Uncle Jimbo goes a little too far in suggesting that Cliff May from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies put a beat down on Jon Stewart. It was more akin to what one commenter described - they had a spirited debate. In the end Jon Stewart did what he usually does and that is constantly interrupting the debate with his own innuendo and lazy morals. But the post is an interesting one and the comments section is a learning experience. There are two video’s of the debate and are worth watching if for no other reason than to see how Stewart has left the comedy circuit and tried to vainly enter the left wing morals market.
The discussion that was supposed to take place revolved around torture (and the “memos”) and includes the condemnation of the US dropping the bombs on Japan that ended WWII. The comments section dissected that era also. Have fun.
April 30th, 2009
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While we are all fuming and disgruntled about taxes on April 15, there’s a group in Vermont who see things - well… different.
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Protesters nationwide demanded lower taxes on Wednesday. A group in Vermont can’t get enough of them.
Calling itself S.O.S., or Save Our State, the group held a small pro-tax protest in Montpelier, the national income tax-filing deadline, to drive home that taxes pay for needed programs and state employees perform necessary duties.
About two dozen people crowded around the state Tax Department’s help window while organizers turned in single-signature petitions, designed to look like a tax form, that organizers called SOS-EZ forms.
They list 17 state programs that could be kept whole with what organizers say would be a modest tax increase (I’ve never heard of a tax increase described as modest - ed.).
“It’s not just a day to worry about taxes; we value our institutions and the programs the state offers,” said S.O.S. organizer Chris Curtis, an attorney with Vermont Legal Aid. “We can’t pave our own roads. We can’t keep our own courthouse doors open. It’s frustrating that some days of the week the courts are closed.”
The protest came as thousands of demonstrators gathered nationwide for anti-tax rallies modeled on the original Boston Tea Party.
Dennise Casey, a spokeswoman for Republican Gov. Jim Douglas, said he remained steadfast in his opposition to new taxes, but that taxpayers have the option to give the state more than legally required.
“I am assuming that all of these individuals who are advocating for paying more taxes have led by example by paying more taxes today,” Casey said. “As for struggling Vermont families, the governor is opposed to higher taxes.”
Well, luckily they have a Republican governor and will likely remain solvent. But just as I say that, look what happens:
Montpelier, Vermont - April 15, 2009
“I think it’s time the common person stands up to the government taking everything from us,” said Bob Martin of Worcester.
But just one building over at the tax department– a much smaller group asked for just the opposite.
They want to pay more for taxes to save cuts to social service programs and state employee jobs.
“We’re not suggesting that we willy-nilly raise taxes but to do it in smart way that spreads out the burden,” said Lindsey Hescock of Middlebury.
“We need to have taxes to have the services and the infrastructure important to all of us,” said Shelia Reed, of Voices for Vt. Children.
Democratic lawmakers agree, and on Tax Day they supported a $24 million income tax hike.
“I don’t think anybody likes to pay taxes, I’m not wild about paying taxes, but I understand it’s an obligation of citizenship and I get a lot for the taxes I pay,” said Rep. Janet Ancel, D-Calais.
Wow. “I get a lot for the taxes I pay.”
You can’t make this stuff up.
A hat tip to jamiewearingfool for the post.
April 17th, 2009
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First, I’m not a big fan of casino’s. I’m not suggestting they’re a bad thing - I’m just not a fan. Sort of like not eating boiled okra but fried is fine.
That being said, I’d like to point you to a revealing article by the editor of Birmingham’s Black&White City Paper - the free newsprint that generally contains all the events going on in and around Birmingham. In addition to the events, there is generally quite a good representation of the political situation in several articles.
The editor, Chuck Geiss, has done quite a story on the bingo issue that Alabama is dealing with in the Legislature. For those of you outside of Alabama (and those in Alabama who just don’t keep up), there is a move to “legalize” bingo in the Legislature (i.e. - read tax) and let the public vote on the issue. Whether it makes it out of the Legislature is not clear as of today. That could all change tomorrow. But the Chuck Geiss article ought to be required reading for anyone who wants to actually be informed on this issue.
