Clipmarks | sahara's 'president' clips

Does My Vote Count?

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:47:53 GMT

clipped by: sahara

The people vs. the electors

As everyone learned or was reminded of in the election of 2000, the Constitution doesn't say that the candidate with the most popular support has any claim on the Presidency. It says that the candidate with the most electoral votes will become president. So George W. Bush won the election fair and square, by the rules set forth in the Constitution

Actually, the last president to be elected by a majority of the voters was George H. W. Bush in 1988. In 1992 and 1996, Bill Clinton won with a plurality — more than any other candidate, but less than half of the total vote — because there were three major candidates. Because the third candidate, H. Ross Perot, failed to win a majority anywhere, he didn't win any electoral votes, and Clinton was able to win a majority of the electoral votes without winning a majority of the popular vote.

IV. Does my vote count?

every vote does count; it just counts in a more complicated way

Clip Source: www.archives.gov

Tags: elections

Perhaps They Meant Well...

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:55:08 GMT

clipped by: sahara
clipper's remarks: I hope.

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

[Video]

Clip Source: www.whitehouse.gov

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, all. Thanks, for coming. Well, thanks for the warm welcome. Thank you for being here today. I appreciate your attendance to this very important conference. You see, we want everybody in America to own their own home. That's what we want. This is -- an ownership society is a compassionate society.

Freddie Mae -- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- I see the heads who are here; I want to thank you all for coming -- (laughter) -- have committed to provide more money for lenders. They've committed to help meet the shortage of capital available for minority home buyers.

Clip Source: www.rurdev.usda.gov

USDA UNVEILS PLAN TO INCREASE MINORITY HOMEOWNERSHIP IN RURAL AMERICA
Partnership with Bankers Critical To Meet President Bush’s Goal

Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas Dorr today announced an aggressive plan to help achieve President Bush’s goal of helping 5.5 million minority families attain the dream of homeownership by 2010.

Wall Street No Longer Influences Many Countries

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:59:36 GMT

clipped by: sahara

Clip Source: news.xinhuanet.com

The Brazilian economy, now more solid and independent from the United States, is largely unaffected by financial turbulence in Wall Street, Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva said Thursday

"We live at a most peculiar moment now, (and) our economy does not depend so much on the trade with the United States, even though they are still very important to us," Lula said, adding that Brazil's foreign exchange reserves reach 207 billion U.S. dollars.

He said he regretted the difficulties faced by the U.S. banks, which used to dictate norms to countries like Brazil

"I see with deep regret that those 'tippers' are bankrupting and are asking for bailouts after spending decades giving opinions to Brazil, telling us what to do and what not to do, measuring the investment risk here, telling investors whether our country was worthy of their trust or not," he said

"It was as if they were super intelligent and we were the super-miserable," said the president.

Medvedev: S. Ossetia attack Russia's 9/11

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 23:18:04 GMT

clipped by: sahara

Clip Source: www.upi.com

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Saturday likened the Georgian military action in South Ossetia to the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.

The president addressed a foreign audience of reporters and scholars at a GUM department store in Moscow, The Times of London reported. He escalated the rhetoric in his country's confrontation with the United States and Europe.

"The world has changed and it occurred to me that Aug. 8, 2008, has become for Russia what Sept. 11, 2001, was for the United States. This is an accurate comparison corresponding to Russian realities," he said. "Humankind has drawn lessons from the Sept. 11 tragedy and other tragic events. I would like the world to draw lessons also from these events."

South Ossetia and another Georgian region, Abkhazia, have since declared independence and been recognized by Russia, although not by other European countries or the United States.

Medvedev said NATO membership for Georgia is "unacceptable"

Tags: foreign policy, war, terrorism

The Value of Money

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:21:31 GMT

clipped by: sahara
clipper's remarks: George Washington was paid a salary of $25,000 a year from 1789 to 1797 as the first president of the United States. The current salary of the president has recently been doubled to $400,000, to go with a $50,000 expense account, a generous pension and several other benefits. Has the remuneration improved?
Making a comparison using the CPI for 1790 shows that $25,000 corresponds to over $585,000 today, so the recent raise means current presidents have an equal command over consumer goods as the Father of the Country. When comparing Washington's salary to an unskilled worker, or the measure of average income, GDP per capita, then the comparable numbers are $11 and $24 million. Granted that would not put him in the ranks of the top 25 executives today that make over $200 million. It would, however, be many times more than any elected official in this country is paid today.

