Showing posts with label MSM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MSM. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Hilarity: White House Press Secretary and Former MSM "Reporter" Jay Carney Gets Punched For 10 Minutes Straight on Lack of an Obama Plan

President Obama probably never anticipated that one day he'd yearn for Robert Gibbs.

After bobbing-and-weaving for nine minutes, Carney finally says what everybody knows: the president won’t put his plan on paper because he doesn’t want it to become “politically charged” before a compromise can be reached. In other words, you’ve got to pass it to find out what’s in it...

...So POTUS doesn’t have a plan, as such. The Republicans, for their part, have several. But the president’s senior advisers are recommending that he veto the latest.

Of course! He wants to "fundamentally transform" the country by bankrupting it!


The only qualification you need to write for The New York Times: you must be a lying sack of excrement

Yesterday's Times op-ed on the debt ceiling ("The Republican Wreckage") does an admirable job of parroting the Obama administration's talking points: diffuse blame for the debt crisis; obfuscate the cause of the debt crisis; and ignore the 820 days that Democrats have gone without producing a budget.

In short, The New York Times welcomes America's new Chinese overlords.

Consider the key logs the authors squeezed out:

"[Republicans] have largely succeeded in their campaign to ransom America’s economy for the biggest spending cuts in a generation"


Please review the accompanying chart, courtesy of the Office of Management and Budget (a claque of neo-con terrorist racist teabaggers, no doubt). In short, the 111th Congress and President Obama initiated the biggest spending spree and deficit spending in all of world history.

That some conservative Republicans are trying to unwind it is heroic. Failure to do so will mean a debt rating downgrade; and that will be on Obama's head -- not the Republicans.

As for wrecking the economy? What do you call Obama's wreck-ord?

"In a scathing prime-time television address Monday night, President Obama stepped off the sidelines to tell Americans the House Republicans were threatening a 'deep economic crisis'"


Scathing? Or did it simply consist of reading pure, unadulterated, focus-group-tested demagoguery off a teleprompter?

How did we get to this point?

Could it be that in 1960, federal spending was 27% of GDP... today it is 37%. On the Obama trajectory, federal spending will consume 50% of GDP by 2038. Could it be that today 51% of working Americans have no federal income tax liability and 70% take more than they put in?

The system is unsustainable. Of course, economic collapse -- or, as Obama likes to call it, "fundamental transformation" -- appears to be the goal of the Cloward-Piven Democrats.

And what's with the incessant demonization of "corporate jets"? Who builds these "corporate jets"? Who services them? Who flies them? Who fuels them? A bunch of "millionaires and billionaires"?

No. It's just more standard, Marxist class-warfare rhetoric, designed to divide Americans and destroy free enterprise. Which is the intent.

"Mr. Reid’s proposal does at least protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security"


Medicare just had $500 billion stolen from it by Obamacare and is set to go bust in a dozen years -- that's according to the right-wing, tea-bagging, homophobic extremists known as the Medicare Actuaries. Medicaid is bankrupting the states. And Social Security will collapse a few years after Medicare kicks the bucket.

Some "protection".

It's almost like the Medicare Actuaries don't exist; the CBO doesn't exist; all of the economists who've warned that the deficit spending is unsustainable don't exist. Only within the Times' progressive reality field do Obama's massive deficits make fiscal sense.

Which is why the only qualification to write for The New York Times is that you need to be a lying sack of excrement. And don't smell your hands after reading a copy.


Hat tip: Memeorandum.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Your unbiased legacy media at work: Reuters labels Norwegian mass-murderer 'right-wing' 25 times

Gee, I don't detect any bias from Reuters in this reporting, do you?

Remember when MSNBC posed the question ‘Who cares?’ about the religion of the Fort Hood shooter? Or when the media were quick to simply label Nidal Hasan as a lone wolf? The [Reuters] article ("Norway attack: Right-wing extremism emerging?") mentions that the Norway terror suspect, Anders Behring Breivik, is a right-wing extremist – no less than 25 times. The liberal media has been quick to cite right-wing extremism for every horrific event (Tucson shooting, census worker suicide, etc.) for about 10 years now, so they will be quick to score political points off the graves of over 90 innocent people by labeling the suspect as being part of a right-wing Christian group, no doubt. If that is part of his background, then it is vital information to a report. But so is having a history of Islamic extremism.

The media takes careful steps to cover up information when a terror attack is perpetrated by a Muslim, but are willing to point out that a terror attack has been perpetrated by a right-wing Christian ad-nauseum.

This is why legacy media is dying: it is simply a sad joke that couldn't report honestly on events if it tried. The new book Left Turn proves -- statistically -- that the media is irretrievably biased.

Which is why the vast majority of Americans now dismiss it.


Image: BrutallyHonest.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

While Tucker Carlson Is Busy Investigating Michele Bachmann's Medicine Cabinet, Check Out This Scrapbook Biff Spackle Found

Yoo hoo, Tucker, look what our enterprising cub reporter Biff Spackle found in the dumpster behind ACORN headquarters:

The Secret Scrapbook of Barry Soetero Barack Obama

My early mentor "Frank" in Hawaii. Pity the neocons found out who it really was!

Here's my original registration at my first school in Jakarta, Indonesia. It has my old name (Barry Soetoro) with my religion listed as Islam. Go figure.

My grass roots organizing days, training ACORN (note: I don't condone trading crack cocaine for votes - "aggressive" voter registration: yes, crack: no).

At the beginning of my political career. I was a member of the Democratic Socialists of America's New Party and got a great endorsement from them. Stepping stones, baby, stepping stones! Of course, I still believe in wealth redistribution!

My first sugar daddy -- Tony Rezko -- in the early years. And to think I used to consider 250 grand a lot of dough!

The education guru, Bill Ayers! Thank goodness no one ever figured out that he named me the Chairman of the Annenberg Challenge before the political "coming out party" at his and Bernadine's house!

Here's me and Jimmy Hoffa (the son, silly, I was only 9 when his Dad disappeared!)

