Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Land's sakes, that Harry Reid's doing a mahvelous job: unemployment ticks up again in Nevada--this time to a record high of 14.4%

Perhaps Opening the Borders and Raising Taxes Will Help

Oh, wait. The Democrats are already doing that.

27 states experienced higher unemployment in August, double the number of states that saw increases the prior month. Topping the list, thanks to Harry Reid's masterful work, is Nevada.

The national unemployment rate may have only ticked up slightly in August, but on a state-by-state basis, the jobs picture continues to look a lot more grim in places like Nevada, Michigan and California... While the rate remained at 9.6% for the country as a whole, Nevada, Michigan and California have consistently racked up rates above 12%.

Nevada had the worst rate for the fourth month in a row, at a record high of 14.4%, up from 14.3% in July. Michigan followed with 13.1% unemployment, unchanged from the prior rate, and California was third with a 12.4% rate, an increase from 12.3% in July.

You happy with the economy, Nevadans?

If not, you better take action.

Because Harry Reid's about to unleash his union-fueled war chest on Sharron Angle. If you can spare a few bucks, help her fight back. You don't have to storm the beaches like our grandpappies did. You just have to help out any way you can.


"I'm grateful that at a difficult time, Hillary changed hair styles, causing legacy media to ignore another of my advisers jumping ship"

It's headline news at all the mainstream rags: Hillary Clinton unveiled a new hairdo just in time to listen to more threats by the hirsute midget dictator Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (that's the description he prefers, I hear).

Her efforts bore fruit, as legacy media largely ignored the stunning news that the third of four senior members of the Obama economic team has jumped ship.

Larry Summers follows Peter Orszag and Christina Romer, who earlier left their roles as director of the OMB and head of the Council of Economic Advisers, respectively.

White House officials expect Lawrence Summers to leave his job as the president’s National Economic Council director after November’s congressional elections, according to three people familiar with the matter.

His departure would leave Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner as the only member of President Barack Obama’s original top-tier economic team. Summers, 55, and the president have discussed his future plans, according to one person.

Administration officials are weighing whether to put a prominent corporate executive in the NEC director’s job to counter criticism that the administration is anti-business, one person familiar with White House discussions said. White House aides are also eager to name a woman to serve in a high-level position, two people said. They also are concerned about finding someone with Summers’ experience and stature, one person said.

Note the emphasis: the White House is interested in finding a woman, as opposed to the most qualified person, irrespective of gender.

Consider: the economy is flat on its back, and the Obama administration is still more interested in playing gender politics than in fixing the economy. It had already cemented a formidable reputation as masters of racial politics.

Turbo Tim Geithner could not be reached for comment as he was trying to save an Excel spreadsheet as a Quicken file.


Update: An anonymous respondent writes, "So they're looking for a female, Ivy League prof with some business experience, who can also suck-up to Obama. Maybe they should break down a few more barriers and nominate a hirsute, transgendered, Ivy League Ec Prof who once advised Enron - Paul Krugman, come on down!"


Linked by: Michelle Malkin and Memeorandum. Thanks!

Larwyn's Linx: Proof that the DNC, White House are Targeting Tea Parties

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

Proof: DNC, Obama's Union Thugs Targeting Tea Parties: GWP
Time for the GOP to Unite: AT
Barbara Boxer's Bad Week, Part I: Geraghty

It’s Time To Start Linking Democrats To their Extremists: Nice Deb
Great: Tea Partier Arrested For Plot to Bomb Wrigley Field: Ace
Proof: DOJ lied about New Black Panther dismissal: Adams

Stop the Illegal Alien Bailout: Vote is Tue 2:15pm!: Malkin

Economy

The Only Part That Mattered In Obama's Telethon: Denninger
Oops. GM admits it didn't repay bailout money: Examiner
TX doctors take on ObamaCare, urge voting Dems out: PJM

How Defunding Obamacare Became A GOP Strategy: RWN
'Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Years Ago?': PJM
The Recession Ends?: AT

Alinsky-ite administration reveals conservative group's tax info: GWP
How the Estate Tax Kills Jobs: TaxProf
Dem Senate candidate spends day as... SEIU worker: Marathon

Climate & Energy

Boxer's Destruction Comes Back to Bite Her: Betsy's Page
Sen. Sherrod Brown Blames Green Energy Stimulus Fail On... China!: RWN
Al Gore's Baleful Brood: RWN

Media

On Real Political Maturity: Pundette
GOP/Tea party linkage savvy move or sign of desperation?: Motley
Imam Claims Credit For Training NY Times Reporter Who Wrote Glowing Front Page Story on Ground Zero Mosque: WZ

