Friday, July 17, 2009

Larwyn's Linx: Enemy of God. Enemy of Man.

Have a great link you'd like me to review? Drop me an email or reply via Twitter.

Nation

Enemy of God. Enemy of Man: Scipio
The Chilling Prophecy of Ayn Rand: Ware
Health Care is Not a Right: Boortz

A modest proposal, 2009 edition: Morrissey
Do the Blue Dogs have any bite?: Malkin
If you vote for Obamacare, then enroll in it: Surber

Why We Endorsed Warrantless Wiretaps: Yoo
Sotomayor: a Weak Pick: Ace
Liberalism in a Hurry: AT (Schwimmer)

What problem are we solving?: Peek
Do not believe the Blue Dog and Pony show: GWP
The Legend of Bonnie and Conyers: Riehl

A Wise Latina Will Add Spice to the Menudo of Justice: IowaHawk
Boxer gets a much deserved boxing: Brutal
The Case of Sotomayor v. Bork: Racialists, Scoundrels, and Supreme Court Coaching: PJM

Economy

A Reckless Congress: WSJ
Obamacare could crush nation in more debt: Gray Lady
New White House spin: Stimulus not designed to… stimulate: Morrissey

A self-defeating War on the Rich: Pethoukis
The Cure that makes the Disease Worse: Power Line
States of Disrepair: Charlie Foxtrot

Unions Own This White House: Will
Empowering the Unions to Kill Competition: FedEx Edition: Corner
CBO: Obama's Cost-Saving Health Care Reforms Will, Um, Increase Costs: Ace

World

Obama Plans "Peace in Our Time" With Genocidal Sudan: Jumping in Pools
Honduras: Zelaya says he’s on his way back: Fausta

Media

How to Bring Down ACORN (and the Obama Administration With 'Em): Provocateur
EPIC FAIL... Biden Sent Out to Bash Cantor--- 140 Show Up!!: GWP

Sci-Tech

14-year old invents medical breakthrough: PBD001
Google has itself 'a very good quarter': CNet

Cornucopia

Obama Rap: "Just a little bit of Obama Drama": YouTube
Minnesota's Clown Senator Asks Sotomayor to Discuss Perry Mason at Confirmation Hearing (Video): GWP
Health care card in every wallet and a Government Motors car in every garage: MYODBP

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Bullets of the Crimean War


The Crimean War was fought between the Russian Empire on one side and an alliance of France, the United Kingdom, the Kingdom of Sardinia, and the Ottoman Empire on the other. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining Ottoman Empire.

The war began in 1853 and before it ended in 1856, approximately 375,000 had died.

Most of the conflict took place on the Crimean Peninsula, with additional actions occurring in western Turkey and the Baltic Sea region.

The Crimean War is sometimes considered the first "modern" conflict and "introduced technical changes which affected the future course of warfare". The following photos illustrate the kind of bullets used in infantry weapons during the war.

For comparison purposes, the last photo depicts a 5.45mm bullet used in the modern AK-74.







Interestingly, it was shortly after the Crimean war that Russia sold Alaska to the U.S. for $7.2 million.

Russia's rationale was diplomatic: it sought to undermine England's relationship with America and dispense with a source of inferior furs at the same time. The deal was considered highly controversial in the U.S.: it was known as "Seward's Folly" because of the huge amount of cash the deal required!


Hat tips: IZI, Wikipedia: Crimean War.

I've got mail!


Behold the famed tolerance of the left: two responses to last night's post on the federal budget deficit that is imperiling American entitlement programs.

From: Linda Sprowl

Aren't you a least little bit concerned about publishing misstated facts and comments designed to tear apart the very fabric of American life by twisting your speculations consistently in a downward-to-crash spiral bringing with it the respect we have for our elected President of these United States simply to destroy the Democratic Party so you can have another Republican take-over?

There is absolutely nothing in the universe more despicable and evil than what you are doing. My hope and prayer is that you and all people like you are jailed for your crimes against US.

Ah, the left -- always such staunch supporters of free speech.

From: DonaWoo8

Doug, regarding your artical I just read on social security checks could be at risk thanks to Obamanomic's, this 67 year old medically retired King Of The Southern Counterfeiters see the enquirer artical I've attached as PROOF POSITIVE, that yew don't know S**T FROM SHINOLA with all your lying ass charts and analysis!!!

