Archive for October, 2008
The Electoral College. It’s a laugh!
The Electoral College consists of 538 popularly elected representatives who formally select the President and Vice President of the United States.[1] In 2008, it will make this selection on December 15. The Electoral College is an example of an indirect election.
Rather than directly voting for the President and Vice President, United States citizens cast votes for electors. Electors are technically free to vote for anyone eligible to be President, but in practice pledge to vote for specific candidates[2] and voters cast ballots for favored presidential and vice presidential candidates by voting for correspondingly pledged electors.[3] Most states allow voters to choose between statewide slates of electors pledged to vote for the presidential and vice presidential tickets of various parties; the ticket that receives the most votes statewide ‘wins’ all of the votes cast by electors from that state. U.S. presidential campaigns concentrate on winning the popular vote in a combination of states that choose a majority of the electors, rather than campaigning to win the most votes nationally.
Each state has a number of electors equal to the number of its Senators and Representatives in the United States Congress. Additionally, Washington, D.C. is given a number of electors equal to the number held by the smallest states.[4] U.S. territories are not represented in the Electoral College.
Each elector casts one vote for President and one vote for Vice President. In order to be elected, a candidate must have a majority (at least 270) of the electoral votes cast for that office. Should no candidate for President win a majority of the electoral votes, the choice is referred to the House of Representatives. Should no candidate for Vice President possess a majority of the electoral votes, the choice is given to the Senate.
The Constitution allows each state legislature to designate a method of choosing electors. Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia have adopted a winner-take-all popular vote rule where voters choose between statewide slates of electors pledged to vote for a specific presidential and vice presidential candidate. The candidate that wins the most votes in the state wins the support of all of that state’s electors. The two other states, Maine and Nebraska, use a tiered system where a single elector is chosen within each Congressional district and two electors are chosen by statewide popular vote. U.S. presidential elections are effectively an amalgamation of 51 separate and simultaneous elections (50 states plus the District of Columbia), rather than a single national election.
Candidates can fail to get the most votes in the nationwide popular vote in a presidential election and still win that election. This occurred in 1876, 1888 and 2000. Critics argue the Electoral College is inherently undemocratic and gives certain swing states disproportionate clout in selecting the President and Vice President. Adherents argue that the Electoral College is an important and distinguishing feature of the federal system, and protects the rights of smaller states. Numerous constitutional amendments have been introduced in Congress seeking a replacement of the Electoral College with a direct popular vote; however, no proposal has ever successfully passed both houses.
Add comment October 29, 2008
A Marketed Product.
An interview with Professor Noam Chomsky from the documentary “American Feud: A History of Conservatives and Liberals” helps explain the “lipstick on a pig” debate and put it in context.
Add comment October 28, 2008
Martial Law is Coming?
The 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team has spent 35 of the last 60 months in Iraq patrolling in full battle rattle, helping restore essential services and escorting supply convoys.
Now they’re training for the same mission — with a twist — at home.
More Here:
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/09/army_homeland_090708w/
Beginning Oct. 1 for 12 months, the 1st BCT will be under the day-to-day control of U.S. Army North, the Army service component of Northern Command, as an on-call federal response force for natural or manmade emergencies and disasters, including terrorist attacks.
Add comment October 27, 2008
Interesting conversation – Dennis and Neil Cavuto
Interesting conversation between Dennis and Neil Cavuto. Neil brings up some good points.
Add comment October 27, 2008
Get em Paul!
Steve Watson
Infowars.net
Friday, Oct 24, 2008
Texas Congressman Ron Paul has blasted former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan, calling him “intellectually arrogant” after he blamed free market capitalism for the current financial crisis and diverted questions away from his own actions.
“I think he’s trying to save his place in history but I don’t think he’s going to achieve it unless he confesses and goes back to his roots and goes back to writing articles for Ayn Rand.” Paul told Neil Cavuto on Fox Business yesterday evening.
“There’s no way he’s going to escape the blame for this, I guess I am shocked also that he pretends he is shocked too.” Paul, a member of the House Committee on Financial Services, commented.
Greenspan yesterday described the current financial crisis as a “once-in-a-century credit tsunami” and blamed flaws in the workings of the free-market system, something he said had left him in a “state of shocked disbelief”.