Face the Racists: Obama's Town Hall 50% Less Changey, 80% Less Hopey Than Expected: Ace
Obama-bot to Dear Leader: 'I’m Exhausted Of Defending You': Malkin
Those cruel constitutionalists: AT

Horndog Harry Reid Calls Kirsten Gillibrand ‘The Hottest Member’…: WZ
Another Case Study In Media Bias (Delaware Edition): LegalIns
Obama slams down cheese-steak as Michelle urges that you eat tofu: BlogProf

World

Palestinians Reiterate They Will Never Recognize 'Israeli Zionist Jewish Empire' as a Jewish State: WZ
Soros’s Anti-Human-Rights Agenda: Bayefsky
How long before Obama thinks this is a really cool idea?: Fausta

How the West Bows Down Before Islam: Betsy's Page
Stunner: Radical Islamist Groups Support Ground Zero Mosque, Call for Three-Day 'Week of Dialogue' : JWF
Former Al Qaeda member: Islamist Terror Damages... Islam: HNN

SciTech

Why Google Went Instant: TechReview
RIM files 'SurfBook' trademark in Canada: Engadget
Secrets of Apple's Customer Success: CNet

Cornucopia

Yes Wiccan: iOTW (NSFW)
Top 15 Lisa Murkowski Campaign Slogans, Courtesy Of Twitter: RWN
Tim Scott Celebrates His Birthday…And a Whole Lot More: RWN

Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: Hit the Phones and Help Stop the DREAM Act!: Malkin


Monday, September 20, 2010

Soup o' the Day


Via: Piccsy.

Well, at the end of Recovery Summer™, the house is boarded up. The doors. The windows. Everything. We're at the Comfort Inn. Room 112.

What's not to like about the Summer of Recovery? Like, dude, the recession ended eons ago.

By an 8 point margin, independents who voted for Obama oppose his tax hikes


The [Center for Data Analysis] found that the Obama tax hikes would:

• Destroy an average of 693,000 jobs every year through 2020.

• Drain $726 billion from disposable income, $38 billion from personal savings, and $33 billion from business investments.

• Raise taxes on the 55% of all joint filers earning more than $250,000 who run small businesses that employ others.

• Cost the average non-farm small-business owner $3,500 more in taxes.

• Cost the 49% of all seniors with income below $250,000 $525 in additional dividend taxes.

• Cost the 25% all seniors with income below $250,000 $742 in higher taxes.

Now that's the kind of change you can feel in your nether regions!

Certainly, America's business leaders are feeling more comfortable with the Obama administration as...

Insider Selling Outpaces Buying By Over 290-To-1 In Past Week


...for the week ended September 17, corporate insiders bought $1.4MM in shares in a whopping 7 different companies. This was just marginally offset by sales of $441MM in 98 different companies, a ratio of 290 to 1 of stock notional sold to bought. But wait: this is GREAT NEWS: last week the ratio was 650 to 1! So this is a huge improvement and certainly yet another reason for today's rally... for those wondering just who is orchestrating today's move higher, please let us know if you find out.

And last but not least:

It would appear that certain foreclosures by major, major institutions may have been fraudulent... and, thus, invalid, which could really, really screw things up


Ally Financial Inc.’s GMAC Mortgage unit told brokers and agents to halt evictions tied to foreclosures on homeowners in 23 states including Florida, Connecticut and New York...

...At least one (and perhaps more) "inside officers" in various law firms filed thousands (and maybe tens of thousands) of affidavits they did not read and thus could not have attested to.

...This practice appears to not be limited to one law firm. In fact, it may be basically the entire "foreclosure industry" that was involved in this.

...This is likely to derail many foreclosures - at least from a standpoint of time. It may also void some of them and force them to be re-litigated. This will have a SEVERE impact on loss severities - at minimum....

...If the time has passed to be able to make reasonable corrections to these so-called "ministerial errors" (and it probably has) then the impact on MBS holders who happen to have the "hot potato" in non-agency securitizations could be catastrophic...

In plain English, some reports indicate that thousands of foreclosures could have been performed without the appropriate documentation. Which could make them, ehm, invalid.

Which would make some of the investment vehicles derived thereof (like mortgage-backed securities or MBS), ehm, difficult to value.

SELL!!!!!!!!!


