Healther Skelter

Suggested viewing from Mike, who believes it is the "best discussion yet on the Obamacare Death Panels."

Obama Death Panel Debate:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Healther Skelter - Obama Death Panel Debate
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Spinal Tap Performance

Are you for private death panels, universal death panels, or the Republi-con favorite, wants whatever scares the public most?

Boys Will Be Boys

Since the dawn of time, man has battled the forces of gravity, gliders, wings and contraptions of all sorts. In the end, all it took was a simple giant water slide down the side of a mountain:

Truthfully, the video looks fake, but it is so hard to tell anymore. What do you think?

Tax and Spend, or Else

Gregory Clark, a professor of economics at the University of California at Davis, and author of "A Farewell to Alms: A Brief Economic History of the World,"wrote an interesting op-ed. Read the Washington Post, Tax and Spend, or Face The Consequences.

Summer Break at NoBullU

NoBullU is on summer break. I'll be back, mid-late August.

Til then, I'll make an occasional post. But there is lots to read and consider here at NoBullU.

And as the economic recovery continues, or not, reread my solution for the economic mess, better than the B & O (Bush & Obama) Bankster bailout that robbed our future.

What is Real Anymore, What is True

Got this from a friend who remarked that "it's amazing what can be done with computers now!!"



I agree, it is amazing what they can do with computers. Makes me wonder what the government does with computers. Later this week is the 40th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 11, the first manned mission to the moon. Some think the moon landing was a government hoax.

Now imagine what God can do. OMG do we really exists, or is this all just . . .

REST RESET LOADING . . . . . . . . .

Sorry, disregard the last, my simulated reality program crashed.

BTW, if what we think of as reality was just a fraud, would you want to know?

I think I'll watch a movie.

Rogue Diva Does It Again

UPDATE XII: What candidate, of which party awash in grievance, self-pity, resentment, and anger, impervious to facts or logic, might win 2012 presidential election? Read The New York Times, She Broke the G.O.P. and Now She Owns It, for the answer.


UPDATE XI: Who does Peggy Noonan, political conservative and former speech writer and Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan, call "the most careless sower of discord since George W. Bush, who fractured the party and the movement that made him?"

Noonan says this person is "out of her depth in a shallow pool. She was limited in her ability to explain and defend her positions, and sometimes in knowing them. She couldn't say what she read because she didn't read anything. She was utterly unconcerned by all this and seemed in fact rather proud of it: It was evidence of her authenticity. She experienced criticism as both partisan and cruel because she could see no truth in any of it. She wasn't thoughtful enough to know she wasn't thoughtful enough. Her presentation up to the end has been scattered, illogical, manipulative and self-referential to the point of self-reverence . . . She makes the party look stupid, a party of the easily manipulated."

Read the Wall Street Journal, A Farewell to Harms, for the answer.


UPDATE X: For a remarkable exchange between John McCain and Sarah Palin, the erstwhile mavericky twins, in bites of 140 characters or less, read The New York Times, Sweet, Tweet Revenge.


UPDATE IX: Several lengthy but good articles on The Rogue Diva. Read Time, The Outsider: Where Is Sarah Palin Going Next? and The New York Times, What’s Sarah Palin’s Political Future?

I predict that she will earn a lot of money in the next 18 months, build her network by campaigning and fund raising for other Republican (notice I didn't say Republi-con because I'm trying to be serious here) candidates, run for the presidency, and lose, possibly the primary, but probably the general election in 2012, unless the unemployment rate remains above 8-9%, and if it does, she might just win the elections. That's my prediction, and you heard it here first. In any case, it is going to be an interesting campaign.

Gentlemen, and Lady, let the campaign begin.


UPDATE VIII: As I suspected, Palin realizes that it is time to cash in. Read the Washington Post, Gold Rush In Alaska.

BTW, there is nothing wrong with the decision. Obama did the same thing by cashing in on his fame and popularity after his speech to the 2004 Democratic National Convention. And look where he ended up.

Tune in Friday when I discuss why I might support Palin in 2012.


UPDATE VII: Now we know, she quit because she is not a quitter. Really, I'm not making this up. Read CNN, Palin: 'I am not a quitter; I am a fighter.'

Reminds me of her support for the bridge to nowhere, before she didn't support it.

How do you know when a politician is lying?

As another veritasphobic politician, she should make a good president.


UPDATE VI: More seriously though, is it time to cut Palin some slack? Read the Washington Post, The Establishment's Palin Panic.

I agree with Kristol, Palin has a fascinating story not unlike Obama's. And I also agree with Kristol that the source of Plain's problem(s) aren't the Naive-crats, but her own party's establishment that "fears and even loathes Palin."


