Confederate Yankee
July 09, 2011
The Erik Scott Case, Update 13: A Sad Anniversary
On the morning of July 10, 2010, Erik Scott was shot seven times and killed by three Las Vegas Metro police officers while leaving a Las Vegas Costco store surrounded by other shoppers. Standing at his side as he was shot was his girlfriend, Samantha Sterner. The first officer to shoot Scott, only two seconds after drawing his gun and yelling contradictory commands, William Mosher, had shot two other citizens in the few years he had worked at Metro before killing Scott (one survived). The other two officers, Joshua Stark and Thomas Mendiola, had scant police experience.
This post, Update 13 in our series on the continuing Scott case, is not only a memoriam, but a summary, not only of our coverage to date of the case, but of the public scrutiny focused on Metro since they shot the wrong man, scrutiny that they, to this day, despise. Today is the first anniversary of the shooting of Erik Scott, an anniversary that, unlike most others, is not a cause for celebration and will never be a cause for celebration for the Scott family and for those who knew and loved Erik Scott. But it is our hope that the continuing outrage over Scott’s death and the many beatings, harassments, and deaths of Las Vegas citizens since will be the catalyst for changes that only the most corrupt or uninformed can belittle or ignore.
THE SUMMARY:
September 16, 2010: CY founder Bob Owens publishes our first article on the case at Pajamas Media (
NOTE: All of our articles relating to the case, including links to PJM articles, may be found in our Erik Scott Case archive on the right hand side of our website). It was this article that inspired me to begin to research the case. Something just didn’t smell right.
September 21, 2010: My first post on the CY site and my debut in the blogosphere was the first Erik Scott Update and initial analysis of what was known about the case at the time. My police background made me cautious about jumping to conclusions based on fragmentary information, and I was more than willing to give Metro, a Law Enforcement Agency—LEO—with which I was not at all familiar, the benefit of the doubt. On the strength of this article and the public’s response to it, Bob invited me to be his co-blogger, an offer I gratefully accepted.
Posted by: MikeM at
10:27 PM
| Comments (11)
| Add Comment
| Trackbacks (Suck)
1
Dear Mike:
Nice synopsis.
However, if in fact the civil case ever sees the inside of a courtroom (which I doubt), it will be another sad day for the memory of Erik. Since the evidence of proof is much less in the civil arena, far more damaging 'evidence' of Erik's destructive conduct will be introduced and that HE was the catalyst of his own death.
The County will contract with a profoundly capable litigator who will 'very much look forward' to having Erik's family and friends on the stand. From Sterner and her script pads to Violet & Lydia (his two ex-wives who charged him with domestic violence and threatening to kill them) to medical people that knew of his Hydrocodone addiction and morphine/Xanax abuse to local 'clubbers' who knew him as a drugged-up, 'roided-out, Green Beret wannabe, loser. You seem to think that civil court 'discovery' only works one way?? Surely you been involved in many of the 'games lawyers play' proceedings, in 20 years of service? It only stopped for me when I accepted an 'empty holster job'. (Of course, it never helped that they gave me a psychotic K-9 who hated humans and had hospitalized his first handler causing him to never return to the unit...."Here, you take him." "Why me?" "Because you live alone!")
I question if the elder Scott ever receives his vindication as the jury will only find in percentages of fault (if at all), which will sadly leave him to be haunted for not intervening on Erik's drug issues when he was alive.
Very sad indeed.
Posted by: Buck Turgidson at July 10, 2011 01:57 PM (4tDlA)
2
Dear Buck:
The Las Vegas "system" has already had substantial opportunity to smear Erik Scott post-mortem. Like you, I know well what can happen in court and the kinds of tactics lawyers use. That's one reason I never considered a career in the law. In any case, I suspect that the Scott's version of events will have considerable power with a jury, particularly because of the horrific reputation Metro has built for itself. Their actions, even ignoring the Scott case, have caused an incredible amount of bad will in their community. The Scott case is one of many that will cost Las Vegas taxpayers untold millions.
And no, I certainly don't believe that discovery works one way only, but there is a limit to what is allowed in any court. I suspect that any rational judge will take care to limit testimony and evidence to the matter at hand rather than to the kinds of things you've suggested here, and for good reason. I may be wrong, but we'll see.
Take care.
Posted by: Mike Mc at July 10, 2011 04:13 PM (rSpVF)
3
Smear? Scott consumed the drugs he was using at the time he was shot on his own volition. Apparently the girl he was fornicating with and his family were unconcerned about his debilitating addiction. However that is not stopping them from profiting from his stupidity.
What is worse however is your dishonest claims that the U.S. Secret Service, the LVMPD, LVM Fire Department, and the Clark County government were engaged in a fantastic conspiracy to violate Scott's rights.
In fact, Scott killed himself by drawing down while under the influence of illegally obtained and used prescription drugs.
It shocks the conscience that someone would exploit his addiction and predictable death for your own political purpose.
Sir, have you no decency?
Posted by: Federale at July 10, 2011 04:53 PM (7xqyd)
4
Dear Federale:
As I know you've read the Updates, surely you know that I have not accused the Secret Service, the Fire Department and the Clark County Government en masse of complicity in a conspiracy. Some employees of Metro, potentially a few others in other organizations? There is evidence to suggest that possibility, but as I've noted, if it turns out that I was mistaken in developing that theory, I'll make necessary corrections. In any case, such conspiracy would be, under the law, a violation of Scott's rights, but in reality, it would be undertaken for far more common and human reasons: To cover up a deadly mistake and to avoid the consequences of that mistake.
As to Erik Scott's drug use, you are asserting facts not in evidence. Yes, Metro and the DA tried to portray Scott as a drug abuser, but even the physicians who treated him and testified at the inquest would not play along with that smear. And of course you must know that many witnesses not only did not see Scott "drawing down," but saw no gun at all in his hands or near his body after he was shot. In fact, one of the DA's handpicked witnessed testified to just that during the inquest, leading the DA to try to impeach his own witness in a hearing with no adversary. This issues remains, legitimately, very much open to question. The inquest did not settle it, nor do inquests settle any such issues under Nevada law.
Seeking the truth about what may well be manslaughter by three officers of the Metro police, one of whom has since been dismissed for allegedly committing a felony, is hardly an act of exploitation. If I am correct, all I'll be accomplishing is helping to expose, and perhaps rectify, governmental misconduct. To whatever degree that is political, I suspect most people will agree that it is a worthy, non-partisan goal.
And as to decency, you continue to assert knowledge of the sexual practices of Erik Scott and Samantha Sterner. Not only does their personal relationship have nothing whatever to do with this case, bringing up a matter about which you can know nothing at all can only be an attempt to smear the character of Scott and Sterner.
I'll leave it to our readers to determine who is possessed of decency.
Posted by: Mike Mc at July 10, 2011 07:21 PM (rSpVF)
5
Yep. Metro is so innocent and Scott is so guilty that that explains the complete absence of any video evidence. Passing strange isn't it?
Why, a policeman who casually gives a firearm to a known felon is exactly the kind of stalwart hero who is beyond question when he guns down a person with a clean criminal record.
Posted by: Brad at July 10, 2011 08:24 PM (1utvd)
6
Federale and Buck are clowns. Straight up ignorant and probably fornicate with each other while you read the articles on this website. Never once have you brought up a good point in any comments, nor have you said anything factual. You simply spout off your opinion as though it's fact, yet have nothing to back it up. I find it comical that you continue to read and comment religiously on this gentlemans articles, yet disagree no matter what...like you can't stand someone having the nerve to question police or to put in writing the way things really work with Metro. Pathetic.
Posted by: Willis at July 10, 2011 08:39 PM (bgOc/)
7
Ah, yes Willis - of course. The only way your kind can continue this intrigue, in your world, is to disregard the employees of Costco, the Officers first on the scene, their supervisors on the scene, the investigators, the Sheriff (recently reelected by those evil residents of Clark County), the Medical Examiner, the district State Attorney and the inquest jury. Moreover, I'm sure if the civil case gets to a jury, they too will be dishonored if the outcome is not to your liking.
What's truly pitiful, pilgrim, is watching you desperately trying to pick up this turd by the clean end.
That is all
Posted by: Buck Turgidson at July 11, 2011 07:43 AM (4tDlA)
8
No, the drug use is an established fact, as reported by the coroner who found the drugs in his system. That is a fact. His personal physician obviously danced around the fact that he failed in his duty to control the drug prescriptions and their eventual abuse, as is quite common in those with mental health problems. Scott was self-medicating and it obviously was not working. His physician, his girl-friend and family were obviously not concerned about Scott to make any effort to help him. That is sad, as they are morally responsible for what happened. Unless the Scotts get a Casey Anthony jury, I am certain that in any civil case, LVMPD will be vindicated.
So, just to be clear, you think that the firefighter and the officer in the ambulance acted on their own, rather than as part of a conspiracy?
Do you still believe that Costco lied when they said the video system was down? Can you explain why the Scott family dropped Costco from the lawsuit? Remember you claimed that Costco, LVMPD, the company that maintained the video system, and, presumeably the USSS, participated in some conspiracy to destroy the missing video evidence of the grassy knoll gunman...ahh.. police shooting?
And you keep forgetting that the girlfriend testified at the coroner's hearing that Scott drew the pistol. She claimed that he was just removing it.
So, did she make false statements during the hearing?
Posted by: Federale at July 12, 2011 12:31 PM (osx1V)
9
Dear Federale:
I'm satisfied to allow the legal process to bring out all of the fact in the Scott case, the facts that the Scott family were not allowed to present at the inquest. Our readers can then make a completely informed decision about the accuracy of our reporting. However, one final time, I'll correct a few misconceptions:
(1) Erik Scott was using prescription drugs for legitimate medical conditions, drugs prescribed by physicians. His family and Samantha Sterner were aware of this, and William Scott, Erik's father even provided a list of the prescription drugs Erik was using prior to the inquest. That his physicians did not consider him an out of control drug abuser is hardly evidence that they did not care about him and morality is not involved. I would tend to trust the opinions of his physicians over yours.
(2) The issue remains what the officers could have known and observed in the approximately two seconds from realizing that Erik Scott was the man they sought and their firing seven bullets into him. They could have had no knowledge whatever of his medical history. This will be the issue at trial, and while Metro's attorneys will no doubt try to muddy the water as much as possible, no competent judge will allow such trips into non-relevant supposition.
(3) You continually mischaracterize what I've said regarding the motives and actions of those involved in this case. Again, I'll allow the legal process to expose the truth.
(4) Samantha Sterner, on the advice of her attorney, did not testify at the inquest. She gave only a brief statement to the police. In that statement--which, by the way I have and have read--she said only that she believed that Erik was intending to lift his shirt with his right hand while keeping his left hand in the air to show the police that he was carrying a concealed weapon and was thus no threat. At no time did she say that he drew his weapon or pointed it at the police. She did not testify at the inquest, hence, no statement, false or otherwise.
