I voted for the Media Research Center's 22nd Annual Awards for the Year's Worst Reporting and got so involved that I decided to write a post even though I have been taking a writing hiatus for the holidays.
A few stats about MRC's nominees
10 Different Print/Online Publications were nominated
Newsweek got 7 nominations
Times Mag got 6 nominations
NY Times got 4 nominations
MSNBC got the most broadcast nominations at 21
8 of those were given to Chris Matthews and 6 to Keith Olbermann.
ABC had 20 nominations
World News getting 8 and Nightline 4
NBC got 19 Nominations
Nightly News got 10, Today Show 6, and Meet the Press 2
CNN got 15 nominations with Newsroom getting the most at 5
CBS got 14 nominations and Katie Couric got half of those at 7
Go to MRC and make your picks before reading mine that I specify after the jump... VOTE
WHITE HOUSE WAVES WHITE FLAG
When Fox's White House Reporter, Major Garrett, started getting invites to the off-air sessions, with Robert Gibbs during the Obama Does Asia Tour, one could have thought that the WH was extending an olive branch and calling for a cease-fire... But, with Obama granting Major a one-on-one interview... I think we can classify this as a full surrender.
I predicted last month that the White House would lose its war with Fox News. That now looks to be the case with the announcement by Fox News White House correspondent Major Garrett that Fox is one of five networks selected to interview Barack Obama in Beijing this evening, with each allotted ten minutes with the President.
The decision to include Fox in tonight’s interview roster, alongside the likes of NBC, ABC and CBS, is a humiliating about-turn for the White House after it spent weeks rubbishing Fox’s credibility.
Today’s announcement is not only a big symbolic win for Fox, but also a victory for press freedom in America. It is the role of the media in a free society to actively question the policies and actions of government and its elected officials. The White House’s war against Fox smacked of authoritarianism in a nation built around the principles of free speech, free enterprise and limited government. Its decision to back down is good news for all US media outlets, of whatever political stripe.
Read all of Gardiner's article HERE.
See Major Garret's interview with Obama HERE.
JUDGE LEVIES BLAME FOR LEVEES
U.S. District Judge Stanwood Duval ruled that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is culpable for the New Orleans disaster. Judge Duval found monumental negligence" in the operation and maintenance of a shipping channel called the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, known locally as MRGO.
Flood victims, arguments that the widening of the channel and subsequent loss of protective wetlands turned MRGO into a speedway for Katrina's storm surge won over the government's argument that the Corps was immune from liability and had properly maintained the navigation channel.
If the ruling survives the appeal process, the taxpayer will have a huge bill to pay as all the other New Orleans flood victims file their own suits.
Although the judge did not include standard liberal Blame Bush language, you can bet that the liberals will be sure to fill in the blanks. The bad condition of the levees is something I have been aware of since I was 17 (many, many years ago and no I am not going to say how many) but I was not aware, that it was under the jurisdiction of the Corps.
ANOTHER OBAMA NOMINEE HAS TAX ISSUES
Can anyone blame us if we start wondering if Obama knows anyone that just plays it straight, by the rules, and pays their taxes... in full, on time? You would think that after having ridden in this rodeo before that Team Obama would at least check to see if people have any tax issues they need to worry about BEFORE they nominate them. Or is this symptomatic of the Audacity of Arrogance and they simply are not concerned with character or appearance?
The AP reports that Lael Brainard, Obama’s nominee for Undersecretary of the Treasury for International Affairs (don't laugh, its true) was late paying real estate taxes in 2005, 2006 and 2007. The AP said it was the fifth Obama nominee with tax issues. I know it is easy to lose track, but I think they overlooked a few... let's see there is Timothy Geithner, Tom Daschle, Hilda Solis, Nancy Killefer, Ron Kirk and Kathleen Sebelius and Lael Brainard makes seven. FireAndreaMitchell thinks "AP might be using the Recovery.gov standard for adding up things."
MEMO ABOUT JIHADIST NIDAL MALIK HASAN SURFACES
While visiting FireAndreaMitchell.com I read a very interesting posting about a NPR article that uncovered a memo written by a top psychiatrist at Walter Reed Army Medical Center was so concerned about what he saw as Nidal Malik Hasan’s incompetence and reckless behavior that he put those concerns in writing. The 2007 Memo About Maj. Nidal Hasan: Read a transcript of the May 2007 memo obtained by NPR in which Dr. Scott Moran, the chief of psychiatric residents at Walter Reed, outlines his concerns about Hasan.
OBAMA EXPLAINS HIS SOLUTION TO UNINSURED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
This VIDEO explains why Obama didn't fight putting language into ObamaCare that would prohibit access for Illegal Immigrants to Universal Health Care/Insurance Reform. (Hint: It's starts with A-M and ends with N-E-S-T-Y)
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WASTE $98 BILLION
"Washington (AP) - More than $98 billion in taxpayer dollars spent by government agencies was wasted, much of it on questionable claims for tax credits and Medicare benefits, representing an increase of $26 billion from the previous year."
And this is the same government which proposes to pay for ObamaCare by stopping waste in Medicare? If the government could or would stop waste, why have they not already done so?
Attorney General Eric Holder, in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, defended his decision to bring five 9-11 conspirators – including the alleged mastermind -- to New York to stand trial in federal civilian court.
“There was not a political component to my decision,” Holder told Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.).
SAY WHAT? Let's just check out the truth of that statement.
Holder listed five areas of “misinformation” that has been raised in the public debate since his announcement that he was bringing the terrorists to NYC for trial.
“First, we know that we can prosecute terrorists in our federal courts safely and securely because we have been doing so for years,” he told the committee.
So safety and security is NOT a concern? Why then will the taxpayers have to ante up $75-$100 million PER YEAR (according to Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY) to beef up security (in addition to the cost of the trial, legal team, housing etc.) And we have to do this even though the necessary security is already in place and paid for at Gitmo.
