Contact your Senators. Go to senate.gov. It will help you find the two senators from your state.
Contact the offices of each, by phone and/or the contact page.
Let them know, respectfully but firmly, just how deeply unhappy you are at the prospect of Ben Bernanke being re-appointed as Chairman of the Federal Reserve. Tell them that if they vote for Bernanke, you will be contributing to, and voting for their opponents.
Do it today.
Do it Monday. And Tuesday, and Wednesday. Until the end of the month, when the vote comes up.
It's a small thing to do.
Your grandchildren's lives are at stake.
I just did it, both by phone and by email. It felt good.
In times past, I've had staffers for Lamar Alexander attempt to argue me down on issues.
Today, it was a muted and respectful tone on the other end of the line.
Things that make you go 'Hmmmmm..."
Friday, January 22, 2010
If Something Is True, How Can It Be Illegal? The Trial of Geert Wilders
Geert Wilders name and controversial case are much better known in Europe than the US. A simple search of his name will yield much of his biography.
Here is the short version: He is a Dutch member of parliament, a libertarian, who has vociferously spoken out against radical Islam. For his pains, he is now on trial, looking at a 15-month prison term.
The charge?
'Icitement to hate and discrimination'.
Sort of sends a chill down the spine doesn't it? Rather like Stalin's Russia of the 1930's, or Hitler's Germany of the 1940's, or Mao's China of the 1960's, or... or... or...
The American Left looks ever back toward Europe for its inspiration. If Wilders is successfully silenced, it will give enormous encouragement to Hopey-Changey and his Justice Department, as they attempt to mute any and all who may dare oppose them. An 'incitement to hate and discrimination' indictment will do just fine, thank you.
I sense his words will matter much to us going forward, and it may be wise to print them out, and store them away for your children, against that day when it may be dangerous to otherwise transmit or speak them.
Mr. President, members of the court, I would like to only use a few minutes of my right to speak.
And I would like to begin by saying that of all our attainments, freedom is the most precious and most vulnerable. It is what people have dedicated their lives to and what people have given their lives for. Our freedom in this country is the fruit of centuries. It is the result of a history that has no equal and has brought us to where we are today.
I believe with all my heart and soul that the freedom is threatened in the Netherlands. That heritage, which generations could only dream of, is precisely this freedom which is no longer a given fact, no longer a matter self-evidence.
I dedicate my life to defending our freedom. I know what the risks are and I every day again, pay the price for that. I do not complain about it; it is my own decision. I see it as my duty and therefore I am standing here today.
I know that the words I use are sometimes tough, but they are never reckless. It is not my intention to spare the ideology of conquest and destruction, but neither do I intend to offend people.
I have nothing against Muslims. I have a problem with the Islam and the Islamization of our country because Islam is at right angles to freedom.
Future generations will wonder how we, in 2010, at this location, in this room, served our most precious asset. Whether the freedom is for both sides in this debate and thus also for Islam-critics. Or whether in the Netherlands only one side of the debate may be heard. Whether freedom of speech in the Netherlands applies to everyone, or only to some.
The answer to that is immediately also the answer to the question whether freedom still has a home in this country.
Freedom has but never been owned by a small group, but has always been the heritage of us all. We have all been blessed by it.
Lady Justice wears a blindfold, but she can hear perfectly well, she can listen perfectly well. And I hope she, Lady Justice, will hear the following phrases sound, loud and clear:
"It is not only the right, but also the duty of free people to speak out against any ideology that threatens freedom."
Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, was right:
"The price for freedom is eternal vigilance."
I hope with all I have in me that freedom of expression in this trial will prevail. Not only that I will be acquitted, but that the freedom of speech will continue to exist.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, members of the court. In this trial it of course is about the freedom of expression. But in this trial it is certainly also about finding the truth. The statements I have made, the comparisons I have drawn — are they true? As mentioned in the summons? Because if something is true, how can it be illegal?
Therefore I ask you strongly not only to grant my request for the hearing of witnesses and experts in the field of freedom of speech. But I also ask you explicitly to honor my requests for the hearing of witnesses and experts on the field of Islam, all in full publicity. I hereby am not only referring to the gentleman Jansen and Admiraal but also on the expert witnesses from Israel, the United States, the United Kingdom and other countries. Preferably, all.
I must have the ability to defend myself. I must prove you that I have spoken the truth, please do not obstruct me from that. Because without these witnesses, I cannot defend myself well and in my view it will be out of the question that this is a fair trial.
Thank you.
And thanks to Cranmer for making them available to us all. He's one of the best out there these days.
If you feel so inspired, copy/paste and pass these words to your friends.
Here is the short version: He is a Dutch member of parliament, a libertarian, who has vociferously spoken out against radical Islam. For his pains, he is now on trial, looking at a 15-month prison term.
The charge?
'Icitement to hate and discrimination'.
Sort of sends a chill down the spine doesn't it? Rather like Stalin's Russia of the 1930's, or Hitler's Germany of the 1940's, or Mao's China of the 1960's, or... or... or...
The American Left looks ever back toward Europe for its inspiration. If Wilders is successfully silenced, it will give enormous encouragement to Hopey-Changey and his Justice Department, as they attempt to mute any and all who may dare oppose them. An 'incitement to hate and discrimination' indictment will do just fine, thank you.
I sense his words will matter much to us going forward, and it may be wise to print them out, and store them away for your children, against that day when it may be dangerous to otherwise transmit or speak them.
Mr. President, members of the court, I would like to only use a few minutes of my right to speak.
And I would like to begin by saying that of all our attainments, freedom is the most precious and most vulnerable. It is what people have dedicated their lives to and what people have given their lives for. Our freedom in this country is the fruit of centuries. It is the result of a history that has no equal and has brought us to where we are today.
