Thursday, August 19, 2010

Larwyn's Linx: Harry Reid Campaign Stuck on Crazy

Have a great link you'd like me to review? Drop me an email. You can also install a Larwyn's Linx blog widget.

Nation

Harry Reid Campaign Stuck on Crazy: LegalIns
Blago Holdout Juror Was a Chicago Pol!: Ace
Nice: WTC Mosque Supporters Pick 9/11 As Protest Date: Pools

Secret Slush Funds for Mosque Opponents: GoV
Harry Reid's Mosque Dissent is Political Calculus: RWN
Battle for 2010: Could Barney Frank Lose?: PJM

Orange Charlie's Bad Day: RedState
The Race Card is Maxed Out: AT
Court: Roadside crosses for fallen police unconstitutional: CSM

Economy

Pelosi and the Treasure Island land grab: Malkin
Uh oh: ObamaCare's Loophole Could Bring it Down: NRO
Soros Bailing Out of U.S. Stock Market: GWP

When Geithner was the only man who could save us: MoneyRunner
How To Go Extinct: IBD
The Mess of Mandatory Volunteerism: MTC

Climate & Energy

What the Chinese really think of 'Man Made Global Warming' : Telegraph
Scientist: Oil Has Not Vanished: Beast

Media

World's Dumbest Blogger Discovers Economics: Surber
Obama's Petulant Presidency: AmSpec
Blago: Dead Meat Walking, But Heat to Be Applied Again: Kass

Why, no: Charles Johnson didn't toss everything he believed in under the bus...: RWN
Barack Obama's Priorities (Pic): RWN
Understanding Obama's Muslim Roots: Cashill

Democrats Oppose Glenn Beck Rally Venue but Support... Ground Zero Victory Mosque: RWN
Obama 'fully embraces' Meeks -- Boosts Rubio: Ace
Sweet new NRSC ad: You’re the extremists, Democrats: Hot Air

World

"The mosques are our barracks, the domes our helmets, the minarets our bayonets, the faithful our soldiers": JoshuaPundit
So How Has the West's Policy Towards Hamas Worked Out?: BRubin
Progressive Utopia: Taxpayers Fund Flights of Disabled to Amsterdam to Have Sex With Hookers: BlogProf

The Cynical Brilliance of Imam Rauf: Hanson
Civilizational War: AT
Look who's 'nativist' now!: Coulter

SciTech

Verizon shows off iPad TV app: CNet
One Simple View to Manage Your Budget?: BudgetSketch
Star Wars fans ask NASA to build a hyperdrive: CSM

Cornucopia

O. M. G. -- KFC's Skinwich: BrainResidue
U.S. Unemployment Maps: 2007 to 2010: Sad Hill News
57 Impeachable Offenses: iOTW

Images: Spotted at Ace o' Spades
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: Sick of Harry Reid? Support Sharron Angle Now!

QOTD: "It’s a book called Low Carbon Plot, by Gou Hongyang and, as it’s freely available in China’s government-controlled bookstores, carries Beijing’s nihil obstat. No English translation is currently available, but our own China correspondent, Locusts, has translated the introduction from the original Mandarin, and (not entirely without risk to himself) has asked me to make it publicly available on this forum. At four thousand words, it’s a little long to insert onto a blog page, but you can navigate to it from the Rare Scribblings menu option at the top, or just click here.

It’s not so much an eye-opener as it is a bombshell. If true, it shows the Chinese government as rejecting CAGW in its entirety, believing it a conspiracy between Western governments and business to protect their own way of life, at the expense of the entire developing world—in other words, 80% of the world’s population." -- James Delingpole


Wednesday, August 18, 2010

$200M In Stimulus Construction Signs Were Encouraged by White House as 'Symbols of President Obama's Commitment to American People'

If this doesn't remind you of the old Soviet Union, you probably grew up after 1989. They have a word for this in other societies: Propaganda.

Federal contractors receiving money for projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)—the $862 billion economic stimulus law President Barack Obama signed in February 2009—have been encouraged and, in some cases, required by the administration to post signs that say their work is funded by that specific act.

...The Department of Housing and Urban Development recommended one model sign that included these words: “Funded By: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act/ Barack Obama, President.”

..."Projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) will bear a newly-designed emblem," said the OMB directive. "The emblem is a symbol of President Obama’s commitment to the American People to invest their tax dollars wisely to put Americans back to work."

