CNN President Jon Klein wants CNN program host Lou Dobbs to drop any further investigations of the facts surrounding President Obama's failure to produce an original hard copy version of his birth certificate. Mr. Klein seems intent on labeling his own employee with the false and misleading "birther" meme.
A "meme" is a term used to describe a phrase or word, much like a bumper sticker, which can be spread virally in the interconnected world of the modern media that instantly communicates a message. A phrase by itself is not particularly significant, but when it is spread virally it can be used to stop political discourse.
Inserting "memes" into the flow of news information so they will go viral is a common tactic used by left wing propagandists employed as "hosts" at cable networks such as MSNBC and CNN. The term "teabagger", for instance, is a pejorative "meme" inserted into the political discourse by MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, and spread by colleagues David Shuster and Keith Olbermann, as well as CNN's Anderson Cooper.
The "birther" meme has been around since before the 2008 election, and is used to create the impression that anyone who asks any questions about President Obama's failure to produce a "Certificate of Live Birth" is a right wing nutcase. And while it's true that several gadflies who follow the issue, such as Phillip Berg and Dr. Orly Taitz, have little credibility due to their insistence on presenting "evidence" of a Kenyan birth that is thoroughly unreliable, it is a great disservice to attach the pejorative "birther" meme to legitimate journalistic investigations, such as those conducted by Mr. Dobbs.
Earlier this week Klein sent Dobbs an email which, according to Talking Points Memo said the following:
"It seems this story is dead" Klein wrote, "because anyone who still is not convinced doesn't really have a legitimate beef."
You can read the full Talking Points Memo story here.
Klein's argument seems to follows this logic:
1. State of Hawaii Department of Health spokesperson Janice Okubo confirmed in a June 6, 2009 interview with the Honolulu Star Bulletin reporter June Watanabe that all hard copy originals were transferred to a paperless electronic record system in 2001. Watanabe's June 6 story stated the following:
Okubo explained that the Health Department went paperless in 2001.
"At that time, all information for births from 1908 (on) was put into electronic files for consistent reporting," she said.
Information about births is transferred electronically from hospitals to the department.
"The electronic record of the birth is what (the Health Department) now keeps on file in order to provide same-day certified copies at our help window for most requests," Okubo said.
You can read the full article here.
(Note: In his email to Dobbs, Klein states unequivocally that all hard copy birth certificates kept on file by the State of Hawaii were discarded in 2001 when the state went paperless. However, Watanabe's story does not address what became of these original records. While it is possible that the policy of the state of Hawaii was, in fact, to discard (and dispose of) the original hard copy birth certificates, Klein has no evidence to support that contention. While it is true that the old hard copies were no longer used as part of the official records of the state, Klein ASSUMES that the original documents were discarded. Perhaps so. But perhaps they were not discarded, and were instead stored in a physical warehouse.)
2. The hard copy document of Obama's "Certification of Live Birth" released by the campaign was an authentic document, verified by relevant state officials in an October 31, 2008 statement.
(Note that a "Certification of Live Birth" is quite different from a "Certificate of Live Birth". A "Certificate of Live Birth" is the original long form document signed by the attending physician at the time of birth. A "Certification of Birth" is a short form document produced, in theory based on the verification of the data provided in the original "Certificate of Live Birth".)
It's hard to say whether Klein's statement that the matter should therefore be closed is made out of bias, laziness, or a simple desire to obfuscate, but a myriad of investigative questions on the topic remain. If CNN were actually a legitimate journalistic organization, Mr. Klein would not be pressuring Mr. Dobbs to drop his investigation.
Here are several compelling reasons why Mr. Dobbs should continue his journalistic efforts on this topic:
On October 31, 2008, Dr. Chiyome Fukino, the Secretary of Health for the State of Hawaii, issued the following statement:
Therefore, I as Director of Health for the State of Hawaii, along with the Registrar of Vital Statistics who has statutory authority to oversee and maintain these type of vital records, have personally seen and verified that the Hawai‘i State Department of Health has Sen. Obama’s original birth certificate on record in accordance with state policies and procedures.
You can see a copy of that original statement here
On November 3, 2008, I emailed a list of twelve clarifying questions about that statement to Janice Okubo, spokesperson for the State of Hawaii Department of Health, and to Dr. Fukino. Neither Ms. Okubo nor Dr. Fukino ever responded to those questions, nine of which I've included below:
1. Did you personally view an actual physical copy of the long form original birth certificate from August 4, 1961 signed by the attending physician at a Honolulu hospital?
2. What was the name of the hospital ?
3. What was the name of the attending physician ?
4. Besides holding an actual hard copy of the original August 4, 1961 birth certificate signed by the attending physician at a specific hospital in Honolulu, are there any other means by which, as you say "the state of Hawaii can have Barack Obama's original birth certificate on record in accordance with the state's policies and procedures regarding maintaining "original birth certificates on record"?
5. Was the original birth certificate on record submitted as part of the 1911 Hawaii Birth Certificate program, which allowed parents of children residing in Hawaii who were over one year of age to submit alternate birth documentation to the Department of Health and still be called "an original birth certificate."?
6. On what date was the original birth certificate on file registered ?
7. Did Senator Obama personally authorize Dr. Fukino and Dr. Onaka to view his "original birth certificate on record." ? If so, when and how ?
8. Did Senator Obama personally authorize Dr. Fukino and Dr. Onaka to issue the statement of October 31, 2008 ? If so, when and how ?
9. Have Dr. Fukino and Dr. Onaka had any communication with Senator Obama or did they meet with him in person on any occasion in the last 30 days or in the last year ? If so, were those communications or meetings negotiations related to statements to be made about his birth certificate ?
Based on Ms. Okubo's June 6, 2009 interview with the Honolulu Star Bulletin, it would appear that the answer to Question 1 above is that no, Dr. Fukino did not view an actual physical copy of President Obama's long form original "Certificate of Live Birth" at any time. To my knowledge, this June 6, 2009 interview of Ms. Okubo was the first time that any spokesperson from the State of Hawaii Department of Health officially acknowledged that it no longer maintains hard copy records of original "Certificates of Live Birth" as part of its officially authorized records documentation, verification, and creation process.
The remaining eight original questions remain unanswered. I would add the following eight new questions to the list of questions I would like to see answered:
1. For the Hawaii Secretary of Health, Dr. Chiyome Fukino, who issued the finely parsed official statement of October 31, 2008 which left the impression that she had seen the hard copy of the original birth certificate: Why did you not simply and honestly declare in your October 31, 2008 statement that you had not seen the hard copy of the original birth certificate, and that your statement verifying the authenticity of the "Certification of Live Birth" was based upon a forensic review of the process by which the data about President Obama's birth in the State of Hawaii's birth records was included in the data base, and that this process was consistent with the state's policies and procedures?
I note that almost all contemporaneous news reports used the language of Dr. Fukino's statement to report incorrectly that she had actually seen a physical copy of the original "Certificate of Live Birth" as issued by the hospital and signed by the attending physician. Dr. Fukino did nothing to correct this widely reported false assumption.
2. For President Obama: You have publicly stated that you were born at what was then called Kapiolani Maternity and Gynecological Hospital, these days known officially as Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children, in Honolulu. Officials at that hospital state that they maintain original hard copy and microfiche copies of all birth records back to the 1950's. In order to comply with your promises of "transparency" will you now authorize the hospital to release their copy of your original birth certificate?
3. For the Hawaii Secretary of Health, Dr. Chiyome Fukino: Can you make public all electronic records you used and the documentation process you went through to confirm that President Obama's birth records were kept in the State of Hawaii birth records data base in accordance with the state's policies and procedures?
4. For the Hawaii Secretary of Health, Dr. Chiyome Fukino: Will you request that officials at Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children now transfer a copy of their original records related to the birth of President Obama to you, and will you publicly release those records?
5. For officials at Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children: Will you send a letter to President Obama, requesting him to authorize you to publicly release his original birth records, as it is a matter in the public interest?
6. For the Hawaii Secretary of Health, Dr. Chiyome Fukino: Can you confirm with one hundred percent certainty that the original birth certificate of Barack Obama upon which your electronic records were based was in fact a "Certificate of Live Birth" issued by Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children, and not a substitute certificate submitted within a year of the actual birth, as allowed for by Hawaiian Statues which were in place from 1959 to 1978?
7. For the Hawaii Secretary of Health, Dr. Chiyome Fukino: Were the original documents of birth records held by the Department of Health discarded in 2001 or were they placed in a warehouse? If they were placed in a warehouse, can they be found and produced? If they can be found and produced, will you produce and make public the original "Certificate of Live Birth" of President Barack Obama?
8. For Maya Soetero-Ng, half-sister of President Obama: Is it factually true that you were born in Indonesia in 1970, and were subsequently issued a "Certification of Live Birth" by the State of Hawaii's Department of Health, and that this document is of exactly the same type and form as the "Certification of Live Birth" that the same department has issued to your half-brother, President Obama?
I, for one, would like to know the answers to these questions, and hope that Mr. Dobbs will continue his investigations until we all receive these answers. Mr. Dobbs does not deserve to be falsely labeled as a "birther". A more accurate description of him would be simply this: he's an investigative journalist and a transparency champion.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Obama's Wednesday Press Conference: One of the Most Self Destructive in American Political History
It looks like President Obama need not fear Republican members of Congress causing his "Waterloo". He seems to have accomplished that objective all by himself with his comments Wednesday, which were delivered at what may have been one of the most self destructive press conferences in American political history.
First, he called a highly respected Cambridge police officer stupid. No, wait, Press Secretary Gibbs yesterday said he didn't call the police officer stupid, he merely said he "acted stupidly."
This after he acknowledged he didn't have all the facts on the incident, but he did know that Professor Gates was one of his friends.
Then, he impugned the integrity of every doctor in the country by implying they were so craven they would improperly require tonsillectomies because they were so greedy. The Ear Nose and Throat Surgeons of America politely told the President they were "disappointed" by these comments.
You can read all the details at the TCOT Report here.
Great job, Mr. President, taking away any momentum that may have been developing for your proposed Federal Health Care Takeover.
First, he called a highly respected Cambridge police officer stupid. No, wait, Press Secretary Gibbs yesterday said he didn't call the police officer stupid, he merely said he "acted stupidly."
This after he acknowledged he didn't have all the facts on the incident, but he did know that Professor Gates was one of his friends.
Then, he impugned the integrity of every doctor in the country by implying they were so craven they would improperly require tonsillectomies because they were so greedy. The Ear Nose and Throat Surgeons of America politely told the President they were "disappointed" by these comments.
You can read all the details at the TCOT Report here.
Great job, Mr. President, taking away any momentum that may have been developing for your proposed Federal Health Care Takeover.
Friday, July 17, 2009
MemeSNBC : The Place Where the Left Wing Media Creates and Inserts False Assertions into the Political Discourse
If you would like to find out where the Left Wing Media creates and inserts its false assertions (also known as "memes") into the political discourse, please visit www.MemeSNBC.com
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The Religion of the Left and its Creed
The Left can best be understood by conservatives more as a religion than a political movement.
After a lifetime of observing the thoughts and tactics of the Left, I offer this draft summary of "The Creed of the Left". I would appreciate comments on the usefulness of this creed from any and all political perspectives, and will modify it based on suggestions made by readers of this blog.
The Creed of the Left
We believe in the highest truth that man’s destiny is to create heaven on earth in the form of a socially just society, in which “all citizens are granted an unconditional claim upon that society collectively to be accorded the minimum resources necessary for a life of dignity and a genuine sense of belonging”, and where "the needs of the disadvantaged" are given preference over the needs of the advantaged. (Source of quote: Professor Bernard Chazelle)
We believe in the dualistic nature of man, in which all men and women choose to be one or the other-either forces for good or forces for evil.
We believe that a just society is to be formed in the political contest between the good and the evil, and that we who are good will ultimately prevail because we are morally and intellectually superior to the evil.
We believe that the good, because we are good, have a responsibility to use any means necessary to destroy the evil, because a just soiciety can not be created until the evil are either destroyed or converted to the good.
We believe in the sacredness of our planet, Mother Earth, which the evil will attempt to harm by their every action, and that the good must prevent this harm through any means necessary. We believe that global warming is caused by man’s activity that produces too much carbon dioxide, and that any scientific evidence that shows a contrary position must be ignored and ridiculed.
We believe in the perfectability of man through the use of centralized government, which knows best how to accomplish this through the collective political process rather than through the exercise of individual rights .
We believe it is the duty of the good to contribute to the creation of the just society on earth, that it is the inevitable march of history, and that the use of any means to accomplish this end is morally justified.
We believe that heaven is not exclusively a spiritual state to be experienced by the individual after death, but is also the just society to be experienced by those living here on earth in the future, and that by our actions today on earth, we preserve our own claim for posterity to a position of honor in that just society.
We believe that there is no unique excellence within the Constitution and Government of the United States of America, and that the march towards the just society is led by international organizations such as the United Nations.
After a lifetime of observing the thoughts and tactics of the Left, I offer this draft summary of "The Creed of the Left". I would appreciate comments on the usefulness of this creed from any and all political perspectives, and will modify it based on suggestions made by readers of this blog.
The Creed of the Left
We believe in the highest truth that man’s destiny is to create heaven on earth in the form of a socially just society, in which “all citizens are granted an unconditional claim upon that society collectively to be accorded the minimum resources necessary for a life of dignity and a genuine sense of belonging”, and where "the needs of the disadvantaged" are given preference over the needs of the advantaged. (Source of quote: Professor Bernard Chazelle)
We believe in the dualistic nature of man, in which all men and women choose to be one or the other-either forces for good or forces for evil.
We believe that a just society is to be formed in the political contest between the good and the evil, and that we who are good will ultimately prevail because we are morally and intellectually superior to the evil.
We believe that the good, because we are good, have a responsibility to use any means necessary to destroy the evil, because a just soiciety can not be created until the evil are either destroyed or converted to the good.
We believe in the sacredness of our planet, Mother Earth, which the evil will attempt to harm by their every action, and that the good must prevent this harm through any means necessary. We believe that global warming is caused by man’s activity that produces too much carbon dioxide, and that any scientific evidence that shows a contrary position must be ignored and ridiculed.
We believe in the perfectability of man through the use of centralized government, which knows best how to accomplish this through the collective political process rather than through the exercise of individual rights .
We believe it is the duty of the good to contribute to the creation of the just society on earth, that it is the inevitable march of history, and that the use of any means to accomplish this end is morally justified.
