9/11 Victims Try to Abuse Power of Federal Government

It has been more than seven years since 20-year-old Deora Bodley and 39 other passengers and crew died in the fiery crash of United Airlines Flight 93, their hijacked plane disintegrating in a grove of hemlock trees outside Shanksville, Pa.

Most of the remains from the tragedy on Sept. 11, 2001, were never recovered, making the bowl-shaped crash site in the western Pennsylvania countryside an unofficial cemetery and, for surviving relatives, sacred ground.

But efforts to buy property for a national Flight 93 memorial have bogged down in federal red tape and a protracted land dispute, angering family members and risking plans to hold a dedication ceremony on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. The delays have prompted an advocacy group, Families of Flight 93, to ask President Bush to personally intervene during his final weeks in office to allow the federal government to seize the land needed for the memorial and to allocate part of the money for the project.

I can't begin to describe the disgust I feel at the families of these victims.  Maybe I'd feel differently if I personally had someone die in that crash.  

It seems to me, that asking the Federal Government to seize the property of a private citizen of this great country does a great dishonor to the victims who died in the plane crash.  Granted, they did not make a choice to fight in the War on Terror.  They were "chosen" by the cowards who hijacked the plane.  But, nevertheless, they died for America in what is essentially the first "battle" of the War on Terror.  

I don't know the beliefs of the values of any of the victims of Flight 93.  I don't know if they were conservative or liberal, Democrat or Republican, Socialist or Libertarian.  If asked to die for our country, I don't have a clue what any of them would have said.  Still, they died for America.  Their lives will be forever linked in the minds of patriotic Americans with the battle for Freedom and the ideals that America was founded upon.   Like it or not, they will be right along side those who fought in the Revolutionary war, and World Wars I and II, and in Iraq and Afghanistan in the minds of most Americans.

From all the news sources I've gathered, the owner of the parcel of land in question is not asking an exorbitant price for the land.  In fact, he has never named a price.  He simply wants an independent third party to value the land.  That seems reasonable and fair.  The government has placed a value on the land, but who knows whether that value is "real" or not.  Most likely it is not.  

When the government values land, it is not interested in a "fair market value" for any piece of land.  It is only interested in a "tax value".  That could be much more, or much less than a market value.  

I recall a couple of years back when tax valuations came out for homes in the town where I live.  Property values had dropped significantly, but tax values went up.  A number of locals asked the county if they were willing to purchase their homes for the values they assessed.  Of course, the county was not.

In the case of this parcel of Pennsylvania property, the historical significance of the land has an effect on the value.  That's not a choice the landowner made, but it is a fact of life.  How much Flight 93 has affected the value of the land is unknown.  The land hasn't been valued by someone who could research what the fair market value is.  But there is no question, the land is worth more, perhaps many times more, than what the government has valued the land at.

As Americans, we should all stand beside this small businessman in Pennsylvania, and insist that he receive a fair price for his property.  It's the right thing to do.

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Democrats and the Culture of Corruption

As the Rod Blagojevich scandal continues to unfold, it’s worth recalling that Democrats in 2006 -led by Representative Rahm Emanuel- ran on the theme that they would end “the culture of corruption.” Indeed, Emanuel, in dismissing wrongdoings by Democrats at the time, explained them away as simply the actions of a few individuals. About Republicans, Emanuel said, “They have institutional corruption.” The argument put forth was that Democrats would bring ethics and high standards to public office and that the Democratic Party would embody integrity and police its ranks.

It hasn’t quite worked out that way.

As the sportscaster Warner Wolf used to say, let’s go to the videotape. In 2008 alone, we have the arrest of Democratic Governor Blagojevich on charges of public corruption, which include trying to sell Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat. Former Democratic Representative William Jefferson, a nine-term incumbent, lost his seat in Louisiana because of corruption charges, including allegations that he took bribes -of which $90,000 were allegedly found in his freezer during an FBI raid- from a company seeking lucrative contracts in the Nigerian telecommunications market. Tim Mahoney, the Democrat who succeeded Republican Mark Foley after the latter resigned due to a sex scandal, lost his seat when he, Mahoney, became embroiled in a sex scandal of his own. Former Democratic Governor Eliot Spitzer resigned in disgrace after he was caught up in a call girl operation. Democratic Representative Charlie Rangel is now under investigation for reportedly helping to retain a multimillion-dollar tax loophole for an oil drilling company at the same time that the company’s CEO was pledging $1 million to the Charles B. Rangel School for Public Service at City College of New York. Also, former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick resigned as part of a plea bargain in which he pled guilty to two felonies for obstruction of justice.

