Sorry, the No Index, No Follow tags are (you'll need to add the opening and closing html operators): META NAME="ROBOTS" CONTENT="NOINDEX, FOLLOW"/ META NAME="GOOGLEBOT" CONTENT="NOINDEX, FOLLOW"/ Salut! […]
OK Damian, I have it working now. I also use Go Daddy, and Justin's "all in one" code also caused my server to crash, so it looks like a Go Daddy thing. I love Go Daddy though, the service is great, and this is no reason to switch (believe it or not, I also host over at Network Solutions) As for the fix: First, I did not put the rewrite code i […]
Man, thanks for the great review and info. I love that it could be argued that this movie is targeted at social workers and teachers who practice LaME. On a side-note: I hope to have that indexing turned around in 36 hours at the latest. Lots going on tomorrow. Moving furniture for wood floor dude Grandma hired for us (Christmas gift). […]
Thanks..I always wanted that comment follow-up plugin but always forget about it when I'm online. You'd think WordPress would have put that in their default code by now...How are you checking to see if it really redirects? Check Justin again and try to follow his steps. I think you may have got in too deep with the move and created a unique situati […]
Tony Vahl mentioned President Obama’s desire to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell in the military. I head Schnitz mention it as well, so here are my random thoughts about the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy that was pushed by Bill Clinton. Some of my thoughts echo what Tony Vahl said on his podcast.
Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) tries to appeal to the middle ground and wound up pissing both the left and right off. However, hard core conservatives and right wing talk radio were really against it back in 1993. The irony now is that they are against President Obama’s willingness to reverse it.
Our socially liberal society has different views about gays and lesbians in the military than the military themselves. We also have stats that show that public opinion changes:
Public opinion polls have been widely varied in their results. A national poll conducted in May 2005 by the Boston Globe showed 79% of participants having nothing against openly gay people from serving in the military. In a 2008 Washington Post–ABC News poll, 75% of Americans – including 80% of Democrats, 75% of independents, and 66% of conservatives – said that openly gay people should be allowed to serve in the military.
However, an April 2009 CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll showed that 48% of Americans approved of the don’t ask, don’t tell policy. A further 8% believed that the policy was too lenient on homosexuals, while only 37% believed that the policy was too harsh.
A 2006 Zogby International poll of military members found that 26% were in favor of gays and lesbians serving in the military, 37% opposed gays and lesbians serving, and 37% expressed no preference or were unsure. 66% of respondents who had experience with gays or lesbians in their unit said that the presence of gay or lesbian unit members had either no impact or a positive impact on their personal morale, while 64% said as much for overall unit morale. Of those respondents uncertain whether they had served with gay or lesbian personnel, 51% thought that such unit members would have a neutral or positive effect on personal morale, while 48% thought that they would have a negative effect on unit morale. 73% of respondents said that they felt comfortable in the presence of gay and lesbian personnel.
In other words, for our armed forced the notion of gays in the military does seem to be demoralizing. But once they “get to know them”, it’s a little better.
Anyway, some of the opinions from current members of the military are pretty strong- they simply feel uncomfortable around gays and it demoralizes them. The usual reason is privacy issues in barracks and showers. Considering the fact that our military puts their lives on the live for the general public, perhaps we should leave it up to them to come up with an official vote on it. They are in the trenches, and you’d think they would know best based on their experiences.
Last I checked, your sexual orientation isn’t protected by the federal government from discrimination. So it’s not like the military banning you because of your skin color (although your age is discriminated against in the military, and it has a gray ceiling).
Anyway, you know how neocons and religious fundamentalists get their panties in an uproar when gays protest for “rights”? Gays just want equal rights, not special rights. They want their status protected since almost every aspect of society is against them because of their sexual preference. I think gays should be able to marry if they want to. I think they should serve openly in the military if they want to. But society as a whole is not there yet.
I’m sure since the Democrats are in power now, they have a checklist of social injustices and they figure this is their chance to allow openly gays in the military. But I think everyone should be thinking outside the box to stimulate the economy and lower the unemployment rate.
Workplace rules: There are already sexual conduct rules in the military. I think if enforced, gays can be included in the already existing rules. However, let’s face it, enlisted members and officers are human; it’s just like the workplace. Stuff happens.
Bottom line: Openly gays in the military is kinda like abortion- it’s a complex issue for me. Openly gay officers should be allowed to defend the United States, but I speak as a citizen, not as an enlisted serviceman. Therefore it should ultimately be an internal policy, hopefully created by a legit vote by enlisted members and officers.
This was written on October 28, 2008, during the heart of the 2008 Presidential Election by a DailySkew friend named Dani. How prophetic was he?
Had enough politics yet?
There are millions glued to the tv waiting for the next big news. Like when the big storm is coming, many of us look at the weather report, as if it were going to change the outcome. Don’t get me wrung, it’s good to listen, but is that going to make a difference? Unless of course, you have not made up your mind yet, and you are waiting for someone to make it for you.
This may be an unfair question but, is your vote decided on what you hear on tv? I mean, do you really take what you hear as the main source of information to make your pick? I’m sure there are plenty who make little or no effort in trying to figure this out any other way. But, who’s got the time right?
I personally surprised as to the great enthusiasm so far in this elections. This is a good thing. On the other hand, I have talked to many friends of mine about politics and there seems to be an enormous amount of ignorance as well. Pair this two up and it scares me. I mean many people. I’m afraid, are clueless. Don’t get me wrung, I am not as informed as I would like to be either, but many people can’t back up their own position let along that of the candidates.
Are you under the understanding that once your hero is elected, positive changes are coming your way? If you do, I like to tell you that I have been thinking about you the last few days and I have a question for you. Assuming your candidate wins, come January and you wake up in the morning, What is the first thing you are going to do? I mean, what is in your to-do list under your new president? That’s right, you don’t have a to-do list. My suggestion to you, don’t wait for him. Come out of fantasy land. What ever you are going to do then, start now. Waiting for him to put money in your pocket may turn out to be a big illusion.
God dumped the blizzard on the communist global warming scientists in Copenhagen.
The economy is a sham.
No one should trust Obama. His promises are false.
Government is putting out phony unemployment/labor market stats.
Hillary Clinton wants to raise $100 billion dollars a year to fund as a revenue sharing for underdeveloped countries.
Called all Democrats “liars”.
Ranted about the Senate and Health Care Bill for a while.
Said the health insurance government run “public option” was created to shut down private health insurance, and this was the motivation since day one by the left wings. Democrat law makers want to crush competition and have the government control medical insurance.
Insurance policies are not social programs. No entity works that way. Why should insurance programs be forced to cover sick people? It’s a loss.
Ben Bernanke. Who? Oh yeah, that guy. The Chairman of the Federal Reserve. But wait, why does Ben Bernanke get Time Person of the Year if we are amidst a recession, high unemployment rate, and a large debt? Considering that Richard Nixon is a two-time Time Man of the Year award winner, along with Adolf Hitler and Stalin, and “You”- the 2006 Person of the Year, I guess we shouldn’t be surprised.
Look, Time Man of the Year (changed to Person of the Year) has always been a scam just to get people to buy the Time Person of the Year issue, okay? It’s not even an award. It’s more of a “most influential” designation. In terms of validity or meaning something, however, it’s right up there with Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s “Wrestler of the Year” award- it doesn’t have any meaning.
Here’s a November 2008 comment from Dailyskew chief economist Tony Vahl:
I never thought we would see the day that the U.S. would repeat the same mistakes as our South American counterparts. Ben Bernanke, a PROFESSOR by trade, should have more sense than this.
