Sed quis custodiet ipsos cutodes

Or as Socrates said "Who will protect us against the protectors?"

A staff sergeant in the Maryland Air National Guard and a computer systems engineer thought his helmet video camera would. But after "he taped a Maryland state trooper who stopped him for speeding on I-95 using a camera mounted on his helmet [and then] posted the video on YouTube" he was arrested, charged with violating the state's wiretapping law, and jailed for 26 hours.

Many states have laws against 'wiretapping. In Florida, it a crime to intercept or record a "wire, oral, or electronic communication" unless all parties to the communication consent. But it is not a crime where "the parties do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in the conversation."

In the Maryland case, the judge ruled "that police have no expectation of privacy in their public, on-the-job communications." He wrote "Those of us who are public officials and are entrusted with the power of the state are ultimately accountable to the public. When we exercise that power in public fora, we should not expect our actions to be shielded from public observation. 'Sed quis custodiet ipsos cutodes' ('Who watches the watchmen?')." Read the Washington Post, Charges dropped in cyclist, trooper taping.

It's open season on recording elected officials, at least in Maryland.

The Republi-2010 Election Pledge-CON

UPDATE II: "Will the rhetoric of the House Republicans’ Pledge to America win over Tea Party members?" Read The New York Times, The Seduction of the Tea Partiers.


UPDATE: Jon Stewart on GOP déjà vu:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Postcards From the Pledge
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

"Extravagant promises and bluster are the stuff of campaign rhetoric, but the House Republicans’ “Pledge to America,” which promises a lot but is devoid of tough policy choices, goes far beyond the norm." Read The New York Times, The G.O.P.’s ‘Pledge’.

Cheer Up Monday

From a friend -- the 10 best caddy replies:

# 10 -- Golfer: "Think I'm going to drown myself in the lake."
Caddy: "Think you can keep your head down that long?"

# 9 -- Golfer: "I'd move heaven and earth to break 100 on this course."
Caddy: "Try heaven, you've already moved most of the earth."

# 8 -- Golfer: "Do you think my game is improving?"
Caddy: "Yes sir, you miss the ball much closer now."

# 7 -- Golfer: "Do you think I can get there with a 5 iron?"
Caddy: "Eventually."

# 6 -- Golfer: "You've got to be the worst caddy in the world."
Caddy: "I don't think so sir. That would be too much of a coincidence."

# 5 -- Golfer: "Please stop checking your watch all the time. It's too much of a distraction."
Caddy: "It's not a watch - it's a compass."

# 4 -- Golfer: "How do you like my game?"
Caddy: "Very good sir, but personally, I prefer golf."

# 3 -- Golfer: "Do you think it's a sin to play on Sunday?"
Caddy: "The way you play, sir, it's a sin on any day."

# 2 -- Golfer: "This is the worst course I've ever played on."
Caddy: "This isn't the golf course. We left that an hour ago."

# 1 -- Best Caddy Comment.... Golfer: "That can't be my ball, it's too old."
Caddy: "It's been a long time since we teed off, sir."

It Ain't Over 'Til the Fat Lady Gets a Job

UPDATE XI: "Instead of addressing the dismal unemployment picture during Wednesday’s press conference, Ben Bernanke bent to the inflationistas." Read The New York Times, The Intimidated Fed, which notes:

"Lately the inflationistas have seized on rising oil prices as evidence in their favor, even though — as Mr. Bernanke himself pointed out — these prices have nothing to do with Fed policy. The way oil prices are coloring the discussion led the economist Tim Duy to suggest, sarcastically, that basic Fed policy is now to do nothing about unemployment 'because some people in the Middle East are seeking democracy.'

But I’d put it differently. I’d say that the Fed’s policy is to do nothing about unemployment because Ron Paul is now the chairman of the House subcommittee on monetary policy."

UPDATE X: Another told ya so (originally posted in April 2009). "While data zealots have declared the end of the Great Recession, its pain is still very real for millions of Americans." Read The New York Times, We Haven’t Hit Bottom Yet.


UPDATE IX: In the future, will this time be known as 'The Great Unemployment?' Read The Atlantic, How a New Jobless Era Will Transform America.


