RANT: Ready for the 15¢ Federal Christmas Tree Tax?

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

http://blog.heritage.org/2011/11/08/obama-couldnt-wait-his-new-christmas-tree-tax/

Obama Couldn’t Wait: His New Christmas Tree Tax
David S. Addington
November 8, 2011 at 6:15 pm

*** begin quote ***

President Obama’s Agriculture Department today announced that it will impose a new 15-cent charge on all fresh Christmas trees—the Christmas Tree Tax—to support a new Federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees.

In the Federal Register of November 8, 2011, Acting Administrator of Agricultural Marketing David R. Shipman announced that the Secretary of Agriculture will appoint a Christmas Tree Promotion Board. The purpose of the Board is to run a “program of promotion, research, evaluation, and information designed to strengthen the Christmas tree industry’s position in the marketplace; maintain and expend existing markets for Christmas trees; and to carry out programs, plans, and projects designed to provide maximum benefits to the Christmas tree industry” (7 CFR 1214.46(n)). And the program of “information” is to include efforts to “enhance the image of Christmas trees and the Christmas tree industry in the United States” (7 CFR 1214.10).

To pay for the new Federal Christmas tree image improvement and marketing program, the Department of Agriculture imposed a 15-cent fee on all sales of fresh Christmas trees by sellers of more than 500 trees per year (7 CFR 1214.52). And, of course, the Christmas tree sellers are free to pass along the 15-cent Federal fee to consumers who buy their Christmas trees.

Acting Administrator Shipman had the temerity to say the 15-cent mandatory Christmas tree fee “is not a tax nor does it yield revenue for the Federal government” (76 CFR 69102). The Federal government mandates that the Christmas tree sellers pay the 15-cents per tree, whether they want to or not. The Federal government directs that the revenue generated by the 15-cent fee goes to the Board appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out the Christmas tree program established by the Secretary of Agriculture. Mr. President, that’s a new 15-cent tax to pay for a Federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees.

*** end quote ***

Are you kidding me?

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[JR: Cancelled!]

# – # – # – # – # 2011-Nov-09 @ 14:09


RANT: Mike McQuery’s unexplainable behavior

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-paterno-firing-breaking-110811,0,7521879.story

Report: Paterno firing “imminent” won’t coach in 2012
Reuters
12:36 p.m. EST, November 8, 2011
The Sports Xchange

*** begin quote ***

Paterno has come under fire and, according to the Times, citing two people briefed on the conversations with top school officials, could be fired within days or weeks for failing to involve the police when he learned of an eyewitness account from a graduation assistant coach who told him Sandusky assaulted a boy in 2002. Paterno at the time turned the information over to his superiors, but took no further action and said he did not know the explicit details or nature of Sanudsky’s encounter with the boy. The graduate assistant was identified by the Centre Daily Times as current wide receiver coach Mike McQuery, who played quarterback for the Nittany Lions while Sandusky was defensive coordinator. Sandusky retired in 1999 but reports say he had access to the school, its locker rooms and training facilities, privileges that hadn’t been denied even into his retirement until last week, according to Yahoo.com.

*** end quote ***

A quarterback, attracted by the noise, sees the assault and rape taking place and doesn’t immediately intervene?

Was he a past victim? Past witness? Unindicted co-conspirator?

What else can explain the delayed response?

Wouldn’t a normal person race in a punch the pervert’s lights out?

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I wrote this last night. Listening to Imus, this morning, he cited Maureen Dowd excoriating Penn State.

# # # # #

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/opinion/dowd-personal-foul-at-penn.html?_r=1&ref=maureendowd

OP-ED COLUMNIST
Personal Foul at Penn State
By MAUREEN DOWD
Published: November 8, 2011

*** begin quote ***

Paterno was told about it the day after it happened by Mike McQueary, a graduate assistant coach who testified that he went into the locker room one Friday night and heard rhythmic slapping noises. He looked into the showers and saw a naked boy about 10 years old “with his hands up against the wall, being subjected to anal intercourse by a naked Sandusky,” according to the grand jury report.

It would appear to be the rare case of a pedophile caught in the act, and you’d think a graduate student would know enough to stop the rape and call the police. But McQueary, who was 28 years old at the time, was a serf in the powerfully paternal Paternoland. According to the report, he called his dad, went home and then the next day went to the coach’s house to tell him.