I believe with all my heart and soul that the freedom is threatened in the Netherlands. That heritage, which generations could only dream of, is precisely this freedom which is no longer a given fact, no longer a matter self-evidence.
I dedicate my life to defending our freedom. I know what the risks are and I every day again, pay the price for that. I do not complain about it; it is my own decision. I see it as my duty and therefore I am standing here today.
I know that the words I use are sometimes tough, but they are never reckless. It is not my intention to spare the ideology of conquest and destruction, but neither do I intend to offend people.
I have nothing against Muslims. I have a problem with the Islam and the Islamization of our country because Islam is at right angles to freedom.
Future generations will wonder how we, in 2010, at this location, in this room, served our most precious asset. Whether the freedom is for both sides in this debate and thus also for Islam-critics. Or whether in the Netherlands only one side of the debate may be heard. Whether freedom of speech in the Netherlands applies to everyone, or only to some.
The answer to that is immediately also the answer to the question whether freedom still has a home in this country.
Freedom has but never been owned by a small group, but has always been the heritage of us all. We have all been blessed by it.
Lady Justice wears a blindfold, but she can hear perfectly well, she can listen perfectly well. And I hope she, Lady Justice, will hear the following phrases sound, loud and clear:
"It is not only the right, but also the duty of free people to speak out against any ideology that threatens freedom."
Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, was right:
"The price for freedom is eternal vigilance."
I hope with all I have in me that freedom of expression in this trial will prevail. Not only that I will be acquitted, but that the freedom of speech will continue to exist.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, members of the court. In this trial it of course is about the freedom of expression. But in this trial it is certainly also about finding the truth. The statements I have made, the comparisons I have drawn — are they true? As mentioned in the summons? Because if something is true, how can it be illegal?
Therefore I ask you strongly not only to grant my request for the hearing of witnesses and experts in the field of freedom of speech. But I also ask you explicitly to honor my requests for the hearing of witnesses and experts on the field of Islam, all in full publicity. I hereby am not only referring to the gentleman Jansen and Admiraal but also on the expert witnesses from Israel, the United States, the United Kingdom and other countries. Preferably, all.
I must have the ability to defend myself. I must prove you that I have spoken the truth, please do not obstruct me from that. Because without these witnesses, I cannot defend myself well and in my view it will be out of the question that this is a fair trial.
Thank you.
And thanks to Cranmer for making them available to us all. He's one of the best out there these days.
If you feel so inspired, copy/paste and pass these words to your friends.
Things That Make You go 'Hmmm'
All of a sudden, a certain sobriety seems to have descended upon the frat house of Congress.
We have this Constitution that dictates that 1/3 of the Senate and 100% percent of the House have to face the voters every two years.
Suddenly, one-third of the Senate is having serious second thoughts about facing the voters and explaining why they confirmed Zimbabwe Ben Bernanke. They've already got to some 'xplainin' to do about TurboTax Timmy, who has help put us into unimaginable debt after arranging for the secret bailout of Goldman Sachs, after presiding over the worst banking abuses in memory as chief of the New York Federal Reserve Bank.
Even liberal voters know how to do math, and the math sucks, in each instance.
Warren Buffett was in Washington today, talking Ben and Timmy up, assuring Fox Business what a great job they are doing. It felt, shall we say, contrived. This guy owns insurance companies. And he has five billion bucks sunk into Goldman Sachs. If things go tits-up, he'll need Ben and Timmy.
Hmmm...
One hundred percent of the House is wrestling with how they would justify voting for a health-care bill that stinks to high heaven, that the country can't afford, and does not want.
Hmmm....
The Supreme Court weighed in today on the side of free speech.
If the law considers a corporate entity to be a person, then that person has the right to express its political opinion, whenever it wishes. The gloves will come off, and the Democrats will not fare well in the onslaught. Everybody, including unions, small businesses, big businesses--everybody--will be able to speak their mind this fall. Imagine how many small businesses, state by state, might decide to spend 5,000 bucks of their own money to tell the country what they think of Barack Obama and his minions? Hell, it makes OldSouth want to form a corporation, just for the joy of joining in!
Hmmm...
So, what happened?
Well, in great part, this is the crisis when people began seriously reading about what happened, and how, and who, and why. OldSouth began reading Robert Peston's thoughts in the fall of 2007, and the journey began.
And, they began talking to one another. Family, friends, neighbors, folks at church; and people they'll never meet, thinking out loud from their computer keyboards.
The frat boys in Washington never contemplated that would happen.
But they never contemplated a 30% drop in housing values. Or a 17% employment rate. Or that the details of the TARP scam would ever leak out. Or that the UAW would scam the country like it did.
Or... Or....(you fill in the blanks)
Keep reading. Keep writing. Keep talking.
The Congressional frat boys have shredded great parts of the Constitution, but short of a coup, they can't avoid the first Tuesday of November of every even-numbered year.
Hmmm...
We have this Constitution that dictates that 1/3 of the Senate and 100% percent of the House have to face the voters every two years.
Suddenly, one-third of the Senate is having serious second thoughts about facing the voters and explaining why they confirmed Zimbabwe Ben Bernanke. They've already got to some 'xplainin' to do about TurboTax Timmy, who has help put us into unimaginable debt after arranging for the secret bailout of Goldman Sachs, after presiding over the worst banking abuses in memory as chief of the New York Federal Reserve Bank.
Even liberal voters know how to do math, and the math sucks, in each instance.
Warren Buffett was in Washington today, talking Ben and Timmy up, assuring Fox Business what a great job they are doing. It felt, shall we say, contrived. This guy owns insurance companies. And he has five billion bucks sunk into Goldman Sachs. If things go tits-up, he'll need Ben and Timmy.
Hmmm...
One hundred percent of the House is wrestling with how they would justify voting for a health-care bill that stinks to high heaven, that the country can't afford, and does not want.