UPDATE V: As I noted below, one reason she quit was to cash in on a book deal. She better hurry though, before CollegeHumor finishes the film version of what might have been had McCain won:




UPDATE IV: More analysis of why Palin quit. Read Time, Why Sarah Palin Quit: The Five Best Explanations, which lists the most important factors that Alaska insiders say went into Palin's sudden decision.

Probably the best explanation yet.


UPDATE III: Was Palin popular because she was an "ordinary citizen who [took] on the elites" and represented "the democratic ideal — that anyone can grow up to be a great success story without graduating from Columbia and Harvard." Read The New York Times, Palin and Her Enemies.


UPDATE II: The FBI says it is not investigating Palin on public corruption charges.

In the meantime, the analysis of her speech continues. Read the Washington Post, With Palin, Keep Your Eye on That Audible.

The speech reminds me of the criticism of her tired cliches, random jargon, and catchphrases she had been coached to repeat, often resulting in nonsensical answers and gibberish during the election.

If you can't get enough of her mangled syntax, then revisit the Sarah Palin Quotes Generator 24/7, and hear insightful comment and analysis almost as inspirational as the real thing.


UPDATE: Still don't understand why Palin will quit. Read The Daily Beast, Palin Resignation: 11 Theories Why.

Why will the Rogue Diva quit her office early? The media was unfair. People were filing ethics complaints against her. Bloggers (and late night comedians) were saying mean things about her. She didn't want to be a lame duck. The state would be better off without her. Those are some of the reasons she gave.

She will build her network for 2012 by campaigning and fund raising for other candidates.

But I think the primary reason she quit is to cash in with a book and some speeches, maybe a little paid commentary on not-the-FoxNews, before she loses the 2012 Republi-con primary.

For more on this interesting development, read The New York Times, Now, Sarah’s Folly and Sarah’s Straight Talk.

Brilliant move, or dumb, dumb, dumb; only time will tell.

Why do you think Palin quit?

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 p.m. at 1330 AM WEBY and on line, courtesy of Cyber Smart Computers.

Topics:

Local and regional: another local corruption scandal and are Chamber of Commerce salaries, paid for by tax dollars, including nearly $200k for the Chamber CEO, worth it? Then why did the chamber ignored the USS Lexington Association's request for info, so that it will hold a reunion in Mobile; and

Nation and international: The Rogue Diva: a savvy, skilled, and adept politician or out of control, bizarre, and even egotistical (is accusing politicians of being egotistical like accusing ballerinas of dancing on their toes) and why I might support The Rogue Diva in 2012.

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 the truth!

WARNING: You may not want to call in if you have veritasphobia, especially if you are a certain veritasphobic politician.

What is the Opposite of Starve the Beast?

UPDATE: Had enough of Republi-con and Naive-Crat borrow and spend, then join Club Wagner.

What is Obama's plan to balance the budget? Read the Washington Post, Fattening the Beast.

I predict that this fiscal-political strategy will be no more successful than starve the beast.

Has the Economy Turned a Corner?

"Industrial production suggests that the economy is poised to turn around, but that the climb out of the current downturn will be a long one." For a graph of various business cycles over the last forty years, go to The New York Times, Turning a Corner?

Was Michael Jackson the Perfect Star for the Era of Fantasy Gone Wild

Has society descended into a Michael Jackson-esque fantasyland, trying to leave the limits and obligations of the real world behind. Read The New York Times, Behind the Facade.

Which reminds me of the warning of Ayn Rand: "We can evade reality, but we cannot evade the consequences of evading reality."

Happy Independence Day to the Republi-CON Party

Watch The GOP's Failure to Launch.

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 p.m. at 1330 AM WEBY and on line, courtesy of Cyber Smart Computers.

Topics:

Local and regional: is it the end for The Zoo of Northwest Florida and now the teachers sue; and

Nation and international: Republi-CON family values and feuds.

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 the truth!

WARNING: You may not want to call in if you have veritasphobia, especially if you are a certain veritasphobic politician.

The Banks (and Other Financial Institutions) are Robbing Our Future

UPDATE VII: Another I told ya so. Read the Rolling Stone, The Great American Bubble Machine, about how Goldman Sachs has engineered every major market manipulation since the Great Depression.


UPDATE VI: Ever wonder who the inside man was for the financial industry coup d'état that seized control of the U.S. Treasury. Read The New York Times, Geithner, as Member and Overseer, Forged Ties to Finance Club.


UPDATE V: How much has been looted from the treasury? Read the Washington Post, IMF Estimates Cost of Financial Crisis at $4 Trillion.