My spiritual mentor, Jeremiah, who always gets the crowd riled up! (Of course, I never heard any of it -- tee hee!)

Me and Michie at the Arab-American Action Network dinner with Ed Said (hey, he's no longer a member of the PLO, 'cause he's dead!)

Boy, this church newsletter caused me some problems! Jeremiah published this Hamas editorial and I heard no end of grief. Of course, no one in the real world knows I read it and empathize!

My buddy the Rev. James Meeks (I know he's a gay-basher, but he mixes a great martini!)

This is from my trip to Kenya in '96 where I supported my cousin Raila Odinga. He was also running for office. He's a great guy who wants to bring order back to the country (I know so because he signed this "Memorandum of Understanding" to bring Taliban-style Sharia law to Kenya)!

Two community organizers make good!

Back in the motherland!

Here's ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick -- he's in a bit of legal trouble, but I included this photo 'cuz it shows my favorite teleprompter.

I hate that b***h!

I LOVE THIS GUY!


Wednesday, July 20, 2011

I'll Give You Three Guesses Who's Behind The Daily Caller's Migraine Hit Piece on Michele Bachmann (Or Should I Call It 'The Daily Cromney'?)

Monday's feature article on Michele Bachmann in The Daily Cromney ("Stress-related condition ‘incapacitates’ Bachmann; heavy pill use alleged") was one of the more thinly veiled Beltway hit pieces in recent memory. Reporter Jonathan Strong -- if that is his real name -- utilized a series of laughably anonymous and unattributable allegations to tar Bachmann.

The Minnesota Republican frequently suffers from stress-induced medical episodes that she has characterized as severe headaches. These episodes, say witnesses, occur once a week on average and can “incapacitate” her for days at time

...Some close to Bachmann fear she won’t be equal to the stress of the campaign, much less the presidency itself.

...“As president, when she’s in crisis management mode, is she going to have the physical ability to withstand the most difficult challenges facing America?” the former aide asks.

TheDC agreed to provide the sources anonymity because they were providing information only a select group of people could know, at great professional risk...

...Two sources independently provided detailed accounts of Bachmann’s condition. A third source confirmed that Bachmann frequently suffers from debilitating headache episodes.

Coincidentally, two sources reported to me that Jonathan Strong enjoys consorting with underaged panda bears. They brought this information at great professional risk to themselves. A third source confirmed that Strong has been seen at the zoo late at night wearing only a trench coat.

I find it fascinating that a powerful media outlet -- associated with an inside-the-Beltway regular, Tucker Carlson -- suddenly attacks Michele Bachmann using New York Times-style tactics (remember the fabricated McCain/lobbyist affair hit piece?). There's only one reason for this sort of thing: Mitt Romney is feeling the heat.

And, gee, Tucker, aren't there more important things to "investigate" if we're going to save this Republic?

Ah... Sorry to bother you President Obama, Sir

Excuse me Mr. Obama, I mean President Obama, sir. Uhm... know you are busy and important and stuff. I mean serving as president is very important and . . . ah... I hate to bother you. I will only take a minute okay, sir?

See, I have these missing pieces that are holding me up, and I was wondering sir, if you could take time out of your busy schedule and help me out. You know, no big deal, just some loose ends and things.

Hey, this White House sure is a nice place! The wife sees pictures of this place on TV all the time and says boy she wishes she had digs like this you know? Is that painting real? Really? Wow. I saw something like that in a museum once!

Oh, sorry sir. I didn't mean to get off the track. So if you could just help me out a minute and give me some details, I will get right out of your way. I want to close this case and maybe take the wife to Coney Island or something. Ever been to Coney Island? No, I didn't think so...

Well, listen, anyways, I can't seem to get some information I need to wrap this up. These things seem to either be 'locked' or 'not available'. I'm sure it's just some oversight or glitch or something, so if you could you tell me where these things are... ... ...have them written down here somewhere... oh wait. Sorry about the smears. It was raining out. I'll just read it to you.

Could you help me please find these things, sir?

1. Occidental College records and transcripts -- Not released
2. Columbia University records and transcripts -- Not released
3. Columbia Thesis paper -- 'not available'
4. Harvard University records and transcripts -- Not released
5. Selective Service Registration -- Not released
6. Medical records -- Not released
7. Illinois State Senate schedule -- 'not available'
8. Law practice client list -- Not released
9. Written correspondence with B. Ayers, R. Khalidi, E. Said, J. Wright, etc. -- Not released
10. Embossed, signed paper Birth Certificate -- Not released
11. Harvard Law Review articles published -- None
12. University of Chicago scholarly articles -- None
13. Record of Baptism -- Not released or 'not available'
14. Illinois State Senate records -- 'not available'

Oh hey... listen! I know you are busy! Is this too much for you now? I mean tell you what. I will come back tomorrow. Give you some time to get these things together, you know? I mean, I know you are busy, so I will just let myself out. I will be back tomorrow. And the day after...

'Who wants to know these things?' asks President Obama.

The American People, answers Columbo.

But not Tucker Carlson, apparently.

You can help out Michele Bachmann's campaign here.


Related: Famous Americans with Migraines.


Linked by: Ed Driscoll. Thanks!

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Can you guess what's different about Andrew Cuomo? [R.B.]

R.B. writes:

Andrew Cuomo took on the public employee unions -- and forced concessions from them -- in order to balance the New York State budget with spending cuts and without tax increases. Chris Christie (New Jersey), Scott Walker (Wisconsin), and John Kasich (Ohio) did pretty much the same thing in their states

But only Cuomo emerged from his battles with the unions lauded by media for his actions. Can you guess what made Cuomo different from the others?

Party Affiliation Determined Coverage of State-Union Battles


Jonathan S. Tobin 07.19.2011 - 12:59 PM

During the last several months, the governors of three states have gone toe-to-toe with powerful state unions in order to undo the harm done by their predecessors’ capitulations to state workers on wages and benefits. In Wisconsin and New Jersey, Republicans Scott Walker and Chris Christie were subjected to unprecedented abuse by the unions and their supporters. Yet in New York, Andrew Cuomo not only overcame union resistance, he managed to do so without much negative press, let alone the deluge of insults and demonization his colleagues suffered...