ObamaCare Already Depriving Children of Health Insurance--The Unintended Consequences of a 2,200-page Bill That No One Read

Democrats don't appear to be very proud of their historic health care reform law, passed at midnight using an unprecedented series of bribes and accounting skulduggery. And with news like this, I don't blame them from sprinting as far away from Pelosi, Obama and Reid as they can get. Hint: it ain't gonna work. Here's Denver's ABC-7 News:

Thousands of Colorado children will soon have fewer options for health insurance. And parents who may not be able to afford it for themselves, but want it for their children won't have that option.

Ironically the change is as a result of the health care reform act.

7NEWS learned several large insurance companies are no longer offering child-only health policies... Child-only policies are typically obtained by families because sometimes it's cheaper than a family health plan through an employer. But most often parents who cannot afford health insurance for themselves purchase a child-only policy to make sure their kids are insured even if they are not.

Obamacare passes: poorest families hardest hit.

The Affordable Care Act requires insurance companies which offer child-only policies to take all kids, even those with preexisting conditions... According to Robbie Zirkelbach, of America's Health Insurance Plans, this is an issue the government did not see when it passed the Affordable Care Act...

Considering no one read the damn bill, Robbie, I think it's fair to say that there will be millions of unanticipated consequences, nearly all of them abysmal for society.

When 7NEWS contacted several insurance companies for comment, many did not want to talk about the changes.

I don't blame the insurers for being circumspect about the real reasons for their coverage changes. The last time they spoke freely -- as is their First Amendment right according to rumors spread by the evil Tea Partiers -- the Chavez-like central government threatened their livelihood.

As a result of this change, clinics such as Rocky Mountain Youth are anticipating an increased client load... For nonprofits dedicated to helping children this is a major concern... Wolk tries to reassure his patients that health care reform is fluid and changes can occur.

The scope of the disaster known as ObamaCare is only beginning to reveal itself.

And people will most definitely die -- needlessly -- as a result. We know that from mortality statistics comparing the U.S. with Canada and the U.K..

Thank a Democrat in November.


Hat tip: Van Helsing. Image: Conservative Dialysis.

Trumka: Democrats Better Jam Through the Forced Unionization Act of 2010 (aka Card Check) in the Lame-Duck Session -- or Else

Considering that out-of-control union bosses have bankrupted GM, Chrysler and nearly every municipality and state in the country, Democrats running for office can't be too pleased with Richard Trumka's latest pronouncement.

In an online chat on Thursday, the AFL-CIO President bragged that the Employee Free Choice Act was not only on the table, but he strongly implied that the lame duck session would be used to jam it down the throats of the American people. After all, they've already got used to the taste of s*** legislation.

It’s hard to imagine, but AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka continues to claim that there will be action on the Employee Free Choice Act... in an online chat Thursday, he used the phrase, "before the end of the year." A reference to a lame-duck push?

In response to a question from Marti in California about the Employee Free Choice Act, Trumka said:

There is no question the Employee Free Choice Act has to become law and workers need it. EFCA is necessary so more people can get bargaining power and we can get fair share of the economic pie.

The Republicans are locked in against but we have we have president who supports it along with vast majority of the House and Senate and the public... We’re working on it every day... Stay tuned because before the end of the year, you are going to hear something about the Employee Free Choice Act because we are working on it every day.

Shop Floor Magazine, which relays this news, suggests two questions for Democrat candidates:

• "No matter what the outcome of the Nov. 2 election, will you commit to voting against the Employee Free Choice Act or any other similar expansion of labor union power in a lame-duck session of Congress?"

• and "...or any other similar expansion?" (e.g., through binding arbitration or other partial Card Check measures).

Considering that the Democrats have lied repeatedly -- about health care reform, the effects of the Stimulus package, Cash-for-Clunkers, HAMP, and virtually every other component of their failed agenda, I think Shop Floor is engaging in some wishful thinking in believing they'd live up to any promise.

Come hell or high water, though, Democrats will be walking the plank in November.

Gee, but I thought there was a war in the Republican Party?