*** end quote ***

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Totally unexplainable behavior!

Even then, if “Pappa Joe’s” image is to be believed, why didn’t he immediately call the police. Old-heimers?

It’s both a “personal foul” and an “institutional foul”.

I’ve long ragged on the NCAA and the NCAA schools as the modern plantation. More interested in “revenue” and image than caring for the slaves on their new type plantation.

At least major league baseball is honest with its minor leagues.

Time to break this cartel up. Root out ALL the abuse.

And, like the Catholic Church, nothing will get better until the evil is cauterized.

# # # # #

On Varney & Company, Former Judge Andrew Napolitano asserted that Joe Paterno is legally in the clear because he reported it to his superiors in Penn State.

<He was interrupted by an AP report that Joe will retire at the end of the season.>

Side kick babe, Tracy Byrnes as Mom, went nuts but he gave he the First Amendment and East German police argument, no obligation to report what people tell you. She wasn’t mollified, but I guess he’s right about that.

While Joe under that scenario, didn’t have an obligation to report. Clearly Mike McQuery did.

AND, let’s consider the “where there’s smoke” argument!

This can’t be the first time and what did Joe know and when did he know it?

If I was the Attorney General of PA or of the USA, I’d have my State Police or the FBI collecting papers and computers.

There has to be a smoking gun.

No one gets a “free pass” from a “proctology exam”.

# # # # #

Joe has reportedly released a statement.

http://philly.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2011/11/9/2549353/joe-paterno-retires-quotes-penn-state-scandal

“… At this moment the Board of Trustees should not spend a single minute discussing my status. They have far more important matters to address. I want to make this as easy for them as I possibly can. …”

# – # – #

Sorry, but I don’t buy it. If I was on the BoT, then I’d want to hear from Coach Joe and I’d have the Audit Committee taking under oath statements. I’d have all University property collected and all email and network logs frozen for forensic examination.

I’d also freeze accepting any “retirements”. No rat gets to abandon ship with a big payday. There should be consequences.

“… easy for them …” or is it easiest for Coach?

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RANT: Where’s the bank regulators? Oh yeah, in the Bank’s pockets!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

http://www.click2houston.com/news/29554808/detail.html?taf=hou

Bank Forecloses On Home Destroyed By Ike
By Amy Davis
UPDATED: 6:32 pm CDT October 28, 2011

*** begin quote ***

HOUSTON — Hurricane Ike destroyed dozens of homes in Seabrook. Many families are just now rebuilding, but when Brad Gana tried to pick up the pieces, he learned that Bank of America was trying to take what little he had left.

“I was shocked when they said they were foreclosing on it,” Gana told investigator Amy Davis.

Gana was working overseas when the hurricane hit, destroying his home. But even then, he said he never missed a mortgage payment. It took him days to figure out why Bank of America was foreclosing.

*** end quote ***

Why is BoA allowed to get away with this?

Clearly the bank regulators can’t do the job. Or won’t do it.

“Too big to fail” really means “too big to care”.

Solution seems easy.

(1) A cap by the Gooferment on the absolute size a “corporation” can be. “Too big to fail is too big to exist.”

(2) Mortgages can be sold, but if they go bad, they are the responsibility of the originating entity. No more sell it and forget it.

(3) Triple damages for “foreclosing in error”; punitive damages for fiscal malpractice. (As we cap, medical malpractice awards which have become like lottery tickets, “we” should put the Trial Lawyers on this problem.)

(4) Since bank regulators seem to be unable to regulate, let’s eliminate the regulations and sale all those costs.

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RANT: BHO44 has a tin ear; mikes are always on

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4145266,00.html

Report: Sarkozy calls Netanyahu ‘liar’

Microphones accidently left on after G20 meeting pick up private conversation between US, French presidents. Sarkozy admits he ‘can’t stand’ Israeli premier. Obama: You’re fed up with him? I have to deal with him every day!

Ynet Published: 11.07.11, 23:53 / Israel News

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RANT: Never forgive, never forget, never spend — stop corporate welfare cold!

