Flying Debris

Michael Jackson - RIP

2009-06-25T17:35:00.003-05:00

The man was strange, no doubt but so many talents are.

Saturday Afternoon Murder in Tehran

2009-06-20T11:32:00.001-05:00

WARNING: EXTREMELY DISTURBING, VIOLENT AND GRAPHIC VIDEO BELOW

Pray for the people of Iran, their own government is murdering them on their own streets.

Normally I would not even want to view such a video however in the context of this woman's death posting it makes sense. She was after all murdered protesting for the freedoms of Iranians and this cell phone video again shows the world what is going on behind the veil imposed by the Iranian government.

UPDATE: The woman's name is Neda, Farsi for voice. R.I.P.

Congressman Mark Kirk - Speaking Truth To Anyone Who Will Listen

2009-06-09T10:39:00.002-05:00

US Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) from Chicago's North Shore had this to say upon his recent return from China: "We heard across the board -- in private -- substantial, continuing and rising concern."

If it matters I attended grammar school and high school with Mark.

President Reagan - Pointe du Hoc, 1984

2009-06-06T06:02:00.004-05:00

To the Boys of Pointe du Hoc and all those who have stood for our freedoms, "thank you very much and God bless you all."

The Great Koko Taylor Has Passed Away

2009-06-04T07:20:00.001-05:00

See the NY Times article here.

Tiananmen Square Massacre 20 Years Ago Tomorrow

2009-06-02T09:58:00.012-05:00

Lady Liberty in Beijing's Tiananmen Square

Photo Copyright: Matt Groening
The Simpsons comment on Tiananmen

End Result

Students and Soldiers before the real violence broke out

Iconic image of man standing up to the tanks

Students and soldiers

A couple hide from tanks in the square above them early on the morning of June 4, 1989

During the month of May 1989 the world was treated to the televised spectacle of a freedom protest/sit-in/festival in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. The Chinese government brutally cleared the square during the night of June 3 - June 4 1989. I wrote about meeting two student leaders from the Tiananmen protests at the end of this post.

70 Missions Over Europe

2009-05-25T18:56:00.002-05:00

This post from a previous Memorial Day is very appropriate again this year; as it may be every year.

As we give thanks to America’s veterans and soldiers this Memorial Day our prayers and thoughts turn to those who did not make it home; my thoughts today have also turned to those I have known who did make it home. Last weekend I attended a memorial service (on Armed Forces Day) for Arthur H. Barton, a man I wrote about here and alluded to here. At the time I was writing from some old memories but today, thanks to Art’s daughter Lesley, I have Art’s war record in front of me and it is impressive. During Art’s ceremony, one that included the very moving military Flag Ceremony, Art’s brother-in-law quietly alluded to the fact that Art had flown 70 missions over Europe and how he had known Art for years before he learned of that fact. As he slowly repeated “Seventy missions over Europe” it was clear that those of his generation know how incredible and important Art’s achievement was. Quite simply, Art could have been buried in a farmer’s field in France.

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor Art was a 20 year old Chicagoan selling furniture during the day and attending Northwestern University at night. Like so many of his contemporaries Art soon joined the military, in his case the Army Air Force. Art trained in Santa Anita, California and received his Navigator Wings in October of 1942, about the time that he turned 21. Second Lieutenant Barton was assigned to the 453rd Bomb Squadron, 323rd Bomb Group, which was part of the 8th Air Force. In April 1943 Art was stationed in Earls Colne, England as a navigator/bombardier. Art flew in the Martin Marauder B-26 medium bomber named “Goatee Hell”.

Among Art’s military awards were two Purple Hearts, the first for being wounded on a mission over Martinvast, France and the other for being injured on D-Day. One of Art’s proudest moments was serving as lead navigator on two low-level bombing raids (since the original writing I've been informed that there Art flew on 5 other missions on D-Day)in support of the D-Day landings, June 6, 1944. During his second (actually his seventh) mission on D-Day a Nazi anti-aircraft shell-burst shattered the Plexiglas nose that Art was seated in; he died earlier this month with some of that shrapnel still in his body.

Art served with and remained friends with a number of his old crew members including: pilot Col. Robert (Bob) H. Adams, co-pilot F/O Robert “Brownie” K. Brown, engine gunner S/Sgt. Clarence “Blackie” M. Blackmore and radio operator-gunner Sgt. Archie “Russ” Russell Martin. Of course Art also had a war-time nickname, it was “Buzz”. The group flew most of their missions over France, Holland, Belgium and the submarine pins in Norway.One of Art’s amusing war time memories was of the time that the B-26 “Marty Marauder” crashed into their base and right into the “Goatee Hell”, wrecking both planes. Their Master Sergeant George Feehan was not about to lose 2 planes in one crash so the crews spent the next 3 weeks welding the good halves of each plane to each other. The new plane featured the nose of the “Goatee Hell” (veteran of 51 missions) and the tail of the “Marty Marauder” (veteran 57 missions); unfortunately I do not know the name of that B-26 mashup.

After leaving Europe Art trained French officers at Selfridge Field in Michigan and Barksdale Field in Louisiana. After that Art participated in the Seventh War Bond Drive. The 23 year old First Lieutenant Arthur H. Barton was honorably discharged from the Army Air Force on June 14, 1945 after being awarded the following decorations:

The Distinguished Flying Cross
2 Purple Hearts
The Air Medal with 2 silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
The European Theater Medal with 2 battle stars
American Theater and Liberty Medals

Thank You Art and Thank You to all who served honorably.

My initial post on the life of Art Barton can be found here, it contains a few great tidbits that are not contained in this post like:

As Art went from plane to plane during the war he amassed so many missions that the Air Corps wanted him out of the theater and back in America selling War Bonds as a bona fide war hero. They were also worried that after so many missions he was starting to enjoy them. When Art was getting the necessary paper work done in order to return to the States, he was pulled out of line. The officers who pulled him out of line asked him if he would like to train for a secret bombing mission in the Pacific theater. Art replied that he had already cabled his mother to tell her of his imminent return and that he couldn’t disappoint her. Art likely would've trained for a mission to carry a nuclear weapon but he wouldn't disappoint his mother.

Obama to Subsidise GM $26,470 Per Car

2009-05-22T06:52:00.002-05:00

Are you Happy Yet?

Obama and his people are spending Billions of your tax dollars and they are giving it to their union buddies in the UAW. Remember the UAW is only one of the unions that Obama will be shovelling your hard-earned money to.

The Truth About Cars has the latest on this disgraceful scam of the Democrat Party.

Jesse Jackson, Jr. Allegedly Funnelled Campaign Cash to His Wife

2009-05-21T10:37:00.002-05:00

A shocker I know.

Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s wife Sandra is a Chicago Alderman, Bloomberg has the exclusive.

Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a nonprofit ethics watchdog group said, "Mr. Jackson is availing himself of the full range of loopholes by which he can transfer money to his family.”

This from Jesse Junior G-Man, the Undercover Brother.

I really love this one: "The Jacksons have a 'unique synergy which enhances the value and quality of life for the constituents they serve,' Sandi Jackson’s spokeswoman, Crystal Adkisson, said by e-mail. 'Both the congressman and alderman take pride in being in compliance with federal, state and local laws, and rules and ethics codes.'”

The Jackson family of Chicago have gotten what they have through blackmail and intimidation.

TARP Sham Exposed By Beneficiary (UPDATE)

2009-05-15T11:21:00.001-05:00

Zero Hedge posted this story last night and has just noticed that the Daily Telegraph has mysteriously taken the entire story down. (UPDATE: Attorneys for Mr. Paterson have stated that the article was taken down due to factual inaccuracies). (UPDATE II: Zero Hedge, having been threatened with legal action has now reported that the article may be gooing bck up in the Telegraph). Luckily for the rest of us Zero Hedge copied the comments, in case ZH is "forced" to take the comments down, Flying Debris will also present the (now alleged) comments:

The US Treasury’s effort to stabilise the banking system through the TARP programme is a hopelessly ill-conceived policy that enriches speculators at public expense, according to the buy-out firm supposed to be pioneering the joint public-private bank rescues.

“The taxpayers ought to know that we are in effect receiving a subsidy. They put in 40pc of the money but get little of the equity upside,” said Mark Patterson, chairman of MatlinPatterson Advisers.

The comments are likely to infuriate Tim Geithner, the US Treasury Secretary, because MatlinPatterson took advantage of the TARP’s matching funds to buy Flagstar Bancorp in Michigan. His confession appears to validate concerns that the bail-out strategy is geared towards Wall Street. Under the convoluted deal agreed earlier this year, MatlinPatterson has come to own 80pc of the shares while the US government has ended up with under 10pc.

Mr Patterson said the US Treasury is out of its depth and seems to be trying to put off drastic action by pretending that the banking system is still viable.
“It’s a sham. The banks are insolvent. The US government is trying to sedate the public because they are down to the last $100bn (£66bn) of the $700bn TARP funds. They think they’re doing this for the greater good of society,” he said, speaking at the Qatar Global Investment Forum.

Mr Patterson said it would be better for the US to bite the bullet as Britain has done, accepting that crippled lenders must be nationalised. “At least the British are not hiding the bail-out,” he said.

MatlinPatterson said private equity and hedge funds were deluding themselves in hoping to go back to business as usual after the trauma of the last 18 months.
“This is not a normal recession and there will be no V-shaped recovery. The crisis has destroyed leveraged companies. We’re going to see a catastrophic increase in the number of LBO’s (leveraged buyouts) going into default because they’re knee-deep in debt and no solution exists since they can’t refinance,” he said.
“Alfa hedge funds have been making their money by gambling with excessive leverage, so the knife that cuts off leverage is going to cut off their heads as well,” he said.

Like many bears, Mr Patterson expects the great crunch to end in deliberate inflation, deemed a lesser evil than outright depression.
“The US government has thrown 29pc of GDP at this crisis compared to 8pc in the early 1930s. The Fed’s balance sheet has risen from $900bn to $2.7 trillion to bail out the system. America has to do it because the only way out is to debase the currency, but that is going to lead to some very high inflation three years down the road,” he said.

Government Screws Chrysler Debt Holders?

2009-04-30T10:10:00.004-05:00

Maria Bartiromo of CNBC has just reported that the Feds have not even contacted the Chrysler senior debt holders, debt holders whose holdings are legally superior to the debt held by the UAW, yet the Obama administrations plan would give a larger stake to the UAW. The GM plan holds the same situation, senior debt holders of GM hold 2 1/2 times the debt held by the UAW Retirement Plan yet the senior debt holders receive only 1/4 the ownership stake that the UAW would receive. Is this what out tax dollars are funding, an ownership stake that unions could not have ever received under our nation's laws?

As I write this the Dow Jones 30 is attempting another upside break-out this morning.

Code Pink Bimbos At It Again

2009-04-21T08:50:00.005-05:00

I just saw the attention starved bimbos from Code Pink on CNBC in a congressional hearing room preparing to throw another one of their childish fits, this one will be directed at Treasury Secretary Geithner. The Code Pink tactics are a far cry from the Tea Parties - these wealthy woman have been flown around the world to throw hissy fits and get attention for their pitiful selves.

Like many Tea Party participants I took the subway to the Chicago Tea Party, I do not have to prostitute myself to see the world.

More Chicago Tea Party Photos - Including Roesgen Setting Up Amid Families

2009-04-16T16:17:00.014-05:00

Photo Copyright: Flying Debris

CNN "reporter" Susan Roesgen setting up amid families before choosing to interview some guy with a photo of President Obama as Hitler. Pure propaganda from CNN.

Photo Copyright: Flying Debris

Photo Copyright: Flying Debris

The above is a photo of Anti-Scientology protesters, Chicago Says No. Here is their web site. Considering that Scientology, an alleged "religion" is allowed to set up shop in that very Federal Plaza to troll for suckers I think that it was great that these folks were there.

Photo Copyright: Flying Debris

ACORN Didn't Need to Attend Chicago Tea Party - CNN Had It Covered - VIDEO UPDATES!

2009-04-15T16:29:00.036-05:00

Photo Copyright: Flying Debris
The Obama as Hitler Guy - the Perfect CNN Interview

Photo Copyright: Flying Debris
CNN "reporter" Susan Roesgen objects to a man's opinions

Photo Copyright: Flying Debris
More of the Same from CNN's propagandist Roesgen

Photo Copyright: Flying Debris

When I edited my shots I noticed this one of CNN setting up amid a group of families, just a few of the families CNN chose not to interview. This shot deserves to be with the others.

ACORN didn't even have to attend the Chicago version of the Chicago Tea Party, CNN had it safely covered. Who knows what if anything they will show from the Chicago event (turns out they broadcast this very disgrace) but they found their guy, the perfect CNN interview. CNN had set up a camera and had a reporter (Susan Roesgen) underneath Calder's Flamingo in the downtown Federal Plaza. Well, standing conspicuously near the CNN folks was the guy in the first picture, the Obama as Hitler Guy. The perfect interview for CNN did not go over that well with the crowd, I even called Godwin's Law on the entire interview, to no avail. So the crowd around the CNN set up started to get antsy, what with being portrayed in a very negative light and all. That's when the CNN reporter came over near where I was standing to interview a man holding a baby and a Don't Tread on Me flag,* she asked him why he was there. His response in some way sounded prepared, however it could have been that he got wound up in front of the crowd. So he got on a roll for ten or fifteen seconds and the reporter interrupted him to object or correct him, that's when the crowd let her have it, yelling "let him speak" and "you are not a reporter, you are an advocate!" The crowd soon started to chant anti-CNN chants and the nice open circle that CNN had worked in was soon filled with protesters protesting CNN.

