Redfaced Greenpeace insists 'we didn't make it up' - we just 'emotionalised the issue'

I'm going to have to try that on on the wife.

Here is a deliciously watchable video of Gerd Leipold, the leader of Greenpeace, squirming like a stuck pig under cross-examination by the BBC’s Stephen Sackur when accused of putting out scaremongering misinformation. (Hat Tips: Not Evil Just Wrong and Watts Up With That)

In a July 15 press release entitled “Urgent Action Needed As Arctic Ice Melts”, Greenpeace shrieked that there will be an ice-free arctic by 2030 thanks to global warming. Interviewing Leipold on the BBC’s Hardtalk programme, Sackur pooh-poohs this risible claim by pointing out that the Greenland ice sheet is a mass of 1.6 million square kilometres with a depth in the middle of 3 kilometres; and that it had survived much warmer periods than the present. He accuses Leipold of “misleading information” and using “exaggeration and alarmism”.

After initially trying to brazen it out, Leipold is forced to surrender when Sackur tells him he’s just come back from the Greenland ice shelf so he knows whereof he speaks.

ACORN Bigshot Pleads Guilty In Nevada Case

Expect this guy to sing like a canary, that is if he lives that long.

This past May charges of voter fraud were brought up against the Nevada arm of the President's favorite community organizers, ACORN.

The state alleged that ACORN had policies requiring employees in Vegas to sign up 20 new voters a day or be fired. And, if you turn in 21 or more new registrations, you get a blackjack and a bonus of $5 per shift (hey it is Vegas).

It's against the law in Nevada to pay individual registrants to register people based on the total number of people that you've registered. That's a felony in Nevada.

Nevada officials just announced that Christopher Edwards, the head of the Nevada operations, has pleaded guilty and will testify against other ACORN programs

Preview of Coming Attractions

In case you weren't aware, rationing is a b!tch.

VANCOUVER — Vancouver patients needing neurosurgery, treatment for vascular diseases and other medically necessary procedures can expect to wait longer for care, NDP health critic Adrian Dix said Monday.

Dix said a Vancouver Coastal Health Authority document shows it is considering chopping more than 6,000 surgeries in an effort to make up for a dramatic budgetary shortfall that could reach $200 million.

“This hasn’t been announced by the health authority … but these cuts are coming,” Dix said, citing figures gleaned from a leaked executive summary of “proposed VCH surgical reductions.”

The health authority confirmed the document is genuine, but said it represents ideas only.

“It is a planning document. It has not been approved or implemented,” said spokeswoman Anna Marie D’Angelo.

Dr. Brian Brodie, president of the BC Medical Association, called the proposed surgical cuts “a nightmare.”

Mind you, this isn't the minor stuff, this is life or death in some cases.

Republicans Now up by 5 in Generic Poll

Implosion is a truly wonderful thing to witness...

Republican candidates have now matched their biggest lead over Democrats of the past several years on the Generic Congressional Ballot.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 43% would vote for their district’s Republican congressional candidate while 38% would opt for his or her Democratic opponent.

The level of support for Democratic candidates is unchanged this week, but backing for GOP candidates rose one point from a week ago. This is now the eighth straight week Republicans have led on the Generic Ballot.

BTW this is why we quote exclusively Rasmussen polls: HERE:

Rep. Massa on Healthcare: “I will vote adamantly against the interests of my district…”

The words of a local congressman on the issue of healthcare are coming under scrutiny.

Democrat Eric Massa D (clarification added) told a group in Pennsylvania that he would vote against the interests of his constituents on healthcare reform if he believes what he's voting for would be helpful to them.

Massa has held dozens of town hall meetings, many focused on healthcare, but while in Pittsburgh this past weekend meeting with the grassroots progressive political action group Net Roots Nation, Massa answered questions about where he stands on healthcare reform versus where his constituents stand.

"I will vote adamantly against the interests of my district if I actually think what I'm doing is going to help them....I will vote against their opinion if I actually believe it will help them," Massa said.

We are a representative rebublic and Mr Massa is fully within his power to vote however he pleases. That peragotive, however, does carry with it some potentially serious consequences come election time. Hope Mr Massa is prepared to find a nice job in the private sector come that time.

Sex Gum baby!

No, this is not from MSNBC, but it could be. Psychotic paranoia from Hamas is not new.

How this reporterette can report this and keep keep a straight face is what's particulary ludicrous.

Video HERE.

Conservatives Now Outnumber Liberals in All 50 States

It usually takes at least a few years of liberal governance to cause the majority of Americans to realize how bad they really are. It appears that the time it takes is decreasing...

(CNSNews.com) - Self-identified conservatives outnumber self-identified liberals in all 50 states of the union, according to the Gallup Poll.

At the same time, more Americans nationwide are saying this year that they are conservative than have made that claim in any of the last four years.

In 2009, 40% percent of respondents in Gallup surveys that have interviewed more than 160,000 Americans have said that they are either “conservative” (31%) or “very conservative” (9%). That is the highest percentage in any year since 2004.

Only 21% have told Gallup they are liberal, including 16% who say they are “liberal” and 5% who say they are “very liberal.”

Boxer could face re-election fight of her career against Fiorina

Longshot for sure but any remote chance to take out boxer is encouraging.

Democrat Barbara Boxer's quest for a fourth term in the U.S. Senate may give Californians a chance to pass judgment on Washington in the Obama era: Do voters approve of the early performance of the Democratic president and Congress? Or is it time to restore more power to Republicans, in this case to a controversial former Silicon Valley CEO making her first run for elective office?

What looks increasingly likely is that Boxer will be in for the re-election fight of her career. While she has yet to announce her candidacy, all signs point to a run by Republican Carly Fiorina, the charismatic ex-chief of Hewlett-Packard who was ousted from her job in 2005 and last year served as a top surrogate for John McCain's presidential bid.

Fiorina would bring a combination of traits to the race never faced before by Boxer: She is a woman with the wherewithal to pump millions of her own dollars into her candidacy and probably raise millions more from others. And historically, the election after a president first takes office has not been kind to the party in charge at the White House. Exhibit A is 1994, when Democrats lost control of Congress halfway into President Bill Clinton's first term.

White House appears ready to drop 'public option'

Looks as though the "public option" is collapsing under it's own weight.

WASHINGTON – Bowing to Republican pressure, President Barack Obama's administration signaled on Sunday it is ready to abandon the idea of giving Americans the option of government-run insurance as part of a new U.S. health care system.

Facing mounting opposition to the overhaul, administration officials left open the chance for a compromise with Republicans that would include health insurance cooperatives instead of a government-run plan. Such a concession would likely enrage his liberal supporters but could deliver Obama a much-needed win on a top domestic priority opposed by GOP lawmakers.

