Busting out the economy -since 1934

 

1934 Cartoon from Chicago Tribune

"What's past is prologue." -William Shakespeare

Republican gives "Kennedy's seat" back to the people... White House yawns

White House: Mass. Vote Won't Change Anything -Newsmax

"One reporter suggested the political blowback in Massachusetts might indicate the administration was out of step with the American people.

[White House Press Secretary Robert] Gibbs replied: 'I think, according to any reasonable measure, the answer to that is, of course not.'"

While many democrats begin to abandon the burning ship of the Obama agenda in order to save their own skin, a few will remain defiant to the end, determined to carry on their course against a rising sea of popular opposition. Public opinion, outcry, and outrage will not deter the diehard radicals. No matter the cost, they will blindly pursue the most radical -and increasingly hated- elements of the Obama agenda, even if it brings about catastrophic losses for the Democratic Party.

For the radicals, it's not about the public good, and it's not even about their own party. It's about power, personal political power, the power to tear down and rebuild according to their own statist vision. To hell with democracy: they're in charge.

The worst scientific scandal of our generation?

Climate change: this is the worst scientific scandal of our generation - Telegraph

...Perhaps the most obvious [revelation]... is the highly disturbing series of emails which show how Dr Jones and his colleagues have for years been discussing the devious tactics whereby they could avoid releasing their data to outsiders under freedom of information laws...

The second and most shocking revelation of the leaked documents is how they show the scientists trying to manipulate data through their tortuous computer programmes, always to point in only the one desired direction - to lower past temperatures and to "adjust" recent temperatures upwards...

The third shocking revelation of these documents is the ruthless way in which these academics have been determined to silence any expert questioning of the findings they have arrived at by such dubious methods...

...Our hopelessly compromised scientific establishment cannot be allowed to get away with a whitewash of what has become the greatest scientific scandal of our age.

Whoops! It looks like the Warmers have been caught with their temperatures down. See who's feeling warm now.

But the Warmers are still after the greenbacks, so they won't easily be dissuaded from yoking the world to their Gospel of Warmth. To save the world, we and our children's children will have to give, give, give until it hurts.

Charles Rangel, D-NY, pays members investigating his ethics

Rangel-ing: Charlie Pays 'Angels' In Ethics Probe - wcbstv.com: "Harlem Congressman Gave Campaign Contributions To 3 Dems On Ethics Committee Charged With Investigating Him"

CBS 2 HD has discovered that since ethics probes began last year the 79-year-old congressman has given campaign donations to 119 members of Congress, including three of the five Democrats on the House Ethics Committee who are charged with investigating him.

Charlie's "angels" on the committee include Congressmen Ben Chandler of Kentucky, G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina and Peter Welch of Vermont. All have received donations from Rangel.

Only Welch sees something wrong with being financial beholden to Charlie.

"In an abundance of caution, he has returned all campaign contributions from Mr. Rangel," said spokesman Bob Rogan, Welch's Chief of Staff.

It amounted to nearly 20 grand...

Congress treads upon a dangerous serpent

Column: 'Un-American' attacks can't derail health care debate - Opinion - USATODAY.com

"...These disruptions are occurring because opponents are afraid not just of differing views - but of the facts themselves. Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American."

-Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer

Speaker Pelosi, here are some facts that You seem not to want to acknowledge:

The American people don't trust You, and they don't trust the plan for nationalized health care that Congress is hellbent on ramming down their throats.

Increasingly, Americans are horrified by the federal government's insatiable hunger to dominate the health care industry and other private sector industries. We're appalled that our government has become so insatiable, so overreaching, and so reckless in piling unsustainable debt upon future generations. And now it seems to be shedding any pretense that its members are required to listen to their constituents and represent their concerns. Rather, we are lectured about the predefined goals that Congress "must reach", "despite the disruptions" of a majority of citizens who strongly oppose the plans.

