June 27, 2008

Get Off Your Duff, America: Drill Here, Drill Now

My latest at Family Security Matters:

The villain in all of this, of course, is the oil industry. Their enormous profits have become a target by certain politicians and a windfall tax is being proposed on oil profits. Yet the federal tax on a gallon of gas is about twice what the profit the oil companies collect. And bear in mind that an industry that has an enormous output will of course have proportionally large profits. But don't tell that inconvenient truth to those politicians who never met a tax they didn't like. So when can we start taxing the windfall tax? After all, it's the oil companies who do all the exploration, extraction, refining and transportation. The government collects a fee for doing zip.

Read it all here.

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June 26, 2008

FISA Bill Passes Cloture in Senate...No Thanks to Chris Dodd

The FISA bill, which was the subject of much heated debate earlier this year, finally passed cloture in the Senate yesterday...which means the debate is now over and it will go for a full Senate vote tomorrow (Friday), and then it goes to the president's desk for his signature.

As Ed Morrissey points out, the Reuters article linked above says the 80-15 vote was dominated by "mostly Republican supporters," but with 32 Democrats and 48 Republicans, support seems more bipartisan than not. But this is Reuters we're talking about.

So who was among those who wanted to hold the bill up in the Senate? None other than our very own Chris Dodd, the "dark horse" presidential candidate who ended up being the first casualty of the primaries earlier this year. Other "usual suspects" included Dick Durbin, Patrick Leahy, Barbara Boxer and Chuck Schumer, to name a few. Dodd is in, um, good company when it comes to keeping our nation safe and secure. Not.

(In fact, if you're looking for a big waste of valuable resources and time, look no further than the fact that a "National Intelligence Assessment" on Global Climate Change was ordered by the Dems in charge last year. The Corner has details (h/t Moonbattery). So rather than trying to spy on members of al Qaeda and checking out what's happening over in Iran, we now have intelligence gatherers writing analases of "low to medium confidence" on how to SAVE THE EARTH from a phenomenon that is being doubted more and more by critical thinking scientists and laymen alike.)

For those of you who may need a memory boost, the bone of contention in the FISA bill is that telecommunication companies that cooperated with federal officials in turning over records will not be prosecuted as long as they were acting in good faith in a national security capacity.

Kris mentioned in a recent comment in another of my posts that she heard Dodd has promised not to run for re-election in 2010. Let's hope she's right.

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June 24, 2008

Rich Lowry on Dodd, Conrad and the Countrywide VIP Program

National Review editor Rich Lowry reminds us that while times may be tough for the average American, U.S. Senators have it much worse:

Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd and North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad, both Democrats, fell victim to the machinations of Countrywide Financial, which gave them breaks on mortgages as part of the “Friends of Angelo” program; the “Angelo” in question is Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo.

Most alleged victims of Countrywide were gulled into taking loans with onerous interest rates and excessive fees. But they don’t know the agony of life as a U.S. senator, when at any moment a powerful, well-heeled interest might take advantage of you with cut-rate loans.

Read the whole thing here. And keep a hanky handy for the tears you are sure to shed over the plight of these hapless senators, who obviously were taken advantage of by that nasty old mortgage company. As Lowry says, "Shame on these unscrupulous people!"

Dodd is up for reelection in 2010. Will the press bring this incident into the election year limelight? Will his Republican opponent use it during the campaign? Will the people of Connecticut remember? Or will it be considered a "distraction," like so many other inconvenient truths when certain politicians are running for office?

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June 23, 2008

Judgment to Lead21st Century Challenges: Is Obama the One?

My latest over at Family Security Matters:

Now to be fair, public speaking is difficult even when you have notes in front of you. But when it comes to answering challenging questions, is Obama's off-the-teleprompter stumbling what we want to put in front of the likes of Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - who is so clear and emphatic in what he says about wanting to destroy both America and our key ally in the Middle East, Israel? The stammering above was in response to a simple question to which he should have had a well-rehearsed answer in his front pocket. What will Obama's response be when Ahmadinejad says, "I'm building my nuclear arsenal and to hell with you, Twinkle Toes"? Will Obama say, "I...well...the United States believes...um...yaknow...we have a history of....I can tell you...there ought to be...um...ahah...ultimately...I mean, really? Do you ...um...eh eh...really mean that?"

Full article here.

