Say Anything Blog

Today, Mr. President, the White House made your wall-street czar Kenneth Feinberg available to the White House Press Pool for an exclusive interview, with one caveat; Fox News would not be allowed to attend.

  As you now know, the other four networks in the pool refused to attend as long as Fox News was barred from participation and your people had to back down.  Fox News attended and the press conference went on.

  Are you as proud of the united stand taken by American journalists as I am? Have you and your hounds now gotten the message - loud and clear - that the White House has no business trying to intimidate the press with your shabby end-run around the 1st Amendment? 

  What say you, Mr. President?

An American Citizen

Dear Mr. President;

  I want you to know that I am an ordinary American working-stiff.  I could be retired, but I enjoy my job and my health is good; so I put in about 45 hours a week. I own my home and have very few debts.  I am a registered republican, but I have voted democrat on more than one occasion and will probably do so again.  Politically, I’m pretty much a moderate, so both sides frequently cuss me out.

  Over morning coffee, I read Matt Drudge, The Washington Times and The Washington Post on line. On my way to work, I listen to NPR.  On my way home, I catch some of Glenn Beck.  In the evening, I watch CNN, CBS and Fox News. On weekends, I listen to BBC World Service on XM radio.  I read my local paper every day, Newsweek weekly and the Weekly Standard now and then. I also visit the Huffington Post and Say Anything Blog frequently. I probably follow the news more closely than most because of my job and I try to cover all bases.

  So, I’m wondering why your staff, headed by Rahm Emanuel and David Axelrod, have recently decided to demonize Fox News?  Is there something I’m not getting when I watch Chris Wallace on FoxNews Sunday?  He is a remarkably capable journalist.  Is there a secret agenda on the 6 o’clock news that I’m missing?  Are Juan Williams and Charles Krauthammer subversive in some way that I don’t comprehend?

  I’m puzzled because, of all the news sources I watch, Fox News is the only  one which brings on representatives from both sides of the political aisle to discuss issues of the day. The Pew Research Center reports that Fox News was far more balanced in it’s coverage of the presidential race than any other network, cable or otherwise.

  So, what is it that has brought out the White House pit-bulls to attack Fox News?  Surely you, as leader of the world’s most powerful Republic, can have nothing to fear from one cable network, can you? Is it because Glenn Beck exposed Van Jones, one of your ‘czars’, as a blatant Marxist racist, forcing him to step down? Is it because Anita Dunn, who boasts that your administration controls the nations media, was shown on Fox News praising Mao as her favorite philosopher?  Do you, as President, feel any concern about the weight of government being used to attack a news network? Do you care that the 1st Amendment seeks to prevent the very abuse against a free press that your administration is now indulging in?  What’s next?  Who’s  next?

  On the night of your victory speech, you said that your administration would transform  the nation.  I felt a certain thrill when you said that, but now I feel a cold chill when I think about what you might really have meant.  What say you, Mr. President?

An American Citizen

Depending on your perspective, the Oath Keepers are either strident defenders of liberty or dangerous peddlers of paranoia.

In the age of town halls, talk radio and tea parties, middle ground of opinion is hard to find.

Launched in March by Las Vegan Stewart Rhodes, Oath Keepers bills itself as a nonpartisan group of current and retired law enforcement and military personnel who vow to fulfill their oaths to the Constitution.

More specifically, the group’s members, which number in the thousands, pledge to disobey orders they deem unlawful, including directives to disarm the American people and to blockade American cities. By refusing the latter order, the Oath Keepers hope to prevent cities from becoming “giant concentration camps,” a scenario the 44-year-old Rhodes says he can envision happening in the coming years.

It’s a Cold War-era nightmare vision with a major twist: The occupying forces in this imagined future are American, not Soviet.

“The whole point of Oath Keepers is to stop a dictatorship from ever happening here,” Rhodes, a former Army paratrooper and Yale-trained lawyer, said in an interview with the Review-Journal. “My focus is on the guys with the guns, because they can’t do it without them.

