A Picture of our Economy

A Picture of our Economy

A Picture of our Economy

(H/T to ParaPundit)

New York Times has the story:

But the inventory glut in Long Beach is not limited to imported cars. There has also been a sharp drop in demand for the port’s single largest export: recycled cardboard and paper products.

This material typically goes to China, where it is used to make boxes for new electronics and other products that are sent back to the United States. But Chinese factories reacting to sharply falling demand are slowing production, so they need less cardboard. Tons of paper are piling up recycling businesses around the port, the detritus of economies on hold.

Long Beach is an important port, particularly for the West. It is where imported products arrive and filter through the tributary of trucks, trains and retailers into the hands of consumers. But now, products are just sitting.

“We’re supposed to move things, not store them,” Mr. Wong said.

Roughly 20 percent of the nation’s container imports last year came through Long Beach, putting it close behind the largest container port, Los Angeles. This year, shipping volume at Long Beach is down 10 percent from 2007, and nearly all major ports around the country have seen similar declines. Veteran port workers say the slowdown since mid-October is like nothing they have ever seen. And it is having a cascading impact on other businesses and workers. – Read the rest

Go read the rest of the story. But it’s not only cars, it’s everything. I think Obama might just come; too little, too late. 🙁

Iraq Quietly Fires Fraud Monitors

Something tells me that this is going to be a challenge for the next Administration.

The New York Times is reporting:

The government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki is systematically dismissing Iraqi oversight officials, who were installed to fight corruption in Iraqi ministries by order of the American occupation administration, which had hoped to bring Western standards of accountability to the notoriously opaque and graft-ridden bureaucracy here.

The dismissals, which were confirmed by senior Iraqi and American government officials on Sunday and Monday, have come as estimates of official Iraqi corruption have soared. One Iraqi former chief investigator recently testified before Congress that $13 billion in reconstruction funds from the United States had been lost to fraud, embezzlement, theft and waste by Iraqi government officials.

The moves have not been publicly announced by Mr. Maliki’s government, but word of them has begun to circulate through the layers of Iraqi bureaucracy as Parliament prepares to vote on a long-awaited security agreement.

That pact sets the terms for continued American presence here after the United Nations mandate expires Dec. 31, but also amounts to a framework for a steady reduction in that presence. Such a change will undoubtedly lessen American oversight of Iraqi institutions.

While some Iraqi officials defended the dismissals, saying there had been no political motivation, others pointed to the secrecy involved as supporting their view that those removed had lost their posts without good cause. Each of Iraq’s 30 cabinet-level ministries has one inspector general. These oversight officials are supported by varying budgets and staffing. – Read the Rest

As much as I would like to say that this is the first I have heard of this, it is not. CNN did an investigative piece on the corruption in Iraq a good long while back.

As a Paleo-Conservative, who felt that going into Iraq was not a very smart idea, and as someone who now is aware that the intelligence that United States had as a case to go into Iraq was in fact flawed; I believe that the smartest thing that the United States can do as this point is, leave well enough alone.  Because at this point, intervening in a situation such as this, can could cause more harm that good. It would be viewed by the Iraqi Government and to the people of Iraq, as the United States meddling in the affairs of the Iraqi Government. Let the Iraqi Government handle their own internal affairs.

Because honestly, it would reek of hypocrisy, if we began to meddle in the affairs of their internal Government, after all, we have corruption in our Government and you do not see Great Britain meddling in our affairs, do you? Of course not; So the United States should do likewise.  One of the worst mistakes and utter missteps that this Nation ever made, was when we started becoming the Policeman of the World. This happened in World War I, which led to the actions that caused Japan to bomb Pearl Harbor, which lead to World War 2.  This happened in Korea, and in Vietnam. It happened in the first gulf war and now in the second Iraq War. My question to my readers is this, when will the United States finally wake up and realize that they need to stop trying to not only rule their own country, but others as well. Until that happens, we will continue to have wars, that have no legal merit.

It is truly a sad commentary on the United States, but it is a true one, unless of course, you are some sort of Pro-War Neo-Conservative shill.

More Blog Reactions Here

Mrs. “Terrorist Fist Jab” E.D. Hill gets the ol’ Heave Ho!

I must confess, I will not shed a tear over this, at all. Sorry, She knew what she was saying and truth is, she most likely wrote it.

Via TVNewser:

TVNewser has learned veteran Fox News Channel anchor E.D. Hill will not be renewed when her current contract expires. Hill, who has been with Fox News for more than 10 years, will continue with the network for the next few months until her current deal expires.

SVP of Programming Bill Shine tells TVNewser that he “chose not to renew E.D.’s latest contract” but noted that “Hill has been a valued contributor to the success of FNC over the years, and we wish her all the best.”

Hill has been without a regular Fox News program since June 16, when America’s Pulse was replaced by two hours of Live Desk. Ten days earlier Hill used the term terrorist fist jab when promoting an upcoming body language segment that was going to look into the primary night fist bump shared by Barack and Michelle Obama.

For most of her nearly 11 years at FNC Hill anchored Fox & Friends. In 2006 she moved to a late morning program then to the afternoons where, in the months leading up to the election, she’d been filling in on America’s Election HQ.

I think this was possibly the smartest move Fox News has ever made. E.D. Hill’s career is most likely over, unless she moves to a small market somewhere. Don’t get me wrong, I do believe in freedom of speech, but there comes a responsibility with that freedom. I mean, it is one thing to make a snark filled comment on a blog, like this one here. But get on a National Network and parrot the mindless ramblings of the far, far, right on National Television, that is just totally inexcusable.