Democrats seem to be doing a rather fine job at building on a culture of corruption rather than ending it.

Corruption and scandals plague individuals in both parties, of course, and Republicans have had their fair share of them (including the conviction of Senator Ted Stevens earlier this year). There are scoundrels and honorable people in both political parties. But three things are worth bearing in mind at the moment:

The first is that Democrats, in their effort to gain political power, made ethics a defining issue. They are the ones who set the expectations and the ethics bar very high. Having so far failed miserably to meet their own standards, they are vulnerable to the charge of hypocrisy.

Second, when enough scandals occur in a concentrated time period, they reach a tipping point. The public begins to associate corruption not simply with individuals but with the party they represent; and that, in turn, can do tremendous damage to the “brand” of a political party. Such a thing happened to Republicans in recent years, and they paid an enormous political price for it. Now that same thing may be happening to Democrats.

Third, President-elect Obama made the centerpiece of his campaign the promise that he would “turn the page” on the old politics and clean out our political Augean stables. As head of the Democratic Party, he is now responsible for its conduct, including its ethical behavior. It looks as if he has his work cut out for him.

The Democratic Party has, in a matter of mere months, succeeded in creating a record of corruption that extends from mayors to governors to member of Congress. And the Blagojevich scandal is not only far from over, it may well extend beyond what we now know. It’s fair to assume that a lot of people are beginning to talk to U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald in the hopes of gaining leniency, so we will see how far the tentacles of this scandal extend.

The “culture of corruption” appears to be alive and well, aided and abetted by Democrats at almost every level. I rather doubt the national media will be as eager to highlight this issue as they were with Republicans. But the public might connect the dots anyway.

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Humor for the day...

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Democrats Can Do No Wrong

Ever since Bill Clinton it seems that the only people who can do wrong are Republicans who at least talk about doing the right thing.  It seems that when one is a liberal one can jettison morality and decency and thus not commit the ultimate sin: being hypocritical by having advanced any moral standards and then failed to live up to them.  It would appear that Democrats hate Hypocrisy almost as much as tax cuts. 

William Jefferson Clinton can do Monica in the Oval Office again and again and get grown up adults to BELIEVE that it was not sex because a legal dictionary omitted oral acts as sex and that he didn’t lie because the word “is” is ambiguous, and that his sex life is not relevant in a sexual harassment law suit in which he is the DEFENDANT!!!!!

Now we have the Emperor of Illinois who is determined to hang on to power and to award patronage to his loyal toddies in the face of unanimous opposition from the democrat party and every decent citizen of Illinois and the nation.  The Governor is Clintonian in his belief that he can flaunt his power like Capone, Ignore the voters and rule his empire like a Chicago Politician, and hold his head high like a member of a party that has no standards of decent behavior at all.  If we ever mint a three dollar bill we should put Clintons Portrait on the front of the bill and the winning smile of the foul mouthed crook Blogo on the back!

I understand that democrats have jettisoned any sense of morality on the grounds that they don’t, as lawmakers tasked with governing our society, want to impose their views of right and wrong on people because that would be wrong.  At least that’s what most democrats seem to believe.  Who dares accuse Clinton or Blogo of wrongdoing because they have no right to impose their views of right and wrong on others!  How dare they!  Don’t confuse a democrat by observing that the job description of law makers like senators, congressmen and governors or even Presidents is to make laws that are always in imposition of their views of right and wrong on society.  Every law from the tax code to the stop sign at the end of your block is about a values statement that lawmakers have imposed on our society.  It is the job of legislators and government to codify right and wrong in our society and they have the power and the obligation to enforce adherence to such impositions of right and wrong.