Sunday, November 6, 2011

http://knappster.blogspot.com/2011/10/ok-clean-slate-time.html

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2011

OK, Clean Slate Time

*** begin quote ***

It was a really bad thing. The Cards’ owners had an aggregate net worth of something like $15 billion, but wanted the taxpayers of St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and Missouri to pick up the stadium tab.

*** and ***

Next year, I think I’ll go see a game in that stadium I paid for.

*** end quote ***

Say it isn’t so. The only two weapons that an advocate of the NVP are: ostracism and spending. By not standing forcefully against that Stadium deal, you’ve forgone one. By going to a game next year, you’ve given up the other. It’s tough to find one’s principles. It’s even harder to stick to them. And, it’s all to easy to just cave. Be strong for all of us little L libertarians who read this blog and follow you for inspiration. If you cave, why should the rest of us hold the line?

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RANT: Double standard?

Thursday, November 3, 2011

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2011/10/27/tea-party-to-mayor-make-occupy-richmond-pay-up/

Tea Party to Mayor: Make ‘Occupy Richmond’ Pay Up
October 27, 2011 2:37 PM

*** begin quote ***

RICHMOND, Va. (CBS Washington) – The Richmond Tea Party is accusing Mayor Dwight Jones of taking a soft stance against the “Occupy Richmond” protesters and is demanding that the group pay up.

After nearly three weeks of protests and overnight stays in Kanawha Plaza, the Richmond Tea Party is about to send Jones a bill for about $8,000 on the basis that “Occupy Richmond” has been using the area illegally and for free.

Richmond Tea Party spokeswoman Colleen Owens told CBS Washington that the protesters have been given special treatment and free reign of the park and have not had to comply with the strict liability and security provisions that the city required of a Tea Party Tax Day in 2009.

As the person in charge of the 2009 event, Owens said Richmond officials dictated the number of police and emergency personnel they were required to have on site and required a $1 million liability policy to protect the city. Owens said that when a Tea Party member decided to call the mayor’s office to see if the protesters had required any of the necessary permits for the park, the city said that “Occupy Richmond” didn’t have any requirements for them to protest and stay overnight in Kanawha Plaza.

*** and ***

Calls and emails made by CBS Washington to “Occupy Richmond” officials and Jones’ office seeking comment were not immediately returned.

*** end quote ***

No double standard. Not much. Wonder if this is a pattern. If we had a real muckraking media, they’d dig this out.

How far the Republic has fallen from our ideals.

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RANT: Gooferment “welfare” is immoral, ineffective, and inefficient.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

http://www.dickmorris.com/blog/the-answers-on-immigration-dick-morris-tv-lunch-alert/

Dick’s answer to “illegal immigration”.

Wrong!

There should be no such thing as “illegal” immigration.

Eliminate welfare. Stop the “(pseudo) War on (some) Drugs”. And, eliminate the Federal Minimum wage.

Issue green cards at the border after a fingerprint / dna check.

The whole problem revolves around freeloaders — be they foreign or domestic — rich individuals or crony corporations — stop welfare by the Gooferment.

Gooferment “welfare” is immoral, ineffective, and inefficient.

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RANT: What is the real rate of unemployment?

Monday, October 24, 2011

http://lewrockwell.com/roberts/roberts329.html

The End of History by Paul Craig Roberts

*** begin quote ***

As statistician John Williams (shadowstats.com) has shown, the official inflation measures are rigged in order to hold down cost of living adjustments to Social Security recipients, thus saving money for Washington’s wars. When measured correctly, the current rate of inflation in the US is 11.5%.

*** end quote ***

Wonder what the real rate of unemployment is?

Not just new filings!

Bet it’s a lot more than 9%. I’d guess that a smidgen less than the Great Depression rate. What’s your guess?

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RANT: Add Penn to the “Jane Fonda” list

Monday, October 17, 2011

http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/brent-baker/2011/10/15/sean-penn-calls-tea-party-get-n-word-out-white-house-party-which-wants

Sean Penn Calls Tea Party the ‘Get the N-Word Out of the White House Party’ Which Wants to ‘Lynch’ Obama
By Brent Baker | October 15, 2011 | 01:39

*** begin quote ***

Left-wing actor Sean Penn slimed the Tea Party as motivated by racism, charging on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight on Friday evening that an impediment to President Obama’s success is “what I call the ‘Get the N-word out of the White House party,’ the Tea Party.”