There are some who would say that she was tossed “Under the Bus”, as they put it. Perhaps she was; after all, she is not Bill O’Reilly nor Sean Hannity. She was just your typical teleprompter reading news anchor woman. Good looking, able to read, but short on intelligence and supposedly on opinion. She was not paid to express opinion. However, she choose to express her inner Redneck and she quickly became a liability for Fox News.

I say good on Fox News for making this decision. Hopefully, they will continue this sort of a policy and will hopefully apply it to some of the more “Higher Up” folk around that Network.

President-Elect Obama, you need to do something about this….

(Thanks to Captain Ed, of which I have no quarrel with, at least not yet, for this story)

Let me simply preface this entry by saying the following. Yes, I am a Christian, I do not consider myself a protestant Christian. I am, in fact, an Independent Baptist. We Independent Baptists reject the notion that we are a part of the Protestant reformation, as most of the Denominations from that reformation still hold to much of the formal doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church.

Further more, I reject the notion that the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church are even remotely Christian, or the notion that Roman Catholics are even remotely Christians. Any denomination that teaches that Salvation comes by Works, by the Church and by Christ is NOT a Christian Church, nor are it’s doctrines even remotely Christian. Salvation comes by Christ Alone, and NOT by a Church or by any Works.  That is not hate, that is Bible.

Having said all that, I bring an article of where a so-called “priest” is trying to break the laws of Separation of Church and State and is getting the support of the local Catholic “Big-wigs” in the area. The State has more:

A Greenville priest who told parishioners those who cast ballots for President-elect Barack Obama risk placing themselves “outside of the full communion of Christ’s church” is simply enunciating church teaching and has the full support of the Diocese of Charleston, a spokesman said Thursday.

The provocative letter from the Rev. Jay Scott Newman to members of St. Mary’s Catholic Church has sparked some controversy and yet another conversation about faith and public policy.

“Voting for a pro-abortion politician when a plausible pro-life alternative exists constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil,” Newman said in the letter posted on the Greenville church’s Web site, www.stmarysgvl.org, “and those Catholics who do so place themselves outside of the full communion of Christ’s Church and under the judgment of divine law.”

Newman said that those who did not choose the anti-abortion candidate, in this case U.S. Sen. John McCain, “should not receive Holy Communion until and unless they are reconciled to God in the Sacrament of Penance, lest they eat and drink their own condemnation.”

Calling Obama “the most radical pro-abortion politician ever to serve in the United States Senate,” Newman went on to say Catholics must pray for the newly elected chief executive.

“Let us hope and pray that the responsibilities of the presidency and the grace of God will awaken in the conscience of this extraordinarily gifted man an awareness that the unholy slaughter of children in this nation is the greatest threat to the peace and security of the United States and constitutes a clear and present danger to the common good,” Newman said in the letter.

St. Mary’s was established in 1852 and is considered the mother church for Upstate Roman Catholics. The church has 7,500 members and operates a parish school for 300 students.

While Newman has been the most outspoken of South Carolina priests in the wake of the election, the administrator of the diocese of Charleston, Msgr. Martin T. Laughlin, supports him fully, said diocese spokesman Steve Gajdosik.

“I think it’s fair to say that Father Newman’s letter echoes the sentiments of Father Laughlin,” he said.

In October, Laughlin wrote a letter on faith and citizenship to the state’s Roman Catholics that urged the faithful to be “moral voters.”

“It was more of a positive exhortation to do good, to do the right thing,” Gajdosik said.

In the 2004 election, a controversy erupted when some Roman Catholic bishops suggested Democratic presidential contender John Kerry should be denied Communion because his public votes went against church teachings.

If Newman’s letter is an indication, that struggle over public policy and faith will go on. Many Roman Catholics supported Obama and did not believe their vote was in conflict with their faith.

“Personally, I think it is valuable to have this discussion in the secular media because, many times, many Catholics don’t go to Mass, and so they come at this issue from a secular viewpoint,” Gadjosik said.

“I think to Father Newman’s credit, he isn’t afraid to tackle tough issues. And sometimes there is a lot of pressure to conform and just be nice and go along.”

Sister Mary Ann Walsh, spokeswoman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said she had not heard of other churches taking this position in reaction to Obama’s win. A Boston-based group that supports Catholic Democrats questioned the move, saying it was too extreme.

“Father Newman is off-base,” said Steve Krueger, national director of Catholic Democrats. “He is acting beyond the authority of a parish priest to say what he did. … Unfortunately, he is doing so in a manner that will be of great cost to those parishioners who did vote for Senators Obama and Biden. There will be a spiritual cost to them for his words.”

Let me remind my readers that the Roman Catholic Church has a clear track record of persecuting those who did not agree with their Biblically corrupt doctrines. In the 1230’s a group of Christians, who rejected the Doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church were persecuted, that would be a group, that we Baptists can trace our linage to; the Waldensians. Another group of Christians, who were friends with this group, The Albigenses, were brutally slaughtered and their property stolen, by the Roman Catholic Church; all because they refused to accept the fact that the Roman Catholic Church was the “true” Church; this happened in the 1300’s.

President-Elect Obama, this is nothing more than a full bore violation of the concept of the Separation of Church and State. Further more, it is nothing more than outright voter intimation. There is but one way to stop this sort of meddling in the electoral process, and that is to demand a retraction of this so-called “Priests” statement to his Church. If that so-called “Priest” does not retract his statement; then as President of the United States of America, you, President-Elect Obama should, by an executive order, should remove the Tax-Exempt Status of the ENTIRE Roman Catholic Church in the United States of America. Do so on the basis that the Roman Catholic Church has not only violated the separation of Church and State, but has also used the Roman Catholic Church’s doctrines to commit voter intimidation.