We believe that heaven is not exclusively a spiritual state to be experienced by the individual after death, but is also the just society to be experienced by those living here on earth in the future, and that by our actions today on earth, we preserve our own claim for posterity to a position of honor in that just society.
We believe that there is no unique excellence within the Constitution and Government of the United States of America, and that the march towards the just society is led by international organizations such as the United Nations.
An Open Letter to Major Stefan Cook: Follow Your Lawful Orders
Dear Major Cook:
I read with great interest the news of your recent lawsuit, in which you argue that as a reservist in the United States Army you are not obligated to follow the lawful orders issued to you by your military commanders to be deployed to Afghanistan.
The news article on this topic is here.
Your attorney argues that since President Obama has not proven he is a natural born citizen he is not authorized to serve as President, and therefore none of his commands as Commander-in-Chief are legitimate.
Your attorney is completely wrong in this assertion, and is putting you in serious jeapordy. For the sake of the country, your personal future, and your family, please withdraw your suit and accept your legitimate orders to deploy.
While I agree that President Obama has not met the burden of proof necessary to prove that he is a natural born citizen, there are two methods to properly make this challenge. Disobedience of a lawful order is not one of those methods.
The first method for such a challenge was available to Congress when it convened in January, 2009 to count the electoral votes cast in the 2008 Presidential Election. Federal law clearly outlines a method for legitimate challenge to the President's eligibility to serve that could have been exercised at that time. Objections to the legitimacy of any electoral vote count from any state could have been voted on by the full joint session of Congress had at any time a single member of the House and a single Senator risen together to request such a vote.
As not a single Congressman or Senator raised such an objection at that time, no vote was taken, and upon the President's swearing in at the Inauguration, every action he took subsequently under the legitimate authority of the Constitution was valid.
This means, Major, that your orders are legitimate.
The second method of challenge is to go through the Federal Court, not for the purpose of challenging the legitimacy of a single act, but rather to challenge that the burden of proof to establish natural born status has not been met by the President.
Several such cases are lumbering through the courts now. While none of them have outstanding prospects for success, they are legitimately brought for consideration. Your case, in contrast, is not legitimately brought, and has no chance for success.
My suggestion to you is as follows: Get a new attorney, drop your case, and accept your orders.
I read with great interest the news of your recent lawsuit, in which you argue that as a reservist in the United States Army you are not obligated to follow the lawful orders issued to you by your military commanders to be deployed to Afghanistan.
The news article on this topic is here.
Your attorney argues that since President Obama has not proven he is a natural born citizen he is not authorized to serve as President, and therefore none of his commands as Commander-in-Chief are legitimate.
Your attorney is completely wrong in this assertion, and is putting you in serious jeapordy. For the sake of the country, your personal future, and your family, please withdraw your suit and accept your legitimate orders to deploy.
While I agree that President Obama has not met the burden of proof necessary to prove that he is a natural born citizen, there are two methods to properly make this challenge. Disobedience of a lawful order is not one of those methods.
The first method for such a challenge was available to Congress when it convened in January, 2009 to count the electoral votes cast in the 2008 Presidential Election. Federal law clearly outlines a method for legitimate challenge to the President's eligibility to serve that could have been exercised at that time. Objections to the legitimacy of any electoral vote count from any state could have been voted on by the full joint session of Congress had at any time a single member of the House and a single Senator risen together to request such a vote.
As not a single Congressman or Senator raised such an objection at that time, no vote was taken, and upon the President's swearing in at the Inauguration, every action he took subsequently under the legitimate authority of the Constitution was valid.
This means, Major, that your orders are legitimate.
The second method of challenge is to go through the Federal Court, not for the purpose of challenging the legitimacy of a single act, but rather to challenge that the burden of proof to establish natural born status has not been met by the President.
Several such cases are lumbering through the courts now. While none of them have outstanding prospects for success, they are legitimately brought for consideration. Your case, in contrast, is not legitimately brought, and has no chance for success.
My suggestion to you is as follows: Get a new attorney, drop your case, and accept your orders.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Nine Ways Conservative Radicals Can Take Action Today to Restore our Republic
The average conservative citizen has a number of ways to help restore our republic. My suggestion: assess your strengths and weaknesses, determine where you can make the biggest contribution, and focus on a project in one of these nine areas.
Once you've picked a project, follow through. Stick with it until it achieves its objectives.
1. Melt the Phones
(a)Call your United States Senators to tell them you oppose the socialist "Cap and Tax" Legislation the House of Representatives barely passed.
Here's a particularly creative variant on the "melt the phones concept", courtesy of Phil Valentine: www.GiveTheSenateSomeBalls.com.
(b) Call your Congressman and Senators to tell them you oppose the Obama-Pelosi-Reid government takeover of our health care system.
2. Evangelize to the Under 30 Generation
(a) Join the Mustard Seed Project
(b) Become certified as a Conservative Radical Evangelist and instructor.
3. Organize Locally (City and County Level) to Stop Higher Taxes
(a) Example: Tucson, Arizona
4. Restore the Constitution
(a) Become active in The Bill of Federalism Project
5. Take Back Congress for Fiscal Conservatism in 2010
(a) Volunteer to work for a local fiscal conservative in the Republican and/or Democrat Primary in your district
(b) Join the organization www.fixcongress.org.
6. Boycott Advertisers Who Support Socialist-Statism and Conservative Bashing
(a) Join the www.FireDavidLetterman.com Project.
(b) Help develop and implement the plan to www.FightLeftWingMedia.com
7. Take Over Your Political Party Power Structure
(a) The Republican National Committee
(b) The Democrat National Committee
You can take the first step by signing up at www.ThePrecinctProject.com
8. Hold them to their own standards
(a) Blog and tweet about Obama Administration hypocrisy
9. Become a part time Conservative Investigative Journalist
(a) Sign up at The TCOT Report
Once you've picked a project, follow through. Stick with it until it achieves its objectives.
1. Melt the Phones
(a)Call your United States Senators to tell them you oppose the socialist "Cap and Tax" Legislation the House of Representatives barely passed.
Here's a particularly creative variant on the "melt the phones concept", courtesy of Phil Valentine: www.GiveTheSenateSomeBalls.com.
(b) Call your Congressman and Senators to tell them you oppose the Obama-Pelosi-Reid government takeover of our health care system.
2. Evangelize to the Under 30 Generation
(a) Join the Mustard Seed Project
(b) Become certified as a Conservative Radical Evangelist and instructor.
3. Organize Locally (City and County Level) to Stop Higher Taxes
(a) Example: Tucson, Arizona
4. Restore the Constitution
(a) Become active in The Bill of Federalism Project
5. Take Back Congress for Fiscal Conservatism in 2010
(a) Volunteer to work for a local fiscal conservative in the Republican and/or Democrat Primary in your district
(b) Join the organization www.fixcongress.org.
6. Boycott Advertisers Who Support Socialist-Statism and Conservative Bashing
(a) Join the www.FireDavidLetterman.com Project.
(b) Help develop and implement the plan to www.FightLeftWingMedia.com
7. Take Over Your Political Party Power Structure
(a) The Republican National Committee
(b) The Democrat National Committee
You can take the first step by signing up at www.ThePrecinctProject.com
8. Hold them to their own standards
(a) Blog and tweet about Obama Administration hypocrisy
9. Become a part time Conservative Investigative Journalist
(a) Sign up at The TCOT Report
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Inspired by Letterman? Senator John Kerry Insults Governor Palin
For those of you wondering why many of us think that David Letterman's disgraceful comments of June 8, 2009 about Governor Palin and her daughter require more than a belated apology, consider this:
The failure of CBS to hold Mr. Letterman accountable for his comments in any way sends a signal to politicians and media figures everywhere: It's ok, apparently, to continue this onslaught of coarse and crude comments about Governor Palin.
Case in point:
Yesterday the ignoble Senator John Kerry hurled a gratuitous insult the Governor's way.
The failure of CBS to hold Mr. Letterman accountable for his comments in any way sends a signal to politicians and media figures everywhere: It's ok, apparently, to continue this onslaught of coarse and crude comments about Governor Palin.
Case in point:
Yesterday the ignoble Senator John Kerry hurled a gratuitous insult the Governor's way.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
An Excerpt from the Website of Sue Hassett, the Self Published Author Suing Elisabeth Hasselbeck
Here's an excerpt from a website that purports to be of Sue Hassett, the woman suing Elisabeth Hasselbeck for plagiarism.
I am 45 years old I am from Cape Cod Massachusetts. I am almost a hundred percent Irish. I have been a self employed floor installer for 25 years. For the past 5 years I have been unable to work because of such a servere case of Celiac Disease that left me struggling for my life. My struggle did have to be this hard, I was misdiagnose for almost 20 years. My reason for writing this book is to help other people so their struggle does not have to be so hard or go on so long. Gluten free living can be a very healthy way to live. Cooking is a big passion in my life and I want to help others with that as well. The most important thing of all about the Down sydrome, Epeleptic, Autistic and children with Celiac Disease who I can help through this book as well as through my cooking.
A gold star to the blogreader who accurately identifies the total number of spelling and grammar errors in the paragraph above.
UPDATE:
Sandra Robins offers her analysis of the plagiarism claims here. Her conclusions: items cited as examples of plagiarism look much more like facts "in common knowledge".
CURIOUS FACTS
The attorney representing Ms. Hassett contributed $1,000 to Senator John Kerry in 2004, according to a search done at the Huffington Post FEC Records search site.
I'm beginning to wonder if this suit is just a case of a lone opportunist, or might be part of the pattern of ongoing left wing attacks against conservative women.
ADDITIONAL CURIOUS FACTS
The ISBN Book Number of the edition of Ms. Hassett's book, the one she claims to have sent to Ms. Hasselbeck in April of 2008, is different from the ISBN Book Number of the edition of Ms. Hassett's book currently available at Amazon, which lists a publication date of April 2009. The publisher, Xlibris, is a pay for service printer and publisher used by self publishing authors.
It does not appear that Ms. Hassett marketed the April 2008 edition of her book.
I am 45 years old I am from Cape Cod Massachusetts. I am almost a hundred percent Irish. I have been a self employed floor installer for 25 years. For the past 5 years I have been unable to work because of such a servere case of Celiac Disease that left me struggling for my life. My struggle did have to be this hard, I was misdiagnose for almost 20 years. My reason for writing this book is to help other people so their struggle does not have to be so hard or go on so long. Gluten free living can be a very healthy way to live. Cooking is a big passion in my life and I want to help others with that as well. The most important thing of all about the Down sydrome, Epeleptic, Autistic and children with Celiac Disease who I can help through this book as well as through my cooking.
A gold star to the blogreader who accurately identifies the total number of spelling and grammar errors in the paragraph above.
UPDATE:
Sandra Robins offers her analysis of the plagiarism claims here. Her conclusions: items cited as examples of plagiarism look much more like facts "in common knowledge".
CURIOUS FACTS
The attorney representing Ms. Hassett contributed $1,000 to Senator John Kerry in 2004, according to a search done at the Huffington Post FEC Records search site.
I'm beginning to wonder if this suit is just a case of a lone opportunist, or might be part of the pattern of ongoing left wing attacks against conservative women.
ADDITIONAL CURIOUS FACTS
The ISBN Book Number of the edition of Ms. Hassett's book, the one she claims to have sent to Ms. Hasselbeck in April of 2008, is different from the ISBN Book Number of the edition of Ms. Hassett's book currently available at Amazon, which lists a publication date of April 2009. The publisher, Xlibris, is a pay for service printer and publisher used by self publishing authors.
It does not appear that Ms. Hassett marketed the April 2008 edition of her book.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Johnson and Johnson, David Letterman, and Corporate Community Responsibility
Johnson and Johnson, the consumer goods giant that claims to be in support of American families, continues to dodge responsibility for its steady advertising on the David Letterman show since June 8 when Letterman made the offensive comments about Governor Palin and her daughter.
Yesterday, Johnson and Johnson completely failed to respond in a meaningful way to the thousands of emails and phone calls sent by members of the Fire David Letterman Movementasking them to issue a statement that they would not advertise further on Letteman until CBS held him to the same level of accountability they held Don Imus.
It's pretty clear that the company at present has no intention of responding. Perhaps they think that the loyalty of their customers who find Letterman's comments offensive something that isn't an important consideration.
Which is another reason why we should re-double our efforts today. Those of you interested in specific action steps can go to our website, www.FireDavidLetterman.com, sign up for the Facebook Group, and can see the action plan for today there.
The products Johnson and Johnson advertises on Letterman are:
Listerine
Aveeno
KY Brands
In addition to making the calls to Johnson and Johnson executives, please make a point of stopping by your local grocery store and letting them know you won't be purchasing these or any other Johnson and Johnson products for the duration.
For those of you tracking the shallow nature of Johnson & Johnson's commitment to "family values" consider the following: I have verified that the national organization they referenced in their emails of their commitment to "family values" on television -- The National Council for Families and Television -- wants nothing to do with the Letterman controversy. That small organization focuses merely on providing information on health issues to production professionals in the television industry involved in the creation of prime time programming.
It would be nice to see Johnson & Johnson actually act in a way that is consistent with the principles and values they claim to represent !
Yesterday, Johnson and Johnson completely failed to respond in a meaningful way to the thousands of emails and phone calls sent by members of the Fire David Letterman Movementasking them to issue a statement that they would not advertise further on Letteman until CBS held him to the same level of accountability they held Don Imus.
It's pretty clear that the company at present has no intention of responding. Perhaps they think that the loyalty of their customers who find Letterman's comments offensive something that isn't an important consideration.
Which is another reason why we should re-double our efforts today. Those of you interested in specific action steps can go to our website, www.FireDavidLetterman.com, sign up for the Facebook Group, and can see the action plan for today there.
The products Johnson and Johnson advertises on Letterman are:
Listerine
Aveeno
KY Brands
In addition to making the calls to Johnson and Johnson executives, please make a point of stopping by your local grocery store and letting them know you won't be purchasing these or any other Johnson and Johnson products for the duration.
For those of you tracking the shallow nature of Johnson & Johnson's commitment to "family values" consider the following: I have verified that the national organization they referenced in their emails of their commitment to "family values" on television -- The National Council for Families and Television -- wants nothing to do with the Letterman controversy. That small organization focuses merely on providing information on health issues to production professionals in the television industry involved in the creation of prime time programming.
It would be nice to see Johnson & Johnson actually act in a way that is consistent with the principles and values they claim to represent !