And besides paying bonuses, buying toxic assets with government money, guaranteeing loans, and posting huge profits, what else is being done with our money? Read the Washington Post, Bailout Recipients Spent Millions on Lobbying, Records Show.

Once a foob, always a foob?

UPDATE IV: You might not have realized it, but our government was overthrown in a coup recently. Read The Atlantic, The Quiet Coup, and find out how the Geithner, as Member and Overseer, Forged Ties to Finance Club has effectively captured our government.

New York financial institutions are using our treasury to more pay bonuses, buy toxic assets with government money, guarantee loans, and post huge profits.

Read the Washington Post, Fannie, Freddie Budget $210 Million On Bonuses, Draw Lawmakers' Fire and Reuters, US banks with taxpayer money could buy toxic assets, The New York Times, U.S. Program Lends a Hand to Banks, Quietly, and The New York Times, Big Profits, Big Questions.

At the center of it all, Goldman Sachs, the former firm of former Treasury Secretary Paulson. The AIG bailout never made sense, except if you understood that the money was meant to save Goldman Sachs. Since early on it has been clear that payments to AIG were just a cover to get money to Goldman Sachs. And when the original terms of the bailout proved too onerous, the terms were waived for another sweetheart deal.

UPDATE III: In an editorial, Joseph Stiglitz, an economist and professor at Columbia University, and winner of the 2001 the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, calls the Obama plan ersatz capitalism, "a win-win-lose proposal: the banks win, investors win — and taxpayers lose." He says:

"Some Americans are afraid that the government might temporarily “nationalize” the banks, but that option would be preferable to the Geithner plan. After all, the F.D.I.C. has taken control of failing banks before, and done it well. It has even nationalized large institutions like Continental Illinois (taken over in 1984, back in private hands a few years later), and Washington Mutual (seized last September, and immediately resold).

What the Obama administration is doing is far worse than nationalization: it is ersatz capitalism, the privatizing of gains and the socializing of losses. It is a “partnership” in which one partner robs the other. And such partnerships — with the private sector in control — have perverse incentives, worse even than the ones that got us into the mess."

Read The New York Times, Obama’s Ersatz Capitalism.

UPDATE II: An update from on my post in February. Joseph Stiglitz, an economist and professor at Columbia University, and winner of the 2001 the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, agrees that the Obama public-private partnership to buy up to $1 trillion of 'toxic' bank assets "amounts to robbery of the American people." Read The Daily Telegraph, Geithner rescue package 'robbery of the American people.'

The winner of the 2008 the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, Paul Krugman, an economist and professor of economics and international affairs at Princeton University, and an op-ed columnist for The New York Times, also doesn't like the plan. Read The New York Times, Financial Policy Despair.

UPDATE: Next week Uncle Sam is expected to triple down on AIG. Read the appropriately named article in The New York Times, Propping Up a House of Cards, in which the writer predicts that the government will spend "quarter of a trillion dollars" to prop up AIG. All for the purpose of saving Goldman Sacks, the former firm of former Treasury Secretary Paulson, the focus of an initial bailout proposal that never made sense, beneficiary of over a hundred billion bailout dollars, and then a hundred billion more.

It is robbery of the future!

The government is aiding and abetting the robbery of our future by investment banks and other financial institutions. Read The Big Picture, Citigroup: World’s Worst Investment to Get Even Worse, in which Barry Ritholtz wrote:

"Losers double down.

That’s the classic trading rule which the USA is about to violate in an enormous way. According to trading maven Dennis Gartman, one should “never, ever, ever, under any circumstance, add to a losing position.”

And yet that is what we are about to do.

To review: Former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson made a terrible investment on behalf of the taxpayers by purchasing a 7.8% stake in Citigroup (C) for an initial $25 billion dollars. He further put the US on the hook by guaranteeing against 90% of future losses on $301 billion in assets. Subsequently, we (the taxpayers) injected another $20 billion dollars.

At the time, Citigroup had a market cap of about ~$50 billion dollars. Today, its worth ~$13 billion.

So for about 100% of the market value of Citi, plus insurance guarantees worth of as much as 500% of its value (~$275 billion), we got less than 1/10 of a company that in total was worth 1/5 of our investment.

Pretty good deal, eh?

That $45 billion dollar stake now has a market value of just over a billion.

And, its about to get even worse.

Rather than do what is the FDIC-mandated-by-law thing, we will instead convert the nearly worthless common into preferred shares. The taxpayers stake will rise to near 40% of Citigroup.

NYT:

“Under the terms of the deal, the Treasury Department has agreed to convert up to $25 billion of its preferred stock investment in Citigroup into common stock. It will convert its stake to the extent that Citigroup can persuade private investors, including several big foreign government investment funds, to do so alongside the government, two people close to the deal said.”