There are a couple of books that I highly recommend that people read, especially Catholics, who want to the truth about that so-called Church and it’s bloody history. Here are those books:

Now, I realize that I might lose a reader or two, because I wrote this, but if that is the price that I must pay to present the truth to the people that read this blog, then it is one that I will take. I realize also, that Ed or someone over at HotAir.com will most likely yank this trackback. I’ve always said Republicans were, in fact, fascists. But that’s the price one must be for being a true Bible-Believer, I suppose, such as life, I guess.

We as Americans and as Christians need to guard against Religious persecution from any sort of Christian Domination. That is why the pilgrims fled Great Britain, because the Church of England’s meddling in the affairs of the Government. We should not stand for it here in America.

Good News: Warren Jeffs indicted on new charges

In some very good news, the kooky leader of the FDLS cult is going to be brought up on additional charges.

Via WOAI Radio in Texas:

Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints ‘prophet’ Warren Jeffs was indicted on felony charges for a second time today in connection with the April raid on the FLDS compound in Schleicher County, 1200 WOAI news reports.

Jeffs was indicted on a second first degree felony county of aggravated sexual assault. Jeffs was indicted in July on charges of sexual assault of a child. Both are first degree felonies which carry punishment of up to 99 years in prison.

Jeffs, 53, is already in prison….in Utah…where is is serving a ten year sentence on charges of arranging an underaged marriage at an FLDS compound there. He is awaiting trial on similar charges in Arizona.

Three other FLDS members were also indicted on Wednesday. One if facing a felony charge of conducting an unlawful marriage ceremony involving a minor. A second was charged with thre counts of third degree bigamy. The third was charged with three bigamy counts and one county of tampering with physical evidence.

Let just say this, that while I was none too pleased about the handling of that raid on the Texas FLDS ranch in Texas; which had many people, like those over at WorldNetDaily.com and NewsWithViews.com freaking out. I am quite happy to see that this sick, demented piece of human waste is going to remain behind bars for a  very long time.

While I am quite the advocate of freedom of Religion in this Country, when that Religion finds one at odds with the State and Federal laws in this country, something needs to change with that religion! Polygamy is a sick and disgusting practice, underage Polygamy is even worse, and I, for one, am happy that Warren Jeffs is going to be spending a very long time in a jail cell, where he cannot hurt anyone any longer.

Sorry, but I do not buy the whole persecuted Church people line. You don’t see the Government arresting Baptist Pastors for Polygamy, do you?

Creepy, Freaky and quite deaky!: Obama to appoint an “auto czar?”

(H/T to Michelle)

Full Disclosure: My Dad is a retired G.M. Employee and Union member.

You know, living here in the middle of all things Liberal, being a Libertarian Conservative is a bit, well; Odd. It does have it’s advantages. I tend to be a bit more Moderate about things. However, this one here spooks me.

This one’s via US News and World Report:

The troubles of the ailing auto industry are quickly becoming a major focus for President-Elect Barack Obama’s young administration. As Congress and President Bush debate an industry bailout, sources indicate that Obama may favor creating a White House office, headed by an “auto industry czar,” to oversee reforming the troubled American auto industry.

The Detroit News reports that both “Bush and Obama are signaling they may favor appointment of an auto czar to oversee the government’s efforts to funnel emergency assistance to automakers.” Congressional leaders and members of both the outgoing and incoming administrations have all said that automakers might receive federal aid only on certain dictions, including efforts “to further improve fuel efficiency and show that they have a plan to return to profitability. Automakers could also be required to give the government preferred stock in the companies and accept government representatives as board members. As in the 1979-80 Chrysler bailout, workers may have to make wage concessions.”

The press was unable to get direct confirmation of the plan yesterday. John Podesta, the former Clinton administration official heading Obama’s transition team, told the Washington Post “When we have an announcement about that, we’ll raise it.”

While I am bit happy to see that my dad’s 31 years will not be basically flushed down the toliet, because of incompetent managers.  The word Czar being used in the relation to Business, gives me the willies.  Least I be accused to trying to channel McCarthy; I think it reaks of Communism myself.

Could not they use another word? Like Commission, or Overseer, or something? Anything but Czar. 😮

I may just be a old paranoid weirdo, but Czar conjures up images of concentration camps, Nazi’s and all that sort of stuff.

Update:Gay Radio Show Host Who threatened Joe the Plumber Fired

(H/T to Malkin)

Remember the idiot moonbat queer radio show host that went off on some sort of crazy rant about killing Joe The Plumber?

It turns out that he has been fired from his Job. Of course, he’s playing the victim card. But he’s history.

Good on Station KGO for doing the right thing and firing that idiot.

Shocking News: Gay anarchist group attacks Church

This is sick and totally disgusting.

The Story via RightMichigan:

This is what we’re up against.

On Sunday morning, amidst worshiping congregants and following unifying prayers that our President-elect be granted wisdom as he prepares to lead our nation through difficult global, social and economic challenges, the Michigan left declared open war on peaceful church goers.

They did it with banners, chants, blasphemy, by storming the pulpit, by vandalizing the church facility, by potentially defiling the building with lewd, public, sex acts and by intentionally forcing physical confrontations with worshipers.

This didn’t take place in some dystopian, post modern work of fiction and it didn’t take place in San Francisco or Berkley.  This was the scene at a Bible believing church in Lansing, Michigan.

[…]

The lefties were a part of a liberal organization known as Bash Back Lansing and their collection of radical blogs, including one of the state’s most widely read "mainstream" progressive blogs (and none which will receive a link on this website) called on "queers and trannies" from across the state and the region to converge on Lansing for what they refer to as an "action."  While many of the members claim to be anarchists (they drove on roads, ate non-garden grown foods, printed materials on products created by government protected free markets, wore clothing, talk incessantly about "organization," etc etc etc) their broader goal is stated plainly on one of their lefty blogs.