So that is reporting in the early 21st Century, out of 5000 people find the one with the most outrageous and objectionable message and interview him, then argue with those whose message you object to.

ACORN can return to serial vote fraud, CNN has the propaganda covered.

UPDATE:

Thanks to commenter Lauren S. for pointing out the YouTube version of this CNN Moment. Seeing the gentleman with the baby speak while not concentrating on photos I have to say that he appears to be a genuinely concerned man who is passionate on the subject. I also must repeat this and make it clear, that woman is not a reporter, that woman is a propagandist, the crowd was correct. CNN should be ashamed of putting such an incompetent and condescending reporter on cable television.

And how about the guy with the flag who got in front of the gentleman with the baby? Did Chicago Streets and Sanitation have the day off?

This is America in 2009, a media incapable of reporting working hand-in-hand with political dirty tricksters.

UPDATE II:

Jim Hoft of the Gateway Pundit has unearthed video of CNN employee Susan Roesgen who was alright with Bush being portrayed as the devil with a wad of cash in the wake of Katrina but this propagandist Roesgen is very offended over some guy who was likely a plant calling Obama a fascist.

UPDATE III:
Founding Bloggers was also in the crowd and got some follow-up video of a citizen attempting to reason with CNN's Roesgen.

UPDATE III 1/2:

The disgraceful CNN has demanded that You Tube pull the Founding Bloggers video for copyright reasons, no word yet on any Fair Usage of a minute of CNN's atrocious coverage. It is sad that CNN is so afraid of what their own reorters say. Below is a copy of the video that works as of 4/19 10:30 am central.

UPDATE IV:

Here is a video of Jon Stewart mocking Roesgen for her CNN coverage of the recent Fargo flooding:

UPDATE V:

Neil Cavuto Interviews Roesgen Victim -

Norman, who stood in front of me as I shot photographs and who was interviewed and lectured by CNN's Susan Roesgen is given his say by Neil Cavuto.

UPDATE VI:

A partial transcript Rick Santelli's reaction to the Wednesday protest can be found here.

Photo Copyright: Flying Debris

Here is Calder's Flamingo during less stressful times - during a raging blizzard the morning of February 1, 2008.

* the flag was held by a guy next to the second interviewee who moved away before showing up later in the video shot to hassle him - a recurring lesson on the limits of the viewfinder, the field of view gets very small

---Thanks to the assistance of current Londoner, the former "North Side Serf" who once left a great comment concerning former Senator Obama and his unseemly relationship with an Illinois politician sometimes known as the Granny Grifter.---

Obama Sends Solar iPod Chargers to Itallian Quake Victims

2009-04-06T13:35:00.003-05:00

Okay, the Obama administration really sent $50,000 to the Itallian quake victims, though I doubt that the paltry sum is the sort of change those Itallians were hoping for.

How GM and Chrysler Will Be Run - Explained By Lily Tomlin 40 Years Ago

2009-04-01T15:48:00.005-05:00

Talk about about being ahead of her time, just change "phone company" to "General Motors" or "Chrysler" or "AIG"...

"Now Mr. Beetle, I want you to understand something, we are not subject to city, state or federal regulations, we are omnipotent... omnipotent... that's potent with an omni in front of it."

Thank you Ms. Tomlin.

April Fools Day For Smart People

2009-04-01T09:04:00.003-05:00

Harvard Economics Professor Greg Mankiw has even linked to Wikipedia. I'm glad that it is April Fools Day as I do not want to help fund any portion of Harvard Yard and I would like to continue reading Mankiw's blog.

Democrat Whose Firm Scammed Haitians and Bribed Their Dictator Wants to Control Employee Compensation in US

2009-03-31T11:29:00.012-05:00

First term cingressman Alan Grayson (D-FL) has introduced a bill that would give the Federal Government control of all wages at any company that has taken Federal funds, Mr. Grayson also wants to abrigate all standing contracts. And this guy went to Harvard Law?

After leaving the law Mr. Grayson become the President of IDT Corp. After Grayson left IDT Corp. was involved in a scam that involved Haitian strongman Jean Bertand Aristide. IDT had a cut-rate deal to terminate telephone calls to Haiti, they also had an agreement to deposit much of the saved money into a bank account allegedly controlled by the Haitian dictator Aristide. The telephone firm Fusion, closely aligned with the Clinton Administration had a similar deal.

The Haiti Democracy Project has this to say about the telecom that Rep. Grayson (D-FL) once led:

Teleco Haiti granted IDT the right to terminate calls in Haiti at less than half the official settlement rate, and that IDT agreed to deposit all payments not at Teleco Haiti, but in an offshore account in the Turks and Caicos managed by a company called Mont Salem.

Long-distance revenues were one of Haiti's few sources of hard currency. Yet after President Aristide left office in 2004, Teleco Haiti's coffers were found to be empty.

Now this guy Grayson, a man who was President of a company that was later found to be in bed with the Haitian dictator wants to control the compensation of US businesses. Thank you to the members of the Democrat Party of the United States.

Who Will Obama's Crazy Carbon Credit Plan Starve?

2009-03-27T05:27:00.000-05:00

Likely the citizens of poorer nations that rely on American financial support to purchase American grain, that's who.

Bloomberg has the story of a Nebraska farmer who is currently getting $3000 per year to leave his 800 acres fallow thus not releasing 470 tons of carbon into the atmosphere. The $3000 is not sufficient income for this practice to become widespread, however the farmer believes that Obama's cap-and-trade carbon program will allow for a much larger payout. Haven't we been through this issue already?

ACORN Shakedown Racket Sees Light of Day Today

2009-03-19T10:32:00.003-05:00

The Washington Times has the story, Heather Heidelbough the lawyer for whistleblower Anita Moncrief will testify in front of the House Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution, civil rights and civil liberties concerning her client's sworn court testimoney that ACORN had participated in "unlawfully coordinating campaign activity with Mr. Obama's presidential campaign to deliberately engaging in voter-registration fraud and misusing federal grant money", among other things.

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the Democrats to do anything about the liberal vote fraud racket that is ACORN.

New Government Tea Party Logo

2009-03-07T08:20:00.000-06:00

Image Copyright: "Send $5 to A. Franken c/o SNL 30 Rockefeller Plaza NY, NY"

Typical of a Democratic administration, the federal government has set up a new agency just for the recovery. In 100 years it will be the agency equivalent of the Telephone Excise Tax that was originally levied in 1898 to pay for the Spanish American War. This spoof label uses three poison ivy* leaves to remind the government of the original Boston Tea Party and the ongoing Chicago Tea Party.

