Here's a link to a huge list of what President Obama has accomplished so far.
The following is only a partial list of impressive accomplishments President Obama has completed in the 2 years 4 months he's been in office, despite the most uncooperative opposition party any president has had to deal with in modern times.
That he was able to achieve this much is a tribute to his skill as a chief executive in this very divided country.
The opposition has lied (and will continue to do so--it's their only weapon against this president's success) about Mr. Obama's record. So if you're reading on some rightwing blog that Mr. Obama has accomplished nothing, you're reading more rightwing propaganda and disinformation. This list attests to what President Obama has accomplished, and shows that the rightwingers lie about it.
The opposition can have their own opinions, but not their own facts. And here are the facts:
Legislative Prowess
Despite the characterizations of some, Obama’s success rate in winning congressional votes on issues was an unprecedented 96.7% for his first year in office. Though he is often cited as superior to Obama, President Lyndon Johnson’s success rate in 1965 was only 93%.
Fiscal Responsibility
Within days after taking office, he signed an Executive Order ordering an audit of government contracts, and combating waste and abuse. http://1.usa.gov/dUvbu5
Created the post of Chief Performance Officer, whose job it is to make operations more efficient to save the federal government money. http://n.pr/hcgBn1
On his first full day, he froze White House salaries. http://on.msnbc.com/ewJUIx
He appointed the first Federal Chief Information Officer to oversee federal IT spending. http://www.cio.gov
He committed to phasing out unnecessary and outdated weapons systems, and also signed the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act to stop waste, fraud and abuse in the defense procurement and contracting system. http://bit.ly/hOw1t1 http://bit.ly/fz8GAd
Through an executive order, he created the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. http://bit.ly/hwKhKa
Improving the Economy, Preventing Depression
He pushed through and signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, otherwise known as “the stimulus package,” despite the fact that not one Republican voted for that bill. In addition, he launched recovery.gov, so that taxpayers could track spending from the Act. http://1.usa.gov/ibiFSs http://1.usa.gov/e3BJMk
In his first year, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act created and sustained 2.1 million jobs and stimulated the economy 3.5%. http://reut.rs/i46CEE
He completed the massive TARP financial and banking rescue plan, and recovered virtually all of its costs. http://1.usa.gov/eA5jVS http://bit.ly/eCNrD6
He created the Making Home Affordable home refinancing plan. http://1.usa.gov/goy6zl
He oversaw the creation of more jobs in 2010 alone than Bush did in eight years. http://bit.ly/hrrnjY
He also doubled funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership which is designed to improve manufacturing efficiency. http://bit.ly/eYD4nf
He signed the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act giving the federal government more tools to investigate and prosecute fraud in every corner of the financial system. It also created a bipartisan Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission to investigate the financial fraud that led to the economic meltdown. http://abcn.ws/g18Fe7
He signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, which was designed to to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive credit card practices. http://1.usa.gov/gIaNcS
He signed the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, expanding on the Making Home Affordable Program to help millions of Americans avoid preventable foreclosures. The bill also provided $2.2 billion to help combat homelessness, and to stabilize the housing market. http://bit.ly/eEpLFn
Through the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, he and Congressional Democrats provided tax credits to first-time home buyers, which helped the U.S. housing market recovery. http://bit.ly/dZgXXw http://bit.ly/gORYfL
He initiated a $15 billion plan designed to encourage increased lending to small businesses. http://1.usa.gov/eu0u0b
He created a $60 billion bank to fund infrastructure improvements such as roads and bridges. http://bit.ly/e1SSaQ
He implemented an auto industry rescue plan, and saved as many as 1 million jobs. http://bit.ly/ibhpxr
Many are of the opinion that he saved the entire auto industry, and even the economy of the entire Midwest. http://bit.ly/gj7mt5
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he saved at least 300,000 education jobs, such as teachers, principals, librarians, and counselors that would have otherwise been lost. http://1.usa.gov/ez30Dc
Provided funding to states and the Department of Homeland Security to save thousands of police and firefighter jobs from being cut during the recession. http://bit.ly/g0IKWR
Wall Street Reforms and Consumer Protection
Ordered 65 executives who took bailout money to cut their own pay until they paid back all bailout money. http://huff.to/eAi9Qq
He pushed through and got passed Dodd-Frank, one of the largest and most comprehensive Wall Street reforms since the Great Depression. http://bit.ly/hWCPg0 http://bit.ly/geHpcD
He made it so that banks could no longer use YOUR money to invest in high-risk financial instruments that work against their own customers’ interests. http://bit.ly/fnTayj
He wholly endorsed and supported the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009 that would close offshore tax avoidance loopholes. http://bit.ly/esOdfB http://bit.ly/eG4DPM
He made a deal with Swiss banks that permits the US government to gain access to the records of criminals and tax evaders. http://bit.ly/htfDgw
He established a Consumer Protection Financial Bureau designed to protect consumers from financial sector excesses. http://bit.ly/fnTayj
Civil Rights and Anti-Discrimination
He advocated for and signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which made it a federal crime to assault anyone based on his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. http://bit.ly/gsMSJ7
He pushed through and signed a repeal of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy that forced soldiers to lie to fight for their country, and put our troops at risk by disqualifying many qualified soldiers from helping. http://bit.ly/fdahuH
He appointed Kareem Dale as the first ever Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy. http://1.usa.gov/fi5IY0
He extended benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. http://1.usa.gov/g2RLCj
He’s appointed more openly gay officials than anyone in history. http://bit.ly/g1lA7D
He signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, restoring basic protections against pay discrimination for women and other workers. This was after the GOP blocked the bill in 2007. Only 5 Republican Senators voted for the bill. http://bit.ly/fT3Cxg
He expanded funding for the Violence Against Women Act. http://1.usa.gov/dSbI0x
Fighting Poverty
He provided a $20 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps). http://nyti.ms/gfLqyM
He signed an Executive Order that established the White House Office of Urban Affairs. http://wapo.st/eWECA8
He improved Foreign Relations and American Status Abroad
He visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any previous president during his first six months in office. http://bit.ly/hZycda
As he promised, he gave a speech at a major Islamic forum in Cairo early in his administration. http://nyti.ms/dKvY4g
He re-established and reinforced our partnership with NATO and other allies on strategic international issues. http://1.usa.gov/e7QuDj
He established a new U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. http://1.usa.gov/eX28DP
He established new, more reasonable policies in our relations with Cuba, such as allowing Cuban-Americans to visit their families and send money to support them. http://n.pr/hY3Kwa http://nyti.ms/emQBde
He ordered the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay. It was Republicans (and a smattering of Democrats) who prevented him from following through. http://bit.ly/eW6CVF
Ordered a review of our detention and interrogation policy, and prohibited the use of torture, or what Bush called “enhanced interrogation.” He ordered interrogators to limit their actions to the Army Field manual. http://bit.ly/g6MTuC
He ordered all secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere to be closed. http://bbc.in/h6N9ax
He released the Bush torture memos. http://bit.ly/hWJ5z0
On his second day in office, he signed a detailed Executive Order that banned torture, reversed all Bush torture policies, and put the United States in compliance with the Geneva Convention. http://1.usa.gov/dL6Zve http://nyti.ms/hzWWys
Better Approach to “Defense”
Created a comprehensive new strategy for dealing with the international nuclear threat. http://1.usa.gov/gDX1nE
He authorized a $1.4 billion reduction in Star Wars program in 2010. http://1.usa.gov/gLFZl2
He restarted nuclear nonproliferation talks and built up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols to where they had been before Bush. http://lat.ms/gkcl3i
He signed and pushed to ratification a new SALT Treaty. http://bit.ly/f3JVtw
He created and executed a plan to end our involvement in Iraq in a responsible manner, and followed through. http://nyti.ms/fHTfrJ
Through the Defense Authorization Act, he reversed the Bush Administration and committed to no permanent military bases in Iraq. http://bit.ly/hk73OJ
He developed the first comprehensive strategy with regard to Afghanistan and Pakistan designed to facilitate the defeat of al Qaeda and the withdrawal of most troops, as well as the rebuilding of Afghanistan. http://wapo.st/ee4Xcs
Treating Soldiers and Veterans with Respect
He made sure that families of fallen soldiers could be on hand when the body arrives at Dover AFB, by providing funding for it. He also ended the media blackout on coverage of the return of fallen soldiers. http://nyti.ms/glqN66 http://bbc.in/gWSSkA
He funded Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with an extra $1.4 billion to improve veterans’ services. http://1.usa.gov/huhqfo
He provided the troops with better body armor. http://bit.ly/hzSv2h
He created the Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record program for military personnel, in order to improve the quality of their medical care. http://1.usa.gov/f4yaxW
He supported and signed the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, which made more money available to enable better medical care for veterans. http://1.usa.gov/fN4ur1
He ushered through the largest spending increase in 30 years for the Department of Veterans Affairs for improved medical facilities, and to assist states in acquiring or constructing state nursing homes and extended care facilities. http://1.usa.gov/gY8O3x