President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, and all members of Congress, should take heed. Their actions are causing cries of alarm to sound throughout the nation: the alarm of citizens who see that their government is increasingly out of control, increasingly deaf to their voices, increasingly menacing to the future prosperity and security of the United States. The rising voices have an edge of defiance and patriotic anger that only fools will attempt to dismiss as "manufactured" and "organized". Common cause has organized this uprising, and a domineering government has started the machine which is manufacturing the newly minted resistance.

Continue to tread on us, and we will strike back. We will sweep You from office, we will find new public servants who will share our ideals and represent our concerns. We will find a way to restore democracy and rid government of those bad apples who view public office solely as a path to power and profit.

Press on, Congress, show Yourselves... and discover what mettle still stiffens the spine of the American people.

When government turns ugly

Peggy Noonan: ‘You Are Terrifying Us’ - WSJ.com

To: flag@whitehouse.gov

President Obama,

I call on You to disavow and shut down the flag@whitehouse.gov program, which is so clearly intended to intimidate and stifle voices critical of Your administration.

Until You shut down this program, and for as long as pursue Your nationalized health care plan and other programs harmful to this country, You can expect energetic opposition and loud criticism from me and many others who will not be cowed into silence.

Until then, You can add my name to the Dissidents List.

Sincerely,
John Robin
(address and phone number provided)

Is the White House building an "Enemies List"?

GOP Senator: White House Encroaching on First Amendment - The Note

Yesterday, White House director of new media Macon Phillips wrote a blog posting urging readers to flag questionable claims about health care proposals.

"There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov."
-ABC News

To: The White House, flag@whitehouse.gov

Subject: Is the White House assembling an "ENEMIES LIST"?

Re: http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2009/08/gop-senator-white-house-encroaching-on-first-amendment.html

I call upon President Obama to shut down this surveillance program in which citizens are asked to report directly to the White House (flag@whitehouse.gov) when they encounter private communication critical of the president's proposals and policies. Such a program, if it does not directly abridge the right to free expression, at least undermines and threatens this right, because it raises a legitimate concern that one's exercise of free speech, rightly or wrongly interpreted, may result in being counted a member of a government "enemies list", a target for harassment and retaliation.

Even if there is no intention to assemble such a list, the program reasonably can be perceived as a heavy-handed effort to stifle political opposition and intimidate those critical of the government. Is this really the image that President Obama wants to cultivate?

The president should shut down this citizen surveillance program immediately.

Sincerely,
John F. Robin
(address and phone number provided)

House Democrat worker bees swarm to defend their addled queen

CIA documents say Speaker Pelosi was told about enhanced interrogation techniques - PolitiFact

"We were not, I repeat, were not told that waterboarding or any of these other enhanced interrogation methods were used." -Nancy Pelosi, 23 April 2009

"They [CIA] mislead us all the time... they misrepresented every step of the way." -Nancy Pelosi at press conference, 14 May 2009

"Under fire from Republicans for what she knew about harsh questioning of terror detainees, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday acknowledged that she had learned in 2003 that the C.I.A. had subjected suspects to waterboarding, but she asserted that the agency had misled Congress about its techniques." -The Caucus, 14 May 2009

"HOUSE SPEAKER Nancy Pelosi has claimed that the CIA lied to her about the use of waterboarding on alleged terrorists held in secret prisons. Ms Pelosi said that the CIA told her in September 2002 that although waterboarding - a form of controlled suffocation by water - was approved by the Bush administration, it had not been used." -Irish Times, 15 May 2009

"This is partisan politics and an attempt by the Republicans to distract from the real issue of creating jobs and making progress on health care, energy and education," -Nadeam Elshami, Pelosi spokesman, 21 May 2009

"House Democrats on Thursday defeated a Republican push to investigate House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's claims that the CIA misled her in 2002 about whether waterboarding had been used against terrorism suspects." -Breitbart, 21 May 2009

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday she won't talk any more about her charge that the CIA lied in 2002 about using waterboarding on terrorism suspects. "I have made the statement that I'm going to make on this," she told reporters at a Capitol Hill news conference. "I don't have anything more to say about it. I stand by my comment." -Breitbart, 22 May 2009

Nancy Pelosi made some very harsh accusations against the CIA and its employees, and used them to politically attack the Bush administration. She has not only failed to produce evidence to substantiate her claims, but changed her story repeatedly as inconvenient facts emerged. After initially calling for a "truth commission" to investigate her claims, both she and the entire Democratic Party now just want the fracas to go away ...now that the political fallout is becoming increasingly unfavorable to them.

