Blog Smith is inspired by the myth of Hephaestus in the creation of blacksmith-like, forged materials: ideas. This blog analyzes topics that interest me: IT, politics, technology, history, education, music, and the history of religions.
The statute provides the Federal government no authority to GPS or paint your front door.
Section 223. Refusal, by owners, proprietors, etc., to assist census employees
Whoever, being the owner, proprietor, manager, superintendent, or agent of any hotel, apartment house, boarding or lodging house, tenement, or other building, refuses or willfully neglects, when requested by the Secretary or by any other officer or employee of the Department of Commerce or bureau or agency thereof, acting under the instructions of the Secretary, to furnish the names of the occupants of such premises, or to give free ingress thereto and egress therefrom to any duly accredited representative of such Department or bureau or agency thereof, so as to permit the collection of statistics with respect to any census provided for in subchapters I and II of chapter 5 of this title, or any survey authorized by subchapter IV or V of such chapter insofar as such survey relates to any of the subjects for which censuses are provided by such subchapters I and II, including, when relevant to the census or survey being taken or made, the proper and correct enumeration of all persons having their usual place of abode in such premises, shall be fined not more than $500.
The following email was written by Dr. Marcus Gitterle, MD Christus Santa Rosa Health Care In New Braunfels, and leaked on the internet. Hosipital spokespersons have authenticated the email, but refuse further comment.
The email was sent to family members, and It speaks for itself.
The graphic from Heritage’s John Fleming might assist in understanding the paltry budget cuts. The little black dot just above the top of the largest circle, positioned under the "s" in “requested,” is it. There is even a black arrow pointing to it. Even with all that, it is not easy to spot.
Jake Tapper of ABC News and Jennifer Loven of the Associated Press press Robert Gibbs on the laughable $100 million proposed budget cuts.
Nancy Salvato is the President and Director of Education and the Constitutional Literacy Program for BasicsProject.org, a non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) research and educational project whose mission is to re-introduce the American public to the basic elements of our constitutional heritage while providing non-partisan, fact-based information on relevant socio-political issues important to our country, specifically the threats of aggressive Islamofascism and the American Fifth Column. She serves as a Senior Editor for The New Media Journal. She received her BA in history from Loyola University and her M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education from National-Louis University. She is certified to teach in grades K-9 and 6-12 and as a teacher has worked with students in preschool, 1st, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 11th, and 12th grades. She has also worked as an adjunct instructor at the graduate school level. She continues to augment her education and areas of expertise by taking college courses and participating in a variety of workshops. She currently earns her living as the VP of Compliance and Program Expansion at a graduate school of education.
The question is why did Google begin to track flu outbreaks in November 2008; did they have advance information?
Obamabow has been particularly close to Google executives.
Google Uses Searches To Track Flu 'Flu' Searches Closely Mirror Actual Influenza Cases, CDC Says Benjamin Grove, Staff Writer
UPDATED: 9:37 am EST November 13, 2008 Just in time for flu season, Google has launched Google Flu Trends -- a Web site that uses flu-related searches to track influenza outbreaks.
Health officials say the chief benefit of Google's Web site is the speed of its data.
Google tracks where flu queries are made and can update the data daily for the new Web site, which shows flu-search activity by state. By comparison, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gathers data on actual flu cases from doctors and patients for reports that are typically a week behind real time.
Public health officials are intrigued by the fact that Google's flu searches closely mirror actual cases tracked by the CDC.
Google compared aggregated flu search data -- hundreds of billions of individual searches going back to 2003 -- to the CDC's actual flu trend data. There is a close correlation, said Lyn Finelli, chief of the CDC's influenza surveillance division.
"This is a very innovative approach to surveillance, and the CDC is always interested in innovative approaches," Finelli said. "We're really excited about these electronic sources of data."
Critics warn not to put too much reliance on the Google data. Flaws include the fact that not everyone who googles "flu" has the flu.
"Some of this data may be extremely noisy," said Philip Polgreen, assistant professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Iowa and author of a study based on flu searches on Google's search rival Yahoo.
That study also concluded that such searches can be helpful in the early detection of flu patterns. Internet searches could hold promise in the detection of other diseases, Polgreen said.
"Certainly, availability to more information is good," said Polgreen, who is also director of Infectious Disease Society of America's emerging infections network. "It's an exciting topic at the interface of computer science, epidemiology and clinical medicine."
Google's Web site offers users an interactive map to get a quick description of flu-search activity in their state. On Wednesday, most states had "low" or "minimal" activity, according to the Web site. Six states already had "moderate" activity: Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine and Mississippi.