UPDATE VIII: "Those in the lower-income groups are in a much, much deeper hole than the general commentary on the recession would lead people to believe." Read The New York Times, The Worst of the Pain.


UPDATE VII: From the Washington Post, Digging out of a deep hole:



And who dug the hole, Bush or Obama?


UPDATE VI: The unemployment rate jumped to 10.2 percent in October, the highest since 1983. Read The New York Times, U.S. Unemployment Rate Hits 10.2%, Highest in 26 Years.

But "the truer measure of unemployment -- a total count of everyone who should be working full time but is not -- hit 17.5 percent in October, the highest level in modern times."


UPDATE V: From The New York Times, Comparing This Recession to Previous Ones: Job Losses;



But thank God we saved Government Sachs.


UPDATE IV: Pity the non-government worker, unemployment is still bad, bad, bad. Read The New York Times, A Scary Reality.


UPDATE III: If Obama don't watch out, the unemployed fat lady might crush his presidency. Read the Washington Post, Shaky Economy May Dislodge Obama's Footing.


UPDATE II: How come the fat lady still ain't got a job? Cause there ain't none to be had, unemployment rose last month to 9.5%, and that number is probably an understatement. Read the Washington Post, Job Losses Dampen Hopes for Recovery.

Obama shouldn't have given all the money to the robber banks.


UPDATE: The fat lady still ain't got a job, and her prospects ain't good. Read The New York Times, G.M.’s Latest Plan Envisions a Much Smaller Automaker and Workers Walk the Plank. The later article notes that "[w]hile Wall Street is breaking out the Champagne, the rest of the economy is beyond terrible, and will be for the foreseeable future."

You can thank those Republi-cons and their war on the middle class.

Are happy days here again? Is the economic mess behind us?

There is an old saying, it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings, which means that one shouldn't assume the outcome of some event until it has actually finished.

(FYI: The phrase refers to the final scene of German composer Richard Wagner's opera Der Ring des Nibelungen, aka the Ring cycle, a full performance of which could take place over four nights with a total playing time of 15 hours, in which a heavy-set woman dressed like a valkyrie (Brünnhilde) rides into the funeral pyre of her lover (Siegfried), while singing of course because it is an opera, as the the set collapses and the entire cycle ends up in the Rhine river, where it started.)

Read The New York Times, As Stocks Surge, Fears Linger About the Economy.

After the looting and robbery of the treasury of trillions of dollars, the government has succeeded in propping up the stock market. But the stock market decline wasn't the problem, it was just a symptom.

The real event was an economic downturn, which was caused by massive fraud on Wall Street that was facilitated by deregulation and lack of government oversight, all part of a larger Republi-con decades-long war on the middle class, but that is a subject for another post.

Bottomline, the trillions were a mere band aid to hide the gaping wounds of the economic downturn. And my bet is, it ain't over.

More State Republi-Con Fiscal Conservative Hypocrisy

UPDATE II: Rubio's defense for charging personal expenses to the state Republi-con party credit card, he "spent less in 4 years than Sansom did in 2." Read the Miami-Herald, Marco Rubio charged $4K in home remodeling work on GOP credit card.

You remember Sansom -- over 2½ years, a 25-year-old junior Sansom staffer, who was given a party American Express card, spent nearly $1.3 million. Thousands were spent "on jewelry, sporting goods and in one case $15,000 for what's listed as a monthlong stay at a posh Miami Beach hotel." The Florida Republi-cons spent "$650,000 in lodging, $60,000 in airfare — mostly commercial airlines — and $66,000 for charter planes."

According to a former supporter, Rubio never met a perk he didn’t like and is "ust another career politician looking to line his own pocket."

Now you know why I call them Republi-Cons!


UPDATE: What will he do when he gets a hold of the federal government credit card? St. Petersburg Times, Marco Rubio charged kitchen flooring on GOP credit card?

Another Republi-con fiscal CONservative with money problems. Read the Washington Post, Republican's financial woes recast Ga. race.

He's got a lot in common with Rubio and O'Donnell.

