The Alternate Reality

So now the Obama Administration has decided they control pay levels.

Fox News reports it was not President Obama who came up with the pay control for bailout companies, but Pay Czar Kenneth Feinberg.  It seems that Czar Feinberg has been granted authority from the President to make such decisions without input from any other authority.  The President doesn’t second guess him, Congress has no oversight. 

So how does an appointed official, appointed to a position created out of the air, get the authority to dictate pay levels of anyone?  I know some supporter of the Obama Administration and other socialist goals will immediately try to argue about the excessive pay rates and bonuses of ‘fat cat’ executives.  That is not the point.  The point is, how does a government appointee who answers to no one get to unilaterally decide pay levels for anyone?

 In a related story, Senator Charles “Chuckie” Schumer of New York is calling for governmental control of all salaries and pay rates. 

Allow me to remind all the government, by virtue of owning majority holding of General Motors, Chrysler and several aspects of the finance industry, controls some thirty percent of the U. S. economy.  If the Socialized Medicine program passes, that will raise government control to some forty-eight percent of the economy.  The type of government in which the government owns the means of production is Socialism.  That’s the definition.  If the Obama Administration is not in fact Socialist, they’ll do until a real Socialist comes along.

From:

http://blog.thecorporatelibrary.com/blog/charles-schumer/

(Concluding paragraph only)
A bill put forward by Senator Charles Schumer – the Shareholder Bill of Rights Act of 2009 – includes say on pay among a larger set of governance proposals. Support for the idea from the current administration is clear, as President Obama had already sponsored a say on pay bill while he was a senator during 2008.
If the Shareholder Bill of Rights Act were to be signed into law then say on pay would become a universal requirement for all listed companies."

Paul Hodgson — Senior Research Associate

I'm a federal lawman.  Just which agency will remain private, so as not to embarrass my employers.  However it does give me the ability to nose into other people's business and every twice in a while gives me the illusion I'm making the world a better place.  I even get to carry a gun and handcuffs and stuff.  Every so often I ever get flirted with by some rather nice looking female.  She's probably trying to schmooze me, but at my age, I'll take what I can get.  So, yes, I like my job on the whole.  There are times I would chuck the whole mess for a nice comfy cave somewhere out where no one could find me, but don't we all.

Is there a dream job?  I'd like to think so.  In reality, nothing works out perfectly.  Even dream jobs have nightmares.  As close as I'm likely to get will be setting up some form of endeavor in which I can pursue my own research projects and get paid for so doing.  I fancy myself a scientist and philosopher of various disciplines - primarily firearms and ballistics research. 

Yes, I'm working toward that goal.  I'm in the final years of my active professional life.  I'm still mentally qualified, but I'm just not physically able to do what I could used to do.  So I'll be retiring in a year or two.  Once I'm safely retired and moved away from the abysmal dump that is Los Angeles County, I will set up housekeeping on hopefully a small - five to twenty acres or so (more if I can get it) - plot of land and a moderate sized house and start working on a medley of ballistics research, theological study and the contemplation of Cosmology on a full time basis.  Hopefully I can peddle some of my observations and conclusions over time and make enough to keep on shooting.

Maybe I can even get in some walking and lose some weight.  But I'll still be writing.

I am reminded of the futility of 'telephone customer service' institutions.

First, one calls the 800 number (at least they're paying for the wasted time on the telephone) and listens to the fifteen second greeting warming welcoming the caller to the service, telling one how important the call is to the company involved, assuring one no effort will be spared in assisting the caller and ".. our menu options have changed."  I've NEVER called these people before; how in the name of cat fur could they have changed?

Then one listens to the 'new menu options', involving pressing this number for English, opriming another number for Espanol, something I cannot comprehend for Serbo-Croat, clubbing the telephone with a large club for Klingon and dropping in a septic tank for Vogon.

One the proper language, dialect, patois or pigeon-tongue is selected, the cheery voice outlines the choices.  None of which is remotely connected to my business at hand.  I don't want to hear the biography of the founder and CEO, I don't want to know about stock options in lieu of lunch, I have no use to listen to details of how to deposit welfare earnings in such a way as to avoid IRS scrutiny, I don't want to support starving children in Madagascar, and I don't want to hear excerpts from the glowing review in Obfuscation Magazine.  I want to establish a sign-on account so I can find my real account and see what is going on in my world.  No such choice.

So I opt for "Account Information".  It gives me more options, including being sodomized by a yak or falling down a long flight of concrete steps.  Ah, something about sign in problems.  I choose that option and am rewarded by thirty seconds of Pachelbel's Canon in D.  (By the way, I like Pachelbel's Canon.)  Then a cheery voice recording asks me to enter my account number, password, SSAN, shoe size, full set of fingerprints and three cc's of blood for DNA testing, in order to more efficiently assist me.

I find repeatedly pressing the pound sign will frustrate the system into connecting me with a living being.  She, in a very polite and cheerful tone asks me how the hell I got connected to her.  Obviously, I'm not supposed to find her.