Posted by: Mike Mc at July 12, 2011 04:23 PM (rSpVF)
10
And there it is Mike, "...no competent judge..." That will be the rational for the civil action failure, not the attestation of {"...she believed that Erik was intending..."} Sterner, Fee, Villareale, Nikitas, Houghton, Lagerholm or the Eathertons.
Lawyers like Goodman hate the inquest/grand jury type proceedings, as they are fact-finding procedures and not as easily manipulated as his kind prefers. That's why he failed to provide his 20 - 30 witnesses to Judge Abbatangelo. Goodman was/is not interested in the facts or truth, he's interested in $winning$ the civil contest and pandering to them there Coca-Cola sippers.
Posted by: Buck Turgidson at July 13, 2011 11:14 AM (4tDlA)
11
Yes, you are correct, she did not testify. But she was subpoenaed. Interesting that you are so upset with cops for not wanting to testify under subpoena, but ignore her egregious failure to appear. It is clear that she did not testify because she did not want to testify under oat.
Quite interesting in that in her taped statement to police she made obvious false statements.
“Do not shoot. He’s a concealed weapons holder. He’s a military officer. Do not shoot.’”
“I said it a million times,” she says.
Clearly a lie, as the shooting went down in, as you say, two or three seconds. She could not have said all that a million times, much less more than once.
And, of course, she is admitting that he had a weapon.
“He was trying to put his weapon on the ground,” she says.
Quite different from what you claim he was trying to do.
As to supposedly contradictory commands, the 911 tape shows they are not. The commands are clear, reasonable, and not contradictory:
In the background of a call to 911 played for the jury, Mosher can be heard yelling, “Put your hands where I can see them now. Drop it! Get on the ground! Get on the ground!”
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/sep/24/shoppers-recount-police-shooting-outside-costco/
And with regard to prescription drug abuse, here is what is reported:
Earlier testimony by doctors who treated Scott painted the 38-year-old medical device salesman as a likely prescription drug addict who battled long-term depression, high stress and chronic pain. When he died, Scott had potentially fatal levels of the painkiller morphine and the anti-anxiety drug Xanax in his syste
http://www.lvrj.com/news/coroner-s-inquest-into-costco-shooting-opens-with-jury-selection-103546304.html
Fatal levels of morphine and Xanax. That is drug abuse if there ever was one.
And certainly not conductive to intelligent behavior during an encounter with police.
Posted by: Federale at July 16, 2011 02:40 PM (7xqyd)
Hide Comments
| Add Comment
July 08, 2011
The Plan
For the second installment of our Literature Corner, presented for your approval—as Rod Serling often said—is a tale that will be familiar to police officers everywhere. For most police officers, working with the public is a piece of cake. Even working with bad guys is no problem. The real difficulty comes from having to deal with their own, particularly administrators who seem to have no idea of the realities of police work. This true story—names changed to protect the innocent—illustrates the problem.
The Plan
We--fifteen very bored patrol cops--were sitting in one of our periodic training sessions: absolute death for people who are doers, not sitters. Unlike many police departments, ours actually had periodic in-house training, which was the good news. The bad news is that much of it was awful; 30 minutes of actual material stretched to cover eight hours. Cops hate having their time wasted. To keep from crippling our shifts, we repeated the same training over four or five days, pulling different cops off the street each day. I was stuck in the first day’s training session. The session was a bit different from the usual-- not that it was better.
The guy conducting the training was our Chief of Staff. What’s a “Chief of Staff?” Our Chief was absolutely power hungry. He knocked off--politically speaking--the previous chief and seized his job, and he was determined that no one would do the same to him, so he abolished the position of Assistant Chief and anointed a Chief of Staff. The difference was that the COS was a civilian--an academic--not a certified cop, so he couldn’t threaten the Chief. As he couldn’t, by law, assume any law enforcement duties, none of us really had any idea what he did, mostly studies, we assumed. But he sometimes did training, which usually consisted of explaining to us why the Chief’s latest initiative was the most magnificent idea ever conceived by God (that’s what the Chief called himself. I’m not kidding). He was new, seemed like a decent guy, and looked every bit the academic. No one would mistake him for a cop.
That’s when he introduced The Plan. The topic of the day was Fetal Alcohol Syndrome--FAS. FAS is an acronym for a group of nasty birth defects caused when a mother drinks during pregnancy. Particularly if mom is an alcoholic, baby can be severely affected. There are physical and mental manifestations of FAS, and most FAS babies eventually end up in the welfare and criminal justice systems because of their gullibility, inability to hold a job and lack of inhibitions. FAS was a genuine problem in our city which had a large Indian population. Because alcoholism was rampant in the Indian community, FAS was pretty common. To be sure, FAS affected whites too, but most FAS babies ended up being Indian. No question, FAS was expensive and nasty and we dealt with its consequences daily.
Posted by: MikeM at
11:16 PM
| Comments (4)
| Add Comment
| Trackbacks (Suck)
1
This phenomenon isn't confined to law enforcement. I've had to attend safety lectures concerning equipment our company didn't own, sexual harassment lectures designed for managers even though I was the only person in the department - I was department head and only employee there. More than once I've had to bite my tongue to keep from shooting off my mouth and telling the truth, we could improve productivity by not having so many worthless meetings.
Posted by: NevadaSteve at July 09, 2011 09:34 AM (BurCJ)
2
I hope he gave the cards to the Public Health nurses and let them distribute them. Spreading this kind of information is a job for health professionals.
Posted by: MikeM_inMD at July 09, 2011 10:07 AM (6hI0A)
3
Thank god I work in a law office where the people who run things are also the people who do things. HR still occasionally sprouts a wild hair, but we have a large labor section to smack them down. (one of those evil union-busting departments). (in Texas).
Posted by: Phelps at July 09, 2011 06:38 PM (TbU5l)
4
Back when I was a dispatcher, at an in-service training school, we had to listen to the department psychiatrist talk about dealing with stress. Which was, at least, relevant. Until she got to ways to deal with it, one of which included "When it gets too bad, you can find a quiet place and meditate for 45 minutes or so." Absolutely sincere.
She finished up and left, and the first question to the head of Communications from one old guy was "Does she know what we do?"
Posted by: Firehand at July 11, 2011 12:53 PM (bgCeY)
Hide Comments
| Add Comment
Gunwalker: The Tee Shirt
Sean has them.
And at this point, it's fair to wonder if he brings up the slogan as a joke or a legitimate question.
Posted by: Confederate Yankee at
02:25 PM
| Comments (1)
| Add Comment
| Trackbacks (Suck)
1
It was a complaint, really. Am I the only one they left out? How's that supposed to make me feel? They went out of their way to make sure that any mass murdering drug lord had a gun, but they didn't bother to make sure I had one? That's just rude.
Posted by: Sean D Sorrentino at July 08, 2011 03:51 PM (2HynX)
Hide Comments
| Add Comment
Joblessness Increases, Stocks Dive, Natives Get Restless
Gotta love the Obamaconomy.
It makes my decision to cash in my stock options and convert them to an
investment in bulk ammo look better all the time.
Posted by: Confederate Yankee at
11:58 AM
| Comments (1)
| Add Comment
| Trackbacks (Suck)
1
I wonder what the profit margin is on startup ammunition manufacturing.
Posted by: Professor Hale at July 08, 2011 12:41 PM (m7EhJ)
Hide Comments
| Add Comment
It's a Trap!
I've seen several claims in the past 24 hours that "prove" that Attorney General Eric Holder, or Congress, or the President, or the Pope, knew about Gunwalker/Fast and Furious because of a speech someone made, or because of legislation being proposed or because of a line item in the Stimulus bill.
I would strongly urge caution in these matters.
Please Keep in mind that Gunrunner is a long-term cartel weapons interdiction program that kicked off during the previous administration. there is no indication that Gunrunner has ever been anything but above-board. The program/project framework has long been used in business and government, with the program being the general vision, with individual projects/operations as steps towards realizing that vision.
It looks like this:
- Program
- Project 1
- Project 2
- Project 3
- etc...
Gunwalker/Fast and Furious was a specific secret operation or project within the much larger framework of Gunrunner. A list of all operations with the Gunrunner program is not publicly available, but I would be stunned if the total number of projects wasn't several dozen, or more, with many or most of them being covert and unknown to the public.
Gunwalker and Gunrunner are not the same thing even though they are related. We have enough evidence coming in—at a pace "fast and furious," one might say—and do not need to make leaps of logic. There is no need to jump the gun or make wild accusations.
Justice will be served.
Posted by: Confederate Yankee at
07:31 AM
| Comments (14)
| Add Comment
| Trackbacks (Suck)
1
"Justice will be served."
I think that depends on how 'justice' is defined. Will someone take the fall for this? Of course. It's gotten to far along to avoid that now.
The real question - and the one that most concerns me - is whether or not the people who are actually responsible will be the same as those taking the fall.
Posted by: Washington Nearsider at July 08, 2011 07:37 AM (eqTkp)
2
So, to try to make this analogous to the scandal that brought down the Nixon administration, would it be accurate to Gunrunner corresponds more closely to CREEP (Committee to Re-Elect the President) as the umbrella organization. Gunwalker/Fast & Furious was a covert part of that, just as the Watergate burglary team was a small covert part of the CREEP activities.
To have gone after Nixon by attacking CREEP as a whole would have been a failure, because CREEP could claim legitimate activity and Nixon supporters would use this to cloud the issue. It was necessary to focus on the Howard Hunt/G. Gordon Liddy team and activities. Likewise, to now go after Eric Holder or others by attacking Gunrunner would be a failure, because Holder/Obama supporters will use its legitimate and legal activities to cloud the issues of the wrongdoing of Gunwalker/Fast & Furious.
Correct?
Posted by: Astroprisoner at July 08, 2011 09:17 AM (PYaqh)
3
Gunrunner may be the overarching mission that received the money initially, however it does not preclude allocation of money within ATF to the Fast and Furious Op. As folks say, "Follow the money."
Posted by: cvsusn at July 08, 2011 09:30 AM (xalGD)
4
Great point. One can see the deflections ahead.
