I wish all politicians had the outlook that Dick Cheney has on most issues.
Chris Wallace interviewing Cheney:
One thing you can’t acuse Cheney of is of not being upfront on his opinions and experiences. We need people not afraid of speaking their mind, but I doubt we will ever get anyone like that until they are out of office.
Glenn Beck has come under excruciating fire for expressing his opinion. He has been doing this for quite some time on both radio and tv, but the left is just now catching up with him (probably because his ratings are through the roof.) The video clip below, from Fox and Friends, gives a quick snippet of the “controversy”, but you can watch a longer clip from his show here.
Though a little scandal might alienate advertisers, it’s pure ratings gold. Last night Glenn Beck had over 3 million viewers at 5pm, second only to O’Reilly for the night. But, Beck had more 25-54 viewers than O’Reilly (888K to 876K). I don’t watch or really even care about the cable news wars, but still…wow. Even though Beck airs before prime time, when there are fewer people watching TV, he had the most 25-54 viewers in the cable news world for the night.
The most interesting point is that his guest that evening was was Rush Limbaugh so I’m sure that had something to do about the high ratings. These ratings are of course not long term, just one night, but Becks numbers have been increasing for quite some time. This is despite a multitude of advertisers dropping their ads from Fox News and an all out assault from the left-wing nuts.
I have always liked Glenn Beck. He’s a little unhinged, but so am I, so I feel a kindred spirit. I am unable to catch his show since it comes on at 4pm in the Midwest, but I occasionally catch his radio show. I personally don’t care what the left pundits say or think about him, it won’t change my thoughts. Sounds like millions of others don’t care about their opinions either. Advertising follows numbers and they will trickle back as time goes on. In this time of economic hardship, businesses can’t afford to be picky with their messenger because of a few activist groups. The storm will pass and these linguini spined advertisers will come back in droves.
OK, maybe he’s not the worst, but probably one of the most idiodic.
If you don’t watch MSNBC, and by the horrendous ratings not many do, you might not know that Keith Olbermann has a feature on his show called “The Worst Person in the World.” This segment highlights the three of the worst people in the world (hence the title) according to Mr. Olbermann. It varies by the day from Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, etc., etc., you get the point. (I actually think that Keith has a secret crush on Glenn Beck by all the attention he pays his show – just pure speculation on my part.)
This particular day Rep. Wally Herger (R) from California served as Olbermann’s whipping boy. During one of Rep. Herger’s town hall meetings a gentleman came to the microphone and mentioned several things as well as admitting to being a “Right-wing terrorist.” Now you can judge for yourself, but he was obviously speaking tounge-in-cheek or as we like to call it Keith, he was being sarcastic. Evidently Keith didn’t get the memo.
I’m not really that surprised that Mr. Olbermann took the statement from Mr. Stead the way he did – that’s the premise of his show and his paycheck. The loony left that tunes into the MSNBC trifecta (Hardball, Olbermann and Maddow) would expect nothing less.
To the credit of Rep. Herger, he has not backed down from his original statement:
From a statement from the Congressman’s Office:
Congressman Herger stands by his statement in support of his constituent. Mr. Bert Stead is a taxpayer and veteran, who, like so many others, is rightfully fed up with being called “un-American”, or “extremist” or a “political terrorist” by liberals in Washington, for simply exercising his First Amendment rights. Mr. Stead served his country and therefore he is a great American. The Congressman doesn’t at all regret commending him for standing up, exercising his free speech rights, and expressing his strong concerns with the direction liberals in Washington are taking our country.
More fraud with the Stimulus money – at a tune of around $425,000 to around 1,700 inmates. In government terms this is chump change, but is there any oversight with the program? As a manager I would ask, “How many more people that should not have received money, did.”
Is this a huge deal in the grand scheme of things, probably not, but it is a symptom of a larger organizational problem.
“Rev. Wright, my pastor…represents the best of what the black church has to offer.”
Really Mr. President. I thought you barely knew him.
Very interesting. I love the commentator – “Wonderful man there, Rev. Wright.” Typical of the Obama machine- love ’em until a controversy erupts and then bring out the bus (to be run over with!)
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) was on FOX News this morning with Eric Shawn to discuss the White House spamming scandal. The White House paid GovDelivery in Minnesota with US taxpayer money to send out spam emails promoting Obama’s unpopular health care rationing program.
The email lists were even provided by the White House although the Obama Administration originally denied this.
Rep. McCotter wants the White House to come clean on this growing scandal that involves using taxpayer money to promote the president’s unpopular government takeover of the health care industry:
I believe this ties together very nicely with the government snitch program.