"I can tell you that we are targeting a well-known anti-queer, anti-choice radical right wing establishment."

Mount Hope, for the record, is an evangelical, bible believing church whose members provide free 24 hour counseling, prayer lines, catastrophic care for families dealing with medical emergencies, support groups for men, women and children dealing with a wide variety of life’s troubles, crisis intervention, marriage ministries, regular, organized volunteer work in and around the city, missions in dozens of countries across the globe, a construction ministry that has built over 100 churches, schools, orphanages and other projects all over the world and an in-depth prison ministry that reaches out, touches and helps the men and women the rest of society fears the most.  They also teach respect for all human life and the Biblical sanctity of marriage as an institution between one man and one woman.

…….and you wonder why I despise liberals so much?

This is obviously a sign that we as Conservative Christians are now at war. War against a Liberal machine that wants to destroy America and values that we a American and Christians hold dear.

But wait there’s more:

Their other props?  I’ll let them tell you in their own words… from another of their liberal blogs:

"(A) video camera, a megaphone, noise makers, condoms, glitter by the bucket load, confetti, pink fabric…yeh."

The video camera they put to good use as they attempted to provoke a violent reaction.  The image of the pink-clad folks above is one of theirs, stating in a picture worth more than a thousand words the goals of the Michigan left.

The "open minded" and "tolerant" liberals ran down the aisles and across the pews, hoping against hope to catch a "right winger" on tape daring to push back (none did).  And just in case their camera missed the target, they had a reporter in tow.  According to a source inside the church yesterday there was a "journalist" from the Lansing City Pulse along for the ride, tipped off about the action and more interested in getting a story than in preventing the vandalism, the violence and anti-Christian hatred being spewed by the lefties.  We’ll see what he files and what his editors see fit to print.

Do you now see what I mean, when I call the Liberal main stream media as the Marxist Liberal Media? They sat back and watched this Church getting attacked, hoping that the Church would lash out in self defense, they would get it on tape; then they could use against them in the media. A perfect plan.

My dear readers, it is time to stop being pacifists and start defending our own. There is a book, that I highly recommend that ALL Christians read, and that is this:

Others: American Power, Gateway Pundit, Classical Values, Moonbattery, Clayton Cramer’s BLOG, Wake up America, www.redstate.com and THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS

World News: Monks brawl at Christian holy site in Jerusalem

Just more signs of the times….

Via the AP:

Israeli police rushed into one of Christianity’s holiest churches Sunday and arrested two clergyman after an argument between monks erupted into a brawl next to the site of Jesus’ tomb.

The clash between Armenian and Greek Orthodox monks broke out in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, revered as the site of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial and resurrection.

The brawling began during a procession of Armenian clergymen commemorating the 4th-century discovery of the cross believed to have been used to crucify Jesus.

The Greeks objected to the march without one of their monks present, fearing that otherwise, the procession would subvert their own claim to the Edicule – the ancient structure built on what is believed to be the tomb of Jesus – and give the Armenians a claim to the site.

The Armenians refused, and when they tried to march the Greek Orthodox monks blocked their way, sparking the brawl.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said police were forced to intervene after fighting was reported. They arrested two monks, one from each side, he said.

My Thoughts:

For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD. I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them. Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD. We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble! (Jeremiah 8:11-15 KJV)

The Final solution:

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7 KJV)

Even So, Come Lord Jesus.

Big Union Corruption Bust in N.Y.

Wow! 😮

An indictment was unsealed Friday morning in Brooklyn federal court charging Michael Coppola, a captain in the Genovese organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra, with racketeering and racketeering conspiracy.

The predicate acts include the 1977 murder of Giovanni Larducci, also known as “John Lardiere,” “Coca Cola,” and “Johnny Cokes,” extortion and conspiracy to extort members of International Longshoremen’s Association (”ILA”) Local 1235, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit identification document fraud.

The defendant was arraigned Friday afternoon before United States District Judge John Gleeson, at the US Courthouse in Brooklyn, New York.

The charges were announced by Benton J. Campbell, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Anne Milgram, Attorney General for the State of New Jersey, Mark J. Mershon, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Division, and Daniel R. Petrole, Deputy Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. – Via The Reality Check

I got big money that says you won’t hear about this much in the Liberal Main Stream Media. But let a big name Pastor get busted on morality charges and it’s front page news!

Important Announcement From the Blogs 4 Borders Crew!

Jake Delivers a sobering announcement about the Blogs 4 Borders BlogBurst. 🙁

….and here I am unemployed and cannot help. 😥

If you want to help Jake get his show on the road, click here to send him a message. Or go to his YouTube site and leave him a message there.

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Congratulations to President-Elect Barack Obama

grant_park_17

I am just now writing about this. I apologize. I did not get in the bed till 3:00 in the morning.

It is done; Barack Obama, by a fair and democratic election has been elected to the office of President of the United States of America.

I did not vote for him. I voted my Libertarian principles; however, I could not be more pleased by this man’s election to the office of President of United States of America. Why? Let me explain. It is not lost on this writer, that the Republican Party, in the last eight years, has become enamored and fully entrenched with Neo-Conservatism.  It is this writers opinion, that Neo-Conservatism will be credited with causing the Republican Party to lose this election.

It is no surprise that anger, fear and finger pointing have began with the Republican Party. It is this writers opinion that all of this will be for nought, including a huge meeting of the minds, unless the Republican Party stands up and expels the Neo-Conservatives OUT of the Republican Party. These pro-war, ex-democrats are the cancer that have caused the Republican Party to be marginalized.