Officials from both political parties reached across the aisle in an effort to find compromises on proposals they left behind when they returned to their districts for an August recess. Obama had sought the government to run a health insurance organization to help cover the nation's almost 50 million uninsured, but he never made it a deal breaker in a broad set of ideas that has Republicans unified in opposition.

Well, that's a real nasty one out, now for the rest of them.

Is Obama's 'let's talk' diplomacy failing?

The answer is yes and very few on the right are surprised.

President Obama may be willing to talk to America's adversaries abroad, but six months into his tenure hardly anyone is returning his call – a situation that is prompting restiveness in Congress and a round of "we told you so's" by diplomatic hawks.

In one sign of impatience with Mr. Obama's approach, the US Senate in late July unanimously urged the president to seek "crippling economic sanctions" on Iran if it does not move soon to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

Whether the issue is key security threats, as with Iran and North Korea, or lower-profile matters, as with Cuba or Burma (Myanmar), Obama's critics and even some backers of the "talk to the enemy" approach are starting to speak of the policy's limits.

We're more liked but have nothing to show for it.

Pic of the Day

Explanation HERE.

Obama's environmental czar started group targeting Beck

Thugocracy on parade...

President Obama's "green jobs czar" is co-founder of a black activist organization that has led a campaign prompting major advertisers to withdraw from Glenn Beck's top-rated Fox News Channel program.

In recent weeks, Beck has done several critical segments about Van Jones, who was appointed as the special adviser for green jobs, enterprise and innovation at the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

Beck's segments were based in part on WND's reporting that Jones was as an admitted radical communist and black nationalist leader.

Now Colors of Change, an activist organization seeking to "strengthen Black America's political voice" has led a furious campaign against Beck culminating in major companies such as Geico and Lawyers.com pulling their spots from the Fox News star's daily show. The group also says it has garnered about 75,000 signatories for an online petition against Beck to be sent to advertisers.

Montana Prevents Obama From Rigging Town Hall Audience

It appears he isn't going to be able to hide behind the DNC plants and Whitehouse shills this time.

There is no guarantee that President Barack Obama will be able to avoid critics of his healthcare proposal when he hosts a town hall meeting in Belgrade, Mont., on Friday.

Local officials in Belgrade and neighboring Bozeman personally oversaw the handing out of passes Thursday in much the same fashion that a venue would dole out tickets to a rock concert. Hundreds of people seeking to attend the president's event began lining up Wednesday afternoon, and camped out overnight in the parking lots of the two local municipal buildings.

Karen Semerau, the Bozeman official who helped oversee the distribution, said some people brought their dogs, others put up tents, and but for a brief rain shower, those in line appeared to be upbeat about the chance to hear from, and question, the president about his plan.

"I couldn't tell by looking at people if they were for the president's plan or against it," Semerau said. "But I can say that the group was totally mixed – college kids, older folks, all walks of life."

But I could be wrong. Turns out it's Gallatin county. Look at the demographics, ir's harldy representaive of Montana. I should have realized that thete is no way Obama's protectors are going to put him in the line of actual fire.

Pic of the Day

Ain't it the truth.

Who's Perpetrating the Fraud?

I may not be an actual doctor but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night...

Obama Dips to a 47% Approval Rating

New low water mark for "The One"

Overall, 47% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance. That’s the lowest level of total approval yet recorded. The President’s ratings first fell below 50% just a few weeks ago on July 25. Fifty-two percent (52%) now disapprove.

BTW Arlen Specter is toast.

Retail Sales Post Surprise Drop, While Jobless Claims Rise

Talking down the economy? Nope, just the facts ma'am.

Sales at U.S. retailers unexpectedly fell in July from June, a government report showed on Thursday, casting a shadow over an anticipated rebound in consumer spending in the third quarter.

First-time jobless claims also rose unexpectedly to 558,000.

The Commerce Department said total retail sales edged down 0.1 percent from increasing a revised 0.8 percent in June.

Sales in June were initially reported to have risen 0.6 percent

Pic of the Day

Funny how the same people bemoaning the "hateful rhetoric" they say is being displayed at the health care townhalls were strangely silent four years ago.

Health Care Debate as it Stands Today

The bottom line is this, a plurality of voters oppose the Obamacare health proposals as they know them. Using Rasmussen as guidance polling indicates that between 52% and 54% oppose and between 40% and 42% approve. The longer the debate goes on the worse Obamacare fares.

It is clear that by at least a 10% margin (probably more) of this country wants government to keep their hands of of our healthcare. In a nutshell, that is where it stands and if we were a Democracy the entire matter would be decided and dead.

We are not, we are a representative republic whereby we have elected officials to make the decision for us rather than voting on it en-masse. The question, the only real question is now, who are our "representatives" more fearful of, us or Obama/Reid/Pelosi. That is essentially all it really comes down to.

In the past elected officials have generally been more scared of their constituency than their leadership and for good reason. Is that the case now? Your guess is as good as mine.

Quote of the Day

From the Town Hall meeting hosted by Sen. Specter a women in the audience states: “I’m tired of being lied to and lied about. This administration is doing both.”

Amen.

Obama legal tab up to $1.4 mil

Eligible or not, there is most definately something in his records that is worth spending that kind of money to keep under wraps.

President Obama may be using his political action committee funds to stomp out eligibility lawsuits brought by Americans, as he has paid more than $1.35 million to his top lawyer since the election.

Obama for America, Obama's 2008 political campaign, merged with the Democratic National Committee in January and is now known as Organizing for America. The grassroots army that some refer to as "Obama 2.0" is still collecting financial contributions.

Federal Election Commission records for "Obama for America" show that the lobby organization has paid international law firm Perkins Coie exactly $1,352,378.95 since the 2008 election.

It's NOT Bill it's HILL!

All is not well in Camelot, or is it Xanadu, I can't keep track.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's temper flared on Monday when a Congolese university student asked her for her husband's thinking on an international financial matter.

A week after former President Bill Clinton traveled to North Korea to secure the release of two detained American journalists and stole the limelight from the start of his wife's first trip to Africa, Clinton was clearly displeased by the question at town hall forum in Kinshasa.

You want me to tell you what my husband thinks?" she replied incredulously when the male student asked her what "Mr. Clinton" thought of World Bank concerns about a multi-billion-dollar Chinese loan offer to the Congo.

"My husband is not secretary of state, I am," an obviously annoyed Clinton said sharply. "If you want my opinion, I will tell you my opinion. I am not going to be channeling my husband

Video HERE

Deficit grew by $181 billion in July

One thing working in Obama's favor, the deficit numbers have grown to the point of being totally incomprehensible to the average American.