Thanks Publia, as you can see I shouldn't blog in the morning and knock wood, despite being around the stuff I'm not heavily affected.

Another Chicago Democrat is Rod Blagojevich

2009-03-05T09:50:00.003-06:00

Alderman Ricardo Munoz tells a constituent "Get the F*** out of my office!"

Who pays for that office Alderman S*** For Brains?

Hat Tip: Uptown Update

Chicago's Chicago Tea Party - part VI - Part of the Problem

2009-02-27T17:26:00.003-06:00

Photo Copyright: Flying Debris

I call this photo, No Such Thing. And that is part of the problem here in Chicago, there really is no opposition party.

Chicago Chicago Tea Party - part V

2009-02-27T17:14:00.003-06:00

Photo Copyright: Flying Debris
Pioneer Court, North Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois.

Chicago's Chicago Tea Party - part IV - Chicago Bloggers

2009-02-27T16:03:00.009-06:00

Photo Copyright: Flying Debris
Anne Leary of the Backyard Conservative shown here in red up on a platform with the very cold colonist. The original Tea Party was both more dangerous politically and warmer, December in Boston.

Photo Copyright: Flying Debris

John Ruberry, the Marathon Pundit shown appropriately dressed in funeral black, black hat and the checked scarf standing in front of Chicago's eternal flame erected "in memory of the men and women who have served in our Armed Forces from the Revolutionary War to the present. Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard Reserves."

Chicago's Chicago Tea Party - part III - Pioneer Court Art

2009-02-27T15:01:00.007-06:00

Photo Copyright: Flying Debris

Pioneer Court contains public art including the front and rear ends of John Kearney's moose and J. Seward Johnson's God Bless America, a giant 3-D version of Grant Wood's American Gothic. The Chicago Picasso from the the protest kick off in Daley Plaza can be seen in this post. That pitch fork was needed for the Stimulus Bill.

Chicago's Chicago Tea Party - part II - This Family Brought a Tea Service!

2009-02-27T14:14:00.011-06:00

Photo Copyright: Flying Debris
Initially off on their own in Pioneer Court this family served tea.

Photo Copyright: Flying Debris
This family came prepared.

Photo Copyright: Flying Debris

Tea Is Served! This family brought their own tea service to Chicago's Pioneer Court, on the Chicago River in front of the Chicago Tribune Building, inspiring the woman on the left to dump the tea. The property once held a nearly windowless warehouse that contained Chicago's Main Library.

As speeches were being made I looked around Pioneer Court and saw this family with a tea service, serving tea to passerby. Brilliant. I had to talk to those folks, they went to a protest for the same reasons the rest of went, they are concerned, alarmed may be more like it. The father is the one who commented on the difficulty even getting people who are basically "lone wolves" to publicly protest. I think he was speaking politically, as there are no survivalists left in Chicago, they headed for the hills years ago.

More thoughts and photos to follow.

Chicago's Chicago Tea Party

2009-02-27T13:54:00.009-06:00

Photo Copyright: Flying Debris
The rally started near the famous Chicago Picasso.

The crowd of maybe 500 turned out at Daley Plaza on this cold and windy Chicago morning. The Chicago Police then escorted the crowd on a march out of the loop, down Wacker Drive and across the Michigan Avenue Bridge to Pioneer Court next to the Chicago Tribune Building. One guy said to me, "well here you have it, a protest by lone wolves." This protest was put together in less than a week by people who clearly are not professional grievance mongers, it was more "grass roots" than almost any other Chicago protests that I've witnessed. The only politician I noticed was Republican Cook County Board member Tony Peraica, but I'm sure that I missed at least one, I think he spoke while I was talking to the family that brought a tea service. More on their great move when I post their photo.

It was nice to meet Anne of the Backyard Conservative, John from the Marathon Pundit and the Econopundit.

Chicago's Chicago Tea Party Today!

2009-02-27T08:45:00.001-06:00

The Tea Party will be at Daley Plaza at 11:00 am, the march to the Michigan Avenue bridge kicks off at 11:15.

Be there.

World Trade Center Bombing - Old Enough to Get a Drivers License

2009-02-26T10:26:00.009-06:00

Photo Copyright: FBI

Photo Copyright: FBI
The above photos show the basement levels of the World Trade Center after the February 26, 1993 bombing by Muslim jihadists.

Yep, 16 years ago today the World Trade Center was bombed by Islamic jihadists. One of my college roomates was in both attacks and his stories are hair raising.

Hat Tip: JammieWearingFool, who made the following comment that I agree with, "(l)et's see if anyone in the media or government even acknowledge this today.Very few, I suspect."

Chicago's Chicago Tea Party - We're on a Mission From God

2009-02-25T14:03:00.009-06:00

Well unlike Jake and Elwood Blues we may not be on a mission from God but we are on a mission for common sense, to paraphrase Elwood Blues - Our Lady of Blessed Wisdom don't fail us now! The above video shows "the Honorable Richard J Daley Plaza" and as Joliet Jake famously said, "that's where they have that Picasso!"

Hopefully the National Guard will not need to be there with tanks but then again, this is Chicago.

As Flying Debris noted Monday, the Chicago Tea Party will be held at:

Daley Plaza
50 West Washington St.
Chicago
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM Friday February 27, 2009

There will be a march to the Michigan Avenue Bridge over the Chicago River, in front of the Chicago Tribune Building.

Also see the Backyard Conservative, the Marathon Pundit, Chicago Bungalow, Chicago Ray

Below is the trailer for the Blues Brothers movie.

Happy Mardi Gras!

2009-02-24T07:39:00.001-06:00

It's Fat Tuesday again and New Orleans is rocking. Here are some live web cams and a video of last year's Zulu Parade.

Chicago Tea Party Location Set

2009-02-23T18:06:00.002-06:00

Daley Plaza
50 West Washington St.
Chicago
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM Friday February 27, 2009

Via: Facebook

Obama Campaign Ripped Off Chicago

2009-02-20T08:45:00.004-06:00

The city of Chicago is still owed $1.74 million for Obama's election night party in Grant Park. Good luck getting the money of the dishonest cheats in the Obama campaign Mr. Mayor.

It is notable that the Obama campaign is still in fundraising mode, I get e-mails every few days asking me to send money to poor old Barack, yet these people won't even pay their bills. Biggest campaign warchest ever and they won't pay their bills.

Please, will somebody tell the croooked people of the Obama campaign that the bill from Chicago is not their tax bill!

Update: Maybe Oprah will pay Obama's bill, after all she was in tears during Obama's speech, or as I posted on the Sun Times site at 8:43 this morning: Maybe the city should just charge those people who are driving around with those Obama, Hope and Change bumper stickers on their cars.