Hmmm....
The Supreme Court weighed in today on the side of free speech.
If the law considers a corporate entity to be a person, then that person has the right to express its political opinion, whenever it wishes. The gloves will come off, and the Democrats will not fare well in the onslaught. Everybody, including unions, small businesses, big businesses--everybody--will be able to speak their mind this fall. Imagine how many small businesses, state by state, might decide to spend 5,000 bucks of their own money to tell the country what they think of Barack Obama and his minions? Hell, it makes OldSouth want to form a corporation, just for the joy of joining in!
Hmmm...
So, what happened?
Well, in great part, this is the crisis when people began seriously reading about what happened, and how, and who, and why. OldSouth began reading Robert Peston's thoughts in the fall of 2007, and the journey began.
And, they began talking to one another. Family, friends, neighbors, folks at church; and people they'll never meet, thinking out loud from their computer keyboards.
The frat boys in Washington never contemplated that would happen.
But they never contemplated a 30% drop in housing values. Or a 17% employment rate. Or that the details of the TARP scam would ever leak out. Or that the UAW would scam the country like it did.
Or... Or....(you fill in the blanks)
Keep reading. Keep writing. Keep talking.
The Congressional frat boys have shredded great parts of the Constitution, but short of a coup, they can't avoid the first Tuesday of November of every even-numbered year.
Hmmm...
A Close Call, Indeed
In all the hoopla about John Edwards admitting he fathered an illegitimate child by his mistress, while his wife was undergoing treatment for cancer, something to ponder:
Do we understand how close we were to having this gentleman as the Vice-President of the United States in 2004? A few votes in a few precincts in a few states swing the other way, and the Second In Command is the world's most prominent blackmail target.
Problem is, a lot of people within the Democrat Party knew this guy was a clown. An empty shirt. Unfit for office.
And they said...nothing.
The press, who rode on buses with him, talked with him, asked him simple questions he could not answer, saw that he never read even a newspaper.
And they said...nothing.
And, now the Great Ass-Covering begins in earnest.
This is Chris Matthews, spending almost eight minutes of airtime trying to let the world know that he hadn't been fooled, etc. etc. and changing the subject to Sarah Palin.
(Sarah Palin? What's she doing in a conversation about John Edwards? No matter what your opinion of the lady, she has nothing to do with John Edwards.)
If he knew, he said...nothing.
John Edwards is a sociopath, a serial liar, a moral cipher. He almost came within a heartbeat of the Presidency.
But that's not the scary part. It's that the press, who insist we listen to them, follow them, trust them, and vilify us as stupid yokels if we don't, knew about this man.
And said...nothing. Edwards wasn't the only moral cipher of this sordid episode.
Do we understand how close we were to having this gentleman as the Vice-President of the United States in 2004? A few votes in a few precincts in a few states swing the other way, and the Second In Command is the world's most prominent blackmail target.
Problem is, a lot of people within the Democrat Party knew this guy was a clown. An empty shirt. Unfit for office.
And they said...nothing.
The press, who rode on buses with him, talked with him, asked him simple questions he could not answer, saw that he never read even a newspaper.
And they said...nothing.
And, now the Great Ass-Covering begins in earnest.
This is Chris Matthews, spending almost eight minutes of airtime trying to let the world know that he hadn't been fooled, etc. etc. and changing the subject to Sarah Palin.
(Sarah Palin? What's she doing in a conversation about John Edwards? No matter what your opinion of the lady, she has nothing to do with John Edwards.)
If he knew, he said...nothing.
John Edwards is a sociopath, a serial liar, a moral cipher. He almost came within a heartbeat of the Presidency.
But that's not the scary part. It's that the press, who insist we listen to them, follow them, trust them, and vilify us as stupid yokels if we don't, knew about this man.
And said...nothing. Edwards wasn't the only moral cipher of this sordid episode.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Art Therapy
OldSouth loves art. No doubt about it.
But our dear Federal Government, whilst spending kajillions of dollars on the War on Terror, decided that they could release hardened murderers from Gitmo, turn them over to the Saudis, and the Saudis could rehabilitate them by enrolling them in art classes. This would allow them to 'express themselves' with crayons, exorcise their inner demons, and return to a normal civilian life. Maybe they could even become florists or interior designers. The possibilities are endless!
Or...
Maybe, just maybe, this was a bad idea?
In November of 2007, one of four al-Qaeda leaders associated with the Northwest Airlines Flight 253 terrorist plot, Guantánamo prisoner #372 Said Ali al-Shihri was released from prison into the custody of Saudi government officials. In an endearing effort to reform militant jihadis, the Saudis enrolled the convicted terrorist in a psychological and religious program emphasizing art therapy.
Now, if you travel here, you have to take off your shoes, be searched head to toe, have a body scan. If you're an eight-year-old whose name mistakenly appears on a watch list, you get frisked everytime you travel. If you're a murdering terrorist, you get released, and go to art therapy class. Then you head back to Yemen to work on murdering more civilians.
If you live outside the US, OldSouth suggests you consider carefully your plans for travel here. Is it worth the risk, knowing these facts?
Much finger-pointing has taken place since December 25, but nothing of substance has changed.
If you live outside the US, and wonder why the voters of Massachusetts voted overwhelmingly for the Republican candidate, consider this: The same morons who set up our airport security system demand the right to take over the entire health care system of this nation. They encourage Wall Street to crush Main Street, and have overseen the creation of near 20% unemployement and the ballooning of a welfare state that cannot be afforded.
Multiply the Art Therapy idiocy by several hundred similar events, and you get an idea of the frustration that has built here. Flight 253 was saved by the passengers acting heroically, and officials of the Federal Government turned the terrorist over to local Detroit authorities, who promptly informed him of his rights, obtained him an attorney, and forever foreclosed the possibility of obtaining needed intelligence that might save lives later on.