At a time when Herman Cain tops polls of Republican primary voters, Penn proceeded to allege, without citing any evidence, that “there’s a big bubble coming out of their heads saying, you know, ‘can we just lynch him?’”

*** end quote ***

Less than a month ago, I thought that he was just a “pinhead”, And a “liberal” one at that.

Hollywood “stars”, for some reason, think their success at entertaining “We, The Sheeple” somehow makes them “thought leaders”, “experts in all manner of disciplines”, or the next “gandhi”. In fact, there are a few who emerge from that world and demonstrate competency. I’m think of Heddy Lamar inventing a torpedo, Charlton Heston marching with Pastor Martin Luther King, and Ronald Reagan becoming President. And, in the American Republic, the Dead Old White Guys envisioned that every man was king. And, in Hollywood there are some very smart entertainers, Jodie Foster comes to mind. In entertainment, Dolly Parton is a notable business success.

But, it seems that there are just many more loons. Which is OK as long as they are “good people”. Everyone’s entitled to an opinion; even if it is wrong.

At some point however, they can become dangerous and hurtful.

Seems like Sean Penn has crossed over into that territory.

He has smeared a large group of people with basically the worst label one can apply today. Other than “used car salesman” or politician. Racist!

Now, I’ve never been to a “Tea Party”, but I can understand them. I haven’t gone because I believe that they can’t change anything.You’re not going to get the politicians and bureaucrats to give up their power by just showing up. Ain’t never happened; ain’t never going to happen.

The Free State Project is an effort to “take over” a state and eventually throw the bums out. That MIGHT have a chance.

Sean Penn has earned his way on to my personal “Jane Fonda” list. Since I am still free to spend my money any way I want, I choose not to spend it with or on anyone on that list. They are Persona Non Grata. I shun them. Peacefully, turning my back on them.

So to with Sean Penn.

He can get off my list by curing cancer, saving babies, or proving his assertion.

Till then, none of my dollars for him.

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RANT: Iran actress sentenced; jail and lashes for role in a film

Sunday, October 16, 2011

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.327f17c704be62bbbe8f51190948679a.871&show_article=1

Iran actress sentenced to one year in jail: report
Oct 9 03:15 PM US/Eastern

*** begin quote ***

Actress Marzieh Vafamehr has been sentenced to a year in jail and 90 lashes for her role in a film about the limits imposed on artists in the Islamic republic, an Iranian opposition website reported Sunday.

*** end quote ***

Every woman in the USA should be speaking up about the “importation” of Sharia law or any “foreign” influence into US jurisprudence.

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RANT: 999 = great soundbite, but can’t get there from here

Friday, October 14, 2011

999 is a great sound bite. BUT, who would agree to a Sales Tax without the repeal of the 16th and the elimination of income tax. (Income tax is an economically STUPID idea.) The argument against the FAIR / FLAT / 999 / any other great idea is: Why give the Gooferment more money and more ways to take it? AND do you really want a income tax AND a sales tax? AND, do you trust that it would stay at 9, 13, 22, 31%? (You certainly don’t want it hidden in prices like the corporate tax is now. That’s how Europe and Canada would up with a VAT where each step in the production process gets hammered with a huge tax.

In a perfect world, 9% sales tax — with NO other taxes — would be tolerable. The correct level is zero. But I could stand for 9%. But that means no state, no city, no property, no nothing. Politicians and bureaucrats should starve!

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RANT: The World’s Policeman?

Friday, October 14, 2011

President Barack Obama has authorized the deployment of up to 100 combat-equipped U.S. troops to central Africa to help hunt down the leaders of a rebel force known as the Lord’s Resistance Army.

A senior administration official said 12 troops have been deployed so far under what he called a training mission aimed at helping African forces find and kill Joseph Kony, the fugitive head of the rebels.

The U.S. forces will deploy to Uganda, South Sudan, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204774604576631223688817698.html?mod=djemalertNEWS

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You have to be kidding me?