The Republican Party needs to be punished, and punished harshly, for one; electing a President based upon family name. For two; for allowing a President to take a nation to war based upon flimsy intelligence, without demanding to see more inclusive evidence supporting the claims of the President and his administration. For three; for allowing a President to trample upon the one document that this writer holds dear, The United States Constitution.  Not to mention the many cases of corruption, the fact that John McCain and the entire Republican Party ran a election campaign based upon fear, instead of facts. The American people are just not that stupid, they know when they have been duped, and they just were not going to be lied to again.

Not to mention the many cases of blatant and subtle racism that took place during this election. Yes, I know, there was much of it on the left too. But does that excuse the fact that Conservatives partook in it? No. it does not.  Republicans and Conservatives are supposed to be better than that. The Republican Party is the party, of whom Abraham Lincoln came from. The same Abraham Lincoln that said:

I would save the Union. I would save it the shortest way under the Constitution. The sooner the national authority can be restored; the nearer the Union will be “the Union as it was.” … My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union. I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause. I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors; and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views. I have here stated my purpose according to my view of official duty; and I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men everywhere could be free. – A letter to Horace Greeley, editor of The New York Tribune –  August 22, 1862.

Do you now see why it upset me so much, when I saw Republicans acting like Democrats?

Having said all the above, I congratulate President Elect Obama. I will continue to Blog about Politics, I am not going anywhere, I will praise him for the things that I agree with, I will criticize for things that I do not.

As I said at the beginning of this piece, I did not vote for him, but he is my President and I will respect his office. I encourage others to do the same.

It is truly a new day in America.

New Black Panther Party intimidating voters in Pennsylvania

(First seen at HotAir, and then via Twitter)

First Video: (Via NetRightNation)

Amateur Video:

Story on Fox News:

Via Fox News:

Intimidation tactics, missing ballots and faulty machinery are plaguing voters descending on polling stations to choose between Barack Obama and John McCain.

In Philadelphia, FOX News’ Rick Leventhal received a report from Republican poll watcher Chris Hill that two Black Panthers had stationed themselves at the door to a polling station and were intimidating voters. One held a night stick, Hill said.

Hill told FOX News that he went to talk to the men and they told him white power didn’t rule there.

The man reportedly carrying a night stick was escorted away from the polling station by police, and FOX News found another Black Panther outside the station who said he was a certified observer. Police asked him and the FOX News crew to leave the polling station.

I feared stuff like this happening during this election. The last thing we need right now is reactionaries doing crazy stuff like this. I fear what might happen, if Obama should lose.

Something tells me that this is going to be a very long day and quite the long night.

More of Obama’s Audio on the Energy Industry

(H/T to Capt. Ed over @ HotAir)

The Video:

The Quote:

The problem is not technical, uh, and the problem is not mastery of the legislative intricacies of Washington. The problem is, uh, can you get the American people to say, “This is really important,” and force their representatives to do the right thing? That requires mobilizing a citizenry. That requires them understanding what is at stake. Uh, and climate change is a great example.

You know, when I was asked earlier about the issue of coal, uh, you know — Under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket. Even regardless of what I say about whether coal is good or bad. Because I’m capping greenhouse gases, coal power plants, you know, natural gas, you name it — whatever the plants were, whatever the industry was, uh, they would have to retrofit their operations. That will cost money. They will pass that money on to consumers.

They — you — you can already see what the arguments will be during the general election. People will say, “Ah, Obama and Al Gore, these folks, they’re going to destroy the economy, this is going to cost us eight trillion dollars,” or whatever their number is. Um, if you can’t persuade the American people that yes, there is going to be some increase in electricity rates on the front end, but that over the long term, because of combinations of more efficient energy usage, changing lightbulbs and more efficient appliance, but also technology improving how we can produce clean energy, the economy would benefit.

If we can’t make that argument persuasively enough, you — you, uh, can be Lyndon Johnson, you can be the master of Washington. You’re not going to get that done.

Sorry, you cannot spin that.  Obama, in essence, is saying that he will cause one industry to collapse. All so he can promote his own agenda of “Green” energy. The problem with that is this, there are no tested, proven and ready alternative forms of energy, yet.

Ed from HotAir weighs in:

Energy prices skyrocketing will leave the economy in tatters, as we saw earlier this year.  While no one doubts the need to start transitioning to better sources of energy, the manner in which that gets done means the difference of whether it gets done at all.  A stagnant or receding economy does not produce scientific breakthroughs, especially when government both increases taxes and imposes steep cost burdens on energy.  That cuts into both manufacturing and R&D, because as profits fall, fewer dollars go into research — which means that all of these wonderful developments would get delayed, or go unrealized altogether.

We need to plan for the transition better than what Obama proposes.  We need to use our own reserves of oil, natural gas, coal, and shale to cushion the economy while we develop the alternatives and build the infrastructure to deliver it.  That’s what John McCain proposed in his Lexington Project.

Price shocks on energy is the last thing this economy needs.  It would be worse than the taxes Obama promises to impose on investment, and would have the same depressive effect.  It’s an utter disaster.

Not only this, but I also believe that if Obama does this, Jobs will be lost. I guess Obama believes that stealing one man’s job, top create another is just perfectly fine. 🙄

That would be like shutting down an auto plant, and putting people, who have worked at an auto plant for some 30 years, out of a job. Just so that a company could start a car plant, making electric cars. Yeah, sure, new jobs are created, but what about the people working for the auto plants, that do not make the Electric car? Why allow them to suffer?

Just more things to keep in mind, when voting, come Tuesday. Because Obama believes in spreading the wealth, except it comes to those working in the coil industry.

