550 Billion dollars in a matter of an hour or two. Money was being removed electronically.
The Treasury tried to help, opened their window and pumped in $150 Billion but quickly realized they could not stem the tide. We were having an electronic run on the banks. So they decided to closed down the accounts.
Had they not closed down the accounts they estimated that by 2 PM that afternoon. Within 3 hours. $5.5 Trillion would have been withdrawn and the entire economy of the United States would have collapsed, and within 24 hours the world economy would have collapsed.
Now, there are two obvious explanations- either Paulson was lying in order to garner support for the bailout, or America was deliberately targeted by...who?
If what Kanjorski says is "fiction," Americans, particularly Americans in Kanjorski's 11th district of Pennsylvania, need to know. After all, this isn't a story that just goes away on its own, particularly not when Paul Kanjorski is chairman of the Capital Markets Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee.
Diane West notes some comments which, in light of this, begin to sound altogether more ominous.
These began with a Sept. 18 Bush announcement that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was stepping up its enforcement action "against illegal market manipulation." As Kincaid wondered, manipulation "by whom or what? The President didn't say." On Sept. 19, President Bush further announced that the SEC had "launched rigorous enforcement actions to detect fraud and manipulation in the market. Anyone engaging in illegal financial transactions will be caught and persecuted (sic -- good ol' W.)." Again, what was Bush talking about?
On that same day, Kincaid reports, "the SEC announced a `sweeping expansion of its ongoing investigation into possible market manipulation in the securities of certain financial institutions.'" Why? What was going on? If ever there was a vital, compelling reason for congressional hearings, Kanjorski's "electronic run on the banks" story is it.
So, what happened to these SEC investigations- what did they discover? Was there anything to the theory that the market was being attacked?Stimulating Science
Gateway Pundit publishes a graphic from the Washington Times showing when the stimulus money will be spent. Note the spending really begins to take hold as the current recession ends and then drops off after the mid-term elections.
He also highlights the astonishing details carried within the bill- such as the $1.6 billion for unidentified "science"? Do make sure to check out the video over there of Rep. Price being interviewed on Hannity- handwritten notes in the bill to change details.
For an outsider such as myself looking in, it's hard to believe that this pork-addled bill which will plunge a nation into debt for generations is being hustled through Congress. This is more like the sort of thing I'd expect to see happen in some Third Word corruptocracy.
One can only hope that the Democrats crippling America with this greed-frenzy will be booted out of power at least until all that debt is paid off.
He also highlights the astonishing details carried within the bill- such as the $1.6 billion for unidentified "science"? Do make sure to check out the video over there of Rep. Price being interviewed on Hannity- handwritten notes in the bill to change details.
For an outsider such as myself looking in, it's hard to believe that this pork-addled bill which will plunge a nation into debt for generations is being hustled through Congress. This is more like the sort of thing I'd expect to see happen in some Third Word corruptocracy.
One can only hope that the Democrats crippling America with this greed-frenzy will be booted out of power at least until all that debt is paid off.
Quote of theDay
From Townhall-
Like most liberals Obama claims to be receptive to all points of view, but he really tolerates no opinion but his own. He cavalierly dismisses those who disagree with him as “bitter and frustrated” and he does not hold himself and his entourage to the standards he easily imposes on everyone else. Barack Obama gave the world many previews of his stunning arrogance long before November 4, 2008. We have seen since then that these examples were not anomalies. The central element of Barack Obama’s character is a stunning, almost breathtaking arrogance. The American people will see much more of this in the coming years.
Like most liberals Obama claims to be receptive to all points of view, but he really tolerates no opinion but his own. He cavalierly dismisses those who disagree with him as “bitter and frustrated” and he does not hold himself and his entourage to the standards he easily imposes on everyone else. Barack Obama gave the world many previews of his stunning arrogance long before November 4, 2008. We have seen since then that these examples were not anomalies. The central element of Barack Obama’s character is a stunning, almost breathtaking arrogance. The American people will see much more of this in the coming years.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Suspended
A story Michelle Malkin highlighted a few days ago- a police officer who sent an email from his home computer in his off-duty hours has been suspended for 30 days. What did he send? Mugshots of people wearing Obama t-shirts.
Evidently, dissent (if you can even call this by that name) is no longer the highest form of patriotism but something that will not be tolerated.
Evidently, dissent (if you can even call this by that name) is no longer the highest form of patriotism but something that will not be tolerated.
Sgt. Rodney Hicok was at home and off-duty when he forwarded the e-mails, said an official with the Iowa Department of Public Safety Bureau and Professional Standards.
The e-mail made disparaging remarks about 15 people in the photos and referred to Obama as having “quite a fan base.”
Hicok was not making a racial statement, the official said, but, rather, a political statement.
Incredible.Politics Not Professionalism
Obama's choice for CIA Director-
The former Democratic congressman from California has no direct intelligence gathering or analysis experience. Obama said he was selected because of his managerial skills and ability to repair the agency’s relationship with Congress after two tumultuous Bush terms.
Doug Powers comments-
This is a little like choosing your starting quarterback based on his ability to alphabetize the roster and get the cheerleaders to lift their skirts.
The former Democratic congressman from California has no direct intelligence gathering or analysis experience. Obama said he was selected because of his managerial skills and ability to repair the agency’s relationship with Congress after two tumultuous Bush terms.
Doug Powers comments-
This is a little like choosing your starting quarterback based on his ability to alphabetize the roster and get the cheerleaders to lift their skirts.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Home Invasion UK Edition
Let's have a look at how that handgun ban is going over here in the UK-
An armed gang stormed a flat where a family was giving a dinner party and left everyone traumatised by firing a gun and threatening the family's five-year-old daughter.
The couple and two friends were waiting for other friends to arrive on Saturday night, and the little girl was about to be taken to bed, when the gang of four or five men forced their way into the flat.
The father was marched into another room and pistol-whipped as the men demanded to know what valuables were in the house. The gun went off but no one was hit.
Wonderful- criminals still armed and the law abiding left defenceless. Compare and contrast with this story.
Home Invasion
A remarkable video of a home invasion captured by the victim's home surveillance system. Faced with four armed men, the home owner was able to return to his home, grab his easily accessible handgun and fire shots. This alone was enough to drive the four men away- even though one of them was armed with a rifle.
It would appear that the men drve right up into his driveway and then all four exited and dashed forward- all armed. But a single man's quick thinking and determination drove them off.
Watch and learn. And defend your right to keep and bear arms. Had this man not been so armed, it's anyone's guess what would have happened to him and anyone home at the time.
Now look how it's done in the UK.
It would appear that the men drve right up into his driveway and then all four exited and dashed forward- all armed. But a single man's quick thinking and determination drove them off.
Watch and learn. And defend your right to keep and bear arms. Had this man not been so armed, it's anyone's guess what would have happened to him and anyone home at the time.
Now look how it's done in the UK.
Chicago Goes National
Doug Ross has an interesting post up on a Democrat caller to a Chicago radio show.
I was in a meeting after Obama got elected and I was told by the Democratic officials in that meeting that we were gonna give billions of dollars that was gonna come down the pike, our way, and what we were to do with it was we were supposed to do with it...