Posted by: drjohn at July 08, 2011 10:05 AM (3/BxG)
5
So what you are saying is that Operation Fast and Furious was needed to prevent Operation Gunrunner from being effective. The former was in fact designed to sabotage the later. The resulting deaths logically leading to charges of Accessory to Murder Before the Fact. Including ATF, DoJ, and all the way up to Obama, who personally told the Bradys last march that he was "working on gun control, under the radar". What could be more under the radar than this covert ATF operation.
http://lasvegas.cbslocal.com/2011/05/25/obama-were-working-on-gun-control-under-the-radar/
Posted by: Robert Hanson at July 08, 2011 10:06 AM (F5gEf)
6
Granted, but keep in mind, as I detailed in a post in February 2009, that prior ATF administrator Hoover described in congressional testimony ""...As part of “Project Gunrunner” we will seek to expand inspection and compliance activities to include focused forward traces of firearms that, through historical firearms recovery and trace data have been identified as “weapons of choice” for the cartels and their enforcers. These inspections will also seek to use firearms tracing and proactive investigative measures to identify and interdict those who pose as legitimate buyers while they are actually straw purchasing firearms for cartel members..." (emphasis mine)
At the time, I wondered about the meaning of the odd-sounding "focused forward traces" and "proactive investigative techniques."
Has fast and furious has clarified that now?
(My 2009 post is here http://foreignobjectdamage.blogspot.com/2009/02/does-recovery-bill-fund-gun-control.html
)
Posted by: FOD at July 08, 2011 10:22 AM (Rq1I7)
7
'"At the time, I wondered about the meaning of the odd-sounding "focused forward traces" and "proactive investigative techniques."'
I think the basic difference is allowing the guns being 'forward traced' to cross the border into Mexico.
Posted by: Syl at July 08, 2011 12:08 PM (hncbs)
8
'justice will be served'.
yea, right. dream on buddy.
Posted by: dkhenilsneoi at July 08, 2011 12:10 PM (CbAE5)
9
"Justice will be served."
I hope so but I have very serious doubts. There has long been two sets of rules, one for the very rich and the political class, and one for the rest of us. Some of the lower level people will certainly pay, but what is the likelihood than anything worse than forced resignation will happen to Breuer, Cole, and Holder?
What is justice for those dozens who have already died, and the hundreds who will eventually be killed by these guns? What is justice for their families?
What punishment serves justice for those who broke their oaths of office, US and Mexican law, and cynically fed a death machine? What punishment serves, when their despicable motives were to advance their personal and political agendas?
The people responsible should be facing life in prison. I don't think that is very likely to happen.
Thanks for all the good work Bob.
Posted by: novaculus at July 08, 2011 12:13 PM (Evy6o)
10
Thank you so much. I did not know this. Clarification is a good thing!
Posted by: Angela at July 08, 2011 12:32 PM (KGLjK)
11
George Bush and the Republicans should be held responsible for this! Even though Bush has been out of office now for several years and the Republicans haven't controlled Congress since 2006, they surely are the root of everything wrong, even if logic and reality say otherwise.
Admiral Ackbar would be very disappointed in you all for your comments.
Posted by: A Conservative Teacher at July 08, 2011 01:01 PM (5Npe5)
12
"proactive investigative measures to identify and interdict those who pose as legitimate buyers while they are actually straw purchasing firearms for cartel members"
I had to look up "interdict" to make sure I had the correct meaning. First is the Christian definition, the forbidding of communion to miscreants. Second the Scots definition, a court order against further such action. Finally, the MILITARY definition: to destroy an enemy's lines of communication by firepower.
Which is exactly the point. Regardless of the "original" plan...under the current administration there was, and is, and will be NO "interdiction" of anyone.
No priest will tell the cartels not to expect to receive communion. No useful court orders will be issued against them. Most of all, there was NO destruction of an ememy's ability to continue to harm us.
On the contrary, they were given guns, very deadly guns, and it is yet to be determined if those guns were in fact paid for with US tax dollars...
And those guns were not only used in Mexico, but now it turns out they have been used, and are being used, by illegal immigrants in Arizona.
I repeat, Accessory to Murder Before the Fact. Which is a big time felony !
Posted by: Robert Hanson at July 09, 2011 01:02 AM (F5gEf)
13
Justice will be served....... that's utterly naive.
Here's a statement that's equally obtuse,
"ice is cold"
Actual justice, moral justice may be served but don't count on it.
But the process political systemic justice can be said to have been served no matter the outcome, and that is crap
Posted by: rumcrook at July 09, 2011 04:23 PM (60WiD)
14
You forgot the "sarc" tags on that foolishness.
Posted by: emdfl at July 09, 2011 07:24 PM (pI25d)
Hide Comments
| Add Comment
July 07, 2011
Bicycling S & M
The silver and yellow contraption illustrated in the first photograph accompanying this article is, in fact, a bicycle. It is of the type known as a "recumbent,” or simply a ‘bent to some riders of such machines. This particular machine belongs to me. The manufacturer, Rans, builds these bikes and light aircraft at their factory in Hays, Kansas. It is their V-Rex LE model and is of a sub-category of recumbents known as a short-wheelbase recumbent.
The second bike, in blue and silver, is my wife’s bike, also made by Rans. It is the Stratus LE model, and is—obviously—a long wheelbase bike. Very serious cyclists will notice that both bikes have racks—bicycling heresy! We ride the bikes to work regularly and have to carry our lunch and other goodies. Besides, the racks weigh almost nothing and provide a handy place to hang a taillight; live with it. Before I go on, here are some links to sites I’ll mention in this post (and some I won’t):
(1) Go
here for a New York Times article on how traditional bike seats actually damage portions of the body you don’t want to be damaged (yeow!).
(2) Go
here for the Rans website.
(3) Go here for the
Lightning website.
(4) Go
here for the TerraCycle website. They manufacture the highest quality idlers—wheel/guides for chains, important on recumbents—in the business and have some really neat accessories too.
(5) Go
here for Aerospoke Carbon Composite Wheels. Very cool.
The common bicycle, or an “upright” as polite recumbent riders call them (less polite recumbent riders refer to them as “wedgies.” I’m sure you can figure out why.), has been around for centuries, and uses pretty much the same double triangle design as early bikes. Despite their more modern appearance, recumbents have been around for at least a century.
Posted by: MikeM at
09:11 PM
| Comments (8)
| Add Comment
| Trackbacks (Suck)
1
"A Man For All Seasons"!
Posted by: Carol Bowers at July 08, 2011 01:50 PM (Nve11)
2
I hate to jump back to an offhanded remark, after all that lovely information-- on the other hand, you were VERY thurough, so I don't have anything to add besides that it seems like mirrors are a much more likely option on a recumbent-- but I really, really, REALLY wish the "serious" cyclists up here thought that a rack on a bike was heresy. Seattle area, spend way too much time dodging idiots in 40MPH zones with a trailer and freaking horse panners on the back of their little bicycle. (Switching between riding on the road and riding on the sidewalk depending on where the green light is, not signalling, swerving across half the lane when they are sort-of on the road, and forget about them actually being in the bike lane if there is one....)
Posted by: Foxfier at July 08, 2011 03:22 PM (KKkFL)
3
Dear Foxfier:
Thanks for your comment! If you'll look closely at the left hand bar ends on both bikes, you'll notice rear view mirrors. I can't imagine riding without one, or a helmet, for that matter.
I agree on your observations. On one hand if bicyclists fully obey the rules of the road, drivers want to kill them--and often accidentally do. If they don't, the police want to ticket them. Don't get me started on red light sensors bicycles can't trigger. Still, common sense goes a very long way toward happy mutual co-existance.
Posted by: Mike Mc at July 08, 2011 04:50 PM (rSpVF)
4
Nothing wrong with racks or fenders. While I rarely ride now, (not yet this year in fact), I have 4 working bikes: 2 traditional racing bikes, (an old team bike and a cu$tom bike), and two bikes with fenders, one of which has a rack. Oh, and DiNotte lights.
They all have their purposes. If I rode them.
As a matter of fact, the rack/fender bike got a lot of 'cool bike' comments from many racers when I first put it together, originally for commuting and sloppy weather riding. It is now a 20 year old bike, with just about the frame, seat and bars left from original, but still looks 'cool'. And it is my favorite bike of the 4.
There was a lot of sneering in my old racing team about tourists and how much noise they made due to the stuff they carried. Like tools, spare tubes etc.
I never understood that. Those tourists were cycling fans, why sneer at your supporters and fans? Then I realized, most of them were leftists just like Hollywood elites or Manhattan-ites, who sneer at anyone that is not them.
A big reason I no longer ride.
Posted by: tomwright at July 08, 2011 06:38 PM (ab7dW)
5
Wow, come for the guns, stay for the recumbents!
I'm a 55 year old, 6'4", 205 lb man who rides an upright bike, a Giant FCR2 flat-bar road bike (with a rack! But no fenders, I draw the line there, honest). I'm not into the machismo, I have good bike trails and country roads next door to the house, and I just pedal. I'm on the road after work for 12 to 20 miles four nights out of five, and on the weekends it's 20 to 35 miles a day. In the winter it's an indoor exercise bike.
I'm serious but not obsessive about it. I like a good bike but I can't spend $4K on one. I don't have a lot of pain issues with the upright but I am getting older, and there's no way I can do the drops any more.
So I write all that to ask this: for touring the way I do, should I look at a short- or long-track recumbent? High or low? I want a sturdy bike that lets me do the cardio I need to do, and I'm not going to be road-racing anyone.
My local bike store guy is good at what he does but sniffs at recumbents, so I'm going to have to travel to find one.
Any advice appreciated!
Posted by: Steve White at July 09, 2011 09:07 PM (5OLJF)
6
Dear Steve:
Glad to have you! Don't worry, more guns are on the way.
Sounds like you're like me in many ways. As you can see, I'm a Rans fan, and I've found them to be very sturdy and well built. My guess is you'd prefer a short wheelbase bike because they do turn and handle substantially more quickly than a long wheelbase bike, and the higher chainwheel is actually more aerodynamic. Check the Rans catalog online.
The V-Rex would be a good choice for you, and with waterbottle mounts, a pump and other little incidentals like that, I'm sure you could be riding one for well under $2000. Rans also makes a model called the Enduro that is several hundred cheaper and would also work well. One of the issues with short wheelbase bikes and long legged people is that you often--with any make and model--find yourself bumping your knees against the underside of your handlebars. One of the best things about Rans is their extensive catalog of accessories that will allow you to swap a variety of stems, bars, etc. to dial in exactly what you need. When they're properly adjusted, your knees will miss by about 1/2 inch--as long as you're smooth and relaxed. In fact, it's a good way to remind yourself to be smooth and relaxed.
The V-Rex does come with decent components from the factory. I upgraded to Shimano gear basically because I'd come to like the feel of it over the years with my Lightning, which comes with a very high level of components, thus the $3200 base price.
I must warn you, however, that once you ride a good recumbent, you'll probably never ride your other bikes again. You can ride recumbents on gravel, but because of the weight distribution and the inability to shift your weight, they're a no-go for any reasonably serious off-road stuff. On the road, you'll find yourself grinning like an idiot and notice people waving and smiling at you all the time.
I hope this helps. If you need more specific information, e-mail me directly via our "about the authors" section.
