Liberal Defender of Freedom's Page

Obama 1 Bin Laden 0

2011-05-02T06:45:00.005-04:00

USA! USA!

In all honesty, hats off to the Seals proving once again what a top notch group they are.

Obama's Birth Certificate Revealed

2011-04-27T12:50:00.001-04:00

This will go down a big ugly stain on the Republican party forever.

The history books will show how utterly ignorant a majority of Republicans were during this time period.

Congratulations you dimwits on making history.

Congressional Generic Ballot

2011-04-25T10:48:00.002-04:00

Ruh roh....looks like we've got some Demomentum happening!

Deal Reached - Government Shutdown Averted

2011-04-08T22:58:00.001-04:00

Looks like the crybaby Boehner folded.

Republicans vs. Democrats

2011-03-28T15:00:00.000-04:00

Now, lets see, current Democratic Congressmen that are decorated VETS

1) Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) - Navy Cross, the Silver Star Medal, two Bronze Star Medals, and two Purple Hearts

2) Representative Patrick Murphy, D-PA - Bronze Star

3) Representative Jack Murtha (D-PA) - Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts

4) Senator Daniel Inouye - Medal of Honor

5) Senator John Kerry - Silver Star, Bronze Star with Combat V, and three awards of the Purple Heart

6) Representative Charles Rangel - Bronze Star

7) Representative Leonard Boswell (D-IA) - Two Bronze Stars

8) Rep. Mike Thompson, D-CA - Purple Heart

Currently active Republican decorated Congressmen

1) Senator John McCain - Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart

2) Any others?

Here's a longer list of jingoist Republicans/conservatives that run their mouths but have nothing to back it up.

Bill O'Reilly
Pat Buchanan
Rush Limbaugh
Michael Savage
Bill Kristol
Sean Hannity
Ted Nugent
Former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert - avoided the draft
Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey - avoided the draft
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY
Former House Majority Leader Tom Delay
Senate Republican Conference Chairman Jon Kyl, R-AZ
Jeb Bush, Florida Governor
Senate Republican Conference Vice Chair John Cornyn, R-TX
Karl Rove - avoided the draft
National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair John Ensign, R-NV
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich - avoided the draft
House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-OH

Obama = Bush = Carter

2011-03-28T11:32:00.001-04:00

You know what would be really healthy for the Democrats. To relentlessly attack the top of the ticket right before the general election. I mean, make as many Obama = Bush comparisons as possible.

Drum beat that dead horse into the ground, then when it stops moving, keep on beating. Demoralize and dehumanize the top of the ticket and hopefully the base will turn on him viciously and just not show up in 2012.

Because see, what will really be good for the Dems, according to some FDL'ers, is if Dems take another beating in 2012. See, that way the country will really learn its lesson and revolt!

Only problem is that if Republicans continue gains in 2012, they will completely dismantle organized labor and legally destroy whats left of the Dems foot soldiers. More poll tax laws will pass. College voters will be restricted in voting. Republican fund-raising will be ridiculously unbalanced as untaxed corporate profits pour into Republican coffers unrestricted.

It might take 50 years to regain control but man, will we teach Obama a lesson! In the mean time, suck it up middle America.

This is all Obama's fault, because Obama = Bush!

I hear this occasionally and I see conservative pundits run with it any time its mentioned because they know how challenges to the parties leader squashes the morale and motivation of the base.

America Greeted as Liberators

2011-03-24T21:40:00.002-04:00

Obama has now achieved what the Bush admin dreamed of...the US greeted as liberators in a predominately Muslim country.

Food for thought.

Operation Get the Dingbat Nominated

2011-03-24T16:21:00.003-04:00

When it comes the time to vote in the Republican primaries, vote for Sarah!

Vote for Sarah!!!! Now, who's with me?

These results by PPP should explain why Palin would be...as you'd say at TalkingPointsMemo:

EXCELLENT NEWS!! FOR THE GOP!!!

TalkingPointsMemo

Someone just linked me to this site to start getting yourselves organized.

Primaries for Palin

Boycott Huffington Post

2011-03-16T14:50:00.006-04:00

Boycott Huffington Post

They are now having the serial deceiver Breitbart blog there.

Time to forget about them. There are a number of blogs that are much more informative.

Check out my blog roll for a decent line-up to use as a starting point. Many of them don't have the mainland China-like moderation you experience at Huffington ComPost.

It's Time To Take Our Country Back

2011-03-06T22:46:00.000-05:00

Watch Michael Moore's speech in Wisconsin. Spread it around. It's a great message about the working class taking this country back.

It's time folks....we've waited long enough.

Thank You Governor Walker of Wisconson

2011-02-28T15:24:00.002-05:00

For uniting the Democratic party in a way that hasn't been seen since 2008!

The Few States With No Collective Bargaining Rights For Teachers

2011-02-24T20:47:00.002-05:00

This really needs no explanation as these folks do just fine on their own. And with that....

"Only 5 states do not have collective bargaining for educators and have deemed it illegal. Those states and their ranking on ACT/SAT scores are as follows:

South Carolina – 50th
North Carolina – 49th
Georgia – 48th
Texas – 47th
Virginia – 44th

If you are wondering, Wisconsin, with its collective bargaining for teachers, is ranked 2nd in the country. Let’s keep it that way.

This isn’t to say that the lack of collective bargaining explains these poor outcomes, of course, but it is true that the evidence that breaking teacher’s unions improves educational outcomes is somewhere between “exceptionally weak” and “non-existent.”

http://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2011/02/but-i-thought-union-busting-solved-all-educational-problems

Why Does the Right Have Such a Disdain for Teachers?

2011-02-24T12:50:00.002-05:00

In light of how Gov. Walker of WI kissed up to who he thought was Koch, one of his largest financiers in the election, made me think a bit. Teachers across this country should be aware of how corporate interests can influence Governors to cut their benefits in order to allow business to game the system.

In other words, at the cost of those that educate our children, will come the payoff to campaign contributors.

It's a downward spiral in our education system. The constant attack from the right on our public teaching system is slowly eroding away what was once a noble occupation. Many highly skilled people stay away because they know, the second there is a downturn, they look to teachers to take the lopsided brunt of the load on their backs. Teachers are demonized as leeches on society from the right.

Driving home last month I remember reading a bumper sticker that encapsulated this disdain for public teachers that read; paraphrased 'I Can't Wait to Defund All Public Schools so We Can Build More Stealth Bombers.'

Who on earth could be that ignorant?

The video footage of Sarah Palin and her daughter rolling their eyes when a protester in Alaska mentioned she was a public school teacher is just one more example of the growing disdain the right has for public education.

I know the right likes to say the left thinks Republicans are all dumb rednecks (at least they joke that way to fire up the partisans) but when the apparent attack on our educators is so apparent in every day politics, it's not some far fetched conclusion that the right just doesn't like teachers.

Just Imagine...

2011-02-24T12:28:00.002-05:00

Imagine if Obama had joked to a fake Trumka about his baseball bat he had in his oval office when speaking about the Tea Partiers what the uproar would be.

Just for a sec, stop and imagine what would be going on in right wing circles, just imagine.

If Obama joked about a bat in his Oval Office to Trumka, Fox would have guest after guest on to ask them what they thought about the President joking about bashing Tea Partiers heads in and if they think the President should apologize. Asking them if he crossed the line.

It would be on Fox 24/7. Every hourly show would ask the same question over and over. Every right wing blog would have blaring headlines of Obama with a bat drawn in his hand cartoons. Every right wing radio station would be hammering away at it, hour after hour.

At no point is the Governor of a state joking to who he thinks was a major contributor to his campaign about beating protesters with bats funny.

Right wing partisans would be insisting to be invited onto every other cable news station and they would push how the President joked about bashing in the heads of Tea Party protesters.

The conversation would focus on that to the point of a frenzy. Opinions would be heavily shaped. The public would overwhelmingly turn against the President. It would be shameful to throw your support behind someone who joked about bashing in the heads of the people he is supposed to represent.

Just stop for a second, and imagine.

Gov. Walker of Wisoncon Punked by Buffalo Beast

2011-02-23T10:24:00.008-05:00

For whatever reason, the buffalo beast blog is down. Most likely because of the flood of people heading there.