We are gonna build an army of Democratic patronage jobs.... gonna completely freeze up the Republicans forever and ever...
It's a job-capturing system, the same one they have in Chicago... everyone's asking 'why isn't that money being released until 2011 and 2012?'
Because it needs to be released at a time that's close to the election, so that they don't go blow the money and spend it. So they're gonna hold some back and that's where... the real bucks will be spent, right up close to the election.
...It's not a stimulus package, it's not pork! It's a job patronage system... there's gonna be more [people] working for the Democrats in a patronage system than the United States Army...
I suppose in a certain sense you could say that the Obama administration is bringing some change to the country- but I don't think an awful lot of his supporters saw that change being debt for their children and grandchildren to fund an effort to bring Chicago style politics to the national stage.
You'd think that with so much at stake for the country- and by extension the world- one or two reporters might ask Obama why he's ditching his campaign pledge to spend less than $200 billion on an actual stimulus for the $1 trillion and over porkfest currently on the table-
"Why, Mr. President, are you so keen to spend so much money on non-stimulus projects when you say that this is such an important issue? Couldn't the rest of the spending make its way through Congress the normal way when the crisis is past?"
I was in a meeting after Obama got elected and I was told by the Democratic officials in that meeting that we were gonna give billions of dollars that was gonna come down the pike, our way, and what we were to do with it was we were supposed to do with it...
We are gonna build an army of Democratic patronage jobs.... gonna completely freeze up the Republicans forever and ever...
It's a job-capturing system, the same one they have in Chicago... everyone's asking 'why isn't that money being released until 2011 and 2012?'
Because it needs to be released at a time that's close to the election, so that they don't go blow the money and spend it. So they're gonna hold some back and that's where... the real bucks will be spent, right up close to the election.
...It's not a stimulus package, it's not pork! It's a job patronage system... there's gonna be more [people] working for the Democrats in a patronage system than the United States Army...
I suppose in a certain sense you could say that the Obama administration is bringing some change to the country- but I don't think an awful lot of his supporters saw that change being debt for their children and grandchildren to fund an effort to bring Chicago style politics to the national stage.
You'd think that with so much at stake for the country- and by extension the world- one or two reporters might ask Obama why he's ditching his campaign pledge to spend less than $200 billion on an actual stimulus for the $1 trillion and over porkfest currently on the table-
"Why, Mr. President, are you so keen to spend so much money on non-stimulus projects when you say that this is such an important issue? Couldn't the rest of the spending make its way through Congress the normal way when the crisis is past?"
Gregg Comes To His Senses
The best transition ever takes another hit.
According to a breaking news alert from MSNBC, Judd Gregg has withdrawn from his nomination as Commerce Secretary. If so, this makes the third Cabinet appointment from Barack Obama to fail, and the second one at Commerce. Tom Daschle withdrew at HHS over his tax evasion, and Bill Richardson preceded Gregg as Commerce Secretary-designate before withdrawing over a pay-for-play corruption scandal in New Mexico.
I guess some people are surprised that a politician who has spent his "career" advancing himself from one job to another is being made to look like an incompetent amateur now that he actually has to work for a living.
The stick that broke the camel's back, so to speak, seems to have been the White House's naked ploy to use the Census for political gain.
So on yet another front- all that hope'n'change- Obama scores a massive FAIL.
According to a breaking news alert from MSNBC, Judd Gregg has withdrawn from his nomination as Commerce Secretary. If so, this makes the third Cabinet appointment from Barack Obama to fail, and the second one at Commerce. Tom Daschle withdrew at HHS over his tax evasion, and Bill Richardson preceded Gregg as Commerce Secretary-designate before withdrawing over a pay-for-play corruption scandal in New Mexico.
I guess some people are surprised that a politician who has spent his "career" advancing himself from one job to another is being made to look like an incompetent amateur now that he actually has to work for a living.
The stick that broke the camel's back, so to speak, seems to have been the White House's naked ploy to use the Census for political gain.
So on yet another front- all that hope'n'change- Obama scores a massive FAIL.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The Cost of Life
I find this almost too incredible to believe. More on the government control of health care sneaked into the stimulus bill.
One new bureaucracy, the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, will monitor treatments to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective. The goal is to reduce costs and “guide” your doctor’s decisions (442, 446). These provisions in the stimulus bill are virtually identical to what Daschle prescribed in his 2008 book, “Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis.” According to Daschle, doctors have to give up autonomy and “learn to operate less like solo practitioners.” …
In short, a Washington bureacracy wants to tell doctors what treatments are not only cost effective but appropriate too. So if you fall sick to a serious illness in future, your survival will depend on what the .gov deems "appropriate". What does this all mean?
In his book, Daschle proposed an appointed body with vast powers to make the “tough” decisions elected politicians won’t make.
In the world-view of Democrats each American life, it seems, has a dollar figure attached. Exceed that and they'd rather you died to keep costs down.
And note too the opposition to experimental treatments and new medicines- you know, the ones that will become more commonplace in future after being tested and found to be effective. A cure for cancer? Not under this plan.
Daschle may have been defeated but his philosophy lives on.
I just can't believe that this is happening in America.
One new bureaucracy, the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, will monitor treatments to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective. The goal is to reduce costs and “guide” your doctor’s decisions (442, 446). These provisions in the stimulus bill are virtually identical to what Daschle prescribed in his 2008 book, “Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis.” According to Daschle, doctors have to give up autonomy and “learn to operate less like solo practitioners.” …
In short, a Washington bureacracy wants to tell doctors what treatments are not only cost effective but appropriate too. So if you fall sick to a serious illness in future, your survival will depend on what the .gov deems "appropriate". What does this all mean?
In his book, Daschle proposed an appointed body with vast powers to make the “tough” decisions elected politicians won’t make.
The stimulus bill does that, and calls it the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research (190-192). The goal, Daschle’s book explained, is to slow the development and use of new medications and technologies because they are driving up costs. He praises Europeans for being more willing to accept “hopeless diagnoses” and “forgo experimental treatments,” and he chastises Americans for expecting too much from the health-care system.
Got that? Americans need to be more willing to just accept that an illness is going to kill them, because actually treating it and saving lives is too expensive.In the world-view of Democrats each American life, it seems, has a dollar figure attached. Exceed that and they'd rather you died to keep costs down.
And note too the opposition to experimental treatments and new medicines- you know, the ones that will become more commonplace in future after being tested and found to be effective. A cure for cancer? Not under this plan.
Daschle may have been defeated but his philosophy lives on.
I just can't believe that this is happening in America.
Two For One
You can't make these stories up- another of the elite "only ones" professional enough beyond the skills of normal men to be fit to carry firearms demonstrates his superhuman abilities.
A Williamsport police officer accidentally shot himself in the left hand Tuesday after returning from firearms qualifying and training. Patrolman Sidney Gable was taken to Williamsport Hospital after the shooting in the basement of City Hall about 3:20 p.m. today.
Kontz said Initial reports are that Gable was cleaning the .45-caliber service revolver when it discharged.