This is the lead-in to the rest of the story:
April 16, 2009
Perhaps you have seen or heard recent advertisements from “Friends of Alabama” urging support for a state legislative initiative that would tax and regulate electronic bingo in certain Alabama counties. These commercials, sponsored by the Sweet Home Alabama Coalition, feature a variety of country music stars such as Randy Owen, Clint Black, Tracy Lawrence, Lorrie Morgan, Darryl Worley, and George Jones, all of whom support a bill that would call for a statewide referendum in 2010. The message claims that taxing all statewide bingo operations, including those located on Indian reservations, is not only fair but would provide a substantial windfall to Alabama’s lagging education fund.
What many people may not know is that most of these country music stars have an interest in a new $250 million mega-entertainment complex south of Dothan called Country Crossing. The development, which broke ground this year, will feature retail shops, themed restaurants, and an extensive entertainment district patterned after that of Branson, Missouri. According to the Country Crossing web site, visitors will be able to enjoy music and food at George Jones’ Possum Holler Dinner Theater, Tracy Lawrence’s BBQ, John Anderson’s Seminole Wind Buffet, Darryl Worley’s Worley Bird Cafe, and Lorrie Morgan’s Diner. The developer also anticipates building a casino featuring electronic bingo. Do these celebrities want bingo legalized to benefit the state’s education fund, or are they more interested in large crowds of gamblers paying to see them perform at Country Crossing?
There appears to be a plethora of deceit, strong arm tactics, and self serving banishments in other areas of the state so that success is limited to those areas where the proponents want success to be - and specifically not anywhere else. And it’s all for education - a suspect, repeatable argument that is used to sway anyone who has kids in public schools. Alabama schools are not at the top of any national list nor are they at they bottom - though they haven’t been far at times. Alabama has school funding issues as does every state. And, perhaps in the future, there is gambling to help out that budget. Critics of gambling for education point out that Georgia, where the lottery has funded college education for years, has the same issues as everyone else these days. Maybe. But if they’re still funding college education for students who are making the grade in high school, they’re doing better than we are - much better.
But that’s not what Chuck Geiss’s editorial is focused on. It’s an eye-opening look at what is being requested and what is being denied - the latter being a larger issue.
Have a read or pick up the paper. It’s free.
April 17th, 2009
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From the Long War Journal:
DC court finds Gitmo detainee properly held
By Thomas JoscelynApril 6, 2009 10:52 AM
On Thursday, April 2, a federal judge ruled that Guantánamo detainee Hedi Hammamy is being held for good reasons. Judge Richard Leon of the DC District Court found the US government’s evidence was sufficient to show that Hammamy supported al Qaeda and the Taliban.
Hammamy, who is also known as Abdul Haddi bin Hadiddi in the US government’s unclassified Guantánamo files, was arrested by Pakistani authorities in April 2002 and transferred to Guantánamo months later. Government prosecutors demonstrated that Hammamy’s passport was recovered in a cave in the Tora Bora Mountains, which were the main fallback zone for fleeing al Qaeda and Taliban forces after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001. Judge Leon concluded that Hammamy offered no plausible explanation for how his paperwork ended up there. Prosecutors also argued that Hammamy took part in the battle of Tora Bora.
Note the use of the word “properly” in the heading.
April 7th, 2009
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Back a few weeks ago, our new narcissistic-in-charge POTUS tried to “reach out” to Iran, despite the fact that -
“Last month, the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security released a report saying that Iran has reached “nuclear weapons breakout capability” — it has enough uranium to make a nuclear bomb.”