What does this do for us? Well, the higher investment stake creates an enormous incentive for John Q. Public to continue to pour money into Citi, regardless of valuation. The inept banking giant then has access to infinite amount of capital, courtesy of you, the 1040 filers.

Its just another example of why these insolvent banks should be nationalized, or for you squeemish free marketers, FDIC mandated, pre-packaged Chapter 11, government funded reorganization.

If Obama continues to listen to the god-awful advice of Larry Summers and Tim Geithner, he will doom his presidency, and finsh marginally ahead of George W. Bush on the list of worst presidents.

This is not change we an believe in . . ."

Let me say again, the taxpayers paid $45 billion dollar for stock in an investment bank that now has a market value of only about $1 billion.

It is bank robbery of taxpayers. The government is robbing our future to save the Ponzi scheme that was Wall Street. The banks know it. Read The Baseline Scenario, Robbery Note - From The Banking Oligarchs This Morning, in which Simon Johnson, former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, a professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management and a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, wrote:

"The modern bank robber calmly hands a note to the teller, asking for money and making a moderately specific scary threat. The robber, of course, expects the teller to hand over unmarked bills without a fuss.

This morning’s “research” note from a major international bank is entitled, “Falling Short: The government needs to buy toxic assets,” and the heart of their one page argument is, with the emphasis as in the original,

One main stumbling block to the purchasing of troubled assets has been pricing, specifically how does the government price a diverse set of assets in a way that does not put the taxpayer on the hook. However, this should not be the standard by which we judge the efficacy of the plan, because a more prolonged deterioration in the economy will result in a higher terminal unemployment rate and a greater deterioration of the tax base. As such, the decline in tax revenues will crimp many of the essential services provided by the government. Ultimately, the taxpayer will pay one way or another, either through greatly diminished job prospects and/or significantly higher taxes down the line to pay for the massive debt issuance required to fund current and prospective fiscal spending initiatives. We think the government should do the following: estimate the highest price it can pay for the various toxic assets residing on financial institution balance sheets which would still return the principal to taxpayers.

Tell me if you think I am overreacting - it has been a difficult week - but I interpret this as saying: “give us as much money as you can, or else.” And the “or else” appears to be unemployment up around 20% and debt/GDP in the red-for-danger zone.

Can bankers really trump the American government in this fashion? It’s painful to read, but probably helpful that the oligarchs put their cards (and notes) on the table so brazenly. This is, after all, a critical fight to save American democracy, and it’s good to know what we are up against."

All the while the investment banks and other financial institutions pay dividends and bonuses, and have lavish retreats and their CEOs get 'golden parachutes.

This is why it is time to refresh the tree of liberty.

Republican Family Feuding

UPDATE III: Got this link from Mike, who said it made him "wanna take up running." Read Runner's World, I'm a Runner: Sarah Palin. For the reading challenged, try the the picture version.

Not sure whether this helps her image as a possible president, but it will sell a lot of magazines. It also helps explain her appeal to the Republi-con party, the angry old white guys are smitten by Sarah.


UPDATE II: And yet another. Read the Washington Post, The Sarah Palin Chronicles Mask Deeper GOP Troubles.


UPDATE: Are the arguments about Palin within the Republi-con party just a personification of the dispute over the future of the party? Read the Washington Post, Latest Palin Controvery Just a Subset of War Over Direction of GOP.

Another lengthy article about the Rogue Diva. Read Vanity Fair, It Came from Wasilla.

Then read of the ensuing feud, Politico, Sarah Palin story sparks Republican family feud.

I can't wait for 2012. How about you?

Could You Soon Live Forever?

Read The New York Times, Does Evolution Go Fast-Forward?

And for a counter-argument, read The New York Times, Why Not Perpetual Progress?

And for more about the possible future, read KurzweilAI.net.

More Republi-CON Family Values

UPDATE V: Sanford should blame his monkey ancestors. Read The New York Times, Politicians Are Primates Too.


UPDATE IV: From the internet:

"New GOP Amendment to the Constitution: marriage should be between a man and 2 women."

"This is all Clinton's fault. If he hadn't been unfaithful, then these repubs would not have felt it was OK to do it too. -- signed RNC"

UPDATE III:



UPDATE II: Is Pensacola Joe the party's next Clinton? I ask because he was in town last week promoting his latest book, "The Last Best Hope," and one newspaper article claims Joe is a "political genius." The article, in a paper that claims there are no sacred cows, states:

“Joe walked away from politics to spend more time with his sons, who were 10 and 13 at the time.

Joe has since been approached to be run for both the U.S. Senate and Florida Governor, but has chosen to stay away from politics.”