I doubt very much if it was a revolver- but here we have another prime example of the remarkable degree of fact-checking and knowledge the MSM routinely displays in its writing on firearms. Note too the language implying that it was the firearm at fault- not the officer who failed to properly check that the weapon was not loaded.
All snark aside, he's lucky that it was his hand and not something more critical in the line of fire- or someone else for that matter.
A Williamsport police officer accidentally shot himself in the left hand Tuesday after returning from firearms qualifying and training. Patrolman Sidney Gable was taken to Williamsport Hospital after the shooting in the basement of City Hall about 3:20 p.m. today.
Kontz said Initial reports are that Gable was cleaning the .45-caliber service revolver when it discharged.
I doubt very much if it was a revolver- but here we have another prime example of the remarkable degree of fact-checking and knowledge the MSM routinely displays in its writing on firearms. Note too the language implying that it was the firearm at fault- not the officer who failed to properly check that the weapon was not loaded.
All snark aside, he's lucky that it was his hand and not something more critical in the line of fire- or someone else for that matter.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Bipartisan
Let's here it for a Democrat's plan to help the US economy.
Rep. Walt Minnick (D-ID) decided to reverse engineer the Obama-Pelosi-Reid Porkulus Bill to see if he could find anything worth rescuing. In doing so, Minnick devised a stimulus plan that limits itself to real stimulus, rather than bloating itself into an omnibus pork package. It costs only $170 billion, and self-terminates when the economy recovers.
The question that has to be asked in light of this is- why are Democrats (other than Rep. Minnick who deserves credit for bucking the leadership of his own party) so keen to plunge the US economy into debt for generations to come?
If the GOP had any sense they would be trumpeting this Democrat plan from the rooftops and speaking about it on every TV show, news report and newspaper interview they could. Then the country would see what an actual bipartisan approach would get them.
Rep. Walt Minnick (D-ID) decided to reverse engineer the Obama-Pelosi-Reid Porkulus Bill to see if he could find anything worth rescuing. In doing so, Minnick devised a stimulus plan that limits itself to real stimulus, rather than bloating itself into an omnibus pork package. It costs only $170 billion, and self-terminates when the economy recovers.
The question that has to be asked in light of this is- why are Democrats (other than Rep. Minnick who deserves credit for bucking the leadership of his own party) so keen to plunge the US economy into debt for generations to come?
If the GOP had any sense they would be trumpeting this Democrat plan from the rooftops and speaking about it on every TV show, news report and newspaper interview they could. Then the country would see what an actual bipartisan approach would get them.
Government Medical Experts
Bad enough that the stimulus bill is about to plunge the United States into colossal debt for generations but it looks like America's health care is about to be destroyed by government interference.
But the bill goes further. One new bureaucracy, the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, will monitor treatments to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective. The goal is to reduce costs and “guide” your doctor’s decisions (442, 446).
Quite apart from the fact that health-care decisions obviously have nothing whatsoever to do with an economic stimulus, this basically means that in future the medical decisions made by doctors will not be guided by what's best for the patient but by what the .gov thinks is most cost effective. So if you suffer from a serious illness threatening your life, you'll have to hope that curing you meets with the approval of some Washington bean-counter.
Just look at the NHS to see how that works out. In effect, it's the beginning of rationed health-care.
Then there's this-
Democrat Sen. Jon Tester was just grilled about these provisions. He blubbered like Specter that he wasn’t aware of them: “The language will be fixed if it’s in there.”
So your representatives in Washington just admitted they voted on a bill without actually knowing what it contained. Isn't that supposed to be their job?
But the bill goes further. One new bureaucracy, the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, will monitor treatments to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective. The goal is to reduce costs and “guide” your doctor’s decisions (442, 446).
Quite apart from the fact that health-care decisions obviously have nothing whatsoever to do with an economic stimulus, this basically means that in future the medical decisions made by doctors will not be guided by what's best for the patient but by what the .gov thinks is most cost effective. So if you suffer from a serious illness threatening your life, you'll have to hope that curing you meets with the approval of some Washington bean-counter.
Just look at the NHS to see how that works out. In effect, it's the beginning of rationed health-care.
Then there's this-
Democrat Sen. Jon Tester was just grilled about these provisions. He blubbered like Specter that he wasn’t aware of them: “The language will be fixed if it’s in there.”
So your representatives in Washington just admitted they voted on a bill without actually knowing what it contained. Isn't that supposed to be their job?
Quote of the Day
From Hot Air-
In other words, Obama gets an F in economic history despite supposedly having the best and brightest cribbers working on his staff. He gets an F for honesty as well as an D- on bipartisanship. It’s a lousy start to his four-year class on how to be an executive.
In other words, Obama gets an F in economic history despite supposedly having the best and brightest cribbers working on his staff. He gets an F for honesty as well as an D- on bipartisanship. It’s a lousy start to his four-year class on how to be an executive.
Monday, February 09, 2009
Compendium
A lot to get through today and so little time.
An Arizona rancher is being sued for "civil rights violations, the infliction of emotional distress and other crimes" by a group of illegal aliens he apprehended crossing his property and then handed over to the Border Patrol. Amazingly, their suit has not been laughed out of court.
Here in Britain a foster mother has been struck off the register after a 16 year old Muslim girl in her care converted to Christianity. Officials declared that she should have tried to prevent the girl's baptism and they have- incredibly- banned the now 17 year old from attending church for six months. How they intend to enforce that is beyond me- so much for freedom of religion.
British police have set up a new secret unit to deal with domestic extremists- and to collect "secret data". Worryingly, they seem intent on using "legal proceedings" to keep details of their operations secret from the public. So, now the UK actually has a secret police- one that will report directly to the government without any public oversight.
A video has been released of Polish hostage Piotr Stanczak being beheaded by Pakistani Taliban scum.
Brit PM Gordon Brown has added his voice to calls for a local council to allow a Royal Marine who lost both his legs fighting in Afghanistan to build a home in the grounds of his grandparent's house. The council claimed that the wounded Marine's circumstances "are not considered sufficient to warrant an exception to the usual restraint policies". I would love to hear what they normally consider to be an acceptable exception.
An Arizona rancher is being sued for "civil rights violations, the infliction of emotional distress and other crimes" by a group of illegal aliens he apprehended crossing his property and then handed over to the Border Patrol. Amazingly, their suit has not been laughed out of court.
Here in Britain a foster mother has been struck off the register after a 16 year old Muslim girl in her care converted to Christianity. Officials declared that she should have tried to prevent the girl's baptism and they have- incredibly- banned the now 17 year old from attending church for six months. How they intend to enforce that is beyond me- so much for freedom of religion.
British police have set up a new secret unit to deal with domestic extremists- and to collect "secret data". Worryingly, they seem intent on using "legal proceedings" to keep details of their operations secret from the public. So, now the UK actually has a secret police- one that will report directly to the government without any public oversight.
A video has been released of Polish hostage Piotr Stanczak being beheaded by Pakistani Taliban scum.
