A sign of an amatuer...or worse?

The President has a penchant for displaying his ignorance of the stature and class required of a head of state. I'm not convinced this one should be classified as one of those "gaffes":





I'm equally not convinced it is a sign of impending Muslim rule in the U.S. as I've heard on a few local talk radio stations (seriously, WBAL, you've had some issues with crossing the line into tinfoil had territory as of late). What I think is President Obama has done what we all do - reverted to the culture he was brought up in, and he is clearly schooled in how to respect leaders from the Muslim community.

Regardless of whether the reason is pure ignorance, or incredible familiarity with customs, it should never have happened. This was not mutual respect; this was bowing down to a leader of another country - a country that treats it's citizens horrifically. And yes, I know President Bush held this guy's hand. That upset me, too. Holding hands, however, does not indicate subservience as this display did. This sent a loud message to the Muslim world - intentionally or not.

Obama considering plan for Vets to pay for health care with private insurance

Seriously? Jimmy Carter, please take off your "Asshat in Chief" crown and hand it over to President Obama. He has now proven worthy of wearing it. Far more worthy than Carter ever was.

The leader of the nation’s largest veterans organization says he is “deeply disappointed and concerned” after a meeting with President Obama today to discuss a proposal to force private insurance companies to pay for the treatment of military veterans who have suffered service-connected disabilities and injuries. The Obama administration recently revealed a plan to require private insurance carriers to reimburse the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in such cases.

“It became apparent during our discussion today that the President intends to move forward with this unreasonable plan,” said Commander David K. Rehbein of The American Legion. “He says he is looking to generate $540-million by this method, but refused to hear arguments about the moral and government-avowed obligations that would be compromised by it.”

We have an obligation to our wounded warriors. Just because President Obama doesn't contain the wherewithal to have served in the military himself, does not mean he gets to outsource their care like they are some sort of after thought. Oh wait. They are some sort of after thought to this President and the party that he leads. We can only hope the country is tiring of this man's stupidity which is trumped only by his arrogance.

Obama: You Know What The US Really Needs? A Market Intervention That Spectacularly Collapsed In Europe Last Week

From Mere Rhetoric:

These tools have been resentfully stewing for the last eight years, dreaming of the time when they'd get to correct all of the Bush administration's oh-so-ideological missteps. Their understanding of history begins in 2001. Their understanding of sophistication is "whatever's popular in Europe." And now that they're in power, the fact that they were always a little bit pathetic and silly about the whole thing is beside the point.

Seriously: how inadequate is your understanding of political economy when Vladamir Putin has to explain the dangers of statist centralization to you?

Go read the whole thing here.

The question now is just how bad will this get

Damn. The Senate passed the largest spending bill in history. The Dow dropped 8,0000 points.

The vote was 61-37, with the Turn Coat Republicans *spit* voting for this piece of garbage. Nothing good will come of this. Nothing.

The Press Conference that Refused to End

Tonight we were blessed with the complex oratory skills of our President. I watched the whole thing, beginning to end, and feel that I am deserving of some type of award for valor. I'm sure the rest of you who did the same feel the same.

The President has mastered the art of "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with BS" communication methods. Funny thing is, I think Obama was just as baffled with his answers as the rest of us. In the few coherent and understandable sentences spoken, Obama called out his dissenters and does all he can to shut them down a la Chicago politics. He tries to convince us FDR's policies were just groovy, historians got it all wrong, you see. He noted "people need to break out of their ideological rigidity". He means me, to which I say MY ideological rigidity will go with me to my grave, thank you kindly.

In one of his ramblings, he made overtures about Pakistan. Hold on to your hats, folks, that will be a ride like we've not seen with this guy at the helm.

Then there were the questions - Andrea Mitchell, professional reporter, asks the President's opinion on A-Rod's drug use. This is useful? Another professional journalist from CNN wanted to know when he could take pictures of Soldier's coffins. HuffPo (!) wants to know when we are going to throw the book at President Bush. Obama says no one is above the law, unless and of course you are a tax evading member of his cabinet.

I am stunned at how much this man doesn't know, doesn't get, and beyond that, how often he rambled on and on and on saying absolutely nothing. He contradicted himself repeatedly and displayed his incredible narcissism. That coupled with his complete lack of qualifications for the position he holds is a sight to behold. He blamed Bush as often as possible (but then blamed Fannie and Freddie, he forgot that was a Dem thing?). It was a pathetic display that ended quite bizarrely and abruptly - maybe he didn't want to miss 24, but he should still work on that a bit.