Ignoring that, I tell her the problem.  I explain I have just opened a new account with their firm and need to determine and execute the on line protocols so I can check and manage my account on line without talking to any superfluous humans.  I explain this again.  And a third time.  Halfway through the forth explanation, where one is reduced to monosyllabic words and wondering how one can crawl down the phone line and throttle her, the light appears and she says, "You want to establish a profile?"

"Will that allow me to sign on and deal with my account?" one asks tenuously.

"Yes, sir.  You may view your account, make transfers to other accounts, audit your account..." she reads from her script.  One can tell she's reading by the measured cadence of her voice. 

"Yes, please.  How do I establish a profile?"

She asks for my account number, name, SSAN, date of birth, place of birth, manner of birth, name of attending doctor or midwife, marital status and proposed date of death.  I give it to her.  After I hear a series of clicks, buzzes and interrupted heavy breathing, she informs me,
"I cannot help you.  I can transfer you to the Profile Establishment division if you like." 

"Hell no, honey.  I'd rather talk with someone from the sewage treatment division" is what I want to say and don't.  "Yes, please."  At this point, I must point out there is no telephone menu option - that has been recently changed - listing Profile Establishment.  Not that I would have recognized that title anyway.

After another three or four minutes of Pachelbel's Canon in D - which I still like - I am assured my call is important, but all the service technicians are assisting other important customers and I should wait.  Another couple minutes of the Canon in D and - Great Balls of Fire!  a live human being.  It sounds remarkably similar to the technician I just spoke to without result.

I once again provide all the details of my life, including the names of four people, not related to me and not residing at the same address who can provide details of my financial status.  Also I must identify my first line supervisor and a pastor, priest, rabbi or shaman.

She tells me to open up the corporate website.  The first block is for my given name. 

(A self revelatory note here:  My given names are only initials.  Not full names.  Initials.  Only.  My legal name is R.  G.  Montgomery.  When folks say "R.  G." together it comes out Archie.  I like Archie as a name, but it's not my legal name.)  

I type my given name in the first block:  "R.  G.  "  Initial, period, two spaces, just like I was taught in typing class - during the last Ice Age, I believe.  Then my last name.  Then click a choice of what sort of account is this, personal or business?  Then choose savings, checking or credit card account?  Then my account number.  

Then the option of "press to continue".  I press to continue.

It won't accept my given name.

I remove the periods.

It accepts my given name.

The rest is pretty much down hill.  Once past that, all I have to do is provide the account numbers and such.  Then complete my 'profile', which looks very much like that of the late Alfred Hitchcock, other than I have more hair.  Ah... phone numbers by which I may be contacted, an email address so they can send me endless bits of spam disguised as 'special offers' and my home address, so they'll know where never to visit.

I have to designate a user id.  This is a sign on name most places.
The user id must have upper and lower case alpha characters, and digits.  It must have more than four characters and less than thirty-two.  It may not contain my account number or the name of my Aunt Sophie's Pekingese.

And I have to devise a password.  Not make up, not invent, not specify, but 'devise'.

The password must be no less than eight characters, nor more than thirty-two.  It must have upper and lower case alpha characters, digits, at least one 'special character, such as @#$%&*', two characters from the Mongolian script between 1236 and 1683, and my nose print.  It may not contain my name, SSAN, account number or the phrase 'up yours'.

Finally, it's done.  Against all advice, the information goes into a file I have on my computer, since my memory has deteriorated after that blow on the head during the Peloponnesian War.

Than, as a final, cruel slice, she tells me "Have a nice day" as she hangs up.
 

Next time, I'll bring Pachelbel's Cannon in 155mm.

In the fall or winter of 1971...

I had just returned from a mediocre tour of Southern California and the Western Pacific area, courtesy of the United States Marine Corps.  I still had all my body parts (except for a tooth extraction) and I was young, almost dashing and so forth.

Living in Portland, Oregon was a delightful experience.  I had a girl friend who was seriously gorgeous and I had the whole world in front of me.  That's a somewhat daunting perspective, by the way.  I digress...

I had a job in downtown Portland as a messenger for an unnamed title company.  I walked about ten miles a day (could use that job now) and saw most of the sights and events advertised.  One day, such an event caught my eye.

Did I mention I'm a classical guitar fan?  There was a poster advertising the appearance of Carlos Montoya.  The Lord provided funds (I was less broke than usual) and on the very first day tickets were available, I purchased two such tickets.  Front row, center.  My girl friend accepted my offer and we went.

I hadn't bothered to tell her where the seats were located until we arrived at the auditorium.  We found our seats and awaited Montoya's arrival.  She was impressed and delighted.  The only setting on the stage was a chair and a small wooden device near the chair.  On the chair was a rather unremarkable acoustic guitar.  It was a light color, unadorned.  The guitar, not the chair.  The chair was pretty ordinary, now I think of it.

At the appointed time, Mr. Montoya simply walked out on the stage in front of the curtains.  (The curtains were closed and never opened.)  He was a short, somewhat heavy set man wearing evening dress.  He was balding, and quiet and had flashing fingernails; probably heavily reinforced with clear polish.  Without introduction or fanfare, he approached the chair, turned and recognized the audience, seated himself and arranged the guitar.  The small wooden device was a foot rest under his left foot, as I recall.  He had some difficulty in getting it positioned correctly.  He smiled and said, "Is problem.  Forgive me, the English is not so good."  I think that was all he said, other than to introduce the pieces he played.