Sure, he claims that the treasury bonds we issue balances out the increase of currency.
It’s still a gigantic gamble.
One reason I don’t see Bernanke being the most influential person is because he and HENRY PAULSON, former Secretary of Treasury, were the TAG TEAM that started this bailout madness towards the end of 2008 (President Bush was simply a lame duck wooden dummy who read a piece of paper.)
But seriously, Time Man of the Year has always been a joke. Anyone who seriously gets angry debating Time’s selections is a mark or rube.
So who would I pick for 2009 Person of the Year?
1. Iran Protesters (yeah, remember them?) Their historical protest of a rigged election touched everyone’s heart, although it also showed that you can’t overthrow an oppressive government with Twitter. 2. Somali Pirates – Well they STILL rule the seas and the world powers shrug. 3. Al Gore- As THE figurehead, fundraiser, and honorary lobbyist for the world to go GREEN and for us to worship Mother Earth, saw many of the Green Movement’s policies go into effect. 4- Usain Bolt- When it doubt, give Person of the Year to an Olympic athlete that crushes old records. Don’t know how influential he is, though, if you think too hard about it. I guess Time is inconsistent and does present Person of the Year as an award sometimes.
My personal pick is Mariano Rivera- Revealed to be the only living athlete who doesn’t cheat on his wife, doesn’t take HGH/steroids/B-12 shots, doesn’t cheat in the game, doesn’t gamble on the game, is MEDIA friendly, has been the best at his position for the last 13 years, and had yet another super season in 2009 at age 39, resulting in the New York Yankees World Championship.
I was listening to 850AM radio on the way home from work today, and Jeff Katz (conservative, pictured above) was ranting about CAIR being allowed to adopt a street in Davie, Broward County, Florida. Quick background: CAIR = Council on American-Islamic Relations, the group that handily defeated Michael Savage by taking sponsors away from him and won the copyright infringement case. Jeff Katz = former PA cop, fired from last NC talk show, nickname is “Mr. Right”.
After Katz was ranting for so long (the equivalent of masturbating to your own voice), a caller named Tim got through the phone lines and respectfully disagreed with Jeff Katz. Tim said that “it’s not the end of the Republic” if CAIR adopts a street in Davie. (I love when a real caller gets through to these right wing feat mongers on the Florida AM dial, like Joyce Kaufman.) Tim said it’s not a big deal, CAIR represents a difference of opinion when it comes to Palestine, and they are entitled to freedom of speech.
You should have heard how defensive Jeff Katz got. I mean, Katz was really working up this whole story- it was an orgasm of hate, and now here Tim comes and interrupts his local broadcast and actually brings up another opinion. Katz went into “bad cop” mode and interrogated Tim- very disrespectfully, by the way, although Katz would deny it when he reads this- and put Tim on trial. He made Tim admit that it would be OK for the KKK to adopt a street, and that Davie supports terrorism.
Another caller came on and ripped Tim. But this guy was…overboard. He brought up how the Koran is a book of violence, so Katz didn’t even have a chance to comment- he just cut the call because Katz knows that’s crossing the line.
Anyway, according to Katz:
1) The FBI and U.S. Department of Justice says CAIR is an Islamic front for the terrorist organization Hamas
2) CAIR is a hate group
3) CAIR funds terrorism and is subverting the United States
4) DoJ lists CAIR as an “un-indicted co-conspirator” in a case
Now, I was under the impression that no matter how shady CAIR is, and no matter what common sense tells you, that they were not designated as a terrorist organization (or found to sponsor terrorism) and is still a civil rights organziation. Granted, they may be in the ahem Al Sharpton civil rights league, but I didn’t think that these allegations were PROVEN, even though Katz made it like they were.
I recently worked with a Muslim- she had to be home schooled because of the hate she received at public school in good old Florida. I bring this up because CAIR represents people like her. If Rush Limbaugh had a rant against Jews like Michael Savage had against Muslims (which lead to the CAIR lawsuit), I’m not quite sure Rush would have still have his radio show, since Jews are in law, entertainment, and in the judiciary much more than Muslims in the U.S..
So I went online and did some research- I thank Jeff Katz for at least bringing this to my attention as a news story.
The first thing that was brought to my attention was a press release (great internet marketing technique, by the way, can’t wait to start mine):
(Davie, FL) On noon Friday, December 18th, Americans Against Hate (AAH), the anti-bigotry, terrorism watchdog group, will be holding a rally against the Broward County government for giving a public street sign to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Hamas-associated organization.
The sign, which is located in Davie, Florida just outside Broward Community College andNova Southeastern University, is part of Broward’s “Adopt-A-Street” program.
CAIR was created by Hamas operatives in 1994 and was recently named by the U.S. Justice Department a co-conspirator for a Hamas financing trial taking place in Dallas, Texas. Since the trial, the FBI has refused formal contact with CAIR.
The demonstration will take place toward the end of Hanukkah, a fact whose symbolic nature is not overlooked by AAH.
AAH Chairman Joe Kaufman stated, “On Hanukkah, millions of people around the world celebrate the triumph of the Jewish people over those who wished to destroy them. We want Broward County to recognize the fact that those involved with Hamas, like the Greeks 2000 years before them, have a similar goal to destroy the Jews. And we want Broward County to know that it allowed a sign to be ‘adopted’ by a group connected to Hamas.”
AAH is calling on the Broward government and the city of Davie to remove the sign immediately.
AAH had previously protested Broward County for allowing CAIR to place offensive messages on Broward’s public buses.
Speakers at the rally against the street sign will include Kaufman, Rabbi Andrew Jacobs of Ramat Shalom – Plantation, and TulyWultz, co-founder of the Daniel Cantor Wultz Foundation.
When: Friday, December 18, 2009, 12:00 Noon
Where: Outside the Broward County Commission building, at 115 S. Andrews Ave., in Downtown Fort Lauderdale.
Please bring your American flags. All signage will be provided by Americans Against Hate.
Next, I went on Wikipedia, since it’s neutral and a good starting point. Turns out the neutrality of the CAIR article is disputed and flagged. But the basic thing I got from it was: CAIR is still a legitimate organization, although they don’t pass the common sense smell test, since the evidence is damning. I went to CAIR’s site- they go out of their way to say they are not like hate group (unlike the KKK, which boasts about racial inequalities) and they try to combat everything guys like Michael Savage and right wingers say. Unfortunately, CAIR’s site comes off as an ACLU site- the whole gimmick is about suing organizations and people who offend Muslims, but…to each his own.
I then checked out some court records, active lawsuits, criminal investigations, and online magazine articles and finally message board forum posts (mostly hate mongering against Islamic Americans and Muslims abroad).
There was only one level headed forum poster I came across with CAIR:
The FBI does not have the final say on CAIR, the American courts of law where claims, even those made by the FBI are weighed against the evidence do. You need to go back to school and sign up for a crash course on our justice system. Secondly, the FBI never charged CAIR with anything. They were listed as “unindicted” together with over 300 of America’s top Muslim organizations in a politicized lawsuit driven by the right-wing Bush administration…The fact that you do not like Muslim enfranchisement does not mean that this is not so. It just means that you are sour grapes. Could you post “the evidence” that CAIR is a terrorist group? Thought so. Hot empty rhetoric is a staple of the shrieking harpies that love to sling mud at successful minority groups. It’s clear you’re burning with envy. I pity you.
Also, I read today that CAIR helped the FBI finger terrorists overseas after their families reported them missing.