Brit PM Gordon Brown has added his voice to calls for a local council to allow a Royal Marine who lost both his legs fighting in Afghanistan to build a home in the grounds of his grandparent's house. The council claimed that the wounded Marine's circumstances "are not considered sufficient to warrant an exception to the usual restraint policies". I would love to hear what they normally consider to be an acceptable exception.
A Young Hero
A young boy whose courage, selflessness and quick thinking deserves to be remembered.
A seven-year-old boy who died defending his older sister from a potential rapist has been honoured posthumously. Zhenya Tabakov's mother received the order of courage medal on behalf of her son.
Around midday, a man rang the bell of the flat where Zhenya and his family lived.
“I asked who it was. The man said he was the postman, and he needed to give us a telegram and get a signature. So I opened the door,” recalls Zhenya’s sister Yana.
The little girl says the man held a knife to her throat, and demanded that her brother bring him all the money he could find. Zhenya did as he was told. But when the man started undressing his sister it was more than the boy could bear.
Zhenya seized a knife from the kitchen and plunged it into the man's back. This didn't kill the attacker, but it was enough to set Zhenya's sister free. She ran for help. But it was too late for her brother - he was stabbed eight times.
My eldest daughter will be seven in a few months and I can't imagine her being put in a situation like that one. Zhenya was an exceptionally brave boy.
Nothing can bring Zhenya back to life again, but the little boy's heroism has become the pride of the town - and of his school in particular.
The boy’s photo now occupies the desk where he used to sit. Later on a special plaque will be fixed onto it. And only the best pupils will have the chance and honour of taking that place.
A seven-year-old boy who died defending his older sister from a potential rapist has been honoured posthumously. Zhenya Tabakov's mother received the order of courage medal on behalf of her son.
Around midday, a man rang the bell of the flat where Zhenya and his family lived.
“I asked who it was. The man said he was the postman, and he needed to give us a telegram and get a signature. So I opened the door,” recalls Zhenya’s sister Yana.
The little girl says the man held a knife to her throat, and demanded that her brother bring him all the money he could find. Zhenya did as he was told. But when the man started undressing his sister it was more than the boy could bear.
Zhenya seized a knife from the kitchen and plunged it into the man's back. This didn't kill the attacker, but it was enough to set Zhenya's sister free. She ran for help. But it was too late for her brother - he was stabbed eight times.
My eldest daughter will be seven in a few months and I can't imagine her being put in a situation like that one. Zhenya was an exceptionally brave boy.
Nothing can bring Zhenya back to life again, but the little boy's heroism has become the pride of the town - and of his school in particular.
The boy’s photo now occupies the desk where he used to sit. Later on a special plaque will be fixed onto it. And only the best pupils will have the chance and honour of taking that place.
Friday, February 06, 2009
Quote of the Day
From Michael Yon, reporting from Israel-
The idea of a two-state solution, once popular with many Israelis, is evaporating. More and more Israelis are coming to believe that any appeasement with the Palestinians is merely a reward for terrorism. And so it is. The Palestinians have become prisoners by their own hand. The hand that builds the bombs, wields the guns, and welds the rockets, has caused a fence to be built around them.
They are isolated and imprisoned. But it’s not only Israel who’s done this. The Gaza Strip borders Egypt, and Egypt has done the same. The terrorists are tunneling like rats and the Egyptians and Israelis are trying to locate and destroy the tunnels under their respective fence lines. Who wants the Palestinians? If the Palestinians truly were a peaceful lot, victims only of Israel, one might think that they would have free entry into Egypt. But they do not.
Throwing Money Away
Obama doesn't think twice about giving away taxpayers' money during the middle of an economic crisis.
The Obama administration will provide an additional $20.3 million in humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza, the State Department said Friday.
The new aid is in addition to $85 million in U.S. assistance to UNWRA and $9.7 million to the ICRC for Palestinians in the region. The United States has also given $3.7 million in emergency assistance to Palestinians in Gaza since the violence began.
Nevermind the fact that Hamas- which is responsible for Gaza- doesn't seem to be too short of cash themselves.
Hamas negotiators left Egypt without a long-term cease-fire with Israel on Thursday — but not before some members of the militant group’s delegation were stopped at the Gaza border carrying millions in cash.
An Egyptian security official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the group initially refused to be searched by Egyptian authorities at the Rafah border crossing. When the group relented, authorities found $7 million and 2 million euros ($2.5 million) in cash in their suitcases. Another security official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said $9 million and 2 million euros were found. The discrepancy could not be immediately explained.
And yet, despite this, I seriously doubt that you'll hear any calls from Congress for a cessation to the endless aid- $2.2 billion since 1993.
The Obama administration will provide an additional $20.3 million in humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza, the State Department said Friday.
The new aid is in addition to $85 million in U.S. assistance to UNWRA and $9.7 million to the ICRC for Palestinians in the region. The United States has also given $3.7 million in emergency assistance to Palestinians in Gaza since the violence began.
Nevermind the fact that Hamas- which is responsible for Gaza- doesn't seem to be too short of cash themselves.
Hamas negotiators left Egypt without a long-term cease-fire with Israel on Thursday — but not before some members of the militant group’s delegation were stopped at the Gaza border carrying millions in cash.
An Egyptian security official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the group initially refused to be searched by Egyptian authorities at the Rafah border crossing. When the group relented, authorities found $7 million and 2 million euros ($2.5 million) in cash in their suitcases. Another security official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said $9 million and 2 million euros were found. The discrepancy could not be immediately explained.
And yet, despite this, I seriously doubt that you'll hear any calls from Congress for a cessation to the endless aid- $2.2 billion since 1993.
Legislating Discrimination
Incredible.
“This is a direct attack on students of faith, and I’m outraged Democrats are using an economic stimulus bill to promote discrimination,” said Senator DeMint. “Democrats should be ashamed of themselves for siding with the ACLU over millions of students of faith. These students simply want equal access to public facilities, which is their constitutional right. This hostility toward religion must end. Those who voted to for this discrimination are standing in the schoolhouse door to deny people of faith from entering any campus building renovated by this bill.
“This is now an ACLU stimulus designed to trigger lawsuits designed to intimidate religious organizations across the nation. This language is so vague, it’s not clear if students can even pray in a dorm room renovated with this funding since that is a form of ‘religious worship.’ If this provision remains in the bill, it will have a chilling effect on students of faith in America.
So much for the First Amendment- doesn't this violate people's right to exercise their religion, violate their freedom of speech and violate their freedom to assemble?
“This is a direct attack on students of faith, and I’m outraged Democrats are using an economic stimulus bill to promote discrimination,” said Senator DeMint. “Democrats should be ashamed of themselves for siding with the ACLU over millions of students of faith. These students simply want equal access to public facilities, which is their constitutional right. This hostility toward religion must end. Those who voted to for this discrimination are standing in the schoolhouse door to deny people of faith from entering any campus building renovated by this bill.
“This is now an ACLU stimulus designed to trigger lawsuits designed to intimidate religious organizations across the nation. This language is so vague, it’s not clear if students can even pray in a dorm room renovated with this funding since that is a form of ‘religious worship.’ If this provision remains in the bill, it will have a chilling effect on students of faith in America.
