A very interesting Blog posting and video is found over at the Daily Newscaster.
(H/T to Freedom’s Pheonix)
Tag: Obama
Sickening Report: World Bank Destroys Albanian Village and then Covers it up
This is absolutely sickening to read. 😡
Managers at the World Bank provided false information to the agency’s board of directors about a $39 million, politically-connected European “coastal cleanup” project that led to the destruction and destitution of a powerless village in Albania in 2007 — and then spent nearly two years trying to cover it up, FOX News has learned.
Bank insiders also misled and stonewalled a panel of independent investigators commissioned by the board to investigate the scandal, according to the investigators themselves.
World Bank sources tell FOX News that the panel’s report, submitted to the 24-member board in late November, is one of the most damning independent assessments of the anti-poverty agency’s behavior in the bank’s 60-year history. The bank, the world’s largest and most influential anti-poverty institution and part of the U.N. system, is doling out $100 billion over the next three years for development projects.
For its part, once the report leaked in Albania last week, the bank announced that further disbursements of the loan for the Albanian project had been temporarily suspended on Jan. 9 “due to certain outstanding policy and operational issues.” A World Bank spokesman did not comment to FOX News by press time.
via MyFox Springfield | World Bank Spent More Than a Year Covering Up Destruction
I hope like hell, whomever was responsible for doing this, is brought to justice. The very notion that the organization like the World Bank can just come in and destroy someone’s home is disgusting. May whomever carried this out rot in the Devil’s hell.
Don’t expect our Government to say anything about this, as it is well-known that the World Bank controls much of what goes on in this country as well.
(H/T Freedom’s Phoenix)
The Road to European Socialism just got a bit shorter
Via the New York Times, it seems that the economic socialist stimulus plan has passed a procedural vote:
Senate Democrats on Monday advanced the $838 billion economic stimulus bill, clearing a major procedural hurdle by a razor thin margin with the help of just three Republicans. A vote on final passage of the bill is expected on Tuesday.
The Senate vote, by 61 to 36, to close debate on the stimulus, symbolized the partisanship that still grips Congress despite President Obama’s call for new cooperation. It also highlighted the rising power of the centrist Republicans who cast the critical votes. Under Senate rules, it takes 60 votes to invoke cloture and usher a bill to a vote.
Those votes, by Senators Susan Collins and Olympia J. Snowe of Maine and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, along with the 56 Democrats and two Independents who regularly vote with them, followed a succession of floor speeches by Republicans criticizing the stimulus as a bloated, wasteful spending bill.
But supporters of the measure said that a good, bipartisan effort had been made at drafting a compromise bill.
“I am proud of the bipartisan work that we have done during the last 10 days,” said Ms. Collins, who supplied one of the three crucial Republican votes. “As with any major legislation, this bill is not perfect, but it can go a long way toward creating jobs and addressing the dire economic crisis facing our nation.”
The majority leader, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, said: “The United States senators from both parties met the seriousness of the economic crisis with an earnest approach to solving this emergency.”
Well, as you can see, the Republican Party, the part that is supposed to be the party of small Government and low taxes, has once again capitulated to “The One.” Remember this come election time.
Bambi Bumps his widdle head
For the Record, it wasn’t a head bump… It was more of him realizing where he was, and ducking. It was nothing like what Bush did, when he whacked his noggin on air force one.
Here’s the Video:
(H/T HotAir Headlines)
Communist Leader says “Obama working to nationalize U.S. economy”
Just as I suspected….:
President Obama is “considering” a radical agenda to nationalize the U.S. financial system, the Federal Reserve Bank, and private industries such as energy and other sectors whose future is “problematic” in private hands, claims the leader of the Communist Party USA.
In a major speech focused on Obama titled “Off and running: Opportunity of a lifetime,” CPUSA leader Sam Webb also alleges Obama’s administration is considering turning education, childcare, and health care into “no profit zones;” rerouting investment capital from military infrastructure
to “green economy” projects and public infrastructure; and waging a “full scale” assault on global warming.
“We now have not simply a friend, but a people’s advocate in the White House,” declared Webb at a recent speech in Ohio for People’s Weekly World Communist newspaper.
“An era of progressive change is within reach, no longer an idle dream. Just look at the new lay of the land: a friend of labor and its allies sits in the White House,” Webb proclaimed.
via Communist: Obama working to nationalize U.S. economy — WorldNetDaily.com.
You can bet your sweet royal behind that if this “economic stimulus” fails, the doors will be opened to nationalization of our Banks, Businesses, Oil companies and everything else eventually. We as Americans must stand up and fight against this sort of tyranny!
Colorado McCain Staffer picked up on Child Molestor Charges, Liberal Blogs fawn over story
Here’s the new Meme for the Liberal Blogsphere for the weekend or this day at least.
Via the Colorado Liberal Independent:
Police arrested the former manager of Sen. John McCain’s Pueblo presidential campaign office Wednesday on charges he sexually assaulted a 5-year-old boy left in his care so the boy’s mother could attend a rally for McCain’s running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, The Denver Post’s Howard Pankratz reported Thursday afternoon.
It’s the second arrest on charges of sexual assault on a child by a person in position of trust in a week for Jeffrey Claude Bartleson, 52, who has faced similar allegations at least five times since 1982 without being convicted of a crime, according to the Pueblo Chieftain’s Nick Bonham.
Two detectives have been assigned full-time to the investigation and are looking into allegations Bartleson lured victims through church groups, his work as a sponsor at a hospital drug rehab unit, and during involvement in political work.
I just have to ask, do you think that if President Barack Hussein Obama’s Campaign Manager had been picked up for oinking some kid, that the media would be all over it, like this?