Posted by: Mike Mc at July 09, 2011 09:39 PM (rSpVF)
7
Mike Mc: thanks for the info!
Yes, it seems a short wheelbase bike would be the way to go. I've seen the ads for Rans and for Volae, which also looks like they have a few models to try. The problem is that neither has dealers anywhere near me. In fact, of all the dealers around me (far south suburban Chicago) not a single one does recumbents. I see the occasional recumbent rider on the trails I frequent, so I'm going to have to ask them where they got their bikes!
Posted by: Steve White at July 10, 2011 08:42 PM (5OLJF)
8
Dear Steve:
Glad to help. May I suggest that you try two internet methods of finding bikes? First, go to the websites of any make of bike and check their dealer list. Rans, for example, lists five in Illinois including one in Chicago proper, all with addresses, phone numbers and e-mail contact information. The other option is to google recumbents for your area, using a variety of combinations of words. That will usually turn up dealers as well.
Remember that with short wheelbase bikes, if the bars don't quite work, if the stem is curved near the top, merely turning it 180° and reinstalling the bars can often get you the space you need. If you try a V-Rex I think you'll find it has all the adjustability you need.
Posted by: Mike Mc at July 10, 2011 09:32 PM (rSpVF)
Hide Comments
| Add Comment
Shovel Ready
The ATF ran Gunwalker, with the knowledge and support of the Department of Justice, Homeland Security, the FBI, the IRS, and the DEA, with the knowledge of four six directors and probable involvement of the at least two cabinet level appointees.
I guess
this is what Obama meant by "shovel-ready."
Posted by: Confederate Yankee at
02:19 PM
| Comments (3)
| Add Comment
| Trackbacks (Suck)
1
did i miss something? is someone playing games?
why is just about everything struck through?
Posted by: redc1c4 at July 07, 2011 03:17 PM (d1FhN)
2
It's called never forget the closing / when hand-coding HTML.
Fixed.
Posted by: Confederate Yankee at July 07, 2011 03:20 PM (gAi9Z)
3
They just did a segment on Gunwalker on Fox News (6:30 P EST), with a live interview of Congressman Issa.
Posted by: cirby at July 07, 2011 05:31 PM (dVCxa)
Hide Comments
| Add Comment
Another Fast and Furious?
Oh my word.
Posted by: Confederate Yankee at
10:46 AM
| Comments (2)
| Add Comment
| Trackbacks (Suck)
1
Stupid policies and operations don't live in a vacuum.
If you're stupid enough to think it's a good idea to do once.....
:-(
Josh
Posted by: Josh at July 07, 2011 11:23 AM (3WzDD)
2
If I understood the article correctly, Operation Castaway (the Florida/Honduran version of Gunwalker) allowed illegal straw purchases of arms destined to Honduras without tracking. The value of allowing this was to count bodies and correlate them with US arms??? Is that correct?
Do the people in the BATF and elsewhere really believe that this was legal and ethical behaviour????
Posted by: iconoclast at July 07, 2011 11:50 AM (Ka5jz)
Hide Comments
| Add Comment
No Hiding Now
Someone tell me: do they have nice golf facilities at Leavenworth?
"It is one thing to argue that the ends justify the means in an attempt to defend a policy that puts building a big case ahead of stopping known criminals from getting guns. Yet it is a much more serious matter to conceal from Congress the possible involvement of other agencies in identifying and maybe even working with the same criminals that Operation Fast and Furious was trying to identify."
That's the key to this mess -- and the reason that Operation Fast and Furious might turn out to be the biggest Washington scandal since Iran-Contra.
As Issa and Grassley note in their letter, had the other agencies shared information -- theoretically the goal of the post-9/11 revamp of the intelligence and law-enforcement agencies -- "then ATF might have known that gun trafficking 'higher-ups' had already been identified."
So if the identities of the Mexican criminals were known to the feds, what was the point of Project Gunrunner -- and why is Holder so desperately trying to stonewall by withholding hundreds of documents from Congress?
Law-abiding gun owners and dealers think they already know. With the Obama administration wedded to the fiction that 90 percent of the guns Mexican cartels use originate here -- they don't -- many suspect that "Fast and Furious" was a backdoor attempt to smear domestic gun aficionados as part of its stealth efforts on gun control by executive fiat.
"I just want you to know that we're working on it," Obama was quoted as saying to gun-control advocate Sarah Brady in March. "We have to go through a few processes, but under the radar."
Unfortunately for the administration, this one's out in the open now.
If it is confirmed that the worst suspicions are true—that the Obama Administration supplied weapons to narco-terrorists, in order to undermine U.S gun laws—there will not be a stonewall big enough for them to hide behind, and both impeachment and jail time must not be just possible, but probable for those involved. They are, after all, accessories before the fact who aided and abetted the murders of two U.S. federal agents, and an estimated 150 law enforcement officers and soldiers, and an unknown number of civilians, in Mexico.
If evidence can prove that domestic policy was the ultimate goal of Gunwalker, impeachment should be the least of the Administration's worries, and the Republican-led House of Representatives needs issue legislation making the extradition of government officials involved in international crimes easier, so that those responsible for this debacle may face justice for the crimes they committed.
Passing such a law would have an immediate and chilling effect on any following administration, be it Republican or Democrat, that felt that committing crimes in allied countries was the proper way to sway domestic opinion.
Posted by: Confederate Yankee at
09:25 AM
| Comments (8)
| Add Comment
| Trackbacks (Suck)
1
This scandal should be the lead story across the country. We should be demanding hearings, we should be demanding an investigation and we should be demanding articles of impeachment.
Posted by: Lightwave at July 07, 2011 10:39 AM (a/SwM)
2
Talk of impeachment reveals an ignorance of the process. Articles of impeachment must be filed by the congress and hearings are conducted by the senate presided over by the the supreme court chief justice. The senate as a jury votes on guilt or innocence. We went through this with Clinton and it was a waste of time because the senate is a bunch old worthless political hacks. The republicans had a theoretical majority then (counting republicans in name only), today the liberals have a majority in the senate and even though this administration is guilty of accessory to murder they would never convict. It would be an OJ, Casy Anthony, and Clinton type farce and the public rape of the blindfolded lady with scales of justice in her hand.
Posted by: dunce at July 07, 2011 11:04 AM (AsJyn)
3
This is a lose-lose case for the administration, their own base is screaming-mad about anything that involves any guns being sold to anybody, and the Republicans are more than a bit tiffed that the US Government was selling guns to narco-terrorists on our own borders.
Their only chance is to pin it on Bush somehow. Perhaps Holder can be found with an old Bush/Cheany bumper sticker, or some holdout from the Bush administration can be framed.
Posted by: Georg Felis at July 07, 2011 12:21 PM (MaP+L)
4
I don't think we've seen the bottom of this particular barrel yet... I'm also waiting to see what bodies the administration throws over the wall to satisfy the slavering public...
Posted by: Old NFO at July 07, 2011 05:19 PM (GKNvH)
5
Iowahawk had a great twitter question for Obama, that somehow, never got through to the President. He asked "if i let my mexican drug lord license expire, do I still qualify for the free machine gun program?"
Posted by: Roger Fortier at July 07, 2011 10:49 PM (7GlKO)
6
do they have nice golf facilities at Leavenworth?
I'm sure the Post does. If they are good, minimum security prisoners may even get to cut the grass on it. Unless, of course, that job is reserved for guests at the Disciplinary Barracks.
Posted by: pko Strany at July 09, 2011 05:36 PM (RJOgX)
Hide Comments
| Add Comment
Broun: LOWER the Debt Ceiling
Today, I introduced a unique bill that goes in a completely different direction than everything else we’ve been hearing out of Washington. It would force politicians to start practicing what they’ve been preaching by lowering the debt ceiling from $14.3 trillion back down to $13 trillion. Admittedly, this is not your run-of-the-mill kind of law, but it would make it imperative for Congress to think outside of the box and come up with ways to pay off a portion of our debt while drastically cutting back spending. Since 1996, the national debt has increased by an inexcusable $8.79 trillion. I firmly believe that this calls for emergency measures to reduce the debt.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are equally responsible for the government's past fiscal irresponsibility. Sadly, whenever Congress has been given a chance to make a real impact on the budget, our spending habits, and our nation's livelihood, Democrats and Republicans alike have caved.
Moreover, in this time of crisis, liberals are pushing for a $2 trillion increase in our debt ceiling. And their only answer for our financial fiasco is to cut nothing and raise taxes on everything — which would simply give Washington more money to burn through. Even more disturbingly, under the president's budget proposal, the debt would double to $26.3 trillion by 2021, and he has no intention or plan to pay it down.
Sadly,
this proposal, from Georgia Republican Rep. Paul Broun, is a non-starter due to inertia within both the Democratic and Republican parties. Both groups are wedded to big government, and the constant expansion of that government. They are equally intent on rocking the boat as little as possible to avoid making hard decisions, thinking that by going with the failing status quo they can protect their petty fiefdoms a bit longer, perhaps managing to get elected once or twice more and enrich themselves personally before or near-term economic collapse.
I suspect that there are less than a handful of legislators on Capitol Hill that really hold the nation's best interests at heart. When the collapse comes—and it will—I hope I live long enough in the ensuing carnage to see some of these bastards held to account by their constituents.
Posted by: Confederate Yankee at
07:02 AM
| Comments (1)
| Add Comment
| Trackbacks (Suck)
There's a Punchline In Here Somewhere
While Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's (R) law dismantling collective bargaining rights has harmed teachers, nurses, and other civil servants, it's helping a different group in Wisconsinites — inmates. Prisoners are now taking up jobs that used to be held by unionized workers in some parts of the state.
As the Madison Capital Times reports, "Besides losing their right to negotiate over the percentage of their paycheck that will go toward health care and retirement, unions also lost the ability to claim work as a 'union-only' job, opening the door for private workers and evidently even inmates to step in and take their place." Inmates are not paid for their work, but may receive time off of their sentences.
The law went into effect last week, and Racine County is already using inmates to do landscaping, painting, and another basic maintenance around the county that was previously done by county workers. The union had successfully sued to stop the country from using prison labor for these jobs last year, but with Walker’s new law, they have no recourse.
Union thugs have been replaced by convicts.
I guess I'm a mean old conservative, but I'm thrilled by the prospect of convicts having to give something back to the society that has to deal with both their crimes, and bear the costs of their incarceration.
It's a bonus that the convicts are replacing unionized workers, saving the citizens monies to paid to those that I rather strongly suspect have been overcompensated for their labor—"landscaping, painting, and another basic maintenance"—which sounds like jobs that should have been done by high school students on summer break for minimum wage in the first place.