My conclusion: CAIR has every right to adopt a street. Look, I “know” what CAIR is in real life, okay? CAIR is probably worse than Chicago’s other group, ACORN when it comes to bookeeping and accounting. But it has to be proven that CAIR sponsored terrorism, lest we truly become a Savage Nation and ban Muslims from having the same entitlements to due process and representation. If it was proven in a court of law (not from the opinion on an ex-FBI agent’s newpaper interview) CAIR would have been shut down already.
Once you can wrap your head around this- that CAIR hasn’t been shown legally to be a terrorist league- it’s a no-brainer that Davie let them adopt a street. IF Davie said “no”, Davie would be SUED and CAIR would launch a marketing campaign against Davie. On what legal basis does Davie have to say “no”? Keep in mind, Davie is WASP territory, as well. You’d think of all South Florida towns, Davie would have rejected CAIR.
Again, there are two sides to every story, and many more angles. Common sense may dictate that CAIR- at the very least- was guilty of association (just like Obama has been guilty of this LaME crime for his entire life), but like Lex Luthor in John Byrne’s 1986 Superman reboot- is not guilty. Again- listen- if you read about CAIR you will form an opinion, and it will likely be negative. CAIR fails the court of public opnion’s test, but not the legal system’s.
And this brings me full circle to what passes as “conservatism” on the radio, TV, and message board forums these days. This new age, Earth-Flush herd-mentality intolerant conservatism is close-minded, judgmental, bigoted, and trying to hold on to their ever-shrinking social status. Each new generation (from Baby Boomers to Generation X to Generation Y) gets more and more liberal- and with good reason.
With so many different races, religions, immigrants, cultures, sexual preferences, and beliefs in the United States, there is a super pluralism that our Founding Fathers never dreamed about. Everyone’s opinions are equal and everyone has a right to express them. Every group demands justice; we get it every year: first there were Christmas trees in town square, then in recent years Hanukkah bushes, then Islamic symbols, and then a bunch of other religions or pseduo-religions, until we have now reached the point where some towns have “Holiday Trees” to avoid the pluralism and to avoid lawsuits. But–it is what it is! Who draws the line? Conservatives always want to draw that line and say “Christmas trees ONLY”.
Yes, politically correctness rules. It’s a fairly modern invention with good intentions but usually absurd results. It really stems from Nietzsche when he deconstructed God and the concept of good and evil in the 1800’s. Heck, Nietzche invented the word “values”- he retconned virtues, which originally meant timeless morals. “Values” means that you’re right, I’m right, we’re all right, and that pisses a lot of people off, although liberals believe that (as long as you aren’t right-wing).
My problem with right wingers in the MEDIA and Internet is that they truly want the world to go back to the mythical 1950’s to a USA with the nuclear Christian white family, which is impossible in 2010 and beyond. I wonder if Jeff Katz realizes he as a Jew would not be welcomed in 1950 USA if he lived in most of the states back then.
Look, I like patriotism, civic duty, caring about society, having standards, being proud to be an American and to support our troops. I hate when people are politically correct. I’m first in line to say that things are falling apart when it comes to the United States as having a united culture. I think President Obama is a perfect symbol of the cultural diversity and moral ambiguity of politically correctness. But the truth is the CAIR = bogeyman reeks of McCarthyism, and there is an anti-Muslim trend in this country- big time.
So I was in the microfilm scanning room listening to AM radio all day just because I wanted some entertainment.
Here’s the AM-radio conservative take on 9/11 (I’m combining Rush, Beck, Savage, and Kaufman):
President Obama and the Democrats that run Congress and the White House staff are the new hidden enemy (socialist communists).
Junior Senator Obama defended the 9/11 terrorists around a week after the attack by saying we need to have empathy for people born from other cultures who come from poverty and ignorance.
First Lady Michelle Obama is being phased out; every time she speaks, her husband’s popularity goes down, so the Powers-that-Be told her not to speak anymore.
Michelle has around 29 helpers that taxpayers support.
Muslims are evil.
The radio hosts tied in Obamacare to 9/11- it’s all about the Phantom Menace: first Obama will regulate or nationalize healthcare because private insurance companies make a profit…but who’s next? Oil companies? Small businesses? You?
The memory of 9/11 fades with each passing year, and for Obama to make it a “community service day” is all part of the conspiracy to forget about terrorism.
There was no talk about President Bush and his advisers.
There’s like some protesting going on in Washington, D.C. or something like that.
Hey wanna hear something really crazy? A caller said that she didn’t let her 14-year old son go to school today because she’s afraid of “another 9/11″. I really think that when this woman heard someone say, “We have to be prepared for another 9/11″ she took it LITERALLY. Like Osama bin Laden won’t attack on 10/16 or 4/19 or 5/15.
Michael Savage recommends you take Vitamin A, but not the over-the-counter hard tablets- get the liquid form at a real health store, but not from the chain stores. You see the doctors are all part of the conspiracy to keep this from you, so you can get sick, and then they can get paid. High cholesterol is a myth. Our modern American diets are so deficient because THEY say we can’t eat fatty foods, and THEY say we can’t consume salty foods, so we need pure Vitamin A be healthy. Just be careful because if you take too much, you’ll die, just like people that eat polar bear livers.
***
Whereas last year I wrote a personal article about 9/11, I just don’t feel like it this year. I think everything has been said and the world is a different place now than in 2001. In 2039, 9/11 Remembrance Day will be like Flag Day. Yeah, I’m sorry to say I think it has jumped the shark, especially with the recession and the Obamacare debates. Plus Obama and his crew are so sympathetic to other countries and the war on terrorism has been purged from official speeches and publications, so…what does 9/11 mean anymore to an American Idol fan (i.e. the bulk of America?)
President Obama’s plan is working: he sends Hillary Clinton all around the world, gives her authority to do whatever she wants (which usually results in Hillary lecturing some foreign power), and keeps her out of domestic affairs, the recession, and his healthcare bill. Mrs. Clinton gets some free trips to places in Asia, and everyone’s happy.
Clinton has spent the first 6 months as Secretary of State going on a “listening tour” and telling world leaders that it’s time for a change.
President Bush would do this to Secretary of State Powell- send him on some mission to keep him out of Washington to kill his influence and alternate opinions. It’s a pretty funny game.
With Vice President Biden and Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel both going on record and telling the American people that the stimulus plan is working, I’d thought I’d take this time to restate that politics = pro wrestling, especially since President Obama will be pitching Obamacare tonight on Prime Time Wrestling, I mean on national TV. (Click here for my list of Pro Wrestling Jargon Terms).
President Obama’s “People’s Champion” gimmick will be tested as he is pitching to regulate private health insurance and sell to Washington (through the American people) to spend over $1 trillion dollars to reform healthcare now, not later. (Editor’s note: I have no opinion either way; debating health insurance is outside the scope of this post.)
President Obama does his best to come off as a regular guy who loves sports and pop culture, a comically whipped husband, and a loving dad. He does this at townhall meetings, interviews, and press conferences, although trying to make sense of the pretzels he twists is hard. He wants us to identify with him as “one of us” and a “Washington outsider”. Never mind that Average Joe Six Pack didn’t make millions from book sales and never graduated Columbia University and Harvard Law School. But that’s what a gimmick is- to create an image (personae, character) and have people buy into it. Heaven knows the American people were tired of President Bush’s outdated rich cowboy gimmick. The Common Man gimmick had to be created.