When walking or sitting still, he appeared to have normal hand - absent the nail polish.  Then he struck the strings of his instrument.  The number of fingers on his hands seemed to increase exponentially.  He wove clusters of notes and sounds into what seemed to be a living spirit...

His playing was hypnotic.  One found visions of Gypsy camps and dancing and fire and wind and moon and stars and ... It is impossible to recount the experience clearly.  The music was invigorating, exciting, sorrowful and meditative all at once.  He played for perhaps an hour, perhaps an hour and a half.  Then he was done.  He stood, bowed - to much applause - sat the guitar back on the chair and carefully walked off the stage.

I'm still amazed.  And still a fan of classical guitar.

This isn't really an essay or journal entry, just a fleeting thought.

Why don't we call them "Commissars"?  That's so much closer to the mark than Czar.

One of the major news agencies - ABC, in fact - leaked the information:  President Obama referred to Kayne West as a 'jackass'.  This was said in an 'off microphone' or 'open microphone' conversation where the President was talking with CNBC's John Harwood.

Aside from the 'leak' and the impropriety of the leaking of the private and confidential statement, I can only say the President is exactly correct on this issue.

I truly feel one - especially a Conservative - should take every occasion to praise and encourage President Obama when he's right.  He's completely lost in regard to the economy, health care, treatment of terrorists and how to deal with most of the countries of the world; I just can't get around that.  But the President is right about Afghanistan and Kayne West.  Good job, Mr. President.

Representative Joe Wilson, a Republican from South Carolina pointed out a factual error in the President's "Let's Hear It For Socialized Medicine" speech last week.  While being correct in what he said, Rep Wilson was out of line in how he said it.  The Representative apologized to the President and the President accepted the apology.

But now, all the other lockstep blue folks want the Representative to apologize again.  No mention by the Democrats or the President or the major news services of the factual error, mis-statement, fib, or very much stretch of the truth. 

ACORN has been taped not once, not twice, but three times - and counting - counseling two young people how to falsify an application for a house loan, how to conceal income from and how to staff - with underage girls illegally entered into the U. S. - a whore house.  You all remember ACORN; that the outfit of whom the President thought so very highly.  The outfit the President wanted to have 'help' in the 2010 national census.  You all remember.

In response to the first demonstration of ACORN's felonious intentions in Philadelphia, two ACORN workers were fired; this accompanied by the clucking of tongues.  The second demonstration of the illegal activities of ACORN at the Washington, D. C. office resulted in two more firings and a half-hearted distancing... The third release of the same sort at the Boston (Baltimore?) ACORN office resulted in the threat of a lawsuit by ACORN,  against the people who filmed the illegal advice. 

In both these actions, the people who perpetrated dishonest, immoral and criminal behavior attempted to stop the exposure of their despicable and disgusting actions by attacking the one who exposed them.

That's typical Leftist thinking and action.  Lie, cheat and steal, then lie to cover it. 

Typical Leftist.

What is truly discouraging is this sort of thing just isn't surprising or unusual.  It's standard operating procedure for the Leftist faction in the United States.

It is Official!  The Stimulus is Working!  Remember that $787 Billion dollars the Democrat Continuum passed earlier this year?  The one that expanded the Federal Deficit by something on the order of four times the highest deficit of the Bush Administration?

Joe Biden, our hilarious Vice President, has announced today it's working!  Along with record National Debt, both as a function of dollar value and as a percentage of GNP, record Budget Deficit both as a function of dollar value and as percentage of GNP, high - and rising - unemployment and a general feeling of unease among American taxpayers, VP Biden says the stimulus is working.

My only question is this:  Which Stimulus is working, Mr Vice President; what you drank or what you smoked?

Finally. Someone is Getting the Idea

 

Good news from PDSR California; details at

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,542481,00.html?test=latestnews

 

Okay, the term “Columbine Style Attack” is a bit dramatic, but there was a lethal and present threat.

 

Some teachers – that’s right – teachers took on this budding terrorist and stopped the attack. Without cops, National Guard, anyone from the Federal Department of Education or representatives of the National Committee to Castrate All Men to Prevent Violence in Schools and Post Offices. Just a couple of teachers who finally, FINALLY, figured out cowardice or timidity in the face of danger is counterproductive.

 

The kid was armed with a sword, a chainsaw and most serious of all, several pipe bombs. Was it dangerous for these three teachers to chase this dipstick down and tackle him so armed? Yes, of course it was. But not nearly as dangerous as leaving him to his own devices – no pun intended.

 

The local police call the teacher’s actions heroic. For good reason, it was heroic. Desperate, possibly? Probably; most heroism is not born of safety and comfort. Of course they were desperate; there was an assailant amongst them with weapons and bombs.

 

For the past forty years, we’ve been told by probably well meaning police department heads and other elected and political figures not to resist criminal activity. If someone wants to rob you, give them what they want; life is more valuable than possessions. Don’t fight back, the criminal may hurt or kill us. 