He created the Green Vet Initiative, which provided special funding to the Labor Department to provide veterans with training in green jobs. http://bit.ly/epwUQY
He oversaw a $4.6 billion expansion of the Veterans Administration budget to pay for more mental health professionals. http://bit.ly/gjzTxX
Education
He has repeatedly increased funding for student financial aid, and at the same time cut the banks completely out of the process. http://bit.ly/gYWd30 http://bit.ly/e9c7Dr http://bit.ly/eEzTNq
Completely reformed the student loan program, to make it possible for students to refinance at a lower rate. http://nyti.ms/dMvHOt
He passed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which provided an extra $12.2 billion in funds. http://1.usa.gov/dQvtUe
Greater Transparency and Better Government
He signed an order banning gifts from lobbyists to anyone in the Executive Branch. http://bit.ly/fsBACN
He signed an order banning anyone from working in an agency they had lobbied in previous years. He also put strict limits on lobbyists’ access to the White House. http://nyti.ms/gOrznV
He held the first-ever first online town hall from the White House, and took questions from the public. http://bit.ly/gVNSgX
The Obama White House became the first to stream every White House event, live. http://1.usa.gov/kAgOP5
He established a central portal for Americans to find service opportunities. http://www.serve.gov
He provided the first voluntary disclosure of the White House Visitors Log in history. http://1.usa.gov/hQ7ttV
He crafted an Executive Order on Presidential Records, which restored the 30-day time frame for former presidents to review records, and eliminated the right for the vice president or family members of former presidents to do the reviews. This will provide the public with greater access to historic White House documents, and severely curtails the ability to use executive privilege to shield them. http://1.usa.gov/gUetLb
He improved aspects of the Freedom of Information Act, and issued new guidelines to make FOIA more open and transparent in the processing of FOIA requests. http://1.usa.gov/gjrnp2
National Safety and Security
He’s restored federal agencies such as FEMA to the point that they have been able to manage a huge number of natural disasters successfully. http://bit.ly/h8Xj7z
Has repeatedly beefed up border security http://bit.ly/mMYB4i
Killed Osama bin Laden. http://bit.ly/jChpgw
Science, Technology and Health Care
He created a Presidential Memorandum to restore scientific integrity in government decision-making. http://1.usa.gov/g2SDuw
He opened up the process for fast-tracking patent approval for green energy projects. http://bit.ly/j0KV2U
He eliminated the Bush-era restrictions on embryonic stem cell research. He also provided increased federal support for biomedical and stem cell research. http://bit.ly/h36SSO http://ti.me/edezge
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he committed more federal funding, about $18 billion, to support non-defense science and research labs. http://nyti.ms/fTs9t7
He signed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, the first comprehensive attempt to improve the lives of Americans living with paralysis. http://bit.ly/fOi2rb
Provided financial support for private sector space programs. http://bit.ly/fn8ucr
He oversaw enhanced earth mapping, to provide valuable data for agricultural, educational, scientific, and government use. http://bit.ly/dNTRyP
He ushered through a bill that authorized the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco products. http://on.msnbc.com/fiKViB As a result, the FDA has Ordered Tobacco Companies to Disclose Cigarette Ingredients and banned sale of cigarettes falsely labeled as “light.”
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, he provided $500 million for Health Professions Training Programs. http://bit.ly/ecQSgA
He also increased funding for community-based prevention programs. http://bit.ly/frMPG3
He oversaw a 50% decrease in cost of prescription drugs for seniors. http://bit.ly/e5b1iq http://1.usa.gov/fVNkt9
He eliminated the Bush-era practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug companies on price. http://bit.ly/fOkG5b
Two weeks after taking office, he signed the Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act, which increased the number of children covered by health insurance by 4 million. http://bit.ly/fDEzGv
He held a quick press conference, and urged Congress to investigate Anthem Blue Cross for raising premiums 39% without explanation. Rep. Waxman responded by launching a probe, and Anthem Blue Cross put the increase on hold for two months. http://yhoo.it/e8Tj9C
Ushered through and signed the Affordable Health Care Act, which expanded health insurance coverage to 30 million more people, and ended many common insurance company practices that are often detrimental to those with coverage. He also established http://www.healthcare.gov/
Through the Affordable Health Care Act, he allowed children to be covered under their parents’ policy until they turned 26. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V
Through the Affordable Health Care Act, he provided tax breaks to allow 3.5 million small business to provide health insurance to their employees, and 29 million people will receive tax breaks to help them afford health insurance. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V
Through the Affordable Health Care Act, he expanded Medicaid to those making up to 133% of the federal poverty level. http://nyti.ms/ekMWpo
Through the Affordable Health Care Act, health insurance companies now have to disclose how much of your premium actually goes to pay for patient care. http://nyti.ms/fNB26V
Strengthening the Middle Class and Families
He worked to provide affordable, high-quality child care to working families. http://bit.ly/fNfidS
He cracked down on companies that were previously denying sick pay, vacation and health insurance, and Social Security and Medicare tax payments through abuse of the employee classification of independent contractor. http://nyti.ms/fOGLcj
Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , he cut taxes for 95% of America’s working families. http://bit.ly/eSEI4F
Under Obama, tax rates for average working families are the lowest they’ve been since 1950. http://bit.ly/f74pD8
He extended and fully funded the patch for the Alternative Minimum Tax for 10 years. http://bit.ly/eFeSdP
He extended discounted COBRA health coverage for the unemployed from 9 months to 15 months, and he’s extended unemployment benefits several times. http://aol.it/evtVxD http://nyti.ms/emrqKJ http://bit.ly/hOtIpg http://bit.ly/fTT7kz
Environment and Energy
He fast-tracked regulations to allow states to enact federal fuel efficiency standards that were above federal standards. http://nyti.ms/e8e94x
He fast-tracked increased fuel economy standards for vehicles beginning with the 2011 model year. It was the first time such standards had been increased in a decade. http://politi.co/hiaPKM
He oversaw the establishment of an Energy Partnership for the Americas, which creates more markets for American-made biofuels and green energy technologies. http://bit.ly/lZp73y
He ordered the Department of Energy to implement more aggressive efficiency standards for common household appliances. http://1.usa.gov/g3MTbu
He ordered energy plants to prepare to produce at least 15% of all energy through renewable resources like wind and solar, by 2021. http://reut.rs/fV155p (As you can see, Republicans are trying hard to kill it.)
He oversaw the creation of an initiative that converts old factories and manufacturing centers into new clean technology centers. http://bit.ly/mjnq2R
Bypassed Republican opposition in Congress and ordered EPA to begin regulating and measuring carbon emissions. http://bit.ly/froaP5
He doubled federal spending on clean energy research. http://bit.ly/iN0sCE
He pushed through a tax credit to help people buy plug-in hybrid cars. http://bit.ly/j8UP5Y
He created a program to develop renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that will produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents. http://1.usa.gov/fgfRWq
He reengaged in the climate change and greenhouse gas emissions agreements talks, and even proposed one himself. He also addressed the U.N. Climate Change Conference, officially reversing the Bush era stance that climate change was a “hoax.” http://bit.ly/dX6Vj3 http://bit.ly/fE2PxK http://nyti.ms/hfeqvv
He fully supported the initial phase of the creation of a legally-binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions worldwide. http://bit.ly/eJ6QOO
He required states to provide incentives to utilities to reduce their energy consumption. http://bit.ly/lBhk7P
Created tax write-offs for purchases of hybrid automobiles, and later he and Democrats morphed that program into one that includes electric cars. http://bit.ly/glCukV
Mandated that federal government fleet purchases be for fuel-efficient American vehicles, and encouraged that federal agencies support experimental, fuel-efficient vehicles. http://bit.ly/h5KZqy http://1.usa.gov/fLWq5c http://1.usa.gov/hmUSbk
He strengthened the Endangered Species Act. http://bit.ly/hscjsH
Through the EPA, he took steps to severely limit the use of antibiotics in livestock feed, to increase their efficacy in humans. http://bit.ly/fBuWd2
He increased funding for National Parks and Forests by 10% http://bit.ly/fbJPjY
Other Stuff
He has expanded trade agreements to include stricter labor and environmental agreements such as NAFTA. http://bit.ly/etznpY
He oversaw funding of the design of a new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History, which is scheduled to open on the National Mall in 2015. He protected the funding during the recent budget negotiations. http://on.fb.me/fD0EVO http://bit.ly/ff5Luv
Oversaw and passed increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. http://bit.ly/dFb8qF
He nominated Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. Sotomayor is the first Hispanic Justice in the court’s history, and the women represent only the third and fourth women to serve on the court, out of a total of 112 justices. http://huff.to/eOChg6 http://bit.ly/i02wgP
He appointed the most diverse Cabinet in history, including more women than any other incoming president. http://bit.ly/dX6vNB
He eliminated federal funding for abstinence-only education, and he rescinded the global gag rule. http://bit.ly/eCFAI1 http://bit.ly/f92drF
He loosened the rules and allowed the 14 states that legalized medical marijuana to regulate themselves without federal interference. http://huff.to/eQfa7j
Ushered through and signed national service legislation, increasing funding for national service groups, including triple the size of the Americorps program. http://bit.ly/idgQH5
IMPRESSIVE!