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Class Today at NoBullU on WEBY

Listen to the voice of wisdom and reason in a wilderness of partisan rhetoric -- No political insanity, no conservative hypocrisy, no liberal foolishness -- Just straight talk, straight at you, and that’s no bull!!

NoBullU will broadcast today from 4:05 to 6:00 p.m. at 1330 AM WEBY and on line.

Topics:

Follow-up: held hostage to the Republi-CON reaction to Nuts and their pimps of fear, anger and hatred;

Local and regional: the big health care lawsuit showdown begins; and Happy 200th Birthday to the Republic of West Florida;

Nation and international: a Republi-CON civil war told ya so; is Palin a 'Democratic double agent'?; the race to November is on; will Crist win?; will it be déjà Miller the Republi-Con Fiscal Conservative Hypocrisy all over again?; not one, not two, but three Republi-con fiscal CONservative with money problems; who wants the Nuts to rule?; those racist Republi-CONs; who wants a religious war?; American political meltdown, the road to poverty; don't furlough, cut federal government pay and benefits; road trip anyone, liar, liar, are your pants a liar?; and are you ready for some football!

and

Donate to a good cause: this week support Pace FL's Woodbine United Methodist's Ray Of Hope Wheelchair Ramp Ministry, as reported recently at the Pensacola News Journal, Ramping it up: Pace church makes wheelchair ramps for people in need.

I'll discuss anything, but expect no mercy if you are a party hack pandering to fear, anger and hatred, because the truth sure makes it hard out there for the party pimps.

So tune-in, call-in, but only if you can handle some ass kickin' discussion of politics and current events.

And remember: I'm still God's favorite Gulf Coast talk show host, just ask the capped well!

For the Fed BS'ers

For a good review of the purpose and importance of the Federal Reserve, read The New York Times, The Fed, Innovation and the Next Recession.

The writers conclusion is somewhat unsettling:

"The 1920s opened with an 18-month recession, an eerie parallel to the 2007-9 experience. It ended with the Great Crash of 1929."

Down-Waisting

UPDATE" Clothing makers lie because people don't want to knowe the truth, "[t]wo-thirds of people in this country are overweight or obese; about a third of adults — more than 72 million — are obese, which is roughly 30 pounds over a healthy weight." Read USA Today, USA is fattest of 33 countries.

As I said before, to pay for the health care cost associated with obesity, tax fats, sugars (especially high fructose corn syrup), processed/prepared foods, and alcohol to pay for basic health care for all.

Politicians do it. Advertisers do it. Cheating spouse do it. Now even your pants do it. Read Esquire, Are Your Pants Lying to You? An Investigation.

Giving new meaning to liar, liar, pants on fire.

Happy 200th Birthday to the Republic of West Florida

Republic of West Florida Flag

"In the early morning hours of Sept. 23, 1810, 75 armed rebels slipped into the Spanish fort at Baton Rouge, and in what was described as a ''sharp and bloody firefight,'' subdued the garrison. They lowered the Spanish flag and raised the Bonnie Blue Flag -- a single white star on a blue field -- that had been adopted for the new nation they called West Florida." Read The New York Times, Little Known Republic in La. Celebrates 200 Years.

For more information, see Southeastern Louisiana University, West Florida Bicentennial Celebration.

Local Republi-Con Fiscal Conservative Hypocrisy

UPDATE: Will it be déjà Miller the Republi-Con Fiscal Conservative Hypocrisy all over again? Could there be another Miller in congress who "who believes the federal government is on the brink of bankruptcy and has called for an end to the 'welfare state,' received federal farm subsidies for land that the fiscal conservative owned. . ." Read the Washington Post, Miller acknowledges getting farm subsidies.

If so, it will be "just another hypocritical politician with one set of rules for himself and one for everyone else."

At Rick's Blog, publius wrote:

"why is there something wrong with not being on the stimulus bill? led by our congressman, there is a proud tradition of pensacola not taking federal handouts–for example, not getting any katrina/rita money (although northern alabama did). Our congressman, who represents us, has railed against the stimulus as wasteful spending. Same for health insurance for poor chldren. Let Miller take a stand. If he’s against it, and he’s at the federal level, then the money shouldnt come here."

publius, you say that Congressman Miller is not in favor of "taking federal handouts" and "has railed against . . . wasteful spending." Surely you jest.