 

The result is the criminals are bolder than ever. It seems in some instances the criminal feels they have the ‘right’ to steal or otherwise take what they want. How many times have criminals made the comment “They made me hurt them, I didn’t want to. They wouldn’t give me the money and I had to hurt them!”

 

This session was handled well and properly. These teachers have a beer on me.

 

However, I’m waiting for the wailing and gnashing of teeth to commence shortly.

 

Within a day, we’ll be hearing how wrong this heroic action was ‘really’. Watch, some pack of idiot liberals (but I repeat myself) will be criticizing these teachers, claiming the actions raised the danger level and will just generate more violence. What the teachers should have done was to let the bomber kill a bunch of kids and then issue a position statement opposing the National Rifle Association. 

 

The Teacher’s Union will no doubt disbar these teachers for setting an impossibly high standard for other teachers. One cannot expect teachers to actually do something!  Imagine the chaos if teachers were actually in charge of their classrooms! The Empty Headed Morons for Peace will no doubt criticize for – something. The Universal Fellowship of Atheists will file suit against Christianity in general because God allowed this to happen. Maybe they’ll organize a non-prayer vigil?

 

Oh! What about the ACLU? Without question they will bring suit against the teachers, the school administrators and the city for violating the assailant’s civil rights to set off bombs and kill people.

 

President Obama will claim credit for cleaning up another mess left by President Bush. But only if the teleprompter works.

Yesterday, Wednesday 22 July 2009, I listened to President Obama’s press conference.

 

Part of the press conference was a question regarding the arrest of Professor Henry L. “Skip” Gates in Cambridge, Massachusetts last week.

 

I’m going to pass on the encounter and arrest itself; that seems to be getting enough discussion of its own. However, I’d like to point out two statements made by the President that are self-contradictory and unjustifiable.

 

When asked about the situation, President Obama admitted he didn’t know all the facts and details regarding the incident.

 

Then, in summation, the President said the police acted ‘stupidly’.

 

Those two statements are self-contradictory; if one does not have full facts and details, one cannot conclude any action is ‘stupid’. The conclusion is presumptive and logically indefensible; that is, it is based on presumption of facts not in evidence and does not follow from the known facts presented.

 

I know what is going to happen next. The defense for President Obama’s statement will be something on the order of the vast history of U. S. racial prejudice and how Professor Gates is another victim of white prejudice. Defenders of President Obama’s statement will completely ignore President Obama’s statement. Defenders of President Obama’s statement will completely overlook the racially prejudiced overtones of the President’s statement; that white policemen are automatically guilty of racial prejudice against black people.

 

But of course, only white people are racially prejudiced. Ask any liberal.

 

UPDATE:

In an Associated Press article dated Thursday, July 22, 2009; President Obama expressed surprise his comments about police acting in a ‘stupid’ manner generated so much controversy.

 

The President went on to say "it doesn't make sense to arrest a guy in his own home if he's not causing a serious disturbance." Even though the President admits he doesn’t know what happened, he knows the arrested party was not causing a ‘serious disturbance’. 

 

The President seems to make a habit of presuming his statements will be accepted without question. All his statements. Even the illogical ones.

David Letterman.

That is the question.

No, it's really not.  David Letterman told a tasteless and insulting joke targeting Governor Sarah Palin's family.  The Governor told offense, rightfully so.  Mr. Letterman made a rather half-hearted apology which was rightfully rejected.  Mr. Letterman then made what appears to be a sincere and honest apology, which was accepted, again rightfully.  So that flap should be over.

However, I think there are two more serious questions – issues if you will – remaining.

One is the decline in taste in the United States.  Mr. Letterman made a tasteless joke about a young woman who has obviously made at least one mistake in her private life.  She did in fact get pregnant by her own actions.  She very honorably admitted that mistake and is living with the consequences.  The young man involved has honorably admitted his misconduct.  It is very sad those two are no longer together, and possibly the division between the two was in part occasioned by the public airing of their union.  But I digress.

Why is this sort of crude humor considered acceptable?  What is so funny about a young woman getting 'knocked up' during the seventh inning stretch of a baseball game?  I do not see the humor of suggesting a young woman has casual sex with a baseball player during a lull in the action.  While it is true some young women do, it still isn't funny.  It is sad.  As the father of a daughter, I am deeply offended and repulsed.

The society of the United States has seemingly taken a serious down turn in moral sense.  Currently, the fad seems to be being as tasteless as one can be.  I like Robin Williams as an actor.  His work on "Mork and Mindy" was brilliant.  He was inventive and creative and very out of the box.  However, I do not find his stand up routines involving grabbing his crotch and repeating a crude word signifying sexual intercourse – repeatedly – as funny. 

Mr. Williams, if you are reading this, please understand this is not an attack on you as a person, just on the nature of certain aspects of your humor.  Perhaps this is simply 'what people want', but is that the hallmark of comedy?  I suggest you are selling your talent short.  Prostituting your talent might also fit, but I fear someone will find that humorous.  I don't.