Oh, well. Maybe he'll mend his ways in Art Therapy, when he is released back to Yemen after acquittal.
But our dear Federal Government, whilst spending kajillions of dollars on the War on Terror, decided that they could release hardened murderers from Gitmo, turn them over to the Saudis, and the Saudis could rehabilitate them by enrolling them in art classes. This would allow them to 'express themselves' with crayons, exorcise their inner demons, and return to a normal civilian life. Maybe they could even become florists or interior designers. The possibilities are endless!
Or...
Maybe, just maybe, this was a bad idea?
In November of 2007, one of four al-Qaeda leaders associated with the Northwest Airlines Flight 253 terrorist plot, Guantánamo prisoner #372 Said Ali al-Shihri was released from prison into the custody of Saudi government officials. In an endearing effort to reform militant jihadis, the Saudis enrolled the convicted terrorist in a psychological and religious program emphasizing art therapy.
Now, if you travel here, you have to take off your shoes, be searched head to toe, have a body scan. If you're an eight-year-old whose name mistakenly appears on a watch list, you get frisked everytime you travel. If you're a murdering terrorist, you get released, and go to art therapy class. Then you head back to Yemen to work on murdering more civilians.
If you live outside the US, OldSouth suggests you consider carefully your plans for travel here. Is it worth the risk, knowing these facts?
Much finger-pointing has taken place since December 25, but nothing of substance has changed.
If you live outside the US, and wonder why the voters of Massachusetts voted overwhelmingly for the Republican candidate, consider this: The same morons who set up our airport security system demand the right to take over the entire health care system of this nation. They encourage Wall Street to crush Main Street, and have overseen the creation of near 20% unemployement and the ballooning of a welfare state that cannot be afforded.
Multiply the Art Therapy idiocy by several hundred similar events, and you get an idea of the frustration that has built here. Flight 253 was saved by the passengers acting heroically, and officials of the Federal Government turned the terrorist over to local Detroit authorities, who promptly informed him of his rights, obtained him an attorney, and forever foreclosed the possibility of obtaining needed intelligence that might save lives later on.
Oh, well. Maybe he'll mend his ways in Art Therapy, when he is released back to Yemen after acquittal.
Richard Nixon Redux
OK, it's Wednesday afternoon, driving through the rain on an errand before heading to Wednesday night church supper and choir rehearsal (it's a Southern Thing...it's what we do on Wednesday nights).
Radio's on NPR, because they make OldSouth giggle, claiming the recession is over, that the medical correspondents on duty in Haiti are acting unethically by attempting to assist the suffering people surrounding them--people with massive fractures and secondary infections, the young woman in the middle of a breech birth. These people should be ignored, because these MD's are really 'journalists', and 'journalists' never dirty their hands with the 'little people'. They're all dirty and smelly, and didn't go to an Ivy. Eeewww!
You know, the normal left-wing idiocy NPR pours forth every day. They tell us that ThePeopleInCharge have everything well under control, and that we are simpletons if we disagree.
OldSouth drives, giggles, and makes his way along the rain-drenched roads.
Then, they cover the ABC interview with Prez HopeyChangey in the wake of the Scott Brown victory, or as Another Black Conservative labels it, the Massacusetts Bitch-Slap.
This time OS almost drives into the ditch in laughter and amazement. Here's Obama's quote, verbatim:
"Here's my assessment of not just the vote in Massachusetts, but the mood around the country: the same thing that swept Scott Brown into office swept me into office. People are angry and they are frustrated. Not just because of what's happened in the last year or two years, but what's happened over the last eight years."
When all else fails: Blame George Bush!
Here's the link, and you can see it for yourself. It really happened. He really said it.
President Obama: We Lost Touch With American People Last Year - ABC News
This sort of delusion in the Oval Office hasn't been seen since the days of Richard Nixon. Hilary Clinton ranting about 'The Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy' runs a close second, but then again she wasn't really the President at the time--only pretending to be.
This man is deeply, deeply, profoundly out of touch with the simple realities of the nation.
He honestly believes Massachusetts voted for Brown because they were upset with George Bush!
Let's hope no one in the White House is able to dissuade him. November isn't that far away, and his ass needs to be stumpin' for allll his favorite candidates!
Go, Barry. Go, Barry. Go, Barry.
Radio's on NPR, because they make OldSouth giggle, claiming the recession is over, that the medical correspondents on duty in Haiti are acting unethically by attempting to assist the suffering people surrounding them--people with massive fractures and secondary infections, the young woman in the middle of a breech birth. These people should be ignored, because these MD's are really 'journalists', and 'journalists' never dirty their hands with the 'little people'. They're all dirty and smelly, and didn't go to an Ivy. Eeewww!
You know, the normal left-wing idiocy NPR pours forth every day. They tell us that ThePeopleInCharge have everything well under control, and that we are simpletons if we disagree.
OldSouth drives, giggles, and makes his way along the rain-drenched roads.
Then, they cover the ABC interview with Prez HopeyChangey in the wake of the Scott Brown victory, or as Another Black Conservative labels it, the Massacusetts Bitch-Slap.
This time OS almost drives into the ditch in laughter and amazement. Here's Obama's quote, verbatim:
"Here's my assessment of not just the vote in Massachusetts, but the mood around the country: the same thing that swept Scott Brown into office swept me into office. People are angry and they are frustrated. Not just because of what's happened in the last year or two years, but what's happened over the last eight years."
When all else fails: Blame George Bush!
Here's the link, and you can see it for yourself. It really happened. He really said it.
President Obama: We Lost Touch With American People Last Year - ABC News
This sort of delusion in the Oval Office hasn't been seen since the days of Richard Nixon. Hilary Clinton ranting about 'The Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy' runs a close second, but then again she wasn't really the President at the time--only pretending to be.