According to the Chicago Sun Times the Governor will appoint Roland Burris to fill the empty Senate chair of President Elect Barack Obama.  Mr. Burris has been a former state Comptroller and Attorney General and is evidently the winner in the Senatorial Sweepstakes that Blago attempted to auction off to the highest bidder.  Is it right to castigate and denounce Mr. Burris for accepting the appointment to this seat from a corrupt governor accused of auctioning off US Senate Seats for his personal gain? 

You betcha!

No honorable man would allow Blogo make an appointment like this on their behalf in direct contravention of decency and honor and integrity.  Apparently Mr. Burris doesn’t care if he’s made to look and act the fool for taking this appointment and thus ending his mediocre career in government.  Burris is 71 years old and would be in for a 6 year ride that will long outlast the corrupt governor who appointed him.  When he’s 77 he can quit having the capstone on his career be the mockery of law, public service and even the intelligence of the most jaded political junkies.

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Media Hypocrisy on Kennedy and Palin Reveals Elitism at its Worst

The current media frenzy over Caroline Kennedy’s possible appointment to Hillary Clinton’s soon-to-be vacant senate seat demonstrates media hypocrisy and elitism at its worst.

While there are some concerns being vocalized about Caroline’s qualifications to be a senator, most of them are coming from political opponents in New York who covet that senate seat for themselves or someone close to them. In other words, their main motivation is not Caroline Kennedy’s inexperience, but rather their own need for political power.

The mainstream media, however, has decided that this is a non-issue. Many of the same “pundits” who decried the nomination of Sarah Palin based on qualifications are the same talking heads out there defending the possible appointment of Caroline Kennedy.

Looking at each situation, a case can be made on qualifications for each. It is true that Sarah Palin has only been governor for 2 years. It is reasonable that some could find this a thin resume for the Vice Presidency. It is not without precedent, however, as the political resume of Teddy Roosevelt reveals a mere 2 year stint as governor of New York before assuming the Vice Presidency, and after the assassination of President McKinley, the presidency.

It is unreasonable, however, that those same folks would unequivocally support Barack Hussein Obama for President of the United States and Caroline Kennedy(Schlossberg?) for senate. The One we’ve been waiting for was only a senator for 3 years (the last 2 years of which were spent largely campaigning for president and ignoring his senate responsibilities.) Before his U.S. Senate career he was a mere state senator in Illinois. Yet, somehow this was enough to qualify the BFF of Bill Ayers, the protege of Rev. Wright and Saul Alinsky, and the kept man of Tony Rezko for the highest office in the land despite having absolutely no executive experience. Similarly, Caroline Kennedy’s political experience is having a father who was president and giving speeches over the years.

Sarah Palin’s executive experience as a mayor of Wasilla, the head of the Alaska Oil & Gas Commission, and 2 years as Governor of Alaska just weren’t enough to offset the years spent as a community organizer and as a state senator securing funding for socialist educational agendas proposed by Bill Ayers and money for the corrupt slumlord Tony Rezko in Obama’s case; or in the case of Kennedy, being the daughter of a former president.

At the heart of the media hypocrisy is elitism. Why does Sarah Palin’s years of executive experience not count, while Obama’s nonsensical career of no accomplishments and countless “present” votes set him up to be the world’s messiah?

Why does Sarah Palin’s record of accomplishment not count as much as Caroline Kennedy’s family name and law degree? It comes down to the old debate of which matters more: actions or words.

To liberals the answer to that question is a resounding “WORDS!” It is the media’s elitist attitude that is at the heart of this issue. Sarah Palin did not go to law school. She didn’t attend an Ivy League indoctrination center. As such, she is just one step above being in a vegetative state in the eyes of most liberals.

To liberals, actual experience and accomplishments don’t count if you haven’t kissed the ring of the liberal academic world. It is a worldview that celebrates study and not action. Debate but not leadership. Propaganda but not freedom of speech. One must agree with Marx and Alinsky and recite chapter and verse the liberal/socialist worldview. It is a matter of memorizing the propaganda and sticking to the script. Words are held in higher esteem by liberals than actions. It doesn’t matter if you make things worse so long as you said the right thing and that you “cared.”

Caroline Kennedy is certainly qualified to run for Senate based on her education. She is a lady of words. What she lacks is actual political experience. Living in the White House for 3 years as a small child is not really experience. She hasn’t really accomplished anything from a political perspective. She is an author and has accomplishments in other areas, but personally she lacks political accomplishments.

