Obama the Entertainer

Obama announced that he will star in a new hour-long musical, dance, and variety show.

Recessional Inauguration Taxes Taxpayers

During what we are being told is a recession, the price tag is estimated to be $170 million. In addition, Obama's Inauguration has been financed partially by the bailed-out Wall Street executives. The actual swearing-in ceremony will cost $1.24 million, according to Carole Florman, spokeswoman for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. The federal government estimates that it will spend roughly $49 million on the inaugural weekend. Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland have requested another $75 million from the federal government to help pay for their share of police, fire and medical services.

The party bill has "a budget of roughly $45 million, maybe a little bit more," said Linda Douglas, spokeswoman for the inaugural committee.

That's more than the $42.3 million in private funds spent by President Bush's committee in 2005 or the $33 million spent for Bill Clinton's first inaugural in 1993.
According to Massie Ritsch, communications director for the Center for Responsive Politics, "These are people giving mostly $50,000 apiece. They tend to be corporate executives, celebrities, the elite of the elite."

The biggest group of donors were none other than the recently bailed-out Wall Street executives and employees.

Ritsch said: "Those who worked in finance still managed to pull together nearly $7 million for the inauguration."

Besides Wall Street firms, a large chunk of the money came from employees at companies such as Microsoft, Google and DreamWorks Animation, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Microsoft CEO Steven Ballmer and his wife, Connie, both gave $50,000. So did Microsoft chairman and co-founder Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda.

DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg and his wife, Marilyn, both gave $50,000. Filmmaker and DreamWorks co-founder Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate, both also gave $50,000. And DreamWorks employees gave a total of $275,000.

Billionaire investor George Soros and his family contributed $250,000 to the inauguration, and Google co-founder Larry Page and CEO Eric Schmidt each donated $25,000.

Other big-name donors who gave $50,000 include filmmaker George Lucas, artist Dale Chihuly, Los Angeles Dodgers President Jamie McCourt. Citigroup managing director Raymond J. McGuire; Oracle President Charles E. Phillips Jr.; actresses Halle Berry and Sharon Stone; and Melvin Simon, co-founder of Simon Property Group, the largest mall owner in the United States.

The governors of Maryland and Virginia, and the mayor of Washington said that their combined costs could exceed $75 million. That's on top of the $49 million the federal government is spending, again mostly for security.

Elite firms are supporting Obama and the government is spending taxpayer money to promote the Inaugural image of Obama.

What Else Can He Say?

Obama can really only say what he says best. Until his handlers tell him what to do he go on camera and put on appearances.

Holder Okays Snooping on Americans, Regulate Guns

U.S. Senator Russ Feingold questioned Attorney General nominee Eric Holder about FISA during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on 15 January 2009. Holder supported renewing the part of the Patriot Act that allows for the FBI to seek records from businesses, libraries and bookstores as the policing agency investigates suspects in this country.

Senator Orrin Hatch questioned Holder in regards to the Presidential powers as a consequence of his inherent authority. Presidential powers are superior and this allows him more power over the regulation of guns.

Muslim Speaker for Obama Inaugural Prayer Tied to Terrorists

Muslim scholar, Ingrid Mattson, president of the Islamic Society of North America, has been chosen to speak at Obama's inaugural prayer service. Mattson is the leader of a group that federal prosecutors say has ties to terrorists. Mattson is also a professor of Islamic studies at Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut.

But in 2007 and as recently as last July, federal prosecutors in Dallas filed court documents linking the Plainfield, Indiana-based Islamic society to the group Hamas, which the U.S. considers a terrorist organization.

The Islamic Society of North America, which describes itself as "the nation's largest mainstream Muslim community-based organization," is fighting its inclusion on a list of co-conspirators in the Dallas terrorism case against the Holy Land Foundation.

That foundation and five of its former leaders were convicted at a retrial in November of funneling millions of dollars to Hamas.

Educating Yourself on Sharia Finance & Banking in the U.S.

With the rise of Sharia finance within the U.S. government many citizens will need to acquaint themselves with how the process is working. Many more Americans would object were they to realize how extensive the contacts have become and they may have a dimmer view of the ongoing bailouts as a result. Fortunately, there are groups who are educating Americans with the ongoing challenge to their way of life.

Iranian Cleric Solicits Shooter, Notes Obama's Dog Priorities

Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, Iran's top cleric opined: "The world is on a slope of collapse. One is shocked when a president (Obama) sits, smiles and says 'my concern is to find a dog for my daughter.' Shame on you and those who voted for you," he said.