This man is deeply, deeply, profoundly out of touch with the simple realities of the nation.
He honestly believes Massachusetts voted for Brown because they were upset with George Bush!
Let's hope no one in the White House is able to dissuade him. November isn't that far away, and his ass needs to be stumpin' for allll his favorite candidates!
Go, Barry. Go, Barry. Go, Barry.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Now That A Bit Of Progress Has Been Made...
OldSouth wishes to recommend Simon Johnson's blog, Baseline Scenario.
He explains thoroughly, in plain English, how we arrived to the present economic conundrums we confront. There is a lot of material to read, but should be time well-spent for any and all.
He has credentials:
Simon Johnson, former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, is a professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, and a member of the CBO’s Panel of Economic Advisers. He is a co-founder of The Baseline Scenario.
And, he writes with style and a dry sense of humor.
For all of us trying to navigate the waters these days, he provides some good insights.
He explains thoroughly, in plain English, how we arrived to the present economic conundrums we confront. There is a lot of material to read, but should be time well-spent for any and all.
He has credentials:
Simon Johnson, former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, is a professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, and a member of the CBO’s Panel of Economic Advisers. He is a co-founder of The Baseline Scenario.
And, he writes with style and a dry sense of humor.
For all of us trying to navigate the waters these days, he provides some good insights.
Poor NBC...
They tossed Conan O'Brien under the wheels of the bus, and kept Keith Olbermann...
It's going to cost NBC $40,000,000 to make Conan go away.
Keith, on the other hand, will just stay on to keep poisoning the well.
Don'tcha know the folks at Comcast, who just bought NBC, are just gleeful?
$6.5 billion in cash on the table, and they get Keith Olbermann...
Shareholder meeting should be interesting this year!
It's going to cost NBC $40,000,000 to make Conan go away.
Keith, on the other hand, will just stay on to keep poisoning the well.
Don'tcha know the folks at Comcast, who just bought NBC, are just gleeful?
$6.5 billion in cash on the table, and they get Keith Olbermann...
Shareholder meeting should be interesting this year!
O Heavens, OldSouth Underestimated The Spin!
Just a few posts ago, OldSouth speculated on the list of parties who would be blamed were Scott Brown to win the Senate special election in Massachusetts.
It's the racists.
It's the teabaggers.
It's Rush and the radioheads.
It's the homophobe pro-lifer fascist zealots.
It's Bush's fault(always a favorite...).
It's Martha Coakley's fault.
It's the voters' fault--they were all duped into voting for the wrong person--we must repeat the election.
It really wasn't a legal election, 'cuz a Democrat didn't win. (Therefore he can't be seated.)
Along comes Keith Olbermann, MSNBC's pet attack dog, with this rant that hits most of the points on the list.
Really, OldSouth was attempting (lamely, it appears) to be a bit tongue-in-cheek.
Along comes Olbermann, unbidden and unrehearsed.
To quote the great Jeff Foxworthy: 'Folks, I just can't make this stuff up!'
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Can You Say 'Out of Touch'?--'I Knew You Could!'
Ah, yes, for decades Fred Rogers would don that comfy cardigan and lead his TV audience of tykes on another gentle journey through Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. He would carefully explain new ideas unfamiliar words with the phrase, 'Can you say...? I knew you could!' He was also painstakingly careful to let children know when he was talking about real things or make-believe things, because young kids sometimes can't make the distinction. It's something grown-ups are supposed to do with ease.
Which leads us to the musicians of the Cleveland Orchestra, who are supposed to be grown-ups.
The city of Cleveland has not fared well these past few years, which is a reality the musicians seem to have overlooked. The massive wealth the city built has in great part melted away, and no new industries have arisen to carry the city forward.
The city is depopulating. ('Can you say 'depopulate'? That means more people are moving out than moving in. The city gets smaller and poorer when that happens, boys and girls.')
The orchestra has been running $4,000,000 deficits annually for years. ('Can you say 'deficit'? That means more money is being spent than is being taken in, boys and girls.')
The management has laid off staff and taken pay cuts, and asked the musicians to take a 5% cut in salary this year, with a return to par next year, and a modest raise in two years.
Themusicians children chose to strike instead. Right before the lucrative tour that makes or breaks the orchestra's finances.
The New York Times tells the tale:
The Cleveland players’ minimum salary stood at $115,000, seventh in the nation, but most earn more through additional payments; principal players can earn two or three times that amount.
As the musicians see it, losing further ground will make it tougher to attract the absolute best players, and to keep them, threatening the orchestra’s greatness. “Continuity and stability have been the backbone of this orchestra,” said Michael Sachs, the principal trumpeter.
Before the settlement, Mr. Hanson, the executive director, dismissed these arguments. “The proposal that we’re making is fair and reasonable and will not cause any artistic impact such as they’re predicting,” he said. Though the orchestra has been toward the bottom of the elite orchestra pay scale for a decade, he added, virtually no member has defected.
Defected?!!! Every opening announced opens the floodgate of stellar one-page resumes, hundreds of them. The management could start over, advertise the positions starting at 75k and staff the equivalent of two orchestras, with never a worry about quality of employee.
Remember when the Major League Baseball players went out on strike in 1994, and the World Series was cancelled? What happened next season? The fans stayed away in droves, and television ratings sank.
Did it occur to the children that no one in the Land of Reality sympathizes with people who make high incomes, doing really pleasant work, who decide to go on strike? Especially in industries that exist to entertain the rest of society?
The Cleveland Orchestra departs for Miami tomorrow for their winter concert season there. Here's hoping the good people of Miami stay home and donate their ticket money to people with real problems, like the injured and starving of Haiti.
Audiences and donors can strike, as well.