She represents a complete polar opposite of Sarah Palin. Sarah Palin is a celebration of action over words. She is today’s political action figure. Sarah Palin does have a college degree, but not from an Ivy League school. She has worked her way up in a system that was not only closed to her, but downright hostile. She overcame the political establishment in her party and her state to achieve a very commendable record of accomplishments in her 2 year tenure as governor.

So to liberals, you can be fresh out of law school and be qualified for the presidency so long as you graduated from Harvard, Yale or Columbia and have memorized the socialist talking points. There is certainly nothing wrong with holding education in high esteem, but it should not be the sole authority in electing our leaders. There are also two assumptions built into the “education is king” philosophy that need to be refuted.

The first assumption is that anyone who does not go to Harvard or Yale is somehow unqualified for anything but dog-catcher. Under this assumption, Harry Truman would have been ineligible for the presidency as he didn’t even have a college degree. Ronald Reagan’s degree from Eureka College would also fail to pass the test. It is quite possible to be intelligent without attending an Ivy League school. That is not putting down the Ivy League schools, but it is giving other institutions of learning the credit they deserve. A law degree is certainly helpful in a political career, but it can only go so far. Words are important, but words without actions to back them up are nothing more than hot air and empty rhetoric.

The second assumption is that everyone who does attend those schools is ready to lead. Leadership requires a certain moral clarity, integrity and personal courage. It requires clear-sighted vision and decision-making. It demands one to be able to set aside political opportunism to do what is right. These are qualities that have virtually nothing to do with a college education. These qualities are forged in every day life as ordinary citizens seek to do the right thing and to make a positive difference in their community. Action is needed by a leader. Barack Hussein Obama is good at reading from a teleprompter, but take away the script and what do you get? Besides a lot of “uhs” we have yet to see. In fact, when Israel was attacked by Hamas the other day, the next leader of the free world was silent. He simply had no comment. Every other day of the week, he has had no problem weighing in on everything from his appointments, his stimulus package, his shirtless physique and SPAM. The day Israel is attacked by terrorists, he suddenly has nothing to say. Why? Because that might require him to act. He is a man of words, not actions.

So, the media has revealed its hypocrisy in the issue of Sarah Palin time and time again. Perhaps that is why so many of the Ivy League graduates who work in the mainstream media are finding their jobs eliminated as their newspapers and media outlets continue to lose revenue and relevance. Perhaps the American people aren’t totally convinced that mere talking is the way to go.

Barack Obama and Caroline Kennedy will have to prove to the voters with their actions that they are capable leaders worthy of their offices. If their record fails to mirror their rhetoric, the American people will have a decision to make.

So, let Caroline Kennedy become a senator. Let her stand on her own and stand for re-election in 2010, but please don’t tell me that she’s more qualified than a woman who can raise a family of five, and run a state government while hunting both the moose and the corrupt business-as-usual politicians of the Alaskan landscape with ease. In my world and that of mainstream America, actions still speak louder than words.

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More Humor from the MainStreamMedia

What do you suppose is the most important and significant event of the last 9 years?  

If you ask me, the terrorist attacks on the twin towers is the only event that could even be considered for the top spot on that short list.  The attack on America led to the toppling of two governments, an explosion of unrest and eventually the near-collapse of the world's economy.

But ask the world's Press Corps, and you'll get a different answer.

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - President-elect Barack Obama has eclipsed all other contenders to clinch the top news spot so far this century.

A worldwide media survey released on Monday shows that coverage around Obama's successful bid to become the next American president was written about twice as often as any other news event since the turn of the century.

"Obama was unprecedented. He has captivated the world," said Paul Payack, president of the Global Language Monitor, which conducted the survey.  (story...)

Of course.  How could I have not picked the election of an African American Democrat to the office of the Presidency?  He's the Messiah.  He's going to save the world.  He'll bring world peace, fix the economy and prevent the polar ice caps from melting.

I should have known.

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Huh?

File this under:  "What have the Democrats been screaming about for 8 years?"

President-elect Barack Obama's economic stimulus plan will include an immediate tax cut for middle-class families, and the incoming administration hopes to enact permanent tax cuts soon thereafter, a senior adviser to Obama said Sunday.