See the list of USDA subsidies in 1st district of Florida, which totaled totaled $184 million from 1995-2006.

Review the list of recipients, including:

1	Griswold Farms ∗	Milton, FL 32571	$3,503,019
2	Walker Farms ∗	Mc David, FL 32568	$2,331,538
3	Diller Farms ∗	Walnut Hill, FL 32568	$2,136,600
4	Jerry Jones	Jay, FL 32565	$1,888,322
5	Paul M Griswold	Milton, FL 32570	$1,850,718
6	Doyle M Hunter	Jay, FL 32565	$1,594,075
7	J W Bauldree Estate	Jay, FL 32565	$1,544,569
8	Hendricks And Son Inc ∗	Jay, FL 32565	$1,503,484
9	B D Hendricks	Jay, FL 32565	$1,494,659
10	Robert G Evers	Baker, FL 32531	$1,423,623
11	Alesia Griswold	Milton, FL 32570	$1,403,854

Know that Congressman Miller is married to the former Vicki Griswold.

Remember that even Congressman Miller got farm subsidies until he thought it might look bad when he ran for public office.

Think Republi-con hypocrisy.

Promise to stay better informed by visiting NoBullU more often.

Class dismissed.

The Race to November is On

UPDATE II: "Republicans are threatening to force a tax increase on the middle class unless they get paid off with tax breaks for the wealthy. It’s an offer Democrats must refuse. . . [Democrats] need to highlight their differences with the G.O.P. — and it’s hard to think of a better place for them to take a stand than on the issue of big giveaways to Wall Street and corporate C.E.O.’s." Read The New York Times, The Tax-Cut Racket.

Time to call the Republi-con bluff!


UPDATE: "Contrary to popular belief, this week’s Tea Party victories haven’t hurt the electoral prospects of Republicans in November. . . [their] damage is all in the future. Right now, the Tea Party doesn’t matter. The Republicans don’t matter. The economy and the Democrats are handing the G.O.P. a great, unearned revival. Nothing, it seems, is more scary than one-party Democratic control. " Read The New York Times, The Backlash Myth.

Not yet anyhow.

And therein lies the Naive-crat election strategy.

Will the Republi-CONs win big in 2010? In order win by "the earth-shattering, upside results that Republicans are dreaming about — they will need for three basic things to happen. First, they will need a solid majority of independent voters to select their candidates. Second, they will need the Democratic base to be disinterested in the election. And third, they will need their own base to be enthused."

And for that to happen, the party establishment and their subsidiary, the Tea Party, will need to make nice, nice.

And therein lies the Naive-crat election strategy.

A Republi-CON Civil War Told Ya So

UPDATE II: What effect will this civil war have in November? Will independent voters abandon the Republi-con party? Not so says one pundit.

"Contrary to popular belief, this week’s Tea Party victories haven’t hurt the electoral prospects of Republicans in November." Read The New York Times, The Backlash Myth.


UPDATE: For more analysis of the meaning of the last group of primary election read the Washington Post, Republicans ride the tea party tiger, Righty pundits on 'suicide' watch, and Bill Clinton: New-look GOP makes Bush look liberal.

Today's top election story is Christine O'Donnell beats Rep. Mike Castle in Delaware Republican Senate primary, which finds this primary outcome "the latest in a string of embarrassments for the Republican establishment this year, underscoring the civil war that continues to rage in the party." As a result, in Delaware Senate race "the Republicans went from being extremely likely to win the race to extremely likely to lose it."

But I (and others) foresaw the civil war.

From an October 2008 post: "Suddenly, the conservative writers are discovering that the very anti-intellectualism their side courted and encouraged has begun to consume their movement." -- Is The Unholy Alliance Coming Apart (which quoted Washington Post, Civil War on the Right)

Other posts and updates over the past year regarding the Republi-con civil war:

A Preview of the 2010 Republi-CON Cat Fight

Are You Ready for Some Republi-CON Smack Down

But the Republi-con know they risk losing in the general election if they don't reach out to independents and moderate Republicans. Look how Rubio has 'veered from the Tea Party script.'