“What I really resent about it is that he knows and understood at one time what capitalism was all about. He went and distorted it,” Ron Paul urged.
“Now he says ‘this is the death of capitalism and what we need now are really really good regulations on derivatives.’ No, we need to remove the system that creates derivatives.”
Paul asserted that the Federal Reserve chairman, whoever it may be, does not have the wisdom to regulate monetary policy because they are driven to excess and are part of an inherently flawed system.
“In a way they are intellectually arrogant because they believe that only they know what the market knows. Nobody knows what the proper rate of interest is, it’s always too high or too low.” Paul said\
Add comment October 25, 2008
Biden lashes out at corporate greed. Yet he voted for the bailout?
Biden lashes out at corporate greed. Yet he voted for the bailout?
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden said Wednesday that Barack Obama will attack corporate greed and go after executives who reward themselves at the expense of employees.
Biden took direct aim at executives who draw big salaries while leading failed companies where employees are losing pensions. “Their pensions go first,” he told a roaring crowd.
FULL READ HERE:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081023/ap_on_el_pr/biden
Add comment October 23, 2008
Good News. People are starting to wise up on Palin
Vice presidential candidates may not win elections, but this year it’s looking increasingly likely that Sarah Palin may help lose one. Perhaps people are starting to wake up to the fact that she is a retard and untrustworthy.
Add comment October 23, 2008
This woman is a brave patriot
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — There was major political theater involving President Bush’s former chief of staff Karl Rove. A protestor tried to arrest Rove for treason Tuesday morning while he was speaking at the Mortgage Bankers Association Convention, continuing in San Francisco.
Video and Story here:
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/business&id=6461516
Add comment October 23, 2008
Another reason he is not fit to lead.
MORE HERE:
http://www.restoretherepublic.com/elections/obama-dnc-admit-all-allegations-in-berg-v-obama
Add comment October 22, 2008
Al-Qaeda supports McCain
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, October 22, 2008; Page A13
Al-Qaeda is watching the U.S. stock market’s downward slide with something akin to jubilation, with its leaders hailing the financial crisis as a vindication of its strategy of crippling America’s economy through endless, costly foreign wars against Islamist insurgents.
And at least some of its supporters think Sen. John McCain is the presidential candidate best suited to continue that trend.
“Al-Qaeda will have to support McCain in the coming election,” said a commentary posted Monday on the extremist Web site al-Hesbah, which is closely linked to the terrorist group. It said the Arizona Republican would continue the “failing march of his predecessor,” President Bush.
The Web commentary was one of several posted by Taliban or al-Qaeda-allied groups in recent days that trumpeted the global financial crisis and predicted further decline for the United States and other Western powers. In language that was by turns mocking and ominous, the newest posting credited al-Qaeda with having lured Washington into a trap that had “exhausted its resources and bankrupted its economy.” It further suggested that a terrorist strike might swing the election to McCain and guarantee an expansion of
“It will push the Americans deliberately to vote for McCain so that he takes revenge for them against al-Qaeda,” said the posting, attributed to Muhammad Haafid, a longtime contributor to the password-protected site. “Al-Qaeda then will succeed in exhausting America.”
It was unclear how closely the commentary reflected the views of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who has not issued a public statement since the spring. Some terrorism experts said the support for McCain could be mere bluster by a group that may have more to fear from a McCain presidency. In any event, the comments summarized what has emerged as a consensus view on extremist sites, said Adam Raisman, a senior analyst for the Site Intelligence Group, which monitors Islamist Web pages. Site provided translations of the comments to The Washington Post.
“The idea in the jihadist forums is that McCain would be a faithful ’son of Bush’ — someone they see as a jingoist and a war hawk,” Raisman said. “They think that, to succeed in a war of attrition, they need a leader in Washington like McCain.”
Islamist militants have generally had less to say about Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois. Leaders of the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah expressed a favorable view of Obama during the primary campaign but later rejected the Democrat after he delivered speeches expressing support for Israel.
In an e-mail response, senior McCain foreign policy adviser Randy Scheunemann noted that al-Qaeda leaders have repeatedly said that America “did not have the stomach to fight them over the long haul,” which the Arizona senator has pledged to do. “Whatever musings and bravado on radical websites the Washington Post chooses to quote, the fact remains that only John McCain has the experience, judgment and fortitude to lead a country at war,” he said. The Obama campaign declined to comment on the Web postings.