Users of the Web site also will find a line graph for each state and one for the entire nation that show previous years' search results by month. Generally, flu searches tend to increase in November and then rise and dip before falling off through February and March.
According to a post on the Google blog, Google engineers had suspected that they could provide federal officials and the public with more timely information about where the flu was spreading by analyzing the locations of searchers who were googling certain flu-related queries.
Between 5 and 20 percent of Americans contract the flu each year, according to the CDC. With more up-to-date information, public health officials potentially can respond more quickly to smaller seasonal outbreaks. Doctors and health officials might use the data in making decisions about testing patients and notifying emergency room staffs, as well as decisions about vaccination stockpiles and communications to the public, Finelli said.
An early warning of an outbreak could be especially important in the case of a highly rare pandemic like the one that struck the U.S. in 1918, Google noted.
Google officials stress that their system is experimental. They also say that user privacy is completely protected. The company explains on the Google blog that its data was taken based on "anonymized" aggregated counts used to track broad patterns, not single out individual users.
The Center for Media and Public Affairs released a study that found the nightly newscasts devoted 27 hours, 44 minutes to Obamabow's presidency in his first 50 days. That figure compares to 7 hours, 42 minutes for Pres. George W. Bush and 15 hours, 2 minutes for Pres. Bill Clinton during the first 50 days of their first terms.
Not only has Obamabow gotten more coverage, but that coverage has been more positive than his predecessors.
On the ABC, CBS, and NBC evening newscasts, 58% of all evaluations of Obamabow and his policies have been favorable, while 42% were unfavorable. That compares with 33% positive in the comparable period of Bush's tenure and 44% positive for Pres. Clinton.
The updated number killed by the new virus has risen to 149 people in Mexico and the World Health Organization moved closer on Monday to declaring it the first flu pandemic in 40 years as more people were infected in the United States and Europe.
The WHO raised its pandemic alert level for the swine flu virus to phase 4, indicating a significantly increased risk of a pandemic, a global outbreak of a serious disease. Another source stated the level was phase 5.
The last such outbreak, a "Hong Kong" flu pandemic in 1968, killed about 1 million people.
Although the new flu strain has so far killed people only in Mexico, there were more than 40 confirmed cases in the United States, including 20 at a New York City school where eight cases were already identified.
1) Colloidal Silver (oral, IV, and nebulized, with particle size 0-10nm and a Ag+ positive charge). Also administered as drops into eyes and nose. Brands: Sovereign Silver, Super Silver, Silver Lungs, Silver Gen, APAP etc. 2) Atomic (nascent) Iodine 3) Allicin 4) EGCG 5) Oil of Oregano 6) N-acetyl-cysteine 7) Curcumin (tumeric extract) 8) Lauric acid 9) IV saline / ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) 10) Vitamin/Mineral Support , including Selenium
EXPERIMENTAL
1) 99% Resveratrol administered orally in dilute pharmaceutical grade DMSO. 2) Colloidal Silver administered orally in dilute pharmaceutical grade DMSO. 3) EGCG administered orally in dilute pharmaceutical grade DMSO.
GENERAL PRACTICE
1) Wash hands after returning from any public place 2) Put 10ppm silver drops in eyes and nose prior to attending any public place. 3) Diet to include: onions, fatty oils, garlic, tumeric, cumin, etc. 4) Resist forced vaccination up to and including the use of deadly force, if necessary. We know the vaccines cannot be trusted and will likely amplify disease.
An Air Force One lookalike, the backup plane for the one regularly used by the Obamabow, buzzed New York and New Jersey this morning, accompanied by two F-16 fighters. The excuse, after the fact, and not fully informing residents, was that Air Force photographers could take pictures high above the New York harbor. If you do not get the impression that this regime is a joke I do not know what it takes. Is the point just to scare people? Get their private jollies? Laugh at people? I just do not get this regime at all.
The current strain of flu can be treated with Tamiflu. This is a medication that treats influenza A and B, the two major strains of influenza, by disrupting the virus's ability to copy itself. It has a low side effect profile and when taken within the first 12-36 hours of flu symptoms can significantly shorten the duration of the flu and limit the intensity of the symptoms.
The number one treatment is black elderberry extract, particularly Sambucol.
Black elderberry extract can be found in a syrup form, lozenges, or capsules.
There are also natural cold and flu fighters:
* Green tea--capsules are more potent than tea. Green tea works as an immune system booster, an anti-viral and it also has anti-bacterial properties. Decaffeinated green tea is probably the best way to take it so that you're not hyped up and unable to sleep which definitely lowers your immune system.