I somehow very highly doubt it. 🙄
…besides that, why wasn’t this kids Mother watching her son more closely?
Japan could serve as a lesson to the United States
Barack Obama could learn a lesson from Japan. There’s a very good article in the New York Times today, on the mistakes made by the country of Japan in the 1990’s to fix their failing economy:
The Hamada Marine Bridge soars majestically over this small fishing harbor, so much larger than the squid boats anchored below that it seems out of place.
And it is not just the bridge. Two decades of generous public works spending have showered this city of 61,000 mostly graying residents with a highway, a two-lane bypass, a university, a prison, a children’s art museum, the Sun Village Hamada sports center, a bright red welcome center, a ski resort and an aquarium featuring three ring-blowing Beluga whales.
Nor is this remote port in western Japan unusual. Japan’s rural areas have been paved over and filled in with roads, dams and other big infrastructure projects, the legacy of trillions of dollars spent to lift the economy from a severe downturn caused by the bursting of a real estate bubble in the late 1980s. During those nearly two decades, Japan accumulated the largest public debt in the developed world — totaling 180 percent of its $5.5 trillion economy — while failing to generate a convincing recovery.
Now, as the Obama administration embarks on a similar path, proposing to spend more than $820 billion to stimulate the sagging American economy, many economists are taking a fresh look at Japan’s troubled experience. While Japan is not exactly comparable to the United States — especially as a late developer with a history of heavy state investment in infrastructure — economists say it can still offer important lessons about the pitfalls, and chances for success, of a stimulus package in an advanced economy.
The Lesson to be learned here is:
“It is not enough just to hire workers to dig holes and then fill them in again,” said Toshihiro Ihori, an economics professor at the University of Tokyo. “One lesson from Japan is that public works get the best results when they create something useful for the future.
But the real lesson to be learned here is the follow and pay special close attention to what is said here:
In the end, say economists, it was not public works but an expensive cleanup of the debt-ridden banking system, combined with growing exports to China and the United States, that brought a close to Japan’s Lost Decade. This has led many to conclude that spending did little more than sink Japan deeply into debt, leaving an enormous tax burden for future generations.
Gee, is that not what Ron Paul said ALL ALONG, while he was running for President of the United States? For Ron Paul’s troubles and hard work he was slandered, maligned and marginalized by the Neo-Conservatives who hated him and the Liberal Democrats who were sacred to death of him.
I highly suggest that you read the rest of this article. The United States could learn much from this lesson that Japan had to learn. We could very well end up causing more harm than good to our economy.
Others: Glenn Thrush’s Blogs, Hot Air, A Blog For All, Cafe Hayek, Weekly Standard and QandO
Even more Tax Problems for Obama’s Appointments?
This is getting to be a bit of a strange thing!
The husband of President Obama’s choice to head the Labor Department paid about $6,400 Wednesday to settle tax liens that had been outstanding for as long as 16 years against his business, the Obama administration said Thursday.
The disclosure came shortly before a scheduled 2 p.m. meeting of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which will vote on U.S. Rep. Hilda Solis’ nomination as Labor secretary. The hearing was postponed to give the administration time to look into the tax matter and report back to the committee, said Anthony Coley, a spokesman for Sen. Edward Kennedy, the committee chairman. Solis is a California Democrat.
At a news conference, Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said of Solis: “I read the story in USA TODAY and it quotes somebody who works here. Obviously we know about the story. We reviewed her tax returns and her tax returns are in order. Her husband had an issue.”
via Husband of Rep. Solis, Labor nominee, settles tax liens – USATODAY.com.
Oy. I’m starting to really wonder about Obama selection committee. I mean, is it staffed by monkeys, or just idiotic buffoons? I mean, how the heck hard is it to find out if someone has a tax problem? Really.
Others: TalkLeft, The Swamp, Hot Air, Weekly Standard, The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room, Michelle Malkin, Salon, Glenn Thrush’s Blogs, The Foundry, The Note, TPMDC, Government Bytes and Boston Globe
(via Memeorandum)
Is Obama preparing to send dissenters to prisoner camps?
As a rule, I do not engage in this sort of this speculation. But seeing the way things are going here, it does sound a bit plausible.
Within the last few weeks since Americans witnessed the transition between a Bush Administration to an Obama Administration, some conservatives have noticed an escalation in using the US military and military-style tactics to deal with “national security concerns.” Such actions include use of army troops within US borders and the building of camps designed to house and control American citizens.
For example, in January immediately following the inauguration of President Barack Hussein Obama, Newswithview.com dispatched a reporter to participate in a US Department of Defense press conference.
Armed Forces Press Service representative Donna Miles reported to news reporters, bloggers and Internet journalists that troops from the 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team were deployed to the Naval facility located in Indian Head, Maryland. Their assignment was allegedly to get hands-on training in skills they could depend on to provide “support during a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or high-yield explosive incident, known here as a CBRNE.
via NWV News — Is the US Government Preparing to Send Dissenters to Prison Camps?.
It is a interesting report indeed. I mean, I am not totally sold in the idea, but it reeks of the Alex Jones type of nonsense. But, Obama is a far lefty, his birth certificate has still not been released. He does seem be to a far left socialist. I mean, it could be plausible. What is the harm in asking the question?
What do you think? Comments welcomed here, please.
The Politics of fear again
It seems that President Obama is taking a cue from now former President Bush. Seeing that his so-called and very much pork laden “Stimulus Package” is losing support, Obama took a cue from President Bush and proceeded to publish his speech that he gave yesterday, about the stimulus.