So much for the First Amendment- doesn't this violate people's right to exercise their religion, violate their freedom of speech and violate their freedom to assemble?
Obama's Double Talk
On the one hand we have Obama lecturing the country about "energy independence", a buzz phrase he's used many times- just Google it. For example, the BBC reported on January 26th-
President Barack Obama has called for the US to become energy independent, saying its reliance on foreign oil and global warming posed threats.
Outlining his energy priorities, he said the country would not be held "hostage to dwindling resources, hostile regimes, and a warming planet".
He called for greater fuel efficiency and an "energy economy" aimed at creating millions of jobs.
Fairly clear, don't you think- he wants to create American jobs and also decrease reliance on foreign oil.
However, while he tells the country this sort of thing, he's actually issued an executive order which will increase US reliance on foreign oil and lose the jobs of Americans.
In a high-profile reversal of the Bush administration, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Wednesday the government is scrapping the leases of 77 parcels of federal land for oil and gas drilling in Utah's redrock country.
Gateway Pundit has more on Democrats continued efforts to stifle American energy independence.
President Barack Obama has called for the US to become energy independent, saying its reliance on foreign oil and global warming posed threats.
Outlining his energy priorities, he said the country would not be held "hostage to dwindling resources, hostile regimes, and a warming planet".
He called for greater fuel efficiency and an "energy economy" aimed at creating millions of jobs.
Fairly clear, don't you think- he wants to create American jobs and also decrease reliance on foreign oil.
However, while he tells the country this sort of thing, he's actually issued an executive order which will increase US reliance on foreign oil and lose the jobs of Americans.
In a high-profile reversal of the Bush administration, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Wednesday the government is scrapping the leases of 77 parcels of federal land for oil and gas drilling in Utah's redrock country.
Gateway Pundit has more on Democrats continued efforts to stifle American energy independence.
PWS Diablo
David Crane at Defense Review has an interview (and some of DF's trade-mark high-quality pictures) on Primary Weapon Systems new Diablo SBR, an item unveiled at SHOT Show. It's a seven inch barrelled, gas-piston AR with a proprietary flash hider/compensator. It's a great interview and it's fascinating to hear a little behind-the-scenes on the development of the system. The comments about the design of the flash-hider are especially interesting. The video below shows the Diablo in action- and PWS' claims about controllability on full-auto seem to be completely spot on.
Vermont's F Grade
David Codrea's must-read Gun Rights Examiner demonstrates (as of there was any doubt) that the Brady Campaign- and other gun banners of their ilk- and not concerned one bit about reducing crime. They are only interested in taking away guns, regardless of their use. He Fisks a story damning Vermonts gun laws.
Maybe Vermont is the crime capital of New England? You know, one of those places more like Chicago than Cheyenne, that need heavy-handed gun control edicts?
Let's see...12 murders in 2007 for the whole state (and they don't say how many were committed using guns)...nope, that sounds like a typical weekend for one of Sarah Brady's urban islands of tranquility...
And yet despite the low murder rate the Brady Bunch are still complaining that Vermont has no AWB- amongst other of their "common sense" gun control laws. It would be interesting to see a graphical comparison of the Brady's A rated and F rated regions- and their corresponding murder rates, don't you think?
What amazes me is how often we keep coming back and exposing these Brady shills for what they are, and that they still retain a shred of credibility with anyone.
As always with these GRE pieces, spread the word.
Maybe Vermont is the crime capital of New England? You know, one of those places more like Chicago than Cheyenne, that need heavy-handed gun control edicts?
Let's see...12 murders in 2007 for the whole state (and they don't say how many were committed using guns)...nope, that sounds like a typical weekend for one of Sarah Brady's urban islands of tranquility...
And yet despite the low murder rate the Brady Bunch are still complaining that Vermont has no AWB- amongst other of their "common sense" gun control laws. It would be interesting to see a graphical comparison of the Brady's A rated and F rated regions- and their corresponding murder rates, don't you think?
What amazes me is how often we keep coming back and exposing these Brady shills for what they are, and that they still retain a shred of credibility with anyone.
As always with these GRE pieces, spread the word.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Double Standards
School teachers are not pleased that they are being treated the same way that their students are.
More than a dozen Houston school district employees are getting a lesson in the zero-tolerance policies typically applied to students as they await court hearings on drug charges that could land them in jail.
More than a dozen Houston school district employees are getting a lesson in the zero-tolerance policies typically applied to students as they await court hearings on drug charges that could land them in jail.
Some of the charges, particularly those involving prescription pills, are drawing criticism from lawyers, parents and teachers who say the Houston Independent School District and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office need a lesson in discretion.
Norm Uhl, an HISD spokesman, said the district is treating employees as it would students — arresting them for having drugs on campus and leaving it up to prosecutors to file charges.
“We do have discretion to accept charges or not accept charges, but as officers of the court, it’s our duty to see that justice is done,” said Donna Hawkins, a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office. “And if an officer calls us with a valid charge and probable cause, then we should accept that charge unless there is some extenuating circumstance.
The teachers concerned should just be thankful that they didn't have the humiliation of being strip searched. Like these other pupils were.
Spit The Bullet
Typical of the MSM to miss reporting on the most salient fact of this story-
No arrests have been made in the case of a city man who was shot in the face Monday.
The bullet pierced Jamison's right cheek, then struck his tongue. Jamison spit out the bullet, according to police.
And they don't even tell us what calibre it was! Can you believe it?
No arrests have been made in the case of a city man who was shot in the face Monday.
The bullet pierced Jamison's right cheek, then struck his tongue. Jamison spit out the bullet, according to police.
And they don't even tell us what calibre it was! Can you believe it?
Strangling Wall Street
Not exactly an unforeseen consequence- Obama's plan to limit the pay of Wall Street executives who work for companies that have received a .gov handout will drive the talent away. And while some, Hot Air for example, believe that the market is such that executives won't have any choice word is that overseas firms are already trying to poach the talent away.
"Without the talent of Wall Street to bring us back into a position of leadership in the global economy, we're going to be in bad shape as a world economic power," said Kathryn Wilde of the Partnership for New York.
Wylde says the Obama salary cap will lead to a critical brain drain – China and the United Arab Emirates have already come to poach Wall Street talent. She also says lower salaries in the financial industry will mean dramatically lower tax revenues for the city and state.
"We also depend heavily on the financial services industry to fund our economy and our tax rolls," said Wylde. "Last year 20 percent of our income taxes in the states – 12 percent in New York City came from Wall Street."
So the government pours millions of dollars into firms to prop them up and then puts a rule in place which ensures that talented people with the ability to turn those same companies around won't work for them.
Brilliant.
"Without the talent of Wall Street to bring us back into a position of leadership in the global economy, we're going to be in bad shape as a world economic power," said Kathryn Wilde of the Partnership for New York.
Wylde says the Obama salary cap will lead to a critical brain drain – China and the United Arab Emirates have already come to poach Wall Street talent. She also says lower salaries in the financial industry will mean dramatically lower tax revenues for the city and state.