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Why the Fire David Letterman Movement is Targeting Johnson and Johnson Today, Monday June 22
If you read the corporate credo prominently displayed on the corporate web site of Johnson and Johnson, you might have guessed that they would have been the first major sponsor to drop advertising on the David Letterman Show.
You would be wrong, though.
Embassy Suites, Southwestern Airlines, and Hellman's beat them to the punch.
And Johnson and Johnson has maintained a steady advertising presence on Letterman between June 10, when Letterman made his offensive comments about Sarah Palin and her daughter, and this past Friday, June 19. Johnson and Johnson has continued to advertise three key "family friendly" products during this period: Listerine, Aveeno, and KY Brands.
Here's what the company calls its corporate credo:
We believe our first responsibility is to the doctors, nurses and patients, to mothers and fathers and all others who use our products and services...We are responsible to the communities in which we live and work and to the world community as well.
Apparently, Johnson and Johnson considers their steady advertising on David Letterman part of being responsible members of the community.
The offensive comments were made by Letterman on June 8.
According to the website Watchful Raven, Johnson and Johnson advertised on Letterman on June 10.
It appears that Mr. Letterman's comments didn't bother the advertising executives at Johnson and Johnson, because they advertised on his program the next day, Thursday, June 11, and the day after that, Friday, June 12, and continued advertising on the day of his second "heartfelt" apology, Monday, June 15.
Here's how Johnson and Johnson responded to emails this past week asking the company to stop advertising on Letterman:
"Johnson and Johnson takes a firm stand regarding the quality of television programming in which its commercials appear and supports the National Council for Families and Television...
With the help of our advertising agencies, a conscientious effort is made to screen all programs prior to broadcast. As a result of our screening, we have frequently withdrawn ads from television shows in the past and we will continue to monitor programming in the same manner in the future...
Your concern will be directed to network personnel. However, the most effective comment on programming is direct action by viewers. Therefore, we would urge you to communicate your feelings directly to the network... "
If that response doesn't sound enough like a corporation passing the buck, consider the significance of the national organization it cites as the group it supports -- "The National Council for Families and Television". Sounds like that must be a large organization working tirelessly to maintain standards on television, right ?
According to this website, that might not be quite right.
It's a little organization with an annual budget of $350,000 run out of a storage room in the Los Angeles office of the Leo Burnett Advertising Agency. OK, I have no proof that it's run out of a storage room, but it's hard to find an actual website for the organization, so you make your own conclusions.
Better yet, send me the link for the website, and I'll post it here.
Here's how the one website I could find with any information about the organization describes it:
The National Council for Families and Television is an advisory board comprised of television producers, writers, and programming executives; advertisers; educators. [It] aims to enhance the quality of life for families and children by positively affecting the creation and uses of primetime television entertainment. [It] conducts seminars, symposia, and invitational weekends where television creators meet with experts to discuss issues that are important to the American family.
This agency, in its stated purpose, is only focused on primetime television, which is earlier than the Letterman Show. So the executives at Johnson and Johnson are sending out generic emails to concerned citizens that represent little more than a condescending pat on the head.
All of the above goes to explain why www.FireDavidLetterman.com is going to focus its energies today, Monday, June 22, 2009 on sending a message to the executives at Johnson and Johnson.
Here's the message:
We are asking Johnson and Johnson to make a public statement on Monday, June 22 that the company is stopping ALL advertising on the Late Show with David Letterman immediately until CBS has held Mr. Letterman to the same degree of accountability to which the company held Don Imus.
Until Johnson and Johnson makes such a public statement, our message to them is clear. We won't buy their products and we will make a point of going into every grocery store in the country and telling that same message to the manager of the local grocery store.
Here's the phone numbers and email addresses.
Main Number: 1-888-222-0182 (Johnson and Johnson Healthcare Products)
Kristina Chang, Public Relations, 973-385-4370, kchang12@conus.jnj.com
Steve Schonberg, Edelman PR, 212-704-4494, stephen.schonberg@edelman.com
Drop me a line here and let me know what you hear back !
UPDATE
Our campaign appears to be working today. Johnson and Johnson's website is now experiencing "technical difficulties."
Here's what the site says now:
"JNJ.com is experiencing technical difficulties. Please try the site again later. We apologize for any inconvenience that you may experience as a result of this service disruption."
You would be wrong, though.
Embassy Suites, Southwestern Airlines, and Hellman's beat them to the punch.
And Johnson and Johnson has maintained a steady advertising presence on Letterman between June 10, when Letterman made his offensive comments about Sarah Palin and her daughter, and this past Friday, June 19. Johnson and Johnson has continued to advertise three key "family friendly" products during this period: Listerine, Aveeno, and KY Brands.
Here's what the company calls its corporate credo:
We believe our first responsibility is to the doctors, nurses and patients, to mothers and fathers and all others who use our products and services...We are responsible to the communities in which we live and work and to the world community as well.
Apparently, Johnson and Johnson considers their steady advertising on David Letterman part of being responsible members of the community.
The offensive comments were made by Letterman on June 8.
According to the website Watchful Raven, Johnson and Johnson advertised on Letterman on June 10.
It appears that Mr. Letterman's comments didn't bother the advertising executives at Johnson and Johnson, because they advertised on his program the next day, Thursday, June 11, and the day after that, Friday, June 12, and continued advertising on the day of his second "heartfelt" apology, Monday, June 15.
Here's how Johnson and Johnson responded to emails this past week asking the company to stop advertising on Letterman:
"Johnson and Johnson takes a firm stand regarding the quality of television programming in which its commercials appear and supports the National Council for Families and Television...
With the help of our advertising agencies, a conscientious effort is made to screen all programs prior to broadcast. As a result of our screening, we have frequently withdrawn ads from television shows in the past and we will continue to monitor programming in the same manner in the future...
Your concern will be directed to network personnel. However, the most effective comment on programming is direct action by viewers. Therefore, we would urge you to communicate your feelings directly to the network... "
If that response doesn't sound enough like a corporation passing the buck, consider the significance of the national organization it cites as the group it supports -- "The National Council for Families and Television". Sounds like that must be a large organization working tirelessly to maintain standards on television, right ?
According to this website, that might not be quite right.
It's a little organization with an annual budget of $350,000 run out of a storage room in the Los Angeles office of the Leo Burnett Advertising Agency. OK, I have no proof that it's run out of a storage room, but it's hard to find an actual website for the organization, so you make your own conclusions.
Better yet, send me the link for the website, and I'll post it here.
Here's how the one website I could find with any information about the organization describes it:
The National Council for Families and Television is an advisory board comprised of television producers, writers, and programming executives; advertisers; educators. [It] aims to enhance the quality of life for families and children by positively affecting the creation and uses of primetime television entertainment. [It] conducts seminars, symposia, and invitational weekends where television creators meet with experts to discuss issues that are important to the American family.
This agency, in its stated purpose, is only focused on primetime television, which is earlier than the Letterman Show. So the executives at Johnson and Johnson are sending out generic emails to concerned citizens that represent little more than a condescending pat on the head.
All of the above goes to explain why www.FireDavidLetterman.com is going to focus its energies today, Monday, June 22, 2009 on sending a message to the executives at Johnson and Johnson.
Here's the message:
We are asking Johnson and Johnson to make a public statement on Monday, June 22 that the company is stopping ALL advertising on the Late Show with David Letterman immediately until CBS has held Mr. Letterman to the same degree of accountability to which the company held Don Imus.
Until Johnson and Johnson makes such a public statement, our message to them is clear. We won't buy their products and we will make a point of going into every grocery store in the country and telling that same message to the manager of the local grocery store.
Here's the phone numbers and email addresses.
Main Number: 1-888-222-0182 (Johnson and Johnson Healthcare Products)
Kristina Chang, Public Relations, 973-385-4370, kchang12@conus.jnj.com
Steve Schonberg, Edelman PR, 212-704-4494, stephen.schonberg@edelman.com
Drop me a line here and let me know what you hear back !
UPDATE
Our campaign appears to be working today. Johnson and Johnson's website is now experiencing "technical difficulties."
Here's what the site says now:
"JNJ.com is experiencing technical difficulties. Please try the site again later. We apologize for any inconvenience that you may experience as a result of this service disruption."
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Letterman Sends a Message: I'll Tell a Joke about Sarah Palin Any Time I Want
Last night David Letterman told us exactly what he thinks of the www.FireDavidLetterman.com Movement. Our purpose is to persuade CBS to hold Mr. Letterman to the same standard of accountability for the offensive comments he made about Sarah Palin and her daughters that they held Don Imus to for his offensive comments a few years ago.
Remember, Don Imus made the offensive comments, apologized, and after the apology CBS fired him. We think CBS did the right thing then.
Mr. Letterman has apologized to Governor Palin and her daughters, and the Governor has accepted the apology. Many in the mainstream media think this closes the book on the issue.
We don't, and have mounted a very successful campaign to get advertisers to drop sponsorship of Letterman.
We can count 3 advertisers so far that have dropped him, and one that may have dropped him.
Off the Letterman sponsorship list now:
(1) Hellman's
(2) Embassy Suites
(3) Southwest Airlines
Off the Letterman sponsorship list, for now at least, in addition, is the Olive Garden Restaurant chain, though we are awaiting word from them as to whether they are dropping him temporarily, permanently, or until Letterman is held more accountable by CBS.
In his monologue last night, David Letterman sent us a message.
He told a joke about Sarah Palin.
The joke was par for the course for Mr. Letterman, about men dressing up like the Governor in a parade. The joke itself was not of the kind he told earlier, the one that launched this entire episode.
But it struck me that Mr. Letterman and his writers made a very conscious decision to include a joke about Governor Palin last night.
Why, I wonder, didn't he think it might make more sense to simply not refer to the Governor at all in his show for awhile? After all, he delivered his second "heartfelt and sincere apology" only 4 days ago.
My personal thoughts on the matter are as follows.
Mr. Letterman was sending us a message, and the message was as follows:
You can protest and try and boycott my advertisers all you want. I don't care. I'll tell any kind of joke I want about Sarah Palin any time I want.
If my assesment is correct, it's only a matter of time before Mr. Letterman crosses the line yet again. All the more reason for www.FireDavidLetterman.com to continue our efforts to boycott Mr. Letterman's sponsors.
Up next in our boycott efforts: Johnson & Johnson, Kellogg's, and several more !
Remember, Don Imus made the offensive comments, apologized, and after the apology CBS fired him. We think CBS did the right thing then.
Mr. Letterman has apologized to Governor Palin and her daughters, and the Governor has accepted the apology. Many in the mainstream media think this closes the book on the issue.
We don't, and have mounted a very successful campaign to get advertisers to drop sponsorship of Letterman.
We can count 3 advertisers so far that have dropped him, and one that may have dropped him.
Off the Letterman sponsorship list now:
(1) Hellman's
(2) Embassy Suites
(3) Southwest Airlines
Off the Letterman sponsorship list, for now at least, in addition, is the Olive Garden Restaurant chain, though we are awaiting word from them as to whether they are dropping him temporarily, permanently, or until Letterman is held more accountable by CBS.
In his monologue last night, David Letterman sent us a message.
He told a joke about Sarah Palin.
The joke was par for the course for Mr. Letterman, about men dressing up like the Governor in a parade. The joke itself was not of the kind he told earlier, the one that launched this entire episode.
But it struck me that Mr. Letterman and his writers made a very conscious decision to include a joke about Governor Palin last night.
Why, I wonder, didn't he think it might make more sense to simply not refer to the Governor at all in his show for awhile? After all, he delivered his second "heartfelt and sincere apology" only 4 days ago.
My personal thoughts on the matter are as follows.
Mr. Letterman was sending us a message, and the message was as follows:
You can protest and try and boycott my advertisers all you want. I don't care. I'll tell any kind of joke I want about Sarah Palin any time I want.
If my assesment is correct, it's only a matter of time before Mr. Letterman crosses the line yet again. All the more reason for www.FireDavidLetterman.com to continue our efforts to boycott Mr. Letterman's sponsors.
Up next in our boycott efforts: Johnson & Johnson, Kellogg's, and several more !
Friday, June 19, 2009
Another Advertiser Abandons Letterman: Southwest Airlines Confirms it will No Longer Advertise on the Late Show
You can read the full story at www.FireDavidLetterman.com.
The source here is a series of emails sent by the Southwest Airlines Vice President of Communications and Strategic Outreach.
So, unlike the Olive Garden, where a Manager of Media Relations is not authorized to speak for the company, we're pretty sure that a Vice President of Communications and Strategic Outreach is authorized to speak on behalf of Southwest Airlines.
The source here is a series of emails sent by the Southwest Airlines Vice President of Communications and Strategic Outreach.
So, unlike the Olive Garden, where a Manager of Media Relations is not authorized to speak for the company, we're pretty sure that a Vice President of Communications and Strategic Outreach is authorized to speak on behalf of Southwest Airlines.
Olive Garden Equivocates on Letterman
Apparently, the Olive Garden Manager of Media Relations is not an authorized spokesman for the company.
That role seems to be reserved for the DIRECTOR of Media Relations.
In any event, that's what Olive Garden wants us to believe now.
Hard to keep track of Olive Garden's definite response to the calls by www.FireDavidLetterman.com for advertisers to drop sponsorship of Letterman until he's held fully accountable for his disgraceful statements.
The latest, according to Olive Garden's DIRECTOR of Media Relations appears to be a finely parsed statement along the following lines (I'm using my own words here):
We didn't cancel our ads on Letterman for the rest of 2009. We are merely following our original schedule, which didn't include any planned advertising after June 15, 2009 anyways. We might advertise later in 2009 on his show but we might not. Depends. Sort of. Maybe.
Politico has a great follow up story you can read here.
Update:
I just left a message on the voicemail of the Olive Garden Director of Media Relations asking him to contact me and give the exact statement of the company on this issue. I promised him in my message to post his response verbatim at our website, www.FireDavidLetterman.com .
That role seems to be reserved for the DIRECTOR of Media Relations.
In any event, that's what Olive Garden wants us to believe now.
Hard to keep track of Olive Garden's definite response to the calls by www.FireDavidLetterman.com for advertisers to drop sponsorship of Letterman until he's held fully accountable for his disgraceful statements.
The latest, according to Olive Garden's DIRECTOR of Media Relations appears to be a finely parsed statement along the following lines (I'm using my own words here):
We didn't cancel our ads on Letterman for the rest of 2009. We are merely following our original schedule, which didn't include any planned advertising after June 15, 2009 anyways. We might advertise later in 2009 on his show but we might not. Depends. Sort of. Maybe.
Politico has a great follow up story you can read here.