Is it possible the Naive-crats retain control of the House and Senate?

Who Wants the Nuts to Rule?

UPDATE III: Watch the absolutely hilarious Colbert Report on Tuesday's primary results:

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Libertea
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes 2010 Election Fox News

As unlikely as a reasonable person might think, O'Donnell may win in November. She is "poised and telegenic, with a sparkle that her Democratic opponent, Chris Coons, will be hard-pressed to match. She has mastered what should be called the Sarah Palin Affect -- the perkiness, the folksiness, the religiosity, the occasional flash of bared fangs -- and she performs it well."

God help us all.


UPDATE II: And how would the Tea Party rule? "Tea Party candidates this year have voiced opposition to masturbation, support for prohibition and a fear that bicycle-sharing would lead to world government. " Read the Washington Post, The Tea Party: More than just white tea?


UPDATE: This week marks end of primary season, with seven states voting. And not everybody is happy about the way it is ending. "Victories in Republican primaries on Tuesday by Tea Party-backed candidates may complicate Republican efforts to gain control of Congress." Read The New York Times, G.O.P. Braces for More Discontent in Final Primaries.

Also read Politico, Charles Krauthammer rips 'irresponsible' Palin and the Washington Post, The Tea Party: From rebellion to absurdity, with a great quote -- "I could buy a parrot and train it to say, 'tax cuts.'"

Pretty much sums up the Republi-cons.

What is the Tea Party? A "loose agglomeration of right-wing insurgents, libertarians, conservatives, evangelicals, survivalists, gun-rights crusaders, anti-tax protestors, deficit hawks, anti-government zealots, militia members, Ayn Randers, Limbaugh “ditto heads,” Glenn Beck fanatics, birthers, Birchers and supporters of Sarah Palin and Ron Paul." So writes Will Bunch in his new book, The Backlash: Right-Wing Radicals, High-Def Hucksters, and Paranoid Politics in the Age of Obama.

Class Today at NoBullU on WEBY

UPDATE: Show canceled, ask Mike why!

Listen to the voice of wisdom and reason in a wilderness of partisan rhetoric -- No political insanity, no conservative hypocrisy, no liberal foolishness -- Just straight talk, straight at you, and that’s no bull!!

NoBullU will broadcast today from 4:05 to 6:00 p.m. at 1330 AM WEBY and on line, courtesy of Cyber Smart Computers.

Topics:

Follow-up: held hostage to the Republi-CON reaction to Nuts and their pimps of fear, anger and hatred;

Local and regional: the big health care lawsuit showdown begins;

Nation and international: a Republi-CON civil war told ya so; is Palin a 'Democratic double agent'?; the race to November is on; who wants the Nuts to rule?; those racist Republi-CONs; who wants a religious war?; Third World America; Restore Truthiness, liar, liar, are your pants a liar?; and are you ready for some football!

and

Donate to a good cause: this week support Pace FL's Woodbine United Methodist's Ray Of Hope Wheelchair Ramp Ministry, as reported recently at the Pensacola News Journal, Ramping it up: Pace church makes wheelchair ramps for people in need.

But I'll discuss anything. Disclaimer: the host reserves the right to end any discussion and hang up on you.)

So tune-in, call-in, but only if you can handle some ass kickin' discussion of politics and current events.

And remember: I'm still God's favorite Gulf Coast talk show host, just ask the capped well!

King Republi-CON

"To hear Rush Limbaugh tell it, the judge hearing a legal challenge to the new health law is a rough-and-tough outdoorsman who should have liberals worried. The truth is more complicated." Read The New York Times, Limbaugh Taken In: The Judge Was Not Loaded for Bear.