The interview is a prank call of Gov. Walker who thinks he's talking to David Koch, the financiers of his Governorship and who also helped logistically getting out the vote and all. Walker basically wrote in his budget a section to hand over WI utilities with no contracts over to Koch for a payback.

Here is the audio for anyone interested.

Here is the original Beast's blog entry, Buffalo Beast

Democrats Lead in One Congressional Generic Ballot

2011-02-17T12:32:00.004-05:00

I know its early but there appears to be some momentum behind Dems tightening up the ballot. Maybe Republican overreach at every level of Govn't is wearing thin on the voters and some who considered themselves tea party grassroots folks are fuming Tea Party Patriots and other "grassroots" organizations run by GOP operatives took their money and ran.

According to TPM here PPP is showing Dems edging ahead 45%(D) to 41%(R), Democracy Corps is showing a tightening at 46%(D) to 48%(R) and even Rasmussen, whom Nate Silver from NYT's Fivethirtyeight blog showed had a bad Republican bias in their polling, is showing 39%(D) to 45%(R).

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Goes After Peoples Family's

2011-02-11T10:25:00.001-05:00

I thought I had seen it all but when I ran across this ThinkProgress article exposing security firms hired by the Chamber distributing pictures of family members and the schools they attend, I am completely floored.

http://thinkprogress.org/2011/02/10/chamberleaks-target-families/

Distributing pictures of their children and private information about what schools, etc they attend is terribly disconcerting.

I hope the networks pick up on this. It's not some small thing.

No Appologees

2011-02-09T23:52:00.000-05:00

Make no mistake. President Obama never apologized for the US. He was just highlighting the arrogance of the last administration to eccentuate his reasonable and modest stance.

Sen. Jim Webb is Out

2011-02-09T14:17:00.001-05:00

It's time to draft Tom Perriello for U.S. Senate in Virginia.

Get on the ball folks.

http://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/o/8622/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=221

Left Wing Purists

2011-02-09T10:33:00.000-05:00

Watching the legislation passing some state houses and the judicial activism happening in the courts right now makes me worry when ideological purists with a voice try to convince others to sit on their hands and stay home.

Staying home gets us a Republican House, it will get us a Republican Senate and possibly even a WH. The state legislatures will be filled with radical right wing politicians that will criminalize abortion a step at a time, reduce school funding, let our infrastructure crumble, prosecute scientists, push for more oil and less renewable's etc etc etc.

Staying at home solves nothing.

What Violent Right Wing Rhetoric? (cont.)

2011-01-27T21:38:00.002-05:00

Heartbreaking. Where is the press on all this. There is a pattern.

"Will Bunch has a truly heartbreaking, infuriating post up on the murder of nine-year-old Brisenia Flores and her father in Arizona in 2009. Brisenia’s mother survived by playing dead.
The killers were newly minted Tea Partiers and fledgling Minutemen, and I think it’s safe to say they were influenced by at least one Tea Party rally in Arizona before carrying out their murders. Shawna Forde, the mastermind of the operation, had apparently cooked up an idea to murder and rob drug dealers to fund her anti-immigrant activities. She and her accomplice, Jason Bush, broke into the Flores home on May 30, 2009."

via Balloon Juice

What Violent Right Wing Rhetoric? (cont.)

2011-01-27T13:09:00.003-05:00

It never ends. The right believe in intimidation and death threats as a way to influence Democratic law makers. Here is just one more of many violent attacks against Democrats.

via ThinkProgress

Great Job Gov. McDonnell

2011-01-27T11:57:00.002-05:00

First big snow storm and this new Governor is a huge failure.

Thousands of people were stranded last night. There were no emergency vehicles to be seen.

Where was the state of emergency?

Where was the Gov? What an utter failure.

This is what happens when Republicans take over. They talk a good talk but when it comes to actually doing something they are nowhere to be seen.

George Allen Announces Run for Senate

2011-01-24T10:51:00.004-05:00

Jim Webb - Born Fightin!

George Allen - Born With a Silver Spoon in His Mouth!

You decide.

Webb /

A 1968 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Webb served as a Marine Corps infantry officer until 1972, and is a highly decorated Vietnam War combat veteran. During his four years with the Reagan administration, Webb served as the first Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, then as Secretary of the Navy.

Allen /

Born March 8, 1952 in Whittier, California) is a former United States Senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the son of former NFL head coach George Allen.
Allen graduated in 1970 from Palos Verdes High School, where he was a member of the falconry club and the car club. He was also quarterback of the varsity football team.

Falconry club! That's the kind of leadership I'm looking for.

What Violent Right Wing Rhetoric? (cont.)

2011-01-22T10:36:00.003-05:00

As more threats of violence against Democrats continue to pile up, at what point will our Govn't put a stop to the hate speech inciting violence.

"LOS ANGELES — Police in the Orange County city of Santa Ana and California Gov. Jerry Brown's security detail were trying find out Friday who wrote graffiti on two walls threatening to kill the new governor on Valentine's Day.

The graffiti, which threatened the governor and included a Nazi swastika, was discovered Thursday and is considered a "terrorist threat." Authorities are also investigating any links to earlier graffiti in the area threatening to kill Catholics."

Read more at McClatchy DC

What Violent Right Wing Rhetoric? (cont.)

2011-01-17T19:53:00.006-05:00

There may not be an even remote link in what happened in Arizona and the hate pushed by Fox but, that doesn't mean they are off the hook.

In an article titled, “6 Lunatics Inspired by Fox News and Glenn Beck,” published on Oct. 28 — so six weeks before before Jared Loughner’s terror attack in Tucson that left six people dead and 13 wounded, including Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords — Jim Edwards, columnist for BNET, recapped six instances over the past two-and-a-half years in which lunatics committed violent acts, or were thwarted before they could act, later said they were inspired to violence after intense exposure to propaganda from Fox and Glenn Beck:

Seniors Enjoy New Health Care Benefits

2011-01-13T15:00:00.002-05:00

It was only a matter of time. Hopefully, more see this video posted by Thinkprogress.

What Violent Right Wing Rhetoric?

2011-01-10T13:38:00.003-05:00

March 21-22, 2009 — Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-MN) states that she wants residents of her state to be “armed and dangerous on this issue of the energy tax because we need to fight back. Thomas Jefferson told us ‘having a revolution every now and then is a good thing,’ and the people—we the people—are going to have to fight back hard if we’re not going to lose our country.”

July 15, 2009 — Katherine Crabill (Republican candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates 99th District) makes headlines by calling on Americans to resist the course President Obama has set for the country. Appearing at a “Tea Party” rally “We have a chance to fight this battle at the ballot box before we have to resort to the bullet box. But that’s the beauty of our Second Amendment right. I am glad for all of us who enjoy the use of firearms for hunting. But make no mistake. That was not the intent of the Founding Fathers. Our Second Amendment right was to guard against tyranny.”

August 25, 2009 – Rex Rammell, (candidate in the 2010 Idaho Republican Primary) remarks on “Obama hunting tags” at a discussion about state-issued tags for wolf hunting.”The Obama tags? We’d buy some of those.” In a subsequent press release, he adds, “Anyone who understands the law knows I was just joking, because Idaho has no jurisdiction to issue hunting tags in Washington, D.C.”

August 26, 2009 — Debra Medina (Texas gubernatorial candidate) “We are aware that stepping off into secession may in fact be a bloody war. We are aware. We understand that the tree of freedom is occasionally watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots.”

September 28, 2009— Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA), Chairman of the Second Amendment Task Force in the U.S. House of Representatives, calls House Speaker Nancy Pelosi a “domestic enemy of the Constitution”

April 10, 2010 — Martha Dean (Republican candidate for Attorney General in Connecticut) “If government is legitimate and truly is the voice of the people, it need never fear the people themselves when they’re armed. Only a government that uses secrecy and force to impose improper laws [to] which the people do not consent need fear the wrath of its law-abiding citizens at the ballot box or, ultimately, with arms … Our right of free speech and to back it up with arms if necessary if our government becomes tyrannical and unjust as King George’s was to the colonists are the most essential of the rights we as Americans have … I will oppose all efforts to create nonsensical distinctions that are nowhere supported by our constitutions between different types of firearms. Nowhere in the Constitution does it say that the government gets the effective firearms and the people the ineffective ones. Nowhere in our Constitution does it say that the government gets the modern firearms and the citizens only get the antiquated ones.”