Half of Americans went with it- half bought Obama’s platform of Hope and Change. Half politely allowed him some time to settle in and figure out how to handle the recession. We all waited for our checks. We still see unemployment rising, we still see small businesses closing, and we still detect the smell of fear from people when it comes to the future.
Many people will listen to President Obama tonight, and he will describe how the new health care policy will translate into affordable care for all Americans, and how this bill will actually stimulate the economy. Then we will listen to the news, and read the websites, and listen to the radio, and your local stations and you get various opinions as to what the bill actually has in store for us. Even FactCheck.org isn’t sold on Obamacare.
I mean, why healthcare reform now? Obama will say it is such a important issue that it can’t be pushed back 12 years. But the reality is the people that run Washington behind-the-scenes, the people who have some power stake in reforming healthcare, want Obama to cash in on his political capital now, before his popularity rating drops further.
I speak to clients about Obama, and I know a few that are his staunch supporters. You know what they are reduced to saying now? “Bush ruined the economy; it’s not Obama’s fault. Just give it time.”
Anyway, whereas the Bush Administration was pro-corporate America and run by Saudi Arabia, the Obama Administration is run by Green-shirted Chicago Union thugs whose experience comes from fund-raising.
As much as Obama preached about changing the way Washington politics works, it’s still status quo- Washington advisers, the Chief-of-Staff, former campaign managers, Green lobbyists, speech writers, and press secretaries run Washington and always will- it doesn’t matter what the platform is. It’s all a “work”.
I thought since the Democrats run Washington now, any Obama/Pelosi bill would pass instantly. But the truth is, every politician in Washington needs their palms greased to add provisions in the bill to help their state or to help a major company in their district. Politics as usual. Other Democrats are afraid to stand behind a fishy bill and push it through instantly because of responsibility and accountability (no more hiding behind a split House, where you can vote one way but feel another).
Everyone outside of the actual political arena makes money off bills being debated, as well- from the CNN analysts, to millionaire Rush Limbaugh complaining about it, to Politico and DrudgeReport for getting clicks, to whichever companies will be getting budget money…everyone except the People.
Speaking of Politico, it’s amazing how up-front and open people in Washington are about the public relations aspects and image building that goes into making the Obama Image. It’s just like reading an inside wrestling newsletter. The Obama PR machine has not stopped since the campaign.
So who benefits from pushing this healthcare bill? Those in power who want to propagate their status and power by growing and feeding the Government Machine (Bureaucracy). They want to create such a Government controlled system so that the People will continue to vote Democrats in office to continue the “Unlimited Five Year Plan”.
It’s all a show; it never changes, just the faces change. It’s all about keeping in power and creating more government agencies and keeping Washington as the power center. It’s very entertaining to see how creative they get with gimmicks, angles, and interviews, but it’s all predetermined. So don’t get your hopes up about “change”. The only change you will continue to see are the pennies and nickles that somehow fell into the side of your car door.
“In our country, we cannot accept that women be prisoners behind a screen, cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity. The burqa is not a religious sign, it’s a sign of subservience, a sign of debasement—I want to say it solemnly. It will not be welcome on the territory of the French Republic.”
In 2004 France enacted a law banning the Islamic headscarf and other conspicuous religious symbols from public schools.
Okay, bear with me here- I believe that all people should be free, and I believe in women’s liberation. I don’t think a husband forcing his wives (literally) to hide in public is cool; I think it’s unhealthy, but that’s from my own perspective here in sunny South Florida. I wasn’t raised in that environment or society where it is socially accepted; I was raised in a liberal multicultural city. Heck, I think burqas are sick from here, but what do I know?
At the same time, I don’t believe in forcing other countries to subscribe to my Western beliefs, or mixing up religion and politics like France is trying to do here.
It’s ironic how liberated France wants to *impose* their view their view on other culture (there are 5 to 6 million Muslims in France).
On a much smaller scale it’s kind of like an IT Frenchman I used to work with at Tashman Technologies; he was a cool, laid-back, liberated dude, until he was in control of the network. Once in control he imposed his will over us and became an Internet cop, checking cookies, banning mp3s, disabling access. Not a coincidence: secularism (atheism) is the religion of contemporary France, and my former co-worker was also against organized religion.
Kinda along the same wavelength are liberal democrats who believe in equality, justice, and an exchange of ideas- just as long as you don’t listen to AM talk radio.
What’s next, “liberating” nuns? What about the millions of women that like wearing the burqas, and don’t see it as oppression? Does France really want to piss off Muslim extremists even more?
The truth is the powers-that-be in France are just hoping to see what’s under the burqas. We all know France is “sexually liberated”. They want to see this, yet are hiding behind an “enlightened morality”:
We used to get comments like these all the time from concerned citizens:
$400 billion is being spent on the military just this year, while social programs that feed and clothe the homeless, that help malnourished children, are being cut back to make room for the war machine. The cost of war and pulling out of Iraq was one of the cornerstones in the Obama-McCain debates. Remember the number Obama through out in the debates? We are spending billion per month? That’s a lot of months. The reason why Obama became a national figure is based on his two famous anti-Iraq War speeches.But due to 1) The recession taking the headlines and 2) The MEDIA’s Free Passes ™ given to President Obama, the costs and casualties of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan largely go noticed, except for the occasional NPR or CNN report, but it never dominates discussion.
The mainstream thinking (out of habit and to defend the current administration) is to blame Bush because he started it, and it’s his budget. Okay, if that makes you feel better, you can keep going on blaming the previous administration.
While Obama and the rest of the politicians try to cut through the red tape or try and deal with the consequences of pulling out, the military and civilian causality counts keep growing.
You won’t see Drudge reporting these figures because right wingers don’t want the war to end, and you won’t see Keith Olbermann-like talking heads get on TV and cut a promo about the cost of war in lives and money since Obama took office because that would dent the myth.
I realize Obama makes speeches all the time talking about Iraq pull-out and stability and all that stuff. I know he went to Iraq and had a million photographs “prove” how concerned he was, and how he is “working on it”. I realize he doesn’t want it to continue, but it is.
I know there is probably no practical solution; nor do I claim to have the hubris to solve the world’s problems in front of a keyboard before I go to my unimportant office job; I am merely commenting on the MEDIA’s treatment of the Iraq War under Obama. The casualties and money are still bleeding.
The same people who said
$400 billion is being spent on the military just this year, while social programs that feed and clothe the homeless, that help malnourished children, are being cut back to make room for the war machine. are looking the other way, and would dare not make such generatlizions or specific attacks against this new adminstration.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith- Britain’s head homeland security official released 16 names of people who are BANNED from stepping foot into the United Kingdom. Michael Savage was on a list that included terrorists and neo-Nazi murderers.
Why?
“…important that people understand the sorts of values and sorts of standards that we have here, the fact that it’s a privilege to come and the sort of things that mean you won’t be welcome in this country.”
“Coming to this country is a privilege. If you can’t live by the rules that we live by, the standards and the values that we live by, we should exclude you from this country and, what’s more, now we will make public those people that we have excluded.
…someone who has fallen into the category of fomenting hatred, of such extreme views and expressing them in such a way that it is actually likely to cause inter-community tension or even violence if that person were allowed into the country.”
Here’s what Savage said:
“Darn! And I was just planning a trip to England for their superior dental work and cuisine. Then it sank in, and I said, ‘She said this is the kind of behavior we won’t tolerate? She’s linking me with mass murderers who are in prison for killing Jewish children on buses? For my speech? The country where the Magna Carta was created?’ Shame on you. Shame that you’ve fallen to such a low level. It’s interesting to me that here I am a talk show host, who does not advocate violence, who advocates patriotic traditional values – borders, language, culture – who is now on a list banned in England. What does that say about the government of England? It says more about them than it says about me. How is it that liberalism has gotten so distorted and cowardly?”