* Garlic--nicknamed 'Russian penicillin,' this herb has broad antiviral, antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-yeast properties. Odorless garlic is less effective because it means the manufacturer has removed all traces of the most essential nutrient. Instead, enteric-coated garlic pills dissolve deeper in your digestive track and therefore doesn't produce garlic breath or give you garlic odor. Enteric-coated garlic is absorbed better so it can get into your system and seek out and destroy flu and flu-like illness viruses.
One caution is that like aspirin, garlic is a blood thinner, so if you're already taking aspirin or more serious prescription blood thinners you have to be careful and consult your doctor.
* Echinacea and goldenseal--while there have been recent reports that question the efficacy of Echinacea, like anything else in human disease and treatment people respond differently to different treatments. The same is true for Echinacea. It doesn't work for everyone but Echinacea has been around for a long time because it is effective for some number of people, maybe not the majority.
Since 2007 I noted with concern that a pandemic could be in the works. With the latest outbreak, more troops in the streets, and unrest across America, we could be in for a more difficult time. The U.S. government has steadfastly refused to close the border between the U.S. and Mexico, and not surprisingly, this is the place of origin for the outbreak. In addition, who was just there recently? Obamabow was just in Mexico. Some coincidences are just too neat and pat to be a coincidence.
The symptoms of swine flu in people include fever, fatigue, lack of appetite, coughing and sore throat.
Michael Osterholm, a pandemic flu expert at the University of Minnesota, said new cases were probably already incubating around the world.
Tamiflu, an antiviral drug used against bird flu, is said to be effective against the new strain.
An Air Force veteran was interviewed at the Philadelphia Tea Party; he remarked that he was afraid of Obamabow than he was of Al Qaeda or the Vietcong.
This image is a painting by artist Michael D’Antuono called “The Truth” that will be officially unveiled at Union Square in New York City on April 29 to mark Obamabow’s hundred days in office.
This is a copy of the journal of CA Assembly, Senate. When you enter the name Soetoro Moestabjab of Indonesia, you can see his name among the names of the foreign exchange students, who received financial aid from the state of CA. It is possible that this foreign student is our own little Barry Soetoro, Obamabow himself.
The polls conducted by Rasmussen Reports demonstrate that for the Republican Party those incumbents who vote for increased government, taxes, and federal bailouts risk voter backlash in the next election.
An excellent example is Senator Arlen Specter, R-Pa., who is one of only three Republicans in Congress to vote for Obamabow’s $787 billion stimulus plan. According to a Rasmussen poll released this morning, the 28-year senator now trails his 2004 GOP primary rival Pat Toomey in the polls by 21 points: 51% of Pennsylvania Republicans say they’d vote for Toomey in a 2010 primary, while just 30% would support Specter.
A separate Rasmussen poll demonstrated that 58% of Specter’s Republican constituents cited his support of the stimulus package as reason for their waning support.
The grass roots tea parties seem to have energized the populace. In Specter’s state, the poll found that 79% of Pennsylvania Republicans have a favorable opinion of the tea parties, and 30% knew someone personally who attended. Overall, 82% of Pennsylvania Republicans agree with the parties that the federal government has too much money and too much power.
Dave Gaubatz, the first U.S. civilian Federal Agent deployed to Iraq in 2003 and owner of DG Counter-terrorism Publishing, as reported here is currently conducting a 50 State Counter-terrorism Research Tour (CTRT).
This is allegedly from the 1961 Honolulu Sunday Advertiser announcing Obamabow's birth. However, examine the flaws in the documentation from Obama's Neighborhood.
Look at the column grids (lines separating the columns). The person who over layed this text onto the background image, completely missed the proper placement of these lines. Notice on the right side, the border lines of the inflated (over layed) text almost match-up with those on the background image (the Newspaper), but the left-side border alignment is a deficient. In addition, the border lines in the inflated text are the incorrect number of segments from the Newspaper. Finally, we are supposed to believe the inflated text matches with the sentences on the newspaper, but clearly the borders do not. The sentence endings do not match-up to the sentences on the Newspaper in most places (and not even the actual text).
A mysterious illness breaks out, possibly a pandemic, the usurper evacuated after a simple flying mistake by a pilot strays over the White House, and before you know it: martial law. It may be just a coincidence but the potential pandemic breaks out in a state that has considered secession: Texas. On the same day, the FBI investigates poisoned water bottles in a vending machine at a middle school in Santa Clarita.