April 13, 2010 — Sen. Randy Brogdon (R-OK) on meeting with Oklahoma Tea Party groups to discuss the formation of a new “volunteer militia” to defend against ‘improprer federal infringements on state sovereignty’ Brogdon states that the Founding Fathers “were not referring to a turkey shoot or a quail hunt. They really weren’t even talking about us having the ability to protect ourselves against each other. The Second Amendment deals directly with the right of an individual to keep and bear arms to protect themselves from an overreaching federal government.”

May 6, 2010 — Christina Jeffrey (Republican candidate 4th Congressional District South Carolina) holding an AK-47 assault rifle; “Why do we have the Second Amendment? The Second Amendment ensures all of our other rights … The Second Amendment was placed in the Constitution, plainly, to ensure that our limited government stayed limited and that we would be able to enforce those limitations if need be … We are a sovereign people. A sovereign people is an armed people.”

May 15, 2010 — Newt Gingrich “The Second Amendment is not in defense of hunting. It is not in defense of target shooting. It is not in defense of collecting. The Second Amendment is in defense of freedom from the State.”

May 30, 2010 — Sharron Angle (Republican candidate U.S. Senator Nevada) “...the nation is arming. What are they arming for if it isn’t that they are so distrustful of government? They’re afraid they’ll have to fight for their liberty in more Second Amendment kinds of ways.”

May 31, 2010 — Rex Nichols (candidate for sheriff Montana’s Lincoln County) in reference to federal agents, Ruby Ridge, Waco and keeping feds out of the county if elected. “I am going to take my deputies and stand in the middle of the road and tell them to get the hell out …..And if they want a war, they got it.”

September 30, 2010 — Steve Kendley, (candidate for sheriff Montana’s Lake County) threatens “a violent conflict” with federal agents if “they are doing something I believe is unconstitutional.”

October 21, 2010 — Stephen Broden (Republican candidate for 30th Congressional District Texas) states the violent overthrow of the government is an “option” that remains “on the table.” “Our nation was founded on violence….I don’t think that we should ever remove anything from the table as it relates to our liberties and our freedoms.”

November 9, 2010 — U.S. Representative-Elect Allen West (R-Fla) “I am convinced that the most important thing the Founding Fathers did to ensure me my First Amendments rights was they gave me a Second Amendment. And if ballots don’t work, bullets will.”
November 29, 2010 — U.S. Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) comparing the Obama administration to the Nazi regime in Germany “Put anything in my scope and I will shoot it.”

Happy New Year

2011-01-04T20:38:00.006-05:00

And for this year I'll start by just highlighting an article by ThinkProgress. Via ThinkProgress the highlighted this gem from FT.

The excitement started even before the show when David H. Koch, the co-owner of Koch Industries, the largest privately-own industrial conglomerate in the US, came out on stage to talk about his $2.5m sponsorship of the production. Most people applauded but there were also boos from near where I sat in the balcony, followed by an angry debate in the row in front of me, with one of the booers declaring “he’s an evil man” and a couple next to her telling her to “shut up” and to leave the theatre. [...] Once Mr Koch had left the stage, the booing stopped and the ballet started.

The more people learn about these slugs Koch and Donahue from U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the better off this country is.

I've written about Koch HERE, HERE, HERE, and about the Chamber HERE and HERE.

FOX - Propaganda on Steroids

2010-12-15T09:56:00.003-05:00

Two letters have been released by Media Matters in the last few days from Fox executives to push propaganda through their cable "news" station. The first instructed all individuals to call the public option the Govn't option because it turned people against in. Today, a new revelation came out that:

FOX NEWS GETS INSTRUCTIONS ON CLIMATE TALK.... About a year ago, Fox News correspondent Wendell Goler delivered a live report from Copenhagen and told viewers the truth. The United Nations' World Meteorological Organization, Goler said, had announced that that 2000-2009 was "on track to be the warmest [decade] on record."

Not quite 15 minutes later, another memo was sent by Fox News Washington managing editor Bill Sammon.

In the midst of global climate change talks last December, a top Fox News official sent an email questioning the "veracity of climate change data" and ordering the network's journalists to "refrain from asserting that the planet has warmed (or cooled) in any given period without IMMEDIATELY pointing out that such theories are based upon data that critics have called into question." [...]

Today, Alternet also wrote an article showing evidence watching Fox makes you stupid. Their last paragraph hit the nail on the head.

"This is not an isolated review of Fox’s performance. It has been corroborated time and time again. The fact that Fox News is so blatantly dishonest, and the effects of that dishonesty have become ingrained in an electorate that has been been purposefully deceived, needs to be made known to every American. Our democracy cannot function if voters are making choices based on lies. We have the evidence that Fox is tilting the scales and we must now make certain its corporate owners do not get away with it."

At what point do they lose their press credentials?

Who is the most mentally stable person on the planet?

2010-12-13T21:08:00.001-05:00

Who is the most mentally stable person on the planet?

Me!

Republican's Are Trying to Sabotage The Economic Recovery

2010-12-02T20:03:00.004-05:00

It's now blatantly obvious Republicans have chosen to try to sabotage an economy recovery in the hopes to take back the Senate or even the Presidency. It began with the them holding the same political stance as the anti-American worker lobbying group, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and China and the E.U. and it's ending with them now using the unemployed as a tool during the holiday season.

"Without extended benefits, Virginia would have had 8,014 fewer jobs as of September 2010, and failure to act to extend benefits again could cost the state 5,261 jobs by the end of next year.

Benefits for the jobless are particularly important during the holiday season. In addition to providing support for families when they need it most, the positive effects of the program on the economy are likely to be greater since American families tend to spend more during the holiday season. In December alone, two million Americans will lose their coverage if Congress fails to act, the report finds."

Virginia Needs Congress To Act Now On Unemployment Insurance

Veto Override Failed

2010-11-18T23:49:00.002-05:00

For anyone wondering who's side the modern day Republicans stand, this article should leave little doubt. Basically, what happened is Congress tried by a secret vote to override Obama's veto on a bill that would give retroactive immunity to fraudulent banking activity.

http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2010/11/tomorrow-congress-will-try-by-secret.html

Quantitative Easing - QE2

2010-11-16T12:05:00.003-05:00

So, now that the Fed has announced QE2, there's been quite a stir.

Sarah Palin, China, the European Union, Greenspan and about 20 conservative columnists have come out against it.

The result of QE2 would be a lower priced currency. This would have the affect of increasing domestic production and intern possibly increasing the working class wages (that means you blue collar workers).

So, explain to me again, why QE2 is such a bad thing?

And if Palin, Greenspan and the right wing are siding with China and the European Union you've got to wonder where their loyalty lies.

Fox(Pulse), Gallup and Rasmussen Polling Way Off

2010-11-03T21:24:00.002-04:00

Mark Blumenthal calculated the actual outcome was around +6R or +7R meaning Rasmussen, Fox(Pulse-Also Rasmussen) and Gallup were around +6R, +7R and +9R off.

Nate Silver of the blog Fivethirtyeight at the NYT stated Rasmussen on average had a +4R bias on the Congressional and Senate races.

Knowing all of this, I'd like to know what the actual Presidential approval ratings are since they use the LV model screening that's been proven to be way off.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce

2010-11-02T10:20:00.002-04:00

Selfishness disguised as liberty. Power wearing a mask of freedom. Free trade tearing our working class apart hidden under the facade of patriotism.

That's what the Chamber stands for.

Election Day!

2010-11-02T09:47:00.002-04:00

Now lets see what's on peoples minds on Google hot trends.

1.marine corps marathon
2.time change fall 2010
3.when is daylight savings time 2010
4.daylight savings time 2010
5.halloween quotes and sayings
6.trick or treat times
7.halloween parade nyc
8.denise borino quinn
9.when does daylight savings time end
10.rally to restore sanity
11.indiana unemployment
12.reformation day
13.when do we turn the clocks back
14.romans revenge lyrics
15.this is halloween lyrics
16.pumpkin pancakes
17.samhain rituals
18.happy halloween pictures
19.halloween games for kids
20.all saints day

Mostly about Halloween and daylights savings time. I see the marathon hit #1 and still in the top ten is the Colbert/Stewart Rally.