"We also depend heavily on the financial services industry to fund our economy and our tax rolls," said Wylde. "Last year 20 percent of our income taxes in the states – 12 percent in New York City came from Wall Street."
So the government pours millions of dollars into firms to prop them up and then puts a rule in place which ensures that talented people with the ability to turn those same companies around won't work for them.
Brilliant.
The Enemy We Face
Beyond depraved.
A WOMAN suspected of recruiting more than 80 female suicide bombers has confessed to organising their rapes so she could later convince them that martyrdom was the only way to escape the shame.
Samira Jassam, 51, was arrested by Iraqi police and confessed to recruiting the women and orchestrating dozens of attacks.
In a video confession, she explained how she had mentally prepared the women for martyrdom operations, passed them on to terrorists who provided explosives, and then took the bombers to their targets.
I can't even begin to comprehend these monsters.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Lying To The World
Via Yid With Lid comes this CAMERA report on one of the most well-publicised incidents of the recent Israel-Gaza conflict- the Israeli shelling of a UN school. There's only one small problem- it never actually happened.
Three weeks later, long after the alleged incident had become firmly ensconced in public consciousness, an investigatory piece by Patrick Martin in the Toronto Globe and Mail (Jan. 29) revealed that no one sheltering on the school grounds had been killed. The misportrayal of the incident was due in no small measure to the misleading comments of John Ging, director of UNRWA’s Gaza operation and Chris Gunness, the organization’s public relations consultant.
Yes, UN officials have deliberately misconstrued the facts to slander Israel- aided and abetted by the vast majority of the MSM.
Despite admitting no one in the school was killed, Ging continues to implicitly accuse Israel of targeting the school. He continues to rail against Israel, recently demanding that there was a need to establish accountability “for why the Israeli air force hit infrastructure of the state of Palestine rather than the infrastructure of terror, whatever that may be.”
The Globe and Mail quotes Ging as stating, “Those in the school were all families seeking refuge. ... There's nowhere safe in Gaza.” He also continues to condemn Israel’s behavior, asserting, “The state of Israel still has to answer for that. What did they know and what care did they take?”
Since it now appears that UNRWA’s Fakhoury school was not shelled and that all the fatalities and most of the casualties occurred outside the school grounds, it is also a fair question to ask of Ging and Gunness, what did they know and when did they know it? Why did they continue to make public pronouncements that only helped perpetuate the misperception that Israel had shelled the school rather than clarifying that Israel had shelled a street near the school?
Three weeks later, long after the alleged incident had become firmly ensconced in public consciousness, an investigatory piece by Patrick Martin in the Toronto Globe and Mail (Jan. 29) revealed that no one sheltering on the school grounds had been killed. The misportrayal of the incident was due in no small measure to the misleading comments of John Ging, director of UNRWA’s Gaza operation and Chris Gunness, the organization’s public relations consultant.
Yes, UN officials have deliberately misconstrued the facts to slander Israel- aided and abetted by the vast majority of the MSM.
Despite admitting no one in the school was killed, Ging continues to implicitly accuse Israel of targeting the school. He continues to rail against Israel, recently demanding that there was a need to establish accountability “for why the Israeli air force hit infrastructure of the state of Palestine rather than the infrastructure of terror, whatever that may be.”
The Globe and Mail quotes Ging as stating, “Those in the school were all families seeking refuge. ... There's nowhere safe in Gaza.” He also continues to condemn Israel’s behavior, asserting, “The state of Israel still has to answer for that. What did they know and what care did they take?”
Since it now appears that UNRWA’s Fakhoury school was not shelled and that all the fatalities and most of the casualties occurred outside the school grounds, it is also a fair question to ask of Ging and Gunness, what did they know and when did they know it? Why did they continue to make public pronouncements that only helped perpetuate the misperception that Israel had shelled the school rather than clarifying that Israel had shelled a street near the school?
Quote of the Day Revisited
Another zinger from Hot Air-
Unfortunately, though, Obama looks less like a leader and more like a man reacting to events. He should have foreseen the consequences of the legislation before pushing it. Now, instead of looking like the leader of the free world, Obama looks like a man flailing in the water, looking for lifelines, without a clue as to how to govern or an understanding of trade or foreign relations. He projects weakness, uncertainty, and inexperience at a time when America can ill afford any of those three, let alone the hat trick.
Unfortunately, though, Obama looks less like a leader and more like a man reacting to events. He should have foreseen the consequences of the legislation before pushing it. Now, instead of looking like the leader of the free world, Obama looks like a man flailing in the water, looking for lifelines, without a clue as to how to govern or an understanding of trade or foreign relations. He projects weakness, uncertainty, and inexperience at a time when America can ill afford any of those three, let alone the hat trick.
Gun Rights Examiner
The war on the Second Amendment has begun. Many thanks to Charlotte Gun Rights Examiner for highlighting what could be called the first shot.
So imagine the significance of Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) troubling himself to stand before Congress, as he did last week, to lie about “assault weapons:”
“Mr. President, in the 4 years since the federal ban on assault weapons was allowed to expire, hundreds of people in this country have died and been injured by previously banned weapons. The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence report, ‘Assault Weapons: Massed Produced Mayhem,’ details the deaths of 165 people and the injury of 185 people by assault weapons since the ban expired … Unlike semiautomatic hunting rifles, which are designed to be fired from the shoulder and rely on the accuracy of a precisely aimed projectile, assault weapons are designed to be fired at the hip and to maximize their ability to rapidly shoot multiple human targets …
“Despite the overwhelming support of the law enforcement community, the ongoing threat of terrorism and bipartisan support in the Senate, the assault weapons ban was not [sic] allowed to expire. Now, 4 years later, 19 previously banned military-style assault weapons, some capable of firing up to 600 rounds per minute, are once again pervading our streets and neighborhoods. This Congress we must take up and pass sensible gun safety legislation, including reinstating the assault weapons ban.” – Congressional Record, January 29, 2009.
Utter fantasy of course- but blatant lies like these are something gun rights advocates need to fight at every opportunity. And if politicians want another AWB rest assured that they will continue to lie to their colleagues and to the American people in an effort to obtain it.
Spread the word that the Second Amendment is under attack- and stay tuned to the various Gun Rights Examiners for more.
So imagine the significance of Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) troubling himself to stand before Congress, as he did last week, to lie about “assault weapons:”
“Mr. President, in the 4 years since the federal ban on assault weapons was allowed to expire, hundreds of people in this country have died and been injured by previously banned weapons. The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence report, ‘Assault Weapons: Massed Produced Mayhem,’ details the deaths of 165 people and the injury of 185 people by assault weapons since the ban expired … Unlike semiautomatic hunting rifles, which are designed to be fired from the shoulder and rely on the accuracy of a precisely aimed projectile, assault weapons are designed to be fired at the hip and to maximize their ability to rapidly shoot multiple human targets …
“Despite the overwhelming support of the law enforcement community, the ongoing threat of terrorism and bipartisan support in the Senate, the assault weapons ban was not [sic] allowed to expire. Now, 4 years later, 19 previously banned military-style assault weapons, some capable of firing up to 600 rounds per minute, are once again pervading our streets and neighborhoods. This Congress we must take up and pass sensible gun safety legislation, including reinstating the assault weapons ban.” – Congressional Record, January 29, 2009.