During the 1950s and 1960s, the comedians on public television were kept in very close check by television censors.  Milton Berle said, on a television interview, his television show couldn't even use the word 'pregnant' on television.  Yet Mr. Berle was incredibly funny.  As was Jack Benny and Red Skelton and many others.  None of them ever got even close to the crude and vulgar humor of current television. 

The question arises, does public demand fuel the down turn in taste, or does the level of comedy writing drive the public?  I do not positively know, but I feel comedy writers should strive for a higher level of humor.  I do not believe comedy writers or performers are less talented of those of earlier times.

The second issue is far more clear cut. 

Mr. Letterman, in his humor, acts as a direct operative of the Democrat Party.  One notes his humor in regard to matters political, is to denigrate and mock anyone who opposes the goals of the Democrat Party.  No issues are involved, simply derision and mockery.  One could counter with the pronouncements of Rush Limbaugh or any number of conservative proponents.  However, Mr. Limbaugh speaks to issues and facts and deeds, not simple mockery.  President Obama has been criticized for simultaneously opposing the ability of poor and middle class families to direct their taxes toward non-government controlled (public) schools and toward private schools; and yet sends his children to a private school.  This is not an attack on President Obama's character or personality, but a legitimate attack on his policy and hypocrisy.  And, one notes, it is not an attack on the children.

Perhaps it is time for public humor to abstain from personal attacks for political agenda.

I am not calling for any form of governmental censorship, I am simply calling for personal responsibility.

I am also calling for decency.

Al Franken, unfunny ‘comedian’ and failed human being has been appointed senator from Minnesota by the Minnesota Supreme Court. The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled ‘rejected’ votes and votes ‘found’ in automobile trunks for Franken were to be counted, while valid votes for Norm Coleman were NOT to be counted.

 

Before this, without the Minnesota Supreme Court’s politically motivated decision, one must wonder how the people of Minnesota could seriously consider Al Franken for any public office. Unless there’s a state position for ‘Tragically Poor Excuse for a Human Being’.

 

Minnesota: Congratulations! It’s a Buffoon!

For anyone wondering, the ultimate joke will be the Left's Socialized Medicine plan.

We elected President Obama
On the basis of reading us drama,
By his power and will,
He passed a great bill,
And did the economy trauma.

California elected a lass,
Who's conduct is really quite crass,
To the General she said,
"I am over your head,
Kiss the ground, kiss my ring, kiss my – ego."

She came from California, so sunny,
To the General she said, "Listen, honey,
Before I do bridle,
Address me by title,
I bought it with my Daddy's money!"

He's gone, Michael Jackson the name,
Who acquired great wealth and great shame.
His story discussed,
His mem'ry much fussed,
But his talent was less than his fame.

There once was a VP named Biden,
In New York in a car he went ridin'
He would pass under Hudson,
And found, "That's a dud son"
As always, his brains were a-hidin'.

Recently in yet another photo opportunity disguised as a press conference or "major speech" – I lose track – President Obama complained about 'one news network' making 'personal attacks' on him. He was of course referring to Fox News; the only major news source not acting as the President's Press Secretary or apologist.

The claim has some basis in fact, but is false in totality. Fox News has published many articles by many different writers showing the deficiencies, shortcomings and general wrong headedness of the President's policies. The government take over of General Motors and impending take over of Chrysler. The mind boggling deficit of the 'Stimulus Bill', which will weigh on the federal budget and national economy for decades to come. The incredible – incredulous? – Socialized Medicine proposal, guaranteed to be as big an albatross on the national economy as the 'Stimulus Bill'. His wishy-washy foreign policy and his half thought out plan to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay. All the insipid, deficient plans and ideas put forth so far have been exposed and opened to discussion by – of all the major news networks or sources – Fox News. However, none of these have been personal attacks.

Personal attacks impugn the character, morality or intelligence of the target. Personal attacks such as David Letterman characterizing Governor Palin of Alaska as looking like a 'slutty flight attendant'. No criticism of decisions, policies or intentions, just a crude comment offered as 'a joke'. Personal attacks such as CNN contributor Paul Begala calling President Bush "... a high functioning moron". This statement wasn't even a pretense of 'a joke'; the comment is part of CNN's continuing policy of avoiding issues by smearing and insulting.

Back to President Obama. I find it remarkable the President is so thin skinned and touchy. Every major news source – or 'main stream media' (MSM) – fawns and dotes and coos at every statement President Obama makes. MSM presents every telepromted statement as wisdom from the gods. ABC is in the process of becoming part of the sales force to convince the American people of the grandeur and majesty of President Obama's proposed Socialized Medicine. All except Fox News. And it seems President Obama just can't live with that. The President's comments are unworthy of a public figure, certainly of a man upholding the dignity of the U. S. Presidency. I don't recall President Bush ever whining about the vicious and ungrounded attacks of the MSM.

What is the basis of this sensitivity on the part of President Obama? Does he think Fox News is actually the only 'fair and balanced' news source? Does he really know the MSM is merely a paid advertisement of the Democrat National Committee? Is he aware the people of the United States are starting to recognize the shallow nature of socialist – sorry, 'liberal'; no, wait 'progressive' – policies being advanced by the Administration? Is he just so terribly insecure he feels every disagreement and any critique not absolutely sycophantic is an attack? Or is sycophancy and toadyism what he used to having?