...Lacking the same political leverage their colleagues in Wisconsin and New Jersey possessed, the New York unions were forced to meekly bow to Cuomo’s dictates and accept drastic changes in compensation and benefits. Instead of being branded as a polarizing figure as was the case with Walker and Christie, Cuomo gets to play the state’s fiscal hero.

...as much as he deserves the praise for taking on a tough situation, the main lesson of this story is to show just how biased is the coverage of the not dissimilar confrontations elsewhere. As much as the collective bargaining issue helped generate sympathy for Wisconsin unions which refused to accept responsibility for the state’s parlous financial health, Walker’s goals were very similar to those of Cuomo. It should also be noted that like Cuomo, Christie didn’t touch the collective bargaining issue. Yet, he was branded a “Nazi” by rabble-rousing union thugs just like Walker, a slur never aimed once at the governor of New York.

The moral of the story is that unions and their cheering section in the liberal mainstream media can call a fiscally responsible Republican any name in the book and make it stick. But Democrats with the same intent get to play by different rules of engagement that can allow them to get tough with unions without being smeared...

This theme aligns perfectly with the spectacular new book Left Turn, which quantitatively measures the liberal lens through which Americans are forced to view events.


Thursday, July 14, 2011

Acting like a dictatorship: White House tried repeatedly to exclude honest news channels from reporting on administration

Mark Levin has repeatedly stated that Barack Obama is the first president in history who "thinks like a dictator". But does this statement go too far?

Consider the Wiktionary definition of the word fascism, which reads as follows:

A political regime, usually totalitarian, ideologically based on centralized government, government control of business, repression of criticism or opposition, a leader cult, and exalting the state and/or religion above individual rights.

Judicial Watch has unearthed documents that confirm the President's desire to suppress dissent.

[These documents show] the Obama administration, contrary to its repeated denials, attempted to exclude the Fox News Channel (FNC) from a round of interviews with Treasury’s “Executive Pay Czar” Kenneth Feinberg. The documents, which include email exchanges within the Department of the Treasury and between Treasury and White House staff, also provide colorful evidence of an anti-Fox News bias within the Obama White House.

...According to press reports, the Fox News Channel was specifically excluded from joining the pool of reporters which precipitated a backlash among the networks and a reversal by the Obama Treasury Department.

According to The New York Times: “Fox’s television news competitors refused to go along with a Treasury Department effort on Thursday [October 22, 2009] to exclude Fox from a round of interviews with the executive-pay czar Kenneth R. Feinberg that was to be conducted with a ‘pool’ camera crew…”. Fox News Channel’s James Rosen reported this backlash forced the Obama administration to reconsider its position on the matter: “The Washington bureau chiefs of the five TV news network consulted and decided that none of them would interview Feinberg unless Fox was included, and the administration relented…,” reported Rosen. Ultimately, after other media representatives objected, Fox News Channel was allowed to participate in the interviews.

The Treasury Department’s official response, as detailed in back-and-forth emails uncovered by Judicial Watch, included a clear denial of any such plot to exclude Fox News from the interviews: “There was no plot to exclude Fox News, and they had the same interview that their competitors did. Much ado about absolutely nothing.” Moreover, in an October 23, 2009 email to New York Times reporter Jim Rutenberg, Jake Siewart, Counselor to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, repeated the denial that there was an effort to exclude Fox News Channel: “Call me today on your Fox-Treasury report,” Siewart wrote. “Not true that there was an ‘effort to exclude’ Fox.”

However ..., internal Obama administration emails [show] that FNC was specifically singled out for exclusion. According to one October 22, 2009, email exchange between Dag Vega, Director of Broadcast Media on the White House staff, to Jenni LeCompte, then-Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs in the Treasury Department, Vega informs LeCompte that “…we’d prefer if you skip Fox please.”

...In an email on the night of October 22, 2009, commenting on a report by Fox News Channel anchor Bret Baier noting the exclusion of the network from the pool, Psaki writes to Compte and fellow White House colleagues, “…brett baier just did a stupid piece on it -- but he is a lunatic”.

Deputy White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest bluntly described the White House’s position on Fox News Channel in an October 23, 2009, email to LeCompte: “We’ve demonstrated our willingness and ability to exclude Fox News from significant interviews…”

The Treasury Department blacked out a key email regarding its refusal to make available Treasury Secretary Geithner for an interview on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace.

Just as they do with the rest of the Bill of Rights, the minor-league Chicago thugs occupying the White House could care less about the First Amendment. They despise free speech; they act like petulant children when criticized; and when confronted on controversial topics, they lie -- early and often.

Come to think of it, the Second Amendment equivalent of this report is Eric Holder's "Operation Fast and Furious".


Wednesday, July 13, 2011

CBS: Racist!

Why would CBS headline an article quoting Obama as saying "Nobody can be messing with our embassy"? In all seriousness, that's just bizarre.

Look, no matter what you think about his policies, Barack Obama is an articulate and well-spoken man. So I do find it somewhat odd and offensive that CBS would pick out an inartful turn of phrase to use as a headline.

CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley asked President Obama today about the attacks on the U.S. embassy.

"Yesterday the U.S. embassy in Damascus was attacked by a mob," Pelley said. "I wonder what you say to the dictator in Syria?"

"Well, you know, we've been very clear that what we've seen on the part of the Syrian regime has been an unacceptable degree of brutality, directed at its people," Mr. Obama said. "We've certainly sent a clear message that nobody can be messing with our embassy. And that we will take whatever actions necessary in order to protect our embassy. And I think they've gotten that message."

Expect Al "Not so" Sharpton and Jesse Jerkson to file a formal complaint with the Bureau of Race-Baiting.


Hat tips: Mark Levin and JCP.