Monday, June 20, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
HAPPY JUNETEENTH!
"Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation - which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.
Later attempts to explain this two and a half year delay in the receipt of this important news have yielded several versions that have been handed down through the years. Often told is the story of a messenger who was murdered on his way to Texas with the news of freedom. Another, is that the news was deliberately withheld by the enslavers to maintain the labor force on the plantations. And still another, is that federal troops actually waited for the slave owners to reap the benefits of one last cotton harvest before going to Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. All of which, or neither of these version could be true. Certainly, for some, President Lincoln's authority over the rebellious states was in question For whatever the reasons, conditions in Texas remained status quo well beyond what was statutory.
Juneteenth Festivities and Food
A range of activities were provided to entertain the masses, many of which continue in tradition today. Rodeos, fishing, barbecuing and baseball are just a few of the typical Juneteenth activities you may witness today. Juneteenth almost always focused on education and self improvement. Thus, often guest speakers are brought in and the elders are called upon to recount the events of the past. Prayer services were also a major part of these celebrations.
Certain foods became popular and subsequently synonymous with Juneteenth celebrations such as strawberry soda-pop. More traditional and just as popular was the barbecuing, through which Juneteenth participants could share in the spirit and aromas that their ancestors - the newly emancipated African Americans, would have experienced during their ceremonies. Hence, the barbecue pit is often established as the center of attention at Juneteenth celebrations.
Food was abundant because everyone prepared a special dish. Meats such as lamb, pork and beef which not available everyday were brought on this special occasion. A true Juneteenth celebrations left visitors well satisfied and with enough conversation to last until the next.
Dress was also an important element in early Juneteenth customs and is often still taken seriously, particularly by the direct descendants who can make the connection to this tradition's roots. During slavery there were laws on the books in many areas that prohibited or limited the dressing of the enslaved. During the initial days of the emancipation celebrations, there are accounts of former slaves tossing their ragged garments into the creeks and rivers to adorn clothing taken from the plantations belonging to their former 'masters'.
Juneteenth In Modern Times
Today, Juneteenth is enjoying a phenomenal growth rate within communities and organizations throughout the country. Institutions such as the Smithsonian, the Henry Ford Museum and others have begun sponsoring Juneteenth-centered activities. In recent years, a number of local and national Juneteenth organizations have arisen to take their place along side older organizations - all with the mission to promote and cultivate knowledge and appreciation of African American history and culture.
Juneteenth today, celebrates African American freedom and achievement, while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures. As it takes on a more national, symbolic and even global perspective, the events of 1865 in Texas are not forgotten, for all of the roots tie back to this fertile soil from which a national day of pride is growing.
The future of Juneteenth looks bright as the number of cities and states creating Juneteenth committees continues to increase. Respect and appreciation for all of our differences grow out of exposure and working together. Getting involved and supporting Juneteenth celebrations creates new bonds of friendship and understanding among us. This indeed, brightens our future - and that is the Spirit of Juneteenth."
SOURCE
And a Happy Fathers' Day to all the wonderful fathers out there.
Later attempts to explain this two and a half year delay in the receipt of this important news have yielded several versions that have been handed down through the years. Often told is the story of a messenger who was murdered on his way to Texas with the news of freedom. Another, is that the news was deliberately withheld by the enslavers to maintain the labor force on the plantations. And still another, is that federal troops actually waited for the slave owners to reap the benefits of one last cotton harvest before going to Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. All of which, or neither of these version could be true. Certainly, for some, President Lincoln's authority over the rebellious states was in question For whatever the reasons, conditions in Texas remained status quo well beyond what was statutory.
Juneteenth Festivities and Food
A range of activities were provided to entertain the masses, many of which continue in tradition today. Rodeos, fishing, barbecuing and baseball are just a few of the typical Juneteenth activities you may witness today. Juneteenth almost always focused on education and self improvement. Thus, often guest speakers are brought in and the elders are called upon to recount the events of the past. Prayer services were also a major part of these celebrations.
Certain foods became popular and subsequently synonymous with Juneteenth celebrations such as strawberry soda-pop. More traditional and just as popular was the barbecuing, through which Juneteenth participants could share in the spirit and aromas that their ancestors - the newly emancipated African Americans, would have experienced during their ceremonies. Hence, the barbecue pit is often established as the center of attention at Juneteenth celebrations.
Food was abundant because everyone prepared a special dish. Meats such as lamb, pork and beef which not available everyday were brought on this special occasion. A true Juneteenth celebrations left visitors well satisfied and with enough conversation to last until the next.
Dress was also an important element in early Juneteenth customs and is often still taken seriously, particularly by the direct descendants who can make the connection to this tradition's roots. During slavery there were laws on the books in many areas that prohibited or limited the dressing of the enslaved. During the initial days of the emancipation celebrations, there are accounts of former slaves tossing their ragged garments into the creeks and rivers to adorn clothing taken from the plantations belonging to their former 'masters'.
Juneteenth In Modern Times
Today, Juneteenth is enjoying a phenomenal growth rate within communities and organizations throughout the country. Institutions such as the Smithsonian, the Henry Ford Museum and others have begun sponsoring Juneteenth-centered activities. In recent years, a number of local and national Juneteenth organizations have arisen to take their place along side older organizations - all with the mission to promote and cultivate knowledge and appreciation of African American history and culture.
Juneteenth today, celebrates African American freedom and achievement, while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures. As it takes on a more national, symbolic and even global perspective, the events of 1865 in Texas are not forgotten, for all of the roots tie back to this fertile soil from which a national day of pride is growing.
The future of Juneteenth looks bright as the number of cities and states creating Juneteenth committees continues to increase. Respect and appreciation for all of our differences grow out of exposure and working together. Getting involved and supporting Juneteenth celebrations creates new bonds of friendship and understanding among us. This indeed, brightens our future - and that is the Spirit of Juneteenth."
SOURCE
And a Happy Fathers' Day to all the wonderful fathers out there.
Friday, June 17, 2011
PROSTITUTE PATRON SENATOR VITTER GIVES THUMBS UP TO REPRESENTATIVE WEINER FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING
Senator David Vitter [R-LA]* gives kudos to Rep. Anthony Weiner for manning up and having the decency [at long last] to resign from his public office after disgracing himself and his family.
*NEW ORLEANS — New allegations tie Sen. David Vitter to a high-priced brothel in his hometown, one day after he publicly apologized for his connection to an alleged prostitution ring in Washington, D.C.
On Monday, Vitter acknowledged being involved with the so-called D.C. Madam. A day later, new revelations linked him to a former madam in New Orleans and old allegations that he frequented a former prostitute resurfaced, further clouding his political future.
Jeanette Maier on Tuesday said Vitter was once a client of the Canal Street brothel. She pleaded guilty to running the operation in 2002. Vitter won his seat in the U.S. Senate in 2004.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
BROONZ!
We're a hockey family.
Boston hasn't possessed the Stanley Cup since 1972--the Bobby Orr years!
Boston's sports teams have delivered 4 world championship in 6 years:
2005 New England Patriots win their 3rd Super Bowl
2007 Boston Red Sox win their second World Series.
2008 Boston Celtics win their 17th Basketball Championship
2011 Boston Bruins win their 6th Stanley Cup Championship
Congrats to our beloved BROONZ!
WHAT PLANET DO THESE GOPers LIVE ON?!
These are sound bites, for sure, but sound bites that seem to come from people living on another planet.
Each of these candidates tries to out-Tea Party the others, pandering to the fringes of the GOP.
Tim Pawlenty is the worst. His sound-bite should disqualify him for dog-catcher!