“We say if the American people decide it’s time for a revolution, we’ll fight with you.”

http://www.lvrj.com/news/oath-keepers-pledges-to-prevent-dictatorship-in-united-states-64690232.html

An Oregon apartment complex reversed its ban prohibiting residents from flying American flags from dwellings and parked vehicles after the property manager decided she didn’t have the legal standing to do so, KATU in Portland reported Wednesday.

The American Civil Liberties Union said that Barb Holcomb’s ban at Oaks Apartments did not violate any laws, but Holcomb said her legal cousel led her to believe otherwise so she reversed the decision.

“If people want to fly any flag of any nationality, it’s their right,” she told KATU. “When a tenant rents the unit, the inside of the unit belongs to the tenant. All automobiles and things attached to the automobiles are the personal property of the tenant.”

Holcomb told KATU that the flag flap was caused by how two sections of the rental agreement that all tenants sign were interpreted.

Residents’ outrage started when Jim Clausen, whose son is in the military and on his way back to Iraq, was told he couldn’t fly an American flag from the back of his motorcycle.

If he didn’t take the flag down, he was told he’d face eviction, the station reported on Monday.

“It floored me,” Clausen told the station. “I can’t believe she was saying what she was saying. It [the flag] stands for the people that can no longer stand — who died in wars. That’s why I fly the flag.”

Holcomb admitted she was wrong to ban the flags after the public outcry received national media attention.

No surprise that the ACLU, which has previously supported burning the Stars & Stripes, supported Holcomb’s flag-ban.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,566740,00.html?test=latestnews

From Alex Jones at PRISON PLANET…

The combined US troop deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan have now reached a higher level than existed at any time under the presidency of George W. Bush. This surge past the record set by its predecessor marks another grim milestone in the Obama administration’s escalation of American militarism.

In addition to the 21,000 US soldiers and Marines that Obama ordered deployed to Afghanistan as part of the escalation he unveiled last March, another 13,000 “support” troops are being quietly sent to the country with no official announcement, the Washington Post reported Tuesday.

This stealth buildup is a replay of the methods used by the Bush administration in its Iraq surge, when it announced the deployment of an additional 20,000 combat troops while saying nothing about the 8,000 support troops sent with them.

In neither case was the failure to declare the full number an oversight. Obama, like Bush before him, recognizes that the military interventions he oversees are deeply unpopular with the majority of the American people.

According to the troop numbers provided by the Post, there are now 65,000 US troops in Afghanistan, with another 124,000 still in Iraq, for a total of 189,000 American military personnel waging two colonial-style wars and occupations. At the height of the Bush administration’s 2007 “surge” in Iraq, there were 26,000 US troops in Afghanistan and 160,000 in Iraq, for a total of 186,000.

There is every indication that the policies being pursued by the Obama White House will send these numbers significantly higher.

So… where is Cindy Sheehan when we really need her? Where is the howl from the MSM?  How come there are no “Stop The War” protests? How ‘bout that ‘Peace Prize’? Maybe it shoulda gone to the guy who sent LESS troops? I dunno… I’m so confused… 

http://www.prisonplanet.com/obama-tops-bush-in-troop-buildup.html

The leftist tendencies of Hollywood and the socialist fruits of their labour are well known
to any student of film.  But how prepared are six year olds to understand what is being done to them in a new lavish, cutesy cartoon featuring an adorable hero?

Crude posters of Lenin and Trotsky adorn the threadbare walls of an office in a desolate part of town, and a group of outcast revolutionaries hatch a scheme to overthrow the ruling powers and bring equality and a classless society to mankind. The beginning of an Eisenstein film? Bunuel? Renoir?