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June 22, 2008

AWESOME Marines Recruiting Ad

The Marines usually have really great recruiting ads, and their latest is no exception. Check it out!

h/t: Raymond Kraft

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June 21, 2008

Dodd: Knew of 'VIP' Status at Countrywide

Via Roll Call:

“There was no red flag to me [that] we were getting special treatment,” Dodd told reporters at a news conference.

The Connecticut Senator said he never asked what VIP status meant, but said he assumed it was bestowed on him because he held an existing mortgage with Countrywide.

From Merriam Webster:

VIP: a person of great influence or prestige; especially : a high official with special privileges

Get a clue, Mr. Dodd. I can't wait until 2010.

Cartoon via Townhall.com

Previous: Did Chris Dodd Receive Special Mortgage Treatment?

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ARROGANCE

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June 19, 2008

'Friends,' Starring Barack Obama

As Van Helsing says, "Hopefully this show won't get past the pilot:"

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The Politics of Friendship

My latest over at Pajamas Media:

An acquaintance with whom I am usually very friendly recently found out that I am personally supporting John McCain for president. Her second shock was that I am a Republican. Upon her reaction to this startling information, I was almost tempted to check my fingers and nose to see if I had suddenly contracted leprosy and should book a room at the nearest leper colony.

This is not the first time I’ve been subjected to such a reaction from a liberal upon learning about my political convictions.

It's all here.

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June 17, 2008

Did Chris Dodd Receive Special Mortgage Treatment?

It's been an embarrassing couple of weeks in Connecticut. First we had the ignoring the hit-and-run victim debacle in Hartford. Now it's being said that Chris Dodd, one of our US Senators, received a preferential mortgage from Countrywide, one of the mortgage firms under federal investigations in the subprime mortgage brouhaha.

Dodd denies getting any special deals:

"As a United States senator, I would never ask or expect to be treated differently than anyone else refinancing their home. This suggestion is outrageous and contrary to my entire career in public service," Dodd said in a statement.

"When my wife and I refinanced our loans in 2003, we did not seek or expect any favorable treatment. Just like millions of other Americans, we shopped around and received competitive rates."

What exactly is being implied? That Dodd is a "FOA," friend of Angelo Mozilo, Countrywide's chief executive, and that Dodd received mortgages for two homes through some sort of "VIP" program that waived a half percent and eliminated hundreds of dollars in processing fees - ulitmately saving Dodd $75,000 over the life of the loans.

Dodd may not have sought special favor but as the chairman of the powerful Senate Banking Committee and one of the key players in an upcoming vote on housing rescue legislation, all of his own financial dealings should be above reproach. Did he receive a deal without realizing it? If he did that doesn't speak well for him either, as it shows a lack of attention to detail that we should expect from our representative in the Senate.

Jim Johnson, who was head of Barack Obama's VP search team, resigned from that post because of questions raised over his mortgages from Countrywide. (The questions apparently were a "distraction" to Obama's campaign. There sure are a lot of "distractions" in that camp of late.)

If Dodd wants to take the high road, I suggest he cut the bluff and bluster and remove himself from the debate surrounding the mortgage legislation. And next time, he might be a little more vigilant in his personal dealings.

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More MoveOn.Org Scare Tactics: You Can't Have My Baby!

Check out the latest election ad from MoveOn.org (funded in part by "one worlder" George Soros). Is this the latest "daisy" ad?

"You can't have him." Well, lady, here's a hint: John McCain will not be president in 18 years, even if he wins this election. So unless a future president decides to institute the draft by then, you won't have to worry that little Alex will be torn away from his Feminist, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program at college. He'll also have plenty of time to go snowboarding, mountain biking, and do all of the other fun stuff that young men in his position in life get to enjoy during vacation while mommy and daddy foot the bills.

I certainly hope there will be no more need to send soldiers off to war by the time another 18 years roll around. But don't worry, lady. If that is the case, someone else's son will be there to do the heavy lifting, while little Alex attends anti-war protests for extra credit from his English Lit professor while sporting a Che t-shirt and goatee and eating soy nuts. Your precious Alex will enjoy all that and more, courtesy of the U.S. military that you so obviously despise.

John McCain "can't have" her baby. Frankly, if he turns out to be anything like she is, let's thank our lucky stars.