It all seems too neat and wrapped up in a bow to me. I think we have a dry-run for martial law.
Leading human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize-nominee Harry Wu, who has documented many of China’s human rights abuses and crimes, said the United States cannot learn anything from the Communist Chinese educational system.
“The United States cannot learn anything from China, okay?” he said. “But we [the Chinese] want to go there to study the systems and study the culture and find out the best way for America to handle the China case.”
The State Department’s Human Rights Report on China, dated Feb. 25, 2009, states that the Chinese government puts political dissidents into reeducation through labor camps.
“The government reportedly continued to limit access to mosques, detain citizens for possession of unauthorized religious texts, imprison citizens for religious activities determined to be ‘extremist,’ pressure Muslims who were fasting to eat during Ramadan, and confiscate Muslims' passports to strengthen control over Muslim pilgrimages,” the report reads.
“Following violent clashes in western Xinjiang during the Olympic Games, XUAR (Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region) authorities imposed widespread detentions, restricted movement within the XUAR, and established curfews in some cities,” reads the report.
“XUAR party secretary Wang Lequan declared in September that the XUAR government would carry out ‘preemptive attacks,’ implement ‘antiseparatist reeducation’ across the region, and increase policing of religious groups.”
Harry Wu said you cannot compare China’s way of governing with that of the United States.
“The Communist Party is talking about dictatorship; talking about totalitarian. How to handle the dissidents – that is Laogai [re-education] camps,” said Wu.
“You cannot [function in China] without it. Laogai and freedom and democracy are incompatible. That is very clear,” he said.
The Laogai Research Foundation estimates there are at least 1,000 laogai prisons functioning in Communist China today, holding more than 6 million prisoners. The Black Book of Communism (Harvard University Press) estimates that at least 65 million people have been killed or died as a result of China’s Communist policies.
32% of people polled by Rasmussen stated that their view of the events is "Very favorable," 51% of Americans have a "favorable" view of the “tea parties” which means that 83% of the people polled viewed the protests in a positive light. On the other hand, the nation’s Political Class has a much dimmer view, just 13% of the political elite offered even a somewhat favorable assessment while 81% said the opposite. The elites in the country are out of touch with America.
I HAVE DECIDED TO BECOME A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE. HERE IS MY PLATFORM:
(1) ‘Press 1 for English’ is immediately banned. English is the official language; speak it or wait at the border until you can.
(2) We will immediately go into a two year isolationist posture to straighten out the country’s attitude. NO imports, no exports. We will use the ‘Wal-Mart ’s policy, ‘If we ain’t got it, you don’t need it.’
(3) When imports are allowed, there will be a 100% import tax on it.
(4) All retired military personnel will be required to man one of our many observation towers on the southern border (six month tour). They will be under strict orders not to fire on SOUTHBOUND aliens.
(5) Social security will immediately return to its original state. If you didn’t put nuttin in, you ain’t gettin nuttin out. The president nor any other politician will be able to touch it.
(6) Welfare - Checks will be handed out on Fridays at the end of the 40 hour school week and the successful completion of urinalysis and a passing grade.
(7) Professional Athletes–Steroids. The FIRST time you check positive you’re banned for life.
(8) Crime - We will adopt the Turkish method, the first time you steal, you lose your right hand. There is [sic] no more life sentences. If convicted of murder, you will be put to death by the same method you chose for your victim; [sic] gun, knife, strangulation, etc.
(9) One export will be allowed, Wheat. The world needs to eat. A bushel of wheat will be the exact price of a barrel of oil.
(10) All foreign aid using American taxpayer money will immediately cease, and the saved money will pay off the national debt and ultimately lower taxes. When disasters occur around the world, we’ll ask the American people if they want to donate to a disaster fund, and each citizen can make the decision whether it’s a worthy cause.
(11) The Pledge of Allegiance will be said every day at school and every day in Congress.
(12) The National Anthem will be played at all appropriate ceremonies, sporting events, outings, etc.
Get accustomed to seeing combat military troops in the streets of America.
On Monday, the National Guard deployed 400 Massachusetts National Guardsmen from the 126th Combat Support Battalion to keep the Boston Marathon race route clear for more than 26,000 runners. Ordinarily a police function, the military is increasingly being used to patrol American streets, in contrast to the democratic tradition.