I do not know about the rest of you, but his controlled, managed and teleprompted temper tantrum didn't impress me.

Let's see: North Korea has launched two test missiles designed to deliver nuclear warheads and tested a nuclear warhead (seems to work, by the way). General Motors is going into bankruptcy and Chrysler is close behind. Achmadenijad has been re-elected in Iran - big surprise that - and Iran is still mumbling about destroying the United States.

In response, President Obama named a candidate for Justice Souter's seat on the Supreme Count and announced the position of Internet Cyber Czar. That 'whooshing' sound is merely the point zipping futilely past the President's head.

Sleep well, Democrats; your delusions are holding fast.

Today, Thursday 21^st May 2009, President Barack Obama doubled down on a stupid bet.

The first day of his Presidency, the President announced and ordered the closing of the Combatant Prisoner Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  He did that to appease the radical left of the Democrat/Liberal/Socialist/American hating coalition who elected him.

 When he did it, he phrased it in such evasive terms – like '…in accordance with national security…' and '… as soon as practical…' the pronouncement really meant nothing.  Now the Congress has denied the funding for moving that band of murdering cut-throats to the U. S. mainland, the President can make another speech about the wrong Guantanamo Bay represents. Does anyone else wonder why the Democrat controlled Congress won't put up the money to close it down?  They put up money for all the other squirrelly ideas the President has hatched up.  Could it be a safety device?

 He knows it isn't going to happen.  The American people in general don't want them here; the Congress doesn't want them here; no pro American in any part of the world with a function brain wants them in the mainland United States.  In fact, the only people who really want them here are the far leftists suffering from Bush Derangement Syndrome.  To whom, sadly the President of the United States is beholding.

 Here's the stupid bet part.

 President Obama thinks he can deceive everyone at once and continually.  He thinks he can keep the enemy combatants safely in GuantanamoBay, while appeasing the leftist radicals and blaming it all on President Bush – and no one will notice.  Okay, his chances are probably a little better than winning the Oregon state lottery.  So far, the President has been very successful in making a slight majority of the people in the U. S. think he is an upright, competent man.  But he's losing ground already.  He's betting he can keep up the election rhetoric – blaming President Bush for everything from the war on terror to the killing of Cock Robin – and the attendant support from the Bush Derangement Syndrome faction, and therefore continue his Presidency by teleprompter.

 The President has continued the measures and policies of the Bush Administration in most matters of national defense.  He does so with good reason; they work.  Contrasting the Bush Administration record in regard to attacks on Americans and American assets around the world to the Clinton Administration record, there is no doubt; President Bush stopped the attacks.  So President Obama is in fact continuing those measures while blaming all the problems and even his actions on President Bush.  He has the problem of 'doing something' with murderous terrorists all because of President Bush. 

 

He also has the problem of explaining his failures in the future. 

Villagers!  Grab your pitchforks, hoes, shovels and torches!  We're going on a Witch Hunt!!!


It's those eeeeeeeevil witches who offered legal opinions about interrogation techniques; opinions not hamstringing the United States in regard to getting information from enemy combatants not recognized as soldiers under the Geneva Convention.  Opinions saying a physical technique causing major discomfort but no physical injury or lasting emotional effect was legal to use.

Everyone have a pitchfork or torch by now?  Good.  We're on the move...

What we want to do is find the men who didn't bar aggressive information gathering from men who were apprehended while trying to kill American soldiers. 

Never mind this has nothing to do with the U. S. Constitution, Amendment VII, regarding cruel and unusual punishment.  Never mind this is not the same sort of thing occurring the Spanish Inquisition, where accused were forced to 'confess'; never mind this has nothing to do with '...say anything under torture...'.  Never mind NO ONE can reveal under any torture things they do not know.  Yes, a person can be made to 'confess' most anything, or deny most anything under torture.  But it is simply impossible to reveal names and plans relating to impending terrorist actions simply because one is made seriously uncomfortable or even subjected to great pain and the removal of important body parts. 

No, fellow villagers, (are you all the same ones it takes to raise a child, by the way?) what is important here is the defamation, vilification and suppression of anyone who dares - now or in the past - with certain 'progressive' visions of how the world should operate or one very narrow view of morality or anyone who isn't an American hater.  That is the important matter at hand.

And, at no additional cost, we can also prevent any decent person from rendering any honest assessment of impending policies, plans or actions in the defense of the United States.  We can cripple the defense of the United States while prosecuting conservatives or anyone else who actually believes the Constitution.  It's a freebie!

We have decided, and we must continue to believe that anyone who commits 'waterboarding', a technique most unpleasant but not permanently damaging, is just as vile and evil an act as beheading a political opponent, or simply any one who isn't a Muslim.

Onward to the witches.

Oh, and ignore the fact Nancy Pelosi knew every thing that was going to happen and decided to ignore it.  Ignore that when she was briefed on the legality and possible use of waterboarding, she asked no questions and made no objections.  Ignore that all the other members of the Congressional National Security Committee knew all about it and let it run.  She now claims she didn't; and that's good enough for the witch hunters.