Obama: Mad Dash to the Bottom

I've been working on my Obama screw up list, but every time I get ready to post, a whole new debacle raises it's hand! So, I've been toying with some other ideas to track the list. While I sort through that, I'd like to offer a round up of headlines summarizing President Obama's less than stellar start.

From the New York Times (yes, I'm serious!): Slumdogs Unite!

From the NY Daily News: Stumbling out the gate: Barack Obama flubs his first big test

From The Boston Globe: Three weeks in, and no one has Obama's back

From the Washington Times - CBO: Obama stimulus harmful over the long haul

Change!

2 Weeks and he's tired of being in the White House

Two weeks. TWO WEEKS!

With little notice, the president and first lady Michelle Obama bolted the gated compound of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in their tank of a limousine on Tuesday. They ended up at a Washington public school, greeted by children who could not care less about the collapse of a Cabinet secretary nomination.

"We were just tired of being in the White House," the president candidly told the gleeful second-graders at Capital City Public Charter School.

Frankly, we are tired of you being in the White House, too. This has been a mad dash to the bottom, what with the tax evading cabinet members and "Unclench your fist" being the sum total of our foreign policy. We don't even have to touch the "stimulus package" that is heading us right to Smoot-Hawley part deux. For the love of Pete, India told President Obama to pound sand!

Though part of me would love to acknowledge this as President Obama's two week notice, that leaves us with Biden in Charge. After that? Pelosi. After her? An ex-klan member. Good job, Dems, good job. This whole thing is FUBAR.

Change!

Rush Responds To Obama

Obama announced that if the Republicans wanted to get along and get things done, they would stop listening to Rush, in what the press referred to as a "zing":

"You can't just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done," he told top GOP leaders, whom he had invited to the White House to discuss his nearly $1 trillion stimulus package.

Are you kidding me? You are telling the opposition who they can and can't listen too? Is this the beginnings of your Fairness Doctrine Redux? Has anyone let President Obama know that Rush is an entertainment personality, not a representative of the GOP?

In any event, Rush responds at NRO:

Snip

There are two things going on here. One prong of the Great Unifier's plan is to isolate elected Republicans from their voters and supporters by making the argument about me and not about his plan. He is hoping that these Republicans will also publicly denounce me and thus marginalize me. And who knows? Are ideological and philosophical ties enough to keep the GOP loyal to their voters? Meanwhile, the effort to foist all blame for this mess on the private sector continues unabated when most of the blame for this current debacle can be laid at the feet of the Congress and a couple of former presidents. And there is a strategic reason for this.

Snip

One more thing, Byron. Your publication and website have documented Obama's ties to the teachings of Saul Alinksy while he was community organizing in Chicago. Here is Rule 13 of Alinksy's Rules for Radicals:

"Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it."

Snip.

That is a real zing, friends and neighbors.

The 22nd Amendment - Who Needs It?

Is THIS the change we've heard so much about? Rep. Jose Serrano (D-stupid) has introduced HJ Res 5 to appeal the 22nd amendment - the one that provides for term limits for the President.

The New York representative thought this would be a great idea once before - when Bill Clinton was in office. Oddly enough, the thought wasn't as enticing to Rep. Sorrano during the Bush administration. Which brings up a point: remember when the libs where all fashioning their tin foil hats because (OMG!) President Bush was going to declare Marshall Law during some Rovian constructed Natural Disaster, resulting in President Bush renaming himself Dictator Forevah Bush? The great Mechanism to End Democracy? A bit ironic, if you ask me.

Elections have consequences, people. The One promised change, and change we shall have.

h/t Ed Morrisey of Hot Air

Did Obama *GASP* Lie?

Well, well, well. Not even in the guest house yet and scandal of great proportions has erupted. It is being reported that Rahm Emanual DID speak to Blagojevich, and it looks like Camp Obama has some dirt on their hands. Chicago politics, welcome to DC.

Obama didn't admit to the obvious because the President Elect is a lying liar. He was during the campaign and he is now - 20 years and never heard an off word from Rev. Wright, Father Pfleger, Tony Rezco, Willams Ayers was just a guy in the neighborhood, need I go on? The press ignored this and may other red flags during the elections as they were so desperate to end the Republican reign. We are now left holding the very full bag.