Cue the fear mongering!:
By now, it’s clear to everyone that we have inherited an economic crisis as deep and dire as any since the days of the Great Depression. Millions of jobs that Americans relied on just a year ago are gone; millions more of the nest eggs families worked so hard to build have vanished. People everywhere are worried about what tomorrow will bring.
Because each day we wait to begin the work of turning our economy around, more people lose their jobs, their savings and their homes. And if nothing is done, this recession might linger for years. Our economy will lose 5 million more jobs. Unemployment will approach double digits. Our nation will sink deeper into a crisis that, at some point, we may not be able to reverse.
[….]
In recent days, there have been misguided criticisms of this plan that echo the failed theories that helped lead us into this crisis — the notion that tax cuts alone will solve all our problems; that we can meet our enormous tests with half-steps and piecemeal measures; that we can ignore fundamental challenges such as energy independence and the high cost of health care and still expect our economy and our country to thrive.
I reject these theories, and so did the American people when they went to the polls in November and voted resoundingly for change. They know that we have tried it those ways for too long. And because we have, our health-care costs still rise faster than inflation. Our dependence on foreign oil still threatens our economy and our security. Our children still study in schools that put them at a disadvantage. We’ve seen the tragic consequences when our bridges crumble and our levees fail.
Every day, our economy gets sicker — and the time for a remedy that puts Americans back to work, jump-starts our economy and invests in lasting growth is now.
Wow, Hey Barry, how about 43% of tax paying Americans think that your so-called stimulus bill is a steaming pile of crap; Not just the elitists in Washington D.C., but the rest of America! You know, like the one’s in Kentucky, that are freezing to death? You know, the white conservatives, that didn’t vote for you, because they saw through your stupidity, lies and bullshit? You know, the one’s that you have basically ignored?
Nice try Barry, but your imitation of George W. Bush is quite piss poor.
Others: (Colored according to thier politics): PostPartisan, Townhall.com, The Campaign Spot, Michelle Malkin, Washington Monthly, The Opinionator, The Huffington Post, The Swamp, TalkLeft, Boston Globe, Don Surber, Reason, The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room, TIME.com, AMERICAblog News, The Mahablog, Commentary, The Corner, The Foundry, AmSpecBlog, Gateway Pundit, D-Day, Riehl World View, Fox News, Soccer Dad, The Plum Line, EconoPundit, Economist’s View, Conventional Folly, American Power, Bark Bark Woof Woof, Corrente, The Washington Independent and ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES
(Via Memeorandum)
Ethics? Democrats? Liberal Media? Surly you jest!
Oh this a tad bit, well, Interesting!
Media Research Center (MRC) President L. Brent Bozell, III has written a letter to ABC News President David Westin calling on him to publicly address and resolve what appears to be a clear violation of journalistic ethics by ABC’s Chief Washington Correspondent George Stephanopoulos. Last week a Politico story broke the news that Stephanopoulos has participated in daily phone strategy sessions with now White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel throughout his tenure at ABC.
Mr. Bozell on Thursday issued a statement demanding an explanation, and calling for Stephanopoulos to recuse himself from reporting on an Obama Administration whose plans and messaging he spends every morning helping to craft. Stephanopoulos has remained silent.
Bozell has now brought the matter directly to Westin, calling on him to either provide evidence that the Politico story is false, or admit and resolve what clearly would be a major violation of journalistic ethics.
via Bozell to ABC President: You Must Publicly Address Stephanopoulos’ Apparent Conflict of Interest.
Maybe the idea that the Liberal Media was in the tank for Obama, is not such a preposterous notion after all!
Others: Flopping Aces, Gateway Pundit and Right Wing News
Update on the Kentucky Ice Storm
Michelle Malkin links to a few blogs providing coverage of the ice storm in Kentucky and the piss poor response from FEMA and the fact that “The One” is all but non-existant to the people down there.
I just want to go on record saying that I happen to think that lack of personal response from that “Magic Fool” in the White House is absolutely disgusting. The very idea that he would totally ignore a group of people, because of the possibility that the group of people did not vote for him, is absolutely treasonous!
I also find it amazing that the Liberal Main Stream media is totally ignoring this problem.
But that’s the Liberals for you! 🙄
Are the Democrats secretly attempting to bring back the fairness doctrine?
This is a very dangerous thing, Conservatives and Republicans ought to be raising the roof about this.
Despite the absence of any action pending to re-enact the so-called “Fairness Doctrine,” congressional Republicans have nonetheless introduced legislation to prevent its passage, insisting that Democrats are advancing a quiet agenda to silence conservative talk radio.
Whether Americans realize it or not, say Republican lawmakers, “Free speech is under attack.”
For their part, several Democrats have denied there’s any attempt underway to reestablish the “Fairness Doctine,” insisting the GOP is trumping up paranoia that amounts to “much ado about nothing.”
So which is it?
In 1949 the Federal Communications Commission adopted a policy that required broadcasters to devote airtime to the public interest and to air opposing viewpoints when discussing controversial and political issues. The FCC abandoned the policy in 1987, paving the way for talk radio to explode from fewer than 150 stations nationwide to more than 3,000.
The majority of the country’s talk radio programs are politically conservative, prompting some, as WND has reported, to long for a more “balanced” menu.
“For many, many years, we operated under a Fairness Doctrine in this country,” Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., told Albuquerque radio station KKOB last year. “I think the country was well-served. I think the public discussion was at a higher level and more intelligent in those days than it has become since.”
Former broadcaster Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., however, sees the policy as an attack on First Amendment rights.
“Bringing back the Fairness Doctrine would amount to government control over political views expressed on the public airwaves,” Pence has said in opposition to the policy. “It is a dangerous proposal to suggest the government should be in the business of rationing free speech.”
via Is there sinister plot to squelch talk radio? — WorldNetDaily.