Seems this election is a really big deal!

The War on America Has Begun

2010-11-01T12:55:00.002-04:00

The war on America has begun. Koch and The Chamber of Commerce have fired the first shots. The Oligarchs push to lower our standard of living will continue until anyone short of a billionaire will no longer have a say.

Selfishness disguised as liberty. Power wearing a mask of freedom. Free trade tearing our working class apart hidden under the facade of patriotism.

Anyone who gives a damn needs to repudiate these libertarian ideas. Libertarians are the true enemies of this country.

They don't want our Constitution. They hate our laws. They hate the idea of the United States.

Obama on The Daily Show

2010-10-28T13:19:00.004-04:00

It seems traditional journalists are all wee weed up about Obama choosing nontraditional methods to get his message out to voters.

I'll let you in on a little secret traditionalists...your influence is waning.

After hearing David Gregory give loaded question after loaded questions to Meeks and Crist and then give Rubio a tongue bath makes it more than apparent modern day "newsmakers" are less interested in pushing for real answers from someone and more interested in advancing their own careers.

Times change. Blogs, tweets, emails and daytime and late night television is where a large percentage of individuals get their info from, particularly the younger groups. The President is smart to use these as its the youth that are going to be driving our economy in the future.

For those that missed it, the full episode can be viewed HERE @ The Daily Show's Web site.

I'll see you all on the mall on Saturday!

Ken Cuccinelli's Loosing Battle Against Climate Science

2010-10-21T17:05:00.002-04:00

Just posting this link because I want to reference it later I'm sure.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2010/10/gmu_investigating_climate_chan.html

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is Un-American

2010-10-21T10:49:00.003-04:00

I think the idea of the Chamber of Commerce having sessions with the Chinese on how to outsource American jobs should terrify every American and put into question who the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is loyal to. America as a country or the bottom line of companies that outsource.

I think most of us here know the answer but I don't think it's gotten through every Americans head that when members pay the U.S. Chamber of Commerce dues, those dues are expected to increase their bottom line. If that increase consists of shipping manufacturing and customer service overseas for the owners of the U.S. companies to compete with foreign companies then that's what they are fighting for.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce does not represent the U.S. worker in the least bit and hopefully Americans will come to realize that sooner rather than later.

Sarah Palin's Alaska

2010-10-16T14:47:00.001-04:00

For those interested, here's a little preview.

Evidence of Koch Funding Tea Party Movement

2010-10-14T15:05:00.003-04:00

If there was any doubt of the Koch's funding of the tea parties, this should put an end to that.

Remember, this is the same American's for Prosperity that did this....

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Americans for Prosperity Cheer Chicago's Failure

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

2010 Election

March to Keep Fear Alive

There's a Time For Everything

2010-10-14T14:53:00.002-04:00

There’s a time to push for progressive agenda’s and there’s a time to get as many Dems elected as possible to facilitate the means to allow for debating progressive legislation in the House committees.

My opinion is now is the time to get as many Dems elected as possible to ensure Dems hold the House and maintain control of the committees.

Fire away at me now.

The Republicans of Today

2010-10-14T14:42:00.000-04:00

This past weekend I passed through the National Archives and glanced at our founding fathers documents that laid the foundation for our country.

Then I thought of Palin, Buck, O'Donnell, Angle, Inhofe, Vitter and some of the other hero's of the Republican party and thought to myself how disappointed our founding fathers would be at what passes as a statesman today.

How has a national party gone so far off the deep end they are defending individuals that wear ignorance like some sort of badge on their shoulder.

The more ignorant, the more Republican partisans line up behind them. What a disappointment.

Speaking for the Country

2010-10-11T19:15:00.001-04:00

I think I speak for all American's when I ask, when is John McCain going to announce his run for the White House? And will he pick Sarah Palin again if he wins the nomination?

Daily Dish Celebrates Ten Years

2010-10-11T13:37:00.001-04:00

Toast or Roast?

I saw Troast.

What Do They All Have in Common?

2010-10-03T23:23:00.004-04:00

Sharron Angle, Joe Miller, Ken Buck, Kelly Ayotte, Rand Paul and Sarah Palin.

All of these individuals believe a raped women should bear the baby of the rapist. This is the Theocratic state they want to impose on us. The teaparty is a mask for their real intentions, and that is to impose their religious beliefs on every day Americans who think they are just voting for some outsider that is gonna shake things up, or something.

Pay close attention.

Arriana Huffington Is Trying to Hijack the Progressive Movement for Her Own Purpose

2010-10-01T11:00:00.003-04:00

As this blogger has noted, she now is on a radio show with Mary Matalin.

And, she apparently vacations with Newt Gingrich

I've been stating ever since this Administration took over, that site has turned to blaring New York Post/Drudge type misleading headlines. It's a business to her, not a progressive movement.

She's trying to hijack The Daily Show/John Stewart crowd right now.

Beware if you give a damn about the good of this country. She's a wolf in sheeps clothing.

Job Creation During Recent Recoveries

2010-09-22T23:17:00.008-04:00

I hadn't seen the comparisons yet between the recovery during Bush's first term and Obama's first term so here it is. These statistics are gathered from BLS.gov. The starting points are Nov. 2002 and Jun. 2009, the ends of the two most recent recessions. Net job creation for Obama after 15 months was -657,000. Net job creation for Bush Jr. after 15 months was -1,278,000.

If Obama were to follow the Bush trend, next month the U.S. would lose 156,000 jobs and lose another 198,000 the month after.

I think we can all agree that a Democratic majority in the House/Senate and Democratic controlled White House has been much better for our economy and jobs.

Stephen Colbert/Jon Stewart Rally on 10/30/10

2010-09-16T23:14:00.008-04:00

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

March to Keep Fear Alive

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

2010 Election

Fox News

Rally to Restore Sanity.

March to Keep Fear Alive.

It's on! I'll see you all there!!!

Christine O'Donnell Claims Hillary Voters for Her Own

2010-09-15T12:30:00.005-04:00

(Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty.)

"I do want to point out that we have broad based support, we've got a lot of Hillary Democrats working behind us -- with us -- because they're frustrated with what this administration is doing," O'Donnell (R-DE) said this morning on Fox News.

ORly?

I know it's been a while

2010-09-09T23:24:00.001-04:00

But soon I'll get back to this blogging thing.

Why Are So Many So Called Left Wing Blogs So Anti-Obama?

2010-08-05T11:13:00.002-04:00

My guess is this.

Many of these web sites are new. They came about during the anti Bush years and thus developed a following of individuals that were accustomed to finding fault in everything the acting administration did.

This worked out fine during the primaries and the general election as they still had the opposition to aim all their fire at. Well, that all came to an end when Democrats controlled the House, Senate and the White House. They needed something to keep their clicks going and their followers donating to their pet causes.

They didn't bother to find a new method of doing business as the old business model is the only thing these sites know so they turned their guns on their allies and opened fire. When I say allies I mean in the sense that they are much more likely to side with legislation being worked through Congress with the bunch in control now than if there was a Republican controlled Congress in session.

I'm not sure what it'll take to encourage them to turn their guns on the real opposition and not all of it on those that are no doubt pushing through legislation that at least addresses some of their concerns.

Depression Avoided According to Zandi and Blinder

2010-07-28T11:55:00.007-04:00

"In a new paper, the economists argue that without the Wall Street bailout, the bank stress tests, the emergency lending and asset purchases by the Federal Reserve, and the Obama administration’s fiscal stimulus program, the nation’s gross domestic product would be about 6.5 percent lower this year.

In addition, there would be about 8.5 million fewer jobs, on top of the more than 8 million already lost; and the economy would be experiencing deflation, instead of low inflation.

The paper, by Alan S. Blinder, a Princeton professor and former vice chairman of the Fed, and Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, represents a first stab at comprehensively estimating the effects of the economic policy responses of the last few years."

Read more at:

The New York Times

What Has Obama Accomplished?

2010-07-16T09:54:00.002-04:00

I'll let Benen summarize.