"Look, we feel it's important that middle-class people get some relief now," Axelrod said on "Meet the Press." Obama has "promised a middle-class tax cut," he added. "This package will include a portion of that tax cut that will become part of the permanent tax cut he'll have in his upcoming budget."

Giving people more spending money will "help get our economy going again," Axelrod said. He also said he is hopeful that the recovery plan will be ready for Obama to sign soon after his Jan. 20 inauguration.   (Story...)

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More Media Hypocrisy

Here is the lastest example of Media bias and hypocricy:

(CNN) -- Republican Party reaction is divided over the decision of a candidate for party chairman to distribute a CD that features the parody tune "Barack the Magic Negro," with the majority of Chip Saltsman's political rivals criticizing the move.

While the MainStreamMedia can't wait to expose and highlight any reference made by a Republican regarding the race of the President-Elect, they simply sat back and avoided pointing out the unfair and blatant sexism toward Sarah Palin during the campaign.  Sarah Palin was criticized for everything from the clothes she wore to the way she raised her family.  Nothing was off limits, including insulting Palin's handicapped child, an ancient DUI from her husband, and her expectant daughter.

But, heaven forbid, someone mention that Barack Obama is ... how do I say this in a politically correct manner?  ... not caucasian.  I noticed during the campaign that everyone with an "R" beside his or her name danced around even mentioning that any Democrat had a tan during the entire year of 2008.   Now, let one Republican say something that might be "over the line" in the way of political satire, and he gets jumped all over for it. 

It seems nobody on the left has a sense of humor.  Satire, when it comes to Republicans satirizing Dems, is off limits.

I wonder if this had come from Tina Fey of Saturday Night Live if the reaction would have been different.

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New Beginnings

I'm going to stray a little from my normal format.  I try to avoid blogging about my personal life, choosing instead to focus on politics and things related to politics.  Today I'm going to start my "New Year's Resolutions."  

Most years, I don't even make a list of New Year's Resolutions.  I generally figure, if something is worth doing, why wait until New Year's Day to get started?  But lately, I've been thinking a few goals for this year might be a good thing for me.  

So, here goes....

1.  Visit someplace I've never been.  I haven't travelled a lot in my few years on this rock, and I need to see a few more things.  I'm not sure yet where I'll visit, but I plan on seeing some part of America that I haven't seen before.  Any suggestions?

2.  Become more environmentally conscious.  I don't swallow all the global warming crap, but at the same time, I think it's a a good idea for us to be aware of our impact on our environment.  Nothing drastic.  But I plan on re-using things that I can reuse or recycle instead of throwing things away in the trash.  I'll turn of lights that I don't need, and not waste water or gas or electricity unnecessarily.

3.  Be better informed.  Most people my age pay no attention to the news or the economy.  I want to be on top of these things.  I think I'm well on the way.

4.  Keep this blog going.  I had been thinking about blogging for some time.  The election finally gave me the impetus to take the plunge.  However, I have a tendency to start things, go for a while, then get distracted and move on to something else.  I think this blog is important.  Not so much for anyone else, but it helps me to fulfill resolution #3:  Stay informed. 

5.  Be open-minded.  Not open-minded like liberals.  I've met many people on the left who are so open-minded their brains fall out completely.  That is to say, in the name of open-mindedness, they are willing to accept and embrace any idiotic theory or idea that comes along.  No, I just want to listen critically to what people whom I disagree with are really trying to say. 

6.  Visit my grandparents more.  They won't be here forever.

7.  Read more about America's History.  Particularly our early history.  I fear we are moving farther away from what made this country great.  I'd like to know more about those who shaped this country and made it what it is today.

8.  Deepen my spirituality.   Pray more.  Read the Bible more.  Any relationship requires work.  This is one that is worth working on.

That's all I have so far.  I may add more.  I may not.  But this seems to be a good start.

I wish everyone who stops by to read this a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

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Holiday Greetings

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all;" 

plus

"a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great, (not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country or is the only "AMERICA" in the western hemisphere), and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, choice of computer platform, or sexual orientation of the wisher."