If I were the Unionized Coil Miners, I would raising the roof about this!

Others: : QandO, PoliGazette, Little Green Footballs, Soccer Dad, Chicago Boyz, Silent Running, Ed Driscoll.com and Tapscott’s Copy Desk

shocking audio: Obama said he will bankrupt the coal industry…

This is not new, but it is still something to think about when you vote on Tuesday.

First the Video:

The Quote: (H/T to News Busters)

Let me sort of describe my overall policy.

What I’ve said is that we would put a cap and trade system in place that is as aggressive, if not more aggressive, than anybody else’s out there.

I was the first to call for a 100% auction on the cap and trade system, which means that every unit of carbon or greenhouse gases emitted would be charged to the polluter. That will create a market in which whatever technologies are out there that are being presented, whatever power plants that are being built, that they would have to meet the rigors of that market and the ratcheted down caps that are being placed, imposed every year.

So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can; it’s just that it will bankrupt them because they’re going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that’s being emitted.

That will also generate billions of dollars that we can invest in solar, wind, biodiesel and other alternative energy approaches.

The only thing I’ve said with respect to coal, I haven’t been some coal booster. What I have said is that for us to take coal off the table as a (sic) ideological matter as opposed to saying if technology allows us to use coal in a clean way, we should pursue it.

So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can.

It’s just that it will bankrupt them.

Now had John McCain had said something like that, the Liberal Media would be all over it. But it’s Obama, so it’s okay.

Remember this on November 4.

Others: Weekly Standard,, DBKP, Democrat=Socialist, Ed Driscoll.com, Neptunus Lex, Macsmind, Jules Crittenden, Right Wing Nut House, Political Byline, Michelle Malkin, Wizbang, Babalu Blog, The Campaign Spot, Shopfloor, Doug Ross, Stop The ACLU, A Blog For All, Don Surber, BizzyBlog, 24Ahead, Wake up AmericaMoonbattery, Dirty Harry’s Place, Scared Monkeys and  and more via Memeorandum

Finally: Obama’s Birth Certificate Verified By State of Hawaii

Maybe this will put this rather idiotic rumor to bed.

This via KITV:

The state’s Department of Health director on Friday released a statement verifying the legitimacy of Sen. Barack Obama birth certificate.

The state has received multiple requests for a copy of Obama’s birth certificate. State law does not allow officials to release the birth certificate of a person to someone outside of the family.

There were rumors that Obama was born in Kenya, where his father is from. The Constitution requires that the president be a natural born citizen of the U.S.

While many sites and news organizations have released copies provided by the Obama campaign, the rumors have persisted.

“There have been numerous requests for Sen. Barack Hussein Obama’s official birth certificate. State law (Hawai‘i Revised Statutes §338-18) prohibits the release of a certified birth certificate to persons who do not have a tangible interest in the vital record,” DOH Director Dr. Chiyome Fukino said.

Fukino said she and the registrar of vital statistics, Alvin Onaka, have personally verified that the health department holds Obama’s original birth certificate.

“Therefore, I as Director of Health for the State of Hawai‘i, along with the Registrar of Vital Statistics who has statutory authority to oversee and maintain these type of vital records, have personally seen and verified that the Hawai‘i State Department of Health has Sen. Obama’s original birth certificate on record in accordance with state policies and procedures,” Fukino said.

Fukino said that no state official, including Gov. Linda Lingle, ever instructed that Obama’s certificate be handled differently from any other.

Some Obama critics claim he was not born in the United States.

Multiple lawsuits were filed to try and force Obama to provide proof of citizenship. Earlier Friday, a southwest Ohio magistrate rejected a challenge to Obama’s U.S. citizenship. Judges in Seattle and Philadelphia recently dismissed similar suits.

This story, Which has been disproven by Factcheck.org and WorldNetDaily both, still continues to exist. As long as there are people, like Alex Jones who continue to believe and spread this rumor, It will exist.

The real funny thing is, this rumor and the one about Obama being a Muslim was started not other than the White Nationalist Website, Stormfront.Org. I remember seeing the first posting saying as much back two years ago. I never thought it would ever go this far. So, one can safely say that this entire rumor is entrenched in Racism.

Of course, the G.O.P will never admit to the racism, but that’s to be expected of that Party. 😀

Perhaps now, that Tin foil hat crowd will finally fine something or someone else to rumor monger about. (Except perhaps for me! 😮 )

The Obligatory Obama’s Aunt is here illegally post

I say “obligatory”, because I say it is quite silly that the Conservative Blogosphere is having a hissy fit over that fact that his Aunt was living here.

Obama says that he did not know, and you know, I’m inclined to believe the guy. You just cannot keep track of everything your damn family does.

Hell, I have a cousin who’s a career criminal, am I responsible for his actions? Hell no!

It just seems to me, that the Conservative Blogosphere has been on the hunt to; dare I say the word?; Lynch Barack Obama for having the gall, the outright audacity, the very nerve; to run for President of The United States of America. For, dare I say it?; venturing into White Man’s territory.

I think the that the George W. Bush Administration would do well to just leave well enough alone. Because the last thing that the Republican Party needs is to be known as the Party that deported an African-American Presidential Candidate’s aunt from the United States. That would indeed be the nail in the coffin of that political party. As it is now, the Republican Party has been tarred by the irresponsibilty of some of it’s more fringe elements. The last thing they need right now is something like this on the minds of everyone voting come November 4.

….and that’s my take on it.

(H/T Memeornadum)

Local News: Detroit’s New Mayor in hot water

We thought that all the corruption was over in Detroit, after the City’s “hip hop” Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was out of office.