Michael Savage being banned from England is SO wrong on SO many levels. Seems like Tony Vahl was right about DoTR (Death of Talk Radio).
Hey folks, Damian here once again to show you 1) how the MEDIA treats us like idiots and 2) how the MEDIA likes to think the world revolves around the US of A. This is not a rip on President Obama, so I don’t want to hear it.
Let’s take on Reuters, one of the largest and most respected news wire agencies on the planet:
“Ragtag teams of modern-day Blackbeards are posing an annoying distraction for Barack Obama, forcing him to add Somalia to an already long list of foreign policy challenges.”
I can imagine somebody in a backwoods town in Kentucky reading that and being surprised. I can imagine people in New York who are more focused on Chris Brown’s sentencing reading that and being surprised. I can imagine a teen in Florida who is more concerned about the next American Idol winner reading that and being surprised. For the rest of us, we already knew that piracy was alive and well, and actually never ended. For the rest of us, we already knew Somalia was an unresolved issue since the popular movie Blackhawk Down (or for those who are more aware, some of us actually remember President Clinton handling Somalia in real life).
But more importantly, to say that pirates are an “annoying distraction” for His Majesty is insulting. Why? Because these Africans are “ragtag”? A machine gun is a machine gun. A grenade launcher is a grenade launcher. Being held hostage is being held hostage. Kidnapping and holding hostages are big-time crimes. I don’t if the hostages aren’t killed. This has been an international injustice for a while now. North Korea fired a harmless missile over Japan again, with no chance of coming near Hawaii. Okay. Iran says they will have nukes soon. Okay. Pirates have been making millions of dollars off innocent seafarers for YEARS. An annoyance? I assure you, if YOU were being held by these guys, it is a no mere annoyance. If your company’s business is dependent on sailing near the Aden, you are going to be short on work, in a world recession.
To call these Somalian terrorists “modern-day Blackbeards” is laughable, and not accurate. “Blackbeard” is 2009 implies a romanticized version of the pirate of the high, rough seas. These Somalians are dark, gritty hoodlums with no bone of romanticism, treasure finding, or adventurism.
“American presidents are told to expect the unexpected, and Obama is seeing that this week. First it was a North Korean test of a ballistic missile last weekend. Now comes a swashbuckling high-seas standoff with armed renegades.”
Yup, this wasn’t expected at all. Why, because piracy only happens to “inferior” countries? It wasn’t our problem. Yeah, right. Come on….it was only a matter of time. The world was put on full alert not to go near the place. The Ukrainian ship and Russian and English navy incident was covered by every news outlet and news website. Everybody with a TV, radio, or Internet access in Asia has known about this for a long time, due to the repeated mistreatment of Filipinos by the Pirates of Aden. Everyone tells me we live in a small world now, with the Internet and satellite TV/radio, and we can communicate with people all across the world in an instant. Yet Reuters would have us believe that this was unexpected to His Majesty.
And once again, we have another “Pirates of the Caribbean” joke- “swashbuckling”, to try and lessen the threat of the pirates.
And again- a North Korean missile test (all bark, no bite) is a surprise? The North Korea incident was blown out of proportion by the right wing radio pariahs.
“Obama so far has sent U.S. Navy ships to protect an American-flagged freighter that managed to repel a pirate attack but whose captain was taken hostage.”
Like Obama had another choice other than sending U.S. Navy ships? Look, Obama was on his U.S. European apology tour, and he will get around to tackling this problem another day. I’m pretty sure the Navy didn’t need his express authorization or written/verbal permission to act. Or if they did, it was a mere formality. So let’s stop pretending “Obama so far has sent U.S. Navy ships…” to give us the impression he took initiative. You know his advisers and military leaders handled the operation.
“America’s recent experience with Somalia has not been good, making caution a key element of U.S. policy in dealing with the country.”
“Recent” here is back in the 1990’s according to Reuters. “America” means the US, and not Central or South America (I nitpick calling the U.S. “America” because Reuters is supposed to be an international news agency, and should know better.) As far as making “caution a key element in dealing with the country”, the better spin would be “The U.S. been ignoring this situation for so long, and now it has come back to haunt them.”
The Obama administration was careful not to give the crisis too much prominence, with delicate negotiations under way to try to secure the captain’s release.
He declined to comment on the pirate situation for the second day in a row on Thursday.
“We’re obviously paying careful attention to this issue. And I’m really not able to go beyond that at this point,” said State Department spokesman Robert Wood.
We’re negotiating with terrorists, aren’t we? We have satellites, GPS and advanced technologies, CIA undercover spies, the ability to pay off snitches or mercenaries, a whole lot of firepower, and most of the world on our side, since they were victims, too, and we’re going to do the LaME thing and pay off a terrorist. Okay…
“We don’t want to go back there,” said presidential historian Thomas Alan Schwartz, a professor at Vanderbilt University. “This may be one of those points where Obama is going to have to cash in some of his international chips and get the U.N. to go in there.”
“Somebody needs to go into Somalia and govern the place,” he said.
I had to scroll allll the way down to read what Schwartz said. Of course, it’s the truth.
Democratic strategist Doug Schoen, who worked in the Clinton White House, called the crisis “a real test of national resolve” that the Obama White House and opposition Republicans need to work together to deal with.
“It’s an annoyance and a distraction,” he said. “On the other hand, if we don’t take this seriously and we don’t stamp it out we will face what other countries are facing, which are repeated acts of piracy.”
The grim reality is finally here, even though Obama and Biden don’t want to talk about it, even though the Democrats in power would rather focus on other things. The Powers-that-Be, from Clinton to Bush, tried to ignore it, and the citizens, MEDIA, and politicians convinced themselves it would never happen to one of “their own” (never mind all humans have the same right to be free, regardless of the random chance of nationality).
Yes, I realize that DailySkew posters like Barry Allen and Stat Head can show me that it is more cost effective to pay off pirates than to to commit to any other military, CIA, or nation building action. But you have to understand- I value human life over money. If I was in charge, I would not be supporting 1984 police states like China or Cuba or Iran in any way, such as trade or aid. I would not enable human rights violations with inaction, like ignoring pirates ruling the Indian Ocean.
The talk of formulating a U.N. backed initiative is a scary proposition for the bigwigs in Washington. Somalia was the one nation that the U.S. leadership truly feared because public opinion never supported getting involved. I can understand people not wanting to be the World Police, but piracy is everyone’s problem. It cripples businesses and ruins lives.
Now the U.S. is involved. This is what I wanted. This is what needed to happen to put an end to the piracy. Let’s utilize our Navy and have them patrol more. Let’s team up with Germany, Italy, England, Philippines, Ukraine, Russia, Greece, Taiwan, and every other country that the pirates messed with. Let’s work on tracking the pirates down and freeing hostages. Let’s work on getting Somalia stable, and holding people accountable. Let’s stop the denial and arrogance that this is not a U.S. problem. And Reuters and the rest of the MEDIA outlets: let’s stop living in a fantasy world and pitching this as a NEWSFLASH and a minor annoyance that will somehow go away without REAL HARD WORK from world leaders and the United Nations.
What is the other option? Let it continue. Let the U.N. debate about it for years. Appease the punks with tens of millions of dollars who conquered the world with just 1992 rocket launchers, machine gus, and speedboats. You okay with that?