Under the Posse Comitatus Act passed on June 16, 1878 after the end of Reconstruction, the federal uniformed services-—including the Army, Air Force, and State National Guard forces-—are prohibited from exercising nominally state law enforcement, police, or peace officer powers that maintain “law and order” on non-federal property, except where expressly authorized by the Constitution or Congress. National Guard forces operating under the state authority are technically exempt from Posse Comitatus Act restrictions.
However, with the passage of the John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007, federal law was changed so that the Governor of a state is no longer the sole commander in chief of their state’s National Guard, a direct violation of Article I, Section 10 and Clause 3 of the Constitution.
The deployments and exercises have increased significantly since the U.S. military announced last year it will place 20,000 troops on the streets of America by 2011 under the control of the Northern Command. soldiers were in attendance to “safeguard” the public. However, this role is usually assigned to the police, not a combat support battalion. The military’s job is to break things and kill people during war, not protect civilians from participants in a marathon.
A 1960 Heidelberg Printing Press sold on 14 April 2009. This technology is so rare, and most no longer work, it would seem very few would have need of such an ancient printing pres.
Before this image is scrubbed from Google's cache server I produce it here for archiving. Someone at the White House can tell George Soros' son at Google, who is in management, that the disappearance from the cache servers will be noted. But if someone was to forge a birth certificate from the early '60s, this would be the press they would need.
Obamabow has been compared with Gorbachev which has been interpreted as a positive analogy according to White House types such as David Axelrod. I do think its important to note that the Soviet empire collapsed under Gorby. Is this a hidden message noting our imminent demise?
After saying he didn't note the Tea Parties, Obamabow has now stated that the government has to tighten its belts, almost as if they realized 250,000 Americans took to the streets to protest his tax policies. Then, he flip flops and suggests that the government has to cut back. How much? AP calculated the amount: Obamabow ordered federal agencies, the equivalent of asking a family that spends $60,000 in a year, to save $6.
When asked on "Face the Nation" to comment on the Tax Day Tea Parties that took place, White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod referred to the protests as "an element of disaffection that can mutate into something unhealthy."
Following up on clueless CNN’s unprofessional grandstanding during the 15 April Tea Party, CNN wants FoundingBloggers.com’s follow-up video of concerned citizens questioning reporter Susan Roesgen to remove their footage. The coverage of an embarrassing moment about the CNN reporter has been scrubbed while the copyright issues are discussed and the attorneys argue.
FoundingBloggers has left the clip available and online at their site.
The hapless Norman (who did not want his last name used), who was attacked by Roesgen, was later interviewed by Neil Cavuto.
"The Saberi case is the latest example of how Iranian authorities arbitrarily use spying charges to arrest journalists and tighten the gag on free expression," said Paris-based Reporters Without Borders.
The Americans are not out to defend their citizens as they are attacked, harassed, or imprisoned by Islamic countries.
Iran convicted Roxana Saberi, an Iranian-American journalist, of spying for the United States and sentenced her to eight years in prison.
It was the first time Iran has found an American journalist guilty of espionage - a crime that can carry the death penalty.
The American-Iranian citizen was arrested in late January and initially accused of working without press credentials. But earlier this month, an Iranian judge leveled a far more serious allegation, charging her with spying for the United States.
“You can’t blame the U.S. for every problem in this hemisphere,” Obamabow said. “I am very grateful that President Ortega didn’t blame me for things that happened when I was three months old.”
I get the impression that Obamabow has no loyalty to the U.S. He feels as though only on a personal level is he responsible. He does not represent America or the Americans. It is almost as if he is not a natural born citizen. Perhaps his nearly $700,000 in legal fees is indicative of just how much he is hiding from scrutiny.
Obamabow took the same stance when he was criticized during the campaign for his connections to fellow radical William Ayers. Obamabow's stance then was that he could hardly be blamed for things that happened when he was only eight years old. He is clear; Obamabow is out for himself, the Americans be damned.
Obamabow is spending quite a bit of money--$688,000 in legal fees to the firm of Bob Bauer, the top lawyer for the campaign, and the Obama family-—and $6,400 to a firm founded by Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, on legal fees according to a story broken by Politico, and in compliance with the Federal Election Committee.
What does he have to defend? If the long form birth certificate were not a big deal then what does Obamabow have to hide?
A few tea protesters talked further with CNN reporter, Susan Roesgen, who does not have a clue on how to report a news story that includes regular, every day people. Journalism is supposed to be objective but she is clearly biased against the people making the news as was obvious even from the earlier short clip. She interrupts and argues with an attendee.