He also added during Friday prayers that Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni should be shot.

"Every time the picture of this woman is shown, I really wish that somebody would expend a bullet on her," he said according to a recording of the sermon obtained by the Associated Press, and a copy of the speech was also translated and published by the Middle East Media Research Institute, a Middle Eastern press monitoring service.
These are the people that Obama wants to meet with and to have no preconditions before for meeting. Wouldn't you like to be a fly on the wall on that auspicious occasion?

Jannati is the head of the powerful hardline Iranian Council of Guardians which ensures the government remains true to the principles of the Islamic revolution.

He was hand-picked by Iran's top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, for the position and is seen by the reformist camp as one of the biggest opponents of democratic reforms in Iran. His council disqualified thousands of reformist candidates during parliamentary elections. At least they have something in common with Obama: they lack qualifications.

Federal Government's Fear of the People

For the inauguration Washington will be on lock down for this unprecedented security event. It will be overseen by the U.S. Secret Service and will include 7,500 active-duty soldiers, 10,000 National Guard troops, and 25,000 law-enforcement officers.

On Inauguration Day, the city will be honeycombed with communication command centers staffed with officials from the Secret Service, FBI, police and fire departments, intelligence agencies, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.

Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department is working with 99 federal, state and local law-enforcement agencies to double its force of 4,100 officers. The FBI will have 600 agents on duty, a 20 percent increase from the 2005 inauguration. All 1,600 Capitol Police officers will be on duty.

Chemical, Biological

The U.S. Army will have a brigade at Fort Stewart, Georgia, ready to respond to a chemical and biological attack. Within 48 hours, hundreds of planes and helicopters could fly to the Washington region if needed.

Even the ceremonial guards at the inauguration are prepared to change out of their dress uniforms to help out in the event of a security lapse.

The effort will even include inspectors, behavioral experts, air marshals and canine teams from the Transportation Security Administration, who are usually deployed at airports. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is sending bomb experts and dog handlers.

Helping to monitor crowds will be 94 surveillance cameras spread throughout the city as well those in subway stations and in helicopters.

Anyone wishing to stand along the route of the inauguration parade will have to go through some type of screening, including metal detectors.

On Inauguration Day, two bridges connecting Washington to Virginia will be closed to all traffic except tour buses, emergency vehicles and pedestrians. Vehicles also will be restricted within a seven-block section west of the White House.

Parade-Route Balconies

Security officials are taking special care with buildings near the festivities. Parking garages in some will be shut down the day before. Guests attending the Air Transport Association’s party at its Pennsylvania Avenue headquarters -- along the parade route -- will have to be pre-cleared because the building has balconies.

The scale of the overkill for the inauguration begins to reveal the extent that the government fears the people and the lengths it can go to shut down the government if necessary.

Politician Free Zone

For the inauguration the signs along 5th and I Streets in D.C. read, "Warning, Prostitution Free Zone." I wonder where all the politicians will be going for the 20th.

Washington, D.C. Bans Free Speech

Free speech is banned in Washington, D.C. for the inauguration. The Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department has forbidden a pro-life gathering and chalk display during Inauguration Week. The chalk display had been approved previously for the last 16 years. The City of Washington, D.C., has also allowed numerous public 'chalk art displays' throughout the city, but as this involves a pro-life display in front of the White House and Obama is pro-choice it stands to reason the First Amendment will be suspended.

The Christian Defense Coalition plans to appeal the decision of the police to ban their expression.

Holder Justice?

Eric Holder will be questioned as the Attorney General Elect. Questions regarding his roles will be paramount.

Previous testimony from Holder before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1999 did not go well. Orrin Hatch--then chairman of the judiciary committee asked him why he never pressed the terrorists to provide information about other FALN terrorists who were still at large. Holder was unable to answer the question.

Taxpayers Fund Al Jazeera

WLIW21 relies on many different resources for its support in providing these valuable services - station members, volunteers, corporate sponsors, community groups and governmental funding all contribute to fulfilling the mission of the station. WLIW21 looks forward to a continued partnership with the tri-state area as truly public television.

Since WLIW reports that they receive public funding, Americans must be the dumbest people in the universe. American taxpayers will now be funding Al Jazeera since the company has signed deals to air throughout the U.S. Right now a person is perfectly able to pay for the messages, ideas, and slime that emanates from the black hole but Americans have made it easier to attack America. They will be paying for propaganda that undercuts them as a nation.