Posted by: Confederate Yankee at
06:40 AM
| Comments (3)
| Add Comment
| Trackbacks (Suck)
1
This is a great idea, straight up. There's no need for a snappy comment, or an extended diatribe. The simple design of prisoners giving back to the community, so to speak, should be utilized by every state in one capacity or another.
Posted by: Adam at July 07, 2011 06:54 AM (d//ej)
2
Plus they substituted union thugs with a better class of people
Posted by: Miguel at July 07, 2011 08:00 AM (dGYYQ)
3
Can I get a drank a wata boss?
I'm by no means a fan of the tyrant Arpaio, but one thing he has right is the labor gang.
Posted by: Phelps at July 07, 2011 07:50 PM (TbU5l)
Hide Comments
| Add Comment
July 06, 2011
Quick Takes, July 7, 2011
ITEM: The Muslim—Sisterhood? Imagine that an aide of one of our most important cabinet officials was a member of a family with strong ties to Islamic extremists. Would this concern you? Remember Anthony Weiner? Remember his poor wife, Huma Abedin? She’s the deputy chief of staff for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and as such, has direct access to all manner of our most important secrets. Go here to Pajamas Media to discover that she has apparently never been vetted, and why, in the Muslim world, guilt by association cannot be routinely dismissed as it would in American society.
ITEM: Just Ignore The Bastards! That’s what’s being discussed in the Obama Administration: just ignore the debt ceiling and spend as much as Mr. Obama wants. After all, he’s “The One” and he won. Why not? Go
here to discover what the Constitution—you know, that annoying, outdated, anachronism that stands in the way of true Socialist progress—has to say on the topic. As Boo-Boo Bear would have said: “Mr. Public isn’t gonna like this Baracki!” Neither is the Constitution.
ITEM: Life Is Full of Irony: Last 4th of July, Chris Logan attended a golf tournament and was nailed on the temple by a golf ball. His visit to the emergency room led to the discovery of a cancerous tumor on his thyroid and his eventual cure. A year later, he met the golfer that, in a very ironic way, saved his life. Go
here for the story.
ITEM: There’s Nothing Exceptional About America: I know because our President has said so to foreigners, particularly to foreigners. Tell it to Edvard Tchivzchel, who in 1991 was on a tour of the US with the Soviet State Orchestra. Surprisingly, his wife and son were allowed to tour with him. Despite being constantly watched, he was able to defect and his family and he became US citizens in 1999. He now conducts the Greenville Symphony Orchestra. Go
here for the story of a man who has no doubt about the exceptional nature of America.
ITEM: And In the Never-Ending Wisconsin Soap Opera: Ann Coulter, in her new book “Demonic,” argues that it is virtually always liberals rather than progressives who are violent, who resort to force and brutality to impose their political views, views that cannot stand on their own merits. Another Ann, Ann Althouse, makes a similar argument
here. Should not the courts privately resolve any differences they have, out of public view? Indeed. However, Wisconsin seems an alternate universe these days. Read the whole thing.
ITEM: Who Is Responsible For All The Financial Wreckage? Go
here for a Washington Post Column by George Will for a concise explanation of what led—in large part—to our massive mortgage debacle and all of the related consequences.
ITEM: So America Is Not An Exceptional Nation? So says our very own President. Go
here to read a gratifying article on our newest citizens. They have no doubt about the value of being Americans and about her place in the world. Rather a shame our President doesn’t share their views. Wasn’t he supposed to be the smartest man who ever lived or something? Be ready to shed a honest tear of pride—for them and for America, not for Mr. Obama.
ITEM: Brain Drain At NASA? With the final space shuttle flight scheduled for Friday, the New York Times (
here) tells us that the “A” team of scientists may be heading for the exits and more fulfilling work elsewhere, doing, you know, like actual space and science stuff. Of course, NASA head Charles Bolden tells us “We’re capturing the brainpower,” and “We’re not adrift.” “And the vision is not gone. And we have a plan. We have a very sound plan.” Hmmm. I know this is the NYT, but why isn’t Mr. Bolden’s plan listed in the article? Isn’t this the same head of NASA who not long ago told us that President Obama’s new primary mission for NASA was making Muslims feel good about the scientific accomplishment of their ancient ancestors? Why yes, I believe he is. Read the whole thing.
Our future in space now seems to be in the hands of Burt Rutan. We could do much worse. As a matter of fact, we are doing much worse under Mr. Obama. Take the “
Burt Rutan” link; absolutely take
this NASA-related Rutan link, and google him too. Rutan is the most important aeronautical and space pioneer/genius about whom you’ve never heard.
Did you know that one of his designs has already flown in space? Three times?
ITEM: British Class: You’re the Prime Minister of England addressing US Marines at Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan on the Fourth of July. How do you avoid stepping in it up to the knee? How do you actually show some real class without insulting your hosts? Go
here to find out.
ITEM: Mitt Romney Steps In It Up To The Knee: Mitt Romney is the presumed front-runner for the Republic Nomination in 2012. Mitt Romney keeps saying things that make Republicans wonder if he actually is a Republican, like essentially agreeing in word and deed with Mr. Obama on some of the biggest issues of our time. Go
here for his bizarre confusion on whether Mr. Obama caused our economic crisis, made it worse, didn’t cause it or make it worse, or maybe things were caused or something, but aren’t really worse after all, and possibly, Mr. Romney is a three headed space alien who is here to kidnap women, because Mars needs women! Read the brief article and its conclusion. If the most compelling argument for voting for Mr. Romney is because he’s likely not to be worse than Mr. Obama, the evidence for that proposition is fading more rapidly every time Mr. Romney opens his mouth.
UPDATE: Go
here for a brief NYT article. Apparently Mr. Romney now thinks that President Obama has made the recession worse—or something—for the moment anyway. This is the best Republicans can do? Oh well. At least he looks presidential, you know, the tasteful swatches of gray around the temples, the young, vital, open-necked dress shirt look and all...
ITEM: An Unhappy Fourth of July: Go
here for a Washington Post article by Robert J. Samuelson. He applies labels to conservatives and liberals that I suspect will find disfavor with most. His analysis is not completely without merit, but see what you think.
ITEM: Nominations For Best Example of Irony For July, 2011 Are Now Officially closed. Man rides his motorcycle without a helmet with 550 others to protest a mandatory helmet law…you can see what’s coming, can’t you? Go
here for the story.
ITEM: When You’ve Lost Evan Thomas: Remember Evan Thomas, the Editor of Newsweek, the self described “journal of elite liberal opinion,” which is so elite it was recently sold for an entire dollar? Remember that he called Barack Obama a “god?” Apparently his faith is faltering. Go
here for the shocking—to Mr. Obama and those who still regard him a deity—story.
ITEM: It’s All For The Kids, Really! At the NEA convention (
here) we learn of a budget shortfall of from $14 to 17 million dollars for the coming year for the teacher’s union. More than 39,000 active members have jumped ship. The NEA has a bold plan to reduce costs by $4.8 million dollars: lay off “about 20” staffers. Uh, that’s $240,000 per staffer. It’s all for the kids. The NEA says so. Be sure to read the article, but take your blood pressure meds first.
ITEM: What The Frack Is Going On In New York State? Did I read this correctly; Democrat Governor Anthony Cuomo is lifting New York State’s ban on hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” to expand energy development, in…New York State? Could impending economic doom actually have the effect of whacking some Dems with the reality stick? And perhaps the biggest and most disturbing question is: what is a New York Dem. doing with evangelical hair? Go
here for the hair and the story.
ITEM: Mr. Obama Talks: By now, you’ve read many dissertations on Mr. Obama’s recent deficit teleprompter reading (
here). Two things to consider: (1) He remains the very Marxist dictionary definition of the class warrior, and (2) he has no intention of trying to stop spending America to destruction. Many don’t realize that the tax break on corporate jet travel he now wants to remove was established in his own stimulus bill! Of course, no one read that either. In a classless society, is it a good thing for the President of The United States to constantly try to stir up class envy and hatred? Once upon a time, being envious of the accomplishments and possessions of others was a sign of poor upbringing and weak character. I submit that among rational Americans, it still is. Discuss.
ITEM: Adventures In Leading From Behind, #10,382: Go
here to Hot Air for a story by J.E. Dyer on the dangerous farce that is the latest “Gaza Flotilla.” Particularly damning is Dyer’s spot-on assessment of Mr. Obama’s fecklessness in the defense of Israel, the freedom of the seas, the suppression of pirates, and, well, you name it. Can you say: “let’s all urinate on our faithful, democratic ally Israel, kiddies? I knew that you could!”
ITEM: Claire Berlinski and Common Sense: Go
here for a brief essay by the bright and beautiful Claire Berlinski about air travel safety. If you haven’t read Berlinski before, this is a good introduction. Good points. Rational thinking. Not fond of the TSA. CY likes!
ITEM: Who’da Thunk It? In Michigan, more and more women are getting concealed carry permits. What would possess otherwise reasonable, gentle, nurturing people to do such a thing? Urban decay, skyrocketing crime rates, rape, robbery, the usual stuff. I wonder if the Lamestream Media would find this to be “unexpected” too. Discuss. Go
here for the story and be sure to take the link to the original article. Women with guns; works for me!
ITEM: Common Discussion Department: You know how you’re often sitting around with the boys, relaxing, talking, and knocking back a few, and that same question, always, I mean always, comes up: “what were the five best inventions of the founding fathers?” Yeah? Happens to me all the time too! Go
here to find the answer. A link to information about Nikola Tesla is an added feature.
ITEM: Sunday In The Park With Boobs: I’m not kidding, that’s the URL to
this article. Here at Quick Takes, we like to “expose” you to the unusual, the interesting, the “titillating” (I am soooo ashamed of myself. Heh-heh). Did you know that it is apparently legal to go topless in NYC? For women to go topless in NYC? Well, apparently it is, and there are pictures—and an entertaining story written by one Jamie Peck, a "prominent" pioneer in the "forefront" of the NYC “fresh air and sunlight might make them grow bigger” movement. Warning: For some reason, this one took a great deal of time for my browser to load. Sub-warning: Oh yes, there are nekkid breasts. Pretty, well-aired and sunlit natural ones. I can’t imagine why this story would be so popular. Discuss.
ITEM: Louis Renault Award Of the Week, Economic Disaster Division: Jeffrey H. Anderson’s article at the Weekly Standard (
here) begins thus:
“When the Obama administration releases a report on the Friday before a long weekend, it’s clearly not trying to draw attention to the report’s contents. Sure enough, the “Seventh Quarterly Report” on the economic impact of the “stimulus,” released on Friday, July 1, provides further evidence that President Obama’s economic “stimulus” did very little, if anything, to stimulate the economy, and a whole lot to stimulate the debt.”
No! I’m shocked, shocked! to hear of this! Surely it can’t be true! Yes it is. Read the whole thing and don’t call me Shirley. Oh yes, and be sure to secure easily breakable items first.