Wednesday, July 06, 2011

Top 20 Censored #AskObama Questions

If anyone can find the complete list of #AskObama questions that were posed to the President, please let me know in the comments. In the mean time, here are my top 20 questions that "curators" (i.e., censors) didn't ask -- for obvious reasons.

20. @uschamber: Will you help businesses and free enterprise create #jobs by getting government out of the way? #AskObama

19. @jimgeraghty: Under 8 years of George W. Bush, the unemployment rate was never above 7.3%. When will it be that low again? #AskObama

18. @mrmichaelwilt: What is an acceptable level of debt, and why? #AskObama

17. @SpeakerBoehner: Will you take tax hikes off the table, or tell the American people how raising taxes will create jobs?

16. @jimmiebjr: I have Jewish friends who lack devil horns & pointed tails. Are they hiding them or are your "partners for peace" wrong? #AskObama

15. @jltho: #AskObama: Can you name states 51-57?

14. @GOPoversight: #AskObama: how are your job-crushing #regulations helping #smallbiz owners like Neil?

13. @iowahawkblog: #askobama When you're visiting his volcano lair, does George Soros let you feed the laser sharks?

12. @DarrellIssa: #AskObama: who authorized your administration's operation #fastandfurious?

11. @ToddRokita: Your budget was rejected by Senate 97-0 & Dems haven’t produced budget in 700+ days. Where is your economic plan? #AskObama

10. @jimgeraghty: When long-term unemployment is higher than during the Great Depression, why do you insist we are "headed in the right direction"? #AskObama

9. @SpielzOnWheels: #AskObama How do you explain your administrations continued antagonism toward Israel our most important ally in the Middle East?

8. @IngrahamAngle: #AskObama Have you spoken to the families of the border agents slain as a result of fast and furious?

7. @jimgeraghty: Why did your Department of Housing and Urban Development just give a $78K grant to ACORN? http://mwne.ws/pdjTpq #AskObama

6. @keder: Have you noticed a spike in the price of arugula thanks to the inflation caused by your spending addiction? #AskObama

5. @corrinalea: How much has your golf game improved since you took office? #AskObama

4. @Doc_0: Under what conditions would you pronounce a gov't program a "failure" that should be terminated? Name one such program. #AskObama

3. @iowahawkblog: #askobama if Eric Holder gets indicted in the Operation Fast & Furious, should he get a civilian trial?

2. @CFHeather: Before you raise taxes on hardworking Americans, why not get rid of the special interest loopholes that allow $GE to pay no taxes? #AskObama

1. @iowahawkblog: #askobama Who are these "those who say"?

It's a tough job serving as one of Twitter's Q&A censors curators. Think about it: you've got to find a topic that doesn't touch upon the president's epic failures on both the domestic and foreign policy fronts.

As @amandacarpenter noted on Twitter: the "saddest part about #AskObama are all the good, hard-hitting questions that will never actually get asked."

Indeed.


Graphics: SimplyMeasured. Linked by: Weasel Zippers and Linkiest. Thanks!

Gunrunner Bombshell: ATF Director Secretly Testifies That DOJ Lied to Congress and Obstructed Its Investigation

ATF Director Ken Melson secretly testified Monday before the House Oversight Committee concerning Project Gunwalker -- without the knowledge of either the Justice Department or the ATF. Most importantly, he directly refuted the official "party line" coming from Washington regarding "Operation Fast and Furious":

• Contrary to denials by the DOJ, Melson said agents had witnessed transfers of weapons from straw purchasers to third parties without following the guns further

• The team executing Operation Fast and Furious had been placed under the direction of the Arizona U.S. Attorney’s office

• The DOJ is reported to have intentionally withheld documents from Congress that Melson has now provided to the Committee

As a result of that meeting, the Committee issued a scathing open letter to Attorney General Eric Holder accusing him of stonewalling the investigation into "Operation Gunrunner", the disastrous effort to smuggle weapons to Mexican drug cartels for reasons not yet fully understood.

Dear Attorney General Holder:

Yesterday, Acting ATF Director Kenneth Melson participated in a transcribed interview regarding Operation Fast and Furious and related matters with both Republican and Democratic staff. He appeared with his personal counsel, Richard Cullen of McGuire Woods LLP. His interview had originally been scheduled through the Justice Department to occur on July 13 in the presence of DOJ and ATF counsel. As you know, however, under our agreement Department witnesses who choose to attend a voluntary interview with their own lawyer are free to exercise that right rather than participate with counsel representing the Department's interests.

After being made aware of that provision of our agreement, Acting Director Melson chose to exercise that right and appeared with his own lawyer. We are disappointed that no one had previously informed him of that provision of the agreement. Instead, Justice Department officials sought to limit and control his communications with Congress. This is yet another example of why direct communications with Congress are so important and are protected by law.

Acting Director Melson's cooperation was extremely helpful to our investigation. He was candid in admitting mistakes that his agency made and described various ways he says that he tried to remedy the problems. According to Mr. Melson, it was not until after the public controversy that he personally reviewed hundreds of documents relating to the case, including wiretap applications and Reports of Investigation (ROIs). By his account, he was sick to his stomach when he obtained those documents and learned the full story. Mr. Melson said that he told the Office of the Deputy Attorney General (ODAG) at the end of March that the Department needed to reexamine how it was responding to the requests for information from Congress.

According to Mr. Melson, he and ATF's senior leadership team moved to reassign every manager involved in Fast and Furious, from the Deputy Assistant Director for Field Operations down to the Group Supervisor, after learning the facts in those documents. Mr. Melson also said he was not allowed to communicate to Congress the reasons for the reassignments. He claimed that ATF's senior leadership would have preferred to be more cooperative with our inquiry much earlier in the process.

However, he said that Justice Department officials directed them not to respond and took full control of replying to briefing and document requests from Congress. The result is that Congress only got the parts of the story that the Department wanted us to hear. If his account is accurate, then ATF leadership appears to have been effectively muzzled while the DOJ sent over false denials and buried its head in the sand. That approach distorted the truth and obstructed our investigation. The Department's inability or unwillingness to be more forthcoming served to conceal critical information that we are now learning about the involvement of other agencies, including the DEA and the FBI.