"In the larger context, Wall Street reform also gets added to the list of breakthrough accomplishments of the last 18 months, a list that now includes health care reform, an economy-saving Recovery Act, a long-sought overhaul of the nation's student-loan system, the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, new regulation of the credit card industry, new regulation of the tobacco industry, a national service bill, expanded stem-cell research, and the most sweeping land-protection act in 15 years, among other things.

As Rachel Maddow recently observed, "The last time any president did this much in office, booze was illegal. If you believe in policy, if you believe in government that addresses problems, cheers to that.""

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_07/024745.php

Israel Overreacts, Deployes Commandos

2010-06-01T21:28:00.010-04:00

Protesters and activists are provocateurs, that's what they do. I don't believe the measured response is to deploy Commandos storming down ropes out of helicopters.

Israel over reacted is my first take on this just as they over reacted with their barrage on Gaza over a year ago and their counter attack into Lebanon over three years ago.

Israel needs to learn the restraint that comes with having a powerful military. It's a maturity their country hasn't learned yet.

It's part of being a responsible Democracy.

Upon Closer Examination of the Sink Hole

2010-06-01T13:34:00.003-04:00

Fascinating!

The BP Gulf Spill ™

2010-05-26T22:42:00.000-04:00

The BP Gulf Spill ™

Rand Paul Wins Kentucky Primary - Next Stop 2012?

2010-05-18T20:25:00.004-04:00

Now it seems that the tea-party, well the original ones at least, got one of their own in the Senate.

It will be interesting how Republican Senators conduct themselves when Rand wears his Libertarian views on his sleeve on the floor and speaks of legalization or even expresses his anti-Iraq/Afghanistan positions. Things will get interesting none the less.

He might be one of the more straight up individuals on the Senate, not beholden to many. He could very well likely be a yes vote to approve of spending cuts in all departments and agencies of the U.S. Govn't from Department of Defense of which he would like to reduce spending to the Department of Education, of which he'd like to eliminate.

I'm probably way out ahead but, I could see him continuing his ability to tap into independents and leaning libertarian Republicans and Democrats across the country and run for the White House in 2012.

Game Changer?

2010-05-08T23:24:00.004-04:00

If this oil mess doesn't get plugged up in a week, I predict climate legislation getting through Congress much more smoothly much in the way the Wall Street crash enabled these financial reforms making their way through Congress seem to be going with very few hiccups.

See, this administration had a bit of an uphill battle with health care reform. A majority of Americans like their health care. This admin isn't going to have to explain to anyone oil is a problem and every single American felt the repercussions of the banks and financial firms exploding.

Crist Wins Florida Senate Race, Says Will Caucus With Dems

2010-05-04T15:28:00.002-04:00

Once again, Republicans snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Can't say you didn't hear it here first!

Checkbook Tax?

2010-04-29T11:36:00.004-04:00

So, according to Greg Sargent @ ThePlumeLine , Frank Luntz is spreading more misinformation by providing the talking point that the fund large investment firms will be paying into in the event of a catastrophe will be funded by a checkbook tax on every day consumers by increases in fees, etc.

A few points Mr. Duntz.

This fund is going to be bank-rolled by the large investment firms that aren’t covered by FDIC. Rather than Checkbook Tax call this the “Hedgefund Managers Checkbook Tax” since the majority of the burden will be carried by those big time wall street guys playing in derivatives, CDS, and other investments middle America doesn’t get involved in directly.

If you don’t want to pay for the investment firms to deal in their own casino, don’t bank with them.

Use your local banks that are covered by the FDIC.

If the big banks will raise fees leave them.

That’s whats great about competition and free market. If the fees get outrageous, Average Americans can pick up and leave and put their money somewhere else.

You don't have to bank with BofA or Citi. You can bank with your local bank.

Anyways, Luntz, you're a slug.....where's my salt shaker.

Christ Leaves Republican Party

2010-04-29T10:27:00.005-04:00

That's it! He's had enough of their shenanigans!

Oh, what's that? Oh, you mean Charlie Crist.

Frank Luntz Memo to Crush Financial Reform

2010-04-13T14:22:00.003-04:00

What would it take for Democrats to coordinate a mass blanket of news and talk shows for a few days to inform the public of Republican plans to trick and deceive them into thinking reform and regulation will hurt them.

Why are Democrats so silent on this?

luntzmemo

Obama's Great Week

2010-04-02T12:07:00.001-04:00

* HC Reform signed into law — Check

* College lending reform signed into law — Check

* China agree to sanctions on Iran — Check

* Russia agrees to Nuclear pact — Check

* Job Numbers turn positive — Check

* Historic increase CAFE standards by 33% – CHECK

* Ending ‘valley fill’ after mountain top removal – CHECK

* Preserving extremely sensitive marine habitat in Bristol Bay, Alaska from drilling – CHECK

Not a bad week.

162,000 jobs added in March, most in 3 years

2010-04-02T11:21:00.002-04:00

Spin that losers.

Read more at: MSNBC

Kock Industries and Mercatus Center at GMU

2010-04-01T22:09:00.002-04:00

In the last couple days, Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight.com has been tearing a recent report apart from the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.

Come to find out, another report I ran across in a Guardian article highlighting a Greenpeace report that noted the following:

Mercatus center: ($9.2m received from Koch grants 2005-2008) Conservative think tank at George Mason University. This group suggested in 2001 that global warming would be beneficial in winter and at the poles. In 2009 they recommended that nothing be done to cut emissions.

The public needs to know what kind of influence the squid, Koch Industries, has in this country. They are a danger to our society.

RNC 'partay's' at Voyeur West Hollywood

2010-03-29T12:08:00.005-04:00

Top Ten Things the RNC can get for $1946.25 at Voyeur West Hollywood

#10 97 $20 lap dances.

#9 389 $5 shots of tequila! Ole!!!

#8 389 $5 Corona’s.

#7 556 $3.50 glasses of domestic beer.

#6 1297 $1.50 condoms from the condom machine.

#5 An underage page - Oh wait, that's in Congress. Sorry.

#4 One hour whipping session from Sarah Palin in leather in a private booth.

#3 300 straight hours of a peep show starring Tom "The Hammer" Delay and Larry Craig dancing like stars in leather.

#2 Unlimited access to some dark room entitled "Best Glory Hole in Hollywood."

#1 An all-niter at the VIP table and a bottle of Cristal with Ann Coulter!

Hutaree Militia

2010-03-29T12:03:00.004-04:00

This recent arrest couldn't come at a worse time for the GOP when they are busy trying to downplay the radical and militant right that are a part of their base constituency.

"Nine suspects tied to a Christian militia in the Midwest are charged with conspiring to kill police officers, then attack a funeral in the hopes of killing more law enforcement personnel, federal prosecutors said Monday.

U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said agents moved on the group because the Hutaree members were planning a violent reconaissance mission sometime in April – just a few days away.

Members of the group called Hutaree are charged in the case, including their leader, David Brian Stone, also known as “Captain Hutaree.”

Once other officers gathered for a slain officer’s funeral, the group planned to detonate homemade bombs at the funeral, killing more, according to newly unsealed court papers."

Read more @ AP NEWS.

Terror Prosecutions in the U.S.

2010-03-26T15:58:00.005-04:00

Today, Greg Sargent of ThePlumeLine received a chart highlighting terrorist prosecutions in the U.S. I went through the painstaking trouble of graphing it because that's what I like to do.

Anyways, for your viewing pleasure:

Republicans Found Guilty of Voter Fraud

2010-03-25T20:24:00.003-04:00

"All eight defendants in Clay County, Kentucky’s election fraud trial have been found guilty today by a federal jury. Six of those eight were high-ranking election officials, including the county clerk, a circuit judge and the school superintendent. The conspirators were charged with having manipulated federal elections in 2002, 2004 and 2006 by buying and selling votes and manipulating electronic voting machines….And, just for good measure, we’ll take this opportunity to remind readers, yet again, that the community organization ACORN — who has long been used as a red-herring by the Republican Party to suggest the existence of massive Democratic “voter fraud” — has never been charged with, or found guilty of aiding in the illegal casting of a single vote. Ever. Anywhere."