ITEM: Can Congress Mandate Weight Watcher’s Membership For Obese Americans Under the Commerce Clause? On ABC (
here), George Will asks this question. Watch liberals be what liberals are and say what liberals say. Our Congressional overlords certainly know the answer. Warning: Christiane Amanpour is in this clip!
ITEM: It’s In The Water, Isn’t It? That Has To Be It! Go
here for more news from Wisconsin, the birthplace of progressivism, that superior, peaceful, tolerant and diverse philosophy for superior beings. See the tweet of Graeme Zielinski, Communications Director of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Zielinski is not the only one. Do these people have any idea how idiotic they look? Discuss.
ITEM: It’s That Easy? How, oh how to be an award-winning blogger? This is a question we often ask ourselves here at CY. OK, OK, so we’ve never actually asked ourselves that question, but the lovely, bright and entertaining Susannah Breslin (
here) tells us how to do it. Her first suggestion: Write about sex. It’s that easy? I somehow think most folks would rather have Susannah write about that than me. Probably even my wife. Take the link to her most-read post. Yes, it’s about sex. Maybe I should start reading romance novels for pointers…
Editor’s Note: See “Sunday In The Park With Boobs” above. Who knows? It might boost readership...or something...
Author’s Note: What am I writing? I am my own editor!
Editor’s Note: Shut up.
ITEM: When In the Course of Human Events: Astute readers will recognize this as the beginning of the first paragraph of the Declaration of Independence. Go
here to the blog of the stunningly bright and lovely Michelle Malkin for its full text. The point? Substitute “Barack Obama” for “present King of Great Britain” and see how frighteningly well it fits. It will be good for you to read it again anyway. What’s that? You’ve never read it? I rest my case. Everyone needs to read it, and read it again. It’s that important.
ITEM: Has There Ever, Ever Been a More Embarrassing Vice President In American History? No. Dan Quail wasn’t at all what the Media portrayed him to be. Go
here for a brief story by Doug Powers at Michelle Malkin. Does the fact that we have become utterly numbed by such foolishness and unwarranted arrogance and bravado worry anyone else? Discuss.
ITEM: Tax Them Darned Corporate Jets! Go
here for a concise article by Michael Barone who explains who really cares about corporate jets, and reminds us of the fact that real Americans actually build, maintain, pilot and otherwise earn their living in the private aircraft industry. Yes, if we tax corporate jets, not only will the revenues amount to pocket change over decades, we’ll throw highly trained Americans out of work! It’s a Socialist dream two-fer!
ITEM: Again? Regular readers know of our coverage of the bizarre and unprofessional behavior of the police in the Erik Scott and Jose Guerena cases. Go
here for the story of another police-caused death that speaks to a sickness in American law enforcement that has, and will cost lives.
ITEM: He Said WHAT?! Speaking Tuesday about his Thursday invitation for Congressional leaders to meet to work out the looming debt ceiling debacle (
here), Mr. Obama said that the required “balanced approach,” would require considering “spending in the tax code.” “Spending(?!) in the tax code?!” Even for a man used to the rhetorical mutilation of reality, that’s a world-class oxymoron. Correct me if I’m wrong, gentle readers, but isn’t the tax code all about vacuuming money up in massive quantities? And isn’t budget legislation, such as the kind the Democrats illegally refuse to produce, about spending? You know, I’m almost convinced that Obama fellow is really talking about tax increases.
ITEM: It’s Lysistrata All Over Again! In Barbacoas, Columbia, the townswomen have decided to withhold their feminine charms from the men folk until they build a road the village needs. The men have responded by staging a hunger strike. A hunger strike?! So now they’ll be starving for food and love? I think the women have the better tactics in this one. Go
here for the story.
NOTE: “Lysistrata” is one of the few plays by Aristophanes that survives today. First performed in 411 BC, Lysistrata convinces the women of Greece to join her in withholding sex until the men of Greece stop the Peloponnesian War. It’s a comedy. I suspect the men wouldn’t have been as amused as the women, then and now.
And on that “you go girls” note, I must thank for you stopping by, wish you a fond farewell, and once again invite you to return again next Thursday for another edition of Quick Takes!
Posted by: MikeM at
07:46 PM
| Comments (2)
| Add Comment
| Trackbacks (Suck)
1
"Brain Drain At NASA? With the final space shuttle flight scheduled for Friday, the New York Times (here) tells us that the “A” team of scientists may be heading for the exits and more fulfilling work elsewhere, doing, you know, like actual space and science stuff."
This is entirely appropriate. Now NASA can employ more Imans. The Imans are needed to ensure NASA's outreach to Muslims accords with Islamic principles.
Posted by: davod at July 07, 2011 07:55 AM (C5U9L)
2
Conservatives need to stop being hypocrites here. Doing the wrong thing for the right reason is still doing the wrong thing.
And going to a foreign country to protest your own government is the wrong thing no matter how wrong you might think Obama is.
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill said it best:
"When I am abroad, I always make it a rule never to criticize or attack the government of my own country. I make up for lost time when I come home."
He understood the complete uglyness to what Beck is doing. The line that Beck crosses into acting in very unpatriotic way indeed.
We might not like it but Obama IS our President. When the lefties were going "not my president" during Bush we were legitimately angry because they were not attacking the man they were attacking the office. So are we if we are now taking our disagreements outside our shores.
Disagree with Obama's policy - okay, there's places, there's opportunities to do that. But when you go to another country then you are not attacking merely Obama you are, whether you feel this way or not - YOU ARE ATTACKING AMERICA.
You have become no better than the Left who I have spent a lifetime hating for their attacks against America. You have become traitors!
Posted by: Steve at July 10, 2011 02:31 PM (km2tG)
Hide Comments
| Add Comment
C.Y. Bloggers Blowing Open Gunwalker
Yeah, I'm going to toot our horns a little bit.
Mike and I have a total of three Gunwalker-related stories that have broken today on Pajamas Media, and that doesn't include the Hans A. von Spakovsky's article about acting ATF director Ken Melson's Monday
surprise testimony to Congressional investigators on Monday.
So, have at it:
The Future of Obama's Stealth Gun Control (by Mike)
The Assault Weapons Ban: How Silly Was It? (Part One) (by Bob)
Email Confirms ‘Gunwalker’ Known Throughout Justice Department (by Bob)
The MSM is welcome to keep trying to bury this story. We'll keep running down every source and angle, and we'll see who comes out on top.
Posted by: Confederate Yankee at
04:25 PM
| Comments (3)
| Add Comment
| Trackbacks (Suck)
1
Great Work - keep up the heat!
Posted by: USCitizen at July 06, 2011 05:15 PM (a1FJJ)
2
"Email Confirms"
I'm trying very hard not to jump up and down and yell:
"Ow, ow, ow Mr. Kotter, Mr. Kotter."
Posted by: MSJ at July 06, 2011 07:20 PM (KbBZK)
3
You guys are like Woodward and Bernstein, except better and fact-based! Probably better hair too.
Tarheel Repub Out!
Posted by: Tarheel Repub at July 07, 2011 08:31 AM (prDeJ)
Hide Comments
| Add Comment
Melson Implicates DOJ in Gunrunner
Once again, the Obama Administration has been outmaneuvered.
Acting Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Director Kenneth Melson, in surprise July 4th testimony to chief House investigator Rep. Darrell Issa's panel, corroborated shocking suggestions that the Fast & Furious gun running scam on the U.S.-Mexico border included more federal agencies—and tax dollars—than previously revealed. What's more, he suggested that top Justice officials muzzled ATF as it sought to clean up the episode after two of the guns in the scam were linked to the December killing in Arizona of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.
In a five-page letter to Attorney General Eric Holder following Melson's testimony, Issa, chair of the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee and Senate Justice Committee ranking member Sen. Charles Grassley, called for greater cooperation in Issa's probe of Fast & Furious. And they warned Holder not to fire Melson and make him "the fall guy in an attempt to prevent further congressional oversight."
"The evidence we have gathered raises the disturbing possibility that the Justice Department not only allowed criminals to smuggle weapons but that taxpayer dollars from other agencies may have financed those engaging in such activities. While this is preliminary information, we must find out if there is any truth to it. According to Acting Director Melson, he became aware of this startling possibility only after the murder of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry and the indictments of the straw purchasers, which we now know were substantially delayed by the U.S. Attorney's Office and Main Justice," the duo wrote.
I made the
Iran-Contra comparison several weeks ago. It now sounds like I was far more right than I had any reason to expect.
There were felonies committed here by Obama Administration officials, and if i don't miss my guess, I suspect things are only going to get worse.
Posted by: Confederate Yankee at
10:26 AM
| Comments (1)
| Add Comment
| Trackbacks (Suck)
1
These people have broken the law so many times already, I doubt it will trouble them to do so one more time
Posted by: TimothyJ at July 06, 2011 02:20 PM (w7YPP)
Hide Comments
| Add Comment
Obama Continues to Ignore Iran's Arming and Training of Shiite Militias as American Soldiers Die
American soldiers in Iraq are being attacked and killed with increasing sophisticated weapons provided by Iran, and the Obama Administration does nothing:
James F. Jeffrey, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, said Tuesday that fresh forensic testing on weapons used in the latest deadly attacks in the country bolsters assertions by U.S. officials that Iran is supporting Iraqi insurgents with new weapons and training.
"We're not talking about a smoking pistol. There is no doubt this is Iranian," Jeffrey said in an interview.
"We're seeing more lethal weapons, more accurate weapons, more longer-range weapons," Jeffrey added. "And we're seeing more sophisticated mobile and other deployment options, and we’re seeing better-trained people."
In some cases, insurgents made no effort to remove from the weapons identification numbers suggesting that they came from Iran, "which in itself is troubling," Jeffrey said.
Training is being provided by the Revolutionary Guards, which supports Shia terrorism worldwide.
A stern response in the form of a series of "accidents" at Iranian Revolutionary Guards bases or among IRG commanders
might get Iranian attention, and if carefully targeted, could decapitate the leadership authorizing the attacks without overt war. It would be fighting Iran on its own terms, in the kind of guerilla warfare fighting Americans have excelled at since Major Benjamin Church led the first American ranger units in
King Philips War a hundred years before we were an inkling of a nation.
We know how to defeat Iran at their own game. We simply need the political will to engage in this kind of conflict and win.
Of course, there doesn't seem to be the political will to counter Iran, and perhaps the President simply can't muster the outrage to attack kindred spirits.
We are, after all, talking about an Administration that has done
nearly the same thing in arming Mexican narco-terrorists via the Department of Justice's Gunwalker program.
Posted by: Confederate Yankee at
09:34 AM
| Comments (1)
| Add Comment
| Trackbacks (Suck)
1
This nothing new. I believe the Bush administration had proof of Iranian involvement much earlier.