Yew is just a partisan shill for the criminals and scoundrels buster, thar is little difference between organized religions and organized crime. They're both running scams, exploiting the irrational passions of these gullible fools in order to filch power and wealth unto the elites and priests, and america's manifest destiny doctrine so states that they can rape, steal, kill, and justify anything they feel, by useing that jesus myth as a shield for all their wicked ass desires and it's the g*****n LAW of de LAND! There is no seperation of church and state....That's another myth.

With all those new fangled flying saucers and robot killers of mass destruction we got, ain't nobody gonna mess with this fiat currency, sure it's counterfeit, just like mine was forty damn years ago, but like mine, everybody just loved the damn stuff, and yew do too you f***ing hypocrite!!!

Donald DeWayne Woods....biography of accomplishments and achievements listed in marquis who's who in the midwest and american editions buster! Just another low down back porch grade school educated red neck hillbilly from the great volunteer state of tennessee!!! LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT....lol

Perhaps Joe Biden could translate that message for me when he gets back from his visit to the AARP.

Joe Biden: ‘We Have to Go Spend Money to Keep From Going Bankrupt’


If you needed additional proof that Joe Biden is the dumbest man ever to serve as Vice President, Penny Starr of CNS News has it.

...Vice President Joe Biden told people attending an AARP town hall meeting that unless the Democrat-supported health care plan becomes law the nation will go bankrupt and that the only way to avoid that fate is for the government to spend more money...

..."We’re going to go bankrupt as a nation," Biden said.

"Now, people when I say that look at me and say, ‘What are you talking about, Joe? You’re telling me we have to go spend money to keep from going bankrupt?’” Biden said. "The answer is yes, that's what I’m telling you."

Or we could slash taxes by 25% and hack the size of government by 50%. It's not like anyone would notice the latter.

Biden makes Dan Quayle look like Steven Hawking.


Hitler's Children: a Documentary


Hitler's Children is a powerful documentary that explores a unique topic.


Hat tip: Steven G.

Democrat Government Health Plan Represents Complete "Disdain for the Constitution"


Our resident health care guru, an industry insider who uses the nomme de guerre "Mister R.", is back. In this chapter, he deals with the intersection of the insurance industry, Obamacare and the Constitution.

1. For years, groups like the National Federation of Independent Businesses have been fighting to enable insurance pooling across state lines. Congress has rejected the notion, which would have allowed insurance carriers to do business across state lines and create more competition. Now, Obama, who has been against allowing carriers to do business across state lines, wants to offer a government option, doing so by crossing state lines.

2. Each state has their own mandates that must be included in insurance coverage. Now, if the program is self-insured, there is no need to abide by state mandates, and the federal government will argue, through a combination of premiums and taxes, they will be paying the claims on a self-insured basis (although an argument can be made the taxes levied against the rich serve as "insurance" to protect the program's viability). However, this directly contradicts what Obama said during the campaign: he was against John McCain's health care plan because, by allowing insurance companies to do business across state lines, consumers would lose the "protections" each state provides. "Protections", in other words, are mandates that serve to force insurance companies to provide coverage the state deems necessary. Bottom line, Obama will not honor each states mandates because keeping track of all 50 states will be a bureaucratic nightmare and will drive up the program's cost. It will be a cookie cutter program.

3. As a self-insured product (although, again, there can be an argument made that this is insured), any entity that adjudicates and pays the clams must file as a "Third Party Administrator" in each state, and each TPA is regulated by the respective states. Will the feds subject themselves to state supervision? Don't hold your breath. But what this illustrates is there is clearly a 10th amendment issue. It can be argued that each individual state can prohibit the federal government from doing business in their state and collecting premiums from its residents.

4. If the federal government continues to call this "insurance", which it does continuously by using the term "public insurance option," then the feds have a real problem. In the insurance industry, if you represent your product as "insurance", you subject yourself to state regulation. In this case, Obama has continuously sold this program as "insurance." As such, each state could force Obama to abide by their state regulations, file their program with state divisions of insurance and pay applicable taxes and fees. Any state, under the 10th amendment, would have the authority to do so, in my opinion, although I am not an attorney.

At the very minimum, Obama's plan presents a serious challenge to the 10th amendment and the states rights to protect their consumers. Obama's plan to force people into the federal program is a clear violation of the commerce clause: any individual has the right to shop his/her need for health care to anyone duly licensed to do so, however, Obama wants ignore that right.

