Clipmarks | merrie's clips

Is Four Months+Three Weeks Enough Experience?

Thu, 08 May 2008 03:16:15 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: In contrast, John McCain's 26 years in Congress, 22 years of military service including 1,966 days in captivity as a POW in Hanoi now seem more impressive than ever. At 71, John McCain may just be hitting his stride.

Clip Source: www.gopusa.com

Just how much Senate experience does Barack Obama have in terms of actual work days? Not much.

From the time Barack Obama was sworn in as a United State Senator, to the time he announced he was forming a Presidential exploratory committee, he logged 143 days of experience in the Senate. That's how many days the Senate was actually in session and working.

After 143 days of work experience, Obama believed he was ready to be Commander In Chief, Leader of the Free World, and fill the shoes of Abraham Lincoln, FDR, JFK and Ronald Reagan.

143 days -- I keep leftovers in my refrigerator longer than that.

Tags: mccain, obama, experience

Feds Detain Illegal Immigrants Who Are Trying To Leave USA

Thu, 08 May 2008 03:00:36 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: The paper reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers have been stopping vehicles and checking the immigration status of travelers near the San Diego-Tijuana border crossing. blogs.usatoday.com

"Each one of these people will then report increased enforcement to family and friends when they do get home, and that will give them second thoughts about sneaking back into the U.S.," he said.

By Richard Marosi, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
May 7, 2008

Clip Source: blogs.usatoday.com

The government has a new approach to border enforcement. Instead of just focusing on people who are entering the country illegally, the Los Angeles Times says federal agents are also arresting undocumented foreigners who are trying to leave the United States.

"The illegal immigrants they apprehend are typically turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol for processing," according to the paper. "Unless they have serious criminal records or numerous immigration violations, most are returned to Mexico within a few hours."

Tags: customs and border officers, san diego-tijuana, la-times, criminal record/immigration violations

Price Of Superdelegate Ybarra Vote $20M US, por favor

Thu, 08 May 2008 02:30:08 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: The Democratic National Committee member doesn't parse his words when it comes to what he wants from Barack Obama or Hillary Rodham Clinton - an ironclad promise to spend that heady amount to register Mexican-American voters and get them to the polls in November.

In a telephone interview Wednesday, he said he plans to remain undecided in the tight contest until "someone shows me the money."

When will he settle on a candidate?

Clip Source: apnews.myway.com

LOS ANGELES (AP) - What will it take for a Democratic presidential candidate to win the support of California superdelegate Steven Ybarra?

"Nobody showed me any money yet," he said.

He predicted that as many as 1.3 million Mexican-Americans could be added to voter rolls in New Mexico, Colorado, Florida and other swing states, a potentially decisive edge for the eventual Democratic nominee.

With that investment of funds, Mexican-Americans would realize Democratic leaders "care about us," Ybarra said, referring to Mexican-Americans.

Tags: mexican-americans, new mexico, colorado, florida, swing states

The Politics Of Freedom: David Boaz

Thu, 08 May 2008 02:06:19 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: (continued) heading early Wednesday for a new round of speeches, rallies and town meetings in West Virginia, which holds its primary on May 13," The New York Times reports. "Highlighting the financial woes of her campaign, Mrs. Clinton has lent her campaign more than $6 million over the last month, according to campaign officials."

"Republicans have been trying to drive libertarian voters out of their party. But so far Democrats aren't jumping on that opportunity."

Clip Source: www.cato.org

In "The Libertarian Voter," David Boaz, Cato executive vice president and author of The Politics of Freedom, writes: "Buried inside the soaring eloquence of [Barack Obama's] speeches is a veritable laundry list of taxpayer handouts for every voting bloc, and he has even questioned the benefits of free trade. If he wants to appeal to libertarian and independent voters, he should show a tiny bit of independence from the Kennedy-Pelosi-Clinton-labor agenda. He could advocate Social Security private accounts as a way for low-income families to build wealth, or endorse school choice for children condemned to failing schools.

"With her hopes for a shift in campaign momentum deflated by Sen. Barack Obama's commanding victory in North Carolina and his strong showing in Indiana on Tuesday and signs of mounting financial problems, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton nonetheless vowed to fight on

Tags: libertarian and independent voters, obama, government handouts, clinton, free trade

Analyst Warns of $200/Barrel Oil*

Thu, 08 May 2008 01:50:29 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: *One barrel of crude oil is 42 gallons (or $4.76 per gallon)
In the Cato-at-Liberty blog post "Is There an Oil Price Bubble?" Cato senior fellow Jerry Taylor writes: "The most recent Fed actions to combat the deteriorating state of the macroeconomy added even more fuel to the oil price fire. With market actors increasingly convinced that the Fed is willing to entertain inflation in the course of injecting liquidity into the market, investors are looking for investments to hedge against inflation. And what do you know? Returns on commodities have historically been better during inflationary periods than during non-inflationary periods. Ben Bernanke thus sent another strong infusion of cash into commodity futures -- again, largely into oil and gas futures.