“Second, we can protect classified material during trial.” Holder said the Classified Information Procedures Act establishes “strict rules and procedures” for using classified information in trials, and it has been used in various terrorism cases.
OH, yeah, we have carefully protected classified information which is why an attorney for a terrorist from the first World Trade Center bombing was put under indictment for passing classified information to the terrorists... real secure. Oh yeah, and wasn't it classified information that was provided during discovery at another trial that made Bin Laden and Al Quieda aware of how they were being tracked?
“Third, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed will have no more of a platform to spew his hateful ideology in federal court than he would have had in a military commission.”
Holder noted that Mohammad – in appearing before military commissions last year – “declared the proceedings an inquisition, he condemned his own attorneys and our Constitution, and professed his desire to become a martyr.” While his rants were heavily covered by the media, “few complained at that time that his rants threatened the fabric of our democracy.”
And if Mohammed does rant and rave, “I have every confidence that the nation and the world will see him for the coward he is. I’m not scared of what Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has to say at trial, and no one else needs to be afraid, either,” Holder said.
Excuse me, Mr. Holder, do you seriously believe that American Citizens do not want to give this vile creature a very public platform from which to spew his putrid vitriol BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID???? Mr. Holder, perhaps it is you who should be afraid, very afraid... about keeping your AG job.
“Fourth, there is nothing common – there is nothing common – about the treatment the alleged 9-11 conspirators will receive.” Holder said he expects prosecutors to seek “the ultimate and most uncommon penalty for these heinous crimes” – the death penalty.
Being Texan, I guess I don't find it quite so uncommon to give the death penalty to the worst murderers. However, that does not justify bringing this circus to our shores when they can receive the "ultimate and most uncommon penalty" right there, safely tucked away at Gitmo.
“Finally, there are some who have said that the decision means that we have reverted to a pre-9/11 mentality, or that we don’t realize that this nation is at war.” Not true, Holder said: “I know that we are at war. I know that we are at war with a vicious enemy who targets our soldiers on the battlefield in Afghanistan and our civilians in the streets here at home.”
Holder said he has personally witnessed the devastation of war – when he recently accompanied President Obama to Dover Air Force Base to witness the return of soldiers killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan; and “in the faces of the families who have lost loved ones abroad”; and in the daily intelligence reports he views each day.
Sorry, Mr. Holder, I don't buy it. You spent a couple of hours at Dover AFB and that is suppose to convince us that you understand that we are at war while you are determined to try war criminals in a civilian court? Mr. Holder, do you have ANY understanding what is required to fight a war?
ATTY GEN. HOLDER: “One thing I would say: that, with regard to those people who are captured on the battlefield, we make the determinations every day as to who should be Mirandized, who should not. Most are not Mirandized. And the people who are involved in that decision involve not only lawyers and agents but also military personnel who make the determination as to who should be Mirandized. But again, the notion that a conviction of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed would depend on his getting Miranda rights is simply not accurate.”
Let me get this straight... Soldiers capture a terrorist on the battlefield and they, along with lawyers and agents determine if the captured terrorist should be Mirandized? You propose that our soldiers stop and what... radio their superior officer so he can give a call to the lawyers and agents to determine if Miranda is required?
I am not the only one that didn't buy this BS... PATRIOT SALUTE to Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) for his questioning of AG Holder.
GOTCHA!
The video clip is worth the watch... but you can read the transcript by clicking on "Jump for More Info and Links" TIP: Turn the sound down and let the video load until almost finished (while you are reading all the other good stuff) and then pull the bar back to the beginning, less streaming problems that way.
FROM KEEP AMERICA SAFE
Americans, it is time to unite, not as Republicans or Democrats, not as Conservatives or Liberals or Progressives. It is time to unite as CITIZENS.
President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder have forgotten that their chief duty is the safety and the security of the American people. IT IS TIME FOR US TO REMIND THEM.
AG Eric Holder will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, November 18, to testify about the administration’s plan to bring Khalid Sheikh Mohammed back to the scene of Al Qaeda’s greatest single atrocity–Ground Zero–where he will brag about the slaughter of 3,000 innocent men, women and children and his lawyers will tell a “jury of his peers” that HE is a victim of the U.S. Government.
This is insanity.
Please join 9/11 Families for a Safe & Strong America, the firefighters of TheBravest.com and Keep America Safe in Washington, D.C. to tell Eric Holder, President Obama and their supporters in Congress: “WE WILL FIGHT YOU ALL THE WAY!”
This week letters were sent to President Barack Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates questioning the wisdom of bringing these terrorists onto US soil to try them in civilian courts for their grievous crimes against this great country, including the murder of 343 New York City firefighters. (Read It Here)
Sign The Letter To President Obama Here
UPDATE: The letter now has in excess of 100,000 signatures… <<<<<>>>>> OTHER THINGS TO DO
Vist Keep America Safe it has a lot of information on security issues such as CIA investigation that damages our national security and the personal security of CIA agents. Read their plea now! Additional resources: War on Terror, CIA Interrogation Program, Guantanamo Bay Facility, Iran, Afghanistan, Human Rights and Democracy
VIDEO: Barack Obama knows how to give a great speech. But when it comes to America's defense. The rhetoric doesn't match the reality. If you think America's President must act to defend America instead of just talking about it.
Bombshell: Obama bringing KSM to NYC for trial; former Bush AG Mukasey responds: “High risk of attack”
It’s Friday. The president is flying off to Asia. Congress is not in session. Perfect time to drop a bombshell on the American people: The Obama administration is bringing 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed to New York City for a civilian trial. ... An E-mail was sent by DOD’s Director Victim Witness Program to victims, survivors, and family members of jihadi attacks (via Sgt. Tim Sumner, brother-in-law of FDNY Joseph G. Leavey, 45, Ladder 15, WTC) that informed them that the AG Holder would be making the announcement
Tim's Response: We have an announcement as well: we will fight with every remaining breath in our bodies both their bringing KSM and the rest of the 9/11 conspirators to federal courtrooms within walking distance of where they slaughtered our loved ones. And whomever finds Manhattan’s federal courthouse near Ground Zero a “sentimental favorite” for the 9/11 trials is a damn fool and they ALL ought to be fired. Pass that message on, far, wide, and up and down the chain-of-command.