(Disclaimer: By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher who assumes no responsibility for any unintended emotional stress these greetings may bring to those not caught up in the holiday spirit.  Wishes of peace and goodwill to men are not guaranteed.)

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Obama probe of Obama Finds Obama Did Nothing Wrong

Obama team:  Obama Team Cleared of Wrongdoing by Obama Team:

The Barack Obama presidential transition office today finally released its own report on its own internal investigation of its own contacts with legally challenged Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. And you'll be comforted to know the Obama team found no impropriety whatsoever by Obama team.

The Barack Obama presidential transition office today finally released its own report on its own internal investigation of its own contacts with legally challenged Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. And you'll be comforted to know the Obama folks found no impropriety whatsoever by Obama folks.

So go back to wrapping holiday presents or pretending you're working at your dIllinois Democrats governor Rod Blagojevich, then-senator Barack Obama and still-mayor Richard M. Daley in happier pre-criminal complaint timesesk and checking out Obama's important abs. All is well with the coming World of Change.

Speaking of tidy packages, the report was not released in the morning as things are when you want people to pay attention.

It was released at 4:30 Eastern time to provide minimal exam time before the network news. But that's probably a coincidence.

According to the report by Greg Craig, an incoming White House attorney, Obama personnel had numerous contacts with the governor's office but no one ever suspected that Blagojevich, who's been under federal investigation for three years now, was doing anything wrong.
Craig said the feds have interviewed Obama's new chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, who inherited Blagojevich's 5th District House seat, and Valerie Jarrett, a newly named White House aide and reportedly an Obama favorite to fill his vacant seat, as part of the governor's investigation.

None of these Obama-Blagojevich contacts is a shock. It would be surprising if an exiting senator's office was not in touch with a nominating governor's office of the same party on his/her successor.

But given the *&#$%# excerpts read aloud two weeks ago by Chicago U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald apparently showing the governor demanding money for state business, aid and the "golden" revenue opportunity of peddling a Senate nomination, the media world was curious to know what did Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, a longtime political pal of Blagojevich, say on those wiretaps.

Fitzgerald has said Obama is not involved in the investigation

Pulling together all of the Obama contacts apparently took longer than expected because days passed. Then out of the blue Obama's team said that Fitzgerald's team had provided perfect cover by asking them to hold off a week so as not to threaten interviews in the the federal investigation of the governor. Why? Because Blagojevich still didn't know he was bugged?

On Friday, Fitzgerald's offWhite House Chief of Staff designate Rahm Emanuel who's gone on vacation to Africa and his boss president-elect Barack Obamaice reportedly asked Obama's team to push the report release day back to Tuesday from Monday.

At the time we suggested politicians prefer to release not positive news when people aren't paying attention, like John Edwards doing his TV affair confession on a summer Friday night when 14 people are watching the tube.

Oh, look, here we are 24 hours from Christmas Eve. Few are paying attention. The world has moved on. Looks like Mark Teixeira has been bought by the Yankees for $180 million.

Obama is in Hawaii working out in a Secret Service bubble, so he certainly won't be talking. He'll leave the political world to watch wannabe senator Caroline Kennedy pull a Sarah Palin with the media.

Emanuel, the transition team told Huffington Post today, has just a little bit ago -- in fact, we just missed him -- left for a long-planned family vacation in that place that every North Side Chicago family dreams of visiting for the year-end holidays, somewhere in Africa. We're not told the area code. Likely on a safari. With no cell coverage, of course. So he's not around to talk.

So, amazingly, there won't be any Obama person on news video to run in endless tube loops over the slow holiday.

Fitzgerald, who so helpfully asked Obama to hush up his internal report when people were most interested, is busy doing his job as the only really investigative arm perusing Illinois politics. Now that his hand was forced by the alleged impending sale of Obama's vacant Senate seat, the clock is running on an indictment of Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris.

Oh, and did we mention, four weeks from today a little before noon Eastern time, Obama becomes boss of Fitzgerald and all the other U.S. attorneys? What do you want to bet that despite the Democratic Cook County clamoring Fitzgerald stays on a while?

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Lowered Expectations

The MainStreamMedia is doing it's best to lower expectations for Barack Obama.  They have been doing this since election day, and the coverage is intensifying.  