Bailouts for financial firms and billions in tax revenue lost because of the recession drove the deficit to a record $1.3 trillion in July, according to the independent Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

Tax receipts that have fallen due to the poor economy and increased spending to save car companies, banks and mortgage firms were major contributors to the federal deficit, according to CBO, which provides official budget numbers for Congress. The federal deficit grew by another $181 billion in July.

Spending through July of 2009 has increased by $530 billion, which is 21 percent over the same period in 2008. The bailout money for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae accounted for almost half of the spending increase. Unemployment benefits have more than doubled, Medicaid spending has grown by a quarter and Medicare spending has increased by 11 percent.

Now This IS Astroturfing

Rep Kathy Castor(D) Fla illustates the art of astroturfing. A hidden camera documents the scam.

Poll: Obama less popular than Palin in Virginia

Ouch...

President Barack Obama is throwing his weight around Virginia, but it may not be helping. Obama campaigned for Democrat gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds last week in McLean.

When asked if Obama's campaigning for Deeds for governor would help or hurt, only 14 percent of likely voters said it would make them more likely to vote for Deeds. Thirty-seven percent said it would make them less likely, a negative swing of 23 percent. Forty-nine percent were unsure.

Other the other hand, when asked if former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin campaigning for Republican Bob McDonnell would help or hurt, 26 percent said it would make them more likely to vote for McDonnell and 35 percent said it would make them less likely. This is a negative swing of 9 percent, which is considerably less than Obama's. Thirty-nine percent were unsure.

Holder Will Investigate CIA mistreatment of terrorists

This certainly won't improve the administrations relationship with the CIA.

U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. is poised to appoint a criminal prosecutor to investigate alleged CIA abuses committed during the interrogation of terrorism suspects, current and former U.S. government officials said.

A senior Justice Department official said that Holder envisioned an inquiry that would be narrow in scope, focusing on "whether people went beyond the techniques that were authorized" in Bush administration memos that liberally interpreted anti-torture laws.

Classic misdirection, refocus attention back at the previous administration to take the heat off on the economy and his inept handling of the health care debate.

Congresswoman Kirkpatrick walks out on her own town hall

This thing is backfiring on the Dems so badly it's almost hard to believe. Spineless jellyfish all save a very few.

Earlier today we covered the story of Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick canceling her town hall. We have since found video of the event and the truth of what happened does not quite match the story that Rep. Kirkpatrick gave to Politico. Kirkpatrick was certainly facing questions but the group is well behaved. When she gets up to leave the people stand aside and let her go.

Clearly Kirkatrick chose a very crowded venue and only has herself to blame for the confined space. At the end of the video we see another Democrat hopping in an SUV, which for some reason has California plates.

Video HERE.

Best comment: Why it was nearly a riot!! Those silver haired gangstas and their beotches were out of control. They were spotted beforehand plotting with lobbyists from the insurance cartel at a Cracker Barrel getting all hopped up on free chipped beef and blueberry pancakes. RoadKingSE at FR.

Quote of the Week

Don Jeror the "angry Democrat" who nailed Steny Hoyer at a "TownHall" on Healthcare: You don't tear down your house to remodel your living room.

Amen Mr. Jeror.

Cloud-making ships to tackle climate change

No, this is not satire...

The idea of using ‘geo-engineering’ projects to tackle climate change is not new, but amongst the various proposals to either reduce sunlight levels or take CO2 out of the air by man-made means, one in particular is gaining increasing support from the scientific community.

A study by the think-tank, the Copenhagen Consensus Centre has suggested that the idea of autonomous cloud-making ships could be a cost-effective way of cancelling out the effect of man-made CO2 emissions. Dr Stephen Salter of Edinburgh University promoted the idea last year and the Royal Society is expected to voice its support next month.

The idea would cost £5.3bn and could be in operation within twenty-five years

What is a cloud-making ship?

Unmanned sailing ships would patrol the oceans, spraying tiny droplets of seawater into existing clouds in order to enlarge and thereby whiten them – bouncing more radiation back into space and cooling the atmosphere in the process.

Six people, including P-D reporter, arrested at Carnahan meeting

I think we all know who the thugs and bullies are in this debate.

St. Louis County police say six people were arrested. Two of those were arrested on suspicion of assault, one of resisting arrest and three on suspicion of committing peace disturbances. Carnahan was gone when the ruckus started.
Kenneth Gladney, a 38-year-old conservative activist from St. Louis, said he was attacked by some of those arrested as he handed out yellow flags with “Don't tread on me” printed on them. He spoke to the Post-Dispatch from the emergency room of the St. John's Mercy Medical Center, where he said he was waiting to be treated for injuries to his knee, back, elbow, shoulder and face that he suffered in the attack. Gladney, who is black, said one of his attackers, also a black man, used a racial slur against him before the attack started.

Video HERE.

“It just seems there's no freedom of speech without being attacked,” he said.

Pic of the Day

Break from the polarizing political discourse of the day. Our most "transparent" President has done anything BUT bring us together, but that's for another posting. Here's a photo that that highlights the finiteness of our existance on this earth and hopefully makes us ponder the preciousness of our life and our membership in the brotherhood of humanity.

Wages and Salaries Fell 4.7%, Most On Record

If Obama is counting on consumers spending anytime soon, he better think again.

Wages and salaries, which drive recoveries in spending, fell 4.7 percent in the 12 months through June, the biggest drop since records began in 1960, according to Commerce Department figures released yesterday. The Obama administration’s tax cuts(say what?), extended jobless benefits and a one-time Social Security bonus have helped mask the damage done by the worst employment slump since the Great Depression.

Personal incomes, which include interest income, dividends, rents and other payments as well as wages, tumbled 1.3 percent in June, more than forecast and the biggest drop in four years, yesterday’s Commerce report showed. Excluding the effects of the stimulus plan, June incomes would have dropped 0.1 percent after no change in May, according to the report. In May, one-time additional payments to Social Security recipients boosted incomes 1.3 percent.

Democrat Congressman Using Human Shields

Now this is despicable...

Congressman Vic Snyder (D, Ark.) has in the past claimed that he is braver than his opponents because he has the back bone to face the hard questions in open debate. But that was before Obamacare came along. Now, Snyder is hiding behind sick kids at a local hospital where he is holding a townhall meeting. Snyder is telling opponents of Obamacare that an "angry protest" would not be appropriate at a hospital where sick kids are being treated. So why hold a townhall there in the first place? Perhaps for the very reason that he can eliminate opposing views because it's "for the kids"?

Kenneth Wallis is reporting that Congressman Snyder has set up a townhall meeting at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas. The radio commercials advertising the open-to-the-public event stated that the event was starting at 2PM, but Wallis called the hospital and was told the time was changed to 1PM. No reason for the abrupt time change was given.