If this White House thought Tea Party activists were an “angry mob,” wait until they see the backlash from 9/11 family members and their supporters nationwide. We’re not going to sit down and shut up about the reckless, security-undermining Obama 9/10 agenda and conflict-of-interest-ridden AG Eric Holder.
WA POST: Daniel Pearl's dad is sickened by Obama's 9/11 trial decision
His son's beheading in 2002 was caught on a gruesome video that shocked the world. "The 21st century saw three shocks," Pearl said. "The first was 9/11. The second was the killing of my son. And the third was the shock today." The reporter's outraged father, a UCLA professor, said a public trial would allow the admitted mass murderer to "boast about his cruelty" and encourage other terrorists to inflict harm. Pearl said the prosecution of Mohammed should be done in closed session to avoid giving terrorists a platform.
From Best of the Web (By JAMES TARANTO: WSJ)
New York's Gov. David Paterson is not happy with the White House's decision to bring Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other enemy combatants to New York for civilian trials, reports WCBS-TV: "This is not a decision that I would have made. I think terrorism isn't just attack, it's anxiety and I think you feel the anxiety and frustration of New Yorkers who took the bullet for the rest of the country," he said. Paterson's comments break with Democrats, who generally support the President's decision. "Our country was attacked on its own soil on September 11, 2001 and New York was very much the epicenter of that attack. Over 2,700 lives were lost," he said. "It's very painful. We're still having trouble getting over it. We still have been unable to rebuild that site and having those terrorists so close to the attack is gonna be an encumbrance on all New Yorkers." Paterson also said that the White House warned him six months ago this very situation would happen.
Whoa, hold on a second, Governor? The White House told you six months ago that they were going to put your constituents through this? Gee, thanks for letting us know. Here's a question: If the White House made up its mind about this six months ago--that would be in May, roughly four months after President Obama's inauguration--why did it wait until last week to make the announcement? That it was the week after an election is bound to raise suspicions that the timing was politically motivated.
The Obama Fundamental Transformation of America will continue unabated when Congress moves to overhaul immigration laws early next year. The Democrat Congress will make amnesty the main thrust of the overhaul, because his O'liness wants it and, since a majority of voters drank the Change Flavored Kool-Aid, 'O' will get what he wants. Just as the House passed ObamaCare the Senate will, most likely, pass its version.
Congress may wait to start the Amnesty Debacle after ObamaCare is passed. However, since Illegal Immigration is such a high intensity issue, it will serve as a distraction while the House and Senate version of ObamaCare is being merged behind closed doors.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Obama's "point person" on immigration policy issues, spoke to the liberal-leaning Center for American Progress and reassured them that Obama surely did intend to fulfill his campaign pledge to push for a comprehensive immigration package that would lead to legal status for an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants.
"We will never have fully effective law enforcement or national security as long as so many millions remain in the shadows," Napolitano said. "The U.S. government has built more than 600 miles of fencing and pedestrian barriers on the 2,000-mile border with Mexico, and more than doubled the ranks of the U.S. Border Patrol, to 20,000 officers," Napolitano said.
She went on to make the argument that because of a shrinking job market and increased enforcement, Border Patrol arrests last year were less than half the 2005 level of 1.2 million this is the ideal time to push for changes. "Trust me: I know a major shift when I see one, and what I have seen makes reform far more attainable this time around."
There are some that would disagree... "It is ironic that a poor economy is their justification for amnesty," said Rep. Lamar Smith, (Texas). "How can they claim that enforcement is 'done' when there are more than 400 open miles of border with Mexico, hundreds of thousands of criminal and fugitive aliens and millions of illegal immigrants taking American jobs?"
"The substance of her case is divorced from the reality of America's economy today," said Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which opposes creating a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants. "The arguments against amnesty are far stronger today than they were in 2007. You have a much tighter job market."
Despite Napolitano's optimism about passing reform next year, the 2010 congressional elections remain an obstacle. "Congress does not want to debate amnesty during an election year," said Jon Feere, a legal policy analyst at the Center for Immigration Studies, which favors "low-immigration" policies. "The year after that, Obama is looking at reelection himself, and he's not going to want to make immigration an issue." John Vinson, president of the American Immigration Control Foundation, which advocates tough immigration laws, said, "The American people are not sympathetic to people who break laws."
It isn't race or ethnicity that bothers most legal residents of this country. It is our failure to make non-hyphenated Americans out of them. Instead of becoming English-speaking Americans, too many are retaining the language, customs, culture and political agendas of their native lands. No nation can long survive such an invasion without assimilation.
I don' t think Democrats have changed their spots since 2006. You can be sure they will be pandering to the Hispanics in the upcoming battles over Illegal Immigration. Most DC Demwits would probably hand Texas over to Mexico or Aztlan given half a chance (yeah, they really are that stupid) however, as a native of the Lone Star State, let me assure you there will be no Mexico or Aztlan taking over Texas. We had a little skirmish down here in the 1830's. At that time, a small rag-tag band of miscreants defeated one of the best funded and organized military in the world. This time, we have all the guns.
"Aztlan" — is a movement to establish Hispanic hegemony in the southwestern USA, and then split this region off from the rest of the country. Insights into the movement this concept has inspired can be found at La Voz de Aztlan. The strategy is simple: conquest by immigration. This is basically how the USA ended up with the Southwest in the first place, since this region was once part of Mexico. The difference is, it had not been heavily settled then. Now it is home to three of America's five largest cities (Los Angeles, Houston, Phoenix).