The Role of DEA, FBI, and Other Agencies


When confronted with information about serious issues involving lack of information sharing by other agencies, which Committee staff had originally learned from other witnesses, Mr. Melson's responses tended to corroborate what others had said.

Specifically, we have very real indications from several sources that some of the gun trafficking "higher-ups" that the ATF sought to identify were already known to other agencies and may even have been paid as informants. The Acting Director said that ATF was kept in the dark about certain activities of other agencies, including DEA and FBI. Mr. Melson said that he learned from ATF agents in the field that information obtained by these agencies could have had a material impact on the Fast and Furious Government Accountability Office, "Department of Health and Human Services-Chief Actuary's Communications with Congress," B-302911 (Sep. 7, 2004) (discussing the history and background in support of the government-wide prohibition on attempts to prevent direct communications with Congress). As you know, obstructing or impeding a Congressional inquiry is also a criminal violation under 18 U.S.C. § 1505. investigation as far back as late 2009 or early 2010. After learning about the possible role of DEA and FBI, he testified that he reported this information in April 2011 to the Acting Inspector General and directly to then-Acting Deputy Attorney General James Cole on June 16, 2011.

The evidence we have gathered raises the disturbing possibility that the Justice Department not only allowed criminals to smuggle weapons but that taxpayer dollars from other agencies may have financed those engaging in such activities. While this is preliminary information, we must find out if there is any truth to it. According to Acting Director Melson, he became aware of this startling possibility only after the murder of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry and the indictments of the straw purchasers, which we now know were substantially delayed by the u.s. Attorney's Office and Main Justice. Mr. Melson provided documents months ago supporting his concerns to the official in the ODAG responsible for document production to the Committees, but those documents have not been provided to us.

It is one thing to argue that the ends justify the means in an attempt to defend a policy that puts building a big case ahead of stopping known criminals from getting guns. Yet it is a much more serious matter to conceal from Congress the possible involvement of other agencies in identifying and maybe even working with the same criminals that Operation Fast and Furious was trying to identify. If this information is accurate, then the whole misguided operation might have been cut short if not for catastrophic failures to share key information. If agencies within the same Department, co-located at the same facilities, had simply communicated with one another, then ATF might have known that gun trafficking "higher-ups" had been already identified. This raises new and serious questions about the role of DEA, FBI, the United States Attorney's Office in Arizona, and Main Justice in coordinating this effort. Nearly a decade after the September 11th attacks, the stovepipes of information within our government may still be causing tragic mistakes long after they should have been broken down.

Efforts to Oust Melson


In the last few weeks, unnamed administration officials have indicated to the press that Acting Director Melson would be forced to resign. According to Mr. Melson, those initial reports were untrue. Regardless of what we might have thought before about how he should handle a request to resign, we now know he has not been asked to resign. We also now have the benefit of hearing his side of the story and will have a chance to examine what he said and compare it to the other evidence we are gathering. However, that will take some time.

Mr. Melson served as the First Assistant to the U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia for 21 years, from 1986 to 2007. That is a career position. After the controversy over the firing of the U.S. Attorneys, he took over the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA). He indicated that he was asked to convert to a non-career Senior Executive Service (SES), a politically appointed position, in order to speed the hiring process, and he agreed. However, his former position at EOUSA is currently filled by a career SES employee, Marshall Jarrett. As you know, for civil servants, the distinction between career and non-career status is significant. In 2009, he said he was asked to take over as Acting Director of the ATF. Acting Director of the ATF is by its nature a temporary job. According to Mr. Melson, he was willing to serve the Department with the understanding that after a short tenure as Acting Director, he would return to a position as a career senior executive elsewhere within the Department.

However, two days after he told Acting Deputy Attorney General Cole about serious issues involving lack of information sharing, the Wall Street Journal reported that unnamed sources said that Melson was about to be ousted. The revelations about Operation Fast and Furious have focused intense scrutiny on the ATF. It has no doubt taken a toll on the agency and the good people who work there. Much of that damage has occurred because the Department prevented ATF from being more forthcoming and responsive to questions from Congress. This is the context in which Mr. Melson decided to submit to an on-the-record interview with private counsel, pursuant to our agreement with the Department.

Technically, Mr. Melson no longer enjoys the due process protections afforded to career officials. Given his testimony, unless a permanent director is confirmed, it would be inappropriate for the Justice Department to take action against him that could have the effect of intimidating others who might want to provide additional information to the Committees.

We hope that the Department will take a much more candid and forthcoming approach in addressing these very serious matters with the Committees. If other important fact witnesses like Mr. Melson have a desire to communicate directly with the Committees they should be informed that they are free to do so. They should also be notified that if they are represented by personal counsel, they may appear with personal counsel rather than with Department lawyers. Any decision about Mr. Melson's future with the Department would need to be justified solely on the basis of the facts and the needs of the agency, rather than on his decision to speak to us. We encourage you to communicate to us any additional significant information about any such decision so that we can work together to ensure that it would not impede our investigation. For now, the Office of Inspector General is still conducting its review, and we are still conducting ours. Knowing what we know so far, we believe it would be inappropriate to make Mr. Melson the fall guy in an attempt to prevent further congressional oversight.

Sincerely,

Darrell Issa, Chairman
Committee on Oversight & Government Reform
U.S. House of Representatives

Charles E. Grassley, Ranking Mmember
Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate

This story keeps expanding -- it is far, far worse than Iran-Contra ever was. And even legacy media -- ABC, Bloomberg, NPR, Reuters, US News & World Report, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post, etc. -- are now reporting on the story.

Of course, if you read The New York Times, you'd have no idea any of this had occurred.

Obstructing a Congressional investigation is a crime. It's clear that Gunrunner goes to the very top of the DOJ and, perhaps, even beyond it.


Linked by: TrendingRight (hit #1!). Thanks!