Try ‘Astro Boy,’ the upcoming animated film featuring the voices of Nicolas Cage and Kristen Bell about a boy robot (Freddie Highmore) that leaves his scientist father after finding out he isn’t human. Ostensibly a film for children—with a fringe following of fanboys, thanks to its comic book series—the movie features very adult ideas of ownership and class structure that will most likely be future fodder for college philosophy classes around the country.

While it’s no secret that Hollywood films tend to skew left in general, ‘Astro Boy’ may be the first animated blockbuster to discuss, if not necessarily endorse, explicit Marxist ideologies (albeit in cute robot form, of course.) In the movie, the aforementioned outcasts, led by Robotsky, form the Robot Revolutionary Front, stenciling their logo on city walls and chanting “Viva La Robotolution” at anyone within earshot. On the whole, it’s played for laughs, but makes us ponder the question:

Have animated films gotten more leftist in recent years?

For the complete answer, read on…
http://insidemovies.moviefone.com/2009/10/08/astro-boy-battle-for-terra-left-leaning-animated-films?icid=main|htmlws-main|dl2|link3|http%3A%2F%2Finsidemovies.moviefone.com%2F2009%2F10%2F08%2Fastro-boy-battle-for-terra-left-leaning-animated-films

Sen. John McCain, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, today urged President Obama to move with “deliberate speed” on a decision to increase troops in Afghanistan as his generals have requested, saying that to disregard their advice would be an “error of historic proportions.”

McCain said on CNN’s State of the Union that Obama should back General Stanley McChrystal’s proposal for an increase of 40,000 troops and resist a “half measure” aimed at placating political opponents of deeper U.S. involvement. ” McChrystal, the top general in Afghanistan, warned last month that the conflict would likely end in failure without more troops.

“To disregard the requirements that have been laid out and agreed to by Gen. (David) Petraeus and Admiral (Mike) Mullen would be an error of historic proportions,” McCain said.

On CBS’ Face the Nation, Senate Minority Leader Mitchell McConnell echoed McCain’s view, saying “I think the smart thing to do here—and I hope this is what the president’s going to do, and if he does, I think he’ll have broad support—is to listen to General Petraeus and General McChrystal.”

Yet another reason why we would be so much better off if John McCain were president.  Of course there would be no Nobel Peace Prize… but there just might be actual peace.

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/10/11/mccain-warns-that-rejection-of-more-troops-would-be-historic-e/?icid=main|htmlws-main|dl1|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.politicsdaily.com%2F2009%2F10%2F11%2Fmccain-warns-that-rejection-of-more-troops-would-be-historic-e%2F

Money has always been the Mother’s Milk of liberal politics; particularly YOUR money. The process is a simple and very effective one: Identify a victim-group, funnel tax-dollars to them or their cause and - voila! - pick up a new voting bloc.

Thus, in one of those rare candid moments, a legislator in Maine has unwittingly revealed what the stakes really are in the public referendum on Question 1, the gay marriage issue.

On Nov. 3, Maine voters will become the first in any state with the chance to repeal or uphold a law, passed by their legislature and signed by their governor, legalizing same-sex marriage. The outcome is considered too close to call, and the race is galvanizing activists on both sides of the issue across the country.

The ballot measure, Question One, results from Maine’s provision for a “people’s veto” - any newly passed law can be subject to repeal by voters if enough valid signatures are obtained to trigger a referendum.

Among the lawmakers backing the marriage bill was state Sen. Larry Bliss, an openly gay Democrat who moved many colleagues with personal stories of raising a family as half of a same-sex couple. Initially, Mr. Bliss felt the bill was premature, but changed his mind when his longtime partner quit his job and needed to get on Mr. Bliss’s health insurance.

Understand, please, that getting Mr. Bliss’ unemployed partner on his health insurance means that all others in that healthcare plan will be paying for the partner’s care for as long as he lives… and the partner is potentially one among hundreds of thousands that we will pay for if homosexual marriage becomes the law of the land.