Let me give you my opinion. That is what Blogs are all about, political opinion and discussion. I believe that the “fairness doctrine,” is nothing more pure communism. Control of free speech in America. FDR instituted it during World War II to control dissent towards the War. It was called Communism at that time, by many Conservatives of that era and it still IS communist in nature as far as I am concerned. The reason I say this, is because it is the same thing that Hitler did in Germany and what the Soviets did in Russia, they controlled freedom of speech to quell dissent. (Yes, I know, Hitler was not a communist!)
However, on a more practical level. I do not believe that the Democrats will succeed in bringing it back. Why? Because the Government does not have the resources to enforce such a law. Heck, the FCC has been cutting down staff since the 1980’s, because the high costs of maintaining the huge staff. Examples, The FCC has basically turned over the examination process of the Amateur Radio Service over to the Amateur Radio community themselves. The enforcement is there, but you have to be doing something rather obnoxious to get a visit from the FCC anymore. The Amateur Radio Service is essentially self policed. So, I seriously doubt that even something like this was even passed, that the FCC would even bother to enforce it. I also believe that it will never get to a vote, because there would be a push back within the FCC to stop it, because of the lack of enforcement funding.
So, while I believe that this is a huge political issue, and that Conservatives everywhere ought to stay on top of it. I just do not believe that one; it will ever pass and two, that the FCC would even bother enforcing it.
India warns that Obama “is barking up the wrong Tree” when it comes to Kashmir
This might present a challenge to the new President:
India has warned US President Barack Obama that he risks “barking up the wrong tree” if he seeks to broker a settlement between Pakistan and India over the disputed territory of Kashmir.
MK Narayanan, India’s national security advisor, said that the new US administration was in danger of dredging up out of date Clinton administration-era strategies in a bid to bring about improved ties between the two nuclear armed neighbours.
“I do think that we could make President Obama understand, if he does nurse any such view, that he is barking up the wrong tree. I think Kashmir today has become one of the quieter and safer places in this part of the world,” Mr Narayanan said in an interview with CNBC TV18.
“It’s possible that at this time there are elements, perhaps in the administration who are harking back to the pre-2000 era.”
The warning comes as Richard Holbrooke, Mr Obama’s special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, prepares to come to the region for the first time in his new capacity. Mr Narayanan is close to Manmohan Singh, India’s prime minister, and Sonia Gandhi, the president of the ruling Congress Party.
It seems that Obama is not going to the force that rights all the wrongs that are in the world after all. This will another in a series of challenges for the new President. I wonder what he will do in response?
(H/T Drudge)
Trackposted to The Virtuous Republic, Rosemary’s Thoughts, Wingless – Alastair Crooke on Gaza & Hamas – living in the twilight zone!, DragonLady’s World, Wingless – Sura 5:32 – When Killing isn’t Murder, Leaning Straight Up, Cao’s Blog, Democrat=Socialist, Conservative Cat, Nuke’s, Allie is Wired, third world county, Faultline USA, Woman Honor Thyself, Wingless – What Lead to Cast Lead, The World According to Carl, Walls of the City, Wingless – Cuba: Beautiful Country, People…Not so Beautiful System…, Rosemary’s News and Ideas, The Pink Flamingo, Wingless, and Right Voices, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
Ouch: US Loses two major supply lines to Afghanistan
This is not good, at all:
The U.S.-led campaign against the Taliban suffered two logistical blows Tuesday as the president of Kyrgyzstan announced that he’d shut a U.S. airbase in his country and insurgents in Pakistan blew up a bridge, disrupting the main U.S. supply route into Afghanistan.
The developments were the latest reminders of the vulnerability of the long and complex transportation system on which the 60,000 U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan depend for fuel, ammunition, construction materials and a great deal more.
The announcement by Kyrgyzstan President Kurmanbek Bakiyev that he will close the Manas Air Base also gave President Barack Obama a first taste of the challenge he faces from Russia, which is trying to restore its clout in countries that were part of the former Soviet Union.
Bakiyev made his announcement in Moscow, not in his own capital, shortly after the Russian government reportedly agreed to lend Kyrgyzstan $2 billion, write off $180 million in debt and add another $150 million in aid. The timing and place of the announcement indicated the Kremlin’s involvement.
“It’s a direct challenge to the new American administration. Russia is going out of its way to close an American base,” said Pavel Felgenhauer, a Moscow-based military analyst.
via McClatchy Washington Bureau — U.S. supply routes to Afghanistan suffer two huge blows.
I tend to agree with Ed Morrissey who writes:
The problem was never in Krygyzstan. Biden predicted that world leaders would challenge Obama and his inexperience within the first few months of the adminstration, but they’ve already started to line up in the first few days. Iran launched a satellite on an ICBM to show they could go ballistic once they have nuclear weapons. North Korea reportedly has set up another ICBM for a test to threaten Seoul. Now Russia has flipped an ally in the war on terror — and all of this in the first 14 days of Obama’s presidency.
Indeed, I believe this is simply Russia trying to test Obama, to see how he will react. Also, Russia is having problems with it’s people. They are bit angry about the problems with the economy. As I so blogged about yesterday. It could very well be that Putin is attempting to save face with the citizens of Russia by trying to show a little aggression towards Obama and by proxy; America.
Obama: “I screwed up”
This is pretty bad.
“I screwed up,” President Barack Obama told NBC’s Brian Williams Tuesday in the wake of his nominee to be secretary of health and human services, Tom Daschle, withdrawing his name from consideration.
Daschle dropped out after acknowledging that he had belatedly paid more than $128,000 in taxes owed to the federal government.