Clip Source: www.cato.org

"Crude oil prices could surge to $200 a barrel in the next two years, according to the Goldman Sachs analyst who three years ago correctly predicted a price 'super-spike' above $100 a barrel," Financial Times reports. "The warning by Arjun Murti came as oil prices hit a fresh high above $122 a barrel, boosted by supply disruptions in Nigeria, lower output in Russia and continued robust demand in China ahead of the Olympics."

"The increased demand for oil futures drives spot prices because it diverts oil from immediate use into inventories. The stepped-up infusion of oil into public inventories (the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and the emerging state inventory maintained by the Chinese government, for instance) has also contributed to the diversion of oil from immediate use and thus, has further increased prices."

Tags: goldman sachs, super-spike, arjun murti, strategic petroleum reserve, china's emergency inventory, oil diversion

underwater pictures

Thu, 08 May 2008 01:32:25 GMT

clipped by: tanyamm

Clip Source: viewer.zoho.com

Thomas Jefferson's Warning

Wed, 07 May 2008 21:44:24 GMT

clipped by: willhelm
clipper's remarks: "As this power passes from each individual to a central governing power, individual freedom and liberty is snuffed out, replaced with an arbitrary economic equality as defined, confiscated via progressive taxation and redistributed by those who seek the political power to rule over the lives of others."

Serfdom

Clip Source: therant.us

Jefferson warned, “I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.”

Yet by 2008, our government has perfected the art of wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.

As American soldiers die to guarantee others around the world, the right to individual self-determination, average Americans back home are trading their individual right of self-determination for an alleged greater good, the right to the earnings of others, in the name of economic equality.

Americans are passing their individual powers to define and pursue individual economic conditions to the state, the federal bureaucracy, under the guise of a greater communal good, whereby the state becomes the central arbiter of individual worth.

Bizarre ads

Wed, 07 May 2008 20:15:46 GMT

clipped by: willhelm

Clip Source: adultplayset.com

Bathroom Signs

Wed, 07 May 2008 20:05:21 GMT

clipped by: willhelm

Clip Source: www.offbeatearth.com

Is Barack a Team(ster) Player?

Wed, 07 May 2008 12:08:30 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: (continued) should be relaxed or withdrawn.

But sadly, Obama understands, like Bill Clinton intimately understood, that judicial affairs can be affected by the political branches, such as through sympathetic appointments to the Justice Department and the courts. So it is no small matter that a presidential candidate would consider intervening, albeit indirectly, in a judicial question, especially one involving potential corruption.

Who can say at this point whether Obama has nefarious intentions concerning this? But it is difficult to understand what benign motives would lead him to take a position against the advice of the sitting review board that corruption and elections require continued supervision, especially in light of the union's endorsement. We'll see if the "watchdog" MSM pursue this story.

Clip Source: www.townhall.com

Interestingly, neither the Teamsters nor Obama denies that Obama has expressed the view that the consent decree has "run its course." They just deny there was any quid pro quo between Obama's position and the Teamsters' endorsement. After all, Obama came around to his position opposing federal oversight in July or August 2007, and the union didn't endorse him until February 2008. Why the delay?

Well, the WSJ reports that fellow Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards also agreed with the union on this issue, and "when Mr. Edwards dropped out of the race in January, the union endorsed Sen. Obama in February."

The timing is undeniably curious and perhaps suspicious. But what is more troubling to me than that or even Obama's substantive position on the issue is that he has voiced a position on it at all.

The issues surrounding the consent decree are a judicial matter, outside the purview of the executive branch.

It's up to a federal judge to decide whether and when the consent decree

Tags: teamsters, racketeering complaint, justice department, mafia, obama, quid pro quo, consent decree, federal judge

Europe's New Pro-American Direction

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:48:36 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: Europe’s new political configuration has already partially manifested itself in NATO’s decision in Bucharest to support deployment of U.S. missile defense assets in Poland and the Czech Republic. Even the Bucharest Summit, however, reveals continuing problems, such as Europe’s reluctance to start Ukraine and Georgia on the path toward ultimate NATO membership.

For both America and Europe’s leading nations, therefore, the diplomatic chances of preventing Iran from achieving its objectives are rapidly diminishing. Although tough sanctions are at this point almost certainly too late, they would at least demonstrate that Italy and other Europeans are preparing for the even more difficult step that may be required, namely changing the regime in Tehran, or, as a last resort, the targeted use of military force against Iran’s nuclear program.

Clip Source: www.townhall.com

President Bush’s critics have been quick to assign him blame for weakened trans-Atlantic relations, particularly because of the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

But look today at Europe’s political leadership: Nicolas Sarkozy in France has replaced the bitterly anti-American Jacques Chirac. In Germany, Angela Merkel has replaced the dyspeptic and anti-Iraq war Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. Prime Minister Gordon Brown in Britain now once again speaks about the US-UK “special relationship.” And now, Berlusconi will soon return to the Chigi Palace. How times change.