Obama's hubris led him to believe no one in the press would question his denial, and certainly they wouldn't really investigate the connection. After all, he stated that an internal investigation had commenced, shouldn't that have been enough to appease the unwashed? Will Obama go with the tried and true "That was not the Rahm Emanuel I knew" and toss him under the bus? There is some room in there now that he has pulled dear Susan Power out.

Camp Obama must do something dramatic. Barry O is slimy, but he isn't stupid and he must know singing is so much easier than prison. In this case, we have the potential for an out and out chorus with Rezko and Blago; it looks like there is a chance for a Rahm solo now, too. This is not a good scene for our Dear Leader.

I hope y'all headed my warning and stocked up on the popcorn. We haven't had this much scandal since the Clintons!

Carter Regrets Not Being Able To Meet With Terrorists

It seems Hezb'allah has a policy in which they refuse to meet current or former US presidents . I like that policy. It lines up quite nicely with our thought that former and/or current US Presidents should not meet with terrorists. But Asshat in Chief President Carter, who has achieved Worst President Ever status and is now in a league of his own in the Most Moronic Former President competition, feels differently. In fact, he states he would have been "delighted" to meet with the thugs, and is disappointed he was not able to do so.

Well, President Carter, I empathize. I regret our country had to meet you.

From the Office of the President Elect - More News of the Scary

Valerie Jarret, Camp Obama Transition Team co-chair says Barry will be ready to "rule" from day one. Rule? RULE?!? President's don't RULE, they govern. Or at least they did.

I am now officially finished with the historic part of this election. Done. I don't want to hear any more "He's a good man". That means you, McCain. He isn't a "good man" he is a "good for all" guy. Not the same thing.

Tomorrow marks one week, so far I've seen nothing indicating a "change" that would equate to unifying this country. I've seen the website change.gov g from a list of 25 action items (including one citing mandatory civil service) to one very scrubbed, very lame paragraph. I've seen names bandied about as potential cabinet members that should make every one's skin crawl (Gorelick for AG? Good grief!). The "rulerette" up there is being put forward as a candidate for Barry's replacement in the Senate, despite having never served a day in public office. She was, however, chairman of the University of Chicago Medical Center and is currently CEO of The Habitat Company. This, of course, makes her more qualified than The One to be President, but not a Senator. Kind of reminds me of a certain President who attempted to put his loyal friend on the Supreme Court despite it being a colossally stupid idea...who could that have been? Will Obama worshipers point out this is glaringly ridiculous as we did to Bush?

Speaking of President Bush, what gives oh liberal ones? You told me, nay SWORE, fascism was inevitable under his regime. You promised thousands would be rounded up from libraries near and far for reading the wrong material and sent directly to Gitmo. You told me people who dared question Chimpy McBushhitler would suffer, disappear even. Yet Air America died its own painful death, Oliver Stone created a craptastic movie and still lives to make another one, countless I Hate Bush blogs still exist (though I don't know what is going to happen now), and remember Blackwater (cue ominous music)? Guess who used this very outfit for security in Afghanistan? Yes, Barry O.

So what now? I fear much of what the Libs predicted just might come true - only Chimpy won't be the catalyst. Being dramatic, you think? Why don't we ask Joe the Plumber. Anyone want to take bets on what happens to the Obama supporter/government worker who ordered the pulling of records? Suppose the same fate that befell Ken Lay or Scooter Libby will be discussed? Me either.

I am going to be pointing out all the idiot things Obama and his band of Thugs do over the next three months as I am doubtful dissent will be tolerated by The Ruler past this time.

Radio Host Calls for Joe's Death (Language warning)

How very nice and inclusive. Peace loving, even.

Thanks for the link, Zombie!

Marxist Redistribution - Legislative or Judicial decision

Which one shall it be? Our friendly Marxist must decide! BTW, this was in 2001. (h/t capitalist piglet).

Please pay special attention - Senator Obama states the Warren court wasn't that radical because it "didn't break down constraints of the Constitution as laid down by the Founding Fathers".

For reference:

Marxism -

The political and economic philosophy of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in which the concept of class struggle plays a central role in understanding society's allegedly inevitable development from bourgeois oppression under capitalism to a socialist and ultimately classless society.