Given the unpleasant reality that many such partners are suffering from AIDS or AIDS-related illnesses, the cost for their care could be a staggering financial burden on the health industry and your wallets.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/10/stakes-high-for-maines-vote-on-marriage/?feat=home_headlines

I have broken out into a cold sweat.
Dino has snapped 6 pencils in his bipolar rage.
Ellinas can’t launch another pointless point.
Doug Leier has a new fish hook to report.
Hannitized isn’t… Hey!  Where IS hannitized??
Which means Proof has nothing to do....
RBB again thinks no one likes him.[no one does…]
108 can’t call anyone a lying moron.
RGRaves isn’t able to warn us about anyone…
Arbuckle is still commenting…
Move_Zig is anxious that he can’t warn anyone.
Carrick can’t lecture.
Hotel9 isn’t able to curse.
Neiman hasn’t saved a soul for hours.
Whistler can’t smack McCain.
ROB! DO SOMETHING! GET THE COMMENT FUNCTION UP!
WE’RE DYING OUT HERE… WE NEED AN SAB FIX!!
GAAHHHHHHHH…..

Embedded Comment from the Whistler

McCain is so old that Jurassic Park brought back childhood memories.

You're welcome.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. —  Herman Thomas had an enviable political record as a black Democrat elected and re-elected in a county overwhelmingly white and increasingly Republican. The respected circuit judge once was the Democratic Party’s choice to be the first black federal judge in south Alabama.

Then his career collapsed under allegations that he brought inmates to his office and spanked them with a paddle. Later, an indictment accused him of sexually abusing male inmates in exchange for leniency. The trial on charges of sodomy, kidnapping, sex abuse, extortion, assault and ethics violations is set to start Monday.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,559882,00.html?test=latestnews

The G-20 Summit has revealed a dark side to the Obama administration which few liberals and democrats will want to acknowledge. Had this photo been taken on George Bush’s watch, every left-wing commentator in the country would be howling about right-wing oppression.

But in this case, MSNBC gingerly refers to the violence against ‘boisterous’ protestors in Pittsburg as President Obama being ‘cautious’.

What the world is really seeing here is what liberals believe about freedom of speech and assembly, and the degree to which the MSM will go to white-wash the abuses of the current administration.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33017820/ns/us_news-life/

Left-wing radicals, historically infamous for their anti-American violence, have a new hero to praise…

WASHINGTON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - An Illinois man was ordered held on Thursday on charges he tried to blow up a federal building in the state capital, a case unrelated to the New York terrorism plot.

Michael Finton, also known as Talib Islam, was arrested in Springfield, Illinois, and charged with attempted murder of federal officers or employees and trying to use a weapon of mass destruction, charges that carry a life sentence.

“Fortunately, a coordinated undercover law enforcement effort was able to thwart his efforts and ensure no one was harmed,” David Kris, assistant Attorney General for National Security, said in a statement.

Finton was arrested on Wednesday in Springfield as he used a cell phone to try to detonate the bomb he believed was inside a van he had just parked outside the federal building.

Appearing in a courtroom on Thursday in the same building he is accused of targeting, Finton waived his right to a detention hearing.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Byron Cudmore appointed a public defender to represent Finton and ordered him held pending an indictment by a grand jury.

Finton said he worked part-time as a restaurant cook, according to the State Journal-Register newspaper.

The criminal complaint said Finton, 29, converted to Islam while in prison on other charges. It said he idolized an American who allied with the Taliban, John Walker Lindh, drawing the attention of law enforcement authorities.

After returning from a trip to Saudi Arabia in 2008, Finton told an individual, who turned out to be a law enforcement source, that he wanted to fight against Israelis in the Gaza Strip, according to the complaint.

Finton joins a long list of leftist radicals who have violently attacked the American people - John Walker Lindh and William Ayers among them.

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN2447383520090924

Over the last few months, a growing number of Americans have found themselves increasingly disturbed as President Obama is forced to placate the extreme left forces who helped him win the elelction and now demand payback. The Afghan war and the dismantling of our military power has become a focal-point of their radical demands.