Because Obama has clearly shown his disdain for the Constitution in so many areas, his total disregard for our founding document when it comes to health care is not surprising.

Previous Mister R.:
• Mister R. Chapter 1: The '47 Million Uninsured' Lie
• Mister R. Chapter 2: Health Care Insurance: Puzzling Questions No One Will Answer
• Mister R. Chapter 3: Obama's Pharmaceutical Delusions
• Mister R. Chapter 4: Obama's speech to the AMA
• Mister R. Chapter 5: Top 10 Questions ABC's Government Healthcare Infomercial 'Forgot' to Ask

Larwyn's Linx: Private Insurance Illegal Under Obamacare Bill

Have a great link you'd like me to review? Drop me an email or reply via Twitter.

Nation

Whoa! Private health insurance illegal under new Obamacare bill: IBD
The Hidden Cost of National Health Care: Reynolds
Health Care Bill returns U.S. to Carter-era Tax Rates: Times

New science czar: add sterilants to water supply: STACLU
Obamacare IS rationing: Surber
The GOP's Nuclear Weapon: Kaus

Islamic Hate Speaker Comes to Columbus: PJM (Poole)
Hate Crimes Bill to Hit Senate This Week: STACLU
Dem Angelides to Lead Financial Crisis Probe : Bloomberg

A detailed look at Obamacare: SIGIS
The fix is in: for the long term: Atlas

Economy

WaPo calls out Obama for his 'tax the rich' mirage: AT (Moran)
Change! MI Unemployment Hits 15.2%, Highest Since '76: BlogProf
The Huge Tax Increase on Small Business: NewEd

Paying for 'Free' Health Care: Fausta
Governing? Don't bother me, man, I'm high: Kesler
CA vs. TX: Prairie

The Stimulus Ain't Working, Goalposts Must be Moved: Rove
Dem insider admits: Obama now a political liability: GWP
The Marginal Cost of Life: Classical

Climate & Energy

Shocker: "Global Warming: Scientists' Best Predictions May Be Wrong": Ace
Dems position Goldman to profit from Cap-n-Trade: AT (Tate)
NASA: caught rigging temp readings, again: Watts

World

Great news: Iran could have bomb in six months: JWF
Another ally rebuffed: India still miffed over Hillary's last snub: Sify

Media

CNN's Obama ankle-licking thwarted: Protein
How the BBC promotes anti-Semitism: Eye
WaPo lies about the rich and taxes: Charlie Foxtrot

Sci-Tech

When Galaxies Collide: LGF
Private Falcon 1 vehicle places Malaysia's RazakSAT satellite into orbit: SpaceX
Obama's Science Czar: Traditional family is obsolete, punish large families: Examiner

Cornucopia

Nancy's Tweets: Parkway
Clarence Thomas Hearing: SNL

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

India ecstatic that Hillary's coming to call


They're as pleased as punch.

In all seriousness, it would appear that India's leaders are still miffed over Hillary's last snub.

Mission accomplished: another Democratic ally rebuffed.

A Quick Tour of Democrat Socialized Health Care







This chart identifies 31 new federal programs, agencies, commissions, mandates and regulatory bodies that will be in between patients and... their doctors.

Yes, it's just that simple.

They raped the Social Security "Trust Fund".

They raped the Medicare Trust Fund.

They raped Medicaid.

They destroyed health care for our veterans.

Now they're coming for you.


Hat tip: House of Representatives (PDF).

Asset Manager: Social Security checks may be at risk this year, thanks to Obamanomics


In one of their "special reports", Sprot Asset Management offers a horrific assessment of this year's Democrat spending frenzy.

In fiscal 2009, the United States must find buyers for almost three times the debt that was issued last year...


...Given the current state of the economy, it seems frighteningly apparent that a threefold increase in debt purchases by the account holders listed above is a mathematical impossibility. There is simply not enough money in the present economy to support a tripling bond issue in the normal course of business...

...‘Foreign and International Holders’... accounts for the largest source of external capital for US debt purchases and represents a very important group to float the deficit. ...Thus far, they have only purchased $465 billion to March 2009, which is halfway through US fiscal year - and well behind the pace needed to triple last year’s purchases... In fact, April Treasury data revealed that ‘Foreign and International Holders’ were net sellers of US debt from March to April 2009. This is not surprising given the public comments from officials in China, Japan, Russia and Brazil concerning the level of debt issuance by the United States and its potential impact on the US dollar.