Let's sharpen some stakes, too.

My primary environmental concern is the mass production of hookum gas being generated by the 'abolish humanity to save the planet' faction.

Every day I hear more (new) unsupported claims or old, clearly erroneous claims repeated and broadcast about.  I keep hearing about the impending doom of the Polar Bear as a species in the wild, while ignoring there are more Polar Bears in the wild now than twenty years ago.  I keep hearing about 'global warming' while ignoring the temperatures worldwide the last two years.  Ice sheets breaking off and ignoring the cyclic and evolving nature of glaciers.  And, of course, the absolute and immediate need to remove all vestiges of freedom from the United States as that is the only way to stiffle global warming - uh - climate change.  There's more, but my stomach is already upset.

What am I doing about it?  Primary exposing people to the truth.  It's a hard and laborious process, as the hardcore 'believers' cling to their beliefs and prejudices as tight American citizens cling to their God and guns.  Except the hardcore GW believers are far more narrow minded.

By the way; do you the politically correct term is for a person who recycles everything possible, lives on their own production, lives within their means, honors his (or her) word and doesn't make a mess for others to clean and owns guns?

A Right Wing Extremist.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano offered a tepid excuse in lieu of a genuine apology regarding the vaguely concealed “Enemies of the State” denouncement masquerading as a ‘security assessment’.

 

The report, issued by the Department of Homeland Security – and written by a hack partisan sycophant of the socialist under government – is titled “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment".  It is purported to be an ‘assessment’ of potential and factors contributing to and possibly inciting domestic unrest – or terrorism – in the United States.  It is in reality a smear job listing all the political opponents of the Obama administration. 

 

In this ‘report’, pretty much everyone who isn’t an unquestioning supporter of President Obama is considered suspect.  Those Americans who oppose abortion, those Americans who oppose the onerous taxes dumped upon them, those Americans who favor the U. S. Constitution as written and intended, those Americans who believe in God, those Americans who don’t want to be wards of the state, and anyone who has served in the Armed Forces of the United States are all suspect. 

 

Oddly, the report starts out with the admission the author has no factual support for anything in the report; then goes on to denounce all the aforementioned groups and individuals.

 

Secretary Napolitano issued a statement saying, "To the extent veterans read it as an accusation ... an apology is owed".  No, Madam Secretary, it is an accusation; don’t try to pretend a misunderstanding on the part of the accused.  Plus, the apology is due to all those groups denounced, not just veterans. 

 

An appropriate apology would be the writer’s head on a stick.  That should be displayed right next to the writer’s supervisor’s head on another stick.  Next to the head of whatever bureaucrat who read and approved that particular bit of politically motivated blather.

 

I suppose I would settle for figurative heads on sticks.  At the very least, the writer of this dreck must be revealed to the public and required to answer every question of every denounced person in public forum.  And I mean answer, no evade the questions.  No excuses about confidential sources – since there isn’t any information in the report coming from a ‘source’; no diversions about possible actions, just the facts about why this blanket accusation was written, published and allowed to stand.  And most importantly, why this nonsense was commissioned and cooked up.

 

Or just announce the starting date for the purges.

From a Fox News article dated April 17, 2009 outlining and displaying a list of Vice President Joe Biden’s mis-statements.  I just want to be fair and separate the simple wrong-word statements from the actual displays of error.

 

Excerpts from the article are in normal font, my comments are in bold face.

 

Here's a list of 14 amusing yet cringe-worthy "Bidenisms" made during the vice president's more recent political career.

 

-- On March 13, 2009, Biden addressed a former Senate colleague by saying, "An hour late, oh give me a f**king break," after he arrived on Amtrak at Union Station in Washington, D.C. The vice president's expletive was caught on a live microphone.

Okay, so the Vice President has a little potty mouth from time to time.  President Nixon seemed to have a problem with words in private, as well.  Seeing as how one of his ‘Senate colleagues’ (another euphemism for worthless slacker) was an hour late, I think this ‘gaffe’ may be forgiven.  (Like most of us have never dropped an “F bomb” from time to time.)

 

-- During a Feb. 25, 2009, interview on CBS' "Early Show," Biden encouraged viewers to visit a government-run Web site that tracks stimulus spending. When asked for the site's web address, Biden could not remember the site's "number."

"You know, I'm embarrassed. Do you know the Web site number?" he asked an aide standing out of view. "I should have it in front of me and I don't. I'm actually embarrassed."

This shows poor planning for the particular event.  He should – as he said – have had the web address at hand.  However, I cannot see this as a major indicator of malfeasance or impropriety.  His use of the term ‘number’ instead of ‘address’ is quaint, but not fatal.  Give the guy a – um – break.  At least he had the decency to be embarrassed.

 

-- At a Jan. 30, 2009, swearing-in ceremony of senior White House staff, Biden mocked Chief Justice John Roberts for his presidential oath blunder on Inauguration Day.