Clip Source: www.measuringworth.com

Determining the relative value of an amount of money in one year compared to another is more complicated than it seems at first. There is no single "correct" measure, and economic historians use one or more different indicators depending on the context of the question

Most indices are measured as the price of a "bundle" of goods and services that a representative group buys or earns

Presented here are six indicators for making such comparisons in US dollars between any two years from 1774 to 2007. They are the CPI, the GDP Deflator, the consumer bundle, the unskilled wage rate, the GDP per capita, and the GDP

		using: CPI GDP Deflator Consumer Bundle Unskilled Wage GDP Per Capita (relative share of) GDP
Initial Year *:
Initial Amount:
Desired Year *:


* Select initial and desired from 1774 to present. Enter data as a number without a $ sign or commas.
Why Not 2008?

One or more of the indicators may be most appropriate for you depending on the nature of your query

Tags: money

Hey! Let's Give 1.7 Trillion $$$ to Corporations!

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:32:01 GMT

clipped by: sahara
clipper's remarks: "I think there's a very good chance he will change his position, yet again. He's changed his position on taxes many times, and I think he probably will change it again - because his target audience now is no longer conservative activists, its actually middle of the road voters. And most voters do not find 1.7 trillion dollar for corporations a great agenda. So we expect that he will change it up a little bit."

Clip Source: www.electionunspun.org

The John McCain Tax Cut Flip Flop

After opposing President Bush's Tax Cuts in 2001 and 2003 Senator John McCain was on the hit list of many conservative groups that felt his tax policies were too liberal. But now that he is running for president McCain has changed his position

Center for American Progress Senior Fellow Robert Gordon to talk about the switches McCain has made to appease the conservative masses.

So he, basically changed his mind, and not only endorsed extending the Bush tax cuts, but also endorsed new tax cuts, very much tilting toward the wealthy and corporations.

"The biggest new tax cut he is proposing is a 1.7 trillion dollar tax break for corporations. He is proposing to lower the tax rate that corporations pay, and to allow them to deduct the cost of new equipment much more quickly. And together, those to measures would cost 1.7 trillion dollars, and .. all that money would go to corporations."

Interview

Tags: debt, deficit, dollar, mcconman

The President Of Germany

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 14:54:52 GMT

clipped by: sahara

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

[Video]

Tags: politics

McCain 2000

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 13:27:13 GMT

clipped by: sahara

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

[Video]

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

[Video]

Lehrer: Finally for the record, you have not lost your desire to be President of the United States have you? McCain: Certainly it's been put in deep cold storage. haha.. Lehrer: You haven't lost it? McCain: Well, in 2004, I expect to be campaigning for the reelection of President George W. Bush, and by 2008, I think I might be ready to go down to the old soldiers home and await the cavalry charge there.

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

Bush on lobbyists and McCain - 2000

[Video]

The Real Aggressor

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 01:42:54 GMT

clipped by: sahara
clipper's remarks: You don't want to know the truth...

Clip Source: antiwar.com

The anti-Russian bias of the Western media is really something to behold: "Russia Invades Georgia," "Russia Attacks Georgia," and variations thereof have been some of the choice headlines reporting events in the Caucasus, but the reality is not only quite different, but the exact opposite

The Georgians have been openly engaging in a military buildup since last year, and President Mikhail Saakashvili and his party have been proclaiming from the rooftops their aim of re-conquering South Osseti

In a column entitled "Wars to Watch Out For," I wrote:

"As President Mikheil Saakashvili deflowers his own revolution and shuts down the opposition media, he could well try to divert attention away from his political problems by ginning up a fresh conflict with the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, both of which are protected by Russian troops and regional militias."

Saakashvili has been busy rounding up his political opponents and charging them with espionage,

beat demonstrators

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

[Video]

Clip Source: www.newsweek.com

Clip Source: www.csmonitor.com

Clip Source: www.tiraspoltimes.com

Tags: allied, assault, in, 3, 2, 1

The Lockheed Connection

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:16:35 GMT

clipped by: sahara
clipper's remarks: Go to the site for the House Oversight committee, there are pages and pages of contracts awarded to Lockheed and others with ties to the white house and other politicians. Information is eye-opening once it is deciphered!

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Dick Cheney's son-in-law, Philip J. Perry, a registered Lockheed lobbyist who had, while working for a law firm, represented Lockheed with the Department of Homeland Security, had been nominated by Bush to serve as general counsel to the Department of Homeland Security. His wife, Elizabeth Cheney, serves as deputy assistant secretary of state for Middle Eastern affairs.