OK, so maybe he missed that report. He’s new and all that. Of course, back at the inauguration festivities, the One had euphorically pronounced a change in policy:
Obama has signaled a willingness to speak directly with Iran about its nuclear program and hostility toward Israel, a key U.S. ally. At his inauguration, the president said his administration would reach out to rival states, declaring “we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”
But in trying to capture the attention of an Islamic republic, which has repeatedly called for the extermination of Israel and the destruction of the United States, the Messiah vainly attempts leadership:
“The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations. You have that right, but it comes with real responsibilities. And that place cannot be reached through terror or arms, but rather through peaceful actions that demonstrate the true greatness of the Iranian people and civilization.”
Iran’s response was…, well…, less than excited. The Iranian fist is still quite clenched. Although the New York Times failed to take note of the key section of Khamenei’s response to the olive branch weakness, The Corner on NRO noted Khamenei’s response:
Have you changed anything but your words? If your enmity against the Iranian nation has truly ended, have you released Iranian assets? Have you removed sanctions? Have you ended your propaganda warfare? Have you ended your unconditional support for the Zionist regime…? Changing rhetoric must not be followed by unchanged intentions.
Apologize, apologize, yada, yada. Apparently that olive branch thingy is a one way street with Iran.
And even more Islamic fist clenching in Afghanistan and Pakistan as obambi offers “honorable reconciliation”:
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told an international conference on Afghanistan on Tuesday that those members of the Taliban who abandoned extremism must be granted an “honorable form of reconciliation.”
Predictably, the Taliban responds with almost a laugh:
Taliban insurgents reject a U.S. offer of “honorable reconciliation,” a top spokesman said on Wednesday, calling it a “lunatic idea” and saying the only way to end the war was to withdraw foreign troops.
“This matter was also raised in the past,” said Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, referring to comments last month by Obama, who spoke of reaching out to moderate Taliban.
“They have to go and find the moderate Taliban, their leader and speak to them. This is a lunatic idea,” Mujahid said by telephone from an unknown location (usually a cave).
Funny, I was thinking the same thing - where is there a “moderate” Taliban? Doesn’t the word itself (Taliban) pretty much define the environment as radical?
I’m impressed that the One has continued the Bush program of blowing up every Taliban and al Qaeda big wig they can find in the Afghanistan theater. He’s even expanded the program to include some provinces outside of the Waziristan mountainous regions - which should help to keep our country safer. As Bill Roggio of the Long War Journal has noted, (paraphrased) “When you kill the first or even the second guy in charge, the others move up. But when you kill one through ten in importance, they have to scramble to keep the organization going.” That’s what the US has intended since early in 2008 as the total count of Predator whacks in Pakistan indicates - 36 recorded strikes in 2008 while there were only 10 in 2006 and 2007 combined. While it started on Bush’s watch, it seems to be one of the very few things obambi has supported from that administration. I’m surprised but pleased.
Then there’s the obvious political side. This is the part that Mr. Messiah won’t be honest about:
Strong indigenous security forces are a key to success in counter-insurgency, U.S. military doctrine states, and Obama said his new strategy would increase efforts to train Afghan forces and bring the Afghan army and police up to strength by 2011.
That date also coincides with the time by which, diplomats say, the Obama administration is likely to want to see results in Afghanistan — a year before the next U.S. presidential election.
The Taliban meanwhile, do not have to win the war, analysts say. All they have to do is survive and wait for their opponents to lose the will to keep fighting.
Aww geez… what if that goal is missed? Will obambi lose the election? Or will his fellow left wing socialists raise the white flag and shout “surrender” loudly? Again.
In his quest to develop a “new” America - an appeasing, apologetic, ‘ we’re sorry for existing ‘ excuse for a democratic republic - the Messiah is 0 for 2. The Islamists have now shut him out twice. I keep recalling the news item from a Mark Steyn article in which he interviewed Hussein Massawi, a former Hezbollah leader. “We are not fighting,” Mr. Masawi said “so that you will offer us something. We are fighting to eliminate you.” It’s the creed of the whole Muslim Brotherhood movement from al Qaeda to the Taliban to Iran. But the One misses that. Not unexpectedly, the rest of us don’t.
He’s doing better with the NCAA trying to force them to have a playoff in football.
April 1st, 2009
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Deranged politics, morons |
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