Tuesday, July 05, 2011

Advice for a Young Blogger: How to get a million or less hits on your blog over some unspecified period of time, maybe

Received:

Subject: hello

My name is miss glory 23 years old never married. l saw your profile today at and after going through it many times then l made up my mind to contact you as my friend. so l want you to write back to me through my email address so that l will give you my picture and for you to know who l am. l hope to see your mail ok. lt is from me,
miss glory

Oh. I'm sorry. Wrong email.

Subject: Blogging Advice

Hello,

My name is [C.H.] and I'm a junior Journalism student at [College name] in [City, State]. I recently started blogging again on my blog and I was wondering if I could get any advice from you on how to be a better blogger, attract readers, etc. In particular, I'm wondering where you find the news stories the mainstream media doesn't cover. But any advice you might have I would greatly appreciate.

Thank you so much for your time.

[C.H.]

C, here are my top 10 rules on the delicate topic of blogging.

10. Always link to stories on blogs around your size and smaller than yours -- to paraphrase Glenn Reynolds, you need an "Army of Davids" to help support your mission.

9. Always link to larger blogs: you never know when the likes of Hot Air, Instapundit or Michelle Malkin -- incredibly prolific consumers of media -- will notice and, perhaps someday, post a link to your site. Like losing your virginity, you will never forget your first Instalanche.

8. Always remember to thank those who link you or provide the sources for your stories, unless of course they prefer to remain anonymous. Here is an example of how I do it: "Hat tip: Gateway Pundit."

7. As for unconventional news stories that might pique your interest, my favorite sources for the offbeat are Drudge Report, Memeorandum and TrendingRight. Using Twitter and Facebook -- both for collecting news stories as well as providing updates to your followers (see TwitterFeed) -- is crucial as well.

6. Post a blog-roll and keep it up-to-date. This will come in handy when the previous suggestion doesn't tickle your fancy.

5. If you're so inclined, keep an updated list of headlines like Sister Toldjah or Weasel Zippers; these are stories that may not merit a story, but still deserve your readers' attention.

4. Try to keep content fresh and stories flowing, even if it means running a group blog or having guest bloggers. People don't visit sites that are static. If nothing changes between visits, there's really not a reason to surf to your site. As for myself, each day since January 9, 2009, I've posted Larwyn's Linx, my roundup of important stories. No matter what else is happening, regular readers can at least get a daily snapshot of my favorite articles.

3. Have a specialty that you love and are passionate about. Ed Driscoll and Noel Sheppard enjoy exposing the hypocrisy of legacy media. Fausta Wertz uses her multilingual abilities to provide expert news and analysis of Latin America. Black Five tackles defense and intelligence issues. Zero Hedge and Mish cut to the chase when it comes to the economy. Ace o' Spades uses brilliant, caustic humor to savage the left. Expertise plus passion equals kerploding traffic numbers!

2. Avoid internecine warfare if at all possible. Like any relationship, bloggers can have fallings-out. One of the more famous instances was the 2009 showdown between Atlas Shrugs, JihadWatch and LGF over the loyalties of European anti-Jihad groups. Had I really cared about European anti-Jihad groups, I would have researched the issue and weighed in. As it turned out, I didn't let the issue sway my opinions of any of the bloggers. That is, until LGF's Charles (author of my favorite blogging software) executed an ideological 180-degree turn. Even then, I've mostly just de-linked LGF as opposed to pillorying it. I have better things to do, like saving this Republic.

1. Read Robert Stacy McCain's "How to Get a Million Hits on Your Blog in Less Than a Year ", a neatly executed Tour de force on ramping your blog viewership.

Although I eschew Rule 5 because my wife gets pissed off for religious reasons.


Linked by: Instapundit, Memeorandum, American Power, The Other McCain, and The Lonely Conservative. Thanks!

Casey Anthony acquitted of all charges except for lying to police officers; looks forward to future role on Celebrity Rehab

O.J. Simpson hardest hit.

A Florida jury has acquitted Casey Anthony of murdering her 2-year-old daughter Caylee... She was charged with first-degree murder, which could have brought the death penalty if she had been convicted.

Anthony was found not guilty on all murder charges as well as aggravated child abuse and aggravated manslaughter. She was convicted of four counts of lying to investigators. Judge Belvin Perry will sentence her Thursday. She could receive up to a year in jail for each count.

...Prosecutors sat solemnly in their seats, looking stunned. Prosecutor Jeff Ashton shook his head slightly from side to side in apparent disbelief...

The bungled prosecution cost Orlando taxpayers between half-a-million and a million dollars.

Casey Anthony's BoobsThe level of attention paid to this trial by the media almost defies belief. Because, as my wife said earlier this week, if Casey Anthony wore a 32A bra, no one in America would have ever heard of her.


Friday, July 01, 2011

Today's "Reich Wing"

A favorite pejorative used by the progressive left is 'Reich Wing', designed to tar conservatives as Nazi-like extremists. Notwithstanding its nature as a premature violation of Godwin's Law, the term implies a certain set of characteristics presumably endemic to conservatives.

But let's examine those attributes to see if they have merit.

On the Constitution

While conservatives advocate for fidelity and loyalty to the nation's highest law -- the United States Constitution -- the progressive left tries to evade it. The term they use is "living and breathing", which simply means that the left can morph the law into whatever shape it wishes.

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan outlined the progressive's perspective in a 1993 tribute to Justice Thurgood Marshall. She quoted from a 1987 speech Marshall in which he said the Constitution as originally conceived and drafted was "defective" and that the mission of the Supreme Courtwas to “show a special solicitude for the despised and the disadvantaged.”

In other words, the Constitution could be "adjusted" to benefit certain parties at the expense of others -- certainly a far cry from the image of justice as a blindfolded seer weighing the merits of two arguments.

In 1933 Adolf Hitler subverted Germany's Weimar Constitution using subterfuge and pretext to eradicate civil rights.

Less than a month after Adolf Hitler’s appointment as chancellor in 1933, the Reichstag Fire Decree invoked Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution, suspending several constitutional protections on civil rights. The articles affected were 114 (habeas corpus), 115 (inviolability of residence), 117 (correspondence privacy), 118 (freedom of expression /censorship), 123 (assembly), 124 (associations), and 153 (expropriation).