Vice President Cheney's wife, Lynne, had, until her husband took office, served on the board of Lockheed, receiving deferred compensation in the form of half a million dollars in stock and fees. Even President Bush himself has a Lockheed Martin connection. As governor of Texas, he had attempted to give Lockheed a multimillion-dollar contract to reform the state's welfare system. (Source).

Clip Source: oversight.house.gov

(DRIS)

Contractor: Lockheed Martin

Award Amount: $553.0 million

F-22A Raptor

Contractor: Lockheed Martin

Award Amount: $62.6 billion

(THAAD)

Contractor: Lockheed Martin

Award Amount: $12.5 billion

(SBIRS High)

Award Amount: $10.4 billion

Tags: corruption, war profits

My, How Things Change...

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:05:49 GMT

clipped by: sahara

Clip Source: www.gwu.edu

Shaking Hands: Iraqi President Saddam Hussein greets Donald Rumsfeld, then special envoy of President Ronald Reagan, in Baghdad on December 20, 1983.

Shaking Hands with Saddam Hussein:
The U.S. Tilts toward Iraq, 1980-1984

National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 82

Edited by Joyce Battle

February 25, 2003

Donald Rumsfeld (who had served in various positions in the Nixon and Ford administrations, including as President Ford's defense secretary, and at this time headed the multinational pharmaceutical company G.D. Searle & Co.) was dispatched to the Middle East as a presidential envoy. His December 1983 tour of regional capitals included Baghdad, where he was to establish "direct contact between an envoy of President Reagan and President Saddam Hussein," while emphasizing "his close relationship" with the president

Rumsfeld also met with Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz, and the two agreed, "the U.S. and Iraq shared many common interests."

Wusses!

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 14:13:35 GMT

clipped by: sahara

Clip Source: blog.puppetgov.com

Do Not Name Names, Do Not Accuse, Do Not Say “Impeach”, Do Not Applaud

Before the hearing even began it became clear that Conyers and the rest of the committeewere not even considering the possibility of impeachment.

In fact we are not even allowed to use the word impeachment for Bush’s impeachment hearing.

The “unimpeachment hearing” did not allow any remarks or formal accusations that would imply or state that the president lied or obstructed the truth in any way, nor did it allow any references to alleged impeachable offenses.

Vincent Bugliosi summed up the hearing in his opening statement to the Committee:

“I have been told that the rules of this house dictate that although I can quote what president George Bush said I am forbidden from accusing him of a crime or even of any dishonorable conduct, only being allowed to use the words “Bush Administration” or “Administration officials” this will not make for the best of articulations, but I will do the best that I can”

Tags: a republic, if you can, keep it

Does the GOP really want this man as our President?

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:16:16 GMT

clipped by: sahara

Clip Source: www.ronpaulforpresident2008.com

[Video]

Does the GOP really want this man as our President?

Bush Cannot Be Held For War Crimes

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:59:57 GMT

clipped by: sahara
clipper's remarks: He made sure to pardon himself some time ago, watch the 2nd video in case you missed that! Yes, that's right, HE PARDONED HIMSELF!!! He knew he was guilty, or why would he have made sure that he could not be held accountable!

Clip Source: blog.puppetgov.com

[Video]

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

President BUSH PARDON's HIMSELF against POTENTIAL WARCRIMES

[Video]

President Bush Passes a Bill giving himself and his whitehouse retroactive immunity for possible war crimes!
Don't you wish we could all do that? NO WAY I WOULD BE A CRIMINAL!
AMERICA WAKE UP and FIGHT BACK!!

this video was from 2006.

Tags: bush, war, crime

Happy Birthday Mr. President

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:38:01 GMT

clipped by: sahara

Clip Source: blog.puppetgov.com

Clip Source: news.yahoo.com

Bush celebrates 62nd birthday on the fly

Wedged between America's Independence Day and a summit of world leaders, President Bush's 62nd birthday got shortchanged this year.

His advisers tried hard to mark his milestone.

As he flew to Japan, White House press advisers quietly gathered in a darkened conference room aboard Air Force One. A steward stuck a single candle in a coconut cake. Bush and first lady Laura Bush were invited inside.

"Surprise! Happy Birthday!" they exclaimed.

"He dutifully pretended to be surprised," press secretary Dana Perino said.

The party for his birthday Sunday was informal; the gift was not.

The staff presented him with a wooden box made from a giant oak tree that fell on the White House lawn in 2007. Some of the wood from the tree, planted by Benjamin Harrison's daughter in 1892, had been sent to Texas to be fashioned into a box about 12-by-18 inches. They filled it with notes and cards from members of his senior staff.

Clip Source: www.jewishgraveside.com