# – # – # – # – # 2011-Oct-14 @ 15:40


RANT: Lisa Edelstein, Dr. Lisa Cuddy, has moved on

Thursday, October 13, 2011

http://www.geekosystem.com/good-television-threatened-from-inside/

Good Television That Is Being Threatened From the Inside

House M.D. South Park The Simpsons the Walking Dead

by Rollin Bishop | 3:10 pm, October 13th, 2011

*** begin quote ***

1. House Cast

As time has gone on, Fox’s best-known medical drama, House, has had a rotating cast of characters with some but not too many regulars. This season, there are even fewer regulars than normal. For a drama of this kind, especially one named after a central character, House, M.D. has almost been around for too long. All of the normal character arcs have played their hands long ago and now we’re back to introducing new faces in order to produce new arcs.

But this season marks the absence of Lisa Edelstein, Dr. Lisa Cuddy, as she and Hugh Laurie’s House had a falling out at the end of last season. It’s been written off as Cuddy leaving for another position somewhere else, and she’s gone from regularly appearing. In addition to this, Olivia Wilde has been off making movies and thus appears irregularly as Thirteen. Oh, and did I mention there are two new doctors, both female, being added to the squad? Taub is soon to be outnumbered. But the point remains: This is an obvious attempt to reinvigorate a show that has already had its time and done what it set out to do. It may or it may not actually do it.

*** end quote ***

Guess it’s jumped that proverbial shark.

Deleting it from my DVR and Facebook profile.

Argh!

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RANT: Last Night’s Debate

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

http://www.keywestlou.com/2011/10/good-morning-world-this-morning-is-same.html

*** begin quote ***

I stayed home last night. Wanted to watch the Republican debate at 9. I could not find it on my TV. I have over 300 channels available to me, yet could not get the debate. A bummer.

*** end quote ***

It was on the “Bloomberg” channel by all the finance channels. And it was live on line on bloomberg dot com.

It was interesting. Only Cain and Paul have a unique message. Would have like to have seen more argument between pro-FED Cain and anti-FED Paul over the very existence of the banking cartel.

Cain’s 999 plan took a lot of flak. I’m not sure anyone was listening when Bachman put a torpedo midships of it when she (correctly) pointed out that the National Sales Tax would lead to a Value Added Tax all in ADDITION to the income tax giving the politicians more money to spend.

That’s the argument against any type of tax “reform”. Be it flat tax, fair tax, or rich tax. It’s all just giving more power to the Gooferment.

Argh!

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RANT: Secret U.S. Memo

Sunday, October 9, 2011

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/09/world/middleeast/secret-us-memo-made-legal-case-to-kill-a-citizen.html

Secret U.S. Memo Made Legal Case to Kill a Citizen
By CHARLIE SAVAGE
Published: October 8, 2011

*** begin quote ***

Then there was the Bill of Rights: the Fourth Amendment’s guarantee that a “person” cannot be seized by the government unreasonably, and the Fifth Amendment’s guarantee that the government may not deprive a person of life “without due process of law.”

The memo concluded that what was reasonable, and the process that was due, was different for Mr. Awlaki than for an ordinary criminal. It cited court cases allowing American citizens who had joined an enemy’s forces to be detained or prosecuted in a military court just like noncitizen enemies.

It also cited several other Supreme Court precedents, like a 2007 case involving a high-speed chase and a 1985 case involving the shooting of a fleeing suspect, finding that it was constitutional for the police to take actions that put a suspect in serious risk of death in order to curtail an imminent risk to innocent people.

The document’s authors argued that “imminent” risks could include those by an enemy leader who is in the business of attacking the United States whenever possible, even if he is not in the midst of launching an attack at the precise moment he is located.

*** end quote ***

(1) “Secret”? Argh! What kind of “barbara streisand” is this?

(2) “… may not deprive a person of life without due process of law.” Seems pretty straight forward to me. (Have to like the Dead Old White Guys for saying what they meant!)

(3) Sorry, but this is just wrong!

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RANT: What sort indeed … “are there no workhouses?”

Sunday, October 9, 2011

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1831806725674&set=a.1154565315062.2023697.1555570593&type=1&theater

201110080844.jpg

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The kind of person who believes that the Gooferment should not be involved in the brainwashing of future voters. Parents had ’em; parents should educate them. Gooferment Skrules are: immoral, ineffective, and inefficient. And, it’s a violation of the First Amendment to push a religion — the worship of the “Father State” as the People’s “savior” and devotion to preservation “Mother Earth”. I don’t pay to feed (except through the charities I freely support), clothe, entertain, house, or anything else for the children that I had no say in deciding to bring into this world; so why do I get to pay some overpaid baby sitters to supposedly educate them?