Is that true, or is Pensacola Joe a sacred cow?

I ask because lord knows that the Republi-con party needs some help after the last week in which the party’s family values propaganda joined the fiscal conservative farce in the trash can of political fraud.

All hail the Republi-con family man.


UPDATE: The South Carolina governor has a future writing Harlequin romance novels. In an email he sent to his Argentina love he wrote:

"You have a particular grace and calm that I adore. You have a level of sophistication that so fitting with your beauty. I could digress and say that you have the ability to give magnificent gentle kisses, or that I love your tan lines or that I love the curve of your hips, the erotic beauty of you holding yourself (or two magnificent parts of yourself) in the faded glow of the night’s light - but hey, that would be going into sexual details."

More bad news for the party wandering in the wilderness. I once asked who the Republi-con Clinton might be who would save all those phony-baloney, cult-like Republi-cons. In a sense, there are now two contenders.

Last week it was Nevada Senator who had a affair with the wife of a good friend and senior staffer.

Now the head of the Republican Governors Association, a Bible-quoting social conservative who called on Clinton to resign over his affair with Lewinsky (saying of Clinton, "He lied under a different oath, and that’s the oath to his wife. So it’s got to be taken very, very seriously.”) admits, in a tearful stream of consciousness, to loving the magnificent gentle kisses, curved hips, tan lines, and erotic beauty of a woman not his wife. Read the Washington Post, S.C. Gov. Sanford Admits to an Affair.

The article says that as a South Carolina Congressman, in 2000 he cast the lone "nay" vote more times than any other member of the House except Ron Paul. He harbored presidential ambitions and was on the Republi-con short list for 2012.

Some think Republi-cons are suffering an identity crisis with the collapse of the Republi-con ideology, but I know that Republi-con family values, like claims of fiscal conservatism, are just all cheap political talk.

Can you say hypocrisy again?

P.S.

Is it time for Republi-cons to to apologize for putting us through the Clinton impeachment?

Top 12 Indicators of a Bad Economy

From the internet, the top 12 indicators of a bad economy:

12. CEO's are now playing miniature golf.
11. I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.
10. I went to buy a toaster oven and they gave me a bank.
9. Hot wheels and Matchbox car companies are now trading higher than GM in the stock market.
8. Obama met with small businesses - GE, Pfizer, Chrysler, Citigroup and GM, to discuss the Stimulus Package.
7. McDonalds is selling the 1/4 ouncer.
6. People in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and are learning their children's names.
5. The most highly-paid job is now jury duty.
4. People in Africa are donating money to Americans.
3. Motel Six won't leave the lights on.
2. The Mafia is laying off judges.
And the number one indicator:
1. If the bank returns your check marked as "insufficient funds", you have to call them and ask if they meant you or them.

Frown and you frown alone, but smile and the whole world smiles with you.

The Power of a Picture

It is an old cliché, but true nevertheless, a picture is worth a thousand words. Case in point, the death of Neda (WARNING, the video contains images that some might find particularly disturbing):



So is that why Obama doesn't want to release 'the photos.' Read The New York Times, Neda, Obama and the Power of Pictures.

And read a couple of related posts, if you dare:

• Does the Star-Spangled Banner Wave Over the Land of the Torturers?
• Torture/Enhanced Interrogation Demonstration

Is It Reform Not-Good-Enough-to-Work?

The stimulus bill, environmental legislation (cap & trade), and possible health care reform got you confused. Read The New York Times, Vince Lombardi Politics, to understand why Democrats seem open to nearly any idea so long as it will lead to passing legislation, perhaps at the expense of passing sensible legislation.

Then read The New York Times, Not Enough Audacity, in which one editorial writer worries that the many compromises to get legislation passed may doom it to failure and discredit any future efforts. "[T]he perfect is the enemy of the good; but so is the not-good-enough-to-work . . . reform has to be done right."

So Many Lies, So Little Integrity

Pastor Poppins sub'ed for me as host of the Friday show and mentioned the latest internet myth -- that Obama prohibited Naval Academy graduates from wearing swords at their graduation last month. The myth can probably be traced to gossip in the Washington Times.

Only problem, it is not true. Read this article from the Annapolis newspaper, The Capital, Obama bans mids' swords at graduation - not! The article states that "swords have not been worn by midshipmen at graduations for some considerable time." I agree, I graduated in 1981 and we didn't wear swords. There were restriction on items that could be brought to graduation, as usual, and the list included "[o]utside food or drink."

So many lies, so little integrity. But what do you expect from a Republi-con.