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June 12, 2008

How the Worm Has Turned

If Hillary Clinton's thick skin didn't quite let her get the feel for what Republicans have gone through for decades within the past six months, she has no excuse now. Camille Paglia had this to say about Hillary's, er, concession speech last weekend:

I was shocked and appalled at Hillary's inflammatory demagoguery, which was obviously intended to keep her candidacy alive through the August convention and beyond. The echo in the museum's marble entry hall gave the event an eerily retro quality, as if it were a 1930s fascist rally.

When the left begins comparing a Clinton to fascists - a term of endearment usually set aside for conservatives - you know it's all over but the shouting.

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June 11, 2008

Idiot Celebrity "Crucifies" Himself

Not himself, really...it's a statue of himself being crucified. Pete Doherty of the group Babyshambles is having "the 'disturbing artwork'...carved in marble and show[ing] Doherty being tortured, surrounded by strips of newspapers — symbolising his crucifixion by the media."

First of all, who the hell is this guy? The only reason I know anything about him is because he is the on again-off again boyfriend of model Kate Moss (and both have extensively documented drug problems), making him popular tabloid fodder. I've never heard his band's music either, but with a name like Babyshambles, I'm not too sorry about it.

But really, wasting perfectly good marble on a statue of his crucifiction by the press? That speaks more to his own ego than hurt pride.

Frankly, I would be more impressed if he commissioned a statue of himself as Mohammed. Mocking Christianity? That's so 20th century!

On a tip from Kitty.

Another celebrity overestimates his own importance

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Should NBC's Andrea Mitchell Get the Chop?

Earlier this week, Andrea Mitchell of NBC had to apologize on-air for characterizing western Virginia as “redneck, sort of bordering-on-Appalachia country.”

During a report on the Obama campaign, she had been comparing that part of the state to northern Virginia, which she characterized as a "high-tech corridor." In other words, the classy area near Washington D.C. where she likes to hang out.

Clue to Andrea: western Virginia is part of Appalachia. Get an atlas.

Remember when Don Imus got fired for calling black girls on a basketball team "nappy headed hos?" A tasteless comment, yes, and he apologized too...but got canned by MSNBC anyway. Yet Andrea Mitchell, another NBC employee, makes an equally offensive remark characterizing an entire region, apologizes, and life goes on. But you see, since she made her comment about the "wrong kind" of people - in this instance white people who live in rural areas - it's okay. How does that grab you?

For the record: I don't think Andrea Mitchell should be fired for being an idiot. But Imus shouldn't have been fired either. It's the blatant double standard that ticks me off.

It's okay to make offensive remarks...just make sure they're about rednecks.

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June 06, 2008

Faith in Humanity Is Hard to Maintain...

...when I see something like this story from Hartford, which first made the news yesterday:

A 78-year-old man is tossed like a rag doll by a hit-and-run driver and lies motionless on a busy city street as car after car goes by. Pedestrians gawk but do nothing. One driver stops briefly but then pulls back into traffic. A man on a scooter slowly circles the victim before zipping away.

The link includes a video. If you watch it, be warned: you will actually see 78-year-old Arce Torres get slammed by a car and flop back down on the street.

What's worse than that, however, is witnessing the witnesses simply ignore him and go about their daily business. No one paid attention until the police showed up, and then the usual crowd of gawkers gathered. As my friend Jeanette asked, "WTF is wrong with people?"

What's wrong indeed? I felt a chill go through me when I watched that video. This episode brings to mind the infamous case of Kitty Genovese who, back in 1964, was stabbed to death near her Queens apartment building and none of the neighbors who heard her cries for help could bestir themselves to do much about it. "Don't get involved," we often think to ourselves - probably in a bid to protect our own hides.

"It was one of the most despicable things I've seen by one human being to another," the Rev. Henry Brown, a community activist, said in an interview. "I don't understand the mind-set anymore. It's kind of mind-boggling. We're supposed to help each other. You see somebody fall, you want to offer a helping hand."

We all hope and pray that should our time of need come, someone will have the decency to step forward and help. No one came to the aid of Arce Torres, now paralyzed and fighting for his life, even though according to this report he was a well-known figure in the neighborhood.

"Everybody knew him, but nobody helped," said Anthony Jenkins, 45, of 87 Park St. "I guess everybody is different. Some people are just out for themselves."

That about sums it up.

Keep Arce Torres in your prayers. He's going to need them.

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June 04, 2008

Obama vs. McCain: How Did It Happen?

Question:

If the MSM did its job the way it's supposed to--watchdog for the public--neither of these men would be running for president. Obama probably wouldn't be a senator. Yet, one of them will be living in the White House next January. But how can that be, you ask?