The strategy seems to be working. Los Angeles is considered the capital of "Aztlan." It is now run by a Mayor who was once Chairman of the UCLA chapter of MEChA, a vehemently racist organization devoted to "Reconquista," or the driving of non-Hispanics out of the southwestern quarter of the United States.
Runaway immigration has resulted in mayhem in France. Worse is in store for America, unless we assert control over our borders immediately and limit immigration to numbers that can be successfully assimilated.
Video below was taken when a fight broke out among for and against Amnesty protesters Saturday, November 14... and remember, this is the very beginning of what is promising to be a very hot, contentious issue.
VIDEO NOTES Supporters of President Obama's Amnesty plans attacked Tea Party Against Amnesty & Illegal Immigration demonstrators in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on Sat. November 14, 2009. One of the men attacked is 62 years old. Dave Caulkett of FLIMEN (Floridians for Immigration Enforcement) is assaulted and then kicked in the face while he is down. The other camera man from the Tea Party is hit with several signs. For more information about these assaults please contact Americans for Legal Immigration PAC ALIPAC via http://www.alipac.us
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Those attacking the Americans that oppose Amnesty for illegal aliens were organized by ANSWER Florida. Here is the exact text of their e-mail invitation which was a prelude to these violent assaults on Americans that stand with the 80% of Americans that oppose Amnesty for illegal aliens:
"That is why we are calling on all people to come out tomorrow, to organize a militant confrontation with the so-called "tea baggers." Beating back these forces will require us to organize together, take the streets, fight the racists wherever they show their faces and drive them out of every community."
Protest Tomorrow to Shut Down Racist "Anti-Amnesty" Rally Saturday, November 14 12:00PM Fort Lauderdale, Corner of Oakland Park and Federal Highway
The ANSWER Coalition is calling on all its members, allies, and friends to join us tomorrow to confront and shut down the racist "Anti-Amnesty Tea Party" in Ft. Lauderdale.
The "Anti-Amnesty" rallies being held across the country tomorrow have been initiated by fascist, white supremacist organizations that include the Minutemen and the so-called Americans for Legal Immigration.
... Racism is like anything else in this world: in order to make it fall, you must smash it! That is why we are calling on all people to come out tomorrow, to organize a militant confrontation with the so-called "tea baggers." Beating back these forces will require us to organize together, take the streets, fight the racists wherever they show their faces and drive them out of every community.
The racist demonization of immigrants only serves the interest of the ruling class during this historical economic crisis. The same bankers, CEO's, and politicians, both Democrat and Republican, which have for decades devastated the economies of countries in Latin America, Asia, and Africa, have once again devastated the economy in this country. The same ruling class that devastates the lives of working people in other nations through war and super-exploitation are the ones throwing workers out of their homes, denying them healthcare, and laying them off from their jobs in this country.
Racism is consciously used as a tool by the ruling class because they know that as long as working people are divided and fighting each other, the people are not fighting the bankers, CEO's, and politicians. Only under a brutal system that puts profit over people can you have a whole section of society whose only crime is being forced from their nations because of imperialism and forced to work in the most hostile of conditions in this country. Only racism can justify this reality.
The continual devastation of working people because of this crisis, however, is not the fault of one group of workers. On October 28th, President Obama signed the largest military budget in U.S. history-$680 billion dollars, which does not include the cost of the criminal occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. The new administration is also continuing to hand out the $9.5 trillion dollars in working people's tax dollars to bailout the already rich.
The money to end the suffering of all working people tomorrow is there. It is our choice as to whether we will allow the right of a few to profit from labor of workers to continue, or whether we will rise up as one class of working people to and take political power into our own hands.
We are building a movement that will beat back racism so that working people of all nationalities can unite and fight against our one, shared enemy: capitalism. Amnesty, full rights for ALL immigrants, is a demand that should be raised not just by the immigrant communities, but by every working class community in our struggle to solve this crisis by our own means.
Join us tomorrow, and join us in building the movement against racism and capitalist exploitation! For more information, contact 305-710-3189 or info@answerfl.org! This email was sent to absynthe@gmail.com by info@answerfl.org.
If the freedom of speech extends to burning the American flag, then it extends to burning all flags. If that’s not the case, then we’ve ceased to be a free nation.
When you see the Mexican flags and flags – other than American flags – being hoisted at these demonstrations, we are getting this message: ‘Yes, we are here illegally. No, we do not believe this to be your country. We do not believe in your laws . . . and we don’t believe you’re going to do anything about it.
Conquered people only have the rights their conquerors and quisling accomplices see fit to dole out to them. If we are not prepared to fight for this country and its constitution we all best get used to being a controlled people working for the enrichment of the State and living on whatever crumbs it decides to let us have.
Excerpt from the ruling by U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie:
The "I Believe" Act cannot be seen by any reasonable observer either as facilitating expression of a broad diversity of viewpoints ... or as a permissible accommodation to Christians..... Both positions are belied by the facts that the "I Believe" Act (1) authorizes a single plate with a uniquely Christian message, (2) was sponsored and approved solely as the result of governmental action, and (3) presents its message in a manner that is not available except through the legislative approval process (necessary to allow the inclusion of both motto and symbol). ....
The "I Believe" Act had its genesis in Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer’s desire to do here what had been unsuccessful in the state of Florida–to gain legislative approval of a specialty plate promoting the majority religion: Christianity. Whether motivated by sincerely held Christian beliefs or an effort to purchase political capital with religious coin, the result is the same. The statute is clearly unconstitutional and defense of its implementation has embroiled the state in unnecessary (and expensive) litigation.
In her 57-page ruling, Currie also ordered the state of South Carolina to pay legal costs of the people who filed the lawsuit.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof... --US Constitution Amendment 1
How does providing an optional license plate that no one is required to use, that one has to pay extra for, thereby not being funded by the state be construed as an establishment of religion?