Posted by: davod at July 06, 2011 09:54 AM (C5U9L)
Hide Comments
| Add Comment
July 05, 2011
Adventures in Smart Diplomacy, #2,783
THE SCENE: Conference Room at the Cairo Hilton, November, 2011.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: “I want to welcome all of the delegates to this first, historic, outreach session of dialogue between the United States and the various member chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood throughout the region…”
Egyptian MB Delegate: “We will destroy the Great Satan!” (Loud shouts, chants and applause)
Palestinian MB Delegate: “And the Little Satan too!” (More loud shouts, chants and applause)
HC: “…and I bring greetings from our President, Barack Hussein Obama, who…”
EMBD: “Apostate!”
Syrian MB Delegate: “Apostate!”
PMBD: “Death to America!”
Libyan MB Delegate (hesitatingly to PMBD): “Death to Israel too?”
PMBD: “Death to Israel too!”
All Delegates: “Death to Israel, Death to Israel!
HC: “Gentlemen please! We want to extend an open hand to you, so that we can engage in mutual respectful dialogue that will result in non-violent support for democratic principles of universal human righ…”
EMBD: “You must submit!”
HC: “Pardon me?”
EMBD: “You must submit to Sharia!”
HC: “It is important that we respect minority rights and fully include women in…”
PMBD: “Submit!”
LMBD (to PMBD): “Do we say that we will kill them all now?”
PMBD: “Yes! We will kill you all!” (Loud shouts, chants and applause)
SMBD (Whispered to EMBD): “What do the Iranians think?”
EMBD (Whispered to SMBD): “Death to America.”
SMBD (Whispered to EMBD): “What’s that? Death to Angola?”
EMBD (Whispered to SMBD): “No, no. Death to America, America the Great Satan…”
SMBD: “Oh! Right! (Louder) Death to America, America the Great Satan!”
HC: “But we only want outreach and mutual understanding and respect for universal principles of human rights, and…”
All Delegates (sing-song): Death to America, Death to America, nanner, nanner nan-ner…”
Two recent articles should worry rational Americans, for it has been announced (
here) that Hillary Clinton is now “welcoming dialogue with the Muslim Brotherhood.” A recent Pajamas Media article (
here) contains very disturbing allegations regarding Hillary Clinton’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Huma Abedin. It seems that Abedin, an Egyptian Muslim, is a member of a family intimately involved in the Muslim Brotherhood, and that she has never been properly vetted for her position.
Posted by: MikeM at
07:42 PM
| Comments (3)
| Add Comment
| Trackbacks (Suck)
1
"Do they honor Barack Hussein Obama? After all, he has a Muslim middle name of historical, religious significance. He was born of a Muslim father and attended Muslim school in Indonesia as a child. On the contrary, because he has publicly identified himself as Christian, the MB certainly considers him an apostate. There is only one fate for apostates in Islam: Death. Islam does not smile kindly on those who decide to embrace another faith. Remember: In Islam there is no separation of church and state, no tolerance for other faiths. Of course, for the time being, the MB will pretend respect. Another teaching of the Koran is lying to Infidels."
Unless of course Obama is only pretending to be a Christian, but is still a Muslim and an MB plant.
This is not idle speculation, after all he's made several references to "his Muslim faith" and similar hints as to his true identity over the years during and after his campaign and presidency.
"I lived through the Carter Administration and never imagined that I would see a President who would best Mr. Carter for sheer incompetence and damage to America and the world. Mr. Obama has already won that dubious prize,"
IMO it's not incompetence. Initially I too believed Obama's destructive actions were due to incompetence, but I've changed my mind. They're deliberately designed to harm the United States (and indeed all of western society) for some destructive purpose.
Whether that's the installment of a communist regime, softening us all up for takeover by jihadis, or for takeover by communist countries I can't tell, maybe he himself doesn't know (he seems to at times be alligned with all of these ideas).
Posted by: JTW at July 06, 2011 12:03 AM (oU0J/)
2
I would say Obama has two religions.
The Church Of Obama and the church of progressivism,/marxism.
As for the post, I am trying to guess how they'll react when the MB takes over Egypt and starts destroying antiquities. We have to blame someone in the west, but we can't blame Obama. It'll be hard to blame Bush. I figure Minitrue will blame Israel.
How much TNT does it take to blow up a pyramid? We might know the answer to that fairly soon. Unless they get lazy and just use artillery or missiles.
The worst part about the Obama admin's foreign policy is that it's being run by people who actually believe that other people are basically Americans but with slightly different (better) customs.
They just don't understand that there are people out there who don't want to compromise, they don't "go along to get along". They kill people who disagree with them.
Posted by: Veeshir at July 06, 2011 08:13 AM (0/Eoe)
3
That's one good thing about pyramids, they're a tad harder to blow up than are statues.
But maybe Obama will help them out with a few nukes that are being RIF'fed anyway, no use letting them go to waste.
And if a few end up blowing up Tel Aviv and Haifa instead of pyramids and temples, Obama is the last one to care.
Posted by: JTW at July 07, 2011 02:49 AM (oU0J/)
Hide Comments
| Add Comment
Economic Reality Strikes Teamsters Shop; L.A. Times Columnist/Sockpuppet Hardest Hit
Michael Hiltzik has his diapers in a bunch because BMW made the business decision to layoff a parts distribution warehouse full of union workers making $25/hr with health benefits. The company will instead rely upon outside logistics contractors for their parts depot work.
It's brutal, and people who lose their jobs don't often happen to find a new one soon. Companies and people alike are barely scrapping by, and all of us are trying to save money where we can. That is our economic reality.
Many Americans—particularly those on the left—can't seem to grasp that you cannot legislate prosperity. You can demand that companies provide salary "x" or benefit "y" through law or collective bargaining, but at the end of the day, you are faced with the harsh economic truth that government isn't nimble enough to react to market forces, and unions exist to benefit their executives, not the rank and file. This leads to scenarios where people are paid more than what their actual skill-set is worth, and that creates the opportunity for more efficient vendors to move into a market segment and make all companies involved more profitable.
On the personal, human level, these sorts of decisions are incredibly painful. Having gone through the dot-com crash of the early 2000s, layoffs and personal bankruptcy as a result, I know that as well as anyone.
But even were things were bad for me, I knew that when the market is allowed to correct itself it lifts the entire economy, and that leads to prosperity across the board for everyone. Unions and big government retard that growth opportunity, make things stagnant, and ensures eventual, inevitable failures.
Hiltzik's writing is emotional and touching and certainly captures the human drama of what these individual families are now having to face. It is too bad he couldn't use that same talent to explore why the layoffs at this plant means jobs for others in the parts business elsewhere, or how the money BMW will save here will be used to create opportunities and jobs elsewhere throughout the company, and lead to a stronger company overall.
Posted by: Confederate Yankee at
10:16 AM
| Comments (14)
| Add Comment
| Trackbacks (Suck)
1
Some people believe that when they are in the right, the other guy must be in the wrong. Thus it is with some union members, who think that because they represent workers in an industry their opinions and representations must take precedence over the opinions and representations of others.
You and the other guy can be right at the same time. Not in the same way, and about the same subject, but right none the less.
So we get people who find agreement in any way distasteful and disagreeable, thinking that only their way is the right way. Which leads to confrontation and conflict when such is not only unnecessary, but down right harmful.
Posted by: Alan Kellogg at July 05, 2011 12:27 PM (myAzz)
2
"But even were things were bad for me, I knew that when the market is allowed to correct itself it lifts the entire economy, and that leads to prosperity across the board for everyone."
Can you provide a real-world example from history to show that this has ever, actually, happened? For real? I can think of no example from history in which free markets lifted the entire economy and brought prosperity to everyone.
History is full of examples of unregulated market economies experiencing short-term booms that enrich a few people but not everone, inevitably followed by busts in which all but the most insulated lose their shirts. I am not aware of any exceptions. Perhaps there is an exception that I don't now about ... ?
Posted by: Barbara at July 05, 2011 12:46 PM (9AgX0)
3
Barbara,
You live in the only nation in human history where obesity is a problem of the poor, where many people on social services own one or more personal vehicles, own a closet full of clothes, and have the luxury of personal cell phones, video games systems, multiple televisions, etc.
If you do not see that our "poor" are better off than the middle class in 90% of the world, and that they benefit immensely from living in this society because of it's general affluence, then I suggest you are desperately in need of perspective.
Posted by: Confederate Yankee at July 05, 2011 01:45 PM (gAi9Z)
4
Baba,
Try oil and gas. Then govment applies controls to stifle prosperity
Posted by: LAZRTX at July 05, 2011 02:31 PM (WvqFW)
5
CY -- that isn't even close to being an answer to my question. I'm asking you for a real-world example from history, from anywhere in the world, at any time, demonstrating that markets correcting themselves (by which I assume you mean run without government interference) really truly lifted the entire economy and brought prosperity to everyone.
I can think of many historic examples in which unregulated market capitalism created short-term economic booms, usually from overheated speculation in stocks or real estate or gold or something else, but none of these booms lasted, and none brought prosperity for everyone. Instead, the rich got richer and the poor got poorer. I'm asking you to find an exception.
Whether American poor people can get cheap cell phones and lots of fatty food items off the McDonald's dollar menu is beside the point.
Posted by: Barbara at July 05, 2011 02:36 PM (9AgX0)
6
barbara, most of the booms that you mentioned were caused by the government. Try again.
The ability of every person in the country to work, and make money is what it is all about. The poor usually loll about and don't work so they stay poor. The normal man goes to work and makes a good living for his family until the government gets involved. Usually to help the lazy won't work poor people.
Posted by: Stephan at July 05, 2011 02:44 PM (530OM)
7
"Then govment applies controls to stifle prosperity."
Are you saying the government is *trying* to stifle prosperity? That it hates prosperity and wants to stop it? Do you want to consider how irrational that is?
It might be true that government policies regarding oil and gas have the effect of slowing economic growth -- or it might not -- but the reasons behind such regulation have to do with things like resource management and reducing speculation and price gouging. We can argue all day long about how effective those policies are, but to say that their purpose is only to stifle prosperity is nuts.
The argument appears to be that if only government would get out of the way of markets, prosperity would follow as surely as the sun comes up in the morning. And I'm asking, show me a time and place in which that actually has happened. Give me an example. From anywhere in the world, from any time in history. Maybe it is true, but I'm asking you to find a real-world example to prove it.
Saying "things are bad and it must be the government's fault" is not an answer.
Posted by: Barbara at July 05, 2011 02:48 PM (9AgX0)
8
What, America in the 19th century?
But even more salient, can you name a regulated economy that ever brought prosperity of any sort to anybody, except for those running the government?
Posted by: Eric Blair at July 05, 2011 02:50 PM (/3DOt)
9
barbara, most of the booms that you mentioned were caused by the government. Try again.