Islamic Rage Boy on New York Beheader

2009-02-20T06:11:00.001-06:00

Islamic Rage Boy from This Week in Global Jihad has a complaint about the beheading of 37-year-old Aasiya Hassan it is that her husband, the owner of a television station killed his poor wife at the station without recording the act, unlike jihadists in mountain caves who lack millions of dollars of equipment or even electricity.

Hat Tip: JammieWearingFool

Ask Not How Many Jobs He Saved - Ask How Many Jobs He Lost

2009-02-20T06:02:00.000-06:00

Instapundit notes Greg Mankiw's take on the Obama economic teams recent use of language:

The expression "create or save," which has been used regularly by the President and his economic team, is an act of political genius. You can measure how many jobs are created between two points in time. But there is no way to measure how many jobs are saved. Even if things get much, much worse, the President can say that there would have been 4 million fewer jobs without the stimulus.

The post title is a Flying Debris take on the future rhetoric.

Democratic Ally Subpoenas Blog Commenters

2009-02-19T12:10:00.005-06:00

Flying Debris has twice written about the recent attempts by the Democrats of Chicago's Uptown community to silence opposition to their disgraceful policies, here and here. The major policy in question gives $60 million to a developer to build even more low income housing on former Chicago Transit Authority land a half mile from Lake Shore Drive at a cost of over $400,000 per unit.

Today the Chicago Journal has reported that the developer, a Mr. Holsten has subpoenaed Google for information on commenters on two Uptown blogs, Uptown Update, the fantastically named and now defunct What the Helen and two community group message boards. Chicago Alderman have a long held and well deserved reputation for withholding city services to those they don't like making this a real threat to many commenters.

This blog has been linked to by at least three of the four subpoenaed blogs and I have left comments on three of the four blogs, they are attempting to stifle my First Amendment right to free political speech through intimidation. Why participate if your garbage doesn't get picked up or your block starts to lack public services?

I do not live in Uptown, I get along well with my Alderman (I was an early supporter) so I am not affected by the threats however they are attempting to subpoena records on me, EL Rider. So on a day we get news that the Secret Service searched the home of a man with an anti-OBama, anti-abortion sign on his car we get news of Chicago Democrats attempting to intimidate Chicagoans exercising their First Amendment rights by leaving blog comments.

Hat Tip: Uptown Update

Traders Give Finger to Obama!

2009-02-19T11:00:00.005-06:00

Check out this CNBC video of the great Rick Santelli on the CME floor going after Obama's latest disgaceful economic plan. I was in the Grain Room yesterday during Obama's speech and this shows the general feeling among this city's trading communnity.

Hat Tip: Drudge via Publia at the great Wilmette blog via e-mail

If it matters, like many Chicago traders I know Rick.

Update: The Corner has speculated on a Palin/Santelli ticket, beyond being on the bottom of any ticket it just doesn't seem like Rick, he did make a crack about having to shower every hour in DC.

My Chicago Neighbor and His Monkey

2009-02-18T19:29:00.009-06:00

Photo Copyright: Scienceblogs

After the unbelievable chimpanzee attack in Connecticut I recalled my Chicago neighbor and his monkey.

Yep, I once had a next door neighbor who kept a monkey in his house and yard, that was one block north of Wrigley Field. I could not find any of my own monkey photos (this was pre-digital and those negatives are in storage) but for the people of Wrigleyville if I said, "I live next to the guy with the monkey" they knew exactly what I was talking about. My neighbor bought his Capuchin monkey from a Chicago pet store, in the '60s. The monkey had his own room in the basement and the room's window led to an outdoor cage, he once lived in the former carriage house until drunk people started going in there late at night and occasionally letting him out. My neighbor moved him inside after the police found him at 3:00 AM in a tree about a half mile away at Newport and Broadway, the heart of what was known as "Boys Town." I am not making that up.

Well the monkey was an interesting neighbor, he pretty much ran the show in that yard, among the five dogs and a dozen cats and he could be pretty nasty. One time a guy showed up whom I later learned was a vet, well that monkey gave meaning to the term "ape shit", he went nuts. He raced back and forth from his cage into the basement and then flung himself onto the cage and screeched at my neighbor and his friend, the vet. When my neighbor and the vet got close enough the monkey defecated in his hand and flung it at the vet.

On the plus side kids were entertained for hours by the fact that there was a monkey in a cage next door and the monkey loved the attention.

Bear Fan Rep. Mark Kirk Blasts House Leadership: "We Know Who Won the Super Bowl"

2009-02-13T06:20:00.002-06:00

Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) blasted the House leadership yesterday afternoon for focusing the House of Representatives on the Steelers Super Bowl victory (HR 110) instead of the serious economic issues at hand. Anne Schroeder Mullins of Politico talked to Mark afterwards and it sounds like he was still steamed, talking of the few people who were in the House chamber at the time Mark said “Originally they looked at me like, ‘what a guy from Chicago want to say about this? This is Pittsburgh vs. Arizona' but my point is bigger. Why are we talking about this and not talking about the stimulus?" To insure that his point was not lost he told Politico "(t)hree thousand to seven thousand Americans are watching CSPAN right now wondering what are these guys working on? We know who won the Super Bowl. And no, it’s not sour grapes, [The Bears] lost a long time ago."

Here is Rep. Kirk's floor speech:
I might just ask the leadership why we are debating this resolution, taking time away from serious debate on the hidden stimulus bill. Why, as the economy tanks, congressional leaders are voting to borrow $2 trillion but we’re debating National Engineers Week and a football resolution? Now I watched the game and it was a good game but it's not our core mission. We should be debating the $2 billion appropriation for "neighborhood stabilization" available to organizations currently under criminal scrutiny like ACORN, a new wellness fund, or a government medical effectiveness board now with powers to override decisions of you and your doctor. When we take up resolutions like this, it's because we are trying to distract members and the American people for knowing what they cannot read in the stimulus bill. We can debate the Super Bowl but the results are not in doubt. What we ought to be debating is should we borrow $2 trillion on behalf of the American people and does anyone have that cash? We debate Engineer Week instead of asking the Fed, when you "monetize" debt, doesn't that really mean you're printing money? It's resolutions like this that weaken the reputation of the U.S. –

Hat Tip: Backyard Conservative

No More Free Sunday Parking Meters in Chicago

2009-02-13T06:15:00.003-06:00

For the time being this bike can still park for free everyday but autos parked here on Wells St. will have to feed the meter everyday.

The City of Chicago has just completed a deal that privatized the city's parking meters and the Expired Meter helpfully reminds all of us what is entailed here. Higher rates and no free holidays or Sundays.

Noted parking expert the Parking Ticket Geek wrote: "(m)ake sure you check all the signs and stickers on the front of your meter or pay & display machine."