"Dr. Ahmad Al-Mub’i, a Saudi Marriage Officiant: It Is Allowed to Marry a Girl at the Age of One, If Sex Is postponed. The Prophet Muhammad, Whose Model We Follow, Married ‘Aisha When She Was Six and Had Sex with Her When She Was Nine"
The following are excerpts from an interview with Dr. Ahmad Al-Mu’bi, a Saudi marriage officiant, which aired on LBC TV on June 19, 2008:
Dr. Ahmad Al-Mu’bi: Marriage is actually two things: First we are talking about the marriage contract itself. This is one thing, while consummating the marriage having sex with the wife for the first time is another thing. There is no minimal age for entering marriage. You can have a marriage contract even with a one-year-old girl, not to mention a girl of nine, seven, or eight. This is merely a contract [indicating] consent. The guardian in such a case must be the father, because the father’s opinion is obligatory. Thus, the girl becomes a wife… But is the girl ready for sex or not? What is the appropriate age for having sex for the first time? This varies according to environment and traditions. In Yemen, girls are married off at nine, ten, eleven, eight, or thirteen, while in other countries, they are married off at 16. Some countries have legislated laws forbidding having sex before the girl is eighteen.
[...]
The Prophet Muhammad is the model we follow. He took ‘Aisha to be his wife when she was six, but he had sex with her only when she was nine.
Interviewer: When she was six…
Dr. Ahmad Al-Mu’bi: He married her at the age of six, and he consummated the marriage, by having sex with her for the first time, when she was nine. We consider the Prophet Muhammad to be our model.
Interviewer: My question to you is whether the marriage of a 12-year-old boy with an 11-year-old girl is a logical marriage, which is permitted by Islamic law.
Dr. Ahmad Al-Mu’bi: If the guardian is the father… There are two different types of guardianship. If the guardian is the father, and he marries his daughter off to a man of appropriate standing, the marriage is obviously valid.
[...]
People find themselves in all kinds of circumstances. Take, for example, a man who has two, three, or four daughters. He does not have any wives, but he needs to go on a trip. Isn’t it better to marry his daughter to a man, who will protect and sustain her, and when she reaches the proper age, he will have sex with her? Who says all men are ferocious wolves?
Sean Smith, Assistant Secretary of DHS for Public Affairs, stated today in an interview on the Roger Hedgecock show that the DHS "extremist" report has been sent to all of the nation's law enforcement agencies.
Obamabow's 2008 Tax Return is available for viewing. The Obama's only made $2.7 million last year while the U.S. median household income is about $50,000; in 2007, they made $4.2 million.
On CNBC’s “Squawk Box”, co-host Joe Kernen asked Rick Santelli what he thought of being a “cultural phenomenon.” That was the same show Santelli called out Obamabow for the unfairness of his housing bailout proposal on Feb. 19.
“A lot of articles about these tea parties,” Kernen said. “They all have your name in them, like you caused it. Are you actually attending any or are you just sort of got the idea going initially? What do you think? I mean, you’re like a cultural phenomenon at this point.”
Santelli called the rallies American and said he was proud of what he inspired.
“I don’t know about cultural phenomenon, but I’ll tell you what,” Santelli said. “I think that this tea party phenomenon is steeped in American culture and steeped in American notion to get involved with what’s going on with our government. I haven’t organized. I’m going to have to work to pay my taxes, so I’m not going to be able to get away today. But, I have to tell you – I’m pretty proud of this.
He also said despite the claims from others in the media, including people at CNBC’s sister network MSNBC, calling the movement “Astroturf,” Santelli declared it a grassroots movement.
“I think from a grassroots standpoint, I’m sure some of the media out there is not going to peg it that way, but isn’t it about as American as it gets – for people to roll their strollers and make their signs and go voice their opinion about the direction of the country?” Santelli said. “Good, bad or indifferent – that’s a great thing. There’s not a lot of countries, of course, that afford their people that, that type of right. It’s a great thing.”
Kernen warned some may try to capitalize off the phenomenon he inspired.
“Just be careful, you may have some self-righteous type go off on a populist rant about your populist rant,” Kernen added.
However, Santelli told Kernen inciting mobs and pitchforks wasn’t part of his playbook.
“Well, you know, populist rant – mobs, pitchforks, that’s the vocabulary I’m certainly not using,” Santelli responded. “But, I’m sure it’ll be out there nonetheless.”
A robot is seen on the sidewalk in front of the north gate of the White House in Washington on Wednesday, April 15, 2009, after tax protesters threw what appeared to be a box of tea bags over the White House fence onto the North Lawn. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Event organizers said they speculated the package was thrown by person or persons not affiliated with the demonstration.