Happily, I missed the show because of a little game going on at the Baaahstin Gaaahdin involving some black and gold bears!
Fact-checking on what the GOPers claimed in the Monday night debate: [h/t ThinkProgress]
CLAIM 1 FROM BACHMANN: The Congressional Budget Office said the Affordable Care Act will kill 800,000 jobs. FACT: The CBO actually found that some people would leave the workforce or work less because they can find affordable health coverage elsewhere. This is a reduction in the supply of labor, not a reduction in the supply of jobs.
http://factcheck.org/2011/01/a-job-killing-law /
CLAIM 2 FROM BACHMANN: Obamacare took $500 billion out of Medicare, shifted it to build a new entitlement for young people. FACT: The health law does not cut the current Medicare budget; it slows the growth in the program by removing $500 billion from future spending over the next 10 years. The cuts help stabilize Medicare by eliminating overpayments and slowly phasing in payment adjustments that encourage greater efficiency. As a result, the law extends the life of the Medicare trust fund by nine years and allows seniors to retain all of their guaranteed Medicare benefits.
CLAIM 3 FROM ROMNEY: I would issue an executive order paving the way for Obamacare waivers to all 50 states. FACT: The executive branch and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) don’t have the authority to grant blanket waivers — those powers are reserved for Congress.
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2011/03/23/171992/romne... /
CLAIM 4 FROM PAWLENTY: Medicare is not financially solvent. FACT: Medicare is fully solvent until 2024. After 2024, the hospital fund will still be able to meet “90 percent” of its commitments.
http://www.healthbeatblog.com/2011/05/the-medicare-cris...
CLAIM 5 FROM SANTORUM: Paul Ryan’s Medicare plan is “identical to what seniors already have” — Medicare Part D. FACT: It’s not. The government pays 74 percent of costs in Medicare Part D and grows that support at the rate of program costs. “Ryan’s plan covers about a third of beneficiary costs, and that support grows at the rate of inflation — so much more slowly than the rest of the program, or than Medicare Part D.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/doe...
CLAIM 6 FROM SANTORUM: The Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) will ration care to seniors beginning in 2014. FACT: The IPAB kicks in if health care spending goes beyond a certain threshold and is statutorily prohibited from rationing benefits or increasing co-pays. In fact, Paul Ryan even supported a more aggressive IPAB-type reform in 2009.
Each of these candidates tries to out-Tea Party the others, pandering to the fringes of the GOP.
Tim Pawlenty is the worst. His sound-bite should disqualify him for dog-catcher!
Happily, I missed the show because of a little game going on at the Baaahstin Gaaahdin involving some black and gold bears!
Fact-checking on what the GOPers claimed in the Monday night debate: [h/t ThinkProgress]
CLAIM 1 FROM BACHMANN: The Congressional Budget Office said the Affordable Care Act will kill 800,000 jobs. FACT: The CBO actually found that some people would leave the workforce or work less because they can find affordable health coverage elsewhere. This is a reduction in the supply of labor, not a reduction in the supply of jobs.
http://factcheck.org/2011/01/a-job-killing-law /
CLAIM 2 FROM BACHMANN: Obamacare took $500 billion out of Medicare, shifted it to build a new entitlement for young people. FACT: The health law does not cut the current Medicare budget; it slows the growth in the program by removing $500 billion from future spending over the next 10 years. The cuts help stabilize Medicare by eliminating overpayments and slowly phasing in payment adjustments that encourage greater efficiency. As a result, the law extends the life of the Medicare trust fund by nine years and allows seniors to retain all of their guaranteed Medicare benefits.
CLAIM 3 FROM ROMNEY: I would issue an executive order paving the way for Obamacare waivers to all 50 states. FACT: The executive branch and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) don’t have the authority to grant blanket waivers — those powers are reserved for Congress.
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2011/03/23/171992/romne... /
CLAIM 4 FROM PAWLENTY: Medicare is not financially solvent. FACT: Medicare is fully solvent until 2024. After 2024, the hospital fund will still be able to meet “90 percent” of its commitments.
http://www.healthbeatblog.com/2011/05/the-medicare-cris...
CLAIM 5 FROM SANTORUM: Paul Ryan’s Medicare plan is “identical to what seniors already have” — Medicare Part D. FACT: It’s not. The government pays 74 percent of costs in Medicare Part D and grows that support at the rate of program costs. “Ryan’s plan covers about a third of beneficiary costs, and that support grows at the rate of inflation — so much more slowly than the rest of the program, or than Medicare Part D.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/doe...
CLAIM 6 FROM SANTORUM: The Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) will ration care to seniors beginning in 2014. FACT: The IPAB kicks in if health care spending goes beyond a certain threshold and is statutorily prohibited from rationing benefits or increasing co-pays. In fact, Paul Ryan even supported a more aggressive IPAB-type reform in 2009.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
SARAH PALIN AND THE DECLINE OF AMERICAN POLITICS
A reader of Andrew Sullivan's Blog, The Daily Dish, has some profound insights into the worst political hack ever thrusted upon the American electorate, Sarah Palin, and the inability of a large segment of the voting public who were wilfully blind to her grevious lack of knowledge of the world she lives in. If a large number of Americans were unable to reject this anti-intellectual, lazy-minded, theatrical charlatan, why should we have any hope for our political process and media that report it?
Read it here:
Read it here:
"At what point did our political system become decadent? The moment when the United States collectively abdicated its responsibilities in self-government was when the American people accepted the notion that John McCain believed that Sarah Palin was qualified to serve as President of the United States. The fact that the media continues to legitimize the political viability of an individual who never gave a press conference and demonstrates zero ability to recognize what she does not know, is appalling. The fact that 45.7% of the American people in 2008 gave an affirmative answer to the very simple question: "Is Sarah Palin qualified to be President of the United States?" is telling in and of itself.
[T]he introduction of Sarah Palin and her perverse relationship with the American media has been the singularly most toxic element in American politics in the post-Cold War period.
I continue to be astonished that someone can post a blatant lie on a Facebook page, have the media report on it as factual news and a real policy prescription, and permanently poison the political well. We need not go past the healthcare debate to see ample evidence of this phenomenon.
We should not be deluded that even if Sarah Palin does not run for the Presidency that she will not have a profound impact on the Republican nomination process. She and her Christianist tendencies will enjoy a de facto veto over any candidate that fails to tap into her revanchist version of history - resentments against virtually all portions of American society. She is a constituency of one and the most important constituency in the Republican Party, which will result in a candidate who has no viable policy programs, but just might get elected due to economic circumstances.
The media, the American people, and most importantly the Republican Party, should forcefully tell Palin that she either needs to declare her candidacy or be shunned to a life of political insignificance. We know this is not going to happen. She is the mainstream media's favorite politician. She is the spiritual and political leader of the Republican Party. For Democrats, she is a politician who should be cajoled into running to optimize Obama's chances of reelection, under the false and dangerous conventional wisdom that she is unelectable.
American politics has always enjoyed a good sex scandal, yet in the end has been able to more or less function as a governable nation. Palin's style of politics and our ability to ignore it has resulted in our inability to extricate ourselves from three foreign wars; have an honest discussion about the impact of debt, revenue, and entitlements on the sustainability of a decent quality of life for most Americans; and permit a natural generational shift of values to occur on equal rights for all Americans."
Sunday, June 12, 2011
BOSTON CATHOLIC CHURCH SAYS "ALL ARE WELCOME," BUT CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS DEMAND IT BE TAKEN DOWN
UPDATE BELOW
And the Baby Jesus wept:
How any member of the LGBT community can belong to the conservative movement is a mystery to me. When will the Log Cabin Republicans understand that a majority of religious conservatives do not like them or want them in their communities?
UPDATE:
Dan Savage talks about the silent complicity of liberal Christians:
And the Baby Jesus wept:
"In its most recent bulletin, St. Cecilia Parish said that it had planned a “liturgy to commemorate Boston Pride 2011’’ for later this month.h/t Andrew Sullivan's The Daily Dish
“The Rainbow Ministry of St. Cecilia Parish invites all friends and supporters of the LGBT community to a Mass in celebration of Boston’s Pride Month,’’ the bulletin said. “The theme of the liturgy, ‘All Are Welcome,’ honors Christ’s message of hope and salvation to all people. We will also celebrate the diverse community that finds its home at St. Cecilia.’’
But after protests from conservative church members, the archdiocese intervened.
“The wording and placement of a bulletin notice announcing that the St. Cecilia Rainbow Ministry will be joining the parish at a Mass on June 19 may have given the unintended impression that the Mass is in support of Gay Pride Week; it is not,’’ said Terrence C. Donilon, a spokesman for the archdiocese. “The pastor will clarify this issue at the Masses this coming weekend.’’