Associated Press

12:07 PM PST, December 23, 2008

WASHINGTON -- As the longest recession in a quarter century intensifies, analysts believe the small decline in economic activity in the third quarter has worsened significantly in the current fourth quarter.

The Commerce Department said today that the gross domestic product, the broadest measure of economic health, declined at an annual rate of 0.5 percent in the July-September quarter. Corporate profits fell 1.2 percent.

Some economists believe the economy's decline in the October-December period could be as large as 6 percent. If so, that would be the worst quarterly drop since 1982...

The article goes on to say "...worst recession since World War Two....blah blah blah .... home sales...slowest pace in 18 years ... blah blah blah ...more and more downside investment risks ... blah blah blah.... worst it's been in 25 years..."

Is it just me, or is saying this is the worst in 25 years not really saying much.  In the past 25+ years, America has gone through its most prosperous period in its history.  Ever.  This is thanks, mostly, to the policies of Ronald Reagan.  Under Jimmy Carter, we saw double digit unemployment, prime lending rates over 20 percent, and credit card interest rates of 35% and more.   Not all of the economic woes of the late '70s were Carter's fault.  Those problems began following Johnson's "War On American Taxpayers" ....  I mean "War on Poverty" in the '60's, which set up a horrible period of "stagflation". 

Ronald Reagan was vilified by everyone left of Rush Limbaugh and virtually nobody on the left gives him credit for the era of prosperity he created, but anyone who looks objectively at the past  30 to 40 years with a critical eye, has to admit that we've had it pretty good.

Nonetheless, the MSM wants things to look as bad as possible.  They want everyone to think we are on the verge of another Great Depression, so that their Messiah will look all the better when (if) he pulls us out of it.  

I have no doubt things will get better.  In time.  Economics tend to be cyclic and the cyclic nature of the American economy is driven by factors generally not controlled by government (yet).  Presidents and Congress can influence the economy.  No doubt, Reagan influenced the economy of the 80's and 90's more than most Presidents.  But, historically speaking, the man in office gets the credit or gets the blame for many things that are well beyond his control.

The MSM doesn't know how soon or if our economy will recover.  But if it does, they want to make sure Obama gets the credit for it.  And if it doesn't, of if the recovery is slower than expect, they want to make sure Bush gets the blame.

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Who's In Charge?

In a completely shocking revelation, it seems that Hillary Clinton wants to expand her little corner of the Federal Government.  I wonder if anyone saw this coming?

Even before taking office, Hillary Rodham Clinton is seeking to build a more powerful State Department, with a bigger budget, high-profile special envoys to trouble spots and an expanded role in dealing with global economic issues at a time of crisis.  (NY Times article)

Given her past, I suspect that the role of the State Department will be expanded to include things like:

Health Care

Poverty

Abortion Rights

Funding for Planned Parenthood

Restriction of Religious Freedoms

Gay Rights

Taxes

....and so on.

Hillary wanted to be President.  But as the head of the State Department, she might actually be happier in her job.  She can push her agenda without taking as much flack for it as she would if she were President.  It's kind of like being ....   a First Lady.

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We're Not Telling

So, the taxpayers (via the Federal Government) has given billions of dollars away this Christmas in the form of loans to a number of large banks.

Now, if I go to a bank and ask for a loan, what will they want to know?  How will I use the money?  Am I being responsible?  Am I being frivolous?   I'd like to know the same of them....

It's something any bank would demand to know before handing out a loan: Where's the money going?

But after receiving billions in aid from U.S. taxpayers, the nation's largest banks say they either can't track exactly how they're spending the money or they simply refuse to discuss it.

"We've lent some of it. We've not lent some of it. We've not given any accounting of, 'Here's how we're doing it,"' said Thomas Kelly, a spokesman for JPMorgan Chase, which received $25 billion in emergency bailout money. "We have not disclosed that to the public. We're declining to."

The Associated Press contacted 21 banks that received at least $1 billion in government money and asked four questions: How much has been spent? What was it spent on? How much is being held in savings, and what's the plan for the rest?

None of the banks provided specific answers.

It seems these banks think the American Taxpayer is Santa Claus, and they don't have to be "nice" to get their gifts this year....

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The Week In Review

Here's a recap of this week's events...