Judd Gregg Withdraws Name From Commerce Dept. Consideration

2009-02-12T15:18:00.005-06:00

His statement stated that he has vast differences with the administration over the alleged stimulus package and over the Obama plan to take the US Census into the White House.

Nothing on Google, CNBC just read the statement on air.

Happy Birthday Abe Lincoln

2009-02-12T11:00:00.002-06:00

Abraham Lincoln was born February 12, 1809.

Happy Birthday Sarah Palin

2009-02-11T18:29:00.001-06:00

Global Warming Continues - Record Low Temp Confirmed in Maine

2009-02-11T11:30:00.005-06:00

It was 50 degrees below zero at a USGS station at Big Black River near Depot Mountain in northwestern Aroostook County, Maine last January 16. That low surpassed the previous record of 48 below zero on January 19, 1925. No word on whether Al Gore was in Maine that day.

Having just finished what NASA, referring to recent sunspot activity described as the "Blankest Year of the Space Age" the brutal cold weather in America marches on. This recent heat wave is very welcome however it appears that we will soon return to the February norm of cold weather.

Hat Tip: Watts Up With That

What's Next for Putin - the Village People?

2009-02-10T06:14:00.000-06:00

Mach, Macho Man Vlad Putin - ABBA fan.

Apparently the macho, macho man Vlad Putin is an ABBA fan, can the Village People be far behind?

More on Connected Chicagoans Who Threaten Bloggers - $400,000 per "Low-Income" Condo on Subsidized Land

2009-02-10T06:01:00.001-06:00

Here is a video put out by the Fix Wilson Yard organization (FWY), the organization that filed the suit against the city of Chicago and Wilson Yard developer Peter Holsten. Mr. Holsten is the developer whose legal team has subpoenaed Uptown bloggers and community organizations. The FWY charges outline a disgrace, the city has promised to give the developer over $60,000,000 in tax revenues and their question is very simple, why does this guy need a subsidy for land that is a 1/2 mile from Lake Shore Drive and a 1/2 mile from Wrigley Field? I also must ask why, other than trying to get more votes for Alderman Shiller, the Uptown neighborhood should be further subjected to the problems of low-income subsidized housing? The neighborhood has more than enough problems with gang banging street dealers as it is. For this subsidy the developer has apparently promised condos for low-income families that cost over $400,000 - on subsidized land. What kind of business are we talking about here?

The discussion over how to proceed with the redevelopment of Wilson Yard started after the Yard burned down in 1996, I lived near Wrigley Field at the time and you could smell the odor of embers for weeks afterwards but the stench of Chicago politics has lingered over the Yards for more than a decade.

Hat Tip: Chicago News Bench

Russian Ruble Hitting the Fan Tonight

2009-02-10T00:01:00.001-06:00

The great new blog Zero Hedge is staying up late with the Bloomberg FOREX service to bring us the blow by blow in the Ruble market. Earlier this evening Bloomberg had this story concerning Russian banks rescheduling $400 billion in debt. The Russian problems are European problems and the rout in both the Euro currency and the Ruble started a little before 6:00 PM (CDT) Monday night.

Senate Votes Cloture for 6-Foot Crap Sandwich

2009-02-09T18:04:00.003-06:00

Here is the opening of last Saturday night's Saturday Night Live.

Welcome to Chicago UAW

2009-02-09T00:01:00.001-06:00

Copyright: Gary Varvel, Indianapolis Star Tribune (here is his blog)

The Chicago Auto Show starts this week so the above cartoon is just a little "Flying Debris Welcome" to the UAW leadership.

Is Joe Satriani Up for a Grammy?

2009-02-08T18:11:00.003-06:00

Look I like Coldplay's Viva la Vida just fine but it is Joe Satriani's If I Could Fly with words. And sure, the melody probably even came from somewhere else. I am not a fan of Satriani so I was surprised at how much I liked that song four or five years ago when I first heard it, so sure the Coldplay song also sounded pretty good. Just saying.

Hoped For Change at DOJ Under Way...

2009-02-07T15:20:00.001-06:00

...That is if you missed the Clinton Department of Justice. Here we are less than three weeks into the Obama administration and already the Department of Justice has "inadvertently" sent the unproven allegations of a convicted fraudster against the new RNC Chairman Michael Steele to the Washington Post. The felon's allegations against Steele involve illegal use of campaign funds three years ago, a charge like that involves fund transfers (checks usually) that are easy to track, the felon sought leniency with his claims however the Post's own reporting states that "(p)rosecutors gave him no credit for cooperation when he was sentenced in October." The facts that the allegations are easy to track down and the Justice Department refused to give the accuser any benefit for his allegations should tell the reasonable observer that this is a load of hooey. However the defense's sentencing memorandum was sent to the Post because "(t)he U.S. attorney's office inadvertently sent the confidential document, a defense sentencing memorandum filed under seal, to The Washington Post after the newspaper requested the prosecution's sentencing memorandum" which tells me that using the Department of Justice to smear political opponents is "cool" again. Thanks Democrats.

Hat Tip: the Corner, Instapundit

The Daschle Deal!

2009-02-06T06:16:00.002-06:00

Chicago Bloggers Threatened!

2009-02-06T06:15:00.003-06:00

The bloggers at the fantastic Chicago blog Uptown Update and the now defunct blog What the Helen have been subpoenaed by a developer of the notorious Wilson Yard project in the Uptown neighborhood. Additionally two Uptown community groups have recently been subpoenaed, the Uptown Neighborhood Council and the Buena Park Neighbors. The Wilson Yard issue involves the subsidized development of a former Chicago Transit Authority rail yard that has been under what could best be described as negotiations for what seems like a decade. The city and the CTA reached an agreement with the neighborhood and the Alderman for a development that limited further subsidized low income housing that the area is chock full of. Well the Alderman up there, Helen Shiller gets herself reelected every four years with the support of the far left and the poor, the numerous homeless shelters in the neighborhood have voting participation levels that would make Kim Jong Il happy so there has been an ongoing dispute over the number of subsidized units that would be part of the development and the role of a local TIF (tax increment financing). The TIF program has been controversial in its own right and its use in this project using former public property has only added to the Wilson Yard controversy.

Flying Debris wrote about Uptown and Helen Shiller in Could This Possibly Be Legal? Chicago’s 46th Ward:

During the 1980s and into the 1990s Shiller was helped by her then sidekick Walter “Slim” Coleman, a Marxist hazard from Harvard who is now a Methodist Minister and is providing “sanctuary” to Elvira Arellano at his Aldalberto United Methodist Church here in Chicago. Slim helped Helen perfect the strong-arm fraudulent politics that has become the norm in the Uptown neighborhood. It really is a shame because the neighborhood has some very beautiful housing stock and it runs along the shore of Lake Michigan. Don’t even get me started on the confluence of gangs, heroin, shelters and the powers that be in Uptown. Let me put it this way, between McCormick Place and Waukegan, a distance of over 45 miles of lake shore the least expensive property near the lake is 7 ½ miles north of McCormick Place in Helen Shiller’s 46th ward. It has been common knowledge that for Uptown to get past its problems that there needs to be a political change in the 46th Ward.