The pastor of the church, the Rev. John J. Unni, did not return calls. Donilon said that he spoke for the parish and that the decision was made by senior officials at the archdiocese.
Donilon declined to answer questions about the apparent contradiction of the church’s bulletin and his statement. He said, however, that there would be a Mass in the future to welcome the community, but not specifically gays and lesbians.
Burke of DignityUSA called on the parish community to “resist the calls for canceling’’ and possibly move the event to a different location. “What kind of message does this send to the gays and lesbians in that parish?’’ she asked.
Susan Donnelly, a member of the parish council of St. Cecilia Parish, said the scheduled Mass had not sparked controversy at St. Cecilia’s. She said the criticism has come from outside."
How any member of the LGBT community can belong to the conservative movement is a mystery to me. When will the Log Cabin Republicans understand that a majority of religious conservatives do not like them or want them in their communities?
UPDATE:
Dan Savage talks about the silent complicity of liberal Christians:
Saturday, June 11, 2011
THE BEST INFORMATION TO COME OUT OF PALIN'S EMAILS...
is the fact that Palin ALWAYS depends on a teleprompter even when she's on her friendly FAUX NOOZ show and especially when she's asked pre-screened questions. Palin made much snark out of the fact that Mr. Obama uses a teleprompter, and her followers thought she was massively cute and incisive by making fun of the president. But like all hypocrites, Palin mocked while doing EXACTLY the same thing.
The only time we can be sure Palin is NOT using a teleprompter is when she reveals herself in the mangling of the English language and American history. When that happens, we're looking into the heart of Palin's darkest and most sincere ignorance.
All modern presidents use and have used the teleprompter--even St. Ronnie, The Great Communicator. Why Palin, who also used the teleprompter when she was governor, felt she needed to denigrate Mr. Obama for doing what she routinely did, is not a mystery. As surely as patriotic family vacations require national bus tours and media attention, mean-spirited and petty people like Palin try to mask their own inadequacies and short-comings by ridiculing those who are their betters, using lies and misrepresentation to shore up their small-minded deceptions.
Except now we know that Palin was all moose and no antlers when she made fun of Mr. Obama's teleprompter use.
The rest of Palin's emails seem to be, like her, unexceptionally mundane and boring.
"Gotcha: Sarah Palin’s Emails Confirm She Needs Teleprompter For Interviews
Palin’s Emails Confirm PoliticusUSA’s Teleprompter Posts
And now, for a little Friday evening levity in the Palin email saga after the dark seriousness of the earlier revelations regarding Palin’s use of these emails to intimidate critics: It’s always nice to have confirmation in writing from the source. As I’ve been explaining for the last year, Palin uses Teleprompters in interviews and as a “contributor” on Fox News. This isn’t a terrible sin, but since she bashes Obama for it every chance she gets, this is just one more example of Palin’s values failure (of which there are too many to enumerate here).
The worst part about Palin’s use of Teleprompters, though, is that she doesn’t even draft her own answers. Everything you hear her say is scripted. The only time she’s unscripted, we get “Paul Revere warning the British” and the Bush Bailout “so important for the healthcare” type answers."
The only time we can be sure Palin is NOT using a teleprompter is when she reveals herself in the mangling of the English language and American history. When that happens, we're looking into the heart of Palin's darkest and most sincere ignorance.
All modern presidents use and have used the teleprompter--even St. Ronnie, The Great Communicator. Why Palin, who also used the teleprompter when she was governor, felt she needed to denigrate Mr. Obama for doing what she routinely did, is not a mystery. As surely as patriotic family vacations require national bus tours and media attention, mean-spirited and petty people like Palin try to mask their own inadequacies and short-comings by ridiculing those who are their betters, using lies and misrepresentation to shore up their small-minded deceptions.
Except now we know that Palin was all moose and no antlers when she made fun of Mr. Obama's teleprompter use.
The rest of Palin's emails seem to be, like her, unexceptionally mundane and boring.
"Gotcha: Sarah Palin’s Emails Confirm She Needs Teleprompter For Interviews
Palin’s Emails Confirm PoliticusUSA’s Teleprompter Posts
The worst part about Palin’s use of Teleprompters, though, is that she doesn’t even draft her own answers. Everything you hear her say is scripted. The only time she’s unscripted, we get “Paul Revere warning the British” and the Bush Bailout “so important for the healthcare” type answers."
Thursday, June 9, 2011
EXCELLENT NEWS!
A number of senior aides have resigned from the presidential campaign team of Republican former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Reuters/Ipsos Poll: Sarah Palin Leads Mitt Romney, but Obama Beats GOP Field
Palin, Bachmann Camps Feud Over Who Gets To Be Defined As A 'Serious' Candidate
Hate Group Touts That Drudge Report ‘Resembles’ Their Website
And finally:
‘Michigan Message To Mitt’: GOP Rep. McCotter Slams Romney For Not Supporting Auto Rescue
"The news will hit Mr Gingrich's hopes of being the Republican nominee to challenge Barack Obama in 2012.
His campaign got off to a halting start when he criticised a plan popular among Republicans to slash and privatise a healthcare programme for the elderly.
Staff were also reportedly concerned after he took a recent holiday cruise.
Mr Gingrich's campaign manager Rob Johnson and his entire senior staff, including strategists in early primary election states, quit on Thursday.
"When the campaign and the candidate disagree on the path, they've got to part ways," said Rick Tyler a longtime Gingrich spokesman, was quoted by the Washington Post newspaper as saying.
With the Republican primary campaign beginning to take shape, the lack of a core team could seriously hinder Mr Gingrich's chances at winning the Republican nomination, analysts say."
Reuters/Ipsos Poll: Sarah Palin Leads Mitt Romney, but Obama Beats GOP Field
"While Republicans are neck and neck, poll finds president holds double-digit lead
A poll released by Reuters/Ipsos Wednesday shows that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has a slight lead over former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts in the race for the Republican nomination for president -- but the Democratic incumbent Barack Obama has a solid lead over every one of the Republican challengers."
Palin, Bachmann Camps Feud Over Who Gets To Be Defined As A 'Serious' Candidate
"Surrogates from the camps of Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin have been a-feudin' this week, because newly-minted Bachmann consigliere Ed Rollins went on the radio and said that Palin "has not been serious over the last couple of years." Which, relative to Bachmann, who has an actual job in politics and is mounting a presidential campaign, is fairly objectively true. But Rollins caught flak for the statement, and yesterday, did one of those limited walk-backs where he apologized for overstepping while simultaneously scoffing at the Palinistas' demand for a "retraction."
Hate Group Touts That Drudge Report ‘Resembles’ Their Website
"Last week, conservative mega-aggregator the Drudge Report caught flack for posting “a slew of run-of-the-mill summer crime stories that happen to involve black people and suggestively weav[ing] them into a nationwide race riot.” Drudge posted 10 separate headlines — including a massive, above-the-logo one — about this supposed violent “urban” crime wave. Meanwhile, crime is at a 40-year low. But it wasn’t just the left that noticed. This week, the white nationalist hate group the Council of Conservative Citizens (CCC) gleefully reported that the “Drudge Report currently resembles CofCC.org.” What is the CCC? A group that opposes interracial marriage, describes black people as “a retrograde species of humanity,” and networks with racist skinheads. “Kudos to Drudge for making friends in low places,” the Southern Poverty Law Center quips."
And finally:
‘Michigan Message To Mitt’: GOP Rep. McCotter Slams Romney For Not Supporting Auto Rescue
"GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney is in the state of his birth this week — and receiving an icy reception. Michigan is home to General Motors and Chrysler, two U.S. companies for which the 2009 auto rescue “was seen as a matter of life or death by both parties.” Romney, however, opted for death when the Motor City native penned a op-ed entitled “Let Detroit Go Bankrupt” and slammed the rescue as “tragic.” This supposed tragedy, however, allowed Chrysler and GM to restructure and repay over $60 billion in taxpayer loans and add about 50,000 jobs nationwide.
As is his nature, Romney quickly switched positions in light of the rescue’s success and actually claimed last month that he “had the idea first.” However, Michiganders are not buying it. Rep. John Dingell (D) said yesterday that he hopes Romney “has answers for Michigan’s working families he abandoned two years ago” and “threw them under the bus.” Former Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm offered a pithier take in her own op-ed titled, “Let Mitt Romney Go Bankrupt.” Now, even Michigan Republican Rep. Thaddeus McCotter is wiping his hands of Romney. McCotter, who “supported the government intervention for General Motors and Chrysler,” sent “a Michigan message to Mitt” on his auto failure:
“Motor City hospitality dictates a Michigan message to Mitt that our struggling families, entrepreneurs and workers think Mr. Romney and Mr. Obama are not rivals, they’re running mates,” McCotter, who is considering his own run for the White House, said in a statement."