On Free Speech

Conservatives believe in free political speech, in each and every situation. But that is not the case with today's leftists.

Put together the left's advocacy of "the Fairness Doctrine", its insistence on "Community Standards" for media, its hatred of the "Citizens United" decision, its efforts to "sabotage" certain news outlets, and one can come to no other conclusion but that it appears terrified of free speech.

No less an eminence grise than then-SCOTUS nominee Elena Kagan asserted that the United States government can ban political books and movies if necessary.

Elena Kagan argued on behalf of Citizens United essentially stating it would not be a violation of the First Amendment to have movies or even books banned. Of course, she only meant certain movies/books for specific times, but even so, I believe the point remains... all tyrants find a pretext for their tyranny. That tyranny may even begin with a humble, caring act, but one day we awake to find we have lost all freedom.

In Nazi Germany, officials banned at least 4,100 different publications. Censorship of media was a regular occurrence and all political messaging emanated from government bureaucrats.

On Intimidation by Uniformed Civilian Forces

Tea Party protests by conservative activists were uniformly civil and represented a true "rainbow coalition" of people with every background, race, religion, and culture.


In Wisconsin and other states, the Left used uniformed civilian enforcers -- including purple-clad SEIU thugs -- to threaten, intimidate and coerce lawmakers and taxpayers.

In Nazi Germany, the term Sturmabteilung (also known as 'Brown-shirts') was used to describe a para-military force deployed by Hitler prior to 1934. They were employed as street thugs and enforcers to attack the Nazis' political rivals in order to secure more power for Hitler's ring of leaders.

Leader Cult

From chants of 'Yes We Can' to a curious iconography that lives on even today, the rise of Barack Obama during the 2008 campaign was orchestrated using a marketing approach that could be considered the construction of a "cult of personality."

Obama was deified in the mainstream press, highlighted in scores of photos using a "halo effect", and lobbed softball questions during television appearances that seemed more like infomercials than serious journalistic affairs.

Such was the case with the rise of the Third Reich. Hitler's power "transcended his official title, reaching into the depths of Germans and German society [and] Hitler became a seemingly flawless revolutionary figure for the German people [and he took] specific measures [designed] to promote the view of himself as larger than life."

Who Is The Real 'Reich Wing'?

Who abuses the Constitution for crass partisan purposes? Who despises free speech and attempts to censor legitimate public opinion? Who rallies around a figure portrayed as some sort of messianic savior? Who uses uniformed thugs to intimidate lawmakers and taxpayers?

We all know who the "Reich Wing" is: it is today's far left Democrats that are now so radicalized even Communists are surprised.


Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Rubes [Dan from New York]

Dan from New York:

If you still get your news from the trained seals of the left-leaning lamestream media then you’re to be excused if you haven’t heard about the first "World Without Terrorism Conference" in – wait for it – Tehran over the weekend.

Curiouser still is the guest list, which included a number of prominent “US allies” who have been mega beneficiaries of American blood and treasure. As MEMRI reports, “the conferees included Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Pakistani President Asif 'Ali Zardari, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.” Andrew McCarthy also has details and commentary at National Review Online.

I guess this “conference” wasn’t a big story because it creates a nasty case of dissonance in the pea-size brains of our newsmen. When everyone’s ox is gored it’s hard to find the liberal slant. First and foremost, the event highlights the utter failure of Obama’s “engagement” policy, and what a pitiful sucker the President has willfully chosen to be at America’s expense. It also turns the spotlight on the ungrateful Muslim basterds and the neocons who love them. To think, our very own spawn are betraying us even before the last American has died on their behalf. Then there are the rosy cheeks and white shoes that make up our corps of sophisticated diplomats and spooks. Portraying them as nothing more than bewildered tourists on a tour of the Kasbah is hard when your job is protecting the White House.


Hat tips: Ruthfully Yours. Original image (pre-GINC): Xinhuanet.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Hey, Chris Wallace: do you know how many people called Michele Bachmann a 'flake' before you slandered her on Sunday? None, dimwit.

Through the magic of a cool new research tool called Google (you may have heard of it, Chris), I decided to find out who had called GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann a "flake" prior to Chris Wallace's interview.

After all, Wallace had asserted that was "the rap" on Bachmann.

To test this assertion, I constructed a fairly complex query (here) that found all pages that mentioned:

• 'Michelle Bachmann' and the word 'flake'

Omitting the following pages:

• Those referencing the last name 'Wallace' or his show 'Fox News Sunday'
• Posted On 6/26 through 6/28 2011

Here are the complete results:

Er, Chris, no one had called Bachmann a 'flake'.

'Cepting you, of course.

Which means one of two things: you're an agenda journalist trying to demean a conservative female... or... you were showing off for Jon Stewart.

In either case, you're a decidedly unserious choice for any job at Fox News.

We can tune into ABC, CBS or NBC for this type of horsecrap.


Update: Chris Wallace's Greatest Interview Questions


Related: Michele Bachmann 2012. Linked by: Gateway Pundit. Thanks!

Chris Wallace's Greatest Interview Questions

The bizarre interview of GOP front-runner Michele Bachmann ("Are you a flake?") by Fox News analyst Chris Wallace wasn't his first encounter with controversy.

Although I wonder if he'd have the cojones to ask the following questions.

"Are you a Marxist? I mean, that's what the rap on you is?"

"Are you a bit too ample in the derriere to be lecturing people on their diets? I mean, that's what the rap on you is -- too much 'junk in the trunk', if you will."

"Are you as stupid as you sound? Let's face it, that's what the rap on you is?"

"Are you a pathological liar? I'm sure you know that's what the rap on you is?"

"Are you a mentally unbalanced, barely coherent dimwit? I mean, that's what the rap on you is?"

"Are you a perverted wanker? That's what the rap on you is?"