Yesterday, Senator John McCain pointedly reacted to the President’s waffling on this critical issue.

McCain blasts ‘disconnect’ between WH and military leaders

Posted: September 22nd, 2009 06:27 PM ET
From CNN’s Emily Sherman and Francesca Johnson

Sen. John McCain said he has never seen such a ‘disconnect’ between the White House and U.S. military leaders.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Sen. John McCain questioned the Obama administration’s approach in Afghanistan Tuesday, saying he has never seen such a “disconnect” between the White House and leaders of the U.S. military.

“Apparently the administration does not want Gen. McCrystal’s recommendations on troop strengths,” McCain said at a Foreign Policy Initiative event in Washington. “If you don’t have a recommendation on the troop levels that will be necessary to implement a strategy, then how do you decide on the strategy? “

”…Every day that goes by if you are not pursuing a strategy for success and implementing it as quickly as possible it puts young Americans lives in more danger,” said McCain, the ranking Republican member on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

In a sign that President Obama may be facing growing skepticism within his own party on Afghanistan, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer Tuesday joined the call made by several top Republicans on Capitol Hill, including McCain, for McChrystal to brief Congress on his recommendations for revising U.S military strategy.

Asked about speculation Gen. McCrystal is considering resignation, McCain said Tuesday the general doesn’t have many options.

”(Generals) really have two choices,” McCain said. “Carry out orders, or resign.”

”…(but) I don’t think that right now Gen. McCrystal is contemplating resignation or non-resignation…he’s got his hands full,” McCain said, repeating his calls for the general to return to Washington to testify before Congress.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/22/mccain-blasts-disconnect-between-wh-and-military-leaders/

Gotta hand it to that right-wing nut-job Glenn Beck… Van Jones, Yosi Sergant and now ACORN itself!

The Census Director has sent a letter to the National Headquarters of ACORN notifying the group that the Census Bureau is severing all ties with the community organizing group for all work having to do with the 2010 census.

“Over the last several months, through ongoing communication with our regional offices, it is clear that ACORN’s affiliation with the 2010 Census promotion has caused sufficient concern in the general public, has indeed become a distraction from our mission, and may even become a discouragement to public cooperation, negatively impacting 2010 Census efforts,” read a letter from Census Director Robert M. Groves to the president of ACORN.

“Unfortunately, we no longer have confidence that our national partnership agreement is being effectively managed through your many local offices. For the reasons stated, we therefore have decided to terminate the partnership,” the letter said.

The news follows the firing Friday of two more ACORN employees after new hidden-camera footage showed workers for the group advising a couple posing as a pimp and prostitute how to subvert the law.

Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) reacted to the news Friday night, applauding the decision by the Census Bureau.

“ACORN had no business working on the Census.  ACORN’s partisan election efforts and its involvement in criminal conduct rightly disqualified it from working on the non-partisan mission of the Census to accurately and honestly count the U.S. population,” Rep. Issa said.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/11/census-bureau-severs-ties-acorn/

S.C.‘s Wilson Rakes In $750,000 in Less Than 48 Hours; Opponent Tops $1 Million
Updated 7:50 p.m.
By Paul Kane

With a political arms race in full force, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) has raised almost $750,000 in less than 48 hours since his shout of “You lie!” to President Obama during the Wednesday address to Congress, almost matching the Internet-fueled haul of his likely Democratic opponent.

A senior GOP official said Wilson, who apologized to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel after the health-care speech but has since refused a more public apology, has turned his own previous sleepy campaign machine into an Web-friendly effort. Just as liberals have poured cash into the campaign of Rob Miller, who lost to Wilson by almost eight percentage points in 2008, conservatives are pouring contributions into Wilson’s campaign at an astonishing rate.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2009/09/scs_wilson_rakes_in_750000_in.html