Which brings me back to Pastor Poppins, someone wrote a letter to the editor which was printed in the June 25, 2009 edition of the local mullet wrapper. I couldn't find it online but here is what was said:

Stealth supports

I think WEBY radio's morning talk show hosts, Mike Mashburn and Carl Gallups, are probably plants put there by the Obama administration.

I think I've figured what's going on with these two. The purposely go so far over the top with their goofy criticisms of Obama because they know that will make the audience think those opposed to Obama are just a bunch of eccentrics and it will actually serve to garner support for Obama.

I don't think there can be any other explanation for it.

-- Bob Wood, Pensacola

Unfortunately Bob, there is another explanation. Some people are so blinded by hate they are confused by facts and logic. And although Pastor Poppins, AKA Carl Gallups, claims to be a man of God, the devil has blinded him, so that now he is a true brither.

Understand, I have no problem with a lively discussion and debate about the issues, but lies and illogic only serve to undermine credibility.

I suggest praying that God will open Pastor Poppins' eyes so that he may see the futility in his evil rhetoric. Until then, call in and tell him why he is wrong.

Sub Today at NoBullU on WEBY

Usually on Fridays you can listen to me, 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!!

However, I can't make it today but I hear that Pastor Poppins will substitute. Maybe he can comment on the Pastor who invited "his congregation of 150 and others to wear or carry their firearms into the sanctuary to “celebrate our rights as Americans!” as a promotional flier for the “open carry celebration” puts it" and on the ensuing debate.

Sub Today at NoBullU on WEBY

Usually on Fridays you can listen to me, 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!!

Unfortunately I can't make it today, but I hear that Pastor Poppins will substitute. Until the next show, post a comment or two.

Why Did We Invade Iraq, Cause the Saudis Financed Terrorism

Doesn't make sense, but read The New York Times, Documents Back Saudi Link to Extremists.

Actually, we all help finance terrorism and dictatorships. Read The New York Times, The Green Revolution(s), which argues that Iranian reformers need praise and empty rhetoric, they need the United States to end its dependency on the oil that finances Middle East dictatorship.

Of course, Bush wouldn't want to hurt his long time Saudi kissing buddies:

Welcome to the New Location

Welcome to the new location.

It is the same great blog, just a new web address.

Lateralpalooza

Watch the final play of the 2007 Trinity vs. Millsaps football game:



Sometimes persistence pays off.

Sub Today at NoBullU on WEBY

Usually on Fridays you can listen to me, 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!!

But I can't make it today so hopefully Mike or Ken will substitute. Until the next show, post a comment or two.

Plumber with a Sense of Humor

Ya gotta love this guy:

Not So Lite Summer Reading

UPDATE: And for a good movie, based on a true story, about a corporation trying to stick it to the little guy, watch Flash of Genius, which tells the stroy of Robert Kearn, inventor of the intermittent windshield wiper.

It has a happy ending, sort of.

Looking for a good book to read during the summer, then consider the books mentioned in this article, The New York Times, Greed Layered on Greed, Frosted With Recklessness, about the economic mess and the causes, including greed of course.

Tammy, let us know what you think.

The Flyswatter-in-Chief

Obama is no Budda. Watch:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Or if you like your news with a little, or a lot, of humor, then watch:



And believe it or not, PETA is upset about it. Read The Virginia-Pilot, PETA wishes Obama hadn't swatted that fly.

Torture/Enhanced Interrogation Demonstration

UPDATE: For more about what the government does in the name of 'freedom,' read the decision issued late Friday allowing a civil lawsuit by Jose Padilla to go forward against former Bush administration lawyer, John Yoo, who wrote memos which purported to justify "gross physical and psychological abuse at the hands of federal officials as part off a systematic program of abusive interrogation intended to break down Mr. Padilla’s humanity and his will to live.”

Padilla v. Yoo, Order Denying Motion to Dismiss

Are you ready yet Eric?

In recent weeks at NoBullU on 1330 AM WEBY we have discussed whether the techniques the U.S. used constituted torture or just simple enhanced interrogation. In one radio program I argued with Eric, a caller who denied that waterboarding and other methods, including 10+ days of sleep deprivation, confinement in a small enclosed dark space with insects, exposure to freezing temperatures and very,very cold water while naked, and/or prolonged restraint in stress positions, were torture.

It would be ironic that these methods which were copied from a 1957 USAF study of Chinese Communist techniques used during the Korean War to obtain false confessions, except for the fact that these methods were used because Cheney wanted false confessions linking Iraq to 9/11 in order to justify the invasion.

During the discussion, I challenged Eric, a life long Republi-con party member, to submit himself to these techniques. I would prove that after a short period of time I could force him to swear loyalty and allegiance to the Naive-crats and Reed and Pelosi.