Larwyn's Linx: See How High She Flies

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

See How High She Flies: Power Line
'Evil enough': Chris Coons targeted leftist activists: Patterico
NapoliReno taunts Gov. Rick Perry: Six Meat

Stop the illegal alien bailout: here's the phone list: Malkin
Obama Spends Weekend Slamming Republicans: RWN
Franken's Fraudulent Vote Count Keeps Rising: WashExam

Who's Self-Loathing Now?: RWN
Rove Goes to Bat for the Democrats: GWP
A Political Prisoner in Illinois?: AT

Economy

Administration to Throw Anti-Tea Party Hail Mary?: GayPatriot
The Death of Medical Privacy: AT
Murkowski = The Face of the Combine: Chicago Boyz

For Whom Bell, California Tolls: AT
The 'War on Poverty' Is Lost: BlogProf
Another Real Estate Time Bomb: Title Troubles: NakedCap

Climate & Energy

Texas Sues to Block Bizarre "Global Warming" EPA Rules: WOAI

Media

Levin: Christine O'Donnell is 'Smart to Bypass' Sunday Talk Shows: NewsBusters
When Lefties Go to Church: Nice Deb
The Uncivil Man from the Civil Rights Division: PJM

Take the Christine O’Donnell/Jimmy Carter Quiz!: Zombie
Rove aide: Kneel before The Architect, you puny website operators and Tea Party ingrates: Malkin
Two Constant Mistakes of the Mass Media: Dictatorships Don't Dictate; Almost Everyone's a Moderate: BRubin

The Mike Pence I Know: AT
If it’s better to be criticized than ignored, then thanks, Paul Krugman: RWN
Sean Duffy's Next Commercial: Troglopundit

World

Is Shariah the Same as Jewish Law?: Big Peace
Trade With China is About More than Money: Intellectual Property at Risk: WklyStd
Creeping Sharia: Britain goes halal... but no-one tells the public: Daily Mail

"Under attack" Muslims embrace Ground Zero Mosque: BrutHon
A Mosque at Ground Zero? Sure! A Synagogue in Litchfield, CT? Now, That's a Zoning Violation!: JPost
Wirecutters’ No-Ground-Zero-Mosque Idea: CBullitt

SciTech

Niketown Infested By Bedbugs -- Closed Indefinitely As Bloodsucking Pest Crisis Continues: Insider
Facebook mulling a branded smartphone: CNet
Now Steve Jobs Is Having An Email Pissing Match with A College Journalism Student: Insider

Cornucopia

Highlights From a Future Debate: Andrew's Problem
Our First Post-Partisan, Post-Racial President: MOTUS
It will ROKU: C&S

8 Examples of Celebrity Political Idiocy, Part 1: RWN
Who Is This 'Outlaw'?: C&S
Chi-Coms Release Latest Fashions: GWP

Images: HillBuzz
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: Fire Harry Reid: Support Sharron Angle for U.S. Senate

QOTD: "The last time we saw this level of paranoia at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue a guy known as Tricky Dick Nixon was roaming the halls. Looks like the ghost of Nixon is haunting Barack Obama." -- Larry Johnson


Sunday, September 19, 2010

Another public sector union success story: Fort Worth, Texas headed for insolvency--taxpayers on the hook as pension costs explode

No one begrudges comfortable retirements for our police officers, firefighters and emergency responders -- they've earned it. But retirement plans have to be moored in economic reality. Thanks to the incestuous ties between Democrats and the public sector union bosses, reality never entered the equation. Now, you, the beleaguered taxpayer, is on the hook.

In January, a 53-year-old policeman retired with an annual benefit of $90,312 for life, plus $256,000 in a lump sum payment. Another policeman, 57, got almost $74,000 annually, plus $313,000 in a lump sum. A 54-year-old firefighter got an annual pension of $90,130, plus $178,000 in cash...

With an average age of 50 for the police and 54 for the firemen in [the list of the last month's retirements], they're likely to spend more years in retirement than they worked...

You don't have to be an actuary to know that this pension plan will end badly. The technical phrase is "trending toward insolvency."

Except that the city is on the hook for all the promised benefits. Taxpayers will have to pony up hefty contributions for years, even generations, and the city may have to cut services to afford it. The pension for city employees is currently projected to pay out $432 million more than it brings in over the next 30 years... And that's the optimistic scenario. If investment returns average 7 percent, rather than the dreamy 8.5 percent in the assumptions, the unfunded liability could approach $1 billion...

...In 1997, overtime was added to the compensation base. Two years later, a cost-of-living increase was guaranteed, plus a more generous formula for base pay. In 2002, a new benefit allowed employees to start collecting pensions while still working full time and funnel the money into a separate account... [these] so-called DROP funds can total hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is on top of a pension that pays close to 100 percent of pre-retirement income -- on a base that police and firefighters often inflate with overtime.

Most Americans can only dream about such a nest egg.

And most Americans are already having nightmares about the bills they'll have to foot.


Hat tip: Mish.