Update:
I just left a message on the voicemail of the Olive Garden Director of Media Relations asking him to contact me and give the exact statement of the company on this issue. I promised him in my message to post his response verbatim at our website, www.FireDavidLetterman.com .
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Hellman's and Olive Garden Drop Letterman Sponsorship: First Two of Targeted Top Ten Advertisers to Drop Letterman
Olive Garden stops further advertising on David Letterman for 2009 and Hellman's cancels all online advertisements on Letterman.
Story at www.tcotreport.com
Online Fire David Letterman Rally to target #3 on the list of Targeted Top Ten Advertisers to Drop Letterman starts Monday. Details at www.FireDavidLetterman.com
Who do you nominate to be targeted as the #3 Advertiser to Drop David Letterman?
Story at www.tcotreport.com
Online Fire David Letterman Rally to target #3 on the list of Targeted Top Ten Advertisers to Drop Letterman starts Monday. Details at www.FireDavidLetterman.com
Who do you nominate to be targeted as the #3 Advertiser to Drop David Letterman?
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Online Fire David Letterman Rally Saturday June 20
For those of you online who couldn't make yesterday's Fire David Letterman Rally in New York City, here's a chance to let CBS know how you feel.
Go to www.firedavidletterman.com and sign up to attend online.
Go to www.firedavidletterman.com and sign up to attend online.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Fire David Letterman Rally Tuesday in NYC at Ed Sullivan Theater
Please attend the Fire David Letterman Rally.
It will be held this Tuesday, June 16, at 4:30 pm, on the sidewalks outside the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City, located at 1697 Broadway. The rally will begin an hour before David Letterman tapes his Tuesday show.
For more details, please go to www.firedavidletterman.com
It will be held this Tuesday, June 16, at 4:30 pm, on the sidewalks outside the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City, located at 1697 Broadway. The rally will begin an hour before David Letterman tapes his Tuesday show.
For more details, please go to www.firedavidletterman.com
Friday, June 12, 2009
The Differences Between Don Imus and David Letterman
(1) Imus actually apologized for his inappropriate comments.
(2) Imus comments were off the cuff. Letterman comments were planned and rehearsed.
(3) CBS fired Don Imus.
(4) MSNBC fired Don Imus.
(5) Imus verbally attacked women over 18. Letterman verbally attacked a 14 year old girl.
(6) CBS boss Les Moonves "deeply upset & revulsed" by Imus, silent on Letterman.
(2) Imus comments were off the cuff. Letterman comments were planned and rehearsed.
(3) CBS fired Don Imus.
(4) MSNBC fired Don Imus.
(5) Imus verbally attacked women over 18. Letterman verbally attacked a 14 year old girl.
(6) CBS boss Les Moonves "deeply upset & revulsed" by Imus, silent on Letterman.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Fire David Letterman -- Sign the Sponsor Boycott Letter
More details available here:
www.firedavidletterman.com
By subscribing to this list, you are adding your name to a letter that will be sent to CBS and all sponsors of David Letterman's Late Night Show stating that you will not purchase any product sold by a sponsor of his program until CBS fires him!
Sign up here to join now:
www.firedavidletterman.com
By subscribing to this list, you are adding your name to a letter that will be sent to CBS and all sponsors of David Letterman's Late Night Show stating that you will not purchase any product sold by a sponsor of his program until CBS fires him!
Sign up here to join now:
David Letterman Should be Fired for His Sexist Attacks on Sarah Palin's 14 Year Old Daughter
Yesterday the mean and nasty David Letterman tried to talk his way out of the self-inflicted controversy caused by his sexist attack on Sarah Palin's 14 year old daughter.
Here's the big lie he told to justify his latest coarse behavior:
“We were, as we often do, making jokes about people in the news and we made some jokes about Sarah Palin and her daughter [Bristol]... and now they’re upset with me…” Letterman says on tonight's show. "These are not jokes made about her 14-year-old daughter. I would never, never make jokes about raping or having sex of any description with a 14-year-old girl.... Am I guilty of poor taste? Yes. Did I suggest that it was okay for her 14-year-old daughter to be having promiscuous sex? No." Saying he hopes he's "cleared part of this up," Letterman extended an invitation to Palin to come on the show as a guest.
Even if he was initially misinformed as to the identity of the daughter who attended the Yankee game with Governor Palin (all reports agree, it was 14 year old Willow, not 18 year old Bristol), Letterman sets yet another low standard for televised vulgarity.
It's ok, apparently, to make jokes about raping an 18 year old girl, but not a 14 year old girl in his warped mind?
Time for CBS to fire this 62 year old vile man who thrives on sexually intimadating and threatening 14 year old girls in public.
And time for fair minded conservatives to BOYCOTT every sponsor of Letterman's Late Night Show. His time has come and gone.
UPDATE:
Here's a link to some of Letterman's sponsors.
Here's the big lie he told to justify his latest coarse behavior:
“We were, as we often do, making jokes about people in the news and we made some jokes about Sarah Palin and her daughter [Bristol]... and now they’re upset with me…” Letterman says on tonight's show. "These are not jokes made about her 14-year-old daughter. I would never, never make jokes about raping or having sex of any description with a 14-year-old girl.... Am I guilty of poor taste? Yes. Did I suggest that it was okay for her 14-year-old daughter to be having promiscuous sex? No." Saying he hopes he's "cleared part of this up," Letterman extended an invitation to Palin to come on the show as a guest.
Even if he was initially misinformed as to the identity of the daughter who attended the Yankee game with Governor Palin (all reports agree, it was 14 year old Willow, not 18 year old Bristol), Letterman sets yet another low standard for televised vulgarity.
It's ok, apparently, to make jokes about raping an 18 year old girl, but not a 14 year old girl in his warped mind?
Time for CBS to fire this 62 year old vile man who thrives on sexually intimadating and threatening 14 year old girls in public.
And time for fair minded conservatives to BOYCOTT every sponsor of Letterman's Late Night Show. His time has come and gone.
UPDATE:
Here's a link to some of Letterman's sponsors.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Rules for Conservative Radicals
I offer these 15 Tactical Rules for Conservative Radicals , which I recommend for consideration by all Conservative Radicals, in addition to 9 of Saul Alinsky’s Tactical Rules that are as relevant for today’s Conservative Radicals as they are for today’s Left Wing Radicals.
The Conservative Radical’s Tactical Rules
1. It is better to be 85% right and quick than 100% right and slow.
2. Do what you can right now with the technologies, resources, and time immediately available to you.
3. Use free and cheap technologies at every opportunity
4. Observe Ronald Reagan’s 11th Commandment – do not engage in personal attacks of fellow conservatives in public forums. Anything you say will be ammunition for the left. Personal disputes among fellow conservatives are best handled privately.
5. When communicating through any public forum on the internet--Twitter, blogs, websites – remember that anything digital lives forever, so refrain from the use of profanity, personal attacks, or statements that are factually unsupportable.
6. Publicly engage with the left only when there is a clearly identified goal that has a reasonable likelihood of being accomplished through the engagement.
7. Privately engage with the left when you are confident you are dealing with a person of honor and good will whose personal integrity has not been compromised by Saul Alinsky’s moral nihilism.
8. When engaging with the left let no falsehood go unchallenged.
9. When dealing with the left, look for opportunities to persuade open-minded opponents of the merits of conservatism.
10. When evangelizing to open minded members of the left, be a friendly teacher guiding your students towards conservatism, not an argumentative and arrogant haranguer bent on demonstrating your intellectual superiority.
11. Seek out opportunities to collaborate with like-minded conservatives through self organizing projects.
12. You earn a seat at the table of a self organizing project by showing up, doing the work, and collaborating effectively with your project colleagues.
13. Successful self-organizing projects are characterized by:
(a) rapid response consensus development of goals and tactics
(b) transparent real time communication between project colleagues
(c) rapid implementation of tactics by a core group of the most engaged project colleagues
(d) whose personal conduct is guided by the principles of project servant-leadership.
14. Once you have earned a seat at the table, you have a right to participate in the development of a consensus. But if you don’t show up to participate, you lose the right to complain about decisions made by the group in your absence. The process drives forward relentlessly on a 24-7 time clock
15. When conflict arises within your self organized project, and the conflict is not resolvable, leave the project, start your own new project with those who are of like mind, and wish your former project colleagues Godspeed.
Copyright 2009 by Michael Patrick Leahy
To be included in my new book Rules for Conservative Radicals, to be published by C-Rad Press on July 31, 2009
9 Tactical Rules from Saul Alinsky that are as relevant for today’s Conservative Radicals as they are for today’s Left Wing Radicals
1. Never go outside the experience of your project colleagues
2. Wherever possible, go outside the experience of the opposition
3. Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.
4. A good tactic is one that your project colleagues enjoy.
5. A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag
6. Keep the pressure on
7. The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition.
8. Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.
9. Make the opposition live up to their own book of rules.
Note: I have changed the word “people” in rules 1 and 4 to the words “project colleagues”, and the word “enemy” in rules 2 and 9 to “opposition”.
Source: Rules for Radicals by Saul Alinsky, 1971
The Conservative Radical’s Tactical Rules
1. It is better to be 85% right and quick than 100% right and slow.
2. Do what you can right now with the technologies, resources, and time immediately available to you.
3. Use free and cheap technologies at every opportunity
4. Observe Ronald Reagan’s 11th Commandment – do not engage in personal attacks of fellow conservatives in public forums. Anything you say will be ammunition for the left. Personal disputes among fellow conservatives are best handled privately.
5. When communicating through any public forum on the internet--Twitter, blogs, websites – remember that anything digital lives forever, so refrain from the use of profanity, personal attacks, or statements that are factually unsupportable.
6. Publicly engage with the left only when there is a clearly identified goal that has a reasonable likelihood of being accomplished through the engagement.
7. Privately engage with the left when you are confident you are dealing with a person of honor and good will whose personal integrity has not been compromised by Saul Alinsky’s moral nihilism.
8. When engaging with the left let no falsehood go unchallenged.
9. When dealing with the left, look for opportunities to persuade open-minded opponents of the merits of conservatism.
10. When evangelizing to open minded members of the left, be a friendly teacher guiding your students towards conservatism, not an argumentative and arrogant haranguer bent on demonstrating your intellectual superiority.
11. Seek out opportunities to collaborate with like-minded conservatives through self organizing projects.
12. You earn a seat at the table of a self organizing project by showing up, doing the work, and collaborating effectively with your project colleagues.
13. Successful self-organizing projects are characterized by:
(a) rapid response consensus development of goals and tactics
(b) transparent real time communication between project colleagues
(c) rapid implementation of tactics by a core group of the most engaged project colleagues
(d) whose personal conduct is guided by the principles of project servant-leadership.
14. Once you have earned a seat at the table, you have a right to participate in the development of a consensus. But if you don’t show up to participate, you lose the right to complain about decisions made by the group in your absence. The process drives forward relentlessly on a 24-7 time clock
15. When conflict arises within your self organized project, and the conflict is not resolvable, leave the project, start your own new project with those who are of like mind, and wish your former project colleagues Godspeed.
Copyright 2009 by Michael Patrick Leahy
To be included in my new book Rules for Conservative Radicals, to be published by C-Rad Press on July 31, 2009
9 Tactical Rules from Saul Alinsky that are as relevant for today’s Conservative Radicals as they are for today’s Left Wing Radicals
1. Never go outside the experience of your project colleagues
2. Wherever possible, go outside the experience of the opposition
3. Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.
4. A good tactic is one that your project colleagues enjoy.
5. A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag
6. Keep the pressure on
7. The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition.
8. Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.
9. Make the opposition live up to their own book of rules.
Note: I have changed the word “people” in rules 1 and 4 to the words “project colleagues”, and the word “enemy” in rules 2 and 9 to “opposition”.
Source: Rules for Radicals by Saul Alinsky, 1971
Monday, June 08, 2009
Obama Has "Created or Saved" 140 Million Jobs! (Orwellian Translation: He's LOST 3.5 million jobs since the end of 2008)
President Obama's Orwellian use of the English language continues to astound.
Obama doesn't merely "create" jobs -- he "creates or saves" them.
What exactly does that mean ?
It means he counts as a "victory" a job that isn't lost.
Total civilian employment in the last quarter of 2008 was 144 million. Total civilian employment in May 2009 was down to 140.5 million.
Obama Orwellian Translation:
Even though I can't run a lemonade stand, I know how to count. I will claim victory by claiming I've "created or saved" 140.5 million jobs. It would be too embarassing to admit that my foolish and irresponsible stimulus policies have actually LOST 3.5 million jobs !
Obama doesn't merely "create" jobs -- he "creates or saves" them.
What exactly does that mean ?
It means he counts as a "victory" a job that isn't lost.
Total civilian employment in the last quarter of 2008 was 144 million. Total civilian employment in May 2009 was down to 140.5 million.
Obama Orwellian Translation:
Even though I can't run a lemonade stand, I know how to count. I will claim victory by claiming I've "created or saved" 140.5 million jobs. It would be too embarassing to admit that my foolish and irresponsible stimulus policies have actually LOST 3.5 million jobs !
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
A very weak argument against the Bill of Federalism
A blogger associated with the John Birch Society has criticized the "riskiness" of the Bill of Federalism, which calls on state legislatures to petition Congress to hold a Constitutional Convention to consider ratification of 10 amendments to restore the original intent of the Constitution.
Here's the preferred strategy this blogger recommends:
Our strategy for lowering taxes and reducing the size and cost of government is to create enough grassroots pressure to force Congress to adhere to the Constitution as it is now
As Dr. Phil might ask, "How's that working for you?"
Here's the preferred strategy this blogger recommends:
Our strategy for lowering taxes and reducing the size and cost of government is to create enough grassroots pressure to force Congress to adhere to the Constitution as it is now
As Dr. Phil might ask, "How's that working for you?"
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Colin Powell Claims He's Still a Republican -- But on What Basis?
The highly over-rated Colin Powell continues to clog up the airwaves.
This past Sunday he made the rounds of the Sunday shows, proclaiming loudly that he's still a Republican.
A Republican who voted for John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama.
A Republican who believes the country wants higher taxes and more government services.
A Republican who publicly endorsed Barack Obama over John McCain.
You know what they say.
If it walks like a duck and sounds like a duck.... it probably is a duck.
Colin Powell doesn't walk like a Republican or sound like a Republican. He walks and talks like a Democrat. An Obama endorsing Democrat.
There's the door, Mr. Powell !
This past Sunday he made the rounds of the Sunday shows, proclaiming loudly that he's still a Republican.