...[In summary,] traditional buyers of US debt will be unable to increase their debt purchases this year, so we must question how the United States is going to cover this colossal shortfall... It may not surprise you to learn that the largest percentage owner of US debt is the United States Government itself. Perhaps this doesn’t make immediate sense to some readers, but it is a fact. The debt holdings are held in accounts for the various trust funds the US manages for its future obligations - the largest of which are set aside for Social Security and Medicare... Put simply, there are no real economic assets that can be drawn down in the future to fund benefits. Instead, they are claims on the Treasury, that, when redeemed, will have to be financed by raising taxes, increasing borrowing or reducing expenditures. For all intents and purposes, Social Security and Medicare receipts are essentially considered to be another source of government tax revenue that can be spent each year...

...Obviously this is a very troubling development for the US, and unfortunately it is likely to get worse. This year’s Social Security fund is only expected to balance, which is bad news for the government. Along with Social Security, Medicare is one of the trust funds that should be posting surpluses right now in anticipation of the massive future commitments the retiring Baby Boomers will require. As it stands, Medicare is in an operating deficit in 2009...

...We won’t speculate on what would happen to the Social Security program if new buyers for US debt disappeared, but we should all bear in mind that in that scenario the special-issue ‘IOU’s’ in the “Intragovernmental Holdings” account would be rendered worthless, and the US Government’s social ‘safety net’ would vanish...

...So, after all this, it should be clear by now as to who is going to cover the difference this fiscal year. As the lender of last resort, the only purchaser left is the Federal Reserve. In 2008 they were net sellers of almost $300 billion of bonds, but in the first half of this fiscal year they have been buyers of almost $280 billion of bonds. The Federal Reserve is the lender of last resort and must support the market for US debt. The policy ‘solution’ that the Federal Reserve implemented in March 2009 is called ‘Quantitative Easing’ [QE]. Given our projections above, this was not an option for them, but a necessity...


...Rather than stimulate the real economy, the QE program has instead resulted in increasing weakness in the international market for US bonds - the proof of which can be seen in the chart below. Bond investors are running for the exits, and our discussion above confirms what we see in this chart. Traditional buyers of US bonds are now sellers, and they are exercising a non-confidence vote in the US dollar and in US debt...

...The Federal Reserve’s policy of Quantitative Easing is failing. The US budget is ludicrous, spending is out of control, spending promises are out of control, the world knows it - and we know it. For all the pundits who see the economy improving over the next year, we invite you to explain to us how this debt crisis will resolve itself without significant turmoil. We’ve tabulated the numbers above - and they do not lie.

The era of the massive Democrat Ponzi scheme -- e.g., Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid -- is drawing to a close.

Medicare is bankrupt, underfunded by trillions of dollars and running a deficit years ahead of schedule. Social Security is bankrupt. Medicaid is out of money and crushing state budgets.

So what do the Obama Democrats propose? Nationalizing the entire health care system as a payoff to union bosses.

The Pelosi-Obama-Reid fiscal disaster is about to dissolve the full faith and credit of the currency. And Social Security checks to our seniors, who've worked for decades contributing to a non-existent "trust fund", may be at risk. The extent of criminality involved here makes Bernard Madoff look like a shoplifter.

And the shadow of national bankruptcy looms while President Training Wheels pretends that the falling piano isn't about to land on all of us.


Hat tip: Tyler Durden.

Fed on a leash


Zero Hedge calls attention to the Federal Reserve's latest oxymoronic press release.

The Fed Sees Increasing Unemployment As A Positive For GDP


The economic mavens in DC have totally lost it. Now an increase in unemployment will allegedly lead to a rebound in GDP??? Is anybody besides Dick Bove drinking this kool aid any more?

For those wondering, Dick Bove is the rocket-scientist banking analyst who was last seen hawking bank stocks in March of 2008.

[Bove] argues that the media is fomenting hysteria about the situation in the banking industry, which in reality remains quite sound... bank stocks in general should be bought.

It's unclear where Bove is employed these days, but one suspects The New York Times may have engaged his services.

Larwyn's Linx: Either a Perjurer or Unqualified

Have a great link you'd like me to review? Drop me an email or reply via Twitter.