Which leads us to the musicians of the Cleveland Orchestra, who are supposed to be grown-ups.
The city of Cleveland has not fared well these past few years, which is a reality the musicians seem to have overlooked. The massive wealth the city built has in great part melted away, and no new industries have arisen to carry the city forward.
The city is depopulating. ('Can you say 'depopulate'? That means more people are moving out than moving in. The city gets smaller and poorer when that happens, boys and girls.')
The orchestra has been running $4,000,000 deficits annually for years. ('Can you say 'deficit'? That means more money is being spent than is being taken in, boys and girls.')
The management has laid off staff and taken pay cuts, and asked the musicians to take a 5% cut in salary this year, with a return to par next year, and a modest raise in two years.
The
The New York Times tells the tale:
The Cleveland players’ minimum salary stood at $115,000, seventh in the nation, but most earn more through additional payments; principal players can earn two or three times that amount.
As the musicians see it, losing further ground will make it tougher to attract the absolute best players, and to keep them, threatening the orchestra’s greatness. “Continuity and stability have been the backbone of this orchestra,” said Michael Sachs, the principal trumpeter.
Before the settlement, Mr. Hanson, the executive director, dismissed these arguments. “The proposal that we’re making is fair and reasonable and will not cause any artistic impact such as they’re predicting,” he said. Though the orchestra has been toward the bottom of the elite orchestra pay scale for a decade, he added, virtually no member has defected.
Defected?!!! Every opening announced opens the floodgate of stellar one-page resumes, hundreds of them. The management could start over, advertise the positions starting at 75k and staff the equivalent of two orchestras, with never a worry about quality of employee.
Remember when the Major League Baseball players went out on strike in 1994, and the World Series was cancelled? What happened next season? The fans stayed away in droves, and television ratings sank.
Did it occur to the children that no one in the Land of Reality sympathizes with people who make high incomes, doing really pleasant work, who decide to go on strike? Especially in industries that exist to entertain the rest of society?
The Cleveland Orchestra departs for Miami tomorrow for their winter concert season there. Here's hoping the good people of Miami stay home and donate their ticket money to people with real problems, like the injured and starving of Haiti.
Audiences and donors can strike, as well.
They're Thugs, But it's OK, They're Obama's Thugs
Remember the scene at that Philadelphia polling station in November 2008?
From today's Washington Times:
The undisputed facts on Election Day 2008:
Two members of the New Black Panther Party, wearing black berets, black combat boots, black dress shirts and black jackets with military-style markings, were videotaped at a Philadelphia polling place as one brandished a 2-foot-long nightstick. Multiple witnesses complained that they felt intimidated, and several filed affidavits attesting as much. One witness said that one Black Panther told a white man, "Cracker, you are about to be ruled by a black man." A Justice Department memo also says that a black couple, both Republican poll watchers, told authorities they were concerned for their safety when leaving the polling place at day's end because the Black Panthers accused them of being "race traitors."
...and later...
The New Black Panther Party has been identified as a "hate group" even by left-wing organizations and also has been denounced by the remnants of the original Black Panther Party. Yet at one point in 2008, the official Obama campaign Web site proudly featured a Web page highlighting the New Black Panther Party endorsement. One of the Black Panthers originally charged in the voter-intimidation case, Mr. Jackson, was an elected member of Philadelphia's 14th Ward Democratic Committee and was credentialed to be an official Democratic Party poll watcher. The case against him was dropped just four days before municipal elections in Philadelphia - just in time for him again to serve as an official Democratic poll watcher.
All attempts to bring these thugs to justice apparently were quashed by Obama political appointees.
This smells of Argentina in the 1940's, and Obama increasingly looks and smells like Juan Peron. That country has yet to recover from Peronism.
OldSouth's concerns about today's Massachusetts election, and violence at that polls this fall, are not unfounded. The Obama campaign, and the White House, are complicit with this thuggery.
But that's OK, 'cuz they're thuggin' for HopeAndChange, right?
Is this what Dr. King devoted his life's work for? Anyone out there who decried the use of dogs and batons against the Selma marchers willing to speak up against Obama's thugs?
(Sound of crickets chirping...)
From today's Washington Times:
The undisputed facts on Election Day 2008:
Two members of the New Black Panther Party, wearing black berets, black combat boots, black dress shirts and black jackets with military-style markings, were videotaped at a Philadelphia polling place as one brandished a 2-foot-long nightstick. Multiple witnesses complained that they felt intimidated, and several filed affidavits attesting as much. One witness said that one Black Panther told a white man, "Cracker, you are about to be ruled by a black man." A Justice Department memo also says that a black couple, both Republican poll watchers, told authorities they were concerned for their safety when leaving the polling place at day's end because the Black Panthers accused them of being "race traitors."
...and later...
The New Black Panther Party has been identified as a "hate group" even by left-wing organizations and also has been denounced by the remnants of the original Black Panther Party. Yet at one point in 2008, the official Obama campaign Web site proudly featured a Web page highlighting the New Black Panther Party endorsement. One of the Black Panthers originally charged in the voter-intimidation case, Mr. Jackson, was an elected member of Philadelphia's 14th Ward Democratic Committee and was credentialed to be an official Democratic Party poll watcher. The case against him was dropped just four days before municipal elections in Philadelphia - just in time for him again to serve as an official Democratic poll watcher.
All attempts to bring these thugs to justice apparently were quashed by Obama political appointees.
This smells of Argentina in the 1940's, and Obama increasingly looks and smells like Juan Peron. That country has yet to recover from Peronism.
OldSouth's concerns about today's Massachusetts election, and violence at that polls this fall, are not unfounded. The Obama campaign, and the White House, are complicit with this thuggery.
But that's OK, 'cuz they're thuggin' for HopeAndChange, right?