My interest is always peaked when gun issues or gun talk comes up, especially on MSNBC. A “controversy” came up with some of their reporting on protesters outside a venue President Obama was speaking at last week. The video below depicts selective clipping on the shots cropping out the top portion of the individual (who just happened to be a black gentlemen). The truth about the person in the video carrying the gun would have gotten in the way of their analysis that this was a racial statement – white people carrying weapons outside an Obama event. You pasty white racist homophobe honky rednecks!!!!!
To be totally fair and balanced, clips used on Rachel Maddow’s show did pan out on the individual carrying the so-called “assault” weapon. The ensuing conversation was of no interest to me, but I’ll give her show props since her brethren did not have nearly as much balance (or what can be construed as balance on her show).
Now I have no doubt that some in America are upset that a black man is in the white house – but this is a fringe element. )He did, afterall, get over 50% of the vote in this hostile racist country!) Most that are opposed to President Obama are opposed to his policies and not the color of his skin. These guys on MSNBC are idiots, plain and simple.
I just love this piece. I grabbed it from a great national blogger here in St. Louis, Gateway Pundit. It really illustrates a great point of view regarding the Canadian Health Care System. I am well aware that the proponents of some type of government plan will tell me: this is not socialized medicine! I really don’t know how we can avoid a socialized system down the road if we decide to turn more control over to the government, but the convinced are rarely convinced otherwise. Even if the current proposal(s) are not a fully government controlled plan like the Canadian’s currently have, it is my opinion that this is the logical conclusion (and what several members of Congress want – single payer system).
I know people from Canada that have had to wait in those lines. I also know that the good MD’sin Canada often times will leave to practice in the US or other countries because of the vast income disparity and frustration with the bureaucratic system. From this system the citizens of Canada do not get the best and brightest – they are coming down to our country to participate in our system. What’s wrong with this picture?
I’m hoping that someone comes up with a better mousetrap before we are hammer of government run health care comes crashing down on us. We’ll see.
It seems that the Town Hall format has become yet another tool of the left to try and make conservatives look like kooks. Many of the Hitler references seem to be coming from a single source – Larouche PAC. A great example of this organization and it’s supporters is highlighted in one of the Town Hall meetings held by Democratic Representative Barney Frank.
I’ll bet most people know very little about Lyndon LaRouche other than the name. The LaRouche history really begins with the democratic party and veers off in a goofy direction. He has run for President a variety of times and his views tend to go the fascism direction. Overall, these people that support LaRouche are more often on the left end of the spectrum – pretty far left. They are not mainstream within the left wing, they are left wing kooks. Probably left of left wing kooks.
I think the comparisons of Obama to Hitler are plain idiotic and should be put on the crazy train (sorry Ozzy). We could have a discussion on if certain policies mimic those of Germany in the early part of the century, but calling him a Nazi is a little off kilter.
The curious thing I see is that the news programs and stories that I have watched and read don’t really delve into what a Lyndon LaRouche supporter believes. Maybe I’m a conspiracy nut, but it would seem to the average viewer that this is just another right-wing GOP zealot hell-bent on creating a ruckus at a Town Hall meeting. Am I wrong on this one?
We recently heard President Obama tout the new unemployment figures as being 9.4 % – down from 9.5%. Several news stories and pundits have expounded on the “real” unemployment figure being much higher. The problem lies in the way that the government reports the unemployment figures – taking into account only those that are currently on unemployment with no mention of those who are not employed but not on government unemployment.
The official unemployment rate is determined by a body count. It does not differentiate between a person who works a full work week (nominally 40 hours), a reduced full-time work week (say 35 hours) and someone who works part-time (less than 35 hour per week). If the unemployment rate was calculated from total hours worked, the DOL data would produce an unemployment rate of 14.3%, defining a full work week as 40 hours. This is a decline from 14.5% for June.
Regardless of how this figure has been calculated in the past, and I fully assume that this is a normal way of doing things (meaning it probably was done the same way in the evil Bush administration) – it seems a bit misleading. Don’t get me wrong, that rate going down is a great thing, but let’s not fool ourselves that things are better than they have been in the past.
The Heritage Foundation posted some interesting graphs back in 2004 to really dissect the unemployment rate. The first chart shows the reported figures dating back to the late 70’s. As you can see from the graph the highest spike in unemployment mimics downturns in the economy – not rocket science.
When you compare this graph superimposed with other items taken into account, it brings a little different picture to the plate.