FBI Spied, Blogojevich Lied,

Obama Denied, Illinois Cried;

Rick Warren Prays, Outraging the Gays;

Palin's Church Burned; Christmas was spurned;

Bail Out the Big Three, with money from me,

"Just Trust Us", they say, we will repay.

Kaylee was found, decayed on the ground

Her mom's still in jail, and can't afford bail.

Christmas draws near, but atheists fear

The world could find joy, so they will annoy.

Gregoire embroiled, since Christmas she spoiled; 

O'Reilly fights back, but gets called a hack.

Madoff is busted, investors disgusted.

His money it seems, in fraudulent schemes.

Insiders appointed, as "Change" is annointed

A D.C. Sensation, in ObamaNation

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Corruption On Display

Today's big story:

A defiant Governor Rod R. Blagojevich said Friday that he will continue to fight federal corruption charges.

“I’m here to tell you right off the bat that I am not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing,” Mr. Blagojevich said, during his first statement since federal prosecutors unveiled a 76-page criminal complaint against him.

“I will fight this thing every step of the way. I will fight, I will fight, I will fight, till I take my very last breath. I have done nothing wrong.” he said.

Mr. Blagojevich is accused of, among other things, trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama’s Senate seat to the highest bidder.

He  did not take any questions from reporters

On Wednesday, Mr. Blagojevich told reporters that the day “will soon be here” when he’ll tell his side of the story.

“I can’t wait to begin to tell my side of the story and to address you guys and, most importantly, the people of Illinois. That’s who I’m dying to talk to,” he said. “There’s a time and place for everything. That day will soon be here and you might know more about that today, maybe no later than tomorrow.”

....and how much do you want to bet, that will be "Pay-Per-View."

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Can someone explain to me....

Can someone explain the following to me?  I'm really curious....

Why is that if Rick Warren's Church says....

We have a ministry for Alcoholics.  We welcome them in our church.  We believe that a lifestyle of Alcoholism is not what God wants, and that God wants to help you out of that lifestyle.  We will embrace you and love you and do everything we can to help you leave the lifestyle that is contrary to God's will.  You are welcome in our Church, but you must come to the point that you realize that the lifestyle you are living is wrong and will eventually destroy you if you remain in it....

That would be considered loving, compassionate and very Christian.

And if they say.....

We have a ministry for people addicted to pornography.  We welcome them in our church.  We believe that a lifestyle of pornographic addiction is not what God wants, and that God wants to help you out of that lifestyle.  We will embrace you and love you and do everything we can to help you leave the lifestyle that is contrary to God's will.  You are welcome in our Church, but you must come to the point that you realize that the lifestyle you are living is wrong and will eventually destroy you if you remain in it....

That would be considered loving, compassionate and very Christian.

And if they say.....

We have a ministry for people who have eating disorders.  We welcome them in our church.  We believe that a lifestyle of abusing food is not what God wants, and that God wants to help you out of that lifestyle.  We will embrace you and love you and do everything we can to help you leave the lifestyle that is contrary to God's will.  You are welcome in our Church, but you must come to the point that you realize that the lifestyle you are living is wrong and will eventually destroy you if you remain in it....

That would be considered loving, compassionate and very Christian.

And if they say.....

We have a ministry for drug addicts.  We welcome them in our church.  We believe that a lifestyle of drug addiction is not what God wants, and that God wants to help you out of that lifestyle.  We will embrace you and love you and do everything we can to help you leave the lifestyle that is contrary to God's will.  You are welcome in our Church, but you must come to the point that you realize that the lifestyle you are living is wrong and will eventually destroy you if you remain in it....

That would be considered loving, compassionate and very Christian.

BUT, if they say

We have a ministry for homosexuals.  We welcome them in our church.  We believe that a lifestyle of homosexuality is not what God wants, and that God wants to help you out of that lifestyle.  We will embrace you and love you and do everything we can to help you leave the lifestyle that is contrary to God's will.  You are welcome in our Church, but you must come to the point that you realize that the lifestyle you are living is wrong and will eventually destroy you if you remain in it....

THAT is bigoted, hateful, and homophobic.  Those people should be picketed and targeted for violence.

I don't understand the logic.  Anyone?

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