Minnesota's Democrat Secretary of State Mark Ritchie Encouraging Vote Fraud; Refuses to Investigate Mounting Evidence of Lawbreaking

The phenomenon known as "Senator Al Franken" may be more explainable than we had originally thought. Writing at the Washington Examiner, Jeff Davis describes the results of research into Minnesota's 2008 election. It would appear that there is overwhelming evidence of vote fraud in volumes previously thought unimaginable.

Double registration: thousands of voters are double-registered and at least a hundred or more are thought to have voted twice in 2008.

Invalid registrations: at least 30,000 registrations were invalid based upon the required address verification process. It is unknown how many of those illegitimate registrations turned into votes. Also unknown is the percentage of those registrations that turned into Democrat votes (care to hazard a guess?).

Invalid voter addresses: Nearly 100,000 voter addresses were listed by the USPS as "vacant" or "undeliverable"; the investigation revealed empty lots and non-existent addresses in a spot-check.

Dead voters: thousands of deceased voters are still on the active voter rolls -- a spot-check showed some had voted after dying. Quite a feat, eh?

Felons voting: the investigation showed 1,400 felon voters in two counties alone.

Missing ballots: research shows that 40,000 ballots from the 2008 election are "unaccounted for" as of September 2009.

More votes than voters: a check of Ramsey County found that multiple precincts had more ballots cast than registered voters.

Illegal aliens voting: despite multiple warnings, Minnesota's A.G. had not taken steps in 2008 to ensure that illegal aliens could not cast ballots. After the election, it was discovered that some, in fact, had.

Bogus voters: thousands of 2008 voters were listed as over 108 years of age or under 18.

Illegal destruction of records: at least two counties have destroyed voter verification records though they are legally required to retain them.

Despite this overwhelming evidence, Minnesota officials -- starting with the Secretary of State Mark Ritchie (D) -- claim there is no voter fraud in Minnesota and thus no need for an investigation.

If you want to register your displeasure, Secretary of State Mark Ritchie's contact number is 651-215-1440.

Minnesota's Democrat Attorney General Lori Swanson could also be encouraged to take action. Her number is 651-296-3353.

Be polite but firm: you can tell them that if they do not feel like maintaining the integrity of the ballot box, they are contributing to the destruction of America. Without a legitimate vote, they are helping turn the United States into a third-world country.

But, if that's their aim, tell them they're doing a damn fine job.


Straight Out of Moscow: Possibly the Wickedest-Looking Car in the World

Jalopnik reports that the Russian-built, Cosworth-V6-powered Marussia B1 and B2 have begun production.

Both cars are mid engine and rear wheel drive powered by 3.5 liter Cosworth V6 motors in 300, 360, and 420 hp variants

Which for a Supercar may seem underpowered by today’s standards, but the cars weigh in at a Lotus light 2,425lbs.

Making the cars capable of 0-60 in 3.2 sec, definitely Supercar quick.

AutoEclectic has more information should you be interested in test-driving one. Although it might require an international flight as it stands today.


Great Dabblers Throughout History

You say Christine O'Donnell dabbled into high school witchcraft? Really?




Oh, yes. The naysayers are right. She's unelectable.


Linked by: Michelle Malkin. Thanks!

California's Recovery Summer™ Ends With Another Drop in Employment (Psst! Did You Hear Christine O'Donnell Was a High-School Wiccan?)

Shake up the Magic 8 Ball and I'll bet it reads 'All signs point to malaise'.

Last month I suggested that the little hook downward in California employment, reported for July, was a troubling sign. Today, fresh data was released from the State of California, and the downward move has continued...

Let’s consider the context here. Lower interest rates and several trillion in monetary and fiscal stimulus over three years has produced, at best, a small but brief cessation of job losses in California, the largest state in the union. As my work here at Gregor.us has also shown, over the past year and a half, California is one of a handful of states that is extremely sensitive to the price of oil. 75 dollar oil is too high for California’s economy, which is massively leveraged to a road and highway transport system that was built out on 12 dollar oil. Meanwhile, a severe debt-deflation remains underway in California as asset values in all real estate continue to fall from highs that will never be seen again–not in real terms, anyway. The headwall to any improvement in job creation largely comes from these two factors. And, helps us make sense of the following fact: in August of 2000 the total number of employed persons in California stood at 15.994 million. And in August 2010? Answer: 15.968 million.

One of the fallacies you will hear in financial media is the idea that flat job growth now means that “at least things are not getting worse.” That’s just not true...

The current chief in Washington reminds me of Jimmy Carter without the killer rabbit.


Hat tip: LVN.