"Am I doing this again?" Biden said, after Obama asked him to administer the oath. When Biden was told the swearing-in was for senior staff -- and not cabinet members -- the vice president quipped, "My memory is not as good as Justice Roberts," prompting a stern nudge from Obama.

This one is about as ‘cute’ as President Obama’s joke about his bowling ability.  Probably just ill considered rather than malevolent. 

 

-- On Inauguration Day, Jan. 20 2009, Biden misspoke when he told a cheering crowd of supporters, "Jill and I had the great honor of standing on that stage, looking across at one of the great justices, Justice Stewart." Justice John Paul Stevens -- not Stewart -- swore Biden in as vice president.

Forgetful?  Ill prepared?  Or just the strain of being elected to the second highest position in the country?   At this point, I must remain the reader, President Reagan was being accused of early stage dementia or Alzheimer’s.  Again, I think picking this out and publishing it is just a bit petty.

 

-- When criticizing former GOP nominee John McCain in Athens, Ohio, on Oct. 15, 2008, Biden said, "Look, John's last-minute economic plan does nothing to tackle the number-one job facing the middle class, and it happens to be, as Barack says, a three-letter word: jobs. J-O-B-S, jobs."

What can I say?  He only missed by one letter.  After all, he’s a Democrat and cannot be held to the educational standards of a Republican.

 

-- In a Sept. 22, 2008, CBS interview, Biden misspoke when he said Franklin D. Roosevelt was president when the stock market crashed in 1929.

"When the stock market crashed, Franklin D. Roosevelt got on the television and didn't just talk about the, you know, the princes of greed. He said, 'Look, here's what happened," he said. Herbert Hoover -- not Roosevelt -- was president in 1929, and television had not yet been invented in 1929.

Again, he only missed by one.  Clearly, knowledge of history has never been a liberal value.  One cannot expect the Vice President to know something to which he has never been exposed.

 

-- During a Sept. 12, 2008, speech in Columbia, Mo., Biden called for Missouri State Sen. Chuck Graham, who is wheelchair-bound, to "stand up."

"Oh, God love ya," Biden said, after realizing his mistake. "What am I talking about?"

Hey, c’mon, everyone misses a little detail from time to time.  Give him a – ahem – break.

 

-- At a Sept. 10, 2008, town hall meeting in Nashua, N.H., Biden said, "Hillary Clinton is as qualified or more qualified than I am to be vice president of the United States of America. Quite frankly, it might have been a better pick than me."

Now why are we criticizing VP Biden for forthrightness, honesty and self-awareness?  One can only suggest he left several people off the list.  Governor Palin comes to mind.  As does Kermit the Frog.

 

-- Biden mistakenly referred to Alaska governor Sarah Palin as the "lieutenant governor" of her state during a town hall meeting on Sept. 4, 2008 at George Mason University in Manassas, Va.  "I heard a very, by the way I mean this sincerely, a very strong and a very good political speech from a lieutenant governor of Alaska who I think is going to be very formidable, very formidable not only in the campaign but in the debate," Biden said.

Once more, he only missed by one.  As mentioned one cannot hold VP Biden to Republican standards of accuracy or knowledge.

-- Biden said he was running for president -- not vice president -- during a Sept. 1, 2008, roundtable discussion in Scranton, Pa.

"Today is the moment for me as a United States senator running for president to put aside the national politics and focus on what's happening down there," Biden said.

See his self-explanatory remark following the next excerpt.

 

-- Biden referred to John McCain as "George" during his vice presidential acceptance speech on Aug. 27, 2008, at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Co. "Freudian slip, folks, Freudian slip," he explained.

Okay.

 

-- Biden confused army brigades with battalions when speaking about Obama's plan for sending troops to Afghanistan.

"Or should we trust Barack Obama, who more than a year ago called for sending two additional combat brigades to Afghanistan?"

Brigade, battalion; they both start with ‘b’.  What’s the big deal?  It’s not like knowing anything about the subject at hand is a big deal.

 

-- During his first campaign rally with Obama as his vice presidential running mate on Aug. 23, 2008, Biden introduced Obama by saying, "A man I'm proud to call my friend. A man who will be the next President of the United States -- Barack America!"

Another quaint slip of the tongue. 

 

-- On Jan. 31, 2007 -- the day Biden announced his presidential bid -- the Delaware Senator was roundly criticized for calling Obama "the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that's a storybook, man."

Well, he stopped before the classic line “… he’s a credit to his race…”

 

 

The article also mentioned probably the latest – at least as of yesterday – gaffe; wherein VP Biden claimed to have reprimanded President George Bush in the Oval Office.  This report is contested as ‘fictional’ by White House staff – particularly Karl Rove.  If false, it displays VP Biden’s only tenuous connection with reality; if true, it displays BP Biden’s contempt for decency and his lack of breeding and manners.

 

All in all, the current Vice President is a man who holds his President, his colleagues, history and common decency in a rather casual contempt.   President Bush was constantly criticized and mocked for grammatical errors and the misuse of words from time to time.  This was done by the ‘media’ in an attempt to minimize the importance and substance of his remarks.  Vice President Biden has been largely given a pass on his gaffes by the media, seemingly in an effort to minimize the ignorance of the substance of his remarks.