Here is a copy of the transcript (as posted by the Pensacola New Journal) of Limpy being a sucker:

"A federal judge says he likely will let go to trial portions of a lawsuit by Florida and 19 other states, including Washington, challenging (Obamacare). But U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson said [today] that he expects to dismiss other parts. Vinson didn't specify which parts of the lawsuit likely will go to trial but said he will issue a ruling by Oct. 14." Now, speaking of clairvoyance, The New York Times and the rest of the political cognoscenti said that the state lawsuits against Obamacare wouldn't go anywhere. Now, who is this judge? Judge Clyde Roger Vinson is a Ronald Reagan appointee. Judge Clyde Roger Vinson is an avid hunter. He's an amateur taxidermist. Do you know what a taxidermist is?

That's right. For our liberal caller today, this would not be good news. A taxidermist stuffs dead game. If you go into a big, all-male club, you'll see some moose head over the fireplace. A taxidermist is responsible for it. "After a 2002 hunting trip during which he killed three brown bears, Vinson had their heads mounted over the door through which defendants must pass to enter the courtroom. At the time Vinson said the sight of the severed bear heads would 'instill the fear of God' into the accused. The heads were removed in June 2003," it didn't even take a year (laughing) "following complaints by local defendants' rights groups."

(laughing) The prosecutors didn't complain. The defendants' rights groups complained. (laughing) The judge "said the sight of the severed bear heads would 'instill the fear of God' into the accused." (laughing) "He was appointed to serve a seven-year term on the Federal Intelligence Surveillance court." That's FISA. He was appointed to serve a seven-year term on the FISA court effective May 4th of 2006. So he's still on the FISA court. Yes. Judge Clyde Roger Vinson. And remember The New York Times told us along with all the rest of the DC cognoscenti that these lawsuits against Obama, they're not gonna go anywhere. Just like we're being told that Christine O'Donnell cannot win.''

Does it come as a surprise that the King Republi-con finds the truth too complicated.

Restore Truthiness!

Fair Winds and Following Seas, But Get the Facts Straight

Chuck Baldwin is the pastor of Crossroad Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida, and was the presidential nominee of the Constitution Party for the 2008 U.S. Presidential election. I've always found his columns interesting if not accurate. In several recent columns, he announced and tried to explain why he and his extended family ("5 households and 17 people ranging in ages from 3 months to the upper 70s") decided to move from "the beautiful Gulf Coast beaches . . . to the majestic Rocky Mountains: the Flathead Valley of Montana."

One important reason he offers for moving to the Mountain States is "due to the distance separating them from the great regions of the country in which the tables are truly stacked against any growth and extension of the principles of federalism or limited government, namely, the Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest (with my apologies to freedomists in those areas). Big-city liberalism dominates most of the states in these regions. The federal government has invested billions of dollars and thousands of personnel establishing and oiling the Orwellian machine in these areas."

But by one objective measure, Federal Expenditures by State per Dollar Sent, Montana hardly qualifies as a bastion of self-sufficiency and liberty. For every dollar sent to Washington D.C., the federal government spends $1.58 in Montana.

Nevertheless, I bid him fair winds and following seas (and best wishes for factual accuracy in the future).

Is Palin a 'Democratic Double Agent'?

"That’s the only plausible explanation for the last two years.

First she charms John McCain, gets into his campaign and promptly extinguishes any chance he had of winning the presidency in 2008. Then she leads large sections of the G.O.P. into an intellectual cul de sac. She destroys any chance the Republicans have to take back the Senate. She promotes Christine O’Donnell, the Tea Party candidate in Delaware. And now that O’Donnell has won the G.O.P. primary, suddenly it is likely the Dems will hold the Senate and with it the upper chamber."

Read The New York Times,The New York Times, The Nutsiness of Politics.

Profiling a Republi-CON Man

"Newt Gingrich is more unbridled than ever. This is what passes for intellectualism on the right?" Read The New York Times, Who’s the Con Man?, where you can be remined of the man "who ditched two wives (the first when she was battling cancer; the second after an affair with the third — a House staffer — while he was impeaching Bill Clinton), now professes to be a good Catholic. Evidently the first two wives don’t count because he hadn’t converted to Catholicism. He even had a big Catholic conversion Mass here with his third wife, Callista, celebrated by a retinue of eight priests and three bishops."

Now that's a con man!

Would More Money Make You Happier?

Studies says that only if you make less than $75,000/year. Read Time, Do We Need $75,000 a Year to Be Happy?