The Swine is Offended Because the Pit Bull with Lipstick was Labeled "Nuts"
The swine (Limbaugh) defends the Pit Bull w/Lipstick This is hilarious:
On someone's show on FAUX NOOZ (Hannity's? I don't watch so I don't know) Palin characterized the Paul Revere brouhaha as a "gotcha!" question. It seems every question she's asked is a "gotcha!" question because she can't articulate a coherent answer. She blames the questioner instead of her appalling lack of intelligence and inability to speak American English.
This, BTW, was the "gotcha!" question:
"What have you seen so far today, and what are you going to take away from your visit?"
It was Palin who brought up the subject of Paul Revere, not the questioner. She screwed up herself, then blamed it on the "lamestream" media and a "gotcha!" question. Not an admirable trait in someone who aspires to be a leader.
This analysis of Palin is, I believe, correct. Her adoring fans are, in part, to blame for her miserable failures in the political arena, since they continue to make excuses for her appalling lack of knowledge and pettiness:
"...the longtime pathologies and weaknesses of Sarah Palin are still with us. It's been three years since she stumbled over Katie Couric's question about what she typically reads. In its aftermath, much of the conservative media was complicit in permitting her the excuse that it was a gotcha question by the "lamestream media." So no surprise that Sarah Palin is now claiming, after a questionable statement about Paul Revere's midnight ride, that the media is to blame. "A shout out, gotcha kind of question was asked of me," she said. Here is the actual question she was asked: "What have you seen so far today, and what are you going to take away from your visit?"
Gotcha!
Palin bears ultimate responsibility. A more mature politician who learned from mistakes would understand that an off-the-cuff misstatement is perfectly normal and inconsequential, whereas complaining about the world's most innocuous question makes you look insecure, petty and ridiculous to everyone save your apologists. Far harder to learn from mistakes, however, when amid a lost election, public missteps, and tanking popularity, intelligent ideological allies do nothing but make excuses, going so far as to write a book positing that among all politicians you're uniquely persecuted.
When there's an ideological bubble inside which conservative pols can reach their supporters, boost their egos, and earn millions of dollars by returning the favor of uncritical flattery, why would they bother to engage with the outside world? Despite the success of Fox News, right-leaning Web sites, and talk radio, many conservatives still behave as if they're at a perpetual disadvantage in the mass media, and that they're therefore justified in putting tribal loyalties before all else. Defending every perceived slight results in more news cycles won, higher ratings, and more lucrative book contracts. It is, however, corrosive in the long term. It is in the DNA of politicians to pander. They do the bare minimum to accrue supporters and no more than is necessary to keep them. On the strength of folksy charm and a facility for driving liberals crazy, Sarah Palin gave Rich Lowry starbursts, got a multimillion dollar pundit deal from Roger Ailes, and persuaded Mark Levin that she's a credible presidential candidate. Really guys?
Even if conservative tastemakers had demanded more of Palin from the beginning, she wouldn't be presidential material. Few pols are. But she'd probably be more self-aware, more knowledgeable, more polished, and less erratic. She's smart and ambitious, after all. Why wouldn't she work harder and rein in her worst qualities if the golden ticket of conservative-movement affection required it? It's time that the right stop coddling its rising stars like trust-fund brats who are bailed out of trouble and assured at every opportunity that it's someone else's fault anytime something goes wrong. What do Paris Hilton and Palin have in common? The privilege and burden of knowing that even if they accomplish nothing of significance for the rest of their lives, they'll stay rich.
It shows."
--Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic
"As usual, the tired old bigoted comedian Rush Limbaugh took offense that anyone could call Sarah Palin 'nuts,' even though she is quite obviously a few sandwiches short of a picnic, and her grip on reality is, shall we say, tenuous. And as usual, Limbaugh blamed it on the left, i.e. the Guardian's Wintour/Watt blog. What he doesn't understand is that Palin's nutsiness is not a partisan matter in Britain, or anywhere else in the world. It is an obvious truth marveled at by all. Palin's emergence as a serious figure in American politics has made the country a laughing stock across the world. The idea that a stateswoman like Thatcher, in advanced dementia, would be used by such a crackpot is simply unseemly."UPDATE from post on Palin below:
On someone's show on FAUX NOOZ (Hannity's? I don't watch so I don't know) Palin characterized the Paul Revere brouhaha as a "gotcha!" question. It seems every question she's asked is a "gotcha!" question because she can't articulate a coherent answer. She blames the questioner instead of her appalling lack of intelligence and inability to speak American English.
This, BTW, was the "gotcha!" question:
"What have you seen so far today, and what are you going to take away from your visit?"
It was Palin who brought up the subject of Paul Revere, not the questioner. She screwed up herself, then blamed it on the "lamestream" media and a "gotcha!" question. Not an admirable trait in someone who aspires to be a leader.
This analysis of Palin is, I believe, correct. Her adoring fans are, in part, to blame for her miserable failures in the political arena, since they continue to make excuses for her appalling lack of knowledge and pettiness:
"...the longtime pathologies and weaknesses of Sarah Palin are still with us. It's been three years since she stumbled over Katie Couric's question about what she typically reads. In its aftermath, much of the conservative media was complicit in permitting her the excuse that it was a gotcha question by the "lamestream media." So no surprise that Sarah Palin is now claiming, after a questionable statement about Paul Revere's midnight ride, that the media is to blame. "A shout out, gotcha kind of question was asked of me," she said. Here is the actual question she was asked: "What have you seen so far today, and what are you going to take away from your visit?"
Gotcha!
Palin bears ultimate responsibility. A more mature politician who learned from mistakes would understand that an off-the-cuff misstatement is perfectly normal and inconsequential, whereas complaining about the world's most innocuous question makes you look insecure, petty and ridiculous to everyone save your apologists. Far harder to learn from mistakes, however, when amid a lost election, public missteps, and tanking popularity, intelligent ideological allies do nothing but make excuses, going so far as to write a book positing that among all politicians you're uniquely persecuted.
When there's an ideological bubble inside which conservative pols can reach their supporters, boost their egos, and earn millions of dollars by returning the favor of uncritical flattery, why would they bother to engage with the outside world? Despite the success of Fox News, right-leaning Web sites, and talk radio, many conservatives still behave as if they're at a perpetual disadvantage in the mass media, and that they're therefore justified in putting tribal loyalties before all else. Defending every perceived slight results in more news cycles won, higher ratings, and more lucrative book contracts. It is, however, corrosive in the long term. It is in the DNA of politicians to pander. They do the bare minimum to accrue supporters and no more than is necessary to keep them. On the strength of folksy charm and a facility for driving liberals crazy, Sarah Palin gave Rich Lowry starbursts, got a multimillion dollar pundit deal from Roger Ailes, and persuaded Mark Levin that she's a credible presidential candidate. Really guys?
Even if conservative tastemakers had demanded more of Palin from the beginning, she wouldn't be presidential material. Few pols are. But she'd probably be more self-aware, more knowledgeable, more polished, and less erratic. She's smart and ambitious, after all. Why wouldn't she work harder and rein in her worst qualities if the golden ticket of conservative-movement affection required it? It's time that the right stop coddling its rising stars like trust-fund brats who are bailed out of trouble and assured at every opportunity that it's someone else's fault anytime something goes wrong. What do Paris Hilton and Palin have in common? The privilege and burden of knowing that even if they accomplish nothing of significance for the rest of their lives, they'll stay rich.
It shows."
--Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
IF WEINER SHOULD RESIGN, WHERE WAS THE GOP'S DEMAND FOR SEN.ENSIGN'S RESIGNATION AFTER HIS LOVE AFFAIR WITH ANOTHER WOMAN AND SEN. VITTER WAS SOLICITING A PROSTITUTE?
Senator Ensign resigned only after he learned there was overwhelming evidence of malfeasance and that it was certain he would have been asked to leave by his Senate colleagues. Ensign stayed in the Senate long after his scandal was all over the news. And Senator Vitter managed to remain in the Senate and get re-elected after his scandal over cavorting with prostitutes broke. Rep. Eric Cantor DID NOT call for those legislators to resign. He said their constituents should make the decision and he asked people to pray for them.
Now comes a Democrat with a scandal and Cantor demands he resign. AFAIK, Weiner's actions were the actions of a jerk, which unfortunately is not against the law, unlike Ensign and Vitter, whose transgressions were illegal.
This reeks of GOP hypocrisy and selective memory. And it makes Eric Cantor look like a major hypocrite. No surprise there.