Nation

Liberal Law Professor: She's a Perjurer or Unqualified: Ace
Obama visits Michigan, Tea Party breaks out!: BlogProf
The evasions and misstatements of Sonia S.: PJM (Rubin)

Grim Milestone: Unemployment at 9.7%: GWP
Who Saved G.I. Joe?: PJM (Fernandez)
Sotomayor's nose grows longer: Power Line

Liberal Law Professors Against Sotomayor?: Corner
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Rattner Theories: Kaus
Stimulating Charter Schools: Much More Can Be Done: Smarick

One Reliable Statistic To Guide Health Care Debate: Kesler
Kyl: Sotomayor so lacking in candor, her honesty in question: Ace

Economy

Obama's Economic Train Wreck: LawHawk
Job losses causing heat stress in DC: GWP
Change! The Economy Is Even Worse Than You Think: WSJ

What ‘Going Galt,’ and Obama’s Induced Uncertainty and Fear, Have Led To: BizzyBlog
Congress wants to end success: Surber
Small business reeling, so Democrats decides to raise their taxes: Prairie

Climate & Energy

The 'Cap And Tax' Dead End: Palin
Study shakes foundation of climate theory!: Depot
Climate bill spells skyrocketing energy rates, unemployment: NWV

Green Suicide of the G-8: AT (Hawkins)
Clearly it's Al Gore who's in denial: AT (Sheppard)
Running Scared: Gore Ducks Australian Government Skeptic: JWF

World

Thank you Britain: Surber
Why Europeans are turning against Obama: AT (McCann)
Day 30: Mullahs arrest journalists; Obama releases terror associates to Mullahs: Atlas

Media

AP budget report riddled with errors and omissions: NewsBusters (Blumer)
Levin and MLF respond to Frank Rich: Riehl
Obama Car Czar Abdicates After Brief Tenure, WaPo Places Story on Page A11: NewsBusters

Media ignores Obumbler's Stumble: GWP

Sci-Tech

A giant leap for commercial spaceflight: PJM (Simberg)
Hackers = $415,000, Bullitt County, KY = $0: Softpedia

Cornucopia

Sign of the Times: AT
Opponents of Barack Obama's presidency claim small court victory: LAT

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Dear Ayman...


Several months ago, Al Qaeda's #2 lamb-lover Ayman Zawahiri promised to answer a series of questions posed over the Internet. At last report, over 1,000 questions had been submitted to an Al Qaeda website. In another exclusive, our intrepid Cub Reporter Biff Spackle gained access to the secret database of questions that Zawie has yet to answer. Some of the more interesting questions follow:

Dear Dr. Zawahiri:

Can you please tell the world that American intelligence operatives tried to illegally poison your goldfish, so you can get the CIA off my back?

Best Wishes, Nancy P., SF, CA

* * *

Dear Dr. Z,

Have you ever considered writing for a wonderful centrist blog? I think your personality, wit, charm and intelligence would be a phenomenal addition to one particular site I have in mind.

Ta ta, A. Huffington, LA, CA

* * *

Dear Mr. Ayman,

I say that waterboarding is torture, but my GOP colleagues tell me that your man-made disaster-causers use blowtorches, pliers, acid, and electric cables on your victims. Is that true and, if so, do you think any of those things are as bad as waterboarding?

Sincerely, Mr. C. Schumer, New York

* * *

Dear Dr. Qaeda,

Can you guys do something really, really crazy to get me out of the headlines for a while? I mean, pick up the slack you frickin' cave-dweller!

TIA, M. Ahmedinejad, Tehran

* * *

Dear Mr. Doctor Zawahiri,

If your group happens to gain access to a nuclear weapon and detonate it in a western country, would you be so kind as to purchase some carbon offsets to make up for any thermonuclear warming that might endanger our snowcaps? Please visit PimpMyOffsets.com or call +1-888-555-GORE, toll-free, for more information. Thanks for your support in helping keep the world a greener place,

A. Gore, Belle Meade, TN

* * *

Dear Dr. Zawahiri,

How can I help?

Sincerely, Keith O., NYC


Exciting! Government Motors introduces its first new vehicle!




Bizarre Photos o' the Day


"Those are a man's dogs."

"I think we're looking at a Government Motors design here."

"It's Italy: any man can look!"

It would really suck to have an obese passenger sitting on the 'seat' for a hundred miles.

"Without an aircraft carrier of their own, the Iranian Navy found
innovative new ways to practice precision landings."