A Republican who voted for John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama.
A Republican who believes the country wants higher taxes and more government services.
A Republican who publicly endorsed Barack Obama over John McCain.
You know what they say.
If it walks like a duck and sounds like a duck.... it probably is a duck.
Colin Powell doesn't walk like a Republican or sound like a Republican. He walks and talks like a Democrat. An Obama endorsing Democrat.
There's the door, Mr. Powell !
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Michael Steele Gives an Uninspiring Speech in Kingsport, Tennessee
RNC Chairman Michael Steele gave a speech in Kingsport, Tennessee recently.
Here it is, in all its uninspiring glory.
Mr. Steele advised the gathered Republican faithful to "stop looking backwards," an apparent repetition of earlier themes Mr. Steele has articulated with little success.
The RNC Chair also continued his ill advised attempts to try and co-opt the Tea Party Movement.
“Why do you think they were so outdone by a little thing called a Tea Party?” Steele asked the crowd. “And how disrespectful is it that when the president’s spokesman is asked whether or not the president was following this (series of anti-spending events around the country), he was dismissive. ... They ignored it ... the arrogance of power.”
It's not hard to understand why Eric Odom respectfully suggested that Mr. Steele attend, but not speak at, the April 15 Tax Day Tea Party in Chicago. A lot of us wish Mr. Steele had come to that tea party -- and listened to what's really going on in the heartland of the country.
Here it is, in all its uninspiring glory.
Mr. Steele advised the gathered Republican faithful to "stop looking backwards," an apparent repetition of earlier themes Mr. Steele has articulated with little success.
The RNC Chair also continued his ill advised attempts to try and co-opt the Tea Party Movement.
“Why do you think they were so outdone by a little thing called a Tea Party?” Steele asked the crowd. “And how disrespectful is it that when the president’s spokesman is asked whether or not the president was following this (series of anti-spending events around the country), he was dismissive. ... They ignored it ... the arrogance of power.”
It's not hard to understand why Eric Odom respectfully suggested that Mr. Steele attend, but not speak at, the April 15 Tax Day Tea Party in Chicago. A lot of us wish Mr. Steele had come to that tea party -- and listened to what's really going on in the heartland of the country.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Libel Dispute Resolved by Mutual Accord: I Remove Lawsuit, Blogger Removes Word
I am pleased to report that blogger Stephanie Grasmick has agreed to remove the false and misleading word from the headline of her May 13, 2009 blogpost which caused me to file a libel suit against her on May 18, 2009. I, in response, have withdrawn my complaint against her.
The word in question, “fraud”, has a clear and distinct meaning, and it is my belief that by removing that word from her headline Ms. Grasmick is acknowledging her error.
I hasten to add that after our private dialogue on the matter, I am completely convinced that Ms. Grasmick included that word in the headline out of misunderstanding, and not out of any desire to misrepresent the facts.
I found Ms. Grasmick in our private dialogue to be gracious, intelligent, fair minded, and unfailingly polite.
I believe that had Ms. Grasmick and I taken the time to have a more detailed discussion of the matter subsequent to her private notification to me of her intent to publish the story, and the actual publication of the story, she would have written the headline in such a manner as to accurately reflect the facts.
Her public persona, in which many of her posts were filled with profanity and insults, coupled with the anonymous nature of her authorship at the time, led me not to trust that she would be fair in her reporting of the story. That, coupled with the relatively short period of time between the private notification and the actual publication created this public miscommunication, which has now been resolved to our mutual agreement.
I believe that her conduct in resolving this matter so quickly should demonstrate to all that Ms. Grasmick is a fair-minded and honest person.
The word in question, “fraud”, has a clear and distinct meaning, and it is my belief that by removing that word from her headline Ms. Grasmick is acknowledging her error.
I hasten to add that after our private dialogue on the matter, I am completely convinced that Ms. Grasmick included that word in the headline out of misunderstanding, and not out of any desire to misrepresent the facts.
I found Ms. Grasmick in our private dialogue to be gracious, intelligent, fair minded, and unfailingly polite.
I believe that had Ms. Grasmick and I taken the time to have a more detailed discussion of the matter subsequent to her private notification to me of her intent to publish the story, and the actual publication of the story, she would have written the headline in such a manner as to accurately reflect the facts.
Her public persona, in which many of her posts were filled with profanity and insults, coupled with the anonymous nature of her authorship at the time, led me not to trust that she would be fair in her reporting of the story. That, coupled with the relatively short period of time between the private notification and the actual publication created this public miscommunication, which has now been resolved to our mutual agreement.
I believe that her conduct in resolving this matter so quickly should demonstrate to all that Ms. Grasmick is a fair-minded and honest person.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
An Update on Recent Developments
For those of you following developments related to a story recently posted on a blog operated by Ms. Stephanie Grasmick:
Ms. Grasmick posted this comment today:
"I have been in touch with Mr. Leahy, and it is my sincere hope that we can resolve this matter through clear-minded and thoughtful dialogue, and at a minimal cost to the American taxpayer."
Ms. Grasmick's statement is accurate, and it is also my sincere hope that we can resolve this matter through clear-minded and thoughtful dialogue.
I will have no further public comment on this matter until this dialogue has been completed.
Ms. Grasmick posted this comment today:
"I have been in touch with Mr. Leahy, and it is my sincere hope that we can resolve this matter through clear-minded and thoughtful dialogue, and at a minimal cost to the American taxpayer."
Ms. Grasmick's statement is accurate, and it is also my sincere hope that we can resolve this matter through clear-minded and thoughtful dialogue.
I will have no further public comment on this matter until this dialogue has been completed.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Quit, Baby, Quit: My Message to RNC Chairman Michael Steele
The RNC has been disastrously ineffective since Michael Steele took over as Chairman of the RNC.
Now, apparently, the man who insulted Rush Limbaugh, appeared to endorse abortion, and thinks the Democrats aren't socialists is threatening to quit as RNC Chairman tomorrow if conservatives don't play nice with him and adopt his silly "reach out to everyone despite what they may or may not advocate" policies.
My advice to Chairman Steele:
Quit, Baby, Quit.
Now, apparently, the man who insulted Rush Limbaugh, appeared to endorse abortion, and thinks the Democrats aren't socialists is threatening to quit as RNC Chairman tomorrow if conservatives don't play nice with him and adopt his silly "reach out to everyone despite what they may or may not advocate" policies.
My advice to Chairman Steele:
Quit, Baby, Quit.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Keith Olbermann Leads Personal Attacks on Me by the Left Wing Smear Merchants
Less than two weeks after I was one of 18 signators on The Nationwide Tea Party Coalition's acceptance of President Obama's invitation "to have a serious discussion" with people in the Tea Party Movement, the left wing smear merchants have begun their personal attacks on me in a predictably vile way.
First came a profanity laced left wing blogger who posted 16 years worth of my personal business and tax records on her blog.
Then today, champion smear monger Keith Olbermann named me "The Worst Person in the World" over runners up Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly.
You can see his personal attack on me here.
Without bothering to contact me to check on the facts, Mr Olbemann stated that "over 16 years , [Mr. Leahy] has had a few judgements filed against him for unpaid taxes, small claim court judgements, and civil suits.... nearly $150,000"
Olbermann concluded "So what's the point in protesting taxes if you're not going to bother to pay them anyways," and proceeded to name me the Worst Person in the World.
If Mr. Olbermann were a real journalist, instead of a left wing propagandist, he could have learned the facts of the situation before he exposed himself to the world, once again, as the conservative hating person he is.
Here are the facts:
The left wing blog smear listed a total of 12 distinct judgements covering the period 1993-2009. The total dollar amount of these judgements were $145,264.
$40,806 was from 7 civil judgements. Of these 7 judgements, 4 have been paid in their entirety.
$19,009 was a judgement filed by the State of California in 1993 in Los Angeles County. In 1993 I had not been a resident of California for 2 years, and earned no income in the state of California. Nor was I ever a resident of Los Angeles County. I was not even aware of this judgement until around 2003, at which time I promptly responded to the State of California that there was no basis for this judgement for the reasons I mentioned above.
$85,449 was for 4 Federal Tax Liens. Of these liens, more than half of the amount listed is for penalty and interest. I have, for the past nine years, engaged in a long dialogue with several different offices of the IRS, all towards the purpose of completing a workable installment agreement. Anyone who has had the pleasure of dealing with the IRS knows that this can be a long process, one that is particularly difficult for individuals and small business people. I am pleased to report that after years of attempting to actually hold such an installment agreement, I indeed have received a commitment from the IRS to have the very first meeting for this purpose within the next 30 days.
The broader question here is this:
What kind of country do we live in if anyone who raises their voices loudly against the socialist-statists who currently run our government and the Mainstream Media is rapidly subjected to vicious attacks in the left wing blogosphere ?
In the fall it was Joe the Plumber.
Earlier this week it was Carrie Prejean.
Today it's me.
Tomorrow will it be you, or any one of the 1 million other Tea Party Protesters who object to the out of control spending our Federal Government is currently subjecting us to ?
So, Mr. Olbermann, here's my challenge to you, if you have the courage to accept it.
I will debate you in person, on either Glenn Beck's program or the O'Reilly Factor on the following topic:
Which is worse for the future of the United States of America ? My tax problems, or the $1.8 Trillion Deficit in President Obama's current budget ?
Oh, and one last thing.
If you are to be consistent in your logic, you ought to nominate me to serve in President Obama's Cabinet. After all, Secretary of the Treasury had tax problems that were worse than mine. He knew the law and knowingly violated it.
I'm not running for public office. I'm not offering myself up to be a member of President Obama's Cabinet. And neither you nor any other left wing smear merchant will intimidate me from exercising my right of free speech as an American citizen.
First came a profanity laced left wing blogger who posted 16 years worth of my personal business and tax records on her blog.
Then today, champion smear monger Keith Olbermann named me "The Worst Person in the World" over runners up Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly.
You can see his personal attack on me here.
Without bothering to contact me to check on the facts, Mr Olbemann stated that "over 16 years , [Mr. Leahy] has had a few judgements filed against him for unpaid taxes, small claim court judgements, and civil suits.... nearly $150,000"
Olbermann concluded "So what's the point in protesting taxes if you're not going to bother to pay them anyways," and proceeded to name me the Worst Person in the World.
If Mr. Olbermann were a real journalist, instead of a left wing propagandist, he could have learned the facts of the situation before he exposed himself to the world, once again, as the conservative hating person he is.
Here are the facts:
The left wing blog smear listed a total of 12 distinct judgements covering the period 1993-2009. The total dollar amount of these judgements were $145,264.
$40,806 was from 7 civil judgements. Of these 7 judgements, 4 have been paid in their entirety.
$19,009 was a judgement filed by the State of California in 1993 in Los Angeles County. In 1993 I had not been a resident of California for 2 years, and earned no income in the state of California. Nor was I ever a resident of Los Angeles County. I was not even aware of this judgement until around 2003, at which time I promptly responded to the State of California that there was no basis for this judgement for the reasons I mentioned above.
$85,449 was for 4 Federal Tax Liens. Of these liens, more than half of the amount listed is for penalty and interest. I have, for the past nine years, engaged in a long dialogue with several different offices of the IRS, all towards the purpose of completing a workable installment agreement. Anyone who has had the pleasure of dealing with the IRS knows that this can be a long process, one that is particularly difficult for individuals and small business people. I am pleased to report that after years of attempting to actually hold such an installment agreement, I indeed have received a commitment from the IRS to have the very first meeting for this purpose within the next 30 days.
The broader question here is this:
What kind of country do we live in if anyone who raises their voices loudly against the socialist-statists who currently run our government and the Mainstream Media is rapidly subjected to vicious attacks in the left wing blogosphere ?
In the fall it was Joe the Plumber.
Earlier this week it was Carrie Prejean.
Today it's me.
Tomorrow will it be you, or any one of the 1 million other Tea Party Protesters who object to the out of control spending our Federal Government is currently subjecting us to ?
So, Mr. Olbermann, here's my challenge to you, if you have the courage to accept it.
I will debate you in person, on either Glenn Beck's program or the O'Reilly Factor on the following topic:
Which is worse for the future of the United States of America ? My tax problems, or the $1.8 Trillion Deficit in President Obama's current budget ?
Oh, and one last thing.
If you are to be consistent in your logic, you ought to nominate me to serve in President Obama's Cabinet. After all, Secretary of the Treasury had tax problems that were worse than mine. He knew the law and knowingly violated it.
I'm not running for public office. I'm not offering myself up to be a member of President Obama's Cabinet. And neither you nor any other left wing smear merchant will intimidate me from exercising my right of free speech as an American citizen.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
The Embarrassingly Crude and Ignorant Meghan McCain
Add Meghan McCain to the list of those whose departure from the Repubulican Party can't come quickly enough.
Besides her father's fame, Ms. McCain has no reason to be part of the public discussion.
Her recent attempts at pretending to be a blogging pundit have demonstrated only her ignorance and profound desire to impress her liberal friends with her constant public use of profanity.
Last night, Miss McCain, through her public tweets while attending the White House Correspondents dinner, used especially crude and profane language to describe the event. In fact, the only words she could use to describe the event were of a profane nature. This of course brings to mind the old saying that constant use of profanity is merely an indication of a person's limited vocabulary and inability to express in detail a coherent and illuminating thought.
Ms. McCain is apparently so proud of her contribution to the coarsening of society she sent out another tweet loudly proclaiming that she is highly ranked on a public website devoted to listing those public and private figures who use profanity most frequently in public.
Such coarse behavior in public appears to be on the rise, regrettably, and Miss McCain appears to be basking in the glow of those in our society who cheer such an unsavory trend.
Such a circumstance would be unpleasant enough to observe if Miss McCain actually had an original idea worth contributing to the public dialogue. Sadly, Miss McCain's apparent thirst for public notoriety appears to be the only driving force in the embarrassment that is her public record. I've been unable to observe one original thought in anything she's written. Every public utterance from her (those that are not crude and profane) appears to be out of the left wing liberal playbook.
Do us all a favor, Miss McCain, and try to improve your public manners.
And after you've done that, please publicly disavow any affiliation with the Republican Party.
Besides her father's fame, Ms. McCain has no reason to be part of the public discussion.
Her recent attempts at pretending to be a blogging pundit have demonstrated only her ignorance and profound desire to impress her liberal friends with her constant public use of profanity.