Wallis was also told by a Bonnie from Ark. Children's Hospital that a "protest in anger" is not appropriate at a children's hospital where sick kids are undergoing treatment.

July Jobless Figures Continue Downhill Spiral

"Stimulus working as planned"

U.S. private employers shed 371,000 jobs in July, compared with a revised 463,000 drop in June, a report by a private employment service said on Wednesday.

The median of estimates from 26 economists polled by Reuters for the ADP Employer Services report, jointly developed with Macroeconomic Advisers LLC, was for 345,000 private-sector jobs lost in July.

The ADP figure is a proxy for some analysts for the government's non-farm payroll reading.

Selective Indignation

Dangerous and mean spitited vs inciteful topical commentary.

Grassroots Uprising

With Congress home actually getting honest feedback from their PO'd constituents on healthcare, expect them to come back to Washington a bit sobered. Here's a glaring example of what many of them will face on the subject.

More HERE.If you're a Democrat you ain't gonna like it.

Pentagon plans speeding up 'bunker buster' bomb

When it comes to bunker busting this 30,000# mean dog makes the MOAB look like an M-80...

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Defense Department on Monday said it wants to speed up production plans for an enormous "bunker buster" bomb amid concern over underground nuclear sites in Iran and North Korea.

The Pentagon has asked Congress for extra money to ensure the massive ordnance penetrator (MOP) would be ready by July 2010, spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters.

"The department has asked for reprogramming of about 68 million dollars to start production for some of these in 2009," Whitman said.

Obama's Birth Certificate?

This the the purported actual Kenyan BC of Barak Obama. I have no clue whether it's legit, heaven help us if it is.

Not being what is technically referred to as a "birther"; I have always wondered why BO didn't simply produce his long form certificate and be done with it. Instead he has spent close to a million dollars to keep his records under wraps...curious.

Photo of the Day

Draw your own conclusions.

Report: Iran plane was carrying arms for Hezbollah

"Reaching out" continues to work well for Obama....

Italian newspaper says plane crash north of Tehran which left 168 people dead was caused by explosion of fuses slated to be delivered to Lebanese organization. According to report, members of Revolutionary Guards among casualties

According to the sources, the aircraft was carrying a large number of modern fuses composed of 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of explosives and electrical instrumentation.

The report is in line with testimonies on explosion sounds heard before the crash. According to the sources, the plane was meant to transfer the fuses from Iran to Armenia, and from there to Syria through Turkey, and then on the ground to Lebanon. This route was chosen, according to exiled opposition sources, so as not to draw attention

Weekly Factoid

Top 1% pays more taxes than bottom 95%

New data Released by the IRS has just shown that the top 1% income earners pays more in tax than the bottom 95% combined.

An analysis of IRS data by the Tax Foundation shows that the top 1 percent of taxpayers paid 40.4 percent of the total income taxes collected by the federal government, the highest percentage in modern history. While the bottom 95 percent paid 39.4 percent of the income tax burden.

The tax foundation rightly notes that putting this in perspective, the top 1 percent is comprised of just 1.4 million taxpayers and they pay a larger share of the income tax burden now than the bottom 134 million taxpayers combined.

DAYUM.

Graphic of the Day

NBC/WSJ Poll Not Good for Dems

And the hits just keep coming...

During the Bush administration, Democrats made huge gains in some important Republican areas. For example, on the question of which party would do a better job in handling the federal budget deficit, Democrats held a 19-point advantage in a November 2005 Journal poll, a 25-point advantage in July 2007, and a 22-point advantage in January 2008.

Now all that has changed. In the new poll, the results have completely turned around, and Republicans hold a six-point advantage. On the related issue of controlling government spending, in July 2007, Democrats held a 16-point advantage. In the new poll, Republicans hold a nine-point lead.

And there's more from Raz: Overall, 48% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance. That is the lowest level of total approval yet recorded for this President. Fifty-one percent (51%) now disapprove.

Generic Congressional Poll

The latest NPR poll backs up Rasmussen:

Democratic candidate.......................................................... 38
Lean Democratic candidate.................................................. 5
Republican candidate.......................................................... 38
Lean Republican candidate.................................................. 5
(Other candidate) ................................................................. 3
Lean (Other candidate) ........................................................ 1
(Undecided)......................................................................... 10
(Refused).............................................................................. 2
Total Democratic candidate ............................................. 42Total Republican candidate.............................................. 43
Total (Other candidate) ...................................................... 3

That's an 8 point turn around in 6 weeks. Any doubt why the "Blue Dogs" are skittish about Obamacare?

U.S. June durable goods orders down 2.5%

Recovery? Not even close...

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Orders for U.S.-made durable goods sank in June, falling 2.5% on weaker demand for autos, airplanes, and computers, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. It is the largest drop since January and follows two monthly gains. Excluding the 12.8% decrease in transportation goods, orders rose 1.1%. The decrease far exceeded the expected 0.6% fall forecast by economists surveyed by MarketWatch. Orders in May were revised lower to a gain of 1.3% from the previous estimate of a rise of 1.8%.

Consumer confidence falls ....Again

Obama is finding he just can't bullsh!t his way out of this.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Americans' confidence in the economy eroded further in July as worries about job security offset any enthusiasm about the resumed stock market rally that has helped bolster retirement accounts.

The souring outlook presents yet another obstacle for stores' critical back-to-school season.

The New York-based Conference Board said Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence Index, which retreated last month, fell to 46.6, down from 49.3 in June. Economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters were expecting a reading of 49. It would take a reading above 90 to signal that the economy is on solid footing.

Cambridge Police Officer Says She Voted for Obama but "I Will Not Again"

Obama continues to dig his own grave...

Video HERE.

Graphic of the Day

Background story HERE.

US released senior Iranian Qods Force commander

Apologizing relentlessly coupled with capitulation ain't going to accomplish shinola, yet it continues to be Obama's POA.

A senior Qods Force officer who led one of the three commands in Iraq assigned to attack US and Iraqi forces was one of five Iranians released by the US military on July 9. Mahmud Farhadi, the leader of the Zafr Command, one of three units subordinate to the Qods Force's Ramazan Corps, was among five Iranians turned over to the Iraqi government and then subsequently turned over to the Iranians...Reports initially indicated that five Iranians who were captured by the US in Irbil in northern Iraq in January 2007 were released from custody. But US military intelligence officials told The Long War Journal that Farhadi was disguised as one of the Irbil Five to soften the blow of the release. The US had previously released two members of the Irbil Five in November 2007, according to The Associated Press, but the report received little attention. This "left room for Farhadi to be pawned off as one of the Irbil Five and snuck out the back door," one official told The Long War Journal.

