Clipmarks | deb2012's Comments

Keep Your Sunny Side Up by Mark Steyn

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:13:01 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: The Iraq surge (McCain's unique selling point) is a victim of its own success and has dwindled away to an irrelevant footnote, and the front pages are full of a supposed economic catastrophe which the crude rules of politics suggest any fool should be able to hang on the incumbent.

Yet Obama still can't open up a solid lead. After all, why would record numbers of viewers watch the vice-presidential debate if the election's already over?

Meanwhile, the supposedly damaged Republican brand is proving suprisingly resilient. I see one of the two New Hampshire seats that flipped blue in '06 may return to the red fold next month. Where's the blowout?

A lot of the dynamite is well past its sell-by date: Two references last night to Ronald Reagan negotiating with Tip O'Neill. No one remembers who Tip O'Neill is. McCain might as well have been evoking misty watercolor mem'ries of Talleyrand . . . Obama, by contrast, is all future - which is understandable, given his past.

Clip Source: corner.nationalreview.com

Republicans have cause to be disappointed by last night: As everyone says, Obama wins by not losing. He looks more and more as if he's already the president, while McCain prowling the stage seeking to "connect" looks more and more like Yosemite Sam after the dynamite* failed to go off.

Nevertheless.

Before everyone succumbs to a terminal case of inevitabilititis, it's worth remembering we've been here before. In the last months of the primary campaign, the press kept assuring Hillary fans that Obama's victory was inevitable and the shriller the media Obamaboppers got, the more bluecollar Dems sat on their hands. In the end all the King's horses and all the King's men had to drag the guy across the finish line. You couldn't replay his spectacular victory in slow-motion because it was already slower than any slo-mo technology ever invented.

So we already know there's a huge disconnect between the unstoppable Messianic force promoted by the media and the cooler appraisal by actual voters.

Tags: mccain, obama, "townhall"debate

CNN (Yes, CNN) Confirms Obama Is Lying To You About Bill Ayers

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:28:45 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: It is the lie that furthers the story. Talk about THE LIE.

CNN investigative reporter: “But the relationship between Obama and Ayers went much deeper, ran much longer, and was much more political than Obama said.”

On Anderson’s Cooper 360 they did a major investigative look at the Ayers/Obama connection. They even interviewed Stanley Kurtz.

Bottom line: Just a guy in my neighborhood? Served on one board together?

CNN Says bulls**t!

http://dirtyharrysplace.com/?p=4873

CNN: Obama’s lying about William Ayers

Obama’s admission in a debate that he briefly served on “a board” with Ayers with little contact gets shot down. CNN followed up on Kurtz’ work with the Chicago Annenberg Challenge and debunks that notion. They also — amazingly — report on the nature of the grants made by the CAC while Obama ran it to Ayers’ favored schools with radical agendas.

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/10/07/cnn-obamas-lying-about-william-ayers/

Clip Source: www.suitablyflip.com

Astounding. Even CNN has been suckered into the distraction of a Presidential candidate lying about the extent of his long, close relationship and political alliance with a proud domestic terrorist.

[Video]

Clip Source: hotair.com

Griffin also tells a somewhat nonplussed Cooper that Obama has lied about his “coming out party” at the home of William Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn in 1995. Obama has said that Alice Palmer arranged the fundraiser and the venue, but Griffin spoke to two people who attended the event, who claim Obama lied. Palmer had nothing to do with that event outside of being invited to it. Obama and Ayers planned the event themselves.

Obama has lied repeatedly about his relationship with the unrepentant domestic terrorist. He spent years working for Ayers, promoting Ayers’ causes. Even CNN won’t buy the Obama line any longer. Expect John McCain to raise this point tonight in the debate.

Tags: cnn anderson cooper, drew griffin investigative report, stanley durtz, david freddoso, jerome corsi, william ayers, obama, chicago annenberg challenge

Why the rescue plan had to happen

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:29:18 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: "the single best explanation I’ve seen from anyone"

Clip Source: gowest.blogs.fortune.cnn.com

Tuesday night’s “town-hall” meeting from Nashville had all the hallmarks of what voters have come to dislike about these non-debates

And yet, for one moment, Barack Obama showed why he is ahead in the polls. He did it by giving the single best explanation I’ve seen from anyone

of why the rescue plan Congress passed last week is good for the American people

Well, Oliver, first, let me tell you what’s in the rescue package for you. Right now, the credit markets are frozen up and what that means, as a practical matter, is that small businesses and some large businesses just can’t get loans. If they can’t get a loan, that means that they can’t make payroll. If they can’t make payroll, then they may end up having to shut their doors and lay people off. And if you imagine just one company trying to deal with that, now imagine a million companies all across the country. So it could end up having an adverse effect on everybody, and that’s why we had to take action.