And lest I be accused of being an Ebenezer, who was right, this policy of “forced reeducation” has so many “unintended consequences” it’s a joke.

(1) Gooferment Skrules were developed by the Prussians to create good soldiers for the Army, pliable factory workers, and a citizenry easily led by the elite. (Sound close to where we are?)

(2) Conditioned parents and children to hand themselves over to a factory that dehumanizes them and dumbs them down to virtual idiots who can’t read, rite, or rithmatic. (Explains where we rank in the world’s education stats!)

(3) Ever hear of the “Stamford Experiment”? Wonder why we have school violence and bullying? Can you see the relation between “school” and a prison?

(4) Can you tell the difference between the segregated schools of the 40’s and 50’s what we have today?

(5) “If the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan wanted to sabotage black academic excellence, he could not find a more effective means to do so than the government school system in most cities.” — Walter Williams

(6) Funding Gooferment Skrules by property taxes drives senior citizens on fixed incomes from their homes.

(7) The Teachers Unions and politicians have an incestuous relationship. And, it’s the taxpayers, parents, and children who are getting <synonym for the past tense of the procreation act.>!

Argh!

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RANT: White House confirms Secret Panel Can Order Americans Assassinated

Friday, October 7, 2011

http://news.antiwar.com/2011/10/05/white-house-secret-panel-can-order-americans-assassinated/

White House: Secret Panel Can Order Americans Assassinated
Officials Say Process Will Remain a Secret
by Jason Ditz, October 05, 2011

*** begin quote ***

In comments made through the media today, a number of top Obama Administration officials, including White House spokesman Tommy Vietor, confirmed that there is a “secret panel” which exists now that can order American citizens assassinated with no judicial oversight.

Vietor declined to give any information related to the process of how the panel decides who lives and who dies, but officials say as far as they know cleric Anwar Awlaki was the only American they have ordered executed yet.

The only thing officials would say about the assassination process was that the president’s death panel was a “subset” of the National Security Council and that there is no existing legislation governing its operation.

*** end quote ***

Anyone want to try to defend this unconstitutional activity?

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RANT: Yankees choked

Thursday, October 6, 2011

MP4B = “Millionaires Playing For Billionaires”

Argh!

Alex strikes out. Over-rated!

# – # – # – # – # 2011-Oct-06 @ 23:43


RANT: Add Freeman to the “Jane Fonda” list

Thursday, October 6, 2011

http://biggovernment.com/bschaeffer/2011/09/30/morgan-freeman-not-so-color-blind-as-i-thought/

Morgan Freeman Not So Color Blind As I Thought
by Brad Schaeffer

*** begin quote ***

Morgan Freeman is a truly gifted actor and a highly intelligent man who has starred brilliantly in a litany of my all-time favorite films from Glory to The Shawshank Redemption, to Unforgiven, just to name a few. But I think when it comes to race relations he is doing a disservice to his country and his own people (I guess we can put his race back on the table after all, 60 Minutes reprimands notwithstanding). He has resorted to the ugly charge of racism because things are not going his way on the political scene. This is all the more disappointing because in this country today we have very real divisions, the roots of which stem from diametrically opposing visions of what sort of nation we wish to be in the future. The last thing we need is to stoke the fires of unsubstantiated race-baiting when it is policy, not pigment, that is at the heart of the growing opposition to Barack Obama’s presidency.

*** end quote ***

Decades ago, after Jane Fonda climbed into the North Viet Nam anti-aircraft gun, I resolved, and have never watched ANYTHING about or by Jane Fonda. She, as does everyone, has the right to free speech. Also, I too have a right to free speech and a right to boycott her.

Over time, I’ve put others on that “list” — Roseanne Barr, Rosie O’Donnell, Alex Baldwin, Janeane Garofalo — of with whom I choose not to support or spend my money on.

For this diatribe, sadly, I’m adding Morgan Freeman to that list!

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http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-box-office-democrats-republicans-244741

Sean Penn’s just a pinhead. Avatar was a cartoon! Matt Damon and George Clooney aren’t too bad; but Damon is getting close. Anything by Michael Moore or anything he says is suspect as “liberal” (in the bad sense) propaganda.