Quote of the Day

Victor Davis Hanson on Obama's "post racial" society:

President Obama and the subject of race remind me of the proverbial camel’s back and straws: the American people shrugged off “typical white person”, then forgave the clingers’ speech. They bristled a bit about “No more disown Rev. Wright than…” and started to become concerned about “downright mean country” and Michelle’s never before being proud of the good old U.S. Sotomayor’s “wise Latina” and self-referencing “as a Latina” ad nauseam did not help. Nor did Attorney General Holder’s slur that we were “cowards.” And now the Gates affair. Minor of course. But it is the proverbial straw that finally seems on this issue to really be breaking the back of the American people, who are not only tired of racial evocation, but tired of Barack Obama and those elites around him using race for self-serving sermonizing—especially given their former confidence in Obama to lead us to racial transcendence.

Amen.

Zogby Poll: President Obama's Job Approval Falls to 48%

It's not just Rasmussen...

The survey found similar results when likely voters were asked specifically to rate President Obama’s performance—47% give him a positive rating, with 22% rating his job performance as “excellent” and 25% rating it as “good.” But slightly more than half (53%) give the president a negative job performance rating, with 10% who say he is doing a “fair” job as president and 43% who say he is doing a “poor” job—up from 36% who said he was doing a poor job in mid-June. (Zogby uses a four-point scale of excellent, good, fair and poor, and aggregates excellent and good to determine positive ratings.)

Media barred from Pelosi speech

Oh that "new transparency" is a wonderful thing to behold.

SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline)-When House Speaker Nancy Pelosi addresssed the nation's trial lawyers' group Saturday, the media was barred from attending.

Ray De Lorenzi, associate director of communications for the American Association for Justice, said the event is exclusively for members of the national trial lawyers' group.

"No media have ever been allowed at our conventions," he told Legal Newsline. "This is for members only."

Pelosi, a California Democrat, is speaking at the American Association for Justice's annual convention in San Francisco, which has drawn hundreds of plaintiffs' attorneys.

Obama Hits New Low Water Mark (Updated)

Appears that "The Ones" press conference did him more harm than good...

Thirty-nine percent (39%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -9. (see trends).

The number who Strongly Disapprove of the President has increased slightly following the prime time press conference on Wednesday night. That figure—39%--is now at the highest level yet recorded. As a result, the overall Approval Index has fallen to the lowest level yet recorded for this President.



Update: Double digit time: -11% 7/26

Obama Calls Cambridge Police Officer, Invites him for a Beer with Gates at the White House

Crowley's Irish which means he's really gotta like alcohol right? Hence the "beer" invite. How racist!!

President Obama made his second surprise appearance before press in the briefing room to address what he called the “media frenzy” over his comments on the Skip Gates case.

“The fact that it has garnered so much attention, I think, is a testimony to the fact that these are issues that are still very sensitive here in America,” The President said, “And, you know, so to the extent that my choice of words didn't illuminate, but rather contributed to more media frenzy, I think that was unfortunate.”

At about 2:15 pm today the President spoke on the phone with Sergeant Jim Crowley.

“I have to tell you that, as I said yesterday, my impression of him was that he was a outstanding police officer and a good man, and that was confirmed in the phone conversation. And I told him that.”

Obama took partial blame for the media frenzy over the story, saying that he “helped to continue ratcheting it up” by saying that the Cambridge police “acted stupidly” comments at Wednesday night’s primetime press conference.

Obama: Professor Gates Probably "Overreacted"

This man is a bullsh!t artist like I haven't seen in my lifetime....

President Obama says his choice of words unfortunately gave the impression that he was maligning against the Cambridge Police Department.
Obama said, he hopes as a "consequence" that this event becomes a "teachable moment" where people spend more time "listening to each other" and to generally improve relationships between minorities and police officers. Obama said more unity is needed.

Regarding this being a local issue, Obama said he felt like he needed to step in because race is still a "troubling" aspect in our society.

"Unfortunately gave the impression"???!!! He stated uniquivically the the police "ACTED STUPIDLY". That is not giving the "impression of malignment", that is a blatant allegation of incompetence or malfeasance. Jeez, be a man and admit you jumped to a conclusion that was flat wrong and move on. Continue to try and spin this thing and you will do more damage to yourself and this country than you could possibly imagine.

Rasmussen Has Obama below 50% Approval

For the first time, Obama's Approval Rating Falls Below 50%

Overall, 49% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance, fifty-one percent (51%) disapprove. This marks the first time his overall approval rating has fallen below 50% among Likely Voters nationwide.

The facade is gone, reality sets in.

Quote of the Week

“There is a class of colored people who make a business of keeping the troubles, the wrongs, and the hardships of the Negro race before the public. Having learned that they are able to make a living out of their troubles, they have grown into the settled habit of advertising their wrongs-partly because they want sympathy and partly because it pays. Some of these people do not want the Negro to lose his grievances, because they do not want to lose their jobs. “

- Booker T. Washington

Video of Sgt. Crowely discussing the "incident" HERE.

Police report HERE.

Obama definately jumped the shark on this one.

Quote of the Day

A North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman said this about Hillary Clinton:

"Sometimes she looks like a primary schoolgirl and sometimes a pensioner going shopping."

Even a blind sow finds an acorn once in awhile.

U.S. Airstrike May Have Offed Bin Laden's Son

Waiting for Obama's apology.

U.S. officials believe Usama bin Laden's son, Saad bin Laden, was killed in a U.S. airstrike in Pakistan.

Sources confirmed to FOX News late Wednesday that officials believe the younger bin Laden was killed by hellfire missiles from a U.S. Predator drone strike earlier this year.

The death was first reported by National Public Radio.

National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell told NPR that Saad bin Laden reportedly traveled to Pakistan last year after spending several years under house arrest in Iran.

Judge rules NC must rehire whistleblower

RALEIGH, N.C. - A judge says North Carolina must rehire an employee who was fired after he complained that the Division of Motor Vehicles might be giving drivers' licenses to illegal immigrants.

The News & Observer reported that Wake County Superior Court Judge Howard Manning ruled Tuesday that Jeffrey M. Brown has a right to return to his DMV job and to $70,000 in back pay.

Brown worked as a license examiner in the DMV New Bern office from July 2006 until April 2007. He was fired after he complained that state policy allowing immigrants with temporary work visas to renew licenses for longer than their visa period conflicted with state law.

Brown said after he won his lawsuit that he was being forced to give licenses to illegals and his supervisors told him to be quiet.

Ouch!