A list of the Board of Directors, in case anyone wants to object, appears below:

Board of Long Island Educational TV Council, Inc.
Charlotte Nichoson Ackert
Chairperson
Community Leader

Terrel L. Cass
President and General Manager,
WLIW21

James M. Goldrick
1st Vice Chairman
Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co.

Michael Bertuch
2nd Vice Chairman
ViaTech Publishing Solutions

Robert Sturm
Secretary/Treasurer
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Richard M. Aborn
Constantine & Aborn Advisory Services, LLC

Santa Albicocco
Attorney/Community Leader

Angela Anton
Susan Anton Community Newspapers

Hans Bosch
Kenstan Lock Company

Matthew T. Crosson
Long Island Association, Inc.

Nancy R. Douzinas
Rauch Foundation

William G. Forman
North Atlantic Industries, Inc.

Phyllis Hill-Slater
Hill Slater, Inc.


Michael T. Keenan
Wachovia Bank
James H. MacNaughton
Community Leader

Steven C. Millner
Quogue Venture Group, Inc.

Vera Moore
Vera Moore Cosmetics

Thomas A. Nicolette
Akers Biosciences, Inc.

George D. O'Neill
Meriwether Capital, LLC

Diane Chernoff Rosen
Alter & Rosen, LLP

Arnold Scaasi
Community Leader

Barry R. Shapiro
(Chairman Emeritus)
Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C.

Robert D. Siegfried
Kekst and Company Inc.

Donald J. Stewart
(Chairman Emeritus)
Parker Publications, Inc.

Jacqueline F. Strayer
Arrow Electronics, Inc.

Paul F. Washington
Time Warner Inc.

Compulsory Military Service?

The irrepressible Congressman Rangel, D-N.Y., is at it again. The perennial proponent of re-instating the draft plans to revive the idea. And, with a Democrat president, a Democrat Senate, and a Democrat House he just may have a shot this time. The Obama campaign discussed, and there has been public support for Obama youth movements, and this seems to be in line with earlier developments. The Republicans will bleat about compulsory service or Obama service groups but there is not a great deal of political opposition that they can muster since they are the minority party. The potential result is most likely some type of compulsory or heavily supported military or paramilitary service as a result.

The historical war-making record of Democrats does not look good either. War efforts have been led by Democratics Wilson, Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, and Clinton. Oddly enough, the Republicans have ended or so threatened others with retaliation that war was avoided. Nixon and Reagan come to mind in this regard. Of course, this is a simplistic and all too brief summary but it stands to reason that Rangel is actually on to something.

Keyes on Obama

Dr. Keyes is interviewed summarizing his thoughts on the natural born citizen

controversy.

Ummm, Illinois Profit?

I had blogged before about the socialist, Carol Browning, who had discriminated against her employees as the head of the EPA. Yet, the appointee will be the new coordinator of energy policies in the U.S. Before we go too far astray I have to wonder why she would get this appointment. One aspect to consider is to grasp how much of a benefit that the corn producing states, such as Illinois, stand to gain from an increase in using ethanol. The short answer is a great deal. This is a move that they were savvy enough to move on once it became clear that oil flow to the U.S. was in jeopardy.

Corn belt states began subsidizing ethanol after the Arab oil embargo of 1973. The federal government advocated its use a few years later. The Energy Tax Act of 1978 authorized an excise tax exemption for biofuels, chiefly gasohol (a gasoline blend containing at least 10 percent ethanol). Another federal program provided loan guarantees for the construction of ethanol plants, and in 1986 the U.S. even gave ethanol producers free corn. It's estimated that the excise exemption alone costs U.S. taxpayers as much as $1.4 billion per year.

The immediate beneficiaries of ethanol subsidies have been corn farmers and, more significantly, the Archer Daniels Midland Corporation of Decatur, Illinois, better known as ADM. The world's largest grain processor, ADM produces 40 percent of the ethanol used to make gasohol. As might be supposed, the company and its officers have been eloquent in their defense of ethanol and generous in contributing to both political parties. The politicians have been in return. The libertarian Cato Institute estimates that every dollar of ADM's ethanol profit costs taxpayers 30 bucks.

The circle is complete. The corn growers stand to profit from the increased demand for ethanol and minions are needed to implement the plans of big business. Obama will enter now.

Inauguration Emergency

"An emergency exists in the District of Columbia," White House press secretary Dana Perino said in a statement. And, with that, Washington, D.C. is on lock-down. What is the emergency? The emergency is the upcoming inauguration ceremony. Since "the emergency" is not really an emergency it seems fair to conclude that Americans should get accustomed to non-threatening situations that are now regarded as emergencies. As Americans are benumbed to the notion of the government regularly declaring emergencies for the most frivolous reasons they can likewise expect to find their liberties diminished as well. The Obama - Bush gang are acting in concert.