Larwyn's Linx: The Biggest Target is Liberalism

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

The Biggest Target is Liberalism: AT
Obama’s 'Safe School' Czar Admits Gay Curriculum is Goal: Blaze
Happy Constitution Day!: Cold Fury

The Constitution's AG: AmSpec
Clarice's Pieces: I Told You So: AT
Ruh Roh: Dem Candidate Urges Pelosi to Step Aside: Malkin

Dem Congressman Aided Man With Al Qaeda Ties: JWF
Implementing Obamacare: Old-Fashioned Central Planning: Heritage
Nancy Pelosi's Shakedown Street: WSJ

Economy

As Predicted: Health Premiums Skyrocket Under ObamaCare: Ace
Vulnerable Dems Fleeing From Obama Tax Hikes: JWF
Andrew Breitbart exposes Congress' shakedown racket: NPR

Unions Struggling to Get Members to Rally Behind Dems: RWN
Dems at war: Public unions vs. gentry liberals: Barone
Are American Universities Going the Way of GM?: PJM

Climate & Energy

Climatism: Redoubling Misguided Efforts: AT
AGW Today: Everybody Panic, Part Lots: RWN

Media

Bill Maher's Witch Hunt -- the Missing Context: Malkin
Being forgiven for our past sins--or, growing up: RWN
Palin 700,000, Rick Sanchez 802: Surber

Memo to the Right: "The Lombardi Rule" Is In Effect: LegalIns
Calling Karl Rove: AmSpec
What Karl Rove Should Have Said: BigGovt

Witchcraft? What About Hillary's Seance in the White House?: BlogProf
Doctor Zero: the Palin Card: C4P
Right Nation 2010 – Anita MonCrief, John Fund, Dick Armey Speak: GWP

David Brooks on the Faults of the Tea Party — Faults That MOST DEFINITELY!!!1!!1! Are Not Shared by Obama: Patterico
Blogger face-off: The biggest liabilities for both parties headed toward midterms (Bowers vs. Riehl): Hill
I can see November from your logo: RedState (Ziganto)

World

Truth is the New Hate Speech: Geller
Decline Is In the Mind: Hanson
Another Semantic Shift Coming: Cold Fury

SciTech

About Twitter's Link Service (http://t.co): Twitter
Testing out Lexus' safety features: CNet
5 Tips for Aspiring Web Developers: Mashable

Cornucopia

5 UFO Sightings That Even Non-Crazy People Find Creepy: Cracked
The funniest and lamest of Facebook: Lamebook
The Roast of Bobby Knight: IndyStar

Images: Shorpy: Boston's Quincy Market, 1904.
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: Sharron Angle for U.S. Senate

Saturday, September 18, 2010

10 Amazing Photos From the Turn of the Last Century

Shorpy has an amazing selection of vintage photographs, ten of which are featured below.











You can see more at Shorpy.

Hat tip: Bones.

I need some help: what's the best question to ask a leftist Democrat at a town hall meeting?

I've got an opportunity to infiltrate a town hall meeting next week. Although the meeting is supposed to be hush-hush -- to ensure that only drones attend -- I got a heads-up from a friend in city government.

So this hack, I mean, the incumbent Democrat representative, is a hard-core leftist. She's 100% supportive of the Pelosi-Obama-Reid agenda. To enter the meeting hall, I intend to disguise myself as a Democrat. In other words, I'll dress like a tenured professor, paint a goofy grin on my face, don a Che t-shirt, and wear an SEIU4Life hat.

Once I'm in, Doctor Jay will videotape my question to her. But here's where I need some help. I could use a piercing, intimidating question that can only get her in trouble with the voters.

Suggestions appreciated.


Would anyone in legacy media be upset if Christine O'Donnell admitted that, decades ago, she'd dabbled in Islamic Sharia law?

Seriously.

Would Bill Maher utter a freaking word if Ms. O'Donnell admitted that once, in high school, she'd dabbled with an extremist form of Islam?

No. Because he's a punk. Yes, I said it. He's a punk.

Would the Washington Post raise a ruckus?

No, because they're punks too.

But there's no double standard.

And, last time I checked, there haven't been many stonings, floggings and suicide bombings by Wiccans.


Decisions, decisions: the Witch or the Marxist?

No, I'm not talking about Hillary vs. Barack.

Eleven years ago, according to the crack operatives working for Bill Maher, Christine O'Donnell admitted hanging around with Wiccans and dabbling in "witchcraft".

I suggest burning her at the stake. It's the only way to be sure.