* * * * * * * * *

Hey, Wallace: go drink a big tall glass of shut-up juice, you freaking dweeb.


Update: Hey, Chris Wallace: do you know how many people called Michele Bachmann a 'flake' before you slandered her on Sunday? None, dimwit.


Linked by: The Tatler. Thanks!

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Sharia Today: Dearborn, Washington DC and CAIR

Each day we seem to read a few more reminders that Islam in the U.S. is a political system wrapped in the protective coating of a religion. Unfortunately, said political system is utterly and completely at odds with the Constitution and America's founding document, the Declaration of Independence.

Today's Exhibit A: "Peaceful Muslims threw rocks, bottles at Dearborn Arab fest."

Although 10 arrests were made in connection with various anti-Islamic protests during last weekend’s Arab International Festival, the Dearborn City Council commended Police Chief Ronald Haddad Monday night...

...Several more arrests occurred within the Arab International Festival on both Friday and Sunday, as several anti-Muslim Christian groups vocally attacked Islam in and around the free speech zone guarded by Dearborn police and Wayne County sheriffs. The demonstrations drew the ire of hundreds–if not thousands–of festivalgoers, some of whom threw rocks, bottles and insults at the evangelist groups.

Despite the sometimes violent responses–a Sunday scuffle led to the arrest of one of the self-proclaimed “Bible Believers," as well as the man who attacked him–Dearborn officials were generally pleased with the weekend...

The violence occurred because last year's event was attended by a handful of Christians who tried to hand out proselytizing material. The conclusions?

• Dearborn Muslims and Arabs are so volatile and prone to violence that even the bizarre “free speech zones” have to be protected by police
• Some Muslims and Arabs threw rocks, bottles, and insults at those in the police-protection required free speech zones
• Despite police presence, Muslims and Arabs (and leftist tools) still responded violently with multiple arrests for physically attacking non-Muslims
• Dearborn officials were pleased with the Muslim – Arab response to free speech

Today's Exhibit B: a "Shariah Law Neighborhood [Will be] Established Six Blocks From the White House".

An investment arm of oil-rich Qatar is putting up the equity needed to fund the massive [$700 million] CityCenterDC project, officials said moments before breaking ground Monday at the site of the old downtown convention center six blocks from the White House...

...Even before the Qatari investors became involved, [developers] Hines and Archstone determined that leasing to banks would not help them... [But] their hesitancy on bank branches meshed with the policies of their financial partners, who adhere to the restrictions of Shariah, or Islamic law, including the ban on collecting interest. Restaurants will be able to serve liquor, but retailers whose primary business involves selling alcohol will not be allowed, Mr. Alsup said.

...So, no bars or banks for the biggest downtown construction project in recent memory! As Bill Alsup alluded to, banks aren’t all that great for a city streetscape, and it’s admirable that they planned to forego such a dependable and high-rent-paying tenant. It’s less advantageous, though, to not have business devoted primarily to selling alcohol. CityCenterDC is unlikely to be plagued by liquor stores, but it could definitely use a few places to be out at night drinking without getting a full dinner. Could Qatari money turn CityCenterDC into more of a black hole than the last piece of the puzzle in a living downtown?

And in related good news, the "Hamas-Tied CAIR [Has] Release[d] Its First Annual Hit List.

[CAIR's] report lists the "worst" Islamophobes and the "best" of those pushing back against growing anti-Muslim sentiment in American society and presents an initial set of recommendations for Muslims and Americans of other faiths to challenge Islamophobia.

Those commended for pushing back against Islamophobia include New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, "The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart, and MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, among others.

Those listed as actively promoting Islamophobia included Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer, co-founders of the anti-Muslim hate group Stop the Islamization of America (SIOA); Act! for America leader Brigitte Gabriel; and GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich...

Recommendations in this first annual report are directed toward American Muslims and their institutions. The report states: "This is a reflection of our belief that American Muslims must take the lead in pushing back against Islamophobia. ... In a future report, we will offer recommendations to the public and private sectors."

At some point, the vast reservoir of goodwill possessed by the American people towards people of all cultures, colors and faiths will run dry.

And it will have been exhausted by countless exhibitions of intolerance and violence, exhibited on a daily basis around the world.


Update: "Dearborn Police Bar Christian Group from Public Street Near Mosque"

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

The new civility: Rolling Stone slanders Michele Bachmann as 'bats*** crazy', with 'testicles swinging under her skirt', a 'political psychopath'

The Left's 80-year war on the Constitution continues apace, its latest chapter written by a progressive nut named Matt Taibbi -- if that is his real name. His profile of Michele Bachmann in Rolling Stone is rife with the usual leftist tripe: childish name-calling and a half-baked, biased history. And it is even more devoid of facts, logic and reason than usual.

Furthermore, when it comes to Jon Huntsman's civility pledge yesterday, apparently Taibbi didn't get the memo. Among the unserious insults hurled Bachmann's way:

• She is a 'goofball'

• Her Tea Party backers are 'dimwitted'

• She 'is a religious zealot whose brain is a raging electrical storm of divine visions and paranoid delusions'

• She 'looks like the T2 skeleton posing for a passport photo'

• Bachmann is 'completely bats*** crazy'

• She's 'living completely inside her own mind'

• Her record is one 'of lies and embellishments and contradictions'

• She is a 'political psychopath, equal parts crazed Divine Wind kamikaze-for-Jesus and calculating, six-faced Machiavellian prevaricator'

• Her 'greatest quality [is] the gigantic set of burnished titanium Terminator-testicles swinging under her skirt'

• She is 'a threat to do or say something insane at any time'

Someone who strikes this much fear into the far left kooks at Rolling Stone must be a damn fine conservative candidate.

Which is why the professional left wants the GOP to nominate the ludicrous Jon Hussein Huntsman.

Net net: Bachmann is now leading in the GOP polls.

Tremble, Taibbi. The Tea Party is coming for you and the rest of the Marxist left in 2012. And we are going to turn you America-haters out.


Related: Support Michele Bachmann for President

Hat tip: Memeorandum.