Images via: IZI's daily pic-dump. Linked by: Wizbang. Thanks!

Larwyn's Linx: How 'bout reading the bills before you vote?

Have a great link you'd like me to review? Drop me an email or reply via Twitter.

Nation

Chaos on Capitol Hill: Barone
Congress: Read the Bills Before You Vote!: Jacoby
The Obama Mind Trick: Hewitt

What 'physiological differences,' Judge Sotomayor?: Examiner
How Sarah Palin will become the most powerful Republican: AmDig
Ballot initiative to end state benefits for illegals: LAT

Ethics probe of Conyers sought: Times
Liz Cheney Takes Barack Obama to the Woodshed: DaleyGator
Negotiating with Terrorists: SIGIS

Sotomayor 2009: Senate's Big Waste of Time: Surber
Shayne is pissed again: Shayne

Economy

Grim Milestone: $1 Trillion in the Hole: GWP
African-Americans hit hardest by Obamanomics: JWF
Hoyer-linked firm got $18M Recovery.gov award: Examiner (Tapscott)

Climate & Energy

Cap-n-Trade Blowback Leaves Heartland Dems Rattled: GOPleader
Green energy deal finds few takers in liberal Austin, TX: AT (Lifson)

World

You're Welcome: IrishSpy
600,000 slaves in Mauritania and no one gives a crap (has Obama thought to blame Israel yet?): Telegraph (UK)
Maybe these are the 'Moderate Taliban' Obama told us about: Odysseus (Caution: graphic violence)

Tippity Top Secret: Bush Planned to Kill AQ Leaders: Crittenden
July 1914, July 1939 — July 2009?: PJM (Chesler)

Media

Daily Kos Far Left Nutjob Ensnared in Scandal: GWP
Facebook crackdown on counterterrorism groups: Atlas
Tragedy at the White House: TOTUS destroyed: Hot Air

ACORN’s Billionaire Propaganda Man: Blatt
Hope n' Change Quote o' the Day: Patterico

Cornucopia

Six Pathetic Groups that People Think Rule the World: Cracked

Monday, July 13, 2009

Michael McCray: "No one knows how much ACORN is worth"


Late last week, I conducted an interview with Michael McCray, the spokesperson of the group known as "ACORN 8". The organization, consisting exclusively of former and current ACORN leaders, is battling for fundamental reforms.

Q: Michael, how did you first become involved with ACORN?

A: I have been actively involved with ACORN for over 10 years. I have been aware of ACORN nearly all of my life because I grew up in Arkansas (the birth place of ACORN) and was always active with community service organizations like ACORN. I became active nationally in an effort to fight predatory lending and mortgage fraud in Georgia from 1999 to2009 And I became a National Board Delegate for Georgia ACORN from 2006 – 2007. However, my chapter was dissolved when we started to ask questions about ACORN’s organizational structure and financial records. ACORN’s by-laws don’t allow them to remove board members but it does allow for an “administrative dissolution” of a chapter affiliate.

Q: Tell us a little about your background and what attracted you most to ACORN?

A: Community service is a family value. My family has always been active in education and community service organizations – including, community action groups like ACORN, NAACP, SCLC, Habitat for Humanities and Amnesty International. I continued my career in public service nationally, by working for the Federal Empowerment Zone Initiative with the Clinton Administration. Consequently, I have spent my entire professional career by working with faith-based and community organizations across the country.

ACORN is the most effective advocate for low and moderate income families in America. The appeal of ACORN is it is a “fearless” advocate and action oriented organization. What do I mean by fearless? There are many different types of neighborhood and community organizations; all of which exercise various levels of influence for their constituency. More importantly, these various organizations have inherently different tolerance levels for conflict. Some pray, some write letters, some make phone calls but ACORN goes to “war,” they will engage in immediate direct action for the benefit of low and moderate income families.

In a way ACORN is like the “Marines”. ACORN will go into areas where few (if any) traditional organizations will go and organize chapters. ACORN will protest, demonstrate and fight institutions which more traditional organizations shy away from – like banks, corporations and high ranking politicians. So if you are a poor or working class person and you have a serious grievance against the “establishment” but you can’t call Johnnie Cochran – you better call ACORN. They are the only chance you have.

Q: The promise of ACORN was compelling; how did you see it meet its goals?