THIS SUMS UP MY FEELINGS ON THE WHOLE MESS:
- David Gelernter, National Review
Now comes a Democrat with a scandal and Cantor demands he resign. AFAIK, Weiner's actions were the actions of a jerk, which unfortunately is not against the law, unlike Ensign and Vitter, whose transgressions were illegal.
This reeks of GOP hypocrisy and selective memory. And it makes Eric Cantor look like a major hypocrite. No surprise there.
THIS SUMS UP MY FEELINGS ON THE WHOLE MESS:
"Weiner didn’t commit adultery or anything near adultery. He committed tasteless stupidity, and there’s no law against that. When reporters first asked him about the expose reports, he should have said “Butt out.”
The biggest offense in this case is the dirtying of the public airwaves and news-waves with ugly, trivial junk; it’s an offense like the one that used to be popular a generation ago with “urban youths,” who would carry around giant boom boxes and play music (or whatever it was) at deafening volumes.
For my part I couldn’t care less what sort of pictures or messages Weiner has been sending around the Net, and it’s an imposition to be required to care; to be unable to avoid the topic. I find that I have no interest in Congressman Anthony Weiner’s sex life or virtual sex life whatsoever. And I’ve heard enough tearful on-camera contrition to last me the rest of my life. I don’t want to hear Weiner’s apology. It’s got nothing to do with me, tells me nothing I want to know; the cable news media, conservative and liberal, would do the public a favor if they would agreed to a blanket tearful-apologies ban effective this instant. And in the future, let Weiner and everyone else who has done some trivial stupid thing that no one actually gives a damn about keep his apologies to himself,"
- David Gelernter, National Review
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
STEPHEN COLBERT: "I CERTAINLY HOPE PAUL REVERE WAS WEARING A CUP."
The final episode in Palin's whacky made-up story of Paul Revere's ride.
Colbert demonstrates how Revere would ride, shoot, and ring a bell to warn the British.
Colbert demonstrates how Revere would ride, shoot, and ring a bell to warn the British.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
PALIN CLAIMS SHE KNOWS HER AMERICAN HISTORY, BUT IN TRUTH, SHE DOESN'T
UPDATE:
Historians Say Sarah Palin Is Wrong On Paul Revere
Historians agree: Paul Revere did not warn the British with bells and warning shots. Period. Weighing in on Palin’s persistent gaffe, The Many Rides of Paul Revere author James Giblin notes that Revere “wasn’t really warning the British when he was a captive.” “He was just, in a way, boasting about the capabilities of Americans” in what Boston University’s Brendan McConville called “an effort to intimidate” the British. Regarding Palin, McConville stated that “it was an extremely complicated situation which she sort of regurgitated in a garbled way.” But one thing is clear. “He didn’t warn the British,” states Giblin. “That’s her most obvious blooper.”
Chris Wallace of FAUX NOOZ interviewed Palin on Sunday and asked her about her mangling the history of Paul Revere's ride:
CHRIS WALLACE: I gotta ask you about that real quickly, though. You realize that you messed up about Paul Revere, don’t you?
PALIN: You know what? I didn’t mess up about Paul Revere. Here’s what Paul Revere did. He warned the Americans that “the British were coming, the British were coming.” And they were going to try to take our arms so got to make sure that, uh, we were protecting ourselves and, uhm, shoring up all of our ammunitions and our firearms so that they couldn’t take them.
But remember that the British had already been there — many soldiers — for seven years in that area. And part of Paul Revere’s ride… And it wasn’t just one ride. He was a courier. He was a messenger. Part of his ride was to warn the British that were already there that, “Hey. You’re not going to succeed. You’re not going to take American arms. You are not gonna beat our own well-armed, uh, persons, uh, individual private militia that we have. He did warn the British.
And in a shout-out, gotcha type of question that was asked of me, I answered candidly. And I know my American history."
Not quite Mrs. Palin. When asked about the ride this was your exact answer:
“He who warned the British that they weren’t gonna be takin’ away our arms by ringing those bells, and makin’ sure as he’s riding his horse through town to send those warning shots and bells that we were going to be sure and we were going to be free, and we were going to be armed.”
From ThinkProgress:
"If Palin knows her American history, this latest bit of jujitsu shows no evidence of it. The purpose of Revere’s ride was to inform John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and other colonial American patriots that the British Army was marching from Boston to Lexington. As such, secrecy and stealth were essential. So contrary to Palin’s claim that Revere warned the British they would not succeed, Revere attempted to avoid all contact with British troops or British loyalists already living in the colonies. The entire point of Revere’s mission was to inform the patriots of the British movements without the British knowing they were being informed.
At one point in the night, Revere was temporarily detained and interrogated by British soldiers at a roadblock. He intentionally provided them a falsely inflated description of the colonial militia’s strength, though only in the most strained metaphorical reading could this be considered a “warning.”
Furthermore — again due to the need for secrecy and stealth — Revere used no bells or warning shots, and delivered his message in face-to-face contacts throughout the night. (Palin seems to simply forget her creative inclusion of the bells and warning shots in her initial recounting.)
Why is this an issue? Because she's toying with the media and the American people by pretending she is, or maybe she is not, running for president. Any candidate running for the highest office in the land should know the basics of our American heritage. One of those basics is that Paul Revere rode out on the night of April 18, 1775, to warn that the regulars were coming and to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that they were in danger of being arrested. That's all she had to say. She never mentioned the lantern in the Old North Church tower, which is an integral part of the story. All she had to say was that a signal had been arranged beforehand to tell Revere how the British would arrive in Boston--one if by land, two if by sea--and that he rode toward Lexington and Concord to deliver this information.
That's it. Revere never rang any bells or shot off any guns during his ride. If bell ringing and shooting occured, it occured after the countryside was alerted. Revere had nothing to do with that.
BTW, Mrs. Palin, that was no "gotcha" question. Any grammar school child could have answered it.
That question was hardly as difficult as asking you what newspapers you read.
Historians Say Sarah Palin Is Wrong On Paul Revere
Historians agree: Paul Revere did not warn the British with bells and warning shots. Period. Weighing in on Palin’s persistent gaffe, The Many Rides of Paul Revere author James Giblin notes that Revere “wasn’t really warning the British when he was a captive.” “He was just, in a way, boasting about the capabilities of Americans” in what Boston University’s Brendan McConville called “an effort to intimidate” the British. Regarding Palin, McConville stated that “it was an extremely complicated situation which she sort of regurgitated in a garbled way.” But one thing is clear. “He didn’t warn the British,” states Giblin. “That’s her most obvious blooper.”
Chris Wallace of FAUX NOOZ interviewed Palin on Sunday and asked her about her mangling the history of Paul Revere's ride:
CHRIS WALLACE: I gotta ask you about that real quickly, though. You realize that you messed up about Paul Revere, don’t you?
PALIN: You know what? I didn’t mess up about Paul Revere. Here’s what Paul Revere did. He warned the Americans that “the British were coming, the British were coming.” And they were going to try to take our arms so got to make sure that, uh, we were protecting ourselves and, uhm, shoring up all of our ammunitions and our firearms so that they couldn’t take them.
But remember that the British had already been there — many soldiers — for seven years in that area. And part of Paul Revere’s ride… And it wasn’t just one ride. He was a courier. He was a messenger. Part of his ride was to warn the British that were already there that, “Hey. You’re not going to succeed. You’re not going to take American arms. You are not gonna beat our own well-armed, uh, persons, uh, individual private militia that we have. He did warn the British.
And in a shout-out, gotcha type of question that was asked of me, I answered candidly. And I know my American history."
Not quite Mrs. Palin. When asked about the ride this was your exact answer:
“He who warned the British that they weren’t gonna be takin’ away our arms by ringing those bells, and makin’ sure as he’s riding his horse through town to send those warning shots and bells that we were going to be sure and we were going to be free, and we were going to be armed.”
From ThinkProgress:
"If Palin knows her American history, this latest bit of jujitsu shows no evidence of it. The purpose of Revere’s ride was to inform John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and other colonial American patriots that the British Army was marching from Boston to Lexington. As such, secrecy and stealth were essential. So contrary to Palin’s claim that Revere warned the British they would not succeed, Revere attempted to avoid all contact with British troops or British loyalists already living in the colonies. The entire point of Revere’s mission was to inform the patriots of the British movements without the British knowing they were being informed.
At one point in the night, Revere was temporarily detained and interrogated by British soldiers at a roadblock. He intentionally provided them a falsely inflated description of the colonial militia’s strength, though only in the most strained metaphorical reading could this be considered a “warning.”