I dabbled into witchcraft — I never joined a coven. But I did, I did... I didn’t join a coven, I didn’t join a coven, let’s get this straight... I dabbled into witchcraft. I hung around people who were doing these things. I’m not making this stuff up. I know what they told me they do...

One of my first dates with a witch was on a satanic altar, and I didn’t know it. I mean, there’s a little blood there and stuff like that... We went to a movie and then like had a little midnight picnic on a satanic altar...

The context of this shocking admission was somehow omitted. After seeing a movie (Carrie?), someone took her to a "satanic altar" but she "didn't know it".

Ah, the peccadilloes of high school. Going to a movie and then visiting a Wiccan altar. Seriously, we should dunk her in water: if she sinks, she's innocent and if she floats, she's a witch.

But, last time I checked, high school Wiccans aren't destroying our country.

It would seem that the Fabian Socialists are, however. And O'Donnell's opponent -- a self-admitted Marxist -- is just such an enemy of America.

Which makes the whole point of this 'shocking admission' rather moot if you have children and grandchildren. Because most of us would vote for an unwashed orange juice can over a Marxist at this point.

It would seem that a lot of people have forgotten that elected officials are supposed to serve as proxies for us. And we don't want Marxists in office.


Update: Great comment at the Washington Post, where headlines are trumpeting the Wiccan menace.

Christine O'Donnell: I dabbled into Witchcraft.

Chris Coons: I dabbled into Communism.

Barrack Obama: I dabbled into Communism.
Barrack Obama: I did cocaine
Barrack Obama: I began my political career in domestic terrorists' (William Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn) house.
Barrack Obama: I attended a Black Nationalist, racist church for 20 years.
Barrack Obama: My father was a Communist.
Barrack Obama: My mother was a Communist.
Barrack Obama: I've appointed Communists to responsible government posts.
Barrack Obama: My mentor (Frank Marshall Davis) as a teen was a Communist.
Barrack Obama: My favorite professors in college were Marxist professors.
Barrack Obama: My best friends in college were radicals.

Washington Post: We have a double standard in how we report on conservatives to how we report on liberals.
Washington Post: We report only negative things about conservatives.
Washington Post: We report only positive things about liberals.
Washington Post: We hack for one of the political parties (guess which one).
Washington Post: Many of our writers are socialists.
Washington Post: Many of our writers attack the mainstream in their articles.
Washington Post: We have racist writers (Eugene Robinson is one of them).
Washington Post: We occasionally print national security secrets in our paper to undermine the security of our nation.
Washington Post: We encourage illegal immigration with our articles.
Washington Post: We encourage class warfare with our articles.
Washington Post: We routinely mislead our readers with coverage that is NOT objective.

Pree-cisely. Well played, sir.

Update II: Wow.

Update III: Bill Maher's Witch Hunt -- the Missing Context


Linked by: Michelle Malkin. Thanks!

She's baaack! Guess who's behind the massive ObamaCare propaganda campaign appearing around the web? None other than Maoist Anita Dunn

If you're been surfing the web lately -- and, frankly, you're a loser if you don't spend at least 100 hours per week online (heh) -- you may have noticed the genre of ads depicted at right.

These ads intrigued me. They represent the tip of the iceberg of a massive web campaign; they also appear to typify a last-ditch defense of ObamaCare, which is increasingly unpopular despite Nancy Pelosi's exhortations. Or perhaps because of them.

So just who is funding this gargantuan ObamaCare propaganda campaign?

A click-through leads us to HealthInfoCampaign.org (no link, intentionally), seemingly operated by AmericasFairHealthCare.org. The site describes itself as "a project of the Health Information Center (HIC), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and the Health Information Campaign, a 501(c)4 organization, founded in 2010."

Its goal is the dissemination of provably false propaganda about ObamaCare, which it represents as follows: "Along with a coalition of partners, we work to explain to the public the benefits of the new law, how it affects consumers and when key regulations take effect. We also work to respond to misinformation and misperceptions about the law, educate leaders and stakeholders about the full extent of the benefits and provide a mechanism for policy makers and others to come together to share information and best practices that will help the implementation process."

In other words, the site is out to save the bacon of the few Democrat politicians who aren't already running away from ObamaCare. It's a front group, and a highly partisan one, which makes its 501(c)(3) status all the more curious.

Some of the lies marketed on the site have already been debunked by such right-wing outlets as the Associated Press and The New York Times. No, you won't be able to keep your old health plan. No, it's not going to reduce the budget deficit. And so on.