ThirdWaveDave has the answer.

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'Green' Lightbulbs Not so 'Green' After All...

As you may or may not know, Congress has mandated that starting in 2012, the light bulb that we all know and love, courtesy of Thomas Edison's brilliance, will be no more. Instead, we'll all be forced to buy fluroescent light bulbs in order to SAVE THE PLANET!!!

That's right, the same group of imbeciles who can't balance our budget is telling us what kind of light bulb we can buy. Isn't 21st century America wonderful? Our Founding Fathers would be proud.

I wonder if comic strip artists will be forced to use the new twisty bulbs in their drawings after 2012?

However, in addition to the hideous greenish light they cast off, these fluorescent bulbs come with a heavy price - and I'm not just talking about their monetary cost. The bulbs contain mercury, and if you break one, the EPA has published guidelines as to how the mess needs to be cleaned up (h/t Moonbattery):

Before Clean-up: Air Out the Room

*Have people and pets leave the room, and don't let anyone walk through the
breakage area on their way out.
*Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
*Shut off the central forced-air heating/air conditioning system, if you have one.

Clean-Up Steps for Hard Surfaces

*Carefully scoop up glass pieces and powder using stiff paper or cardboard and
place them in a glass jar with metal lid (such as a canning jar) or in a sealed
plastic bag.
*Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass
fragments and powder.
*Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes. Place
towels in the glass jar or plastic bag.
*Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.

Clean-up Steps for Carpeting or Rug

*Carefully pick up glass fragments and place them in a glass jar with metal lid
(such as a canning jar) or in a sealed plastic bag.
*Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass
fragments and powder.
*If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the
area where the bulb was broken.
*Remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister), and put the bag or *vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag.

And that's not all...there are even more rules for washing clothing or bedding that might get that nasty mercury all over it. And, of course, how to dispose of the items you use to do the cleanup. And when the light bulb eventually does wear out and stop giving out light, how will you dispose of it? You certainly can't just toss it into the garbage can!

Isn't SAVING THE PLANET fun?

My husband mocks me for it, but I am stocking up on old-fashioned incandescent bulbs. Not only do I prefer the light they give off, but it really burns my toast to think that Congress is telling me what I can screw into my lamp sockets.

Congress...screw...there's a connection there. Can you guess what it is?

Biohazardous material

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June 03, 2008

How Volunteerism Became Un-American

My latest over at Pajamas:

It would be interesting to know how much this lack of enthusiasm for volunteerism can be attributed to the increasing insularity of individuals from society. Most of us no longer spend our leisure time on our front porches chatting with neighbors or at community functions, but indoors in front of the television, video game console, or the Internet. In addition, as our society becomes increasingly transient, it’s probably hard for individuals to get excited about putting time and effort into an organization that they may end up leaving in just a few years’ time.

Read it all, and be sure to scroll down to the comments section for some other interesting perspectives.

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June 02, 2008

Quote of the Day

"Being openly mocked is not something leftists can tolerate for very long because what they want more than anything else is to be admired and esteemed. They are, after all, on a mission to save the world and it is paramount that others acknowledge the sanctity of [t]his goal." ~ Bernard Chapin

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Great Bumper Sticker

h/t: Moonbattery

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Brilliant!

posted by Reverse_Vampyr at June 4, 2008 12:49 PM

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Posted by Pam Meister at 08:51 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) | 2008

Keith Olbermann Owes the Tax Man

More news from the Do as I Say crowd:

Keith Olbermann joins fellow comedian Al Franken on the list of prominent liberals who love to raise YOUR taxes but do everything in the power to avoid paying their own.

According to Olbermann Watch, Keith apparently owes in excess lf $100,000.

Melanie Morgan is really enjoying this, and with good reason. She's been a regular target of this self-proclaimed king of media (his "corporation" is called Olbermann Broadcasting Empire) for some time now.

My friend Bob Parks also has a few words to say, as does Matthew Sheffield.

Liberals are always telling the rest of us that we should be proud to not only pay our taxes, but that we should pay even more than we do! Therefore, that these stories about back taxes from wealthy libs like Olbermann keep coming out would be amusing if it weren't so galling.

Who's the "Worst Person In the World" now?

Is Keith Olbermann's media "empire" hanging in the balance???

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Posted by Pam Meister at 08:48 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Just Plain Stupid