From the Heritage Foundation article:
The unemployment rate is the preeminent measure of the intensity of labor demand. When the rate dips below what economists consider the “full-employment” rate of around 5 or 5.5 percent, then the labor market is likely overheating, driving up inflation.
But some critics contend the current (2004) low rate of 5.4 percent is a mirage because it neglects to include all the discouraged workers. The problem with that argument is the fact that BLS counts discouraged workers and even publishes an alternative “underemployment rate” called U-4, which is barely higher than the official rate. There are no more discouraged workers today then there were in the mid-1990s.
So what’s my point. My point is that the problem of unemployment is a much greater problem that the government tends to tell us. How many people dropped off the unemployment doles? How many people are “really” out of work. As I have stated many times before, I’m not an economist, just an observer. A curious observer.
Yes, I couldn’t believe it either. How could all of those sweet and innocent National Parks be racist? Yellowstone, Yosemite, Smoky Mountains….say it ain’t so!
According to this gentleman, evidently the only African American Park Ranger in the National Park System, blacks don’t visit the parks because of…..wait for it……wait for it……RACISM!
Now I really don’t think this is a racist issue dating back to the time of slavery in America. To me this is more of a marketing issue – or lack thereof. If you want to attract a particular group of people to your specific park, advertise to that group and convince them why they should take their time to visit. It’s a revolutionary concept called PROMOTION. Many businesses do it. It’s not that hard.
I’m all for everyone visiting the National Parks. They are beautiful and a national treasure. I have not been to Yosemite or Yellowstone, but I plan on visiting both someday. The United States has some of the most beautiful scenery in the world and thankfully long range thinkers like Thomas Jefferson and Teddy Roosevelt recognized the need.
To address this specific situation, I’m really sick of everything being about the “original sin” of slavery and if you decide to oppose that point of view then you are a racist. I guess I’m a racist. Didn’t know it, but I guess that is what it’s come to.
Why are more black people not visiting national parks? Maybe they just don’t want to! Novel concept I know, but it’s a possibility.
That’s right, all of you dirty “teabaggers” (preferred term of the left wing nuts describing the Tea Party Protesters) should just go Flag Yourself. Yes, the fancy government whistle blower program is still in effect to alert the jack-booted thugs (probably from the SEIU) that you don’t like the proposed government health plan, health insurance (or whatever it’s being called this week.)
Great video from Crowder and crew:
Interview with Mike Pence (R) from Indiana:
Now I still don’t feel that warm and cozy feeling inside about this flagging or fishy program. “Boob” Gibbs tells us that “nobody is collecting names.” OK, then why the special email addresses to report on your neighbors that don’t swallow the crap being shoveled out of Washington? Yeah, I believe Boob. I’ve also got a bridge to sell you.
If you feel compelled, go ahead and send your email to flag@whitehouse.gov or fishy@whitehouse.gov. Feel free to pass along my columns. Make sure to include my picture with the email so the union thugs know who to drag away to the “Health Care Re-education” camps.
I just had to post this. Brings perspective to the idea that “Angry Mobs” are taking over the Town Hall meetings.
I guess the marching orders from the liberal groups and the DNC is that these citizens are uninformed by the usual “right wing” characters: Rush, Beck, Hannity, O’Reilly, etc., etc. I expected something more original from the left. Same old stuff – demean the protesters, call them bigots and racists and get your buddies in the media to help spread the lies. Guess that’s just wishful thinking on my part to move past the tired old tactics.
As we all come of age, there are certain movies that define that point in time. Some movies come and go, but others seem to stick around forever. John Hughes was one of those rare geniuses of Hollywood that made an indelible mark on film making. Unfortunately he has passed away way too soon at the age of 59.
Those of you who don’t know the work of John Hughes you have either been sleeping for 25 years or don’t watch movies. Either say, maybe this list will ring a bell:
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Home Alone Series
Vacation Series
Breakfast Club
Pretty in Pink
Weird Science
Uncle Buck
Great Outdoors
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
Etc., Etc., Etc.
I thought I’d depart from the regular politics to post a few video montages of his work. The first highlights some of the best movie moments, the second is set to Baba O’Riley.
I have no idea if any of his files earned an Oscar, but I doubt it. It really doesn’t matter – they were all great films. A true test of a great director is if his or her films are still showing up on cable and in the rental bin. You can’t turn on the TV any week and not see one of his movies playing . You just have to stop and watch.
I didn’t realize it until I looked at his body of work that I’m not sure I would have a vocabulary if not for John Hughes movies. My favorite line?
Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
– Ferris Bueller
Of course, this is just my opinion. Feel free to share your favorite line.
Robs Rantings 