“All projects which are funded by the ARRA should display signage that features the Primary Emblem throughout the construction phase,” said the directive. “The signage should be displayed in a prominent location on site. Some exclusions may apply. The Primary Emblem can also be displayed on signs at events or conferences associated with the ARRA or the individual projects funded by the ARRA. The Primary Emblem should not be displayed at a size less than 6 inches in diameter."

...the Department of Housing and Urban Development even suggested a model sign that gives Barack Obama personal credit as president for funding the project.

...“It’s blatant propaganda on the part of the Obama administration to take credit for the spending of public dollars,” said Schock, who has investigated the matter as a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. “It’s propaganda that will be worthless in a matter of years. To think that we can spend $200 million on a bunch of sheet metal signs that will end up in a landfill somewhere is a poor use of public funds at a time when our nation is facing mounting deficits.”

...“I’m less concerned about the perceptions of the policy makers than I am of the grant recipients,” Schock said. “I’ve spoken with recipients in my district who thought that if they did not participate in the promotional signs, recovery money would be less likely." ...He added, “Without a requirement, most units of government would choose to spend that money putting people to work.”

...The HUD e-mail, cited in the IG report, included an attachment with two templates for a sign. One included a blank white space where the details of the specific project could be inserted over the words, “Funded By: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act; Barack Obama, President.”

...The White House did not respond to requests from CNSNews.com for comment by phone and e-mail... How many of President Obama’s signs have been posted at highway projects around the country? “That’s a question for the states,” a Federal Highway Administration spokesman told CNSNews.com. “It would be like asking how many stop signs are out there. We don’t know.” But the spokesman did confirm that the signs themselves are paid for by Recovery Act dollars.

Welcome to Moscow, circa 1963.


Hat tip: Mark Levin.

Match Wits With the Great Eric Holder In Our Fascinating New Legal Game Show: Prosecute or Not?

If Court TV were still around, I'm pretty certain they would option my idea for a new series. The concept is simple: if you were Eric Holder for a day, presented with a vexing new legal challenge, do you Prosecute or Not?

[1] Sheriff Joe Arpaio, for enforcing all of the laws (including immigration): Prosecute or Not?

[2] The New Black Panther Party for various civil rights violations including armed voter intimidation at a Philadelphia polling place: Prosecute or Not?

[3] Jan Brewer and the State of Arizona for attempting to defend its border against an unchecked invasion of illegal aliens: Prosecute or Not?

[4] Illegal aliens including drug- and human-smugglers, gang members and terrorists, for repeated violations of American sovereignty and rampant lawlessness: Prosecute or Not?

[5] John Blutarsky, for voyeurism related to one Ms. Mandy Pepperidge: Prosecute or Not?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The answer, in a sentence, is: "Politics Before Justice."


Top 20 Reader Comments From the LA Dog Trainer's Coverage of Obama's Fundraising Visit to Hollywood That Paralyzed the City's Traffic

President Obama's motorcade paralyzed Los Angeles rush hour traffic for hours, resulting in thousands of outraged comments in local news sites. The worst part? Obama's sole reason for his visit was an exclusive, million-dollar fundraiser hosted by Holloywood's hoi polloi.

I am outraged that the president has chosen rush hour to travel through LA, and that law enforcement has not adequately routed traffic elsewhere. Obama has single handedly alienated hundreds of thousands of voters leaving them stranded for hours, unable to get in my case a few blocks. I finally left my car illegally parked in a permit only neighborhood just to get home. If I get a ticket, I will most certainly contest it. It's very hard to understand the total lack of respect for the working class here. -- BBlair

Hey, it could have been worse. Obama's policies have cost so many people their jobs that I'm sure the traffic volume was correspondingly reduced. Just think of how bad things would have been 12.2% of the city wasn't out of work. -- Charlie Foxtrot

Look at a Map of Los Angeles and estimate how many people move on that Map. Would you arrive at 3pm and shut down the 405 and then move eastward and completely shut down the small streets that millions of commuters use because they are no where close to a freeway, just to have a meal? If you do not live in Los Angeles you cannot make a comment. Move here pay to live here and then live here and then make a comment about what happened tonight. Cars were over heated. People had to leave their cars to walk home. About people walking to get water. Los Angeles is one of the driest places in the United States. Again live here and then speak. Get a map, ask some of the mother's stuck for hours and then talk to us about what happened. -- matflash