Separation of church and state is NOT in the constitution, it is a term made up by those whose true mission is to totally eradicate Christianity... Starting with disallowing all reference or public display of Christianity and forcing all worship to be conducted behind closed doors.
Eventually, we will have to worship in secret if we continue to allow the anti-Christian forces to succeed in turning this country into something that was never envisioned nor intended by our founding fathers.
Considering some of the plates already available in SC, one might think the judge had her own ax to grind. For example:
Just a few of the other 'by choice' plates available in SC: Amateur Radio, Ancient Free Masons, Beaufort Water Festival, Boy Scouts of America, Boykin Spaniel Foundation, Carolina Panthers, Cattleman's Association, Choose Life, Driven by the Arts, Earth Echo, Education, Endangered Species, Homeownership: The American Dream, Gone Fishing, In God We Trust, In Reason We Trust, Nascar (6 choices) National Multiple Sclerosis Society, No More Homeless Pets, Secular Humanists of the Low Country, Shag, Share the Road Palmetto Cycling, Shriners, Sons of Confederate Veterans, South Carolina Ducks Unlimited, Square Dance, Surfrider Foundation, Technology Alliance, United We Stand, Working for the Wild Turkey, many colleges and universities along with many fraternity and sorority plates.
11-13-2009 Senator Bill Nelson D-FL Senator George.LeMieux R-FL Representative Jeff Miller R-FL
Gentlemen, You will quickly recognize I am livid, regarding the Obama decision to bring the 911 terrorist planners to New York City for prosecution.
If you gentlemen don’t come together as a bipartisan group of three or more to challenge the Obama Administration, with legislation if necessary, to withdraw this incompetent, bizarre decision, be prepared to explain to the people of Florida, why not?
To bring the killers that planned the 911 event to New York City to stand trial...at best a show trial, lasting years and opening New York city to increased potential of terrorists attacks...putting American citizens safety at risk...for what? Political correctness, ideology of the Obama Administration!. IMPEACHMENT CAN'T BE FAR AWAY.
Rather than bring them to trial under a military tribunal as the war criminals they are at Gitmo, where safety and facilities are in place, the Obama Administration, for no valid reason, wants them in New York City. On American soil which will give them all the rights and privileges under the US Constitution that Americans enjoy....This is a travesty.
The implications of bringing these 911 War Criminals to US soil is absolutely mind-boggling...it must be stopped. To bring potential Islamic terror to New York when it is avoidable, clearly points to indescribable flawed decision making of the Obama Administration.
I urge the three of you to call for an open gathering on the West Lawn of the US Capitol of Americans, not later than 10 days from today to demonstrate opposition to 911 terrorist war criminals prosecution in New York City or anywhere in the continental United States.
My request will be communicated to everyone in Florida and America I can contact. I expect a written communication from each of you. It may be sent by USPS, email, or fax as listed in my signature block.
Saw Bill Bennett on Fox News today, it was like running into an old friend because I had not seen him in awhile. He will be on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday Nov 15th along with Donna Brazile, Candy Crowley, Joe Johns and Jessica Yellin. I might make myself watch CNN for this one.
<<<<<>>>>>
GLENN BECK DISCUSSES TAXES AND TEXAS ON RADIO SHOW
GLENN: I was going to tell the story about who is moving out of New York. Because we said, you know, they start screwing with the taxes more than they already have, you just can't afford to do business in New York. So move out of New York. Hmmm. Guess who ‑‑ guess what media company has decided to move 25 of their 30 editorial employees out of New York and move them to tax‑free Florida?
PAT: Hmmm. Some conservative rightwing ‑‑
GLENN: The New York Times. In order to save 25 jobs, they've decided to move those 25 jobs to Florida where there's a tax haven. ...
I have to tell you the audacity of the New York Times, now that there's trouble after they've been talking about this kind of a progressive government, for them to jump ship. Suck it up, New York Times. Why don't you downscale. Boy, that ‑‑ you are so brilliant, you built that huge skyscraper. What a brilliant move that was, huh? Now when you're in trouble, you decide to move to states where there is no state income tax. I personally think people like this should be trapped in their own, in the own mess that they made...
STU: Glenn, they have been talking, this phenomenon is actually even worse than just how annoying they are because what's happening, and this is happening in the county that I live in in Pennsylvania is that it's been ‑‑
GLENN: Oh, I know.
STU: ‑‑ a fiscally conservative county, it's in decent shape and then everyone gets frustrated with the liberal policies that they voted in in the cities and in New Jersey and they keep leaving there and coming to my county in Pennsylvania where they in turn start voting for more liberal policies. So now we're turning my county into their old county that they had to leave.
GLENN: That's why I'm going to add one extra thing. Because I said this about a year ago. There are going to be states that if this thing falls apart, there are going to be states that say no more. No more. And they are not going to want a bunch of people moving out of these cities that were part of the problem. That's why I would like a ‑‑ papers, please. I would like a paper from the governors of states that will welcome us just saying, you're welcome at any time. Because remember what happened during the dust bowl. As crazy as this sounds, do you know that liberal‑loving California, they actually stood with armed guards, they actually stood with guns at the border and told the Okies, turn around. They were starving to death, and California said, turn around because they didn't want to be swamped in California with the people that they said caused the problem, that would bring their state down, et cetera, et cetera.
That's going to happen. It's going to happen. You are going to have states who have been responsible ‑‑ that are going to say, no, no, no, no. And instead of just, letting people swamp the system, like basically what the United States government does, they're actually I think going to protect their borders and they're going to say, no, excuse me, you're not coming in.
I think we should take a state, I think we should find a state, have the state just take it and say, you know what, we want all of the great entrepreneurs to come here. We will stand, we will be ‑‑ we will not take the government money. And if it says that, you know, we can't build our roads, then fine. We don't need their money. We'll build our roads or we'll live on worse roads for a while. But we're not going to do this to the people and we're not going to micromanage your life. And what we're going to do is we're going to stay free in this state. And entrepreneurs and brilliant people and big businesses, you come here. Which state? I mean, they have been doing stuff like this for a while, but which state is really going to put it on the line and say we'll defend ourself, we won't take this money from the federal government. No matter what happens, the people will stand together; we will help each other. You know the only one that ‑‑ again I come back, the only one I see ever doing that is Texas.