Well, not really “fire”, but that’s how the MEDIA kinda reported it, and that’s the keyword used when people talk about the General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner to step down.
For the record, let’s do a quick recap of who Wagoner is: Rick is the guy who stood in line for the handouts, was the man on top when GM crumbled, authorized layoffs, and collected bonuses. In short, here is a man who is the poster child of everything that is wrong with the system.
Before Earth-O, a company that failed as much as GM would simply file for bankruptcy. But…things are different now. We live in the Bailout Universe, and are headed towards a Depression.
Here is Rick’s final statement: “On Friday I was in Washington for a meeting with administration officials. In the course of that meeting, they requested that I “step aside” as CEO of GM, and so I have.”
President Obama’s statement- as I said when I reviewed Obama’s autobiography, it’s kinda hard to actually interpret what he means because he says both sides of an angle- so, he says everything…yet nothing, just like that sentence.
Anyway, here are some quotes:
One of the challenges we’ve confronted from the beginning of this administration is what to do with the state of the struggling auto industry. In recent months, my Auto Task Force has been reviewing requests by General Motors and Chrysler for additional government assistance, as well as plans developed by each of these companies to restructure, to modernize, and to make themselves more competitive…
…Over the past year, our auto industry has shed over 400,000 jobs, not only at plants that produce cars, but at the businesses that produce the parts that go into them and the dealers that sell and repair them…
…Year after year, decade after decade, we’ve seen problems papered over and tough choices kicked down the road, even as foreign competitors outpaced us. Well, we’ve reached the end of that road…
…We cannot, and must not, and we will not let our auto industry simply vanish. This industry is like no other — it’s an emblem of the American spirit; a once and future symbol of America’s success…
…These companies — and this industry — must ultimately stand on their own, not as wards of the state…
…And that’s why the federal government provided General Motors and Chrysler with emergency loans to prevent their sudden collapse at the end of last year — only on the condition that they would develop plans to restructure. In keeping with that agreement, each company has submitted a plan to restructure. But after careful analysis, we’ve determined that neither goes far enough to warrant the substantial new investments that these companies are requesting…
…And so today I’m announcing that my administration will offer GM and Chrysler a limited additional period of time to work with creditors, unions, and other stakeholders to fundamentally restructure in a way that would justify an investment of additional taxpayer dollars. During this period they must produce plans that would give the American people confidence in their long-term prospects for success…
…no one can deny that our auto industry has made meaningful progress in recent years — and this doesn’t get talked about often enough. Some of the cars made by American workers right now are outperforming the best cars made abroad. In 2008, the North American Car of the Year was a GM. This year, Buick tied for first place as the most reliable car in the world. Our companies are investing in breakthrough technologies that hold the promise of new vehicles that will help America end its addiction to foreign oil…
..GM has made a good faith effort to restructure over the past several months — but the plan that they’ve put forward is, in its current form, not strong enough. However, after broad consultation with a range of industry experts and financial advisors, I’m absolutely confident that GM can rise again, providing that it undergoes a fundamental restructuring. As an initial step, GM is announcing today that Rick Wagoner is stepping aside as Chairman and CEO. This is not meant as a condemnation of Mr. Wagoner, who’s devoted his life to this company and has had a distinguished career; rather, it’s a recognition that will take new vision and new direction to create the GM of the future.
Here is Michael Moore’s reaction:
This bold move has sent the heads of corporate America spinning and spewing pea soup. Obama has issued this edict: The government of, by, and for the people is in charge here, not big business. John McCain got it. On the floor of the Senate he asked, “What does this signal send to other corporations and financial institutions about whether the federal government will fire them as well?” Senator Bob Corker said it “should send a chill through all Americans who believe in free enterprise.” The stock market plunged as the masters of the universe asked themselves, “Am I next?” And they whispered to each other, “What are we going to do about this Obama?”
Not much, fellows. He has the massive will of the American people behind him — and he has been granted permission by us to do what he sees fit. If you liked this week’s all-net 3-pointer, stay tuned.
And now here are some Message Board reactions:
for someone who constantly states that they “have no intentions of running GM” it sure sounds to me like that is exactly what they are planning on doing.
if things keep going the way they are we won’t have to worry about attacks from out side America. we will have another civil war and the rest of the world will sit back and laugh, or worse yet jump in and take us apart.
what will our world be like when China bails us out and is replacing our executives with ones that are favorable to them (as with Wagoner).
I strongly believe that goverment has no right to get involved in big business to such an extent as to take the power to fire a CEO. We need to stop the power grab of this administration. America’s very freedoms and it’s Soul is at stake. God gave each individual different talents. What makes this adminstration think that they have the talents to do everything better than any other American?
We find this move by the president very frightening! It’s one more step (following many recent steps)closer to socialism. Can something be done to stop this movement?
Where are the lawyers on Constitutional law when you need one! This administration has clearly demonstrated they operate outside the framework of our Constitution. What law gives the president the ability to force the leader of a company out of his job? Our private industries are now being policed and at the fate and opinion of this most intrusive administration.
How can the President fire a CEO from a company? How can all these policy changes from the President and his cronies go into law without the ok from the people of this country. Everything is very very frightening
America, you wanted change and you are getting it. America is a socialist county now. Is this what our founders fought for with their lives, fortunes and honor? Is this what the American patriots, ordinary people, endured the unimaginable hardship during the Revolutionary War and subsequent conflicts to uphold the freedom of individuals? We have let them all down.
So the President fires a CEO then hires a new one? Then the President tells car owners that the Government will guarantee the warranties on their new cars? President Obama has overstepped his bounds by a long shot! Where in the Constitution does it say that the President has the power to hire and fire in the private sector? Where does it say that the Government is allowed to run a business?
It has happened, folks! Welcome to the United Socialist States of America!
Where have we come to in this nation when ANY politician is able to tell ANY private individual they must leave their job? Not only did the president tell him he was effectively fired, he also refused GM to give him a severance package. Poor little liberals are laughing right now, because CEO’s have been scapegoated just as the Jews were in the 1930’s in Germany. Right now they are only sending the CEO’s off to the concentration camps, but who is next. We can be sure that this will not stop with CEO’s, but will trickle down to effect all of us. Many of the other countries in Europe were unconcerned with what was going on in Germany, but they soon found Hitler knocking at their doors requiring their papers as well!
Bailing out any business that has shown this much irresponsibility is just being topped by more irresponsibility on the part of our government. It looks like a systimatic takeover of everything we stand for is now well on its way.
The actions of the first two months of this administration are appalling and frightening. Their interference in the employee and compensation structure of non-government entities is socialistic. Our America is under attack from the very top. Their goal seems to be total control. Like-minded Americans must unite to stop this. We must contact our representatives, stay informed and make our voices heard.
This is America! How is it the president can fire ANYONE FROM A PRIVATE BUSINESS?! How is it he can steal from taxpayers FOR what he CLAIMS to keep BUSINESSES (OBAMA PREFERS) GOING? GOVERNMENT HAS NO RIGHT! THIEVERY IS AGAINST THE LAW IN CIVIL SOCIETY. AFTER THE PRESIDENT’S THIEVERY OF THE TAXPAYERS SAYS HIS PREFERENTIAL AID COULD BANKRUPT ANYWAY? When the PEOPLE have told him all along the way, LET THEM GO BANKRUPT? He is non-productive, WASTE! DANGEROUS AND UGLY!!!