“Today was an embarrassment for us,” Obama said. He said he was “angry,” “disappointed” and “frustrated with myself” over the Daschle episode.
I guess the whole idea of Obama being the Messiah is basically shot in the butt now, ain’t it?
The Video:
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Man, it’s only 2 weeks into his term. Good lord, I’m going to have material for four years.
Daschle is out
Another one bits the dust! I guess I was quite wrong, I thought Daschle would ride it out. I guess not.
Former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle on Tuesday withdrew his nomination to oversee the Health and Human Services Department, just a few hours after another Obama nominee also withdrew.
Both had controveries with taxes.
Earlier Tuesday, Nancy Killefer withdrew as President Barack Obama’s nominee to be the first chief performance officer for the federal government.
via Daschle withdraws Obama nomination – White House- msnbc.com.
While it might be sad, I think it is for the best. If one is going to preach hope and change, it is best to abide by that principle. I believe also it was because of the Democrat backlash as well.
New York Times turns on Daschle appointment
Now this is a switch! It seems that the cheerleader section for the Obama Administration has basically thrown one of their own under the bus. How quaint.
Via the Ol’ Gray Lady:
When President Obama nominated former Senator Tom Daschle to be his secretary of health and human services, it seemed to be a good choice. Mr. Daschle, as the co-author of a book on health care reform, knew a lot about one of the president’s signature issues. As a former Senate majority leader, he also knew a lot about guiding controversial bills through Congress, where he remains liked and respected by former colleagues.
Unfortunately, new facts have come to light — involving his failure to pay substantial taxes that were owed and his sizable income from health-related companies while he worked in the private sector — that call into question his suitability for the job. We believe that Mr. Daschle ought to step aside and let the president choose a less-blemished successor.
Mr. Daschle’s tax shortfall is particularly troubling because it comes on the heels of another nominee’s failure to pay taxes due. We were not pleased when the president’s Treasury secretary, Timothy Geithner, admitted that he had failed to pay tens of thousands of dollars in federal self-employment taxes while working for the International Monetary Fund despite having signed paperwork acknowledging the obligation.
Now we are confronted with an even larger lapse by Mr. Daschle, who failed to pay $128,000 in taxes, primarily for personal use of a car and driver provided to him by a private equity firm for which he consulted. Although the firm — headed by a major Democratic donor — had not issued a form 1099 for the value of the car service, Mr. Daschle said he became concerned last June that he might owe taxes on it and instructed his accountant to investigate. Neither was concerned enough to actually pay the taxes.
[……]
In both the Geithner and Daschle cases, the failure to pay taxes is attributed to unintentional oversights. But Mr. Daschle is one oversight case too many. The American tax system depends heavily on voluntary compliance. It would send a terrible message to the public if we ignore the failure of yet another high-level nominee to comply with the tax laws.
[…..]
Mr. Daschle is another in a long line of politicians who move cozily between government and industry. We don’t know that his industry ties would influence his judgments on health issues, but they could potentially throw a cloud over health care reform. Mr. Daschle could clear the atmosphere by withdrawing his name.
I could sit here and tell you, that I am shocked that the New York Times is turning on this appointment. But honestly? I am not, and I will tell you why. Honesty and integrity go a long way in Government. It would be derelict of me, however not to point out that a few other Senators are guilty of the same thing. Like Al Franken and Charlie Rangel for instance. As this article above says, our tax system, as unfair and heavy handed as it might seem to some, does rely heavily on a voluntary compliance. The question is what kind of message does it sent to the American people, if we have tax cheats in our high ranking offices in the United States Government? Not a very good one, I am afraid.
The real question is; will President Obama heed the advice of the New York Times? Something tells me that he will not, because Obama has said in the past, that he is not going to make decisions based upon what other people think. (Kind of like the guy that proceeded him….) So, it will be interesting to watch this unfold. Obama, the man whom basically the New York Times and other Liberal media outlets elected basically tells those same people to stow it and does what he wants to. Now that will make for some interesting blogging!
Update: It is being reported now, by various outlets that Tom Daschle has withdrawn his name.
Others on the subject: Commentary, Hot Air, , Soccer Dad, Power Line, Riehl World View
(Via Memeorandum)
Andrew Sullivan: Idiot Faux Conservative Douche Nozzle
Remember that rant by David Duke, regarding Michelle Steele’s election to the Republican Party Chair that I blogged about yesterday?
Well, it seems that a particular faux conservative has once again showed his incredibly liberal side. I am referring to faux conservative, illegal immigrant and Blogosphere resident fake conservative fag boy; Andrew Sullivan. Mr. Sullivan gives Duke his so-called “Malkin” award.
He is, of course, referring to syndicated columnist, Conservative Blogger and quite the serious MILF; Michelle Malkin. (Of course, I am kidding about the M.I.L.F. part! (Well, sorta… She is hot, and yes, I’d hit it, given the chance… :D)
Now this is where this blog entry might just veer off into swearing, name calling and a bit of anger, so, to be safe and because I happen to know that my readership has increased. I’m going to start the butt chewing after the fold.
Proceed at your own risk, DANGER! CONTENT WARNING AFTER THE FOLD!
Michael Steele-Gate continues
I wrote on this earlier, but now it seems that even more blowback from the far fringes of the Republican Party are now bellowing about the election of Michael Steele to the Republican Party’s National chair position. This time from no other than the God-Father and Master of Ceremonies of White Nationalism himself, Former Klansman and Republican Representative of Louisiana David Duke, who goes on, what can only be called a nuclear nut:
The Republican Party leadership in its latest act of self-immolation appointed, Michael Steele, a radical Black racist as the leader of the Party.