Read more at: The BRAD BLOG

Health Insurance Reform Text Message

2010-03-23T13:15:00.001-04:00

Today, after almost a century of effort, health insurance reform becomes law. Thank you for your partnership in creating change.– President Obama

Text Message Received on:
1:10pm Mar 23, 10

Obama Signs Health Care Bill

2010-03-23T11:50:00.003-04:00

History in the Making

There are few times when someone can be watching an event and say to themselves, this will go down in the history books as one of the largest social reforms in the history of the U.S.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010 Barack Obama signing the Health Care Reform Bill

How Does Health Care Affect You Right Away?

2010-03-22T13:39:00.003-04:00

In 2010, small businesses that choose to offer coverage will begin to receive tax credits of up to 35 percent of premiums to help make employee coverage more affordable.

In 2010, adults who are uninsured because of pre-existing conditions will have access to affordable insurance through a temporary high-risk pool.

This bill starts to close the Medicare Part D donut hole in 2010 by providing a $250 rebate to Medicare beneficiaries who hit the gap in prescription drug coverage. And beginning in 2011, the bill institutes a 50% discount on prescription drugs in the donut hole.

o Starting this year, new private plans will be required to provide free preventive care: no co-payments and no deductibles for preventive services. And beginning January 1, 2011, Medicare will do the same.

In 2010, this bill will provide help for early retirees by creating a temporary re-insurance program to help offset the costs of expensive premiums for employers and retirees age 55-64.

Under health reform, Americans will see an immediate expansion of coverage.

This year, children with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied health insurance coverage. The bill outlaws that practice for new health plans as well as grandfathered group plans. Moving forward, no insurance company can deny a child coverage based on his or her health.

This year, new health care plans and select grandfathered plans will allow young people to remain on their parents’ insurance policy up until their 26th birthday.

This year, insurance companies will be banned from dropping people from coverage when they get sick, and they will be banned from implementing lifetime caps on coverage. This year, restrictive annual limits on coverage will be banned for new plans and grandfathered group health plans. Under health reform, Americans will be ensured access to the care they need.

The bill increases funding for community health centers so that nearly double the number of patients can be treated in their community health centers over the next 5 years. The funding begins in the next fiscal year.

The health reform bill will increase the number of primary care doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants through new investments. This funding takes effect in the next fiscal year.

Health reform will immediately curb some of the worst insurance industry practices and strengthen consumer protections.

Beginning this year, this bill creates a new, independent appeals process that ensures consumers in new private plans have access to an effective process to appeal decisions made by their insurer.

o Starting January 1, 2011, insurers in the individual and small group market will be required to spend 80 percent of their premium dollars on medical services. Insurers in the large group market will be required to spend 85 percent of their premium dollars on medical services. Any insurers who don’t meet those thresholds will be required to provide rebates to their policyholders.

This year, discrimination based on salary will be outlawed. New group health plans will be prohibited from establishing any eligibility rules for health care coverage that discriminate in favor of higher-wage employees.

This bill holds insurance companies accountable for unreasonable rate hikes. Starting in 2011, it helps states require insurance companies to submit justification for all requested premium increases. Any company with excessive or unjustified premium increases may not be able to participate in the new health insurance exchanges.

Beginning this fiscal year, this bill provides funding to states to help establish offices of health insurance consumer assistance in order to help individuals in the process of filing complaints or appeals against insurance companies.

The Plouffe Effect?

2010-03-22T10:27:00.007-04:00

Say what you want, but this will go down in the history books as a big win for this administration. Those that voted for this and had the courage, bravo. The momentum turned around in recent weeks. Obama has become more of a fighting champion of the populous and much more vocal about his support of legislation.

Is it coincidence that Plouffe came back and things turned around for the WH? I'm not sure it was.

Anyways, history will be the judge.

Sean Hannity is a Fraud

2010-03-19T15:44:00.004-04:00

For the last several years, Sean Hannity and the Freedom Alliance “charity” have conducted “Freedom Concerts” across America. They’ve told you that they are raising money to pay for the college tuition of the children of fallen soldiers and to pay severely wounded war vets. And on Friday Night, Hannity will be honored with an award for this “Outstanding Community Service by a Radio Talk Show Host” at Talkers Magazine’s convention.

But it’s all a huge scam.

Read more about it all from conservative blogger Debbie SchlusselHERE.

What Will Health Care Reform Mean to Everyone Right Away?

2010-03-19T15:22:00.001-04:00

Immediately upon passage, insurance companies will be unable to drop children with pre-existing conditions.

Immediately upon passage, there are no lifetime or annual caps on benefits in new policies.

Immediately upon passage, you can no longer be dropped just 'cause they wanna drop you.

Immediately upon passage, children up to age 26 can remain on their parents' insurance policy.

Immediately upon passage, insurance companies will be unable to arbitrarily raise rates.

Immediately upon passage, uninsured Americans will have access to a temporary high-risk pool.

Immediately upon passage, drug prices for seniors will begin to go down as the Medicaid donut hole is closed.

Kucinich is a YES on Health Care Reform

2010-03-17T15:03:00.003-04:00

It's a start but I wouldn't start sucking each others @$#@% quite yet 'till the final vote happens....and the fixes.

The fixes are some of the more important political parts of this legislation as Obama pollsters noted some days ago that a substantial percentage of dislike about the overall HCR bill are the special deals that should be taken out with the fixes.

Ken Cuccinelli is a Birther

2010-03-15T12:28:00.009-04:00

Yes, you heard that right.

Larry Sabato got a hold of some audio from an exchange with Ken recently.

Here is part of the exchange:

"Q: How can we get proof?

Cooch: Well… that’s a good question. Not one I’ve thought a lot about because it hasn’t been part of my campaign. Someone is going to have to come forward with nailed down testimony that he was born in place B, wherever that is. You know, the speculation is Kenya. And that doesn’t seem beyond the realm of possibility."

Ken is now in the same boat as this wacko, Orly Taitz:

Good luck with this one Virginia.

RNC Targets Donors Through Fearmongering

2010-03-03T20:30:00.006-05:00

If there was any question Republicans gain support through fear, look no further than the document provided to Politico via a Democrat.

RNC Strategy

Take a look at this page in particular. It is clear the RNC has contempt for its targeted donors and is willing to exploit their fears for money. Stay classy RNC.

2010-03-02T17:03:00.007-05:00

NUCLEAR
OPTION!!!

Everyone Needs This Image Burned Into Thier Brain

2010-02-18T11:13:00.010-05:00

Interrogations

2010-02-08T20:09:00.002-05:00

So, now that terrorists and suspected terrorists don't get tortured any longer in military detention facilities, why do Republicans think those interrogators will be more successful than FBI trained interrogators who specialize in interrogating terrorists?

Brown Wins Massachusettes Senate Seat

2010-01-20T14:48:00.006-05:00

Yesterday, Fox and Friends suggested a Brown win was good for your 401k as highlighted by Media Matters.

A few days ago, Jim Cramer on Mad Money suggested a Brown win would be great for the stock market.

Here is the final result of Brown's win on the Markets.

Results? Epic Fail!

Haiti Needs Your Help

2010-01-13T21:08:00.002-05:00

It's as easy as picking up your phone.

By texting HAITI to 90999 you can send $10 to the Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund.

What Drives a Young, Well Off Male To Become a Jihadist and How Does it Relate to Closing Guantanimo?

2010-01-08T20:39:00.010-05:00

What drives the son of a wealthy Nigerian Banker to become a jihadist? Is there a direct link between the motivation to become a terrorist and the detention center at Guantanamo Bay?

President Obama believes there is. This is why on Jan. 22, 2009, he directed it be shut down via Executive Order.

Ever since then, Republicans have been arguing we would be less safe by closing it. Well, a recent post by Justin Elliot, at TPM Muckracker, highlights two articles by both The New York Times and TimesOnline.co.uk that explain how the undie-bomber was president of an Islamic Society which held a 'War on Terror Week.' while in University.

Here is the poster which advertised this event:

Regarding the poster, Andrew Sullivan at The Atlantic's blog, The Daily Dish, stated "Almost all of it is about torture and Gitmo."

It's not difficult to connect the dots. This could very well have been one of the triggers, that can turn a well off, educated student, to become a jihadist, looking to blow up an airplane over U.S. soil.

Extreme poverty and little to no formal education are often highlighted as demographics in which Al-Qaeda looks to recruit. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was clearly neither of these. What drove this student over the edge? I haven't seen who initiated the contact, Al-Qaeda or Abdulmutallab. Regardless of this fact, one thing that is clear. This student was very involved in Muslim causes and one of those his group focused on was Guantanamo Bay.