Thanks From Bugs

One of the fans weigh in.

Obama/Biden SCOTUS Meet Behind Closed Doors

According to the press release: "The visit is a private event. There will be no photo or press availabilities.” In a meeting that has not happened between a President and a Chief Justice in 17 years, SCOTUS and the President-elect are chatting but without any one from the outside. I wonder what they have to talk about?

'Nary A Brown Ripple

Not a ripple in the MSM about the appointment of Carol Browner.

It may be that considerations of race or politics are secondary if ethanol is promoted by Obama-Browner. It may be worth considering if Illinois is the state that is expected to benefit a great deal from the proposed energy solutions during the new administration.

Obama Stands Behind Socialist on Energy

Graphic source: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES APPOINTED.

Carol M. Browner has been tapped as the coordinator of climate and energy policies. Until last week, Browner, Obama's nod as global warming czar, was listed as one of 14 leaders of a socialist group's Commission for a Sustainable World Society, which calls for "global governance" and says rich countries must shrink their economies to address climate change. The page has been revised but a cached copy reveals that Browner is a socialist.

Just last Thursday though, Browner's name and biography had been removed from Socialist International's Web page although a promotional photo of a her speaking on 30 June to the group's congress in Greece was still available.

Socialist International, an umbrella group for many of the world's more mainstream social democratic political parties such as Britain's Labor Party, is a self-proclaimed socialist group harshly critical of U.S. policies.

Obama tapped Browner last month to fill a new position as White House coordinator of climate and energy policies. The appointment does not need Senate confirmation and so will not likely face opposition as a confirmed Socialist.

Previously, Browner ran the Environmental Protection Agency under Clinton and she was on the board of directors for the National Audubon Society, the League of Conservation Voters, the Center for American Progress and former Vice President Al Gore's Alliance for Climate Protection.

Her name has been removed from the Gore organization's Web site list of directors, and the Audubon Society issued a press release about her departure from that organization.

The controversial Browner was investigated by The Washington Times who discovered that she refused to use email when she served during the Clinton administration for fear of leaving a digital trail. She also ordered her government computer hard drive wiped clean of records just before leaving office.

An email sent to her surfaced in litigation so she simply decided not to a computer." She said: "I was very careful."

A lawsuit convinced a judge to order that the agency must preserve such records. The same day Browner asked a staff member to erase all files on her government computer and her work computer was scrubbed which prompted allegations of a possible cover-up.

The ensuing investigation ultimately cleared Ms. Browner of any wrongdoing who claimed that she was unaware of the judge's order. Her former agency, however, didn't fare as well. It was found in contempt of court for failing to preserve government records.

There will be no transparency during her tenure since she is "afraid the public might see it later," said Mike Surrusco, senior researcher at Common Cause, a nonpartisan group that monitors government ethics and openness.

Charles Davis, executive director of the National Freedom of Information Coalition at the University of Missouri, said avoiding computers and e-mail "seems a little drastic and over the top."

In addition, according to her Wikipedia article:

"During Browner's tenure, there were many reports from African American employees of racism directed at them from a network of "good old boys" who dominated the agency's middle management layers. The most known of these involved policy specialist Marsha Coleman-Adebayo, who in 1997 filed suit against the agency; in 2000 the EPA was found guilty of discrimination against her and she was awarded $300,000. Coleman-Adebayo said that Browner allowed the problems to persist rather than trying to clean them up: "She wasn't at all sympathetic to complaints about civil rights abuses. We were treated like Negroes, to use a polite term. We were put in our place." In an October 2000 Congressional hearing on the matter, Browner appeared near tears as she said minorities had tripled in the agency's senior ranks during her time as administrator, but she was unable to explain why the culprits in Coleman-Adebayo's case had not been dismissed and in some cases had been promoted. A month earlier, Browner had asked for the Office of the Inspector General to linvestigate [sic] a statement by an African American environmental specialist that she had been ordered to clean a toilet in 1993 in advance of Browner's arrival at an EPA event. This followed a rally in which dozens of EPA employees protested what they saw as rampant bias at the agency. Congressional dissatisfaction with the EPA situation and its treatment of Coleman-Adebayo led to passage of the No-FEAR Act in 2002, which discourages federal managers and supervisors from engaging in unlawful discrimination and retaliation."