I had not thought about all the people moving to Texas from their overtaxed states and then have them start voting for all the Liberal crap that screwed up their state to begin with... dadgum, we are going to have to protect all of our borders.
DOCS 4 PATIENT CARE
Practicing US physicians uniting to represent the interests and concerns of both patients and doctors in the health care reform debate. D4PC endorses the concept of needed health care reform, but we recognize it can only be accomplished by proceeding in a cautious and responsible manner. Our recommendations will enable us to reach this goal without requiring the nationalization of the entire American health care system.
THE 20 BIG LIES IN THE HEALTH CARE REFORM DEBATE
1. You can keep your insurance if you like it.
2. You can keep your doctor if you wish.
3. US health care ranks near the bottom of the industrialized world.
4. Major cause of bankruptcies is related to medical expenses.
5. 14,000 people per day are dying due to lack of medical insurance.
6. Most doctors support Obamacare as endorsed by organized medicine (AMA).
7. Senior citizens will not lose any Medicare benefits.
8. Insurance premiums will be reduced for most Americans.
9. This plan will only result in tax increases for the super wealthy.
10. Proposed HC bills are budget "neutral" and will not add to the federal deficit.
11. There are only 2 choices: the current system or Obamacare.
12. The Republicans say NO because they lack and alternative plan.
13. The public "strongly" supports Obamacare and public option.
14. There will not be any rationing in healthcare.
15. The government will not interfere between you and your doctor.
16. Most doctors oppose HCR legislation so they can preserve their income.
17. This is a "crisis" situation and needs to be passed into law immediately.
18. A public option will increase competition and not result in a single payer system.
19. Members of Congress will be subject to the same healthcare as the general public.
20. Contents of the bill will be available to read at least 72 hours prior to a vote.
Every physician takes an oath dedicating oneself to the care of patients. Motivated by this oath, we are compelled to speak out and clarify what we believe are important facts regarding the health care debate. The real facts are not accurately reported to the public. We need to explain to you what the consequences of a new government run health plan will mean to you.
For historical and cultural reasons, physicians have been largely silent on political issues. This has been a mistake. Everyone, including our patients, has misunderstood our reluctance to speak out as silent support for the government’s plan. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We will be silent no longer.
Every physician takes an oath dedicating oneself to the care of patients. Motivated by this oath, we are compelled to speak out and clarify what we believe are important facts regarding the health care debate. The real facts are not accurately reported to the public. We need to explain to you what the consequences of a new government run health plan will mean to you.
For historical and cultural reasons, physicians have been largely silent on political issues. This has been a mistake. Everyone, including our patients, has misunderstood our reluctance to speak out as silent support for the government’s plan. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We will be silent no longer.
LETTER TO PATIENTS The government’s plan is frightening! Here’s what’s going to happen:
A new government health plan will be created.
The government will set standards of care.
Electronic medical records will become a curse, not a blessing.
(be sure to go to site and read the details)
As our patient, there are some things we want you to know:
No one cares about your health as much as your doctor.
We don’t have to passively accept the government’s proposed plan.
We don’t have much time!
Physicians want health care reform too. But we do not share the government’s vision of government-centered health care.
What Can You Do?
1. Become an informed patient. Do your own research. Learn as much as you can. Talk about it with your co-workers, friends and family. Don’t let the politicians and the media tell you what to think. Don’t assume they know what is best.
2. Write your congressman…..NOW. Instructions on how to do this quickly and easily are on the following page.
3. Talk to your doctor during your visit today. The more support we get from you, our patients, the bolder we can be.
4. Visit Docs4PatientCare.org. We have recently formed a group dedicated to giving practicing physicians a voice in the health care reform process: Docs 4 Patient Care. We add to the web site almost daily. Please visit the web site often and get more information.
Here is a suggested text for the letter. Copy and paste this into the “comments” or “message” box:
PLEASE DO NOT SUPPORT THE OBAMA HEALTH CARE PLAN. Do not believe Obama when he says that creation of a government health plan will not lead to government controlled health care. A government plan will drive private plans out of the market, leaving the public option as the only option. Health care costs will go up, not down. Quality of care will go down, not up. I don't want to wait 6 months to see a physician, and I don't want to be denied care because of government comparative effectiveness rules.
The President wants to ram this down our throats as quickly as possible so we don't even get a chance to talk about it. This is not the American way. Please help slow this process down so we can have a meaningful debate.
Please consider some of the other options on the table including revision of tax laws to allow private individuals to deduct health care premiums.
If ObamaCare passes tomorrow, or the next day, or the next... be afraid... be very afraid
Zombies suck the blood of their victims, Andrew Klavan explains how government will suck the tax payers dry as well.
Every citizen that feeds on the make-work jobs, incompetent projects and corrupt programs, who doesn't pay the taxes but benefits from the taxes paid by others becomes a zombie just like their government masters, part of the army of the unproductive, undead... that's coming after you. So bar the doors... board the windows... and tell your representative... NO ZOMBIE! NO! because the night of the Living Government has just begun.
"If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." --Samuel Adams
“That depends on how you define Tea Party conservatism. If it means an uncompromising movement conservatism focused on divisive social issues and suffused with cultural resentment -- the kind embodied by Sarah Palin – then it’s a disaster for Republicans. On Tuesday, it cost them one of the few remaining traditionally Republican seats in the Northeast. The GOP winners in Virginia and New Jersey took pains to assure voters they were not right-wing ideologues.