At this point the honorable thing would be to launch a bipartisan investigation or to recant her claims and offer an sincere apology for "mistakenly mischaracterizing" the performance of the intelligence community. But now it is clear that for the Democrats these honorable options must be avoided at all costs. Rather, they are united in their determination to provide cover for Pelosi's reckless, defamatory claims, and to stonewall any attempt to uncover the truth. They will move on, firmly committed to pretend it all never happened.

Rather than let Pelosi bear the consequences of her own compulsive attacks on the long defunct Bush administration (NEWS FLASH... DEMOCRATS CONTROL WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS!), House Democrat worker bees couldn't resist swarming to defend their addled queen.

I look forward to seeing how this dishonorable display of party loyalty to Her Majesty is rewarded.

FAA Memo: Feds Knew NYC Flyover Would Cause Panic

FAA Memo: Feds Knew NYC Flyover Would Cause Panic - wcbstv.com

"Federal officials knew that sending two fighter jets and Air Force One to buzz ground zero and Lady Liberty might set off nightmarish fears of a 9/11 replay, but they still ordered the photo-op kept secret from the public."

Who are these federal officials? And what's really going on here? This incident is so bizarre, so outrageous, that it makes me wonder if this was a carefully planned political attack on ...who?

Did the Department of Defense try to embarrass President Obama?

Did President Obama try to embarrass the Department of Defense and sour public opinion against the military? For what purpose? Is he preparing to make drastic cuts to the military and first wants to demonstrate that it badly needs cutting?

Or is the president simply trying to embarrass the FAA prior to a big shakeup? But why would this be necessary? The head of the FAA is already just an "Acting Director", ripe for replacement.

It's hard to figure out a theory that makes sense which does not heap embarrassment upon the president.

So was it just gross incompetence and a failure of communication in the Obama administration? That doesn't make sense either, for we're told that New York officials were informed... and obediently remained silent under the threat of the iron federal fist. Yet how could this not have leaked?

Could the event have been unplanned? Some conspiracy lovers are suggesting that Air Force One was taken for an unauthorized ride by a desperate pilot with some kind of message to send.

This is the sort of situation which could still bring some big surprises.

Bishops upbraid Biden for his false and cowardly abortion statements

Bishops criticize Biden's abortion statements -My Way News

Recently some of our Catholic bishops have been speaking out more and more clearly, forcefully, and publicly in defense of human life. Well done! Keep it up! And let's keep praying that politicians who call themselves Catholic have the integrity to be guided by their sincere beliefs.

Trent Lott has had enough of free speech

Senator Lott: 'Opposition must cease'

Senator Lott, I'd like You to publicly explain Your unacceptable comment, "Talk radio is running America. We have to deal with that problem.”

You do not seem to remember that You are an elected representative of constituents whose right to free speech -and free press- is protected by the Constitution. Your job is to defend the Constitution and represent Your constituents.

Your remarks suggest You would rather throttle the press and silence opposition, as a despot suppressing a troublesome peasantry.

Your comments and and many of Your colleagues are helping voters realize that "Republican" increasingly means not "conservatism", but "oligarchy".

Giuliani defends murder to win White House

Giuliani Defends Stance on Abortion

Associated Press

Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani forcefully reaffirmed his support for abortion rights on Friday and argued that his divergence from conservatives on the issue should not disqualify him from being the eventual GOP nominee.