Eric has accepted the challenge, and as soon as I find volunteers who were instructors in military SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) programs and are trained in these methods, and Eric signs a liability release that includes an acknowledgment of the possibility of death, the demonstration will begin.

In the meantime Eric, in order to help you prepare if you think you could, watch the following:



After the demonstration with Eric, I'll be ready to issue the challenge to Rusty and Sheepish.

If you are a former SERE instructor and would like to volunteer for this demonstration, please contact me.

Unhappy 40th Anniversary?

It has been 40 years since the start of the 'war' on drugs. Is it time to try an alternate strategy? Read The New York Times, Drugs Won the War.

Think of other things that once were illegal, and are now revenue sources, like playing the numbers and gambling. Bought a lottery ticket or been to a casino lately?

For Your Lazy Boy

Need an idea for Father's Day, then watch this:

Sub Today at NoBullU on WEBY

Usually on Fridays you can listen to me, 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!!

But I can't make it today so Mike will substitute. Until the next show, post a comment or two.

And watch the Baby Boomer Battle Hymn, it is funny:



Must of us don't like getting older, but it beats the alternative.

Republi-Con Treason

Why would a Republi-con Congressman tell Chinese officials "the budget numbers that the U.S. Government has put forward should not be believed."



Don't forget that the executive director of the Beijing Private Equity Association and a director of the China National Association of International Studies, has already demanded "inflation-protection measures for China’s existing investments in America, and [requested] additional security or collateral for its continued investments. America should also provide its largest creditor with greater transparency and information."

Because he wants to bankrupt the country for the benefit of his political party.

So who is the real un-American?

Is NW Florida Going Nuclear?

Didn't we discuss this on the show several months ago? Read NorthEscambia.com, Possible Nuclear Plant? Gulf Power Continues To Buy North Escambia Property.

If NW Florida develops a nuclear program, will there be international sanctions?

Contempt of Court or Contempt For God?

UPDATE IV: An interesting development in the matter, a teacher threatened to sue the Santa Rosa County School Board for violation of his First Amendment rights after "he and other teachers were prohibited [by the School Board] from participating in the private baccalaureate services that were scheduled to occur on Sunday evening, May 31, 2009, and would be terminated if they chose to do so." Read the Santa Rosa Press Gazette, ADF represents Jay Teacher in discrimination case.

It doesn't seem to me that it is a discrimination case as much as a First Amendment case.

And BTW, the School Board decided that the teacher was right and that the Board could not prohibit "district employee from attending or participating in the baccalaureate, or any other religious service or event, while on their own time and in their personal capacities."


UPDATE III: Everyone is trying to spin this story, even Pastor Poppins, AKA Carl Gallups, on WEBY last week. Now read WorldNetDaily, Graduating students defy ACLU.

The article is misleading. The ACLU never tried to prevent students from praying. The lawsuit was aimed only at stopping school officials from leading the students in religious activity.


UPDATE II: Who is wrong here, the school board in its interpretation of the consent decree, or the Principal who is defying his boss? Read the consent decree below and then at the Pensacola News Journal, Pace principal: We won't back down.

Doesn't sound to me like the Principal is setting a good example for the students. But he is getting close to retirement, so maybe he just wants to be the next Roy Moore.


UPDATE: Read the Pensacola New Journal, Superintendent Wyrosdick has a very big problem.

First the lawsuit and settlement.

Then the protest.

Now defiance.

Is it contempt of court, or contempt for God? Read original and follow-up posts (with links to court documents), and then these documents, and decide:

The consent decree and order:

Consent Decree and Order

Publish at Scribd or explore others:

The ACLU motion for contempt:

Motion for Order to Show Cause Why the Court Should Not Find Contempt

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Law & Government Business & Law

And exhibit:

Motion for Order Ot Show Cause Why the Court Should Not Find Contempt, Exhibit 86-02

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Law & Government Business & Law

The School Board's response:

SRCSB Response to Motion for Order to Show Cause Why the Court Should Not Find Contempt

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Law & Government Business & Law

And exhibit:

SRCSB Response to Motion for Order to Show Cause Why the Court Should Not Find Contempt, Exhibit

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Law & Government Business & Law

What do you think?

Operation Iraqi Shtick

Must see TV, Stephen Colbert declares victory:

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Word - Why Are You Here?
colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Keyboard Cat

Then gets a hair cut by Gen. Odierno, the commander of the American troops in Iraq:

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Obama Orders Stephen's Haircut - Ray Odierno
colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Keyboard Cat

A week of shows will be/were taped as part of USO shows in Iraq. Watch the highlights.

I wonder if the suit will catch on.

Cursing Obama

Sub Today at NoBullU on WEBY

Usually on Fridays you can listen to me, 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!!