No, not always. There were several cycles of booms and busts in the 19th century U.S., for example, which was before government regulation as we know it existed. This was true of several other countries as well (read up on Brazil sometime). In fact, the first government regulations of markets came about in an effort to stabilize the economy and keep it from swinging from one disaster to another. It became harder to make a quick fortune, yes, but the country also didn't fall into a new depression every few years.
Of course, it's true there are countless examples of stupid government policies that hurt economies, but I can't think of a single example from history of unregulated markets genuinely listing an economy so much that everyone became more prosperous. What's usually happened in the past that a few people make out like bandits and everyone else stays poor. So I'm just asking for an example.
I guess there isn't one. So, thanks, fellas, go back to your fantasies.
Posted by: Barbara at July 05, 2011 03:13 PM (9AgX0)
10
But even more salient, can you name a regulated economy that ever brought prosperity of any sort to anybody, except for those running the government?
The period of greatest prosperity for middle and working class Americans was the Great Proserity, the thirty year period from 1947 to about 1977. The wages of the bottom fifth of the work force grew 116 percent over these years, and for top workers went up 99 percent. Everyone made money during that period, from the richest to the poorest, but the biggest economic gains were for working people. The economy was regulated a lot more then than it is now.
Real wages for American workers peaked in 1972 and since then have been slowly deflating, and with every round of deregulation things have gotten worse. The rich get richer; everyone else gets poorer.
Truth is a bitch, huh?
Posted by: Barbara at July 05, 2011 03:26 PM (9AgX0)
11
I'm asking you for a real-world example from history, from anywhere in the world, at any time, demonstrating that markets correcting themselves (by which I assume you mean run without government interference) really truly lifted the entire economy and brought prosperity to everyone.
It is truly amusing to watch a leftist continually refine and redefine an argument in such a manner as to make their worldview correct (hence, this blog's tagline). Markets around the world correct themselves constantly.
When a public company offers a product or service that people want, their profits (and a number of other things ) go up, enabling them to expand and hire more people.
For example, Company A works in the computer hardware market, and was able to turn a 30% profit last year. CA then takes that profit to acquire smaller companies that have technologies that will round out their product portfolio, and also hires more people organically as needs within various business units grow.
Company A will add 2,300 jobs next year, after adding 1,500 the year before and 1000 the year before that.
On a per salary basis, the median income among all the jobs for the thousands of employees will drop slightly, because redundant middle management and senior management positions will be consolidated, and the increased volume of product will mean more engineering, marketing, warehouse and assembly jobs.
Using Barbara's left wing logic, the fact that Company A grew in size tremendously, adding 3,800 jobs to the economy in just 3 years, is irrelevant. Using her logic, Company A is a failure, because the number of lower-skilled jobs in the company grew the most.
Watch the left long enough, and you'll realize that their idea of fairness is everyone enjoying mediocrity, and that they hold great disdain for innovation and over-achievers.
Now, I'm off to make more money...
Posted by: Confederate Yankee at July 05, 2011 05:47 PM (fwj3L)
12
BaBa,
Whanabe college professor..Those that can't, teach.
Posted by: LAZRTX at July 05, 2011 08:24 PM (WvqFW)
13
Barbara, you are so wrong and have no idea what you are talking about. It is sad, but it is a disease almost all libs/progressives have. Point of reference here is David Mamets book. Buy it, read it, try to open your mind. Now onto why you are wrong. The ultimate measure of the economy, be it boom or bust is GDP. Stands for Gross Domestic Product. It places a dollar value on EVERY facet of the economy and commerce. Nothing is left out. GDP since 1940 is as follows:
1940 101 billion
1950 294 billion
1960 526 billion
1970 1,038 billion
1980 2,788 billion
1990 5,800 billion
2000 9,951 billion
2010 14,660 billion
Thats growth!! That is what CY is referring to. That is a rising tide that floats ALL boats. Look up what your beloved auto worker made in 1940, then look at his income package in 2000. His boat was floating with the rising tide of wealth. Everyone made money, some more than others, but thats life. Babe Ruth hit lots of home runs, but Alex Rodriguez makes a great deal more than the Babe, with less home runs. Thats the tide, thats growth, thats GDP!!!
Educate yourself. Google historic GDP data.
Posted by: mixitup at July 05, 2011 08:44 PM (Z21cb)
14
Look, you guys are so dumb you can't even understand the question, let alone fabricate a correct answer. Let me rephrase Barbara's question so that even you right wingnuts can understand it:
"Show me an example where one of history's dictatorships, monarchys, or communist regimes tried completely free-market capitalism and every single person, including those who refuse to work, those who choose to remain unskilled, those who make a living committing petty crimes, and the insane, all became equally rich with the doctors, factory owners, CEOs, land owners, government leaders, and anybody who worked sixteen hours a day".
See? You free-market loonies can't do it, can you? Obviously a centrally planned economy controlled by your friendly and benevolent Federal government is the only answer.
Posted by: Walt at July 07, 2011 12:04 PM (AC8Cb)
Hide Comments
| Add Comment
An Interesting Bit of Gunwalker Speculation
There really isn't enough meat on this to even call it a theory, but it is an interesting inkling of an idea that Mad Saint Jack has come up with regarding President Obama's decision to skip the opportunity to use a recess appointment to give anti-gun Chicago ATF Agent Andrew Traver the top job in the agency.
Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was killed in a shootout with Mexican criminals armed with Gunwalker AK-pattern rifles on December 14.
If documentation exists—and that would be hugely speculative and extreemly unlikely—showing that the White House or senior Department of Justice management passed on the opportunity to appoint Traver as a result of Terry's murder, then all bets are off regarding the damage to the Presidency and the Attorney General.
This bears watching.
Posted by: Confederate Yankee at
08:21 AM
| Comments (6)
| Add Comment
| Trackbacks (Suck)
1
Well I'm new at this.
Thanks for the post.
Posted by: MSJ at July 05, 2011 08:28 AM (KbBZK)
2
The problem is that for any other administration, this would be a big deal. But Obama is so imcompetent, it is just par for the course.
Posted by: david7134 at July 05, 2011 09:22 AM (dccG2)
3
Nothing so sinister. The Senate stayed in session, ergo; no recess, no recess appointment.
Posted by: Gus Bailey at July 05, 2011 11:25 AM (/t1ba)
4
Gus got a link?
Did there need to be a recess between the 111th and 112th Congress?
Posted by: MSJ at July 05, 2011 11:43 AM (KbBZK)
5
found this http://www.thecapitol.net/FAQ/cong_schedule.html
Looks like you can stop an appointment by keeping the recess to 3 days or less.
But Reid was asking for a Recess Aptmt and the senate was in recess from January 17 - 23 and February 21 - 27.
Posted by: MSJ at July 05, 2011 12:22 PM (KbBZK)
6
If the ATF and DOJ could do this to Mexico, Maybe we should be looking for the domestic equivilent of Gunwalker.
Remember the new Chicago Chief of Police stating the gun problem is a Federal conspirarcy against Blacks. Wouldn't it be strange if the country's second Black President authorized Gunwalker USA. You have got to kill people to save people.
Posted by: davod at July 06, 2011 10:11 AM (C5U9L)
Hide Comments
| Add Comment
July 04, 2011
Letter From The Teacher #8: The Two R's
Letter From The Teacher #8: The Two R’s
Anytown High School, Any State, USA
To: Mrs. Hansen
From: Mr. English Teacher
Re: The Two R’s
Dear Mrs. Hansen:
Thanks for your phone call earlier today. I’m sorry that I couldn’t devote the time to it that I would have preferred, but as you know, you caught me between classes. Thanks for letting me answer your questions via e-mail.
I’m afraid I have no idea where your son Tom got the idea that one of our students was suspended for reading the Bible. I checked with our principals and they assure me that no such thing happened. In fact, I’m sure that no such thing ever would happen, certainly not at Anytown HS, and probably not at most American schools.
We often hear that the Supreme Court, decades ago, “took prayer out of the schools.” People tend to take that assertion at face value and some even blame it for whatever problem they think is current in the schools and in society at large. The truth is quite different.
It has been said, and quite accurately I think, that as long as there is algebra, there will always be prayer in school. I write that with some degree of humor, because I was born without the math gene. I aced all of my required college math courses, but that was because I am a good student and know how to study and retain information, at least as long as necessary to pass a given test. I’m good at practical, every day math, but that’s where my abilities and interests end. While I enjoy reading (more on this later) books about science and even math, I am not one of those people who can gaze at an equation and immediately see the secrets of the universe before my wondering eyes. I’m glad that such people exist, but I’m certainly not one of them.
Posted by: MikeM at
09:35 PM
| Comments (2)
| Add Comment
| Trackbacks (Suck)
1
Now that was well said, and said well.
Posted by: Alan Kellogg at July 05, 2011 12:19 PM (myAzz)
2
Right on there. An English teacher myself, I know that understanding in depth a goodly amount of American and British literature depends on an awareness of the Bible. Yet it surprises me how little American students, even in the bible belt community where I teach, where churches are community mainstays, know about the bible. The students in my classes usually would not recognize a biblical allusion that smites them in the face. I don't know how they learn their religion in the big and bigger churches they all seem to attend, but it's not through a study of key stories in the Bible. Hence, if a large and key part of our cultural inheritance is to be preserved as part of our education, then students need to study the bible as literature in schools.
That is not to say study the Bible as God's word in a public school, though many would like to see this done. I usually teach each year a work that simply requires by its very nature an understanding of Christian doctrinal issues and biblical events. A visitor to one such class, a person who just happened to be involved with a community religious group, remarked that it was a clever way to teach the Bible in school. Well, no, that was not the intent, but I guess I gained a little with some parts of the community, perhaps lost some with others.
I just hope nothing happens in American public education that prevents teaching Milton or Flannery O'Connor as they should be taught to be understood--although I know that is under attack or impossible in some schools.
Posted by: Dennis at July 05, 2011 06:55 PM (OgI8P)
Hide Comments
| Add Comment
Founding Fathers
Imagine the kind of courage it takes to tell the most powerful nation on earth that they have no dominion over you, that their king is no longer your sovereign, and that you rebel against the only kind of government that most men of your day have ever known.
Brave men did precisely that on this day in 1776.
They committed treason against the king, putting their lives at risk by signing their name on a declaration of independence that would simply be known forever after as
the Declaration of Independence.
Thank you, gentlemen, for embarking on that journey into liberty.
Posted by: Confederate Yankee at
07:58 AM
| Comments (0)
| Add Comment
| Trackbacks (Suck)
<< Page 14 >>
Processing 0.03, elapsed 0.1566 seconds.
36 queries taking 0.1372 seconds, 112 records returned.
Page size 131 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.