Utter fantasy of course- but blatant lies like these are something gun rights advocates need to fight at every opportunity. And if politicians want another AWB rest assured that they will continue to lie to their colleagues and to the American people in an effort to obtain it.
Spread the word that the Second Amendment is under attack- and stay tuned to the various Gun Rights Examiners for more.
Returning To Jihad
The dangers of releasing enemy combatants before hostilities have ended couldn't be clearer.
A Saudi government spokesman says 11 of the Saudis on its recently issued most wanted list are former Guantanamo detainees.
Gen. Mansour al-Turki of the Saudi Interior Ministry told The Associated Press on Wednesday that among the 85 people listed by the government, 11 had been released from the U.S. detention facility in Cuba and passed through government-sponsored rehabilitation programs.
And yet none of the evidence of this return to jihad has stopped Obama from closing down Guantanamo Bay.
Steele's Supporters
When the Brady Campaign praises the new chairman of the GOP, you know there's a problem.
Last Friday, the Republican National Committee chose Michael Steele as Chair of the RNC, and showed that guns weren't a wedge issue even in an intramural Republican election. At a candidate's debate at the National Press Club last month (which I attended), while the other candidates fell over themselves to describe their gun collections and shooting prowess, Steele stated distinctly and without qualification, that he owns no guns. This was on top of statements Steele made in 2006 about his stance on restricting access to assault weapons that inflamed the gun community.
All of those people thinking that Democrats won't try to push anti-gun legislation because of what happened back in the '90s are kidding themselves. The Second Amendment is under threat and I predict a major assault on it to come soon.
Last Friday, the Republican National Committee chose Michael Steele as Chair of the RNC, and showed that guns weren't a wedge issue even in an intramural Republican election. At a candidate's debate at the National Press Club last month (which I attended), while the other candidates fell over themselves to describe their gun collections and shooting prowess, Steele stated distinctly and without qualification, that he owns no guns. This was on top of statements Steele made in 2006 about his stance on restricting access to assault weapons that inflamed the gun community.
All of those people thinking that Democrats won't try to push anti-gun legislation because of what happened back in the '90s are kidding themselves. The Second Amendment is under threat and I predict a major assault on it to come soon.
Quote of the Day
From Hot Air-
Now Obama looks weak and inexperienced, flailing at his first executive position in government — just as many of us predicted he would do during the campaign. The media never bothered to ask the tough questions about his lack of experience and instead extolled his coolness and his competence. Maybe now they’ll at least drop the Greatest Transition Ever meme and start reporting on what a train wreck it became.
Now Obama looks weak and inexperienced, flailing at his first executive position in government — just as many of us predicted he would do during the campaign. The media never bothered to ask the tough questions about his lack of experience and instead extolled his coolness and his competence. Maybe now they’ll at least drop the Greatest Transition Ever meme and start reporting on what a train wreck it became.
Pork Details
An interesting list of some of the items in the so-called stimulus package from Michelle Malkin-
$88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship)
$2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen, a near-zero emissions coal power plant in Illinois that the Dept. of Energy defunded last year because the project was inefficient
$248 million for furniture at the new Dept. of Homeland Security headquarters
$1 billion for the 2010 Census, which has a projected cost overrun of $3 billion
$75 million for salaries of employees at the FBI
There's much more- go check it out.
$88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship)
$2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen, a near-zero emissions coal power plant in Illinois that the Dept. of Energy defunded last year because the project was inefficient
$248 million for furniture at the new Dept. of Homeland Security headquarters
$1 billion for the 2010 Census, which has a projected cost overrun of $3 billion
$75 million for salaries of employees at the FBI
There's much more- go check it out.
UN Dirty Tricks
As if anyone had any doubt about the UN's bias against Israel-
scam operation in history. Time to wind it up and shut it down.
The office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories slammed UNRWA on Monday and accused the United Nations organization of creating a provocation at the Kerem Shalom crossing by bringing trucks to it carrying supplies that had not been approved by Israel for entry into the Gaza Strip.
On Monday, the Kerem Shalom crossing was opened for the delivery of humanitarian supplies to Gaza, including some 50 trucks with supplies provided by UNRWA. The night before, UNRWA had asked the Gaza Coordination and Liaison Administration to permit the transfer of paper and plastic bags to Gaza, and had been told the request was under consideration.
Despite not having received approval, UNRWA, COGAT officials said, drove several trucks carrying the supplies from Jerusalem to the crossing and coordinated their arrival with several media outlets, which filmed the trucks being turned away.
If the aid was so vital to the people of Gaza what was the UN doing playing stupid games with the media? UNRWA has been in operation now for 60 years. The longest running refugeeBlue On Blue
Even Democrats aren't happy with the authoritarian nature of Democrat rule.
A group of more than 50 House Democrats has penned a letter to Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) imploring him to “restore this institution” and see that the House returns to a “regular order” process of legislating.
Since last year, many senior House Democrats — many of them subcommittee chairmen — have grown overly frustrated with how only small and select bands of legislators have been responsible for writing bills, such as the $700 billion Wall Street bailout as well as much of the $819 billion economic stimulus bill.
But of course that would mean that Obama-Reid-Pelosi wouldn't be able to just do whatever the heck they want to.
A group of more than 50 House Democrats has penned a letter to Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) imploring him to “restore this institution” and see that the House returns to a “regular order” process of legislating.
Since last year, many senior House Democrats — many of them subcommittee chairmen — have grown overly frustrated with how only small and select bands of legislators have been responsible for writing bills, such as the $700 billion Wall Street bailout as well as much of the $819 billion economic stimulus bill.
But of course that would mean that Obama-Reid-Pelosi wouldn't be able to just do whatever the heck they want to.
Quote of the Day
Two weeks in-
With little notice, the president and first lady Michelle Obama bolted the gated compound of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in their tank of a limousine on Tuesday. They ended up at a Washington public school, greeted by children who could not care less about the collapse of a Cabinet secretary nomination.
“We were just tired of being in the White House,” the president candidly told the gleeful second-graders at Capital City Public Charter School.
This is basically the first full time job he's held- I guess he's going to find the next four years a long, hard slog. Perhaps Michelle was right after all?Obama On Gitmo
Obama admits that the detainees at Gitmo and represent a danger to the security of the USA-
President Barack Obama said in an interview aired on Monday he worried that detainees freed from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo, Cuba, might resume attacks on the United States.
I think the key part of that statement is "resume".
He then goes on to this nonsense-
President Barack Obama said in an interview aired on Monday he worried that detainees freed from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo, Cuba, might resume attacks on the United States.
I think the key part of that statement is "resume".
He then goes on to this nonsense-
But he told NBC News that closure of the prison was a matter of upholding U.S. values and law, and that a failure to do so would ultimately make Americans less secure.
“Can we guarantee that they’re not going to try to participate in another attack? No,” Obama said. “But what I can guarantee is that if we don’t uphold our Constitution and our values, that over time that will make us less safe. And that will be a recruitment tool for organizations like al-Qaeda.”