Both the Bush administration and the two major presidential campaigns have rejected any suggestion that the economic downturn will undermine the country’s fight against al-Qaeda. Obama and McCain have stepped gingerly around the issue of how they would adjust their priorities in a recession and have spoken of the importance of maintaining a strong defense. Both have advocated expanding the size of the U.S. military overall, but neither has explained in detail how to pay for it.
From shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, al-Qaeda attacks to last year, U.S. defense spending rose from 3 to 4 percent of gross domestic product, but it remains far below the 45-year average of 5.5 percent. The Pentagon’s budget for fiscal 2009 is $527 billion, a figure that does not include Iraq and Afghanistan war costs, which have totaled more than $800 billion since 2001.
“History shows us that nations that are strong militarily over time have to have a strong economy,” McCain said this month. He has said the United States must send more troops to Afghanistan while avoiding a withdrawal timetable from Iraq.
MORE HERE:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/21/AR2008102102477.html
Add comment October 22, 2008
Bailout: Not $700 Billion, More Like $5 Trillion
Bei Hu
Bloomberg
September 24, 2008
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson’s $700 billion plan to buy devalued assets from financial companies is “a joke” because it doesn’t go far enough to calm markets, said Kenichi Ohmae, president of Business Breakthrough Inc.
Ohmae, nicknamed “Mr. Strategy” during his 23 years as a McKinsey & Co. partner, called for a $5 trillion “international facility” to be made available to financial institutions. The system could be modeled on one used by Sweden during its banking crisis in the early 1990s, he said.
“This is a liquidity crisis,” Ohmae said at an investor forum hosted by CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets, the regional broking arm of Credit Agricole SA, in Hong Kong yesterday. “The liquidity has to be so big that people won’t get panicky.”
Paulson’s proposal to remove hard-to-sell assets clogging the financial system marks the broadest intervention since at least the Great Depression. Asian stocks fell today, following U.S. shares lower as investors questioned whether the effort is enough to prevent a recession.
The plan came after the collapse of 158-year-old Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and the government takeover of insurer American International Group Inc. caused financial markets to seize up last week. The calamity was the culmination of a year during which the U.S. housing market slump left banks and securities firms with more than $520 billion of asset writedowns and credit losses.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a8DIq9yO0vzY
Add comment October 21, 2008
CIA’s Robert Baer knows guy who ‘cashed out’ day before 9/11
CIA’s Robert Baer get to know him and get to know his books.
On 9/11 prior knowledge, and perhaps a clue towards the put options on the day of 9/11: “I know the guy that went into his broker in San Diego and said ‘cash me out, it’s going down tomorrow.’”
He then went on to say that this man’s “brother worked in the White House.”
Add comment October 20, 2008
Peter Schiff (Dr. Paul’s financial adviser) on Glenn Beck
“Don’t want to seem crazy or whatever.” “Let me be a conspiracy guy for just a second.” “I’ve done my research on the depression.” Listen to Beck, he sounds like me now. To use an analogy, Beck just rolled out of bed, he just hasn’t had his coffee yet.
Add comment October 20, 2008
Glenn Beck on NWO
“All we need is the right major crisis and the nations will accept a new world order.” — David Rockefeller
Add comment October 20, 2008
The End of America
The End of America, a new documentary from award-winning filmmakers Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg (The Trials of Darryl Hunt, The Devil Came on Horseback), based on Naomi Wolf’s 2007 book of the same name, details the ten steps a country takes when it slides from an open to a closed society. It’s an historical look at trends in once-functioning democracies from modern history that are being repeated in our country today. It gives any reader (or viewer of the lecture or film) a much-needed history lesson and constitutional refresher. Most importantly, it puts the recent, gradual loss of civil liberties in the U.S. in a historical context. The average American might not be alarmed at AT&T selling our private information to the Bush administration, but when this action is seen as part of a larger series of erosions and events, a pattern emerges with unfortunate consequences that become disturbingly clear.
On Tuesday, October 21, the film will premiere online via SnagFilms and will include a special introduction from ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero. The film in its entirety and Anthony’s remarks will be available to watch on SnagFilms.com for free.