Nailed it

Tags: obama, bailout, economy

Why no outrage over foreclosures?

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:20:03 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Why do we automatically assume the buyers are at fault? Did they risk other peoples' money? Did they know we were in a housing bubble? Was it explained that the ARM would default if their home value declined? Why do we let professional sales-people make money leading people into the largest purchase in their lives without issuing precautions that first-time homebuyers often do not understand? And why is the homebuyer the loser, rather than the shyster that sold them a loan they could not possibly have understood? Why do we let them take our homes away?

Clip Source: ehrenreich.blogs.com

A few days before Congress passed its Housing Bill, Carlene Balderrama of Taunton MA found her own solution to the housing crisis. Just a little over two hours in advance of the time her mortgage company, PHH Mortgage Corporation – may its name live in infamy – was to auction off her home, Balderrama killed herself with her husband’s rifle.

This is not the kind of response to hard times that James Grant had in mind when he wrote his July 19 Wall Street Journal essay entitled “Why No Outrage?” “One might infer from the lack of popular anger,” the famed Wall Street contrarian wrote, “that the credit crisis was God's fault rather than the doing of the bankers and the rating agencies and the government's snoozing watchdogs.” For contrast, he cites the spirited response to the depression of the 1890s, when lawyer/agitator Mary Lease stirred crowds with the message that “We want the accursed foreclosure system wiped out

We will stand by our homes and stay by our firesides by force if necessary

Tags: mortgage, finance, foreclosure

the Real troopergate report is out

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:42:11 GMT

clipped by: deb2012
clipper's remarks: http://download2.legis.state.ak.us/DOWNLOAD.pdf
this has transcripts of all the testimony showing the influence of the Palins.

Clip Source: buffalopundit.wnymedia.net

Tags: politics

George Soros great discussion about the meltdown

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 03:32:37 GMT

clipped by: deb2012
clipper's remarks: Bill Moyers continues to provide the most lucid and independant reporting on tv. Don't miss this interview which can be watched online at the link.

Clip Source: www.pbs.org

Bill Moyers talks with one of the world's most successful investors George Soros about the global capital meltdown, how he saw it coming, and what can be done now.

Tags: economy, politics

Sarah Palin Republican vice-presidential candidate

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 03:18:18 GMT

clipped by: benaloy
clipper's remarks: So, Sarah is found to violate the ethics law.
Her lawyer says: "There has to be some personal gain."
In the next breath, he says: "...failed to identify any financial gain."
Isn't vengence 'personal gain'?
Don't try to hoodwink us Sarah Palin.
Birds of a feather ... you and McCain with his ANGER sysdrome.

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

"I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110 (a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act," investigator Steve Branchflower concluded in the panel's 263-page report.

"In order to violate the ethics law, there has to be some personal gain," said Thomas Van Flein.

"Mr Branchflower has failed to identify any financial gain."

The Republican vice-presidential candidate was accused of sacking a senior state official, Walter Monegan, in connection with a family feud.

Mrs Palin denies any wrongdoing

The report concluded a family grudge was not the sole reason for the dismissal, but was a likely contributing factor.

The panel found Mrs Palin in violation of a state ethics law prohibiting public officials from using their office for personal gain.

The investigation into the affair began before Mr McCain selected Mrs Palin as his running mate in August.

McCain-Palin Rhetoric Goes Over the Top

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:11:15 GMT

clipped by: Wisco
clipper's remarks: Next up, handing out official McCain-Palin pitchforks and torches at rallies. Now that he's pretty much screwed, McCain's true colors are manifest. Given a choice between losing with class or instilling honest-to-God hatred in his supporters, McCain chooses the latter.

See also; McCain steps up character attack on Obama.