Is this what Dr. King devoted his life's work for? Anyone out there who decried the use of dogs and batons against the Selma marchers willing to speak up against Obama's thugs?
(Sound of crickets chirping...)
If Brown Wins, How Will The White House and MSM Explain It?
The chart tells a dramatic story.
Scott Brown was 30 points behind in November, 17 behind at the New Year.
He's polling about 10 points ahead in some polls today.
Of course, only the real one counts, the one done tomorrow.
But, if he wins, by a distinct margin, to claim the seat vacated by Ted Kennedy, what will Hopey-Changey's people say? How will they spin this?
First and foremost:
There is always an explanation, some way of making certain it is never interpreted as a rejection of Obama or his governance.
It's the racists.
It's the teabaggers.
It's Rush and the radioheads.
It's the homophobe pro-lifer fascist zealots.
It's Bush's fault(always a favorite...).
It's Martha Coakley's fault.
It's the voters' fault--they were all duped into voting for the wrong person--we must repeat the election.
It really wasn't a legal election, 'cuz a Democrat didn't win. (Therefore he can't be seated.)
If he wins big, the exodus of Democrat incumbents headed to retirement will pick up steam.
But don't worry, the White House will assure one and all, and the MSM will echo the refrain:
It has nothing to do with Obama, and if you disagree, you must obviously be a homophobe, prolifer, teabagging, radiohead, racist Bush-lover.
It's not his fault.
It's yours.
Chin-straps on. Tomorrow will likely be ugly.
Scott Brown was 30 points behind in November, 17 behind at the New Year.
He's polling about 10 points ahead in some polls today.
Of course, only the real one counts, the one done tomorrow.
But, if he wins, by a distinct margin, to claim the seat vacated by Ted Kennedy, what will Hopey-Changey's people say? How will they spin this?
First and foremost:
There is always an explanation, some way of making certain it is never interpreted as a rejection of Obama or his governance.
It's the racists.
It's the teabaggers.
It's Rush and the radioheads.
It's the homophobe pro-lifer fascist zealots.
It's Bush's fault(always a favorite...).
It's Martha Coakley's fault.
It's the voters' fault--they were all duped into voting for the wrong person--we must repeat the election.
It really wasn't a legal election, 'cuz a Democrat didn't win. (Therefore he can't be seated.)
If he wins big, the exodus of Democrat incumbents headed to retirement will pick up steam.
But don't worry, the White House will assure one and all, and the MSM will echo the refrain:
It has nothing to do with Obama, and if you disagree, you must obviously be a homophobe, prolifer, teabagging, radiohead, racist Bush-lover.
It's not his fault.
It's yours.
Chin-straps on. Tomorrow will likely be ugly.
Monday, January 18, 2010
A Warning Shot Across The Bow, From Across The Pond
Burning Our Money has been informing us on how the UK fared during the recent snows.
The tale has not been pretty.
Snow comes, snow melts.
Incompetent governments, sadly, show up, and are loathe to melt away.
Here in the US, we haven't reached this stage. Yet. But we are not too far from it, and 2010's cash crunch on local and state governments will begin to take hold.
The tale has not been pretty.
Snow comes, snow melts.
Incompetent governments, sadly, show up, and are loathe to melt away.
Here in the US, we haven't reached this stage. Yet. But we are not too far from it, and 2010's cash crunch on local and state governments will begin to take hold.
Two Local Views On The Senate Race In Massachusetts
Boston Globe
Boston Herald
This is beginning to look like one of those memorable events that only the US can conjure up:
Brown was serenaded by his daughter, former “American Idol” semi-finalist Ayla Brown, backslapped by Red Sox [team stats] ace pitcher Curt Schilling [stats], and pumped up by former “Cheers” know-it-all John Ratzenberger during the electric rally.
“This to me feels like the clubhouse on the morning of Game Seven,” said Schilling. “We know we’re going to win, but we have to play the game anyway . . . Rarely do we feel like we get a chance to make a difference. This is one of those times and we cannot miss this opportunity.”
Schilling and Ratzenberger, for OldSouth's friends from across the pond, are major local heroes, in the 'walk-on-water' category. Especially Schilling, as the Red Sox fans refer to themselves as 'Red Sox Nation'--think Liverpool or Manchester United with a Yankee twang.
On the other hand, Obama showed up to rally what troops remain, and couldn't fill an auditorium. Brown's supporters line the streets and overflow his rallies. It has become about Obama, the Health Care Bill That Nobody Wants, the spending, the corruption, the banksters, and Wall Street crushing Main Street.
A member of the Kennedy clan turned up to help out, but couldn't seem to remember the Democrat candidate's name:
Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), speaking with a gaggle of reporters after the event, said that while state Sen. Scott Brown (R) offers voters a quick fix, in reality, the problems created by "George Bush and his cronies" are not so easily solved.
"If you think there's magic out there and things can be turned around overnight, then you would vote for someone who could promise you that, like Scott Brown," Kennedy said. "If you don't, if you know that it takes eight years for George Bush and his cronies to put our country into this hole ... then you know we have a lot of digging to do, but some work needs to be done and this president's in the process of doing it and we need to get Marcia Coakley to help him to do that."
It wasn't a misprint--Kennedy referred to Martha Coakley as 'Marcia' repeatedly. Truly a ringing endorsement...
There are a lot of motivated and angry voters out there. The lines will be long at the polls, and the Democrat machine already has lawsuits to file, ACORN thugs to intimidate voters, and any manner of electoral shenanigans to engage in. Think Florida 2000 on steroids. Hanging chads, anyone?
OldSouth's take: Even if Brown loses, it will be a most narrow loss, and will be much like the iceberg that sank the Titanic. At first, nothing seemed amiss. A few hours later, the lifeboats were over the sides. If Brown wins, Katie bar the door. The Dems in the Senate will walk over hot coals to prevent him being seated.