Furthermore — again due to the need for secrecy and stealth — Revere used no bells or warning shots, and delivered his message in face-to-face contacts throughout the night. (Palin seems to simply forget her creative inclusion of the bells and warning shots in her initial recounting.)
Why is this an issue? Because she's toying with the media and the American people by pretending she is, or maybe she is not, running for president. Any candidate running for the highest office in the land should know the basics of our American heritage. One of those basics is that Paul Revere rode out on the night of April 18, 1775, to warn that the regulars were coming and to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that they were in danger of being arrested. That's all she had to say. She never mentioned the lantern in the Old North Church tower, which is an integral part of the story. All she had to say was that a signal had been arranged beforehand to tell Revere how the British would arrive in Boston--one if by land, two if by sea--and that he rode toward Lexington and Concord to deliver this information.
That's it. Revere never rang any bells or shot off any guns during his ride. If bell ringing and shooting occured, it occured after the countryside was alerted. Revere had nothing to do with that.
BTW, Mrs. Palin, that was no "gotcha" question. Any grammar school child could have answered it.
That question was hardly as difficult as asking you what newspapers you read.
Friday, June 3, 2011
GUESS WHICH HISTORY DUNCE SAID THIS:
UPDATE BELOW
“He who warned uh, the British that they weren’t gonna be takin’ away our arms, uh by ringing those bells, and um, makin’ sure as he’s riding his horse through town to send those warning shots and bells that we were going to be sure and we were going to be free, and we were going to be armed.”
No, not Michele Bachmann who once claimed that the American Revolution started in Concord, New Hampshire, [not once but TWICE from a written script] and that the Founding Fathers worked tirelessly to end slavery. We thought no one could top those ignorant statements for dumb, but we've got a winner here.
The person who mouthed the quote above is SARAH PALIN, someone who's been teasing about running for
President of the United States and who has said she has a "fire in the belly," implying to FAUX NOOZ that she wants to run. The only other reference to "fire in the belly," AFAIK, would be to indigestion, but that's something she gives to other people.
My question is: Why do the media chase this know-nothing teevee personality around as though she were a serious presidential candidate? And who are the people who actually believe Palin is qualified to be president?
I agree with this assessment of Palin's gaffes and ignorance:
"Paul Revere wasn’t ringing bells or firing shots into the air. He had to quietly deliver the message that the regulars were coming to arrest John Adams and John Hancock. The story of Paul Revere screaming the British are coming has been woven into our popular culture, so I don’t fault Palin for getting that wrong, but the Second Amendment and shots being fired into the air are pure Palin propaganda.
How many of these gaffes should we allow Sarah Palin to get away with? Palin defenders and even some on the left have been claiming that pointing out yesterday that Palin called the Statue of Liberty the Statute of Liberty was petty, but these critics are, especially those on the left, usually good-natured people who don’t understand that these aren’t isolated gaffes.
Sarah Palin has absolutely no idea what she is talking about, yet she thinks she is qualified to be the President of the United States. When Palin spews her own incorrect version of history, we have a duty as Americans to correct it. As Sarah Palin considers running for president, we have a duty to report on her real words and deeds.
This isn’t picking on Palin. Those who seek fame and position themselves as presidential candidates should be held accountable for their words. This is the job that the mainstream media won’t do. Sarah Palin must be held accountable, and exposing the truth beyond what so many have been willing to sell for her.
Sarah Palin thinks Paul Revere’s ride was about the Second Amendment, and she wants to president."
What. A. Shameless. Dunce.
“He who warned uh, the British that they weren’t gonna be takin’ away our arms, uh by ringing those bells, and um, makin’ sure as he’s riding his horse through town to send those warning shots and bells that we were going to be sure and we were going to be free, and we were going to be armed.”
No, not Michele Bachmann who once claimed that the American Revolution started in Concord, New Hampshire, [not once but TWICE from a written script] and that the Founding Fathers worked tirelessly to end slavery. We thought no one could top those ignorant statements for dumb, but we've got a winner here.
The person who mouthed the quote above is SARAH PALIN, someone who's been teasing about running for
President of the United States and who has said she has a "fire in the belly," implying to FAUX NOOZ that she wants to run. The only other reference to "fire in the belly," AFAIK, would be to indigestion, but that's something she gives to other people.
My question is: Why do the media chase this know-nothing teevee personality around as though she were a serious presidential candidate? And who are the people who actually believe Palin is qualified to be president?
I agree with this assessment of Palin's gaffes and ignorance:
"Paul Revere wasn’t ringing bells or firing shots into the air. He had to quietly deliver the message that the regulars were coming to arrest John Adams and John Hancock. The story of Paul Revere screaming the British are coming has been woven into our popular culture, so I don’t fault Palin for getting that wrong, but the Second Amendment and shots being fired into the air are pure Palin propaganda.
How many of these gaffes should we allow Sarah Palin to get away with? Palin defenders and even some on the left have been claiming that pointing out yesterday that Palin called the Statue of Liberty the Statute of Liberty was petty, but these critics are, especially those on the left, usually good-natured people who don’t understand that these aren’t isolated gaffes.
Sarah Palin has absolutely no idea what she is talking about, yet she thinks she is qualified to be the President of the United States. When Palin spews her own incorrect version of history, we have a duty as Americans to correct it. As Sarah Palin considers running for president, we have a duty to report on her real words and deeds.
This isn’t picking on Palin. Those who seek fame and position themselves as presidential candidates should be held accountable for their words. This is the job that the mainstream media won’t do. Sarah Palin must be held accountable, and exposing the truth beyond what so many have been willing to sell for her.
Sarah Palin thinks Paul Revere’s ride was about the Second Amendment, and she wants to president."
What. A. Shameless. Dunce.
UPDATE
One of PE's regular commentators wrote that it was unfair to record what Palin said by including the "uhs" and the "ums," since most politicians use those speech hesitations when speaking. Fair enough. I reposted below what Palin said about Paul Revere's ride, deleting the "uhs" and "ums" and even the contractions. Unfortunately, it doesn't make what she said sound any better, and it actually appears more imbecilic:
“He who warned the British that they were not gonna be takin’ away our arms, by ringing those bells, and makin’ sure as he is riding his horse through town to send those warning shots and bells that we were going to be sure, and we were going to be free, and we were going to be armed.”
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
CONSERVATIVE PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL, NJ GOV. CHRISTIE, USES GOVERNMENT HELICOPTER TO GET TO SON'S B-BALL GAME
UPDATE: From ThinkProgress:
"Christie acknowledges inappropriate use of state helicopter cost taxpayers thousands
The taxpayers of New Jersey paid $2,251 so Gov. Christie could use a state helicopter to attend his son’s baseball games. It also cost $919 for Christie to use the helicopter to meet GOP donors from Iowa. On Wednesday, Christie said he wouldn’t reimburse taxpayers. As criticism mounted, he reversed course and today says he will split the costs with the state GOP."
Governor Chris Christie (R-NJ) bullies a great game of warning the people of his state that they have to tighten their belts and be prepared for the world of hurt they will experience under his fiscally responsible administration. He then hops on a government helicopter and is air lifted to his son's baseball game, just like a potentate would expect. "Let them eat hot dogs!" Christie was heard shouting as the copter headed to the ballpark.
From NJ.com:
Cuts in spending? Fiscal responsibility? That's just for the "little" people. And Mr. Christie is most definitely not "little" people.
"Christie acknowledges inappropriate use of state helicopter cost taxpayers thousands
The taxpayers of New Jersey paid $2,251 so Gov. Christie could use a state helicopter to attend his son’s baseball games. It also cost $919 for Christie to use the helicopter to meet GOP donors from Iowa. On Wednesday, Christie said he wouldn’t reimburse taxpayers. As criticism mounted, he reversed course and today says he will split the costs with the state GOP."
Governor Chris Christie (R-NJ) bullies a great game of warning the people of his state that they have to tighten their belts and be prepared for the world of hurt they will experience under his fiscally responsible administration. He then hops on a government helicopter and is air lifted to his son's baseball game, just like a potentate would expect. "Let them eat hot dogs!" Christie was heard shouting as the copter headed to the ballpark.
From NJ.com:
Cuts in spending? Fiscal responsibility? That's just for the "little" people. And Mr. Christie is most definitely not "little" people.
"A brand-new State Police helicopter was Gov. Chris Christie’s ride of choice yesterday as he traveled to and from his son’s baseball game in Bergen County.
His office won’t say where he came from or where he went afterward. But about an hour and 10 minutes after leaving the game, Christie arrived, by car, at the governor’s mansion in Princeton to meet with a group of Iowa businessmen trying to recruit him for a presidential run."
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