Socialism -

1. Any of various theories or systems of social organization in which the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy.
2. The stage in Marxist-Leninist theory intermediate between capitalism and communism, in which collective ownership of the economy under the dictatorship of the proletariat has not yet been successfully achieved.

Obama Fans Assualt McCain Supporters

Media could care less. Why is it we get all these news stories about McCain supporters being so angry and violent, yet when the oh so classy dems do this we get the sound of crickets?

I bet I get called racist for this in 3,2,1...

Facts and The Financial Crisis

Great post by Roger Kimball and the collective head in the sand over the "bailout"

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”–George Santayana

What would Santayana (1863-1952) say were he with us today? Although born in Madrid, Santayana lived and taught in the United States for decades, an amused, slightly detached observer of the human panoply and its addiction to folly. Recalling the disater of the Carter years–the economic dégringolade (remember the “misery index“?), the foreign policy disasters (remember the Iran hostage crisis?), recalling above all the hang-dog, defeatist attitude of the Carter years (remember the “malaise” speech?)–Santayana would doubtless have shaken his head as so many Americans (and even more, so many Europeans) are loosing their heads over Barack Obama.

Here, after all, is a man who is a distillation of Jimmy Carter, George McGovern, and Bill “the bomber” Ayres. On taxes. On foreign policy. On free speech. On government entitlements. On all this and more Obama is the most left-wing candidate in the history of the Republic. And yet he is greeted with open arms not only by self-confessed revolutionaries like Bill Ayres but by Mom and Pop Democrat in a taxing district near you.

How do you explain it? Bush Derangement Syndrome (exacerbated by Palin Hysteria Syndrome)? In part. There is also a large quantum of liberal guilt operating, an emotion that Team Obama has been quick to capitalize on.

Ask yourself this: What is the thing a good liberals feel most guilty about? Racism. Yes, they feel guilty being American, especially if they are well to do; the men among them feel guilty about being men, just as the heterosexuals feel guilty about their sexual orientation. But in the great sweepstakes of guilt, race trumps everything. Obama comes wielding all the usual left-wing nostrums about “fairness” (i.e., what’s yours is his, or at least the government’s) and “sharing” and getting along with and talking to our enemies. But what he offers above all is expiation for the imagined taint of racism.

The liberal says: “We have sinned. We are guilty. Please absolve us of our wrong.”

Team Obama says, “Sure, but it’s going to cost you.”

Part of the cost seems to be a simple recognition of historical truth. Thomas Sowell touched on this yesterday when he wondered, not without exasperation, whether facts still mattered in our political life. The current economic crisis seems to have benefitted Obama in the polls. But how could that be? Sowell reminds us of some forgotten facts:

Fact Number One: It was liberal Democrats, led by Senator Christopher Dodd and Congressman Barney Frank, who for years– including the present year– denied that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were taking big risks that could lead to a financial crisis. It was Senator Dodd, Congressman Frank and other liberal Democrats who for years refused requests from the Bush administration to set up an agency to regulate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It was liberal Democrats, again led by Dodd and Frank, who for years pushed for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to go even further in promoting subprime mortgage loans, which are at the heart of today’s financial crisis. Alan Greenspan warned them four years ago. So did the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers to the President. So did Bush’s Secretary of the Treasury, five years ago.

Yet, today, what are we hearing? That it was the Bush administration “right-wing ideology” of “de-regulation” that set the stage for the financial crisis. Do facts matter?

Read the whole thing.

Obama Admits Ayers Connection

via Gateway Pundit - Obama admits his work with Ayers made him qualified for his run for Senate -



The media's willful disregard for this information is by far the most egregious act of journalistic malpractice yet.

RNC Filing Complaint on Foreign Contributions

The RNC has filed a complaint with the FEC to investigate foreign contributions made to Barack Obama's campaign.

The RNC is alleging that the Obama campaign was so hungry for donations it "looked the other way" as contributions piled up from suspicious, and possibly even illegal foreign donors.

"We believe that the American people should know first and foremost if foreign money is pouring into a presidential election," said RNC Chief Counsel Sean Cairncross.Cairncross alleged there was mounting evidence of this, and cited a report in the current issue of Newsweek magazine that documents a handful of instances where donors made repeated small donations using fake names, such as "Good Will" and "Doodad Pro."

What the heck is wrong with you, RNC?!? Are you a bunch of racists?

UPDATE: Powerline has a great rundown on this.