"This is a matter of deep and profound judgment," he said in a speech at Houston Baptist University. "It's a matter of morals. It's a matter of your interpretation of how laws should operate, your interpretation of how respect for the rights of others should operate. But in a country like ours ... I believe you have to respect their viewpoint and give them a level of choice. I would grant women the right to make that choice."

...despite his belief that abortion was "morally wrong" — he believes the decision should ultimately be left to individuals and their decisions should be respected.

Mr. Giuliani argues that killing unborn children is "morally wrong", but is to be protected as a decision that rightly belongs to the domain of individual choice, and these "decisions should be respected". Why aren't other forms of murder also to be defended as matters of "individual choice", Rudy? Is there no political advantage to be gained in defending more visible forms of homicide?

The Declaration of Independence loudly proclaims the truth:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

The most basic and important purpose of government -and the highest duty of those who serve in positions of government- is to protect and uphold the basic rights of the individuals comprising the society. The most basic and first of these rights is life: that is, to be permitted to live, free from the unjust assault of aggressors and their apologists.

Mr. Giuliani's defends as a matter of private preference the deliberate killing of the most defenseless in our society. A country that will not summon the courage to protect its children from lethal aggression is a country with a death wish.

Mr. Giuliani's position on abortion is barbaric, and reveals he is not worthy of public office.

Illinois Senator Durbin deepens his disgrace

BREITBART.COM - Stem Cell Bill Expected to Force Bush Veto

"The Senate moved Tuesday toward sending a bill expanding federal funding of embryonic stem cell research to President Bush, who has promised a swift veto -his first..."
"This is a vote that millions of Americans are watching," said Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill. "They can't understand why America for the last five years has shut down medical research that promises hope."

Senator, You are well aware that embryonic stem cell research is legal and aggressively being pursued by numerous researchers in the United States. Today's vote in the Senate does not concern whether such research will be permitted, but only whether it will be supported by public funds. Your statement that "America... has shut down medical research that promises hope" is a misrepresentation and a lie. It's all the more disgusting because of Your willingness to treat embryonic human beings not as unique human beings, endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, but as raw material to be exploited. To You, their highest value lies not in their innate personhood or even their potential to enjoy childhood and a productive adulthood. No, they are of more use to You as fodder for science, and as coins to be spent in furthering Your political career.

You clearly see nothing wrong with sacrificing the vulnerable and defenseless for the sake of the powerful.

The spirit of Nazism and statism live on in You and all politicians who prize political power above the defense of the defenseless.

You, sir, have again disgraced Your position as senator.

Samuel Alito kicks aside the rats

Samuel Alito clearly is about to be confirmed to a seat in the Supreme Court. The hearings were sufficient to reveal that he is a remarkably decent, honest man of great intellect, a splendid attorney, a superbly qualified judge. I believe most decent, honest Americans who heard or saw any of the hearings formed a very favorable impression of Mr. Alito and welcome his confirmation.

But don't expect all our senators to think like decent, honest Americans. Some of them predictably were outraged by the decency and honesty of Mr. Alito, much as rats confused by a sudden, bright light. You and I could have predicted which senators would bare their teeth and charge: Kennedy, Kerry, Obama, Durbin, and many of their ilk: the left of the left. (How embarrassing that two of them come from my state of Illinois.) One independent and all the rest Democrats, by the way, and all evidently much more concerned with their leftist agendas than with their duty to confirm a well-qualified candidate to the Supreme Court. When smiling insinuations did not succeed in tearing down Mr. Alito, they were driven to fury, froth, and filibuster.

Shame on them for their pathetic and repugnant attempts to smear Samuel Alito. Shame on them for wasting time trying to delay and filibuster their way to even greater depths of notoriety when we've got far more serious things for Congress to be working on.

Why did they continue to snarl at the light when it was clear they couldn't stop Samuel Alito? Because for a decent and honest man to be confirmed to the Supreme Court is a victory for decency, honesty, and the rule of law ...and a loss for the likes of them.