Add comment October 20, 2008
Real Change versus Spare Change: Obama’s Coattails and the Democrat Protection Racket
I never cease to be amazed at the inability of many Americans to think beyond simplistic terms. Left/Right, Black/White, Good/Evil…there is something in our make-up that leads us to deduct all of life’s complexities into the simplest possible terms of analysis. In doing so, we deprive ourselves not only of other perspectives and opportunities, but these false choices feed a self-perpetuating cycle of progressively worse choices.
Case in point — Barack Obama is running as the “change” candidate. A claim, with little time in Washington or even much in Springfield, is credible enough, such as it is. There are also a number of Democrat challengers running with Obama and tying themselves closely to the change message.
Unfortunately, in a year when Democrats are likely to dominate across the country, far too many of the old guard Democrat lifers on the incumbent protection plan are also going to be spared the righteous indignation of a public that puts congressional approve in the low teens. This is a shame. Every incumbent in both parties ought to be held to account not only for their votes on the bailout, but every vote that they have taken on a host of issues that have collectively brought us to this moment.
What does it say about the health of our republic that in a year when congressional job approval is at 14%, over 90% of those in congress will be re-elected Even in this atypical election cycle, only a handful of seats are even considered to be in danger.
And yet, with the seeming inevitability of an Obama wave, most of the Democrats riding the change mantle are the same ones that are returned by voters year after year, which brings me back to the original point about false choices. The same voters enamored with Obama and his ethereal promises of change will sweep into the poles and elect the same two-bit hacks to run congress who have brought us to the brink of destruction by legislation and abdication.
I was visiting an early polling station in North Carolina this weekend and the Democrat Party was situated to stop every voter and hand them a sample ballot filled out to reflect the proper way to select the complete Democrat slate. In addition to Obama, that slate includes guys like David Price who has spent 20 years in congress and voted on every bad economic bill that came across his desk including the bailout – twice.
Anyone who is interested in change, should be interested enough not to send the authors of our destruction back to Washington, but they probably will.
Add comment October 20, 2008
Your Patriot Act at work folks!
CLARK COUNTY
Student Arrested For Terroristic Threatening Says Incident A Misunderstanding
A George Rogers Clark High School junior arrested Tuesday for making terrorist threats told LEX 18 News Thursday that the “writings” that got him arrested are being taken out of context.
Winchester police say William Poole, 18, was taken into custody Tuesday morning. Investigators say they discovered materials at Poole’s home that outline possible acts of violence aimed at students, teachers, and police.
Poole told LEX 18 that the whole incident is a big misunderstanding. He claims that what his grandparents found in his journal and turned into police was a short story he wrote for English class.
“My story is based on fiction,” said Poole, who faces a second-degree felony terrorist threatening charge. “It’s a fake story. I made it up. I’ve been working on one of my short stories, (and) the short story they found was about zombies. Yes, it did say a high school. It was about a high school over ran by zombies.”
Even so, police say the nature of the story makes it a felony. “Anytime you make any threat or possess matter involving a school or function it’s a felony in the state of Kentucky,” said Winchester Police detective Steven Caudill.
Poole disputes that he was threatening anyone.
“It didn’t mention nobody who lives in Clark County, didn’t mention (George Rogers Clark High School), didn’t mention no principal or cops, nothing,”
said Poole. “Half the people at high school know me. They know I’m not that stupid, that crazy.”
On Thursday, a judge raised Poole’s bond from one to five thousand dollars after prosecutors requested it, citing the seriousness of the charge.
Poole is being held at the Clark County Detention Center.
Add comment October 17, 2008
Oliver Stone – “W” Comes Out Today
As many of you know “W” comes out today, so I thought I would dedicate today’s email to the director himself, Oliver Stone. In addition, this one goes out to my friends, Prezgay, Sheary and James as they have all mentioned Oliver Stone in a negative manner. Perhaps this will shift their view.