I am outraged that this administration has the audacity to remove a corporate CEO. That is the sole right and responsibility of the share holders and/or the board of directors. Where are we headed? I am truly frightened that America will lose its capitalistic foundation. Are we headed toward socialism?
Should we be looking at the History of Germany? We are being moved to Socialism by making people believe that these things the President is doing are legal!!! Where are the Constitutional Lawyers? Help Us stop the Insanity of this Administration!
Rick Wagoner is not a talented CEO. For all of the complaning about Bailouts and the problems they produce, Rick Wagoner was there with his hand out. He should have declared that the only way for GM to solve its problems in the long term is to reorganize. His lack of leadership will cost the taxpayers and GM big time
Wake up America!! Where do we draw the line? How do I know the president isn’t going to come to my place of employment and fire me?
America voted and is now getting what it deserves
Does the term…”New World Order” come to mind. No, let’s call it “Euro Federation” or “Global Federation”. He should have been fired a long time ago over their squashing of electric cars. Bad move! The firing should have been from GM not Obama, but then now who has the power?
The Fascist Left is on the move. Does anyone in the fawning media see parallels between this administration and Germany of the 1920’s and ’30’s? GM and Chrysler should have been allowed to reorganize under chapter 11 bankruptcy months ago. This group of social engineers in charge of our Nation WANT to control everything! Obama has amassed more debt in two months than all the presidents from Washington to George W. combined. These Liberal Fascists now have the power to bring about the ‘CHANGE’ they’ve been pushing for several generations. Look at what Pelosi’s world view has done to her home state–that’s what America will look like if this wholesale takeover continues.
The Fascist left have corrupted all public discourse. The American Republic is the only truly radical political revolution in the last thousand years. It will cease to exist under the leadership of the Social Engineers now running our Government.
where are the constitutional lawyers when you need one? And, where are the republicans?? Come on Eric Cantor this is your chance…. stand up and be counted!!!! Or should we sit back and let da bama take everything he wants, including your lunch….How does the united socailist sates of america sound? I get it why don’t they??? anyone?
Obummer has no concerns for the auto company’s. His concerns lie with the UAW and maitaining the flow of campaign money to liberals like himself and others. People should not call them auto bailouts. The proper term is UAW bailouts. If you want job security form a union and the union will donate a portion of your union dews to liberals thus insuring your employment. I know it sounds like blackmail but thats exactly what it is. Unions used to be happy just blackmailing companys and passing on the cost to consumers. Now they have the ability to extort from the American citizenry through the govt.. You could call it doubling down because they aren’t going to give up on blackmailing the companys and passing that on to the consumer. Union workers are generally high end welfare recipients. so hug a union worker.
I am pretty sure this is what conquest looks like. No laws, no respect and no adherent to past history.
The US government is on a rampage to cover its butt for writing laws that spoiled their nest eggs and feathering concepts based on extortion of companies that are now bankrupt for all practical purposes and are now fleecing us to maintain the charade.
We should be terrified that there are still supporters of this dictatorial embezzling of our children’s future by power hungry players.
Just a mere few weeks ago Bush was chastise incessantly for creating a debt that was historicly high but has become so minuscule in comparison that if Bush was evil this government servant is Satan himself.
The yoke is being forged for your children and the mantra is still all about how handsome he looks or how charming his wife dresses. This exposes how infuriated the communists have been at Americas past stubborness not to comply to their way of servitude to the state. We are being stripped from our constitutional protections by a puppet of Marxism.
If GM can be dismantled at he whim of the Obot who is protected from his next plan?
As for my own personal opinion…there seems to be a huge disconnect with people interpreting Obama’s plans.
“….this morning speechwriters and other staff were notified via this e-mail to use “Overseas Contingency Operation” instead.”
“‘This Administration prefers to avoid using the term “Long War” or “Global War on Terror” [GWOT]. Please use “Overseas Contingency Operation.’”"
“Please pass on to your speech writers and try to catch this change before the statements make it to OMB.”
“There was no memo, no guidance,” said Kenneth Baer. “This is the opinion of a career civil servant.” Referring to the phrase “global war on terror,” Baer said, “I have no reason to believe that would be stricken” from Hill testimony.
By the way, is there is still a war going on in Iraq? Are we still paying $10 billion a month in Iraq? I wouldn’t know since the MEDIA doesn’t report it anymore. I guess that was just a George W. Bush thang.
Oh, here’s another thing that you should know: The government is switching to cheaper offshore condoms, including some made in China. This will shut down operations in a U.S. factory in Alabama. China makes condoms for 2 cents each; in the U.S. it costs 5 cents per condom. So we lost the bid when it was up for renewal.
“We pay taxes down here, too, and with all this stimulus money going to save jobs, it seems to me like they (the U.S. government) should share this contract so they can save jobs here in America.”
So the U.S. saves 3 cents upfront but then pay the equivalent of say 10 cents per condom for unemployment, welfare, medical, etc. Not to mention that the Chinese will probably make defective condoms like they poison dog food and other things.
All part of the plan.
By the way, although I can’t post details, the place where I work lost a bid to an outsourcing firm, too. The bid was from a federal government agency, and it wound up going to India. This happened while Bush was in the White House last year. I was hoping with Obama in the Oval Office, there would have been a provision in the stimulus package levying tariffs or penalties for bidding U.S. jobs away to slave labor in foreign countries. After all, Obama did say that keeping jobs in the U.S. was a goal of his during his debates with John McCain.
However, last month Obama apologized to European leaders for having the audacity to say “buy American”. No, we all know Obama believes in the world Utopian project and 100% globalization of the earth.
Remember when Michael Moore went to Cuba in his documentary SICKO? Moore got on his soapbox and “proved” how great the medical care and facilities were under Fidel Castro’s regime. He rubbed it in when U.S. veterans received free treatment in a Cuban hospital, coverage which they were denied in the United States. Moore said that all the bad things we’ve heard about Cuba were from the right-wing U.S. propaganda machine and MEDIA.
Moore has been challenged by his critics that called that portion of his documentary a staged event by the Cuban government. Moore has maintained that this was an “average hospital” and the incident was “normal”.
Even as I watched SICKO I knew Moore was being used as a propaganda tool by Castro. After all, Moore and his crew just waltzed right into Cuba and went to a hospital. I was happy that the people got the medical help they needed, but not happy that it was done as an anti-American publicity stunt by the turncoat Moore.
So either Moore is a liar, or his hatred of the U.S. government (masked as libertarian patriot) is so great that he is totally skewed.
All you need to do is check out this website to see the Real Cuba. This page has been confirmed by someone I trust, who managed to escape Castro’s 1984 socialist and communistic military government as a kid. The bottom line: tourists from rich countries get (slightly) better treatment than Cubans. Tourists named Michael Moore get full treatment as long as the cameras are rolling. The myth about socialized medicine and proper care in Cuba is a lie. Most “patients” get no help, in fact they get worse. And heaven help you if you have HIV or AIDS. You get sent someplace else… Check out the Real Cuba link for the stone cold truth (with real photos and experiences).
Michael Moore, fraud. Not that we needed more proof, but I figured I would focus on Cuba’s LACK OF A TRUE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, sanitation, or prescription drug program, something SICKO refused to say.
LIVE FROM TASHMAN’s TELEPORTATION ROOM.. Listening to Glenn Back here on the static AM band…he’s attacking Obama and the Democrats’ $825 million dollar stimulus package.