It turns out, however that I, we; the city, was very wrong.

It seems the newest Mayor of the city of Detroit has been caught with his hands in the cookie jar.

This story from my Favorite Detroit paper, The Detroit Free Press: (I always hated the Detroit News)

The state Attorney General’s Office is exploring whether Detroit Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr. should be investigated for perjury because he signed a sworn statement that he had no unpaid campaign fees when he owed $42,000.

A source in Attorney General Mike Cox’s office, speaking on condition of anonymity, said today that attorneys in the office began looking at  the situation after it became public about two weeks ago. The source said no decision has been made about whether to charge Cockrel, and the legal review continues.

“If we decide to do something, it will be with the utmost reluctance because Detroit’s already been through the wringer,” said the source, referring to the scandals and criminal charges that forced former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick from office in September, elevating Cockrel to mayor.

“But he’s going to do his job,” the source said, referring to Cox.

On Wednesday, Detroit political consultant and Kilpatrick ally Adolph Mongo filed a request with Cox’s office requesting he charge Cockrel with perjury after Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy declined to take the case, citing a lack of resources to handle elections complaints.

The attorney general’s legal review has concluded that while Worthy has the authority, she has essentially referred the case to Cox.

Cockrel’s troubles began after he failed to resolve $42,000 in unpaid campaign fees that Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett assessed against his campaign fund in late 2006.

When Cockrel filed to run for mayor Oct. 14, he signed a sworn statement that the fees were paid, saying he thought his filing of remaining campaign paperwork would earn him a waiver. But Garrett denied the waiver.

Mayoral spokesman Daniel Cherrin said Cockrel respects the need of the Attorney General’s Office to do its job. He said Cockrel “believes he was in compliance when he signed the affidavit.”

He noted that once Cockrel was denied a waiver from the fees last week, he paid them.

Meanwhile, Cockrel’s situation took a bizarre turn today when one of his little-known opponents in the mayoral election attempted to obtain a citizen’s warrant for a perjury charge from 36th District Court in Detroit only to withdraw his effort because he didn’t have the $2 million that a judge said he needed to fund the prosecution.

Duane Montgomery filed a citizen’s warrant with Judge Robert Giles, but it died because Montgomery didn’t have the money to pay for the prosecution as required by the law that allows such warrants, said Chief District Judge Marylin Atkins.

Honestly, What is it about African-American Democrats and Corruption?  Seems to the two go hand in hand anymore. I truly hope that Attorney Mike Cox does his job and does not give this guy a free pass, just because the “One” is running for office. Of course, He won’t do a thing till after the election. Judging by the comments left at the Free Press, people are not too happy about this either. Can you blame them? 😮

I have to believe though that Kilpatrick is laughing rather hard in jail right now. He was sentenced here recently. A mere 120 days in jail, a slap on the hand for his crimes against a once-fine city. He also had to pay rather lean amount of restitution to the city, and lost his law license, but knowing him, mamma warbucks will have his back.

These are Obama’s people, remember that. yeah, I know… RAAAAACIST! Rolling Eyes

I just wonder when that Communist Liberal Keith Olbermann will do a Special Comment on this little gem of News? I also wonder if the Marxist owned and operated Main Stream Media will report this news story? I won’t hold my breath, lest I turn blue and die. 😛

Wanna see why Conservatives are not taken seriously anymore?

Then go read this.

For those who want to know what they are clicking on first. It’s a rather long and quite idiotic posting, by a Conservative Blogger, attempting to prove that Barack Obama is really the son of Malcolm X.

Yes, they went there.

No wonder that the Conservatives are losing, not only the election. But the intellectual debate.

I’m ashamed to even be a Conservative minded person right now. 🙁

The Economist endorses Barack Obama

(Via The Corner)

This further increases my sinking feeling that McCain does not have a prayer.

From the Economist:

IT IS impossible to forecast how important any presidency will be. Back in 2000 America stood tall as the undisputed superpower, at peace with a generally admiring world. The main argument was over what to do with the federal government’s huge budget surplus. Nobody foresaw the seismic events of the next eight years. When Americans go to the polls next week the mood will be very different. The United States is unhappy, divided and foundering both at home and abroad. Its self-belief and values are under attack.

For all the shortcomings of the campaign, both John McCain and Barack Obama offer hope of national redemption. Now America has to choose between them. The Economist does not have a vote, but if it did, it would cast it for Mr Obama. We do so wholeheartedly: the Democratic candidate has clearly shown that he offers the better chance of restoring America’s self-confidence. But we acknowledge it is a gamble. Given Mr Obama’s inexperience, the lack of clarity about some of his beliefs and the prospect of a stridently Democratic Congress, voting for him is a risk. Yet it is one America should take, given the steep road ahead.

I can tell you right now, there are many wealthy people, who read this magazine and it’s distributorship is to many Conservatives. I look for many Conservatives to cross the aisle and vote Democrat.

From The Economist’s Political Blog Democracy in America:

And, by the way, he will probably get it. Here’s to hoping Mr Obama’s moderate and sensible side wins over his primary-season, protectionist-populist side.

I bet there’s a good number of people betting on that hope. But I highly doubt that Obama is going to do anything extreme during his tenure as President.

Anyhow, it was a very interesting endorsement.

Time Inc. to lay off 600 employees

(Via and H/T to The New York Observer)

The Story comes via the New York Times, first a quote and then my thoughts:

Time Inc., the world’s largest magazine publisher, plans to cut 6 percent of its work force — more than 600 positions — and will revamp the organization in a way that could radically alter the culture at the company.

The company outlined the overhaul on Tuesday evening in a memorandum to employees after The New York Times revealed the cuts on its Web site. The layoffs will begin in about two weeks.