“Box Office Nightmare: Majority of GOPers Reject Movies Because of Liberal Stars… ” Drudge’s slug doesn’t really reflect the tenor of the article. I clicked over expecting to see folks that should be on my list but aren’t. Didn’t find that.

# – # – # – # – # 2011-Oct-06 @ 23:03


RANT: The big retailers got a windfall

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

http://www.doughroller.net/banking/5-ways-to-avoid-bank-of-americas-5-debit-card-fee/

5 Ways to Avoid Bank of America’s $5 Debit Card Fee
by DR
in BANKING

*** begin quote ***

In some ways I don’t blame BofA for the move. When Senator Durbin introduced the “Durbin Amendment” into the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill that effectively capped fees large banks could charge retailers that accept their debit cards, everybody in the free world knew exactly what would happen. The big retailers got a windfall, and consumers got the shaft through higher fees. The only irony here is that Senator Durbin is a democrat purportedly looking after the little guy. You can probably guess what I think of the Durbin Amendment.

*** end quote ***

Regulatory capture … “the big retailers got a windfall” … and is there any wonder why the politicians get campaign contributions?

Call it what it is corruption!

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RANT: “It only takes 20 minutes to shift the blame”

Monday, October 3, 2011

http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2011/10/nyt-all-news-that-is-fit-to-alter.html

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2011
NYT: All the News that is Fit to Alter

*** begin quote ***

By many accounts, on Saturday, Occupy Wall Street marching protesters were led onto the Brooklyn Bridge by NYPD, giving many protesters the impression that the police had no problem with the march, and, indeed,that the police were only standing by to insure the march was peaceful. However, once on the bridge, the NYPD kettled the protesters and eventually arrested 700.

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It’s a great graphic to demonstrate the “update”!

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RANT: 20,000 stingers loose in the world on BHO44’s watched

Thursday, September 29, 2011

http://www.dickmorris.com/blog/obama%E2%80%99s-blunder-missing-libyan-surface-to-air-missiles/

OBAMA’S BLUNDER: MISSING LIBYAN SURFACE TO AIR MISSILES
By Dick Morris And Eileen McGann 09.28.2011

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For twenty years – long before 9/11 – the danger of terrorists armed with surface to air missiles shooting at passenger planes has been the secret fear of many top political leaders. In the late 90s, a terrorist network was nabbed trying to bring them into Newark Airport, but the airline industry and the government have done nothing to equip passenger airplanes with any defense against these always deadly missiles.

Now Barack Obama has committed the ultimate sin: He has let 20,000 surface-to-air missiles escape from military depots in Libya. According to ABC News “U.S. officials had once thought there was little chance that terrorists could get their hands on many of the portable surface-to-air missiles that can bring down a commercial jet liner. But now that calculation is out the window, with officials at a recent secret White House meeting reporting that thousands of them have gone missing in Libya.” An estimated 20,000 of these “portable, heat-seeking missiles have gone missing from unguarded Army weapons warehouses.”

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Are you kidding me?

And this happened on BHO44’s watch!

Anyone, who gets on a plane anywhere in the world, has to be thinking — all the terrorist needs is one!

Argh!

We are so <synonym for the past tense of the procreation act>!!!

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RANT: Bill O’Reilly wrongly sanctifies of Lincoln

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bill-oreilly-tackles-history-thriller-killing-lincoln/story?id=14609968

Bill O’Reilly Tackles History in New Thriller, ‘Killing Lincoln’
Sept. 27, 2011

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Fox News Channel talk show host and political commentator Bill O’Reilly takes a step away from politics and into history with his new book, “Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assasination that Changed America Forever.”

In “Killing Lincoln,” the first work of history from the New York Times bestselling author, O’Reilly partners with historian Martin Dugard to deliver a true-crime account of the murder that shocked America, and took down an American president.

The authors recount the weeks leading up to and immediately following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, from the final days of the Civil War to the manhunt for John Wilkes Booth, the man who quickly became the country’s most wanted fugitive as the prime suspect in Lincoln’s death.

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Lincoln is my pick for WORST president ever. Far and away.

O’Reilly continues the sanctification of Lincoln.

Guess we can overlook that he was the first President that authorize unlimited warfare on civilians, a crony capitalist of the highest order, and a racist.