Last night, Miss McCain, through her public tweets while attending the White House Correspondents dinner, used especially crude and profane language to describe the event. In fact, the only words she could use to describe the event were of a profane nature. This of course brings to mind the old saying that constant use of profanity is merely an indication of a person's limited vocabulary and inability to express in detail a coherent and illuminating thought.
Ms. McCain is apparently so proud of her contribution to the coarsening of society she sent out another tweet loudly proclaiming that she is highly ranked on a public website devoted to listing those public and private figures who use profanity most frequently in public.
Such coarse behavior in public appears to be on the rise, regrettably, and Miss McCain appears to be basking in the glow of those in our society who cheer such an unsavory trend.
Such a circumstance would be unpleasant enough to observe if Miss McCain actually had an original idea worth contributing to the public dialogue. Sadly, Miss McCain's apparent thirst for public notoriety appears to be the only driving force in the embarrassment that is her public record. I've been unable to observe one original thought in anything she's written. Every public utterance from her (those that are not crude and profane) appears to be out of the left wing liberal playbook.
Do us all a favor, Miss McCain, and try to improve your public manners.
And after you've done that, please publicly disavow any affiliation with the Republican Party.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Colin Powell, Cheerleader for the Political Class, Should Join Arlen Specter in the Democratic Party
Colin Powell, the most overrated underperformer in recent political history, once again showed himself to be the opportunistic self aggrandizer he's been throughout his career.
The so-called "moderate Republican" who shamelessly endorsed the candidacy of Barack Obama, the man who is leading us towards a socialist-statist debacle that would make George Orwell apopletic, once again demonstrated that he is the cheerleader for the Democratic political class.
In a recent speech to corporate security executives, Powell proclaimed haughtily "the American people want MORE government, not LESS."
Mr. Powell apparently missed the 1 million Americans who demonstrated against more government at the April 15 Tax Day Tea Parties.
Time to leave the Republican Party officially, Mr. Powell.
We don't need socialist-statists like you in the party.
President Obama and his friends will be sure to welcome you with open arms. Why not ? You've been espousing the same anti free market policies for years.
You belong with the elite political class that controls the Democratic Party, those 30 percent of Democrats who believe in socialism, not capitalism.
Joseph Schumpeter predicted the arch of your career 70 years ago. Do the right thing and make it official now.
The so-called "moderate Republican" who shamelessly endorsed the candidacy of Barack Obama, the man who is leading us towards a socialist-statist debacle that would make George Orwell apopletic, once again demonstrated that he is the cheerleader for the Democratic political class.
In a recent speech to corporate security executives, Powell proclaimed haughtily "the American people want MORE government, not LESS."
Mr. Powell apparently missed the 1 million Americans who demonstrated against more government at the April 15 Tax Day Tea Parties.
Time to leave the Republican Party officially, Mr. Powell.
We don't need socialist-statists like you in the party.
President Obama and his friends will be sure to welcome you with open arms. Why not ? You've been espousing the same anti free market policies for years.
You belong with the elite political class that controls the Democratic Party, those 30 percent of Democrats who believe in socialism, not capitalism.
Joseph Schumpeter predicted the arch of your career 70 years ago. Do the right thing and make it official now.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Nationwide Tea Party Leaders Accept Invitation To Meet With President Obama
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS:
Michael Patrick Leahy
(615) 243-6869
Kellen E. Giuda
(786) 525-6984
James Dickey
(469)767-7728
New York, New York – April 29th, 2009 - The National Leadership Team
of the Nationwide Tea Party Coalition
(www.nationwideteapartycoalition.com) today accepted
President Obama's invitation "to have a serious conversation about
how we are going to cut our health care costs down over the long
term, how we are going to stabilize Social Security.”
The invitation was extended by the President at a Town Hall Meeting
held in Arnold, Missouri today
(as reported at Politico).
Michael Patrick Leahy, a member of the National Leadership Team of
the Nationwide Tea Party Coalition, said " We want to broaden the
scope to address the President's runaway march to socialist-statism,
and the rampant across the board irresponsible spending he is
promoting with his $787 Billion Stimulus Plan and his $1 Trillion
Annual Deficit, his takeover of General Motors, Chrysler and the
Banks "
Kellen Giuda, organizer of the New York City C Tea party attended by
12,000 and of Parcbench (http://www.parcbench.com) said, “I think a
constructive dialogue with the President would be a great
opportunity for him to acknowledge that, yes, many Americans have a
problem with the way Washington is handling our taxpayer dollars and
also that we are concerned about health care and social security
reform. I am happy he is open to a discussion. The Tea Parties are
protesting against fiscal irresponsibility and any dialogue we can
have will hopefully bring a better public understanding of our
country's finances. Health care and social security reform is a
large concern to us."
The National Leadership Team of the Nationwide Tea Party Coalition
includes 25 of the more than 900 local organizers of the April 15,
2009 Tax Day Tea Parties held across the country, which were
attended by more than 1 million Americans. Members of the National
Leadership Team includes Judson Phillips, organizer of the Nashville
Tea Party attended by 10,000, James Dickey, organizer of the Dallas
Tea Party, attended by 5,000, and JoAnn Abbot, organizer of the
Washington, DC Tea Party attended by more than 3,000.
The full list of the 25 members of the National Leadership Team of
the Nationwide Tea Party Coalition can be found at
The Nationwide Tea Party Coalition web site
CONTACTS:
Michael Patrick Leahy
(615) 243-6869
Kellen E. Giuda
(786) 525-6984
James Dickey
(469)767-7728
New York, New York – April 29th, 2009 - The National Leadership Team
of the Nationwide Tea Party Coalition
(www.nationwideteapartycoalition.com) today accepted
President Obama's invitation "to have a serious conversation about
how we are going to cut our health care costs down over the long
term, how we are going to stabilize Social Security.”
The invitation was extended by the President at a Town Hall Meeting
held in Arnold, Missouri today
(as reported at Politico).
Michael Patrick Leahy, a member of the National Leadership Team of
the Nationwide Tea Party Coalition, said " We want to broaden the
scope to address the President's runaway march to socialist-statism,
and the rampant across the board irresponsible spending he is
promoting with his $787 Billion Stimulus Plan and his $1 Trillion
Annual Deficit, his takeover of General Motors, Chrysler and the
Banks "
Kellen Giuda, organizer of the New York City C Tea party attended by
12,000 and of Parcbench (http://www.parcbench.com) said, “I think a
constructive dialogue with the President would be a great
opportunity for him to acknowledge that, yes, many Americans have a
problem with the way Washington is handling our taxpayer dollars and
also that we are concerned about health care and social security
reform. I am happy he is open to a discussion. The Tea Parties are
protesting against fiscal irresponsibility and any dialogue we can
have will hopefully bring a better public understanding of our
country's finances. Health care and social security reform is a
large concern to us."
The National Leadership Team of the Nationwide Tea Party Coalition
includes 25 of the more than 900 local organizers of the April 15,
2009 Tax Day Tea Parties held across the country, which were
attended by more than 1 million Americans. Members of the National
Leadership Team includes Judson Phillips, organizer of the Nashville
Tea Party attended by 10,000, James Dickey, organizer of the Dallas
Tea Party, attended by 5,000, and JoAnn Abbot, organizer of the
Washington, DC Tea Party attended by more than 3,000.
The full list of the 25 members of the National Leadership Team of
the Nationwide Tea Party Coalition can be found at
The Nationwide Tea Party Coalition web site
Saturday, April 25, 2009
The Bill of Federalism: 10 Amendments to be Proposed to the States for Ratification
Professor Randy Barnett of Georgetown University sets forth a bold new proposal:
The Bill of Federalism: 10 Amendments to be Proposed to the States for Ratification.
You can read this draft document in full when it is posted within the next 24 hours at the Nationwide Tea Party Coalition website.
The Nationwide Tea Party Coalition is providing support and assistance to Professor Barnett as he reads and reviews public comments on The Bill of Federalism.
We anticipate a final version of The Bill of Federalism will be completed within 60 days.
We encourage all citizens who are interested in the future of our republic, and who which to stop our slide into socialism, to comment on this document, and to enlist their friends and neighbors in this effort.
Upon completion of the final version of The Bill of Federalism, we will encourage selected state legislators to introduce a bill to petition Congress to Convene a Constitutional Convention for the purpose of passing The Bill of Federalism, thereafter sending it to the states for ratification.
If 2/3 of the states petition Congress to hold a Constitutional Convention, Congress must convene one. Alternatively, Congress may pass The Bill of Federalism on its own, and submit it to the states for ratification.
Upon ratification of The Bill of Federalism by 3/4 of the states, after passage by either the Congress or a Constitutional Convention, it will become part of the United States Constitution.
Professor Barnett will discuss his draft of The Bill of Federalism with all 26 members of the National Leadership Team of the Nationwide Tea Party Coalition LIVE on Pajamas TV at 6pm EDT, 3pm PDT, this Monday, April 27.
The Bill of Federalism: 10 Amendments to be Proposed to the States for Ratification.
You can read this draft document in full when it is posted within the next 24 hours at the Nationwide Tea Party Coalition website.
The Nationwide Tea Party Coalition is providing support and assistance to Professor Barnett as he reads and reviews public comments on The Bill of Federalism.
We anticipate a final version of The Bill of Federalism will be completed within 60 days.
We encourage all citizens who are interested in the future of our republic, and who which to stop our slide into socialism, to comment on this document, and to enlist their friends and neighbors in this effort.
Upon completion of the final version of The Bill of Federalism, we will encourage selected state legislators to introduce a bill to petition Congress to Convene a Constitutional Convention for the purpose of passing The Bill of Federalism, thereafter sending it to the states for ratification.
If 2/3 of the states petition Congress to hold a Constitutional Convention, Congress must convene one. Alternatively, Congress may pass The Bill of Federalism on its own, and submit it to the states for ratification.
Upon ratification of The Bill of Federalism by 3/4 of the states, after passage by either the Congress or a Constitutional Convention, it will become part of the United States Constitution.
Professor Barnett will discuss his draft of The Bill of Federalism with all 26 members of the National Leadership Team of the Nationwide Tea Party Coalition LIVE on Pajamas TV at 6pm EDT, 3pm PDT, this Monday, April 27.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Chris Matthews Proves He's An Irrelevant Windbag
Add Chris Matthews to the list of irrelevant windbags who make false claims about the Tea Party Movement without doing any research to investigate their bloviated and incorrect assertions.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Pajamas TV and my new show TCOT on PJTV
It's been a fast moving few weeks, with www.taxdayteaparty.com here in 1 week.
Tuesday of last week, March 31, Pajamas TV launched a new program, TCOT on PJTV, with yours truly as the host. You can check it out here. I've been in Los Angeles filming since then, but head back to Nashville on Saturday.
Then on Wednesday, April 15, it's up to Knoxville to co-host live coverage Tax Day Tea Party with Glenn Reynolds, of instapundit.com fame.
Tuesday of last week, March 31, Pajamas TV launched a new program, TCOT on PJTV, with yours truly as the host. You can check it out here. I've been in Los Angeles filming since then, but head back to Nashville on Saturday.
Then on Wednesday, April 15, it's up to Knoxville to co-host live coverage Tax Day Tea Party with Glenn Reynolds, of instapundit.com fame.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
On the Laura Ingraham Radio Show at 11:30 AM Today
Los Angeles based conservative talk radio host Tammy Bruce will be guest hosting the Laura Ingraham Radio Show today. I will be on the Laura Ingraham Radio Show at 11:30 AM today to talk Tea Parties with guest host Tammy Bruce.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Liberal Pranks Continue - Someone Keeps Submitting Name of Digg.com Founder Kevin Rose to Top Conservatives on Twitter List
Somewhere out there in the Twitterverse resides a liberal with an odd sense of humor.
Periodically the Twitter ID of Kevin Rose, the very liberal founder of Digg.com is submitted for inclusion to our list of Top Conservatives on Twitter. Since Mr. Rose has 250,000 followers, this puts him at the top of our list, which many of the conservative members of our list (now with over 3,600 members) find more than a bit curious.
We, of course, remove the Twitter ID of Mr. Rose from the list, on the assumption that he has not converted to the conservative cause.
Our assumption is that he is not the one submitting his Twitter ID to be added.
Here's my tweet to him this morning on the topic:
@KevinRose Someone claiming to be you keeps adding your id to our list http://www.topconservatives... Are you aware ? #tcot
We'll let you know what kind of response we receive !
Periodically the Twitter ID of Kevin Rose, the very liberal founder of Digg.com is submitted for inclusion to our list of Top Conservatives on Twitter. Since Mr. Rose has 250,000 followers, this puts him at the top of our list, which many of the conservative members of our list (now with over 3,600 members) find more than a bit curious.
We, of course, remove the Twitter ID of Mr. Rose from the list, on the assumption that he has not converted to the conservative cause.
Our assumption is that he is not the one submitting his Twitter ID to be added.
Here's my tweet to him this morning on the topic:
@KevinRose Someone claiming to be you keeps adding your id to our list http://www.topconservatives... Are you aware ? #tcot
We'll let you know what kind of response we receive !
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Why Do Smart People Pick Fights That Don't Help Them ?
In the category of:
What were they thinking ?
Why did President Obama insult and humiliate British Prime Minister Brown this week? The United Kingdom is our strongest ally, and Brown is a socialist like Obama. You would think they would be friends and that Obama would do everything he could to raise the stature of his ideological and international ally.
Can you say "hubris" ?
And then comes Michael Steele.
Just wondering why he thought picking a fight with Rush Limbaugh made any sense at all. There are lots of people to pick fights with, but the leading conservative talk show host who just gave a stirring defense of conservativism at the CPAC Conference ?
Can you say "why" ?
What were they thinking ?
Why did President Obama insult and humiliate British Prime Minister Brown this week? The United Kingdom is our strongest ally, and Brown is a socialist like Obama. You would think they would be friends and that Obama would do everything he could to raise the stature of his ideological and international ally.
Can you say "hubris" ?
And then comes Michael Steele.
Just wondering why he thought picking a fight with Rush Limbaugh made any sense at all. There are lots of people to pick fights with, but the leading conservative talk show host who just gave a stirring defense of conservativism at the CPAC Conference ?
Can you say "why" ?
Thursday, February 26, 2009
MSNBC TV Scheduled to Interview Me Tomorrow 9:30 AM EST About the Nationwide Chicago Tea Party Taking Place at Noon Tomorrow in 45 Cities !
In the category of.... when it rains, it pours.... comes this.
Just finished watching Neil Cavuto's great interview with the organizer of the New York City Tea Party, then jumped on the RNC Grassroots Conference call run so well by internet genius David All.