But I can't make it today so Mike will substitute. Until the next show, post a comment or two.

Republi-Cons Warp the Public Debate

Fear, anger, and hatred are powerful weapons. Read the Washington Post, Rush and Newt Are Winning.

More Republi-Con Inspired Violence

UPDATE: More on why FOX News is responsible for a murder, allegedly on behalf of God, in a house of worship. Read the Washington Post, Why I Turned Down O'Reilly.

Fear, Anger, Hatred + Talk Radio & FOX News = Violence

For another example, read The New York Times, Doctor’s Killer Is Not Alone in the Blame, Some Say.

For Republi-cons, like other zealots, abortion doctors are fair game.

Republi-Con Funny Values

It is official, Cheney supports gay marriage, but only because he sees marriage as a form of torture.

Hard as it might be to believe, only the last part is the joke. Watch:

Obama Man Can Continued

UPDATE: Here is an argument that the GM bailout won't work. Read The New York Times, The Quagmire Ahead, which argues convincingly that while the Obama plan for General Motors is bureaucratically smart and financially tough-minded, it won’t revolutionize the company’s corporate culture and will likely make things worse.

From the Washington Post, After Many Tuneups, A Historic Overhaul:

"In the space of five head-spinning months, the economic downturn and a few strong-willed financial officials in the Obama administration have done what legions of car executives, consultants and policymakers had failed to do in three decades: overhaul the U.S. car industry."

The auto industry 'restructuring' will be part of Obama's historic legacy -- good or bad as it may be. It will make an interesting comparison to his predecessor's historic legacy.

A Republi-Con Filibuster Rally

Sometimes, a picture is worth a thousand words:



A party of angry white men isn't much of a party.

UPDATE: Read the Washington Post, GOP Faces Demographic Dilemma and The New York Times, The Howls of a Fading Species.

Fighting Mother Nature

Speaking of mother nature, read the Pensacola News Journal, Flouting Nature.

Replacing sand washed away from barrier islands during storms is a waste of taxpayer money.

Nearly everyone around these parts claims to be conservative, but I hardly think a true-red conservative would approve of throwing money at and into the ocean like this. Just one more example of the Republi-con ideology at work.

Caution, Don't Be Stupid

Should government officials interfere with mother nature's law of survival of the fittest? Read the Washington Post, What Not to Do with a Dead Bat, and you'll know what I mean.

Give new meaning to the saying, stupid is as stupid does.

Potato Chips of the World Unite Against Tax and Spend Judicial Activism

How dare they call Pringles potato chips. Read The New York Times, The Lord Justice Hath Ruled: Pringles Are Potato Chips.

It is outright judicial activism to advance tax and spend socialism. We know how Sotomayor would rule, don't we. I bet that she would even cite the British case.

Beheaded and Put on Display, Not Cruel and Unusual in Saudi Arabia

Is it cruel and unusual or just and appropriate? Read CNN, Convicted killer beheaded, put on display in Saudi Arabia.

For Mom & Pop Tammy

UPDATE: It seems that greed is out of fashion for now. Read The New York Times, A Promise to Be Ethical in an Era of Immorality.

Is it the the goal of a business manager to “serve the greater good” and to act responsibly, ethically and refrain from advancing their “own narrow ambitions” at the expense of others?

And how long will it last?

As a follow up to a radio program in early May on greed, good or bad, with special guest Mom & Pop Tammy, a regualr listener and frequent caller. Read the Washington Post, Greed's Saving Graces.

What do you think Tammy?

Lies, Fear Mongering, and Hope for the Worst

A pattern is emerging to help understand the Republi-con strategy to win elections -- lies, fear-mongering, and hope for the worst.

And the personification of that strategy: Rusty and the Chicken Hawk.

Here is more evidence of the strategy: The New York Times, Who Is to Blame for the Next Attack and McClatchy Newspapers, Cheney's speech ignored some inconvenient truths.

Be afraid, be very, very afraid! Now, Comrade Republi-Cons, for the party, repeat -- be afraid, be very, very afraid!

Our California Future

Want to know the future of the country? Read The New York Times, Deep Cuts Threaten to Reshape California. I particularly liked this statement:

“Government doesn’t provide services to rich people,” Mike Genest, the state’s finance director, said on a conference call with reporters on Friday. “It doesn’t even really provide services to the middle class.” He added: “You have to cut where the money is.”

I don't agree. Good government services benefit everyone. Roads are a case in point. But I do think that the poorer you are, the more you depend on government. And since the Republi-con war on the middle class has effectively destroyed millions of good paying jobs in this country, what will people do as the government cuts back?

Watch California, because as California goes, so goes the country.