A flustered CNN reporter tries to argue with a real person and without a teleprompter, and a canned answer, she does not know what to do but insult another TV network.
CNN correspondent Susan Roesgen could barely get through her live shot at the Chicago tea party this afternoon. Over shouts of, "You're not a reporter," Roesgen quickly wrapped up an interview with an attendee, then said, "I think you get the general tenor of this. It's anti-government, anti-CNN since this is highly promoted by the right-wing conservative network Fox."
LOTHIAN: When the President met with King Abdullah, there was something that took place which I believe the White House explained was just the president being taller than the king. We took a look at the video, and it does appear that the president actually bowed to King Abdullah. Did he bow or didn’t he?
GIBBS: No, I think he bent over with both, to shake — with both hands to shake his hand, so I don’t–
LOTHIAN: — one hand —
GIBBS: Well I... [laughter]
LOTHIAN: Did he bow or didn’t he?
GIBBS: No. But I think this meeting was like a week ago, right?
LOTHIAN: That’s right but this is something a lot of people are talking about today.
GIBBS: I can only imagine it is of great cause and concern for many people struggling with the economy.
(4-9) CNN Transcript
BLITZER: All right. Clearly trying to play down the issue. The “Pittsburgh Tribune Review“ editorial said this, Donna, “In the least, it was an embarrassing protocol faux paus. Mr. Obama is not the king’s subject but his equal. But the bow,” in quotes, “actually was worst than that, it’s a troubling metaphor for a deferential presidency.” He’s getting a lot of criticism from the right.
Not just the right. And what does it say of the left that they are not criticizing him too?
BRAZILE: Well, you know, they criticized Michelle Obama, the first lady, for supposedly touching the Queen, so I don’t know if it was a bow, [What?] a nod or that was his way of saying — you know (speaking foreign language), I don’t know what the greeting was, but look, the fact is that he was just showing his friendship and his kindness to a country that we hope remains a strong ally in the Middle East.
BLITZER: Big deal or little deal? [He has to ask?]
PERINO: I think it’s a little deal if they would have let it be a little deal but I think that they have perpetuated this story for several days because if you look at the tape, just from the plain face of it people can look at it and go, oh gosh, that kind of looks like a bow. But I think they could have handled it differently. Look, when President Bush did the cultural and customary thing of grabbing the king of Saudi Arabia’s hand, we saw the Democrats play that card over and over again.
BLITZER: He went further. Take a look at — turn around, you can see the video we have. If you turn around, Dana, right behind you. But he went further, he actually gave him a kiss.
PERINO: Well, that’s the customary thing to do. And you get your State Department memo, you left that protocol and you want to do the right thing.
BLITZER: But you can imagine if President Obama…
PERINO: But no American bows to anybody else.
BLITZER: … would have kissed King Abdullah…
PERINO: But America — our whole country is based on the fact that we’re not the subject of anybody else and we’re not supposed to bow. That’s probably why this is a controversy. I think the White House probably could have blown this off earlier if they would have just said thought that that was the protocol, trying to be kind. You know, move on. Instead, now it’s like four days later and we’re still talking about it and you’re showing the videotape.
BLITZER: All right.
BRAZILE: Look, I just think he was just trying to show just some — just show mutual respect.
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday shows that 34% of the nation’s voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Obamabow is performing his role as President. Thirty-two percent (32%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obamabow a Presidential Approval Index rating of +2. That matches his lowest total to date.
The U.S. State Department in its own human rights report criticizes the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for censorship of the media, trials without juries, arrests of homosexuals, flogging of prisoners who violate Islamic rules, and religious sermons drafted by a government agency, among other concerns. Yet, the State Department forged a nuclear cooperation including, as it states, an “exchange of scientific and technical information and documentation” between the United States and UAE; an “exchange and training of personnel;” “provisions relevant to technical assistance,” and the transfer of “material, equipment and components.” A key concern for members of Congress has been that the country has a record as a transshipment post to Iran.
The 341 projects, totaling $4.2 billion, in this year’s Congressional Pig Book Summary symbolize the most egregious and blatant examples of pork. As in previous years, all of the items in the Congressional Pig Book Summary meet at least one of CAGW’s seven criteria, but most satisfy at least two:
* Requested by only one chamber of Congress; * Not specifically authorized; * Not competitively awarded; * Not requested by the President; * Greatly exceeds the President’s budget request or the previous year’s funding; * Not the subject of congressional hearings; or * Serves only a local or special interest.