President Obama arrived in Los Angeles. For what? To pitch his failed presidency to a lot of Democrat fat cats who still think this total loser is the miracle worker. Note that the same Hollywood hacks - from creepy agents to old movie stars - are backing this failure. And he makes driving in Los Angeles worse than it is. I can't wait to vote against every incumbent on the ballot. Unfortunately, I can't vote Pelosi and Obama out of office. But in two years... Obama will be total history. He can go back to organizing neighborhoods. -- pasadena jag

Praise Obama! He must have been doing something really important, so all you people need to stop complaining. He could have been talking about the economee or how were going to get rid of Alqida or heal the world from the poison gases and oil leak. He's doing his best to make the world a better place so hwho cares if you were stuck in a little traffic. People are so selfish, just thinking about themselves while Obama is trying to help all of us. i love you Obama. Yes we can! -- Steve Blithe

I work in Beverly Hills and watched the traffic jam develop. I was essentially trapped in the office - my only choice would have been to drive the wrong way down a one way street so I could go north to Sunset.

I live in Playa del Rey with view that includes LAX departing flight paths over the ocean. What is particularly galling is that Sunday afternoon, I watched 3 Sea Stallion Ch53s escort 2 VH-3ds - Marine 1 and Marine 2 - into LAX. So - he had a chopper at hand...

This morning, the Sea Stallions and VH3s returned to LAX a little before 9am. On August 6th there was an uproar in DC about a Presidential visit to a sign company- Marine 1 was used instead of a motorcade which was deemed disruptive and expensive.

DC traffic can be every bit as horrible as LA traffic. One wonders why they didn't chopper him to his destination.

Tone deaf White House. -- Lemmy Caution

I had to abandon ship across the street from my house...only to be told that i could not walk across the street. My neighbors and I stared at the officer who was doing an outstanding job of playing the role of "silent scary guy" when we asked questions. When asked about crossing the street, we were literally told that we would be arrested by order of the federal government and that we could not cross until AFTER Obama left the fundraiser (this was at 7:20pm so we knew it would be a while). When asked how long he thought it might be we got a disinterested shrug. For those saying we're complaining about sitting in our air conditioned cars and to get a bike - nice try, but bikes, people, dogs...NO ONE was allowed to cross Olympic tonight. I gave up and enjoyed a cocktail at Marie Callendars on Wilshire until the street reopened. -- jg

That's it, I'm done. I even voted for him, but now I'm convinced that I'll vote for anyone but him in the next election. If this is how he handles something as mundane as a visit to Los Angeles, I have zero confidence in his and his team's ability to navigate the complex issues facing the country today. Who's the incompetent who figured it was OK to shut down Santa Monica and Olympic during rush hour? And how about the radio traffic reporters who said that they couldn't tell listeners which streets were closed because of "security." Someone should lose their job over this...in addition to Obama in 2012. -- Steve

Dear irritated LA, I feel for you. King Obama pulled the very same selfish type of stunt when he decided at the last minute to fly into Chicago's O'Hare airport so that he could have his birthday party with his Chicago political cronies. As a result, he completely grounded air traffic, caused numerous flight delays as well as flight cancellations (all at a major hub which jams up all other major hubs nationwide - I might add).

It makes you wonder why the boy-president couldn't he have just landed at a military base instead thus allowing the rest of the working, taxpaying-citizens of this country to actually try to fix our economy instead of use it as there own private meal-ticket? Consider the math and the ramifications for his selfish act ... and keep in mind that Obama's stimulus package sure as heck isn't going to pay back all those stranded business people let alone the airlines for the costs resulting in the aftermath of having to re-book everyone.

But hey ... I guess what's important is that Obama got to go to both his parties (albeit on the taxpayer's dime). Thanks Mr. President. You're a shining example of fiscal responsibility. -- Brad Wilson

100K commuters X 4Hours X $10 per hour. Cost in lost time $4M+   Add in the cost of the gasoline lost while idling. And the transportation costs via AF1. Hope it was worth it, BO. Maybe the plan is to just hit LA up for a $1M campaign donation for NOT visiting next time. -- OBQuiet

It's all Bush's fault. -- Barry O.