It's time for Republicans to stop playing politics with our safety and let the President close Guantanamo Bay. This is all the evidence the American people need to put this issue to rest once and for all.

November Home Sales Soar 7.4 Percent

2009-12-22T10:56:00.003-05:00

"Home resales surged last month to the highest level in nearly three years, reflecting an extraordinary level of federal support that has pulled the housing market back from the worst downturn since the Great Depression."

Read more at: The Associated Press

That's change I can believe in.

Good News of the Day

2009-12-20T21:02:00.002-05:00

"PRINCETON, NJ -- The average amount of money Americans predict they will spend on Christmas gifts this season is now $743, up from last month's estimate and a healthy increase over Americans' Christmas spending forecast at this time a year ago.

...

The $743 Americans now predict they will spend on gifts this season is a substantial increase over the $639 they reported a year ago, and also higher than what they predicted in November of this year. Based on Gallup's model, this should translate into a significant swing in actual holiday retail sales. Instead of the 3.4% decline holiday retailers saw in 2008, they can likely expect a slight improvement in sales this year, on the order of 1%."

Read more at Gallup

Good News of the Day

2009-12-18T15:11:00.001-05:00

I'm going to start posting one a day if I find the time since it appears nobody else is interested in doing so.

"The balance has shifted: More states reported declining unemployment in November than posted increases, according to a government report released Friday.

The national unemployment rate improved to 10% last month as joblessness fell in 36 states and the District of Columbia, according to the Labor Department's survey on state unemployment. The rate rose in eight states and held steady in six."

Read more at: 36 States Reporting Declining Unemployment/

Keep Things in Perspective Dems

2009-12-14T22:30:00.003-05:00

I'm not asking Progressives to drop their convictions but rallying your peers to not vote in 2010 will have one result, and that is to never see any sort of laws coming out of Congress that remotely resemble something you would want enacted, because Republicans are going to trounce all over the Dems if enthusiasm is crushed beyond repair.

Carry on....

Increases in Consumer Spending According to Gallup

2009-12-08T14:12:00.006-05:00

I was looking at Gallup's 14 day rolling averages of consumer spending since they noted this year was down %21 from last year last week and I noticed something that seems promising.

If you look at last December, starting in November, from the lowest spending to when it peaked in January, it went from $74 to $87. That's a 17.5% gain.

So far this year, the increase has gone from a low in November of $63 to its current $72. That's an increase of 14.2% in spending so far and we aren't even done with Christmas spending so far.

We'll know in a few weeks if spending increased at a greater pace than last year during the same period.

(Updated December 19)

This years spending peaked a little later. Last year we peaked on December 5th. This years peaked on December 13th. We went from a low of $63 mid November at the start of the increase to a high of $79 dollar on the 14 day average on Gallup. That's a gain of of 25.3% in spending. The three day averages seem to be spiking less during this Holiday season as compared to last year. Lastly, last year the U.S. peaked at $87 and this year we peaked at $79 on the 14 day average. This means at peak time spending, there was only a 9% drop in peak spending compared to the 21% previously reported by Gallup as I noted at the top of this post.

A Message From our Troops in Afghanistan

2009-12-03T10:09:00.006-05:00

Back in early October, Spencer Ackerman from his blog had linked to this blog requesting supplies for the soldiers who's forward operating base was destroyed during a twelve hour intense firefight with Taliban forces on the bordering region with Pakistan. Because of the quick response generated and due to people like Spencer Ackermann and others pointing to the blog, the troops were able to quickly resupply themselves with the goods they need to get back out there and finish the job they signed up to do.

I thought I'd share the letter of appreciation so others that may have played a part could read it.

Dear Black Knight Troop Supporters,

On behalf of the Black Knight FRG, 3-61 Cavalry, we want to thank you for your generous donation. Your support provides great strength for our soldiers in Afghanistan and the families back home.

October 3, 2009 is a day that we will never forget. The attack on Combat Outpost (COP) Keating and Observation Post (OP) Fritsche was a hard-fought battle and has changed the lives of so many of our soldiers and their families. We will always remember the lives of SGT Joshua Kirk, SGT Justin Gallegos, SGT Joshua Hardt, SPC Michael Scusa, SPC Christopher Griffin, SPC Stephan Mace, PFC Kevin Thomson, and SGT Vernon Martin. Their service to our country and their sacrifices will never be forgotten.

Each soldier in Black Knight troop is a true American hero. As the soldiers were focused on surviving during more than 12 hours of intense combat, more than 70% of their buildings caught fire. As you know, many lost everything they had. Please know that your donations and quick response helped our soldiers get back on their feet quickly. They are strong soldiers who have become closer through this very challenging time.

Your support has given all the families back home peace of mind that their soldiers are being very well taken care of. We appreciate your kindness and generosity. Thank you for your patriotism and support to Black Knight Troop, 3-61 CAV.

Sincerely,
Black Knight FRG

Show a Little Backbone America

2009-11-18T09:40:00.003-05:00

The same party that is pushing for military tribunals to try and convict Khalid Sheik Mohamed rather than try him in Federal Courts in NYC are the same party that are now not confident to allow the military justice system enough time to investigate, try and convict Maj Hasan, the shooter that went on a rampage at Ft. Hood Texas.

The same party that breathlessly speaks of endless wars and the courage of our country is now trying to stoke fear in the minds of Americans when talk of housing Guantanamo detainees in a Supermax facility in Illinois comes up.

Enough!

It's time for Democratic leaders to stand up to this petty fear mongering and let the American population know we won't cower to the fear terrorists hope to bestow upon us.

It appears President Obama and AG Eric Holder have done just that in an article by the Associated Press this morning.

In the article, Obama stated "I think this notion that we have to be fearful that these terrorists possess some special powers that prevent us from presenting evidence against them, locking them up and exacting swift justice, I think that has been a fundamental mistake." In the same article President Obama declared 'those offended by the legal privileges being given to Mohammed by trying him in a civilian court ultimately won’t find it "offensive at all when he’s convicted and when the death penalty is applied to him."

Eric Holder echoed this sentiment when he said “We need not cower in the face of this enemy...Our institutions are strong, our infrastructure is sturdy, our resolve is firm, and our people are ready.”

That's what I'm talking about.

Cleaning out this legal mess left by the previous administration is going to be a cumbersome process since many of the detainees were treated in ways that violated both the Geneva Convention and The United Nations Convention Against Torture signed and championed by Ronald Reagan. I don't think many realize the legal minefield Cheney set. It could take decades to unwind this mess.

Trying and convicting these criminals is all part of it and every American should find the courage in them to stand behind the laws and courts of this country and have faith in our justice system to either put these cowards behind bars indefinitely or execute them.

Nixon Bows to Mao

2009-11-17T12:00:00.001-05:00

What a Socialist, Communist, Marxist appeaser Nixon was!

When Did The Housing Bubble Start?

2009-11-01T20:45:00.012-05:00

There has been plenty of blame to go around lately as to who is responsible for the burst. Conservatives seem quick to try and lay blame on a combination of obscure statements Barney Frank made while in the minority and had no control over which legislation came to vote in the committee and the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 which encouraged lending agencies to lend to low to medium income individuals. Some even like to jump to the conclusion that Fannie and Freddie were primarily responsible when it's clearly reported they played a minimal role in the collapse.

One of the more accurate accurate depictions I've run across of exactly what happened to cause the final burst is this Jonathan Jarvis video, The Crisis of Credit. It explains how the large investment firms perpetuated the massive bubble by encouraging lending to just about anyone to keep the revenue momentum flowing.

There were some players that profited greatly off of the downturn as noted by Michael Lewis, the author of Liars Poker, who discussed the scandals of 1980's Wall Street bond market. Michael Lewis recently chronicled how Goldman Sachs and Deutche Bank worked to short housing markets overwhelmingly invested in by Merryl, Lehman and UBS in his Nov. 11, 1009 article in Portfolio.com, entitled The End.

On Nov. 1, 2009, McClatchy has reported that Goldman Sachs peddled more than 40 billion (that's 40 with nine of these 0). GS has been at the forefront of this crisis.