Obama's top secret service agent fired

A Secret Service Agent, responsible for protecting President Obama, was fired today under questionable reasons, according to top aides. The Agent was reportedly tired of overhearing personal gripes by the Obama Family about certain demograhics in the United States. The Agent, who has not been identified as of today, brought his concerns staright to the President Obama, who later had him removed fr More..om his current assignment. More to come as story unfolds.

Those crackers clinging to religion and guns I'll wager.

Quote of the Week

From RCP

Heritage: During the call, a blogger from Maine said he kept running into an Investors Business Daily article that claimed Section 102 of the House health legislation would outlaw private insurance. He asked: "Is this true? Will people be able to keep their insurance and will insurers be able to write new policies even though H.R. 3200 is passed?" President Obama replied: "You know, I have to say that I am not familiar with the provision you are talking about."

Good grief.

Congress in Toilet as Well

A new CBS poll shows Obama fading fast but Congress is faring worse hitting historic lows.

And only 22% approve of the job Congress is doing. That is down from 28% last month, but is not as low as the ratings Americans gave Congress last fall.

Clinton Calls De Facto Honduran Leader To Demand President's Return

“de facto” my butt, the present leader was installed in accordance with the Honduran Constitution and Congress in total compliance with the laws of Honduras.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called de factor Honduran leader Roberto Micheletto to warn him about the consequences for his country if it does not permit ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya to return to power, the State Department said Monday.

Clinton called Micheletti on Sunday from New Delhi, where she is meeting with Indian officials on climate change.

It is the first call from Clinton since she met with Zelaya in Washington two weeks ago following his removal from power for trying to hold a referendum in defiance of an order by the nation's Supreme Court. The United States supports Zelaya's return to office.

BTW, it certainly appears that the present administrations policy of "not meddling in the affairs of other countries" has been exceedingly shortlived. Perhaps a new term has been born, "selective meddling".

Pic of the Day

BO at +1 Total Approval

His lowest job approval to date.

Overall, 50% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance. Forty-nine percent (49%) disapprove. The President earns approval from 41% of white voters, 97% of black voters, and 58% of all other voters.

Iranian "wed" Iranian girls about to be killed and raped them because Iran doesn't execute virgin

These sick bast^rds make the Nazi's look like choirboys.

In a shocking and unprecedented interview, directly exposing the inhumanity of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's religious regime in Iran, a serving member of the paramilitary Basiji militia has told this reporter of his role in suppressing opposition street protests in recent weeks.

He has also detailed aspects of his earlier service in the force, including his enforced participation in the rape of young Iranian girls prior to their execution.

The interview took place by telephone, and on condition of anonymity. It was arranged by a reliable source whose identity can also not be revealed.

Founded by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1979 as a "people's militia," the volunteer Basiji force is subordinate to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and intensely loyal to Khomeini's successor, Khamenei.

The Basiji member, who is married with children, spoke soon after his release by the Iranian authorities from detention. He had been held for the "crime" of having set free two Iranian teenagers - a 13-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl - who had been arrested during the disturbances that have followed the disputed June presidential elections.

Israel Gives Bambi the Finger

(IsraelNN.com) Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren was summoned urgently to the State Department over the weekend to hear that Israel must stop a private construction project in its capital. The project is being carried out at the site of the Shepherd Hotel in Sheikh Jarrah, near the Shimon HaTzaddik neighborhood in eastern Jerusalem.

The owner of the property, since 1985, is Dr. Irving Moskowitz, who has built other projects in eastern Jerusalem – most notably the Maaleh HaZeitim neighborhood in Ras el-Amud, below and to the south of the Temple Mount.

The new project currently calls for the construction of 20 apartments. It took 20 years to receive the necessary permits, which were received only three months ago.

Oren Takes Tough Stand on Jerusalem, Concedes in Judea/Samaria
Oren reportedly took a tough stand against the American “orders,” but at the same time implied that the Americans do have a say in Judea and Samaria. “Jerusalem is not the same as Judea and Samaria,” Oren told the Americans, “and Israel builds in eastern Jerusalem just as it has been building in the Aravah [northern Negev] for the last 40 years. Israel does not agree to stop this construction.”

IG Walpin sues government over "unlawful" firing

He's got a case and what's worse for the Obama administration, discovery could be devastating.

Gerald Walpin, the AmeriCorps inspector general who was summarily fired in June amid controversy over his investigation of a politically-connected supporter of President Obama, has filed suit alleging that the firing was "unlawful," "politically driven," "procedurally defective" and "a transparent and clumsily-conducted effort to circumvent the protections" given to inspectors general under the Inspectors General Reform Act of 2008.

Walpin's suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, is against the Corporation for National and Community Service, which oversees AmeriCorps. Also named are Nicola Goren, the acting CEO of the Corporation, Frank Trinity, its general counsel, and Raymond Limon, the Corporation's "chief human capital officer." The suit asks the court to declare Walpin's firing unlawful and restore him to his position as the Corporation's inspector general.

Pic of the Day

ObamaCare, it's "shovel ready"

See a Dad, See Ya Mom Luv Ya

Disgusting.

Ohio jobless rate hits 11.1 percent

That hopey-changey thing continues to pay dividends...

COLUMBUS — Ohio’s unemployment rate jumped to 11.1 percent in June, up from 10.8 percent in May and the first time in nearly 26 years that the rate has topped 11 percent.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services released the rate on Friday, July 17.

“Ohio’s labor market continued to weaken in June,” Douglas Lumpkin, ODJFS director, said in a press release. “Significant job losses in both the goods-producing and service-providing industries led to an increase in the unemployment rate to 11 .1 percent.

The state’s nonfarm wage and salary employment decreased 33,000 over the month, from 5,133,200 in May to 5,100,200 in June.

President Obama losing his cool?

"And he whispered in his ear all glory is fleeting"...

It’s been a tough week for President Obama’s cool factor.

Not only is he weathering criticism of his policies, but the Cool One has also taken a few dings to his immaculate image in recent days.

It started on Monday. Speaking at the White House, Obama was just getting into a sharp defense of his economic agenda when one of the teleprompter screens holding his speech crashed to the floor and shattered into pieces.

“Oh, goodness,” said a surprised Obama. “Sorry about that, guys.”

Just Words

From her past statements, the honorable Sonia Sotomayer cannot in good faith recite the oath of office without choking...

"I, [NAME], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as [TITLE] under the Constitution and laws of the United States. So help me God."

She was either lying then or she's lying now, there is no alternative.

Wednesday Funny

Can you say TROLL?

McCain Moves To Cut Funding For F-22 Jets.

Good move or myopic, I'm not sure. The premier fighter in the world untill 2040 and we are going to limit ourselves to 187 when many in the defense community believe we should maintain an inventory of at least 300. The F35 is NOT the F22. Cheaper, yes but getting by on the cheap has never paid dividends when one speaks of national defense.