When the cell phone rang (well, buzzed actually) and showed a 212 area code, I thought David wouldn't mind if I left the call to answer.
Good move.
Turns out it was a very nice producer from MSNBC confirming a live interview at 9:30 am EST tomorrow to talk about tomorrow's Nationwide Chicago Tea Party.
Tune in and let me know how you think it goes!
At the very least, more publicity for the now 50 and growing tea parties scheduled to take place around the country.
Our theme ?
Our message to Congress is simple: Repeal the Pork or Retire !
Just finished watching Neil Cavuto's great interview with the organizer of the New York City Tea Party, then jumped on the RNC Grassroots Conference call run so well by internet genius David All.
When the cell phone rang (well, buzzed actually) and showed a 212 area code, I thought David wouldn't mind if I left the call to answer.
Good move.
Turns out it was a very nice producer from MSNBC confirming a live interview at 9:30 am EST tomorrow to talk about tomorrow's Nationwide Chicago Tea Party.
Tune in and let me know how you think it goes!
At the very least, more publicity for the now 50 and growing tea parties scheduled to take place around the country.
Our theme ?
Our message to Congress is simple: Repeal the Pork or Retire !
How to Create a "Plan B" Tea Party
If you live in a city where an organized local tea party as part of tomorrow's www.nationwidechicagoteaparty is not currently planned, you still have time to organize a local "Plan B" Tea Party and be an important part of this national event. Here's what you do.
1. Appoint yourself as the local "Plan B" Tea Party organizer.
2. Reserve a table or private room at your favorite local restaurant. Preferably one with a WIFI connection.
3. Create a Facebook Event announcing your "Plan B" Tea Party. Try and have the time as close to noon EST Friday February 27 as possible.
4. Send me the link to your event in a comment here. Also, go to www.nationwidechicagoteaparty and follow the link to the main Facebook event we have created. "Attend" that event as a Maybe. Then POST your link to the Facebook Wall of that event. We will move it up to the main page for you.
5. Invite half a dozen or a dozen of your friends to the restaurant.
6. Tell everyone to bring their digital cameras, cell phones and laptops.
7. Join our Conference Call at 5 pm CST tonight. You can get the call in # by joining this ning group: http://tcotprojects.ning.com . Search today's events for the call in #.
8. Issue a Press Release to the local media.
9. Tomorrow, at the restaurant, follow the events of the day on Twitter using the #teaparty hashtag. Send live tweets. Send pics of your event. Call in our audio lines.
10. Send a message to @TCOTTV on Twitter. Ask to get the YouTube announcement. Retweet that announcement.
1. Appoint yourself as the local "Plan B" Tea Party organizer.
2. Reserve a table or private room at your favorite local restaurant. Preferably one with a WIFI connection.
3. Create a Facebook Event announcing your "Plan B" Tea Party. Try and have the time as close to noon EST Friday February 27 as possible.
4. Send me the link to your event in a comment here. Also, go to www.nationwidechicagoteaparty and follow the link to the main Facebook event we have created. "Attend" that event as a Maybe. Then POST your link to the Facebook Wall of that event. We will move it up to the main page for you.
5. Invite half a dozen or a dozen of your friends to the restaurant.
6. Tell everyone to bring their digital cameras, cell phones and laptops.
7. Join our Conference Call at 5 pm CST tonight. You can get the call in # by joining this ning group: http://tcotprojects.ning.com . Search today's events for the call in #.
8. Issue a Press Release to the local media.
9. Tomorrow, at the restaurant, follow the events of the day on Twitter using the #teaparty hashtag. Send live tweets. Send pics of your event. Call in our audio lines.
10. Send a message to @TCOTTV on Twitter. Ask to get the YouTube announcement. Retweet that announcement.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
#TCOT and online Conservatives Launch Nationwide Chicago Tea Party Friday February 27 at noon
Online conservative activists have rallied to CNBC’s Rick Santelli’s call yesterday, backed by mortgage traders, for a “Nationwide Chicago Tea Party” to protest the Obama Administration’s bailout plan.
Moving quickly, Top Conservatives on Twitter , Smart Girl Politics, the #Dontgo movement, Americans for Tax Reform, the Heartland Institute, and American Spectator Magazine joined forces to announce a “Nationwide Chicago Tea Party”, to be held on Friday, February 27 at noon EST.
The tea party will be held simultaneously in Chicago, Washington, DC, at dozens of locations around the US, and on Twitter, using the #teaparty hashtag.
Santelli’s criticism of the Obma mortgage plan is that it rewards the irresponsible, while penalizing the responsible.
As co-founder of Top Conservatives on Twitter, I believe it is very important that all conservatives move quickly and in collaboration to hold this event. In today’s world, the life cycle of political events moves very rapidly. There’s momentum out there surrounding Santelli’s call to protest yet another ill-advised bail-out of yet another group that has made bad decisions. Anyone who wants to join this event is invited to visit www.officialchicagoteaparty.com.
Moving quickly, Top Conservatives on Twitter , Smart Girl Politics, the #Dontgo movement, Americans for Tax Reform, the Heartland Institute, and American Spectator Magazine joined forces to announce a “Nationwide Chicago Tea Party”, to be held on Friday, February 27 at noon EST.
The tea party will be held simultaneously in Chicago, Washington, DC, at dozens of locations around the US, and on Twitter, using the #teaparty hashtag.
Santelli’s criticism of the Obma mortgage plan is that it rewards the irresponsible, while penalizing the responsible.
As co-founder of Top Conservatives on Twitter, I believe it is very important that all conservatives move quickly and in collaboration to hold this event. In today’s world, the life cycle of political events moves very rapidly. There’s momentum out there surrounding Santelli’s call to protest yet another ill-advised bail-out of yet another group that has made bad decisions. Anyone who wants to join this event is invited to visit www.officialchicagoteaparty.com.
RedState and Bloggers Track Bart Gordon's European Vacation
RedState, the nationally recognized conservative online publication, started tracking Bart Gordon's taxpayer funded European vacation yesterday.
The blogosphere seems equally interested in the liberal Democrat Congressman from Tennessee's excellent adventure:
Truman's Take , Voluntarily Conservative , RightyBlogs , Wikio ,Navy Wings , Red County , Green Change , But as for me , Conservative Ramblings , John Scott and The Washington Post are all following Bart Gordon's misadventures around Europe now.
Who's not reporting about Bart Gordon's taxpayer funded European vacation?
Bart Gordon's Office
All local Tennessee media
Bart Gordon's office continues to stonewall questions posed about his whereabouts. Numberous bloggers and constituents have phoned to confirm that he's currently on this European junket, but staffers continue to "neither confirm nor deny."
Geesh ! Sounds like Fifth Ammendment time a bit, doesn't it ?
As for the local Tennessee media, it seems rather odd to me that such an intriguing story -- "Local Congressman takes taxpayer funded junket to Europe, office refuses to confirm or deny his participation" -- has received zero attention.
Any readers of this blog have any ideas what the locals might need to pay attention to such a story ?
The blogosphere seems equally interested in the liberal Democrat Congressman from Tennessee's excellent adventure:
Truman's Take , Voluntarily Conservative , RightyBlogs , Wikio ,Navy Wings , Red County , Green Change , But as for me , Conservative Ramblings , John Scott and The Washington Post are all following Bart Gordon's misadventures around Europe now.
Who's not reporting about Bart Gordon's taxpayer funded European vacation?
Bart Gordon's Office
All local Tennessee media
Bart Gordon's office continues to stonewall questions posed about his whereabouts. Numberous bloggers and constituents have phoned to confirm that he's currently on this European junket, but staffers continue to "neither confirm nor deny."
Geesh ! Sounds like Fifth Ammendment time a bit, doesn't it ?
As for the local Tennessee media, it seems rather odd to me that such an intriguing story -- "Local Congressman takes taxpayer funded junket to Europe, office refuses to confirm or deny his participation" -- has received zero attention.
Any readers of this blog have any ideas what the locals might need to pay attention to such a story ?
Thursday, February 19, 2009
The Curious Case of Bart Gordon
Bart Gordon, a liberal Democrat, has represented the Sixth Congressional District of Tennessee since 1985, when Al Gore moved up from representing this district in Congress to representing the entire state of Tennessee in the United States Senate.
In the subsequent 24 years, Gordon has distinguished himself primarily as the fastest man in Congress. And Gordon literally IS the fastest man in Congress, having won the Congressional three mile road race for a record 18 consecutive years. Each year his time has been under 6 minutes a mile, which is nothing to sneeze at, when you consider Gordon is now almost 60 years old.
Beyond that one accomplishment, and the fact that he routinely wins with no opposition in a largely Republican district, Gordon has accomplished very little other than support the traditional left wing liberal agenda in Congress.
Perhaps because his seat has been perceived as so safe, Mr. Gordon has been able to hone his running skills, and focus on other aspects of his life besides politics. Now comes Dave Evans, a resident of the Sixth Congressional District, and a Major General in the Army Reserve with a distinguished record of service, and a man who intends to secure the Republican nomination and give Gordon his first serious challenge in 2010 since Steve Gill almost knocked him off in 1994.
Call it hubris or overconfidence, Gordon has apparently given Evans a gift wrapped issue on which to run.
Though he serves on no Congressional Committee that has anything to do with Europe, Gordon has apparently joined his Tennessee Democrat pal John Tanner on a 9 day jaunt through Europe, from the 14th of this month to the 22nd. Arguably Tanner has reason to make this trip--He's President of the NATO Assembly of Parliamentarians, an organization that does appear to have some official function, however minimal. Gordon, however, is another matter.
Evans has jumped on this European junket issue, and so far, Gordon has failed to give an explanation as to why the taxpayers should be paying for his trip.
To be accurate, no one really has been able to confirm whether or not Gordon actually went on the trip. The Washington Post reported on February 12 that he was scheduled to attend, and a February 16 press release from the Tennessee State Republican Party criticized Gordon for being on the trip, but, curiously, Gordon's office refuses to confirm or deny whether he actually is in Europe now.
A series of volunteers have phoned Bart Gordon's Washington D.C. office asking for simple confirmation of Gordon's participation of the trip, and the hapless staffers responding to the questions have stonewalled their responses, saying they are not authorized to disclose where he is.
Such stonewalling, of course, plays right into Evans' game plan of criticizing Gordon for being aloof and out of touch. Plus, we might add, there is probably some sort of Congressional or Federal rule, law, or regulation which requires a Congressman's office to publicly disclose where he or she is when conducting official business at taxpayers' expense.
Gordon's website happily touts every speech or public appearance he makes in the district that promotes his own visibility. Oddly, no public statement has been forthcoming to date from his office even confirming whether he is or is not currently in Europe on "taxpayer funded business."
Evans is playing it smart by asking for a public statement from Gordon that addresses two issues:
1. Is he travelling to Europe now at taxpayers' expense ?
2. If he is in Europe, what possible justification does he have for wasting taxpayers' money to fly him over there and pay for his meals and lodging ?
You would think that, given the current economic "crisis" and the urgency with which the Democrats rushed through the monstrous $787 billion "stimulus" bill, that some local Tennessee newspapers, radio stations, or television stations might do a little investigative journalism and simply ask Bart Gordon if he actually is in Europe, and if he is, why is he in Europe ?
Perhaps it's ennui or just plain ol laziness, but to date, none of these intrepid muckrakers have risen to the occasion.
Given Newschannel 5's functioning of late as a virtual extension of the Barack Obama Communications Department, that's not much of a surprise. Perhaps some adventurous small local newspaper will hop on the story. More likely, it's a challenge that the inquisitive bloggers of Tennessee will take up.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
My brother, Tom Leahy, says Lincoln would not be happy with the bailout
My brother, Tom Leahy, teaches fourth grade in Kansas. A few weeks ago, he was invited to address the Kansas State Senate.
Here's the full article with his comments at that event.
I was particularly impressed with his comments about what he thought Lincoln might say about some current political issues.
The Topeka newspaper reported his comments as follows:
He also said the nation's 16th president probably wouldn't be enthusiastic about federal bailout legislation endorsed by Presidents George Bush and Barack Obama. Lincoln, who had 18 months of formal education, emerged from personal and professional disaster without handouts, he said.
"He bailed himself out many times," Leahy said. "He would not be happy."
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Happy 200th Birthday, Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Darwin, and Great-Great Grandpa Andrew Leahy
February 12, 1809.
Three men of great importance to me were born on this day.
Abraham Lincoln was born in a lean to cabin in rural Kentucky.
Charles Darwin was born on an estate in England.
And my great-great grandfather, Andrew Leahy, was born in modest circumstances somewhere in the south of Ireland. I used to think it was County Kerry, but now I think it may have been County Cork or Tipperary.
Well, almost.
The Lincoln and Darwin birthdates are confirmed.
The Andrew Leahy birth date is possible, but uncertain. He was born between February 22, 1808 and February 21, 1809. I like to think it was February 12, 1809.
Senator Patrick Leahy and I are both great-great grandsons of Andrew Leahy.
Given our divergent political philosophies, there's a clever comment to be made here, but it's late and I've used up my clever quips for the day.
Perhaps the regular readers of this blog could offer clever quips in the comments section.
Three men of great importance to me were born on this day.
Abraham Lincoln was born in a lean to cabin in rural Kentucky.
Charles Darwin was born on an estate in England.
And my great-great grandfather, Andrew Leahy, was born in modest circumstances somewhere in the south of Ireland. I used to think it was County Kerry, but now I think it may have been County Cork or Tipperary.
Well, almost.
The Lincoln and Darwin birthdates are confirmed.
The Andrew Leahy birth date is possible, but uncertain. He was born between February 22, 1808 and February 21, 1809. I like to think it was February 12, 1809.
Senator Patrick Leahy and I are both great-great grandsons of Andrew Leahy.
Given our divergent political philosophies, there's a clever comment to be made here, but it's late and I've used up my clever quips for the day.
Perhaps the regular readers of this blog could offer clever quips in the comments section.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
#TCOT Continues to Dominate Twitter Hashtags
A brief review of www.hashtags.org data for February month to date statistics of hashtag usage on Twitter shows that the conservative hashtag #TCOT (used by the Top Conservatives on Twitter community for online dialogues) continues to dominate the Twitter conversation.
For the 10 day period covering February 1 to February 10, the Top 3 hashtags (counting total number of 140 character Twitter updates or "tweets" using that hashtag) are as follows:
1. #TCOT with 16,500
2. #uksnow with 9,500
3. #Superbowl with 8,500
#TCOT is almost twice as often used in identifying a tweet as the second most used hashtag on all of Twitter!