Rich States Poor States is a new study from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) that offers a road map to recovery based on economic performance trends from states over the last 10 years. The federal bailout of the states may simply encourage out-of-control spending by states, which is up 124% over the last 10 years, without requiring them to make the tough decisions needed to bring about financial stability.
The new commander of al Qaeda's paramilitary forces that operate in Pakistan and Afghanistan laid out al Qaeda and the Taliban's strategy to defeat the Coalition and Afghan government. Abdullah Sa'id, the commander of the Lashkar al Zil, or the Shadow Army, released the statement. Sa'id is aware of the lack of will on the part of Obamabow and the basic strategy is sound. AQ will wear out the West as they lose resolve in the region. You can consider how Obamabow was unable to secure any more combat troops and has failed miserably as a leader of Coalition forces. The trick for the U.S. will be to endure Obamabow and to support American troops which as the pirate fiasco showed, the leadership was found wanting but the troops, the training, and the U.S. military demonstrated courage and leadership.
Dave Gaubatz, a U.S. State Department-trained Arabic linguist and counter-terrorism specialist, has more than two decades of experience in the Middle East, including time in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan and Iraq. He was deployed to Nasiriyah, Iraq, in 2003, where he collected intelligence on weapons of mass destruction and espionage. The Middle Eastern expert and former Air Force special agent is set to launch a "counter-terrorism tour" across America in which he plans to visit a mosque in each state in 50 days to assess their threat to the nation's security. He has formerly planned the Mapping Sharia project.
Dr. Gabriel Calzada, an economics professor at Juan Carlos University in Madrid, has published a study demonstrating that every “green job” created with government money in Spain over the last eight years came at the cost of 2.2 regular jobs, and only one in 10 of the newly created green jobs became a permanent job. Spain has often been cited as a model for Obamabow's energy initiative.
Once you consider the time line, and the pirates involved, you realize that four teens ground Obamabow to a halt. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the four pirates were between 17 and 19 years old. Yet, Obamabow waited 48 hours before considering the use of force initially. Then, upon the urging of the Pentagon, force was applied after a second consideration.
Jo Becker, a D.C.-based advocate for Human Rights Watch, said if the pirate suspect is in fact 16 or 17 years old, "he would certainly be entitled to protections under international law that allow for lower culpability of juveniles involved in crimes."
Becker says international law recognizes that people under 18 are "less developed, less mature, and more easily manipulated by adults."
Ideally, Becker said, an underage suspect would be tried in a juvenile court, with special protections given his age. "He would need to have access to family members. Throughout the whole process, there needs to be a special view to his rehabilitation," she added.
The U.S. government was stymied, and now that the immediate crisis is over, considerations and protections kick in the suspect's defense.
The American people, and our reputation, is the worse for it.
David Kilcullen, who is a major theorist behind Petraus' successful counter-insurgency ideas, has advised that Pakistan may be months away from collapsing.
Roger Hedgecock posted an unclassified report, also posted on Defend Our Freedoms about a Department of Homeland Security study identifying a threat from right-wing extremism. The odd thing about the report is that they pick a few isolated cases, reported over several years, to conclude that right-wingers are threatening the homeland. The study makes no sense since it is based on flimsy evidence to conclude that the right is threatening. I believe it is a blueprint to move against liberties. The report even identifies military veterans as disgruntled and a threat. The government itself is out of touch with the people.
Obamabow finally went slumming today on Easter Sunday to attend a church service for the first time since taking office at St. John's Episcopal Church, nicknamed the “church of the presidents” for its proximity to the White House and the same church Bush, in fact every president since James Madison has attended. No word if he genuflected to the good Reverend Luis Leon, the rector. At least he attended Easter services, last year Obamabow and his family escaped to the tropics as a furor raged over his Chicago church's pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., and where Obamabow was photographed on the beach in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Graphic source: U.S. Navy, Capt. Richard Phillips, right, stands with U.S. Navy Cmdr. Frank Castellano.
It is comforting to realize that America still produces heroes. The heroes are the ordinary Americans that our elites such as Obamabow do not appreciate. While Obamabow and others frittered away, the American heroes of the sea, both commercial and military, went about their business in a deliberate, courageous, and systematic manner. Since we have a dearth of leadership emerging from Washington, the ordinary procedures of military operations, and American bravery, remain firmly in place. I celebrate the American heroes, and the gift of Easter to America. If only Washington, D.C. had half the intelligence, courage, and level headed leadership displayed by our Navy Seal heroes and Captain Richard Phillips we would have our country back again.