Check out the Soviet-style propaganda, the likes of which hasn't been seen in the United States since, well, never.

A more massive collection of lies you'd be hard-pressed to find in one place.

So who is behind the "Health (Mis)Information Center" or HIC?

According to The Puffington Roast, HIC is "a group supporting [ObamaCare] and founded by former Obama administration allies", which is "launching its own $2 million national cable and online ad campaign promoting the law and features that are now in effect or about to go into effect."

You mean like higher premiums for everyone?

Among HIC's staff are:

• Andrew Grossman, President -- a former Obama adviser
• James Chiong, Executive Director -- the "Deputy Campaign Director at The Alliance for Climate Protection and former National Field Director, Working America at Political Department, AFL-CIO" (i.e., a union boss).
• Erikka Knuti, Communications Director
• Ankit Desai, Finance Director, a former political operative for Joe Biden

The fish-wrap of record reports that another founder of HIC is Maoist Anita Dunn, Obama's disgraced former communications director.

So that's what happened to her.

Also in bed with HIC is the ludicrously named "Families USA", which according to Discover the Networks, is a member of the "Progressive States Network", which worked closely with (you guessed it) ACORN and the SEIU to advance Marxism.

So remember who is behind this effort as you see these ads pop up all over the web.

That would be the conventional claque of Maoists, Marxists and union bosses, who are leveraging our own 'non-profit' tax laws to push a hyper-partisan, Statist agenda.

Remember in November.


Linked by: Big Journalism and Verum Serum. Thanks!

Larwyn's Linx: Harry Reid’s illegal alien student bailout

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’s illegal alien student bailout: Malkin
Murkowski will run as write-in to fight 'extremist' views: WZ
O'Donnell, Coons face off in first debate: Hill

NapoliReno: no troops needed on border 'cuz it's secure!: WZ
School apologizes for field trip to mosque: S&L
When Presidents Cry "Hostage!": CBS

Pelosi Staffers Carrying Nazi Signs: GWP
Advice for the Sore Loser: Don't Run: Ace
Biden rallies Democrats in Delaware: WashExam

Economy

Welcome to WeinerCare: Malkin
Home Depot CEO blasts Democrats for being anti-business: BlogProf
Obama Advisor John Holdren Wants to “De-develop” America: RWN

Politico Cries Over Lost Jobs of Hill Staffers in November: RWN
DC March 10.02.10 - Communists, Socialists & SEIU Unite: AT
Elite Favors: Congressmen Payoff Staffers' College Loans: RWN

Climate & Energy

3 Billion and Counting: The Cost Of Banning DDT: RWN
Meanwhile, back in Reality-Land: CBullitt
More Obama overreach: EPA wants to grade cars: Marathon

Media

Historic 9/11 Stop the Mosque at Ground Zero Rally: LATL
Nice Magazine You’ve Got There, Mr. Forbes…: Driscoll
Leftist Assassination Attempt Pushed Down Memory Hole: AT (Cashill)

The Krauthammer-Rove Axis of Disdain: AT (Cary)
Don’t Get Fatigued, Get Even: Kesler
Cut it out, Charles: Levin

Back to the Future: AT
It's Sad When TPM Is More Honest About Christine O'Donnell Than FrumForum: LegalIns
A Victim Card of One’s Own: Jeri Thompson Calls Out O’Donnell’s Critics For Sexism: RWN

World

The New START Rubberstamp Threat to National Security: Foundry
Moscow Imam Threatens to Send Muslims to Pray in Churches if They Don’t Get More Mosques…: WZ
The Problem of Honor Killings: AT

Five Muslims Held In Pope ‘Terrorist’ Plot: S&L
Georgians Intent on Using English to Pull Themselves “Out of Russia’s Orbit”: WZ
Muslim Blows Up Preparing ‘Letter Bomb’: S&L

SciTech

Data Breaches and Clothes Closets: Gartner
The Face of Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg opens up.: NewYorker
All major carriers picking up the Tab: Crave

Cornucopia

The Moonbatmobile: PRS
MI elementary school launches War On Cupcakes: BlogProf
Exclusive Interview with Tony Blair: IBD

Top Ten Things MO Hates About Being FLOTUS: MOTUS

Image: DayLife (Fire Pelosi Bus Tour) and Gateway Pundit (Pelosi Staffer Holds Nazi Sign)
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: Joe Miller for U.S. Senate

QOTD: Proof

"We were right.

Charlie Crist, Mike Castle, now Lisa Murkowski.

We have proven our point." -- William A. Jacobson