A: ACORN is the most effective advocate for low and moderate income families in America. It has a long list of legislative victories, successful direct action campaigns, etc. Also the first pre-requisite for a local chapter to join ACORN is proof of a successful direct action campaign. I have personally participated in local, state and national direct action campaigns. ACORN is highly effective; my problem is that its leadership has become corrupt.

Q: Where did it fall short?

A: In my opinion, the biggest shortfall is that ACORN has become unaccountable to the needs and desires of its membership; while purporting to be (and claiming benefits from) being a membership organizations. I believe ACORN has been hijacked by a cabal of individuals who are acting in their own financial and political best interest.

Voter Fraud, Voter Registration Fraud, Census Contracts, etc are all red herrings. The real problem is lack of accountability and poor governance. If “Mickey Mouse” registered to vote – who supervised the canvasser who filed out that application. And what senior staff member supervised the team leaders? And how did the board of directors supervise the senior staffers? We believe that the majority of ACORN’s problems could be solved with –Truth, Transparency, Accountability and Governance. These are the real issues, the others are red herrings.

Q: At some point, you and others became disillusioned with top management. What was the ideological split between the two groups?

A: The ideological split is simply this – we believe that ACORN is / should be controlled by its membership and operated for the benefit of its membership; they believe that ACORN should be operated and controlled by staff with merely incidental benefits accruing to its membership.

Q: One of the complaints we've heard related to funding among all of the various ACORN-related entities. What were some of the more egregious activities you saw perpetrated by top management?

A: Well the multi-million embezzlement and 8 year cover up has to lead the list of egregious illegal conduct. The embezzlement was publicly reported to be $1 million, however the board was notified that the true number was at least $5 million.

Senior Staff and the Executive Committee knew about the embezzlement and covered it up for eight years.

We believe that any participated in, benefited from or knew about and withheld information about the embezzlement from the board should be terminated and/or removed from any association with ACORN. We demanded a forensic examination and independent financial audit of ACORN and all of its related entities to ferret out the wrongdoers.

Q: Mixing of non-profit funds with those of the for-profit entities has been mentioned repeatedly as an ACORN theme. How bad is or was this situation and where do you see it leading?

A: Our position is simply this – we do not believe that the national board of directors has ever been given access to ACORN’s corporate books and financial records. Thus, no one really knows how much ACORN is actually worth and how much non-profit –vs– for profit funding has flown through ACORN unless and until there is a forensic examination and independent audit. We know that all funding flowed through Citizen’s Consulting Inc. (CCI). But CCI claims to be a private company – but it is really the financial management division of ACORN.

Ultimately, their must be a forensic examination and audit of ACORN. Otherwise know one will ever know for sure how much went into ACORN, how much money was co-mingled at ACORN or how much money was embezzled from ACORN. It’s just that simple.

Q: Any closing thoughts about ACORN?

A: The ACORN 8 is an organization of ACORN leaders; current and former board members who are struggling to reform the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now following the discovery of a multi-million dollar embezzlement.

ACORN is not living up to its original mission; and that is to give meaningful voice and empower low and moderate income members of society. ACORN has been corrupted from its original purpose by senior management and an organizational structure that exploits the low and moderate income membership ACORN was founded to serve.

Voter fraud, voter registration fraud, unpaid taxes, unfair labor practices, etc, while tantalizing are not the problem, but merely symptoms of ACORN’s corrupt leadership. The real problem with ACORN is its governance – and the lack of transparency and accountability of that leadership.

We are NOT trying to Destroy ACORN. We are ACORN, we love ACORN and are only attempting to reform the association and return it to its original mission and purpose.

We are NOT disgruntled ACORN employees or GOP / Republican operatives. Thus, we do not have a partisan axe to grind or a political agenda to support.

We demand an immediate suspension of all federal, state and local funding of ACORN until after an independent audit and Congressional hearings on ACORN and its related entities. And all members should BOYCOTT ACORN until after a forensic examination of ACORN and its related entities.

Whe believe America must support the ACORN 8. The ACORN 8 is America’s last, best chance to empower low and moderate income members of society through Integrity in Community Organizing.

If you love ACORN and its original mission; you should support the ACORN 8. If you hate ACORN and its corrupt practices; you should support the ACORN 8. If you are an ACORN member and tired of being ignored; you should support the ACORN 8. If you are an ACORN employee and tired of being sacrificed for senior management; you should support the ACORN 8. If you are an ACORN donor and want to be sure you were not a victim of funder fraud and that your contributions are not being used for illegal political activities; you MUST support the ACORN 8. If you are a taxpayer and want to be sure your tax dollars are not funding a corrupt organization; you MUST support the ACORN 8.