/

Depends on What Your Definition of Truth Is

Camp Obama is getting a bit upset with Team McCain continually pointing out facts that make Barry look bad. So yet again, the gloves have come off and just how many gloves does Barry wear for the love of Pete!

In re Acorn - on Fight The Smears, Camp Obama says he never worked for the thugish and voter fraud laden group.

Except, he did.


and there is this: Obama Ran ACORN Power Training Classes.

Both just a bit different than the "facts" as laid out by Camp Obama.

Then there is the Bill Ayers connection:



Oh wait, you say! Barry was only 8 when Ayers was in full blown terrorist mode! Seeing how I wasn't even born when Charlie Manson was murdering people, it would be no big thing to have him over to dinner now, right?

Despite the MSM's attempt to whitewash this relationship, the truth (the real truth, not Barry's truth) is Barry served on The Woods Foundation board WITH Ayers when he said:

“I don’t regret setting bombs. I feel we didn’t do enough.” (published Sept. 11, 2001 in this article). Please take note of the lovely picture of Professor Ayers standing on the American Flag.

Further more, in the Chicago Annenburg Challenge, Ayers and Obama worked closely on pushing radicalism in public schools.

One unsettled question is how Mr. Obama, a former community organizer fresh out of law school, could vault to the top of a new foundation? In response to my questions, the Obama campaign issued a statement saying that Mr. Ayers had nothing to do with Obama's "recruitment" to the board. The statement says Deborah Leff and Patricia Albjerg Graham (presidents of other foundations) recruited him. Yet the archives show that, along with Ms. Leff and Ms. Graham, Mr. Ayers was one of a working group of five who assembled the initial board in 1994. Mr. Ayers founded CAC and was its guiding spirit. No one would have been appointed the CAC chairman without his approval.

Stanley Kurtz further investigates this relationship here and Obama's other choice of friends here.

SarahCuda has begun to point out these unsavory relationships in her stump speeches. The jaw dropping response from the MSM? Criticizing Obama's relationship with white radical terrorists is racist.

WASHINGTON (AP) - By claiming that Democrat Barack Obama is "palling around with terrorists" and doesn't see the U.S. like other Americans, vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin targeted key goals for a faltering campaign.

And though she may have scored a political hit each time, her attack was unsubstantiated and carried a racially tinged subtext that John McCain himself may come to regret.

UPDATE - The AP has changed the title of the above story from “Analysis: Palin’s words carry racial tinge” to: Analysis: Palin’s words may backfire on McCain.

UPDATE Again - it seems Team McCain has put the kibosh on pointing out the failed Frannie and Freddie belongs to the Dems for fear of being labeled racist. Too late, John! They are already doing so and will continue no matter what you say and despite the fact there is absolutely no merit to it whatsoever. As Patterico points out, simply questioning The One is racist by definition, so throw caution to the wind and start hammering Camp Obama on this! Do you want win or what? If so, nothing and I mean nothing is off limits - all his unsavory aquaintences to include Reverend Right!

Obama's Ministry of Truth

I don't know how else to say it: This is frightening.

Barack Obama is using local law enforcement in Missouri to intimidate and harass those that dare criticize The One. Specifically, the campaign has demanded state law enforcement to prosecute any one that would say anything that could be a "lie or run a misleading TV ad" against Obama. MO Governor Matt Blunt issued an official response to this abuse calling Obama's "Police State tactics" a gross violation of free speech rights.

Barack Obama has attempted to stifle free speech in the past. It started with the announcement his middle name (Hussein) was off limits. Then it was Michelle, then it was a ban on trying to connect Obama to Rezco. It got heightened when Obama declared the Ayers subject not to be discussed (using minions here and an attempt at using the Department of Justice here.) There were the warning letters to GOP donors and the threats of lawsuits against the NRA.

All of the above was cause for concern, however this new step toward stifling dissent, called eerily enough the "Truth Squad", is chilling. It began in PA and moved to MO where Gateway Pundit has a great wrap up. These goon tactics seem to be coming to a state near you.

Most recently, Obama banned the use of signs at a rally in Virginia. Its for "safety reasons", the campaign says. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the Obama hecklers (riiiiggghhhttt). This guy is a fanatical, socialist thug. If people don't wake up there are going to be documentaries in a few years about El Presidente los dios where the interviewees say "I never saw it coming".