Clip Source: rawstory.com

Shouts of "terrorist" and even accusations of "treason" aimed at Barack Obama have echoed around Republican rallies, whipped up into alarming, hate-filled frenzies against the Democratic White House hopeful.

Republican presidential nominee John McCain has taken to asking, "Who is the real Barack Obama?" at rallies this week, leading one supporter in Pennsylvania, a blue-collar battleground state to shout back, "he is a bomb."

Chants of "Nobama, Nobama" mingled with cries of "terrorist," as one banner in the crowd declared: "Go ahead, let the dogs out."

The stream of vicious attacks against Obama, who has left McCain trailing in the polls, were ramped at the weekend by Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin who accused the Chicago senator of "palling around with terrorists."

Now when she mentions Obama, some of the crowds' responses have escalated beyond boos and hisses, and there are fears among some observers that the attacks are going too far.

Tags: news

McCain Saw what he had Wrought

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:10:26 GMT

clipped by: oscarrob
clipper's remarks: And apparently he didn't like it. Good for him

Clip Source: www.time-blog.com

He acknowledges the "energy" people have been showing at rallies, and how glad he is that people are excited. But, he says, "I respect Sen. Obama and his accomplishments." People booed at the mention of his name. McCain, visibly angry, stopped them: "I want EVERYONE to be respectful, and lets make sure we are."

McCain told her there's a "difference between record and rhetoric, and I plan to talk about his record, respectfully... I don't mean that has to reduce your ferocity, I just mean it has to be respectful."

And then later, again, someone dangled a great big piece of low-hanging fruit in front of McCain: "I'm scared to bring up my child in a world where Barack Obama is president."

"you don't have to be scared to have him be President of the United States."

a woman who began her question with, "I'm scared of Barack Obama... he's an Arab terrorist..

"No, no ma'am," he interrupted. "He's a decent family man with whom I happen to have some disagreements."

Tags: mccain, campaign, terrorist, obama, election, politics

Giving it Away...

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:07:07 GMT

clipped by: egsnyder
clipper's remarks: This is about freecycling in Ottawa, Canada. Nice endorsement!

Clip Source: askaround.typepad.com

Giving it Away; In Praise of Freecycle

This article is about the joys and practicalities of decluttering: Getting rid of the excess stuff that is sitting in your garage, basement, shed, or storage.

It's hard to get rid of things that 'might be useful'. Then there's junk that is too big, or not allowed for regular garbage, and then the stuff that's just too good to throw away.

There are lots of freecycle groups in Ottawa, all doing their best to "Keep good stuff out of the landfill".

Freecycle, Full Circles and similar Networks in our region: Eric Snyder, who began freecycling in Ottawa, pointed me to this useful 'Hub' with links to all our local networks. Find your local group here and check out the other fascinating links further down the page.

Tags: fullcircles, ottawa, freecycling, freecycle, frugal

McCain-Palin Rally Attendees: "Obama is a Terrorist"

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:37:20 GMT

clipped by: dulios
clipper's remarks: "It's his name."

It's his bloodline"

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

McCain-Palin Rally Attendees: "Obama Is A Terrorist"

File this one under the "give 'em enough rope" column. A pro-Obama blogger in Ohio caught McCain-Palin supporters as they streamed into a rally and asked some of the most salient questions of the day. Like, "is Obama a terrorist?"

[Video]

Tags: ignorance is not bliss

Palin revives McCarthyism

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:39:56 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: "Today, with Fox News, talk radio and a right-wing blogsphere, there is an atmosphere and core of support for this type of thing. Sarah Palin seems like the missing link"

Clip Source: sage

Like Obama, Sarah Palin missed the 60s and the Vietnam war controversies. She grew up when there was no draft, and when disco was more important than politics. She is discovering now her abilities to engage in the type of character assaults that one associates with Joe McCarthy -- guilt by association. Like McCarthy, she has no real boundaries or shame.

McCarthy and McCarthyism were distant and discredited by the Vietnam era, but support for both never disappeared entirely. There were always elements in society that wanted to bring this back. But few people with stature had the stomach to do so. Today, with Fox News, talk radio and a right-wing blogsphere, there is an atmosphere and core of support for this type of thing. Sarah Palin seems like the missing link. A high level political figure that has been elevated to a Vice-Presidential nomination by one of the two main parties -- McCarthy's old party.