It is very interesting to note the comment left on that post by her last opponent, Democrat James Cappelman several months after the election:

A week before the election, just as we expected, Shiller campaign literature was distributed to the CHA and HUD high rises suggesting that I was a member of the Klan; that I wanted to round up all the neighborhood children and have them arrested on the spot; that I called for the closing of the local high school; that I was against all affordable housing; that I was against all job training; that I thought all poor people were a "waste of space"; and that I represented the worst of the Republican Party. It was all the usual tricks she has done at every election.

(snip)

As a former Franciscan friar who took in people off the street, as a social worker at a children's hospital located in a poverty-striken area on the Southside, as a recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King Humanitarian Award, as a co-founder of a homeless shelter, as an openly gay man who understands discrimination first-hand, and as a very liberal Democrat, I hardly think that there is a risk I would suddenly lose all my values of being an advocate for others when elected alderman. However, you would never know it from listening to the rhetoric spewed out from Shiller's campaign.

Sadly for James and all of us who live in Chicago we will likely see more such campaigning, especially if Helen's side wins this round by intimidating their opponents.

Update: thanks to Professor Reynolds for the link from Instapundit.

38 Years Ago Today Alan Shepard Played Golf On the Moon

2009-02-06T00:01:00.005-06:00

On February 6, 1971 Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell walked on the moon for the second time in as many days, during the EVA Shepard shot two golf balls with a make-shift six iron, made from the handle of a sample return pole. I like the fact that he gets flak from Mission Control (Gene Cernan?) about the first shot possibly being a slice. Two-hundred and thirty thousand miles from home and your buddies are still razzing you about your golf game.

Sixty-eight years, one month and twenty days after the Wright Brothers first flew their canvas covered Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk Alan Shepard played golf on the moon, try that on the next person who tells you that "the science is over and conclusive" (anthropological global warming) or "man cannot do that" (missile defense). Not to be outdone Edgar Mitchell performed the javelin toss, making the mission the first lunar Olympics. Enjoy the NASA film.

Walter Rohrl Drives the New Porsche 911 GT3

2009-02-05T15:08:00.000-06:00

Chicago Democrats to Run National Census!

2009-02-05T14:00:00.005-06:00

How will the Democrats excuse this one? The White House, now in the hands of Chicago Democrats will be running the Census Bureau. The Census Bureau has been part of the Commerce Department but the mere fact that the Obama administration has appointed a Republican to run the Commerce Department provides the sort of cover needed by the Obama administration to pull off this type of banana republic power grab. As President Obama was once allied with the notorious serial vote fraud group ACORN the fraud could be devastating to non-Democratic areas.

Hat Tip: Instapundit

San Francisco Madame vs. Box of Rocks

2009-02-04T09:57:00.004-06:00

The Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi (D-Ca) has lost to the second-string Box of Rocks due to the fact that the Box of Rocks knew that there are not 500,000,000 people in the United States. Here is a clip of the San Francisco Madame telling an audience that if her latest Porkapalooza Bill (2009 HR 1) is not passed then "Five-Hundred-Million Americans lose their jobs."

To call this woman a bimbo is an insult to Britteny Spears, the YouTube poster helpfully described the San Francisco Madame as "Dumber Than Soap", I would like to add Dumber Than Dirt.

Hat Tip: Gateway Pundit

Daschle Withdraws Nomination

2009-02-03T11:53:00.003-06:00

No Google result yet but CNBC just announced that Sen. Tom Daschle has withdrawn his name from consideration as Secretary of HHS.

The Music Died 50 Years Ago Today

2009-02-03T09:45:00.005-06:00

Today is the fiftieth anniversary of the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson). Here is Buddy Holly and the Crickets playing the Holly classic Peggy Sue on the Arthur Murray Dance Party on December 29, 1957.

Here is the Grateful Dead playing the Holly classic Not Fade Away at the Oakland Coliseum on New Years Eve 1985. Many people under the age of 50 only know Not Fade Away from the Grateful Dead, as you can see it was often a sing-along.

Here are the Rolling Stones playing Not Fade Away in 1964.

Hat Tip: Lin Bremer on WXRT radio.

Marc Rich Patsy Now Attorney General

2009-02-02T17:34:00.001-06:00

Nothing yet on Google but televised reports say that Eric Holder has been confirmed as Attorney General. Flying Debris commented on Mr. Holder and his disgraceful actions during the Marc Rich pardon episode here.

Sean Penn Finds Snowmachine to "Save Kentucky!"

2009-02-01T10:53:00.005-06:00

In reaction to the ice storm disaster in Kentucky Oscar winner and noted liberal activist Sean Penn has flown to the state to work as a volunteer. Contacted yesterday by cell phone on the ground in Kentucky Penn found a few moments to talk about his new snowmachine and how he found "that baby in a Hollywood back lot - take that Todd Palin!" Penn said that he was "here to help my people." Asked about his new snowmachine Penn stated that he shipped the machine from LA on Friday morning and that he hoped to help "the folks in the hollers" by Sunday afternoon. When Penn was asked if he had anything to say to President Obama that would help his people Penn said, "they're not really my people."

Penn shown helpfully bailing out his rented bass boat in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The Gateway Pundit has another reaction to the ignored disaster in Kentucky.

Warning: Some of the above is satire.

Obama Congratulates Own Kind - Neglects Military

2009-02-01T08:55:00.004-06:00

The White House needs Bill Curtis to help them find the Internet. Yesterday Iraq successfully held provincial elections and while congratulating the government of Iraq President Obama congratulated the UN for their technical assistance, saying that the Iraqi government, NGOs and the UN "performed professionally under difficult circumstances." In that statement Obama neglected to mention the fact that without the United States military Iraq would not only have not held elections yesterday but that nation's leaders would still be employing rape rooms for fun and profit. Nor did Obama mention the fact that when things got tough in Iraq, the UN largely left the country.

On congratulating the feckless United Nations I guess that Obama was relying on the fact that Iraqi election law established a commission to guide future elections, unfortunately for Obama and the hapless people in the White House the committee has yet to be formed. President Obama is just another typical Democratic politician, in this case Obama went out and trumpeted a success that he had absolutely nothing to do with, a success that he in fact fought against and while doing so he congratulated a similar moral and strategic zero that had also fought against the establishment of an elected government in Iraq. All the while Obama has ignored the people who fought and died in order to rid Iraq of the predatory animals who stood against democratic elections. Yesterday was Obama's eleventh day in office.