Related:
o ACORN 8
o The Inside Story of ACORN 8: Provocateur


Linked by: Patterico. Thanks!

Semper Fi, Sir -- a Tribute to Colonel Ed McMahon!


Jasmine sent this one in.

Today's edition of the Chronicle is filled with page after page of accolades spewing forth about the greatness and complexity of Michael Jackson. The other day, they had a couple of paragraphs on Ed McMahon's Hollywood career and aptly noted he died a pauper. Something wrong with American journalism?

COLONEL ED HAS DIED
He wanted to be a Marine fighter pilot. The US was building up their military force, but they were not at war yet and the Navy required all its potential Navy and Marine pilots to have two years of college. So Ed started classes at Boston College.

When Pearl Harbor was attacked the Army and the Navy both dropped the college requirement and Ed applied to the Marines. His primary flight training was in Dallas and then he went to Pensacola, Florida. He was carrier qualified, which means he knew how to perform a controlled crash of his single engine fighter, onto the rolling deck of a Navy floating runway.

It took Ed almost two years to get through all the Navy flight training. His problem was he was a very good pilot and the Marines needed flight instructors. He had a great command presence and public speaking ability, which landed him in the classroom, training new baby Marine pilots.

His orders to the Pacific fleet and the chance to fly combat missions off a carrier came in the spring of 1945, on the same day the Atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Of course his orders where changed. He never went to sea and he was out of the Marines in 1946.

Ed stayed in the USMC as a reserve officer. He became a successful personality in the new TV medium, after the war. His Marine command presence helped. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War. He never got to fly his fighter aircraft, but he saw his share of raw combat. He flew the Cessna O-1E Bird Dog, which is a single engine slow-moving unarmed plane. He functioned as an artillery spotter for the Marine batteries on the ground and as a forward controller for the Navy & Marine fighter/bombers who flew in on fast moving jet engines, bombed the area and were gone in seconds. Captain Ed was still circling the enemy looking for more targets, all the time taking North Korean and Chinese ground fire.

He stayed with the Marines as a reserve officer and retired in 1966 as a Colonel.

The world knows Ed as Ed McMahon of the Johnny Carson, Tonight Show. One night I was watching the show when the subject of Colonel McMahon earning a number of Navy Air Medals came up. Carson, a former Navy officer, understood the significance of these medals, but McMahon shrugged it off, saying that if you flew enough combat missions they just sort of gave them to you. McMahon flew 85 combat missions over North Korea; he earned every one of those Air Medals. The casualty rate, for flying forward air controllers in Korea sometimes exceeded 50% of a squadrons manpower. McMahon was lucky to have gotten home from that war.

Once a Marine, always a Marine.

When the public was spitting (taking their personal safety into their own hands) at Marines on the streets of Southern California during Vietnam, Colonel McMahon was taking Marines off the streets and into his posh Beverly Hills home. I spoke to a retired Marine aircrew member the day Colonel McMahon died and he personally remembered seeing McMahon at numerous Marine Air Bases in California in the 1960s. He was known for going to the Navy hospitals and visiting the wounded Marines and Sailors from this countrys conflicts, even in the last years of his life.

Colonel McMahon presented awards and decorations to fellow Marines and attended many a Marine ceremony and the annual Marine Corps Birthday Ball. He stayed true to his Corps as a board member of the Marine Corps Scholarship Fund and as the honorary chairman of the National Marine Corps Aviation Museum. After retiring from the Marine Reserve, one night on the Johnny Carson show, members of the California Air National Guard came on stage. Colonel McMahon was commissioned a Brigadier General in the Air Guard in front of millions of Americans who watched it happen live. You will not see anything like that on TV anymore.

The three core values of a United States Marine are; honor, courage and commitment. This is what a Marine is taught from the first day of training and this is what that Marine believes. That was Colonel Edward P. McMahon Jr. USMCR Retired. Before he was a national figure he was a true combat hero and a patriot the nation needed then and this country needs now.

Your war is over. Thank you Colonel McMahon.
Semper Fi Sir.
23 June 2009
Major Van Harl USAF Ret.