1) In 2020, YOUR CHILDREN will be paying 60-80% in income tax if this plan passes. 2) Obama wants to fund and train people in the medical and health fields! The government will pay and encourage people for some schooling and job training. 3) Obama tried to sneak in funding for condoms, birth control, and abortions. 4) Glenn’s team had some technical difficulties, and Glenn was very apologetic. 5) Glenn said “I’m just sayin’”, thus solidifying him as Tony Vahl’s poor stunt double. 6) “3rd most listened to show in America” 7) Glenn has a promo code with Meetings.com- free 30 day trial. Obama is not your savior. 9) Talked about his interview subject (Governor of Illinois) walking out in record time. 10) Said Congress was corrupt, and compared them to cockroaches, and how we should expose all the scams in the House Bill, to make the cockroaches run back under the refrigerator. 11) Told us the definition of liberty. 12) A 15-minute+ extended over-the-top analogy/parody (kinda unfunny) of an ad campaign of how we should see America, yet how the Democrats distort the image. “If your plant in Michigan closes down, and you got laid off…MOVE!” 13) If my great-great grandfather came here with NOTHING, and made something for himself, SO CAN YOU. Will it be EASY? NO! But that’s the challenge! 14) Beck bashed treasury bonds and sold the REAL THING- GOLD. He sounded just as enthusiastic as his normal rants. Call 866-GOLDLINE just like I do! 15) Hi, I’m Glenn Beck! You survived this year’s hurricane season, but what about next season? Call Pioneer Roofing! Say my name and get a FREE GIFT. 16) “How much time do we have left, Danny?” 17) “I don’t care about making headlines; I don’t care about breaking news.”
Vice President Dick Cheney…random quotes in his final appearance…go!!
“[Bush and I have] been here for eight years now, eventually you wear out your welcome in this business but I’m very comfortable with where we are and what we’ve achieved substantively. And frankly I would not want to be one of those guys who spends all his times reading the polls. I think people like that shouldn’t serve in these jobs.”
“[Joe Biden] also said that all the powers and responsibilities of the executive branch are laid out in Article I of the Constitution. Well, they’re not. Article I of the Constitution is the one on the legislative branch. Joe’s been chairman of the Judiciary Committee, a member of the Judiciary Committee in the Senate for 36 years, teaches constitutional law back in Delaware, and can’t keep straight which article of the Constitution provides for the legislature and which provides for the executive. So I think I’d write that off as campaign rhetoric. I don’t take it seriously.”
“If he wants to diminish the office of the vice president, that’s obviously his call. President-elect Obama will decide what he wants in a vice president and apparently, from the way they’re talking about it, he does not expect him to have as consequential a role as I have had during my time.”
“Thank to the War on Terror, the nation hasn’t been attacked in seven years.”
“The president of the United States now for 50 years is followed at all times, 24 hours a day, by a military aide carrying a football that contains the nuclear codes that he would use and be authorized to use in the event of a nuclear attack on the United States. He could launch the kind of devastating attack the world has never seen.”
“He doesn’t have to check with anybody. He doesn’t have to call the Congress. He doesn’t have to check with the courts. He has that authority because of the nature of the world we live in.”
“I did disagree with the decision [to fire Rumsfeld in 2006]. The president doesn’t always take my advice. I was a Rumsfeld man. I’d helped recruit him and I thought he did a good job for us.”
Comments: True villains have an unapologetic and self-righteous tone, and live in a skewed reality.
By now, you’ve heard of the major news story about the corruption charge and arrest of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, and you, of course, have piled on the criticism, injustice, and your deserved cynicism of corrupt governor officials.
So allow me to take a totally different angle (just because I don’t feel like ranting and raving about Chicago politics and corruption):
Here is a partial transcript from the press conference by Patrick Fitzgerald, United States attorney general for the Northern District of Illinois:
MR. FITZGERALD:
This is a sad day for government. It’s a very sad day for Illinois government. Governor Blagojevich has taken us to a truly new low.
Governor Blagojevich has been arrested in the middle of what we can only describe as a political corruption crime spree. We acted to stop that crime spree.
The most appalling conduct Governor Blagojevich engaged in, according to the complaint filed today or unsealed today, is that he attempted to sell a Senate seat, the Senate seat he had the sole right to under Illinois to appoint to replace President-elect Obama.
Jeez, what happened to innocent until proven guilty. Shouldn’t an official government agent attempt to be neutral or objective? Frankly, I dislike when the Justice Department uses the MEDIA to help make a conviction. Feel free to call me a bleeding heart liberal, naive, idealistic, or a defender of criminals, but it is kinda LAME when law enforcement and prosecutors have to make their case to the MEDIA and people to force the suspect to plead and cut a deal. If that doesn’t work they hope for have a jury thinking the suspect is guilty. We’ve seen it with the Duke suspects and Barry Bonds.
Hundreds of millions of people never heard of Blagojevich today, but now we “know” that he is one of the biggest scums of the earth, an abuser of authority, plain mean, and did something horrific. And he did it all on TAPE! We know that he has been arrested by the FBI, and the Justice Department told us all the details, so he MUST be guilty, and this MUST be a serious, serious crime.
People love stories like this, and I have no winning argument. I’d just wanted to focus on the MEDIA hysteria and how the Justice Department manipulates it to put pressure on a defendant to get an easy plea.
By the way, remember the MEDIA hoopla about NY Governor Eliot Spitzer waaaaay back in March? Remember how the MEDIA and Justice Department convicted him publicly back then buy saying he used campaign funds for his hooker addiction?
Last month, U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia said investigators found no evidence that Spitzer or his office misused public or campaign funds for prostitution. Spitzer writes for MSN’s Slate now.
Just sayin’.
Anyway, right wingers are trying to blame Obama for the Illinois governor’s behavior, like he was responsible or “knew about it”.
When to start thinking about shaving your head bald…
…trust me, a bald head looks cool. Peter Orszag would look awesome with a shaved head. Obvious wigs (toupees) for a public figure do not. I mean, Obama appointed him Budget Chief, and Peter Orszag is wearing a cheap toupee. I hope the comedians have a field day with this.
Ann Coulter, right-wing pundit and the author of “If Democrats Had Any Brains, They’d Be Republicans” and “How to Talk to a Liberal” has had her jaw wired shut.
The timing is unfortunate for Ann, as she is currently in the process of finishing the audio version of her upcoming book, The New Ann Coulter.
Ann happens to be one of the most hated Republican commentators in politics, and many bloggers have already called this ironic karma.
Let’s give a round of applause to ALFREDO ACEVES, who is now leading the pack (as of Monday @ 1:47PM) for the 2010 New York Yankees 5th starting pitching slot (ERA of 0.90 in 10 innings). Based on ERA and innings pitching, Aceves is 1st, Sergio Mitre is 2nd, Phil Hughes is 3rd, Chad Gaudin [...] […]
NPR: - Blockbuster is about to go bust OPINION ALERT – we’ll be covering the end of Blockbuster here, with lots of apocalyptic-style photos; Blockbuster has been behind the curve for years — what. They couldn’t negotiate to get rights for streaming movies like Netflix did? They didn’t see the idea of a DVD rental machine like [...] […]
This time around I realized that the raccoon was free from suffering now. It's a shame its life had to end like that- it was blameless; humans built roads in the middle of his ancestor's forest. Progress and technology broke that raccoon's legs and took his life tonight. But now the suffering has ended for it. I mourned the raccoon and the way […]
ust a quick observation before I run: I jumped from watching 1980's pro wrestling to the 1991 Survivor Series because WWE put up the whole PPV online for a limited time. It never fails to amaze me how much things change. It was like I was in a time machine from 1987 to 1991... […]
Obama is not your savior.