A million people can't get home tonight, and for what? So a tiny group of fundraisers can kiss Obama's butt for a few minutes? Tonight Angelenos learn what this President thinks of them. We are all nowhere near as important, trying to get home to our kids from our jobs, as the President's fundraiser. This isn't the first time it's happened either, but by far the worst. When he was here for Boxer's thing a few months back that was a traffic disaster as well. He really needs to stay the hell out of this city unless he can take his chopper to the event. -- Tom

Wow. That was a total, complete mess. Never seen a traffic jam in LA like that...and this is LA! How much money was lost by Angelino business and residents having to deal with that unnecessary traffic disaster? I bet you not anywhere near what Obama raised at his fundraiser with with an elbow-rubbing Hollywood producer. And least I talk about the hundreds of thousand of lives of Angelinos like myself who after a long day working just wanted to get home to their kids/family, but instead were stuck in their cars for three hours going in circles. I am an Obama supporter, so don't try ripping on this email as some excuse for party stance. I can be pro Obama and still appalled at that disaster. And yes, an apology is owed. -- Trafficstucker

Da Mayor says ride a bike! It worked for China in the 60's. -- steve

8 yrs of Bush's administration and I never experienced anything like today. Luckily, I got out of west L.A. in the afternoon so I wasn't stuck for hours but they still closed Wilshire Blvd and parts of Santa Monica Blvd (even though Obama's plane wouldn't even land for at least an hour). I did have to walk about a mile to get to a bus stop - but what about the people who have mobility issues or little kids?

...Buses were being re-routed and the bus drivers didn't even know where they were going. People were waiting on Wilshire Blvd without a clue as to where to go to catch a bus because Metro (MTA) got limited information. Obviously Secret Service doesn't want to release the route they'll take for security reasons, but at least let LAPD and the city know which streets actually need to be closed. Let the bus agencies figure out where to detour their buses and let them inform passengers where to board. -- Cassie

Please, people, these are the elites, not to be bothered by your whining just because you had to spend hours gridlocked so they could whiz through empty streets with police and secret service escorts in the middle of rush hour(s). Know your place! You are the working tax paying drone class, here only to serve! -- nosanctuary1

what a nightmare. It took me 185 minutes to get home. Had I KNOWN about this, I would have stayed at work and relaxed or just gone out to eat but instead I was sitting in my car... for 185 minutes. Thanks LA. -- david goodberg

I forgot to add that I witnessed a few small car accidents during my 4.5 hour nightmare commute - and lots of drivers were swearing at each other, nearly fighting. This is simply unreal. -- DeeVee

Obama is the Marie Antoinette of the 21st century. -- Jim Appleby

But, folks, remember: Democrats are for the little people.


Question: What's more bizarre than Barack Obama's endorsement of a Sharia-compliant mosque in the World Trade Center debris field?

Answer: Nancy Pelosi's repeated calls for an investigation into the funding of... not the WTC mosque, mind you, but the opposition to the mosque.

I'll save Pelosi the time, effort and cost related to the investigation. She can start with a subpoena of the 9/11 families who were stunned by the President’s support of the Ground Zero mosque. I'm sure that would go over well with the American people.

There is something fundamentally and deeply wrong with Nancy Pelosi.


Image: Sad Hill News. Linked by: Michelle Malkin. Thanks!

Larwyn's Linx: Who is Funding Alexi Giannoulias?

Have a great link you'd like me to review? Drop me an email. You can also install a Larwyn's Linx blog widget.

Nation

Who is Funding Alexi Giannoulias?: WklyStd
Barack Obama’s Ground Zero Mosqapocalypse: RWN
Reid Birthright Video Found: LegalIns

Blago Verdict: the Lone Juror Holdout: Malkin
Obama's Witch Hunter: FPM
Pelosi supports Mosque protest investigation: SHN

Economy

Summer of Corruption: Obama's Becker Edition: Malkin
Unions: the Democrats' Tree of Liberty: Wolf
Obama Sets the Stage for a 'College Bubble': AT

Obama has already brought 'change' to America: Sowell
What happened to the 400,000 jobs Pelosi promised us?: RWN
3 more things we learned about Obamacare after it passed: WashExam

The Ruling Class Takes Care of Its Own: Blumer
Thought Control at Augusta State U.: FSM
Obama and the Teachers Unions: ITT

Media

Moe Lane Uses Everything But Two-by-Fours and Brickbats on Leftist Nutbag Peter Beinart: Moe Lane
The Ground Zero Mosque - Not Just Another Building Two Blocks From Ground Zero: JOM
Is Harry Reid Un-American?: Taranto

Politico Ignores Dems. Culture of Corruption to Talk of GOP’s ‘Offbeat Candidates’: RWN
Comedy at Midnight (Strap-On): Ace
Beck told: no prayer at Kennedy Center event: BlogProf

World

Ground Zero Mosque’s Hidden Websites: Follow the Shariah: Big Peace
Obama: Property rights for Muslims but not for Jews: GWP
Louisiana At Leading Edge In Fight Against Shariah: Hayride