Two points here- first he is intent on releasing prisoners who are a threat to America, the same type of people who committed mass murder on 9/11 and who kill American servicemen overseas. And he admits there are no guarantees that they won't resume their war against America. But he's going to let them go free regardless. All in the name of the Constitution- which has no bearing on the rights of foreign terrorists seized during a time of war.
Secondly, Obama is suggesting that Al Qaeda recruits are concerned with the intricacies of US constitutional law and Americans remaining to true to their values? Seriously- does he even realise what he's saying?
Monday, February 02, 2009
The Ceasefire That Wasn't
The farce continues-
A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip has hit southern Israel, exploding near the city of Ashkelon, the Israeli military has said.
A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip has hit southern Israel, exploding near the city of Ashkelon, the Israeli military has said.
No casualties were reported from the rocket, which landed in a field.
It is one of several rocket attacks from the territory since Israel and Hamas, which controls Gaza, declared ceasefires on 18 January.
The ceasefires ended Israel's three-week offensive in Gaza, which was aimed at stopping rocket attacks on Israel.
The ceasefires, independently declared by each side, have been violated several times.
So, in short, there is no ceasefire if the shooting is continuing. But where Israel is concerned the farce of "the ceasefire that cannot be broken no matter how many rockets are fired" must go on.Flawed Steele
I think I may have missed some important meeting or, at the very least, the memo from it. The way I recall it, the way it was supposed to work was that the defeat of the maverick, moderate, RINO McCain would send a strong message to the Republican Party that their voters wanted staunch conservatives at the helm. Right?
So how do you explain Michael Steele being elected the new chairman of the Party? From David Codrea's latest Gun Rights Examiner-
This is supposed to be Republican leadership?
McCain's defeat wasn't a difficult lesson- and yet we have Republicans supporting a tax cheat into Treasury and no opposition to the anti-Second Amendment Eric Holder for AG. It seems that little has been learned.
At this rate there will be a permanent AWB- and in a few years the US will be indistinguishable from Europe. The time to fight for your rights is before they're gone. And your Congress-critters need to hear that loudly and often.
So how do you explain Michael Steele being elected the new chairman of the Party? From David Codrea's latest Gun Rights Examiner-
Q: Should people have access to buy assault weapons?
A: Society should draw lines. What do you need an assault weapon for, if you're going hunting? That's overkill. But I don't think that means you go to a total ban for those who want to use gun for skeet shooting or hunting or things like that But what's the point of passing gun laws if we're not going to enforce them? If you want to talk about gun control, that's where you need to start. We've got 300 gun laws on the books right now. At the end of the day, it's about how we enforce the law.
This is supposed to be Republican leadership?
McCain's defeat wasn't a difficult lesson- and yet we have Republicans supporting a tax cheat into Treasury and no opposition to the anti-Second Amendment Eric Holder for AG. It seems that little has been learned.
At this rate there will be a permanent AWB- and in a few years the US will be indistinguishable from Europe. The time to fight for your rights is before they're gone. And your Congress-critters need to hear that loudly and often.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Stimulus Illustrated
Suitably Flip has done it again- first there was the graphical representation of the porkfest stimulus bill and now there's a new post up- showing just what the bill could buy every single household in America.
Funny that the MSM isn't doing things like this, eh?
Funny that the MSM isn't doing things like this, eh?
Secret Negotiations
Obama's only been sworn in as President for a matter of days but members of his election campaign and of his transition team have been engaging in foreign diplomacy for months.
US President Barack Obama has already used experts within the last few months to hold high-level but discreet talks with both Iran and Syria, organizers of the meetings told AFP...even before winning the November 4 election, Obama unofficially used what experts call "track two" discussions to approach America's two foes in the region.
It's little wonder that Iran, in particular, thinks that the US is coming to them from a position of weakness now.
US President Barack Obama has already used experts within the last few months to hold high-level but discreet talks with both Iran and Syria, organizers of the meetings told AFP...even before winning the November 4 election, Obama unofficially used what experts call "track two" discussions to approach America's two foes in the region.
It's little wonder that Iran, in particular, thinks that the US is coming to them from a position of weakness now.
Greed
Doug Ross puts the numbers together and shows in one simple blog-post how the Democrats are drunk on power and money.
Just one example-
$3,700,000,000: ($3.7 billion) not to be outdone, this is the estimated value of various defense contracts awarded to a company controlled by the husband of Rep. Diane Feinstein (D-CA). Despite an obvious conflict-of-interest as "a member of the Military Construction Appropriations subcommittee, Sen. Feinstein voted for appropriations worth billions to her husband's firms ."
He calls it a culture of corruption and stupidity. I call it a maniacal lust for power and money.
The worst of it is that they seem to be getting away with it. For example, has an investigation into Obama's fraudulent credit card campaign donations begun yet? Do you honestly think that if such a cloud had been hanging over George Bush or any other Republican that a similar investigation wouldn't already be underway?
Just one example-
$3,700,000,000: ($3.7 billion) not to be outdone, this is the estimated value of various defense contracts awarded to a company controlled by the husband of Rep. Diane Feinstein (D-CA). Despite an obvious conflict-of-interest as "a member of the Military Construction Appropriations subcommittee, Sen. Feinstein voted for appropriations worth billions to her husband's firms ."
He calls it a culture of corruption and stupidity. I call it a maniacal lust for power and money.
The worst of it is that they seem to be getting away with it. For example, has an investigation into Obama's fraudulent credit card campaign donations begun yet? Do you honestly think that if such a cloud had been hanging over George Bush or any other Republican that a similar investigation wouldn't already be underway?
Democrat Greed
Obama had the audacity recently to decry the bonuses received on Wall Street- but he's silent on Congress giving itself another raise. As we've already seen with the new Democrat administration in power, there's one rule for them- and another for everybody else. Congress has just given itself a $93,000 increase in the amount of petty cash for each member. As Doug Ross notes, this comes at a time when Obama is demanding that the Pentagon- engaged in a war- shave more than 10% off its budget.
He's got no problem with a one trillion dollar Democrat pork-fest and a Congressional "pay rise" but the Pentagon, defending the nation, must cut spending.
He's only been in office for a matter of days- goodness only knows what harm he will inflict on America in the next four years.
He's got no problem with a one trillion dollar Democrat pork-fest and a Congressional "pay rise" but the Pentagon, defending the nation, must cut spending.
He's only been in office for a matter of days- goodness only knows what harm he will inflict on America in the next four years.
Obama's Failed Iran Policy
Obama's foreign policy naivety has failed to transform Iran into a peace-loving and pro-Western nation. What a shocker.
US President Barack Obama’s offer to talk to Iran shows that America’s policy of “domination” has failed, the government spokesman said on Saturday.
“This request means Western ideology has become passive, that capitalist thought and the system of domination have failed,” Gholam Hossein Elham was quoted as saying by the Mehr news agency.
“Negotiation is secondary, the main issue is that there is no way but for (the United States) to change,” he added.
In one fell swoop he has displayed his weakness to one of the most belligerent and dangerous nations on the face of the planet.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)