Steele is a passionate supporter of affirmative action programs that racially discriminate against tens of millions of White Americans. He also supports increased discrimination against White owned businesses in the awarding of non-merit and non-bid minority contracts. He is opposed to the death penalty and thinks that it is disproportionately applied to Blacks even though it is applied to White murderers at 500 percent higher than it is to Black murderers. He is also an advocate of more gun control legislation as well as a draconian, massively increased enforcement of the current laws. He is a servile dog of Israel and has condemned Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorists and yet said not a word of compassion for the 5,000 (half of them women and children) who have been maimed and murdered in Gaza by Israel’s weapons of mass destruction. He says that he would still support the Iraq War and the loss of 50,000 maimed Americans, 4500 killed and trillions in cost, even though the reason for the war (Weapons of Mass Destruction) was proven to be a lie.
When a reporter for the Washington Post interviewed me on the appointment, this is what I said:
I am glad these traitorous leaders of the Republican Party appointed this Black racist, affirmative action advocate to the head of the Republican party because this will lead to a huge revolt among the Republican base. As a former Republican official, I can tell you that millions of rank-and-file Republicans are mad as hell and aren’t going to take it anymore! We will either take the Republican Party back over the next four years or we will say, “To Hell With the Republican Party!” And we will take 90 percent of Republicans with us into a New Party that will take its current place!
I think the insanity of nominating “Mr. Amnesty” John McCain and now this Black racist — will lead to insurgency in the Republican ranks, and a lot of dissidents getting elected in Republican Party primaries around the country. This will result over the next four years a real move by millions of Republicans to take the party back to the populist issues that are not only right but can win for the Republican Party. We must end affirmative action, protect our gun rights and all our constitutional rights, have a moratorium on immigration, we must have protectionism, yes I said protect American businesses and their workers from NAFTA and GATT and the lie of free trade, and we must have America First, not foreign interventionism. Our boys should be home protecting the American borders a not being murdered on the borders of Iraq or Afghanistan. The time as come for Republican Party to stand up to Obama and defend American heritage, rights, and freedom!
Man, Wow. 
You think he might be just a wee bit angry? Duke goes on to call Michael Steel, “Obama Junior”. 
However, he does make some very valid points:
Some excerpts of media and direct quotes by Steele:
RNC Chairman Michael Steele Pledges Action RNC Chairman Michael Steele Pledges Action
January 30, 2009 by Michael Thompson in Associated ContentSome delegates at the RNC Chairman’s election in Washington, Michael Steele’s hometown, opposed Steele on the basis that he is not politically conservative enough for their tastes. This reflects the philosophic divisions that have afflicted the Republican National Committee at various times through history, most recently during the past three years. Michael Steele opposes the death penalty and supports affirmative action, unlike most Republicans.
Steele says he want more discrimination against White-owned businesses
Michael chaired a 17-member task force devoted to reforming Maryland’s Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), which works to provide more opportunities for minority-owned small businesses and further spur job growth and economic vitality. There are 82,000 minority-owned businesses in the state, accounting for 20% of all Maryland firms. Maryland ranks 2nd in the nation in having the most minority-owned businesses.
Source: Campaign site, MichaelSteeleForMaryland.com, “On the Issues” May 2, 2006
Steele wants stronger gun control laws and harder enforcement of the draconian laws on the books
Steele: “Society should draw lines. What do you need an assault weapon for, if you’re going hunting? That’s overkill. But I don’t think that means you go to a total ban for those who want to use gun for skeet shooting or hunting or things like that But what’s the point of passing gun laws if we’re not going to enforce them? If you want to talk about gun control, that’s where you need to start. We’ve got 300 gun laws on the books right now. At the end of the day, it’s about how we enforce the law.”
Source: Washington Post interview Oct 16, 2006
Opposed to the death penalty and thinks that is is disproportionately applied to Blacks (When in fact Whites receive a dramatically disproportionate percentage of death penalties.
Steele is personally opposed to the death penalty, but he has not publicly expressed his opinion on two executions [in Maryland]. Nor, he said, did he privately try to dissuade Gov. Ehrlich from signing the execution orders. He did, however, volunteer to undertake a study of the fairness of the death penalty to determine if minorities and the poor in Maryland receive a disproportionate share of death sentences. But that was in 2003, and three years later he has still not produced a finished report.
Source: By Michael Sokolove, New York Times Mar 26, 2006
Would still vote for the Iraq war even there were no weapons of mass destruction
I would think we’d still prosecute the war. But what I would do, if we’re going to do it, let’s make sure we have the right complement of personnel on the ground and that we are looking forward in this and not looking backwards. And that’s where I am right now: What are we going to do, what is our strategy to begin to move our soldiers home and have Iraqi government and leadership move forward and keeping what they want in Iraq?
Source: 2006 Maryland Senate debate on Meet the Press Oct 29, 2006
Works against the American business and their workers
Steele Supports Free Trade and actually led a trade mission to Africa where he called for no tariffs on these nation’s products where workers are paid a few cents per day. Such a policy would of course undermine American companies, American employment and wages.
“As Maryland’s Lieutenant Governor, Michael Steele led an historic trade mission to Ghana and South Africa to advance opportunities for small businesses in Maryland to bring their goods and services to the global market. In the United States Senate, Michael Steele will continue a growth-oriented dialogue with countries all over the world to advance the interests of Maryland businesses and to help them compete in an ever-changing global economy.”
Source: Campaign website, www.michaelsteeleformaryland.com, “Issues” Oct 25, 2006
Betrays the Republican base states!