Cordoba or Tours: Navon's Blog
How Much Do Muslims Really Understand About Islam?: Old Ironsides
Targeting North Korea: Let’s Think Like a Kim: PJM

El Jefe Reid nos dice: SooperMexican
eHadi and His Wife Compiled Hit List that We Weren't On: Jawa
Hilarity at The Hague: Charles Taylor, Blood Diamonds, and Naomi Campbell: NewsReal

SciTech

Oh Dear: Nancy Pelosi Pulled FDA Strings To Get Democratic Super-Donor Access To Prohibited Experimental Drug: Ace
What If There Was A Massive Natural Disaster And No One Noticed?: Ace
Do-it-yourself solar power for your home: CNN

Cornucopia

Why you shouldn't try to drive through a forest fire: Ace
Periodic Table of Swearing: GOT (NSFW)
What Are You Doing?: Denny

Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: J.D. Hayworth for U.S. Senate


Tuesday, August 17, 2010

What's the Carbon Footprint of the Massive, Hours-Long L.A. Traffic Jam Caused by President Obama's Million-Dollar Hollywood Fundraiser?

Just one Presidential motorcade during rush hour is all it takes to set Los Angeles afire, rhetorically speaking.

President Obama raised $1 million Monday for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

He also alienated some Angelenos, at least temporarily, as his motorcade mangled evening traffic en route from the Beverly Hilton to the Hancock Park home of producer John Wells, whose credits include “West Wing,” “ER” and “Southland.”

The glitterati paid through the nose,

The entry fee was $2,500, but co-hosts — including Abrams, Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey and Marilyn Katzenberg, and Barbra Streisand — paid $30,400 a couple. They didn’t all attend, however.

The ones who didn’t attend were probably stuck in traffic, along with the hoi polloi.

It takes little effort to cause a traffic jam at rush hour in LA, but the mark of real talent is causing gridlock for cars while blocking pedestrians:

Although it was a friendly crowd, the street closures snared not just vehicles but pedestrians — if calls, e-mails and posts to The Times’ website were any guide.

Yes, Los Angeles is fuming, but remember: it's for the children.


White House Releases Barack Obama's Official Passport. And, Yes, It's Redacted.

Earlier today, an accidental click-through to Politico revealed a gleeful leftist high-fiving himself with the all-but-certain-Pulitzer-winning article entitled "Don't look, birthers, it's Obama's passport!"

Obama PassportNow, personally, I could care less where Obama was born at this point -- he's done a damn fine job ruining the country regardless.

But the Journolist-wannabes at Politico appear to have missed the point.

Why are the issue and expiration dates redacted?

Under what sort of passport did Obama travel to Pakistan in his college years?

As Jake Tapper reported during the campaign:

"I traveled to Pakistan when I was in college -- I knew what Sunni and Shia was [sic] before I joined the Senate Foreign Relations Committee."

This last part -- a college trip to Pakistan -- was news to many of us who have been following the race closely. And it was odd that we hadn't hear about it before, given all the talk of Pakistan during this campaign.

So I asked the Obama campaign for more information.

Apparently, according to the Obama campaign, In 1981 -- the year Obama transferred from Occidental College to Columbia University -- Obama visited his mother and sister Maya in Indonesia. After that visit, Obama traveled to Pakistan with a friend from college whose family was from there. The Obama campaign says Obama was in Pakistan for about three weeks, staying with his friend's family in Karachi and also visiting Hyderabad in Southern India.

Before Politico's reporters celebrate this dramatic, revealing release of new information about Obama, perhaps they could explore these redactions, his missing medical records, his missing college transcripts, his missing senior thesis, his missing law firm records, his missing State Senate records, and every other important piece of information regarding his background and upbringing.

Or would that be racist?


'Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor Obama's ICE stays these drug- and human-smugglers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds'

The patriots at BorderInvasionPics posted a new video clip last week, this one illustrating the relentless flow of drugs into the U.S.

Janet "The Border's As Secure As It's Ever Been" NapoliReno was unavailable for comment at press time.

In the mean time, the "U.S. Border Patrol has pulled back from parts of the border in his and neighboring counties because manning those areas has become too dangerous."

Yes, we really are retreating from our own border.

Change!


At last: inventory inside a Wal-Mart that rivals the richness and diversity of the shoppers

Yes, we have the wild assortment of people. But China has the inventory.

Don't bother surfing over to Snopes. It's just too good to check.


Hat tip: Larry.