Just to wrap up these last two paragraphs. Goldman Sachs basically assisted in perpetuating the bubble then profited greatly on the crashing bubble. You've got to give it to them. They came out ahead of just about everyone. It's a shame they couldn't have given their ex-CEO Henry Paulson, head of the SEC during the crash, a heads up.

Maybe this fiasco could have been prevented.

Maybe they all really didn't realize just how much global exposure there was to CDO's and the AAA bonds they created that were being invested into from banks to individuals to firms managing retirement funds. But I doubt it. But this is not why I wrote this article. I wrote it because I wanted to get to the bottom of when did the housing bubble start.

At around the time of the crash, I got curious as to when this housing bubble began. I ran across this chart. It's clear the bubble began around 1997. I then used the trustworthy Google to see if there was any significant tax code passed or financial laws passed that may have accounted for this.

I ran across a law that fit my requirements to a T. A law that no doubt helped millions of Americans to sell their homes and upgrade to even larger ones at savings never seen in modern times. A law that changed the behavior of home owners from one of buying a home to live in to buying a home as a future investment, only to be sold years later at record profits. This was repeated over and over by millions of people across the United States. The law was the part of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. A certain provision of this law allowed for profits of home sales to be tax free at levels of 250k for individuals and 500k to couples.

I am not the first person to suggest this. After doing some research it appears others have come to this conclusion. Vernon Smith, a Nobel Laureate in Economics and Professor at George Mason University. Mr. Smith wrote an article for the WSJ calling this the Clinton housing bubble.

Now, I'm not saying I won't benefit greatly from this tax code in the event I choose to sell nor that this tax has undoubtedly benefited millions of Americans across the U.S. What I am saying in this. This tax code, unbeknownst to those signing off on it, created one of the largest bubbles in our economy in modern times that ended up turning into a crash so large it almost took the worlds financial systems with it when the bubble burst.

Crisis averted for now. Question is, will someone be watching for the next bubble?

The News Corporation Global Propaganda Network

2009-10-23T22:41:00.003-04:00

I notice the Fox Propaganda Network decries any other network that doesn’t partake in their propaganda to take down this democratically elected administration as being in the tank for the administration.

Any time an organization pushes this administration for progressive reform the propaganda networks; Fox, talk radio and the right wing sites, call them the far left radical loons. Take note that when the criticism is directed back at organizations attacking this administration by calling them nazi’s, communist sympathizers and threats to the constitution, it’s an attack on every day American citizens. It’s all propaganda.

And here is where Murdoch’s danger lies. He’s managed to take control of media outlets around the world in every G5 member and many of the G12 members.

He’s implemented a global propaganda network with the intent to give the impression of global consensus on issues with the perspective he would like to be pushed forth.

If there was ever a time to be concerned about a one organization global power it would be to take note of what Newscorp has manged to do.

Some of the more influential media outlets that he owns are Fox, WSJ and New York Post. Often times, stories will be quoted from these as if they are independent organizations. Another prominent media outlet includes The Times in the UK. He owns satellite networks in nine countries around the globe. Owns cable channels in over seventeen Latin American countries.

NewsCorp is currently in a heated battle right now with the BBC to gain more control of the media markets there. They are complaining of BBC dominance. He is also in a heated battle with Silvio Berlusconi, the Prime Minister of Italy over battles regarding his Sky Italia satellite network.

Next time you hear a foreign press service attacking this administration, check as see if its a Murdoch organization. You'll be surprised how this ends up being the case more often than not.

The Birthers, the Deathers and the Tea-baggers.

2009-09-28T20:34:00.005-04:00

The Birthers, the Deathers and the Tea-baggers. What do all three of these groups have in common?

They all invoke Godwin's Law in record speed.

This isn't just some fringe element associating themselves with these people invoking Godwin's Law so quickly. Think Progress has an article from the How To Take America Back right wing conference with speakers such as Rep. Tom Price, Michele Bachmann and Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Let me give you a rundown on what Godwin's Law is exactly, then you will see just how ridiculous these conservatives have become by embracing a faux pas bloggers almost unanimously make fun of.

According to Wikipedia, Godwin's Law is:

"is a humorous observation made by Mike Godwin in 1990 which has become an Internet adage. It states: "As a UsenetNazis or Hitler approaches 1." discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazi's or Hitler approaches one."

The problem is this, rather than waiting, (just for simplicity, I'll refer to The Birthers, Deathers and Tea-baggers as BDT) BDT'ers have decided to go full throttle Godwin on Obama and his administration right off the bat. As Godwin's Wiki entry states, Reductio ad Hitlerum refers to:

"The fallacy most often assumes the form of "Hitler (or the Nazis) supported X, therefore X must be evil/undesirable/bad. For example: "Hitler was a vegetarian, so vegetarianism is wrong." The tactic is often used to derail arguments, as such a comparison tends to distract and to result in angry and less reasoned responses."

The comparisons of Obama actions to Nazi action has turned into Reductio ad Hitlerum on steroids. Case in point. The previous Think Progress link I pointed to above, spoke of Kitty Werthmann, during her workshop, "How to recognize living under Nazis and communism, mentioned "They had Joseph Goebbels; we have Mark Lloyd, the diversity czar." This isn't the most obsurd claim. The BDT's have also pointed out similarities of his "indoctrination" of school children recently when he gave school children a speech on the opening day of school. The paranoia grew into a frenzy, even causing some parents pull their kids out of school that day.

Conservatives have managed to take one of the jokes of the internet and turn it into one of the driving forces to energize their base. I'm not sure exactly what that says about the conservative base.

I bet Mike Godwin never thought he'd be yelling Godwins Law every time he turned on the T.V. when a story about President Obama came up.

Jesus Camp Bush Worship - Talk About Throwing Bricks in a Glass House

2009-09-26T12:21:00.003-04:00

It seems Fox News has decided to further the smear campaign against this president and coordinate with Drudge Report to push the story of school children singing a song about President Obama during Black History Month this past winter. Odd how this is brand new information to Fox since this tape has been out for some time now.

Here's what Fox News didn't tell you and is much more disturbing.

I'm sure everyone remember the Jesus Camp movie that came out some time ago where children were put into some sort of summer camp to train how to worship Jesus. Well, worshiping of Jesus wasn't the only thing going on.

Here is an excerpt from Jesus Camp that I'm sure most of you will find pretty disturbing.

This isn't the only example of Bush worship.

The Huffington Post recently linked to a story about how school children greeting Bush with a song in response to none other than his response to Katrina.

Anyways, before the propaganda machine Fox News decides to push a story to distract their viewership from the gains being achieved by President Obama at not only the U.N. meeting, but also at the G20 summit, they should probably do a little bit of research. Of course, those viewing Fox News will never know about these Bush worship videos because they aren't even a real news organization and never show both sides of a story.

Cash for Clunkers and the Hypocrisy of Conservatives

2009-08-06T22:12:00.008-04:00

Cash for Clunkers succeeded beyond anyone's imagination. In under a week, much of the $1 billion in the original CAR Allowance Rebate System (C.A.R.S) was used up.

This program benefits the buyers with a new fuel efficient vehicle at a discount. It benefits the dealerships by moving inventory. As inventories clear, factories will begin turning out more cars. The factories will require parts from parts manufacturers. At each step, workers will benefit and generate stimulus through pay to kick start this ailing economy.

According to a Bloomberg article the additional 2 billion approved today by the Senate, could increase GDP by .5 percentage points.

To find out if you qualify you can go to cars.gov .

You would think conservatives would be ecstatic when Americans are given some of those hard earned tax dollars back to go out and make purchases right? Wrong.

At every step of the way, conservatives have railed against this plan claiming we can't afford it. Of course, tax right offs to companies to do every day business is O.K. but when its American families that need a tax cut, its Socialism.

There is another program in the U.S. that is very similar to this program and you never hear a peep about it. That would be the Federal tax credits for energy efficient clients and home improvement upgrades.

When was the last time you heard Senators coming out against these tax credits? Are the right wing talking heads shouting out against this?

Never and no.

Why? Because when the tax credits came about, a Republican was in the White House. A bit hypocritical, don't you think? But now, since a Democrat is in charge and conservatives have a short memory span, this has now become generational theft.