But to the extent that Tea Party conservatism is animated less by demands for ideological purity, and more by the nexus of “big government,” spending and debt, it has crossover appeal to independents. An anti-government populism focused on a weak economy and exploding federal deficits could give Republicans some traction as we head toward next year’s mid-term election. That’s not fair, given all the GOP did to fuel public mistrust of government during the Bush years, but it’s a reality Democrats will have to contend with as they try to reform health care and put a price on carbon.”
“Let’s start with some clarity: “Tea Party conservatism” stands for several things, but it is not the caricature one often finds in the mainstream media, to say nothing of the left wing blogs. It is a movement with deep historical roots, drawing its name and inspiration from the Boston Tea Party of 1773. As with that event, taxes brought it to the fore — on Tax Day, April 15. But taxes are simply the most obvious manifestation of modern government run amok, insinuating itself into every corner of life.
Trillions of dollars of debt for our children, out-of-control government budgets, massive interventions in private affairs — the list of wrongs is endless, and under Obama has exploded. He stands for nothing if not for making us all dependent on the government he has promised us. That’s not America. That’s a foreign vision, which over the centuries countless millions have fled, searching for freedom.
To be sure, the Tea Party movement has its fringe elements, as did the revolt against British tyranny, which the establishment of its day disparaged. So too does the Obama administration, some of whom have already resigned. The basic question, however, is what does the movement stand for? What are its principles? And on that, the contrast with the Obama vision is stark: However much confusion there might be on specific issues, which is to be expected, the broad principles are clear.
The Tea Party movement stands for limited constitutional government. At its rallies, on hand-written sign after sign, that was the message repeatedly seen. These are ordinary Americans – Republicans, Independents, and even Democrats — who want simply to be left alone to plan and live their own lives. They don’t want “community organizers” to help empower them to get more from government.
But they do need to be organized to bring that about — to get government off their backs. And the Republican Party should be the natural vehicle toward that end — the party, after all, that was formed to get government off the backs of several million slaves. But today’s Republican Party is a mixed lot: Some understand those principles; but others, as in the NY 23 race, are all but indistinguishable from their counterparts in the party of Obama.
The problem in NY 23 was not that a third party entered the race. Rather, the party establishment botched things from the beginning, by picking a nominee who properly belonged in the Democratic Party, as her pathetic last-minute endorsement indicated, and that’s why a third party entered the race — with a novice of a nominee who nearly won despite the odds against him.
The question, therefore, is not whether Tea Party conservatism is a help or a hazard for Republicans seeking a return to power? To the contrary, it is whether the Republican Party is a help or a hindrance to the Tea Party movement? It will be a help only if it returns to its roots. The mainstream media, overwhelmingly of the Democratic persuasion, will continue to push Republicans to be “moderate,” of course – meaning “Democrat Lite” — to which the proper response is: Why would voters go for that when they can get the real thing on the Democratic line?
If Tuesday’s returns showed anything, it is that Independents, a truly mixed lot, are up for grabs; but at the same time, they are looking for leaders who promise not simply to “solve problems” but to do so in a way that respects our traditions of individual liberty, free markets, and limited government.
When Republican candidates stand clearly and firmly for those principles, they stand a far better chance of being elected than when they temporize. That is the lesson that Republicans must grasp — and not forget — if they are to return to power.”
Y’all are familiar with the moonwalk, right? When someone looks like they are walking forward, but in reality they're sliding backward? Well a bunch of Barking Moonbats are moonwalking.
Team Obama (anticipating losses) blew off the Tuesday elections in advance by downplaying any importance or significance in whatever the results. They even made a point to let everyone know that Obama was so not interested in the elections that he would be watching basketball instead of returns.
This strategy backfired so badly that David Axelrod (who as an ex-newspaper reporter should have known better) was forced to lower himself to interview with Fox, the very network he had vilified as not being a legitimate news network.
Andrew Malcolm discusses this in LA Times
“ Here's how desperate Obama administration spokesmen were Wednesday to fill the info void they'd created by hiding away during the previous night's bad news election returns:
...So, today out trotted Axelrod and press secretary Robert Gibbs to say the same things over and over as damage control: How could the election be about the president when he was not on any ballot? ...
Local issues prevail; Gibbs even dismissed the voting as "local elections." Corzine was in his own deep trouble already. We'll get young people energized next year. And, off-camera, off-the-record, Virginia Democrat Creigh Deeds was an awful candidate who didn't listen to us enough.
But, hey, (insert quick verbal pivot here) look over here at New York's 23d District where a Democrat took advantage of Republican/Conservative infighting and snatched a single GOP House seat.
Axelrod to Garrett: The other races in Jersey and in Virginia were really state races, very much focused on state issues. In New Jersey it was very much focused on Governor Corzine, but in New York 23, the issues that we’re discussing everyday in Washington were very much on the ballot.
And, particularly because of the purge of the Republican candidate, by the right, it became even more so and what you saw was a pretty vigorous turnout there yesterday in a district that had been held by Republicans for 140 years and the Democratic candidate won. I think that sends a strong message here.
To ABC's Jake Tapper Axelrod quoth: I think that young people were energized by the President about the set of issues and concerns that he ran on. I think they'll be energized again in 2010. But you know some of it is a personal appeal and we are going to work hard over the next year to make sure that in these national elections that are coming up our voters and particularly young voters are strongly engaged.
However, far more important for this president's future than these aides' scripted media quotes are the political calculations going on silently today in the minds of, say, the 257 Democrat House members who must face angry voters next year when the troubled economy will be even more Obama-owned.
Here's what they see:
Virginia's Gov. Tim Kaine, who's also the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, spent extra national money there and still can't deliver his own state against a tide of voter dissatisfaction.
Also, they'll note that Gov. Corzine couldn't even approach winning New Jersey with that state machine, all the money in the world, a mediocre, overweight Republican opponent, a third-party guy to siphon GOP votes and five presidential appearances in an historically Democratic state that went big for Obama in 2008.