Someone might want to let the folks at Twitter Headquarters in San Francisco in on this relevant piece of factual information.
Since about January 22, the #TCOT hashtag has been removed from the top ten "trending topics" lists that shows up on Twitter when you go to http://search.twitter.com
Some have argued that this list only shows percentage change in usage over a one hour or 24 hour period of time, and that explains the absence of #TCOT from the list.
Perhaps.
How then, can the failure to include #TCOT from the list on February 6, when #TCOT hashtag usage jumped to 2,402 from the previous day's 1,982? That's a daily increase of 420 !
An analysis of any given day's Twitter "trending list" shows that some hashtags on the list fail to reach 420 TOTAL during the entire day.
I wonder what's going on at Twitter Headquarters, and why #TCOT has been banned from the Twitter "trending list" ?
For the 10 day period covering February 1 to February 10, the Top 3 hashtags (counting total number of 140 character Twitter updates or "tweets" using that hashtag) are as follows:
1. #TCOT with 16,500
2. #uksnow with 9,500
3. #Superbowl with 8,500
#TCOT is almost twice as often used in identifying a tweet as the second most used hashtag on all of Twitter!
Someone might want to let the folks at Twitter Headquarters in San Francisco in on this relevant piece of factual information.
Since about January 22, the #TCOT hashtag has been removed from the top ten "trending topics" lists that shows up on Twitter when you go to http://search.twitter.com
Some have argued that this list only shows percentage change in usage over a one hour or 24 hour period of time, and that explains the absence of #TCOT from the list.
Perhaps.
How then, can the failure to include #TCOT from the list on February 6, when #TCOT hashtag usage jumped to 2,402 from the previous day's 1,982? That's a daily increase of 420 !
An analysis of any given day's Twitter "trending list" shows that some hashtags on the list fail to reach 420 TOTAL during the entire day.
I wonder what's going on at Twitter Headquarters, and why #TCOT has been banned from the Twitter "trending list" ?
Monday, February 09, 2009
"As Maine Goes, So Goes PORKULUS"
Since the 1840's Maine has been considered a bellweather state.
Until the mid-twentieth century, the state of Maine held elections for state-wide offices in September. Often, these results were considered an indication of where the country would go in the November elections.
After Maine went for Republican Benjamin Harrison in 1888, giving him an electoral college victory over Grover Cleveland despite losing the popular vote, an unknown journalist coined the famous phrase.
"As Maine goes, so goes the nation."
Forty eight years later, in 1936, only Maine and Vermont voted for Republican Alf Landon in the FDR landslide. This prompted FDR Campaign Manager James Farley to revis the old saying. His version went as follows:
"As Maine goes, so goes Vermont."
Fast forward now to 2009. 38 Republican Senators plan to vote no on PORKULUS. 3 -- Specter of PA, & Snowe and Collins of Maine -- have publicly stated they will vote yes on PORKULUS.
As only 40 votes are needed for the Republicans to maintain a filibuster and keep PORKULUS from coming to a final vote in the Senate, the math is clear. If Snowe and Collins of Maine join their Republican colleagues, PORKULUS can be successfully stopped with a filibuster.
The vote is currently planned for Tuesday.
This prompts me to revise the old saying about Maine as follows:
"As Maine goes, so goes PORKULUS."
If you would like to encourage Senators Collins and Snowe to do the right thing and VOTE NO on PORKULUS, please do the following 2 things today.
1. Take the #TCOT Challenge now. The #TCOT Challenge is simple. Will the personal economies of residents of Maine be better off if all income taxes in 2009 are cut in half, or if the wasteful PORKULUS bill passes?
2. Call Senators Collins and Snowe and report the results of the #TCOT Challenge. Cutting taxes will create jobs in Maine now. Porkulus will do very little now, and increase interest and debt payments dramatically in future years.
Until the mid-twentieth century, the state of Maine held elections for state-wide offices in September. Often, these results were considered an indication of where the country would go in the November elections.
After Maine went for Republican Benjamin Harrison in 1888, giving him an electoral college victory over Grover Cleveland despite losing the popular vote, an unknown journalist coined the famous phrase.
"As Maine goes, so goes the nation."
Forty eight years later, in 1936, only Maine and Vermont voted for Republican Alf Landon in the FDR landslide. This prompted FDR Campaign Manager James Farley to revis the old saying. His version went as follows:
"As Maine goes, so goes Vermont."
Fast forward now to 2009. 38 Republican Senators plan to vote no on PORKULUS. 3 -- Specter of PA, & Snowe and Collins of Maine -- have publicly stated they will vote yes on PORKULUS.
As only 40 votes are needed for the Republicans to maintain a filibuster and keep PORKULUS from coming to a final vote in the Senate, the math is clear. If Snowe and Collins of Maine join their Republican colleagues, PORKULUS can be successfully stopped with a filibuster.
The vote is currently planned for Tuesday.
This prompts me to revise the old saying about Maine as follows:
"As Maine goes, so goes PORKULUS."
If you would like to encourage Senators Collins and Snowe to do the right thing and VOTE NO on PORKULUS, please do the following 2 things today.
1. Take the #TCOT Challenge now. The #TCOT Challenge is simple. Will the personal economies of residents of Maine be better off if all income taxes in 2009 are cut in half, or if the wasteful PORKULUS bill passes?
2. Call Senators Collins and Snowe and report the results of the #TCOT Challenge. Cutting taxes will create jobs in Maine now. Porkulus will do very little now, and increase interest and debt payments dramatically in future years.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
How a South Dakota Family Would Spend the Taxes Saved Under the #TCOT Plan
1) Our family would use the extra money from the reduced with holdings to help pay for our oldest child's college tuition and to do some projects around our house including installing a fireplace in our living room and finishing the kitchenette / bar in our rec. room
There is no doubt this plan would improve the economy beyond measure. People, including my husband and I, are holding onto our money because of the level of uncertainty being created in this current atmosphere. Because it appears the Democratically controlled Congress & White House plan to push through all kinds of programs and regulations that will hurt the economy and not help it AND we're printing and borrowing money like there is literally no tomorrow, we're afraid our dollar will be so devalued we will have to make some serious cuts. We're concerned about a looming threat to our totally reliable health insurance if there is a push for Universal Healthcare, and finally we are expecting a serious cut in our income because there is no pledge to make those tax cuts from 2003 permanent. We will jump to 28%.
More than anything, the uncertainty is freezing this economy.
2. In order to pay for the proposed plan and deal with our already crushing debt, we need to cut spending ACROSS THE BOARD!
The Federal government is far too large, intrusive, and bloated. That is a relevant question, despite what we've been told.
In addition to the TCOT plan proposed I must add that tax cuts and spending cuts across the board are not enough.
If government regulation of the private sector is not examined in a serious way and reformed, underlying problems that stifle growth will continue to plague us.
In some areas, there is far too much regulation - i.e. energy exploration and extraction and one of the primary causes of the current "crisis", mortgage lending.
In other areas, there is not the right kind of regulation - SEC.
There is no doubt this plan would improve the economy beyond measure. People, including my husband and I, are holding onto our money because of the level of uncertainty being created in this current atmosphere. Because it appears the Democratically controlled Congress & White House plan to push through all kinds of programs and regulations that will hurt the economy and not help it AND we're printing and borrowing money like there is literally no tomorrow, we're afraid our dollar will be so devalued we will have to make some serious cuts. We're concerned about a looming threat to our totally reliable health insurance if there is a push for Universal Healthcare, and finally we are expecting a serious cut in our income because there is no pledge to make those tax cuts from 2003 permanent. We will jump to 28%.
More than anything, the uncertainty is freezing this economy.
2. In order to pay for the proposed plan and deal with our already crushing debt, we need to cut spending ACROSS THE BOARD!
The Federal government is far too large, intrusive, and bloated. That is a relevant question, despite what we've been told.
In addition to the TCOT plan proposed I must add that tax cuts and spending cuts across the board are not enough.
If government regulation of the private sector is not examined in a serious way and reformed, underlying problems that stifle growth will continue to plague us.
In some areas, there is far too much regulation - i.e. energy exploration and extraction and one of the primary causes of the current "crisis", mortgage lending.
In other areas, there is not the right kind of regulation - SEC.
Friday, February 06, 2009
How one member of #TCOT would use the tax savings in the #TCOT Plan to boost the economy personally !
1. How would you use the extra cash you received under this plan during 2009, and would it, in your opinion, improve the economy more than PORKULUS ?
1) Eliminate small amount of non-mortgage debt, then would probably buy new Ford Flex; invest in low risk short term funds for son’s college in 5 years from now; additional savings and investment via dollar cost averaging; possibly take second traditional mortgage for 2nd home/future retirement home.
2) My small business (professional services corporation) would like hire a new associate (physician) . Our medical center would likely lift hiring freeze, raise health care worker salaries, accelerate $100M/5 yr capital plan.
3) The owner of our for-profit hospital system would likely lift hiring freezes, increase pay, improve facilities in the system that now employs 90,000 people.
2. What would be the best way to deal with the increased federal deficit envisioned under this plan ?
a. Cut spending across the board
A #TCOT member from Spokane, Washington
1) Eliminate small amount of non-mortgage debt, then would probably buy new Ford Flex; invest in low risk short term funds for son’s college in 5 years from now; additional savings and investment via dollar cost averaging; possibly take second traditional mortgage for 2nd home/future retirement home.
2) My small business (professional services corporation) would like hire a new associate (physician) . Our medical center would likely lift hiring freeze, raise health care worker salaries, accelerate $100M/5 yr capital plan.
3) The owner of our for-profit hospital system would likely lift hiring freezes, increase pay, improve facilities in the system that now employs 90,000 people.
2. What would be the best way to deal with the increased federal deficit envisioned under this plan ?
a. Cut spending across the board
A #TCOT member from Spokane, Washington
The #TCOT Plan : Cut All Personal and Corporate Income Taxes in Half Immediately for 12 months of 2009
Both the Congressional Budget Office and the Heritage Foundation have recently documented how ineffective President Obama's proposed $900 billion and growing "Porkulus" political spoils spending bill will be at improving the economy. In a column today, Charles Krauthammer provided the "coup de grace" by decimating the fear promoting "urgency for pork now" arguments of the President.
As co-founder of Top Conservatives on Twitter, I am today proposing "The #TCOT Plan" as a far superior plan that will immediately revive the economy. I am laying out the key component of the plan here, and am asking members of #TCOT to provide their input on additional components of the plan in comments here on this blog and at The TCOT Report.
The plan is simple:
1. Immediately cut all personal and corporate income taxes in half for all 12 months of 2009.
This plan could be implemented immediately as follows:
1. All employers would be instructed to immediately cut the amount of Federal Income Tax withholdings in half, beginning in next pay cycle beginning March 1.
2. Corporations that pay income taxes quarterly would pay half their corporate taxes in their next quarterly filing, for the period ending March 31.
Lost revenue over the 2009 Calendar year would be approximately $800 billion (A full $900 billion less than the current version of PORKULUS floating through the Senate). This is based on 2007 Federal personal income tax receipts of approximately 1.2 trillion, and Corporate income tax receipts of approximately $345 billion.
The estimated $1.6 trillion of personal and corporate income tax receipts for 2009 under this plan would, on initial review, be cut to $800 billion. However, given the economic stimulative effect that tax reductions would have on the economy (as the famous Laffer Curve demonstrated), actual receipts under this plan would probably exceed $800 billion, though by how much we'll leave for Dr. Laffer and his colleagues to calculate.
Assuming about $3 trillion in actual Federal spending for 2009, set against about $2.7 trillion in projected receipts, we could anticipate the federal deficit under this plan would increase from about $300 billion to something less than $1.1 trillion.
The questions for #TCOT members to comment on are as follows:
1. How would you use the extra cash you received under this plan during 2009, and would it, in your opinion, improve the economy more than PORKULUS ?
2. What would be the best way to deal with the increased federal deficit envisioned under this plan ?
a. Cut spending across the board
b. Borrow the difference, just as President Obama would have us do with PORKULUS
c. Cut spending some, and borrow some
Please comment here directly. All comments will be posted in the comment section at The TCOT Report
I would also ask that you send a link with this plan to every Economist, Radio Talk Show Host, and member of Congress you know, and ask them the same, simple question:
Which plan will help the economy more ?
1. Porkulus
or
2. The #TCOT Plan
As co-founder of Top Conservatives on Twitter, I am today proposing "The #TCOT Plan" as a far superior plan that will immediately revive the economy. I am laying out the key component of the plan here, and am asking members of #TCOT to provide their input on additional components of the plan in comments here on this blog and at The TCOT Report.
The plan is simple:
1. Immediately cut all personal and corporate income taxes in half for all 12 months of 2009.
This plan could be implemented immediately as follows:
1. All employers would be instructed to immediately cut the amount of Federal Income Tax withholdings in half, beginning in next pay cycle beginning March 1.
2. Corporations that pay income taxes quarterly would pay half their corporate taxes in their next quarterly filing, for the period ending March 31.
Lost revenue over the 2009 Calendar year would be approximately $800 billion (A full $900 billion less than the current version of PORKULUS floating through the Senate). This is based on 2007 Federal personal income tax receipts of approximately 1.2 trillion, and Corporate income tax receipts of approximately $345 billion.
The estimated $1.6 trillion of personal and corporate income tax receipts for 2009 under this plan would, on initial review, be cut to $800 billion. However, given the economic stimulative effect that tax reductions would have on the economy (as the famous Laffer Curve demonstrated), actual receipts under this plan would probably exceed $800 billion, though by how much we'll leave for Dr. Laffer and his colleagues to calculate.
Assuming about $3 trillion in actual Federal spending for 2009, set against about $2.7 trillion in projected receipts, we could anticipate the federal deficit under this plan would increase from about $300 billion to something less than $1.1 trillion.
The questions for #TCOT members to comment on are as follows:
1. How would you use the extra cash you received under this plan during 2009, and would it, in your opinion, improve the economy more than PORKULUS ?
2. What would be the best way to deal with the increased federal deficit envisioned under this plan ?
a. Cut spending across the board
b. Borrow the difference, just as President Obama would have us do with PORKULUS
c. Cut spending some, and borrow some
Please comment here directly. All comments will be posted in the comment section at The TCOT Report
I would also ask that you send a link with this plan to every Economist, Radio Talk Show Host, and member of Congress you know, and ask them the same, simple question:
Which plan will help the economy more ?
1. Porkulus
or
2. The #TCOT Plan
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