Tags: palin, mccarthyism

Oil Outlook Clouds Russia’s Economic Future

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:55:39 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: That could trigger a vicious circle of falling income and investment, as production gets more expensive in Russia's aging fields.

The era of record profits from oil and gas is over - that's according to Russia's Finance Minister Alexey Kudrin. 2008 is likely to be the year of peak oil and gas production in the country.

The big oil companies are cutting investment in new projects. Russia has received up to $1 Billion a day in oil revenues in recent years, and the country's budget and economy remain highly dependent on hydrocarbon earnings.

The world financial crisis and recession has triggered big falls in the world's oil price. That will significantly affect the Russian budget, according to Mikhail Kroutikhin, partner at Rusenergy.

Clip Source: www.russiatoday.com

“We will see a deficit after the price goes down to 70 dollars, at least that s what the Finance Minister says. I believe it could be sooner.”

At the beginning of the week oil dropped to an 8 month low, and rebounded slightly on Tuesday to $89 a barrel for Russia’s Urals blend.

As the worlds second largest oil exporter, Russia is critically dependent on international consumers. President of the Russian Oil and Gas Industrialists Union, Gennady Shmal, says the oil giants have also looked abroad to borrow.

“A lot of our oil companies have high dependence on foreign borrowings. We don't have a common figure but for example Gazprom has around $40 Billion and Rosneft is also around $40 Billion. And Russia exports a lot, so we depend on our international consumers of oil and gas.”

The first signs of falling consumption from US and China - the world's largest oil consumer - could see the price of oil down to 60 $ per barrel, analysts say.

Tags: russian finance minister, oil & gas industrialists union, foreign borrowing, falling income and investment, russia's aging fields, gasprom & rosneft

Petraeus Talk Bolsters Obama

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:58:31 GMT

clipped by: ratilfar
clipper's remarks: Cont....

Petraeus also came out unambiguously in his talk at Heritage for opening communications with America’s adversaries, a position McCain is attacking Obama for endorsing. Citing his Iraq experience, Petraeus said, “You have to talk to enemies.” He added that it was necessary to have a particular goal for discussion and to perform advance work to understand the motivations of his interlocutors.

Yet Petraeus emphasized throughout his lecture that reaching out to insurgent groups — some “with our blood on their hands,” he said — was necessary to the ultimate goal of turning them against irreconcilable enemies like Al Qaeda in Iraq.

Clip Source: washingtonindependent.com

Throughout Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign, the Republican nominee has wrapped himself in the mantle of U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, proclaiming himself the leading advocate of the former commanding general in Iraq who devised last year’s controversial troop surge. Yet during a talk Wednesday about Iraq at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative Washington policy organization, Petraeus repeatedly made statements that bolstered the foreign-policy proposals of Sen. Barack Obama, McCain’s Democratic rival, or cut against McCain’s own lines.

Petraeus relinquished command in Iraq last month. He assumes responsibility for U.S. Central Command later this month, putting him in charge of U.S. forces in the Middle East and South Asia.

Petraeus pointed to efforts by Hamid Karzai’s government to negotiate a deal with the Taliban that would potentially bring some Taliban members back to power, saying that if they are “willing to reconcile,” it would be “a positive step.”

Tags: patreaus, mccain, obama, afghanistan, iraq

China mobile subscribers = twice USA population = 616 million

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:48:56 GMT

clipped by: syncopath
clipper's remarks: proportions ... ))

Clip Source: www.mobilewhack.com

China Has 616 Million Mobile Subscribers

Category: Mobile News October 1, 2008

China is the major market in the world for basically anything. With a good product and a good marketing campaign, your company can make lots of money of the Chinese market. In the cell phone business that appears to be the case. It looks like the total number of mobile subscribers in China has gone up significantly and it reached 616.02 million subscribers by the end of August. That’s twice the population of the USA. Even Europe doesn’t have as many cell phone users as China.

That number is only 45.6% of the whole population which means more and more subscribers will join Chinese carriers looking for mobile services.

About 1 in 2 people uses a cell phone while about 1 in 4 people uses a regular line in China.

In August only about 57.31 billion text messages have been sent. I’ll let you translate it in dollars per day.

Clip Source: gizmodo.com