No magazines are scheduled to close, but some are likely to be severely cut back. Ann S. Moore, Time Inc.’s chairman and chief executive, was already planning an overhaul because of the upheavals in print media, but she was forced to speed up those efforts amid the financial crisis and looming recession.

Time Inc.’s 24 magazines in the United States and their Web sites will be organized into three divisions: news, which will include Fortune, Money, Time and Sports Illustrated; lifestyle titles, which include Real Simple, Cottage Living, Coastal Living and Southern Living, among others; and style and entertainment, which includes People, InStyle and Entertainment Weekly, which has suffered a severe downturn and is likely to be whittled down under the new structure.

Heads of the news and entertainment units will continue to report to John Huey, the editor in chief of Time Inc. The lifestyle unit, which may be run by Bill Shapiro, who has been development editor, will report to the business side of the company. Martha Nelson, who is editor of the People Group, will head the entertainment division.

Ms. Moore declined to be interviewed, but in an article published in The Times of London a little more than two weeks ago she said, “I don’t know if there will be layoffs.”

My take:

Unlike some of esteemed colleagues in the “Right of Center” Blogosphere who would take some sort of perverse pleasure in trashing this company, because of their political stance. I shall refrain from such petty nonsense. This is simply a sign of the times, the world is changing, print magazines are passé and very old hat. The digital revolution is now upon us. Publishers have a choice to either join the revolution or fight it. Fighting it can be costly decision, most have found a way to serve the digital crowd and keep their print customers happy; The New York Times being a perfect example.  But there are those who fail to embrace the changing world around them.

Another factor is the economy, that dreaded thing called the Stock Market controls the way our economy operates. It is quite astounding to this writer, how that the actions of a few well-heeled financial tycoons can affect the way our economy operates. But such is the way the World I suppose.

We are living in a different world, one must decide to either embrace it or live a very backward existence.

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When you’ve lost Zogby, You’ve lost the election.

Sigh…. SighIt only gets worse for McCain.

Zogby, A Republican owned Polling system has grim news for John McCain:

The race for President of the United States continued to tighten, as both Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain lost ground in a contest that is now a four–point game, the latest Reuters/C–SPAN/Zogby daily tracking telephone poll shows.

Obama lost 0.9 points and now stands at 49.0% in the tracking poll, while McCain lost 0.4 points and now stands at 44.7% support in a head–to–head match–up. Another 6.3% said they were undecided, up from 4.9% the day before.

McCain wins 87% of the Republican support, and Obama 84% of the Democratic support, and each candidate wins 11% of the opposing party’s support. Obama continues to lead among independent voters – his advantage now stands at 16 points, 51% to 35%.

McCain leads among men, 48% to 45%, while Obama leads among women by a larger 53% to 42% margin. Among white voters, McCain leads by a 53% to 41% margin. Among Hispanics, Obama leads, 66% to 28%, and among African Americans, Obama wins 88% to McCain’s 9%.

The numbers:

Week Four

Three–Day

Tracking Poll

10–27

Obama

49.0%

McCain

44.7%

Others/Not sure

6.3%

Week Three

Three–Day

Tracking Poll

10–26

10–25

10–24

10–23

10–22

Obama

49.9%

49.4%

51.1%

51.3%

52.2%

McCain

45.1%

44.1%

41.6%

41.0%

40.3%

Others/Not sure

4.9%

6.6%

7.3%

7.7%

7.5%

Week Two

Three-Day

Tracking Poll

10–19

10–18

10-17

10-16

10-15

Obama

49.8%

47.8%

48.3%

48.7%

49.0%

McCain

44.4%

45.1%

44.4%

43.7%

43.5%

Others/Not sure

5.8%

7.1%

7.3%

7.6%

7.5%

           

Week One

Three-Day

Tracking Poll

10-12

10-11

10-10

10-9

10-8

Obama

47.9%

48.9%

47.6%

47.6%

47.8%

McCain

43.6%

42.8%

43.8%

43.4%

44.2%

Others/Not sure

8.5%

8.3%

8.6%

9.0%

8.0%

Wow… just wow…. I mean, who can spin that, McCain says it’s going to be a squeaker? Honestly? Is he reading the same polls as the rest of the world? I mean, Zogby! The Republican Poll company says you’re losing?!?! Unbelievable. Surprise

I do not dare use the word “landslide”. But It’s going to be a bad day on November 4.

 

Oy… Female Soldiers want to serve in the Military, and then whine when they get raped…

This is where my old school, Paleo-Conservative, Fundamental Baptist Self comes out…

Via The Corner on National Review Online

15 percent of recently returned female soldiers report a sexual trauma during service, compared to 0.7 percent of male soldiers, according to preliminary research results from a Department of Veteran Affairs study released at the American Public Health Association meeting in San Diego. I’m sure we’ll be hearing more about this.

There’s a simple solution to this, and I just know someone is going to see this and is going to pop a vein when I say it. But, if these women would have stayed home and been wives to their husbands and Mothers to their Children, then they would not have never gotten raped in the first place. By no means do I justify the rapes, not at all. But the simple fact is that Women have fought for equal rights with men, led by that feminist Nazi Gloria Steinem. Now that they have these rights and one of them gets raped by a man who looses control, they want to be treated special, coddled and treated differently.

To HELL with that I say, if you cannot take the heat, stay the hell out of the Kitchen. The Military was originally designed for men, fighting men, to defend this country against our enemies. Women were not a part of the equation. That is because Women knew their place and it was not on the battlefield. But thanks to your stupid liberals, women are now a part of the Armed Forces and they’re getting raped.

….and they wonder why we had such a time winning in Iraq.