Can Michael Steele lead GOP out of woods? Republican National Committee picks first black chair
By RICHARD SISK Daily News Washington Bureau, January 30th 2009“Steele quickly pledged to break the current mold of the GOP as a southern and southwestern stronghold and reach out to reclaim the party’s former base in New York and the Northeast.”
So, while I can see why Duke does not like the guy. It is the whole framing of his arguments that bug me to death. I mean, it’s the whole “Servile Dog of Israel” business that turns me off. I mean, can understand Duke’s feelings. But does he have to swerve into the Israel Bashing? 🙄
Of course, the Liberals are just loving this stuff. They’re listed below…
Others: Jack & Jill Politics, Ben Smith’s Blogs, Pam’s House Blend, Booman Tribune, Alas, a blog, and The Raw Story
Technorati Tags: politics ,opinion ,blacks ,whites ,racism ,Race Baiting ,obama ,Republican Party ,Democrats ,liberals ,David Duke
President Obama breaks another campaign promise
Here’s another campaign promise under the bus!
Via The L.A. Times:
The CIA’s secret prisons are being shuttered. Harsh interrogation techniques are off-limits. And Guantanamo Bay will eventually go back to being a wind-swept naval base on the southeastern corner of Cuba.
But even while dismantling these programs, President Obama left intact an equally controversial counter-terrorism tool.
Under executive orders issued by Obama recently, the CIA still has authority to carry out what are known as renditions, secret abductions and transfers of prisoners to countries that cooperate with the United States.
Current and former U.S. intelligence officials said that the rendition program might be poised to play an expanded role going forward because it was the main remaining mechanism — aside from Predator missile strikes — for taking suspected terrorists off the street.
The rendition program became a source of embarrassment for the CIA, and a target of international scorn, as details emerged in recent years of botched captures, mistaken identities and allegations that prisoners were turned over to countries where they were tortured.
The European Parliament condemned renditions as “an illegal instrument used by the United States.” Prisoners swept up in the program have sued the CIA as well as a Boeing Co. subsidiary accused of working with the agency on dozens of rendition flights.
But the Obama administration appears to have determined that the rendition program was one component of the Bush administration’s war on terrorism that it could not afford to discard.
So much for the changing all of the Bush Administration’s tactics to deal with terror. One would think that the left would raise a ruckus about this. But surprisingly, there’s not been the unhinged outrage that I expected.
Others: Hot Air, The Raw Story, theheretik.us, Liberty Street, Moe_Lane’s blog, Macsmind, Jules Crittenden and Pat Dollard
More on Kentucky Ice Storm-Gate
It seems that the Jammie Wearing Fool has Blogged on what I reported Yesterday.
Mr. Jammie writes:
Can you imagine the media reaction if this were George W. Bush? Heck, we’re still hearing about Hurricane Katrina nearly four years later.
Yes, I could. That’s because it happened while there was a Republican in office and the Democrats used that as a rallying cry for change. Oh, and because there were black people in involved too. But Because these are White Southerners and possibly even Conservatives, nobody in the liberal media cares.
Mr. Jammie also says:
Is Obama even aware what’s going on in Kentucky? I know he’s very busy between trashing Wall Street and Rush Limbaugh, but could he at least acknowledge these poor folks and get them some help?
I am sure that Obama is aware, whether cares or not, is another story. You have to remember those are the “Bitter and Clingy” one’s that did not vote for him. Kind of like the blacks in New Orleans who did not vote for Bush. It is simple case of, “Do I want to help these people? After all, they did not vote for me anyhow!” Perhaps it is a bit of a revenge towards the southern white community for what happened in New Orleans. Perhaps “President” Obama is saying to himself, “Let them damned honkeys suffer, after all MY people suffered more in New Orleans and even more so 300 years ago!”
So, I suppose this is revenge for what our forefathers did many years ago.
Update: Michelle Malkin finally gets around to blogging about it
Others: Associated Press, The Sundries Shack, Political Machine, Ed Driscoll.com, RedState, The Jawa Report and The Other McCain
Daschle-Gate Continues
The Scandal continues:
President Obama’s choice for health secretary, Tom Daschle, was aware as early as last June that he might have to pay back taxes for the use of a car and driver provided by a private equity firm, but did not inform the Obama transition team until weeks after Mr. Obama named him to the health secretary’s post, senior administration officials said Saturday.
As Senate Democrats rushed to save the nomination of Mr. Daschle, their former leader, the White House spent the day trying to explain how he survived its vetting process despite his failure to pay $128,000 in taxes.
The White House would not say when the president himself learned of the tax issue, but said Mr. Obama is standing by his nominee.
“The president believes that nobody is perfect, but that nobody is trying to hide anything,” Robert Gibbs, the president’s press secretary, said in an interview, adding, “I think Senator Daschle rightly is going to have to answer questions, but I think members will be satisfied with the answers that he gives and will understand that he’s the right man for the job.”
At least six leading Democratic senators have come out in support of Mr. Daschle, but the fate of his nomination is unclear. The Senate Finance Committee, which is charged with holding a confirmation hearing on Mr. Daschle’s nomination, will meet behind closed doors Monday to discuss his taxes. After Timothy F. Geithner, Mr. Obama’s Treasury secretary, faced similar issues, some senators may have little appetite for confirming another nominee with tax problems.
“It’s totally shocking,” an aide to a Democratic senator said Saturday. “Why do we have to continue to have the same story over and over again with these nominees?”
via Daschle Knew of Tax Issues Over Car Use Last June – NYTimes.com.
I find it absolutely amazing that the Democrats would still confirm this guy, after learning about all these indiscretions. But then again, integrity is not one of the Democrats strengths. If the shoe was on the other foot. The Republicans would have already withdrawn his nomination and someone else would have been offered. But because he is one the team of “The One”, he will confirmed and his tax problems quickly forgotten. Funny how that works, is it not?