Sorry, but he’s not a sympathetic character in my eyes.

Not that he should have been assassinated. But, he initiated the force.

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RANT: Faking injuries

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FBN_NFL_FAKING_INJURIES?

Sep 21, 5:59 PM EDT
NFL memo warns teams on faking injuries
By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer

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For the most part, such delay tactics have been considered gamesmanship, similar to a hockey goalie suddenly needing equipment repairs when his team is getting besieged. Or untouched soccer players writhing on the ground in pain to get a stoppage – and to slow momentum built by the other side.

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Seems obvious to me?

The injured players need protection.

Any stoppage due to injury, that player or all players are out of the game for the quarter.

If it’s still a problem, make it a half.

If still abused, make it the rest of the game.

That should take care of it!

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RANT: Epilogue To Kelo Case should be that the little people have no “rights”

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/hc-op-justice-palmer-apology-20110918,0,2543383,full.story

Apology Adds An Epilogue To Kelo Case
Supreme Court Justice’s Startling Apology Adds Human Context To Tough Ruling
By JEFF BENEDICT The Hartford Courant
September 18, 2011

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“Those comments,” he wrote, “were predicated on certain facts that we did not know (and could not have known) at the time of our decision and of which I was not fully aware until your talk — namely, that the city’s development plan had never materialized and, as a result, years later, the land at issue remains barren and wholly undeveloped.” He later added that he could not know of those facts “because they were not yet in existence.”

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Recap: The woman’s house, and many others, was taken by the “City” and give to Pfizer for their corporate hq. The project went bust and never completed. The “City” was never punished.

The Fifth Amendment (i.e., the protection from public takings) was gutted with this decision. It’s hard to imagine a turning point going by with such little moral outrage. Might does make right! And, this poor woman’s house is an empty field. I hope there’s Justice somewhere for this.

What does it being barren have to do with the taking?

Little people have no protection from the Gooferment.

That’s why there’s a Second Amendment.

What hill do you want to die on?

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RANT: I think Dick is wrong about “illegal immigration”!

Sunday, September 25, 2011

http://www.dickmorris.com/blog/immigration-the-pivotal-issue-for-the-gop-dick-morris-tv-lunch-alert/

IMMIGRATION: THE PIVOTAL ISSUE FOR THE GOP – DICK MORRIS TV: LUNCH ALERT!
By Dick Morris 09.24.2011

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In this video commentary, I discuss how the dominating issue for the GOP primaries has now become immigration. Not jobs, not the economy. Immigration. Why? What’s the answer? What are its political ramifications?

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Summarizing Dick Morris’ points:

(1) employer sanctions

(2) guest worker

(3) easy national id card

As a little L libertarian, I disagree with the underlying premise — that there is such a thing as “illegal immigration” or that the whole focus is on the wrong thing.

What’s wrong with attracting peaceful people who want to come here to work?

I guess Dick would put a giant black plastic garbage bag over the Statue of Liberty!

Perhaps, we should seek to get to the root?

We have always “welcomed” immigration. OK, maybe not so welcoming, but tolerating it. We recognized that more workers means more productivity. The transcontinental railroad was built on the bodies of Chinese and Irish immigrants.

The key issue is welfare.

No one wants to subsidize freeloaders. By “illegal immigrants” or native-born freeloaders. (We could also stand to eliminate the corporate welfare queens as well at the same time.

Now, the crime issue that Dick alludes to has it’s roots in the “(pseudo) War on (some) Drugs” and that “illegal immigrants” can be taken advantage of. That can be fixed by legalizing drugs and letting the free market apply itself to the problem. And, by a better green card system.

I’d OPEN the borders. When a NEW immigrant, or even a temporary guest worker, shows up at the border crossing, if I were “King”, there’d be a very simple entry process. Take fingerprints and DNA for a database and a high speed directory look up, criminals get arrested. A quick physical for dangerous communicable diseases. And, issue them a “green card” and a Taxpayer Identification Number. Have them watch a short welcome to the USA and send them on their way. (Maybe we could make a couple of bucks from Visa signing them up for a credit card and WalMart recruiting them for their stores. You get the idea.)

I’d also reduce the minimum wage to zero.

No employer sanctions needed. No “guest worker” program; just easy entry without welfare. No national id card required.

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