Oliver Stone claims he did not distort a thing to tell the story. Some believe this is an attempt to make Bush look bad, like he hasn’t already done that. I tend to believe Stone as he is a some creditability with me and I think you might agree once you read the following. Stone was admitted into Yale University, where he subsequently dropped out after one year. Stone had become inspired by Joseph Conrad’s novel Lord Jim as well as by Zorba the Greek and George Harrison’s music to teach English at the Free Pacific Institute in South Vietnam. Stone taught in Vietnam for six months after which he worked as a wiper on a United States Merchant Marine ship, traveling to Oregon and Mexico, before returning to Yale, where he dropped out a second time. Stone also a veteran of the Vietnam war, Stone served with the U.S. Army from April 1967 to November 1968. He specifically requested combat duty and was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division and the 1st Cavalry Division, and was wounded twice in action. His personal awards include the Bronze Star with “V” device for valor for “extraordinary acts of courage under fire”, and the Purple Heart with one Oak Leaf Cluster.
Now this same year Bush was attending Yale. You know when he wasn’t do his “patriotic” duty for country he would help rapidly ruin 40 years later? So Stone volunteered for the front lines and Bush didn’t even step foot in Nam; same w/Cheney, except that was 5 times over.
Other things Stone and Bush have in common
* Both born in 1946
* Both born into wealthy families
* Both went to Yale (at the same time)
* Both served in the military (Only one had the balls to go to war)
* Both used drugs
He was recently admitted permission by Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to make a documentary about him. Stone had been previously refused permission by the Iranian government when the President’s media advisor, Mehdi Kalhor, denounced Stone as being part of the “Great Satan” of American culture, despite his opposition to the Bush administration. He said “It is right that this person [Stone] is considered part of the opposition in the US, but opposition in the U.S. is a part of the great satan. We believe that the American cinema lacks culture and art.” Stone reacted with outrage, saying “I have been called a lot of things, but never a great satan. I wish the Iranian people well, and only hope their experience with an inept, rigid ideologue president goes better than ours.” However, Ahmadinejad approved permission a month later, saying he had “no objections” provided the documentary was based on accurate facts. Stone is due to visit Tehran to negotiate the production of the film with Iranian officials, possibly the president himself.
So he can talk w/Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yet Condie Rice can’t? hmmm…. In other words the Bush admin chooses not to speak to our so-called “enemy”. KNOW YOUR ENEMY.
Oliver on “W”
Oliver Stone w/ Bill Maher “Bush Would Have Died in Vietnam”
The Claim:
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810026489/video/10221435
Some of his great films:
* Scarface
* Platoon
* The Doors
* JFK
* Wall Street
* Any Given Sunday
* Natural Born Killers
* Born on the Fourth of July
Either way, enjoy your weekend!
Add comment October 17, 2008
I love Montana!
They got some real thinkers up there!
Again, here are the photos from my Montana vacation earlier this summer:
http://www.lenoxreign.com/hosted/mt/
Add comment October 16, 2008
“I can’t agree w/socialism” – Ron Paul
Ron Paul responds to Bush Plan to socialize banks.
Add comment October 16, 2008
“Under Strict Instructions To Not Talk About The Dollar”
It’s easy, just threaten the sheep w/their job and they won’t resist the command of the almighty. Perino said, “Under Strict Instructions To Not Talk About The Dollar” It’s all intentional folks, they are admitting it right here.
Friday’s White House Press Briefing included two economic advisers to discuss the volatile economic situation here in the US, though they were careful to not paint to dire a picture. Obviously, with crude oil trading at record levels and OPEC releasing a statement blaming the price on the weakness of the American dollar, the media might be expected to ask a question or two. However, White House Spokesperson Dana Perino was not having any of it.
Q I’d like to follow up on their refusal to talk about the dollar, if I could. I mean, we’re in a kind of a bad situation here, when OPEC says the reason for $105 or $106 a barrel of oil is the falling value of the dollar — and you won’t address that issue. Where do we go to find out who is right?
MS. PERINO: Well, as he just said, the Treasury Secretary is where you go to talk about the dollar. It’s a longstanding policy that predates this administration, and I’m not going to change it today. But Treasury can talk about it.
Q I don’t expect you to change it, but I do expect you to be able to say whether OPEC is completely wrong about this, or whether there is at least something to their claim that the dollar is responsible for the high price of oil right now.
MS. PERINO: Wendell, I’m under strict instructions, and have been from the beginning, to not talk about the dollar, and I’m not going to get fired to satisfy your question.
I can’t stand Perino and I can’t stand American leaders anymore! Their right out in the open w/this shit. WAKE UP!!!
IT’S GETTING TO BE TIME TO BURN ROME TO THE GROUND!
Add comment October 15, 2008