Others: Althouse, Betsy’s Page, JustOneMinute
(via Memeornadum)
Terrible Ice Storm Rocks Kentucky, FEMA takes Five Days to respond, AP does not have the stones to critize Obama
Talk about the shoe being on the other foot! 🙄
The Story:
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has called up all of his Army National Guard troop and some Air National Guard units to get the state back on its feet following a crippling ice storm.
The addition of 3,000 soldiers and airmen makes 4,600 Guardsmen pressed into service. It’s the largest call-up in state history.
More than 400,000 people remain without power in Kentucky five days after the storm hit. Many others still lack electricity in other states from the Midwest into Appalachia.
The storm is suspected in at least 42 deaths across several states. Authorities say it could be weeks before some areas get power back.
The reason I say the above about the AP, is because if you look over on Tim Blair’s Blog, you see the following quotes from the AP:
Dozens of deaths have been reported and many people are pleading for a faster response to the power outages. Some in rural Kentucky ran short of food and bottled water, and resorted to dipping buckets in a creek …
Local officials grew angrier at what they said was a lack of help from the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[…]
Emergency Management Director Randell Smith … said roads are littered with fallen trees and people shivering in bone-chilling cold are in need.
“We’ve got people out in some areas we haven’t even visited yet,” Smith said. “We don’t even know that they’re alive.”
Smith said FEMA was still a no-show days after the storm
But if you go back to the original AP article, the parts quoted above are gone! Just like magic. Could it be that the editors at the AP, are scared of “The One” and fear that criticizing his response to this disaster in Kentucky might put at risk their ability to report from the White House?
Further more, five days?!?!?!?! Does anyone remember the outrage expressed by the Liberal media, after the disaster in New Orleans during Katrina? I have yet to hear any sort of outrage about this from CNN, I have yet to hear Anderson Vanderbilt Cooper yelling at Government officals on his show.
But the “magic one” did give a phone call, so it’s all good!:
Kentucky’s governor is praising the Obama administration’s prompt reaction to the fierce wintry weather that slammed his state.
“They really hit the ground running,” said Steve Beshear, interviewed by CNN. “They’re working very hard to get all the equipment and supplies here that we need.”
Crews have been working to restore power and water service to hundreds of thousands of people. Beshear said that while he realizes “nothing moves fast enough,” he said the federal assistance “has been a great help to us so far.”
Beshear, a Democrat, explained that when the first wave of bad weather came through on Tuesday and Wednesday morning, officials realized that they needed additional help.
“I called the White House directly at that time. I had my other folks talking to FEMA, but I went straight to the top because we needed fast help,” he said.
He said he spoke to the director of intergovernment relations and said she walked Kentucky’s paperwork through. He said President Obama called him and told him he was announcing an emergency declaration for the state.
“I can’t tell you how appreciative we were,” the governor said. “He not only expressed his concern, but he obviously had the Kentuckians in his thoughts and prayers, and he communicated that to us.”
Oh, He called, big whoopee do! Why isn’t he down there? Why isn’t he doing more? Oh wait, that’s because he’s a Democrat and they can do no wrong. My Bad.
Does anyone remember this picture, that left about lost thier mind over?
I remember how the liberal media crucified Bush over this. But Obama just makes a Phone call and he gets off, scott free!
Can you say Bias?
I knew you could!
Update: Michelle Malkin finally gets around to Blogging about it.
Others: Right Wing Nut House and Tim Blair
So much for that idea!
How’s that appeasing the terrorists idea working out for ya Barry?
The Video: (via BreitBart)
The Story:
US President Barack Obama’s offer to talk to Iran shows that America’s policy of “domination” has failed, the government spokesman said on Saturday.
“This request means Western ideology has become passive, that capitalist thought and the system of domination have failed,” Gholam Hossein Elham was quoted as saying by the Mehr news agency.
“Negotiation is secondary, the main issue is that there is no way but for (the United States) to change,” he added.
After nearly three decades of severed ties, Obama said shortly after taking office this month that he is willing to extend a diplomatic hand to Tehran if the Islamic republic is ready to “unclench its fist”.
In response, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad launched a fresh tirade against the United States, demanding an apology for its “crimes” against Iran and saying he expected “deep and fundamental” change from Obama.
Iranian politicians frequently refer to the US administration as the “global arrogance”, “domineering power” and “Great Satan”.
Tensions with the United States have soared over Iran’s nuclear drive and Ahmadinejad’s vitriolic verbal attacks against Washington’s close regional ally Israel.
Former US president George W. Bush refused to hold talks with the Islamic republic — which he dubbed part of an “axis of evil” — unless it suspended uranium enrichment, and never took a military option to thwart Tehran’s atomic drive off the table.
The new administration of Obama has also refused to rule out any options — including military strikes — to stop Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Iran denies any plans to build the bomb and insists its nuclear programme is solely aimed at peaceful ends.
One would think that the Democrats would learn from history. But, as we all know, Liberals have short memory spans. Kind of like the rest of America. 🙄
Obama would be wise to wait till after the elections in Iran to try and do this, because right now, that meatball Ahmadinejad is in power; and that guy is about nutty as they come. I’ve read before that not all of Iran likes the guy, especially among the people on the ground in the cities. So, the election should tell it, unless it s rigged, like the rest of that part of the world.
But then again, we are talking about Liberal Moonbats. 😛
Others on the subject: Townhall.com, Little Green Footballs, Jihad Watch, THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS, Don Surber and Newshoggers.com
(For those coming over and wondering why I trackbacked the wrong story… sorry, I make a mistake, I quickly fixed it…)