WASHINGTON -- Sen. John McCain, in an unusual alliance with the Obama administration, moved Monday to eliminate $1.75 billion recently inserted into the proposed 2010 defense budget for more fighter jets from Lockheed Martin Corp.

The Arizona Republican, along with Michigan Democrat Carl Levin, filed an amendment to cut the extra money for seven more F-22's. The Senate Armed Services Committee last month narrowly approved the additional funding requested by Georgia Republican Saxby Chambliss.

Messrs. McCain and Levin, the committee's chairman, voted against the additional funds. The full Senate may vote on the defense spending bill this week. The House last month voted to include a $369 million down payment for 12 additional fighters to its version of the defense bill.

The White House reiterated its threat to veto legislation that includes money to continue production of the radar-evading jets beyond the current request of 187 planes.

"We do not need these plans," President Barack Obama wrote in a letter to Messrs. McCain and Levin Monday. "To continue to procure additional F-22s would be to waste valuable resources that should be more usefully employed to provide our troops with weapons that they actually do need."

June budget gap $94.32 billion, record for June

You get what you vote for...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. government rang up a $94.32 billion budget deficit in June, a record for the month, as the price tag for efforts to prop up the economy, banks and automakers mounted and revenues weakened.

The Treasury Department said on Monday that June marked the ninth straight month in which the government had run a deficit. In June 2008, the budget enjoyed a $33.55 billion surplus.

Through the first nine months of fiscal 2009, the government has racked up a $1.086 trillion deficit. That compares with a shortfall of only $285.85 billion in the comparable year-ago period, underscoring the sharp deterioration in the U.S. fiscal picture.

The record budget deficit for June was not an all time high, which was $194 billion in February, the department said.

And then there's this: U.S. budget deficit rises above $1 trillion

Schumer: Stimulus package prevented depression

Typical liberal argument, state something that's completely unprovable to prove your misguided assertions.

Schumer: Stimulus package prevented depression By Bob Cusack Posted: 07/13/09 08:45 AM [ET] Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on Monday that the economic stimulus accomplished its first goal of preventing a great depression and cautioned against rush judgments about whether the $787-billion package is a significant job-creator.

During an appearance on MNBC's "Morning Joe" program, Schumer said, "It's done job 1: prevent a depression. Now let's see if it does enough of job 2: create jobs."

Schumer's comments come as Republicans are seizing on rising unemployment numbers as proof that the stimulus is a failure. House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) labeled the stimulus "a flop" during an appearance on "Fox News Sunday."

Democrats have been on the defensive in recent weeks on the stimulus and their argument in defending the law has shifted over the last couple of months. Vice President Biden earlier this month indicated his administration "misread the economy" while also noting that many outside economists have been surprised by recent unemployment figures.

OAS oddly silent on 'coup' in Caracas

It's a good bet we won't here a word from the White House either.

While the Organization of American States is rightly denouncing the coup against ousted President Manuel Zelaya in Honduras, there are growing questions about why it hasn't said a word about the coup against Antonio Ledezma in Venezuela.

Ledezma, you may recall, is the opposition mayor of Venezuela's capital, Caracas, who was elected by a landslide in November 2008. Yet after his victory, President Hugo Chávez effectively ignored the election results by creating a position of ''super-mayor'' of Caracas, appointing a loyalist to the new job and stripping Ledezma of his offices and the bulk of his budget.

In a telephone interview from the San Román Clinic in Caracas, where he was recovering from a six-day hunger strike to draw international attention to his case, Ledezma told me that while the 34-country OAS acted decisively to demand the restoration of the rule of law in Honduras, it has not lifted a finger to demand the same thing in Venezuela.

Quote of the Day

In his weekly radio address, Barack Obama said: In a little over one hundred days, this Recovery Act has worked as intended.

Obama: "No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 percent off the top."

The son of a white woman from Kansas and a black goat herder-turned-academic from Kenya, Obama delivered an unsentimental account of squandered opportunities in postcolonial Africa. America's first black president spoke with a bluntness that perhaps could only come from a member of Africa's extended family.

"No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves, or police can be bought off by drug traffickers," he said.

"No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 percent off the top, or the head of the Port Authority is corrupt. No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery. That is not democracy, that is tyranny, and now is the time for it to end."

Er, I think someone needs to fill Obama in on the current corporate tax structure for this country. Businesses here can count on a corporate profits tax of 35% combined with local, county and state taxes they can expect to pay upwards of 42%+. Maybe all our entrepreneurs should move down there as 20% is a real bargain.

Pic of the Day

Obama like booty.

It appears from this photo along with the one released yesterday that we have a serial butt watcher here.

Firefighter Ricci to Testify at Sotomayer Confirmation Hearing

This guy has a great story. A very hard working and deserving man who was callously thrown under the bus by a very flippant and superficial ruling by Sotomayer.

Washington (AP/WTNH) - Republicans plan to call a white firefighter whose reverse discrimination claim was rejected by Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor to testify against her.

New Haven firefighter Frank Ricci brought a lawsuit challenging his city's decision to scrap the results of a promotion test because too few minorities scored highly enough to qualify. He's one of 14 witnesses Republicans will call during Senate hearings on Sotomayor's confirmation that open Monday.

Sotomayor was part of an appellate court panel that rejected Ricci's claim. The Supreme Court reversed the ruling last week.

Obama's Numbers Continue to Crater

The graph speaks for itself.

Quote of the Week

Justice Ginsburg when being interviewed by the NYT on the Sotomayer nomination:

GINSBURG: Yes, the ruling about that surprised me. [Harris v. McRae — in 1980 the court upheld the Hyde Amendment, which forbids the use of Medicaid for abortions.] Frankly I had thought that at the time Roe was decided, there was concern about population growth and particularly growth in populations that we don’t want to have too many of. So that Roe was going to be then set up for Medicaid funding for abortion. Which some people felt would risk coercing women into having abortions when they didn’t really want them. But when the court decided McRae, the case came out the other way. And then I realized that my perception of it had been altogether wrong.

Every once in awhile pro-abortion liberals let their guard down and say what they really think.

CU billing Churchill up to $50,000

Ah, the story that's keeps on giving.

Ward Churchill could find himself on the hook for up to $50,000 in out-of-pocket costs the University of Colorado incurred fighting the lawsuit the former ethnic studies professor filed against it, CU's lead attorney said Wednesday.

CU attorney Patrick O'Rourke said he plans to file for recovery of those costs -- which include flying witnesses in and out of Colorado and creating deposition transcripts -- over the next 15 days and said the amount would be in the "five figures" and likely just shy of $50,000.