It will be very, very ugly.
Boston Herald
This is beginning to look like one of those memorable events that only the US can conjure up:
Brown was serenaded by his daughter, former “American Idol” semi-finalist Ayla Brown, backslapped by Red Sox [team stats] ace pitcher Curt Schilling [stats], and pumped up by former “Cheers” know-it-all John Ratzenberger during the electric rally.
“This to me feels like the clubhouse on the morning of Game Seven,” said Schilling. “We know we’re going to win, but we have to play the game anyway . . . Rarely do we feel like we get a chance to make a difference. This is one of those times and we cannot miss this opportunity.”
Schilling and Ratzenberger, for OldSouth's friends from across the pond, are major local heroes, in the 'walk-on-water' category. Especially Schilling, as the Red Sox fans refer to themselves as 'Red Sox Nation'--think Liverpool or Manchester United with a Yankee twang.
On the other hand, Obama showed up to rally what troops remain, and couldn't fill an auditorium. Brown's supporters line the streets and overflow his rallies. It has become about Obama, the Health Care Bill That Nobody Wants, the spending, the corruption, the banksters, and Wall Street crushing Main Street.
A member of the Kennedy clan turned up to help out, but couldn't seem to remember the Democrat candidate's name:
Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), speaking with a gaggle of reporters after the event, said that while state Sen. Scott Brown (R) offers voters a quick fix, in reality, the problems created by "George Bush and his cronies" are not so easily solved.
"If you think there's magic out there and things can be turned around overnight, then you would vote for someone who could promise you that, like Scott Brown," Kennedy said. "If you don't, if you know that it takes eight years for George Bush and his cronies to put our country into this hole ... then you know we have a lot of digging to do, but some work needs to be done and this president's in the process of doing it and we need to get Marcia Coakley to help him to do that."
It wasn't a misprint--Kennedy referred to Martha Coakley as 'Marcia' repeatedly. Truly a ringing endorsement...
There are a lot of motivated and angry voters out there. The lines will be long at the polls, and the Democrat machine already has lawsuits to file, ACORN thugs to intimidate voters, and any manner of electoral shenanigans to engage in. Think Florida 2000 on steroids. Hanging chads, anyone?
OldSouth's take: Even if Brown loses, it will be a most narrow loss, and will be much like the iceberg that sank the Titanic. At first, nothing seemed amiss. A few hours later, the lifeboats were over the sides. If Brown wins, Katie bar the door. The Dems in the Senate will walk over hot coals to prevent him being seated.
It will be very, very ugly.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
A Bit Of (Black) Humor From Our Friends In The UK
From Rantin'Rab:
The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved." Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies all but ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to a "Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was in 1588 when threatened by the Spanish Armada.
The Scots raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get the Bastards". They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years.
The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide". The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralysing the country's military capability. It's not only the French who are on a heightened level of alert. Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout loudly and excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."
The Germans also increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbour" and "Lose".
Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual, and the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.
The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.
Americans meanwhile and as usual are carrying out pre-emptive strikes, on all of their allies, just in case.
And in the southern hemisphere...
New Zealand has also raised its security levels - from "baaa" to "BAAAA!". Due to continuing defense cutbacks (the air force being a squadron of spotty teenagers flying paper aeroplanes and the navy some toy boats in the Prime Minister's bath), New Zealand only has one more level of escalation, which is "I hope Australia will come and rescue us".
Australia, meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be right, mate". Three more escalation levels remain: "Crikey!', "I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend" and "The barbie is cancelled". So far no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level.
The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved." Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies all but ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to a "Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was in 1588 when threatened by the Spanish Armada.
The Scots raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get the Bastards". They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years.
The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide". The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralysing the country's military capability. It's not only the French who are on a heightened level of alert. Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout loudly and excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."
The Germans also increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbour" and "Lose".
Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual, and the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.
The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.
Americans meanwhile and as usual are carrying out pre-emptive strikes, on all of their allies, just in case.
And in the southern hemisphere...
New Zealand has also raised its security levels - from "baaa" to "BAAAA!". Due to continuing defense cutbacks (the air force being a squadron of spotty teenagers flying paper aeroplanes and the navy some toy boats in the Prime Minister's bath), New Zealand only has one more level of escalation, which is "I hope Australia will come and rescue us".
Australia, meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be right, mate". Three more escalation levels remain: "Crikey!', "I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend" and "The barbie is cancelled". So far no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level.
Climategate, American Style
Watching the Saints disassemble the Cardinals in front of an approving crowd in New Orleans, and surfed across this article from the UK Guardian.
James Delingpole of the Guardian has been doing his homework.
It seems the activist 'scientists' have been cooking the database books over here as well! It's easy to make the temperatures appear to rise if you systematically exclude all the temperature readings from higher elevations and northern climes.
Just a local example: Nashville, Tennessee sits in a large depression, ringed by mountainous terrain in all directions. OldSouth's house sits in the pastures and woods about three hundred feet in elevation above downtown Nashville, a concrete jungle. It's almost always two or three degrees cooler here. Jackson and Memphis, in the Mississippi River Delta to the west of us, is always three to five degrees warmer. Johnson City, on the Virginia border, in the mountains, is almost always five degrees cooler than Nashville, ten cooler than Memphis.
Easy-peasy! Let's just ignore Johnson City and the towns around Nashville! OMG! Tennessee is going to single-handedly destroy the remaining polar bears!
Al Gore is a moron. That's why his home state of Tennessee voted against him 57-43 in the 2000 Presidential race. It wasn't even close. Why anyone, anywhere gives him a moment's serious attention eludes all of us here who watched him grow up.
Global warming is a fraud, cooked up by people who have figured out that taxing carbon is the greatest foolproof scam ever invented.
The quote from the Guardian worth noting:
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