Gee, these realistic professional pols might think to themselves: How eager should I be to be seen doing the roll call bidding of the Obama-Pelosi-Reid Democrat triad from now on?”
“ White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters the governors races turned on "local issues that didn't involve the president" such as property taxes in New Jersey. "I think voters are concerned about the economy," Gibbs said. "I don't think the president needed an election or an exit poll to come to that conclusion."
However, Julian Zelizer, a political science professor at Princeton University in New Jersey, said the anti-incumbent mood expressed on Tuesday and economic unease may have wider implications for the Democrats in 2010. "Democrats need to be nervous about other states," he said.”
“ Democrat Bill Owens took a surprising victory in a special election Tuesday in Upstate New York, winning a House seat that Republicans had controlled since 1872 and, in the process, potentially deepening a split that emerged within the GOP during the campaign.
As Democrats rallied around Owens, they said Republicans had revealed their intolerance of moderates through the dumping of Scozzafava. Local officials in New York had nominated her instead of Hoffman and others, but that choice set the stage for a conservative uprising that last month went national.
Leading national Republicans, most notably former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, injected themselves into the race to back Hoffman and blast Scozzafava. In the process, the race turned into a proxy battle for broader questions about the direction of the Republican Party, and the momentum seemed to be irresistibly propelling Hoffman to Washington.
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, retorted, "This election represents a double blow for national Republicans and their hopes of translating this summer's 'tea party' energy into victories at the ballot box."
Conservatives, expecting a Hoffman victory, had already started talking about which moderate Republicans they would take on next, suggesting that those who back Democratic initiatives could face trouble winning primaries next year.
GOP leaders in Washington have endorsed Florida Gov. Charlie Crist for a Senate election there next year, but party activists, angry about his appearance with Obama this year to back the stimulus bill, have sided with his Republican challenger, former Florida House speaker Marco Rubio. ”
EXCUSE ME? Dede Scozzafava was not even a RINO, she was more liberal than the Democrat Owens and was no loss whatsoever to the Republicans since she would vote lockstep with the Democrats. Hoffman was a 'Hail Mary' attempt to bring some reason to the 23rd.
EXCUSE ME AGAIN? The objections to Crist has been going on for some time now, NOT since the election in upstate New York. SEE GEORGE WILL IN YOUR OWN NEWSPAPER PRINTED SEP 27.
“ Republicans are spinning this as a massive referendum against President Obama and a Democratically-controlled Congress. What was really the case was that Deeds was a terrible candidate who got through his primary with some lackluster candidates; and almost immediately went negative on McDonnell, focusing most of his campaign on a 30-year-old doctoral thesis McDonnell once wrote. This allowed McDonnell to run a smart campaign.
He stayed above the fray, managed to run to the center (although he is a far-right conservative) as a populist by focusing on job creation and lowering taxes. It was a winning formula, and it showed yesterday by the results. However, it's more of a case of “good campaign” vs. “bad campaign” than having anything to do with Washington.”
“Let's look at the real lessons from Election 2009. A moderate Republican and a conservative Republican (who ran as a moderate and populist) won races for Governor against generally weak candidates.
A Democrat will be representing a district which has not elected a Democrat in 100 years, because the right-wing of the Republican party ousted a front-runner candidate who was deemed “too liberal”, and backed an ultra-conservative in her place.
An ultra-liberal Lt. Governor John Garamendi overcame an association with deeply-unpopular Governor Schwarzenegger and a more-popular Republican State Senator (David Harmer) to win a Special Election in the California 10th district by 11 points. The seat was formerly held by “blue dog” Democrat Ellen Tauscher.”
NANCY PELOSI'S MOONBATTERY
“From our perspective, we won last night," the California Democrat told reporters during a Wednesday photo op. "We had one race that we were engaged in, it was in northern New York, it was a race where a Republican has held the seat since the Civil War. And we won that seat. So, from our standpoint, no, a candidate was victorious who supports health care reform, and his remarks last night said this was a victory for health care reform and other initiatives for the American people." From our standpoint, we picked up votes last night," a cheerful Pelosi said, "one in California and one in New York.” VIDEO HERE
With pinheads on the left like Nancy Pelosi declaring "Victory!" at the same time her party takes devastating losses in Virginia and New Jersey, it's no wonder that people sometimes don't know where to look for honest perspective. Yes, Nancy, the House of Representatives picked up a vote that you guys will carry for a year. It is a loss for the Republican Party.
What you fail to see Mrs Speaker, is that the Conservatives won last night, and that message is the shot across the bow of the GOP. You didn't care to look at the way your guy won. You failed to see the fact that had Deidre Scozzafava stayed in the race unchallenged by a Conservative, you would have had a vote on your side for health care anyway. You gained no ground, whatsoever.
And what a bone-headed move for Team Obama that does not know how to govern except in campaign mode and tries to own every news cycle. It makes me start to reassess my previous thoughts that these Campaigners Extraordinaire can't possibly be so stupid to pull stunts like declaring war on Fox News and Tea Partiers and Seniors and the list goes on.
I had been thinking there had to be a sneakier, more ulterior motive. Surely they couldn't be so stupid as to openly try shutting down any opposition or difference of opinion without some underlying reason such as misdirection (aka prestidigitation.) Perhaps it is after all it is their Audacity of Stupidity that they thumb their nose at and continue to underestimate We The People.
Click on READ MORE to jump to more links including a summary by Reuters, Moonbattery by MSNBC and the DNC Head Moonbat Tim Kaine, WA Post, WSJ, Some Blue Dogs who GET IT and a nice essay by a young conservative.
I am one person. I might not change the world, but I can do what one person can do.
Preserving the Republic is the responsibility of each American citizen. We must all stand up and do our part to scrub away the socialist scum that is corroding our home with its corruption and insidious attacks on the Constitution. With a brave heart and bold actions, we join with the Soldiers, Vets and Patriots (past and present) and take an oath to uphold and protect the Constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic.