"We've got to go through and add it up -- it's not a staggering number".

Consumer Confidence Nears Record Low

How's that Hopey-Changey thing workin out for ya?

Consumer confidence is within striking distance of its worst in weekly polls since late 1985 for the third straight week.

The ABC News Consumer Comfort Index stands at -52 on its scale of +100 to -100, 2 points from the lowest on Jan. 25. The index has spent the last three weeks below -50, territory it's seen only 14 times in over 1,220 weeks of polls, with eight of those coming this year alone.

Positive ratings of the buying climate dropped this week, down 4 points to 22 percent, matching the largest one-week drop ever. In 23 years of weekly polls it's fallen this far this fast only eight other times. The other two components of the index  ratings of the economy and personal finances  held near their historic lows.

Rasmussen: Obama Hits New Lows (UPDATED)

The slide continues...

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Tuesday shows that 33% of the nation's voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-six percent (36%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of –3. Those figures reflect the highest level of strong disapproval measured to date and the lowest level recorded for the overall Approval Index.

Update: He's now at -5

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Wednesday shows that 32% of the nation's voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-seven percent (37%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of –5.

Overall, 52% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the President's performance so far. That, too, is a new low for the President. Forty-eight percent (48%) now disapprove.

US, Russia Oppose G8 Sanctions on Iran

The guardian of Freedom and Democracy is comatose. Totalitarian regimes the world over rejoice as Obama acquiesces to their every whim in the name of world peace.

(IsraelNN.com) Both Russia and the United States are likely to oppose the imposition of further political or economic sanctions on Iran at this week's G8 Summit. This, despite pressure from other G8 nations to punish Tehran for its violent crackdown on pro-democracy protesters at home, as well as to influence its nuclear development policy.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told Italy's Rai television station on Saturday, "If I understand correctly, the United States would like to establish more open and more direct relations with Iran. We support this choice. It would be counter-productive to resort to other sanctions." He added that additional sanctions imposed by G8 nations would most likely fail and would inflame tensions with the Islamic Republic.

Robert McNamara Dead at 93

A liberal and bean counter extraordinaire, military strategist, not so much.

Full story HERE.

Leading Clerics Defy Ayatollah on Disputed Iran Election

This is going to leave a mark...

CAIRO — An important group of religious leaders in Iran called the disputed presidential election and the new government illegitimate on Saturday, an act of defiance against the country’s supreme leader and the most public sign of a major split in the country’s clerical establishment.

A statement by the group, the Association of Researchers and Teachers of Qum, represents a significant, if so far symbolic, setback for the government and especially the authority of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose word is supposed to be final. The government has tried to paint the opposition and its top presidential candidate, Mir Hussein Moussavi, as criminals and traitors, a strategy that now becomes more difficult.

“This crack in the clerical establishment, and the fact they are siding with the people and Moussavi, in my view is the most historic crack in the 30 years of the Islamic republic,” said Abbas Milani, director of the Iranian Studies Program at Stanford University. “Remember, they are going against an election verified and sanctified by Khamenei.”

Quote of the Week

When elected leaders decide the rule of law does not matter, that constitutional restrictions on power can be overcome by executive fiat, the democracy ceases to exist.

TR

Sarah Palin Steps Down as Gov. of Alaska

I see 4 possible reasons:

1. She’s saying FU to politics and the whole digusting business, that I’ve got a family to raise and a Governorship or the Presidency is less important than that. The latest personal attacks on her family would be ample reason.

2. She's had it with the some 180 frivolous lawsuits that have been filed against her and, like many of us, believe lifes too short.

3. She's going to take a serious run at the Presidency in 12 and feels she needs to put 100% of her efforts to that end.

4. There's some skeleton in her closet that will be imminently disclosed and she's getting out while the gettin's good. (least likely in my mind)

Happy Independence Day!

Headline of the Week

Two Mexican Midget Wrestlers Killed by Fake Prostitutes

Can't add to that.

Unemployment Rate at 26 Yr High (9.5 Percent)

WASHINGTON -- Employers cut a larger-than-expected 467,000 jobs in June, driving the unemployment rate up to a 26-year high of 9.5 percent, suggesting that the economy's road to recovery will be a bumpy one.

Economists had expected 363,000 job cuts last months, and that the jobless rate would rise to 9.6 percent from 9.4 percent in May.

If laid-off workers who have given up looking for new jobs or have settled for part-time work are included, the unemployment rate would have been 16.5 percent in June, the highest on records dating to 1994.

Out-of-work with no place to land, the legions of America's unemployed are growing.

Niger leader undermining rule of law - White House

The word that most accurately describes Obama's foreign police is schizophrenic.

WASHINGTON, July 1 (Reuters) - The U.S. government voiced concern on Wednesday over actions taken by Niger's President Mamadou Tandja to extend his rule in the West African country.

"These decisions undermine Niger's efforts over the last ten years to advance good governance and the rule of law," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement.

Tandja responded to the rejection by Niger's highest court of his plan to seek at least another three years in power by sacking the judges and naming a new Cabinet.

Please explain to me how this substantively differs from the Honduras situation.

Karl Malden Dead at 97

From one of my all time favorite movies. A truly fine actor and from what I've read a very nice guy.

Interesting fact just pointed out to me, he died 5 years to the day of Marlon Brando.

Americans See Democratic Party as “Too Liberal”

Fortunately for Democrats, Americans have short memories. They only get elected in significant majorities when the general population has forgotten how bad their policies really are[were].

PRINCETON, NJ -- A Gallup Poll finds a statistically significant increase since last year in the percentage of Americans who describe the Democratic Party's views as being "too liberal," from 39% to 46%. This is the largest percentage saying so since November 1994, after the party's losses in that year's midterm elections.

Most major demographic and attitudinal subgroups show at least a slight uptick since 2008 in perceptions that the Democratic Party is too liberal. The increasing perception of the Democrats as too far left comes as President Obama and the Democrats in Congress have expanded the government's role in the economy to address the economic problems facing the country. Additionally, the government is working toward major healthcare reform legislation and strengthening environmental regulations.

US private sector sheds 473,000 jobs in June

Not going to bolster Obama's "light at the end of the tunnel" propaganda.

NEW YORK, July 1 (Reuters) - U.S. private employers cut 473,000 jobs in June, more than expected but down from the 485,000 jobs lost in May, a report by a private employment service said on Wednesday.

The median of forecasts from 25 economists surveyed by Reuters for the ADP Employer Services report, jointly developed with Macroeconomic Advisers LLC, was for 393,000 private-sector jobs lost in June.

Though June's job loss was the smallest since October 2008, the surprisingly large number of cuts deals a setback to those expecting the U.S. economy to recover soon.