Europe’s new political configuration has already partially manifested itself in NATO’s decision in Bucharest to support deployment of U.S. missile defense assets in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Tags: europe, nicolas sarkozy, angela merkel, gordon brown, berlusconi, missile defense assets, poland, czech republic, israel, iran

Wounded Warriors Franchise Opportunities

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:03:37 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: "It makes me proud that Little Caesars has chosen to recognize the contributions of America’s veterans in such a meaningful way. This program is a win-win for qualified veterans and for the company.”
Mike Shaub
Petty Officer 2nd Class (Machinist Mate)
U.S. Navy (1976-1980)

Little Caesars Pizza founders Michael and Marian Ilitch opened their first restaurant in Garden City, Michigan in 1959. Today, Little Caesars is the world’s largest carry-out pizza chain, and one of the top four international pizza chains with restaurants on five continents. Little Caesars is expanding in prime locations across the U.S. and internationally, and provides franchisees with ongoing training and support.

Clip Source: franchise.littlecaesars.com

OUR PURPOSE

Mike Shaub

To provide honorably discharged veterans with a business opportunity when they transition to civilian life or seek a career change, and thank them for the sacrifices they and their families made for our country

“The Little Caesars Veterans Program provides honorably discharged and disabled service members with an outstanding opportunity to utilize their leadership skills to run a business. The significant credits and discounts, as well as special financing options, make this truly unique program a valuable and excellent option for our service members who transition to the civilian workforce each year - especially our wounded warriors who have sacrificed greatly for our Corps and country.” – Lt. Col. Francis Piccoli, U.S. Marine Corps

Franchise Opportunities

Little Caesars National Vice President-Franchise Services, Mike Shaub, is a veteran and had this to say about the program, from both a veteran’s and a colleague’s perspective

Tags: veterans, little caesar pizza franchise, special financing options

GOP Plans to Unveil Tough New Immigration Bills

Wed, 07 May 2008 09:22:46 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: Democrats also have begun embracing a tougher stance on immigration as well.

Democrats have focused on offering opportunity to immigrants, but the study by two think tanks urged them to begin speaking in terms of "requiring" illegal immigrants to become legal and about what's best for the United States.

Many House Democrats have gone a step further, endorsing an enforcement-only bill by freshman Democratic Rep. Heath Shuler of North Carolina that would bolster border security and require employers to verify their workers' legal status with an electronic verification system.

The SAVE Act has drawn 140 co-sponsors, 48 of whom are Democrats, many of them vulnerable freshman who won seats from Republicans.

The Democratic leadership dislikes Shuler's bill. Republican leaders are considering collecting signatures for a special petition that requires House leaders to bring a bill up for debate if 218 members sign.

Clip Source: www.talkgwinnett.net

The bills give Republicans a way to put pressure on the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates to take a tougher stance on immigration. They also reflect a shift toward harsher immigration rhetoric and legislative proposals from both parties since Congress failed to pass a comprehensive overhaul in 2007.

Block federal funding from cities that bar their police from asking about immigration status.

Give the Department of Homeland Security the authority to use information from the Social Security Administration to target illegal immigrants.

Require construction of 700 miles of fencing along the Southern border, not including vehicle barriers.

Impose sanctions on countries that refuse to repatriate their citizens.

Deport any immigrant, legal or illegal, for one drunken-driving conviction.

Enable local and state police to enforce federal immigration laws

Vitter insisted that he and his colleagues could still get something done. "There are concrete steps we can take.

Tags: senate, gop, dems, immigration, save act, shuler, jeff sessions, david vitter, border security, employer verification

Sometimes Unrelated Events Tell A Coherent Story

Wed, 07 May 2008 08:53:01 GMT

clipped by: merrie
clipper's remarks: We don't need people like either Jeremiah Wright or Barack Obama to take us backward.

People on the far left like to flatter themselves that they are for the poor and the downtrodden. But what is most likely to lift people out of poverty-- telling them that the world has done them wrong or promoting the work ethic.

Will they have the skills of science, technology or medicine?

Or will they have only the resentments that have been whipped up by the likes of Jeremiah Wright or the sense of entitlement from the government that has been Barack Obama's stock in trade?

Clip Source: www.realclearpolitics.com

Both men, in their different ways, have for decades been promoting the far left vision of victimization and grievances-- Wright from his pulpit and Obama in roles ranging from community organizer to the United States Senate

The difference between Barack Obama and Jeremiah Wright is that they are addressing different audiences, using different styles adapted to those audiences.

It is a difference between upscale demagoguery and ghetto demagoguery, playing the audience for suckers in both cases.

In the real world, a sense of grievance or entitlement, as a result of the mistreatment of your ancestors, is not likely to get you very far with people who are too busy dealing with current economic realities to spend much time thinking about their own ancestors, much less other people's ancestors.

The time is long overdue to stop gullibly accepting the left's vision of itself as idealistic, rather than self-aggrandizing.

Tags: wright, obama, community organizer, black liberation theology, socialist marxism, victimization, grievances