Speaking of those brave Americans, here is a blog post from a (former?) member of the US Army who was on the ground guarding ballots during the 2005 Iraqi elections, in a comment on this Gateway Pundit post at 7:52 this morning kudzu630 wrote: "I was in Iraq in 2005, helped secure an election facility (see my blog) and saw how hard they the Iraqis worked to get it right. There was no UN. The UN cut and ran years ago and only had one or two workers I ran into in Baghdad. My CINC has now completely diminished the role the military has played in establishing a peaceful and democratically based Iraq."

If the Commander-in-Chief can't say it I will, thank you to all US service personnel and thank you kudzu630 and please pass that on to your colleagues at Fort Benning. There are Chicagoans who understand and appreciate your sacrifices.

Hat Tip: Gateway Pundit

Fannie Mae Avoided Computer Meltdown Today

2009-01-31T16:46:00.003-06:00

Here is a frightening story, a Fannie Mae IT contractor was fired last October without his access to high level Fannie servers immediately being terminated so he planted malicious code that was meant to take down the Fannie Mae computer system on January 31, 2009 at 9:00 AM EST. Larry Dignan at CNET News has a very interesting look at how this crime took place, the good fortune at luckily finding the malicious code early and how the code would've attacked the 4000 server Fannie Mae system.

Michael Steele - New RNC Chairman

2009-01-30T15:24:00.002-06:00

This is good news for the Republicans, Steele is a likable and serious guy. Good luck Mr. Steele.

Hat Tip: Instapundit

Democrats: Judge Cannot Question Obama

2009-01-30T09:48:00.006-06:00

This piece at Talk Left complains that a military judge has not followed Obama's "orders". They have described a judge's ruling as "insubordination". Parts of the Democrat Party have descended into utter fascism. Go read the entire piece of crap but be prepared to look at your Democrat neighbors as the gulag guards. Flying Debris commented on this case here, before it was widely known that Democrats consider inconvenient judicial orders to be "insubordination".

Hat Tips: Jules Crittenden, Instapundit

Democrats Promise Your First Born - Then Get Drunk

2009-01-30T08:03:00.001-06:00

Rep. Dave Obey (D-Wi), Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, shown standing and swilling amidst the Democrat's celebration of their recent sacking of America.

Photo Copyright: Washington Post

Rep. Dave Obey (D-Wi) in a somewhat more sober moment.

House Democrats Go On Binge

2009-01-30T07:02:00.000-06:00

Democratic House Leaders Celebrate the Screwing of America

Like drunken sailors the House Democrats, led by the poster child for plastic surgery and fiscal irresponsibility Nancy Pelosi, will screw every hard-working American before doing it again. Stop them before they get to your house!

ACORN - America's Bad Seed

2009-01-30T00:01:00.001-06:00

Check out this group, RottenAcorn and their list of particulars against ACORN in: "ACORN Is A Multi-Million-Dollar Multinational Conglomerate"

Obama's Good Intentions

2009-01-29T14:08:00.003-06:00

Judge Disallows Obama's 120 Day Delay of Gitmo Hearings - Update!

2009-01-29T12:57:00.008-06:00

The Washington Post has reported:

A military judge in Guantanamo Bay has denied the Obama administration's request to delay proceedings for 120 days in the case of a detainee accused of planning the October 2000 attack on the USS Cole warship, an al-Qaeda strike that killed 17 service members and injured 50 others.

The question is this, how will the Obama administration react? If they are insistent on not proceeding with this trial then the Defense Department will be forced to drop the charges, charges against a man who allegedly plotted the murders of 17 American servicemen. The coming hours may show us whether our nation's government will fight terrorists or if they will fight those who actually do fight terrorists.

Update: As noted here, some Democrats now describe the judge's ruling as "insubordination" against President Obama. Ten days, two minutes into the Obama administration and they are describing a judicial ruling as "insubordination" against their idol, this is chilling.

New on the Web - A Dream Blog

2009-01-29T11:50:00.003-06:00

No this is not another new leg-tingling, pro-Obama media mash, rather it is a blog on people's dreams. So if you are wondering about dreams head on over to 31 Dreamers.

Democrats to Send Checks to Illegals

2009-01-29T11:15:00.006-06:00

First they further subsidize the vote fraud group ACORN and now we learn that the Democrats have inserted a provision in the "stimulus" bill that would send checks, not to legally registered aliens but to unregistered foreign aliens. Next they will get ACORN to register the illegals and get them mortgages that they will never be able to repay, way to go Democrats. What an honest bunch.

Hat Tip: Drudge

Former Boss of Global Warming Kook Describes Hansen's Climate "Models" as Useless

2009-01-29T10:04:00.006-06:00

What a shock, James Hansen, the NASA employee who predicted a coming ice-age before predicting that the earth would burn-up in its own heat (John Kerry must love this guy) has been called to task for having "embarrassed NASA." Dr. John Theon could have added that Mr. Hansen and his fellow global warming kooks have embarrassed the entire field of science.

Watts Up With That has the full story, including the assertion that Mr. Hansen was being dishonest when he repeatedly stated that he had been "muzzled".

Hat Tip: Powerline

I Can Agree With Obama on This One...

2009-01-28T21:22:00.002-06:00

I got a kick out of these comments this morning but I didn't see it on CNN so I missed the breaking news "Snow Joke" story tag.

6-Foot Crap Sandwich Passes House

2009-01-28T18:07:00.002-06:00

Larded-up with all the Democratic trimmings and no Republican support.

Iraqi Security Forces Go To the Polls

2009-01-28T17:23:00.004-06:00

Copyright: Hadi Mizban/AP Photo

Iraq's security forces voted in provincial elections today ahead of Saturday's general provincial elections.

Hat Tip: War News Update

Obama White Sox Hats?

2009-01-28T00:01:00.002-06:00

Bridgeport had better get used to Hope and Change. If Anne at the Backyard Conservative gets wind of this we might see her at Wrigley Field next summer - after all, it's a great place to see Hot Rod Blagojevich!

Hat Tip: JammieWearingFool

Print and Spend Democrats

2009-01-27T00:01:00.000-06:00

This has gotten out of hand, the Print and Spend Democrats are now ramming through a pork package that would make the Iowa Pork Queen blush, it would make the Heinold Racing Pigs squeal with envy and it makes me ill. Read the misnamed Stimulus Bill here, as they say "$850 Billion, 1588 pages, and counting... somebody needs to read it!"

Eric Holder: "I Need Bill Curtis to Help Me Find the Internet!"

2009-01-26T12:32:00.006-06:00

Obama's Attorney General nominee and former Rod Blagojevich attorney Eric Holder has now admitted to gross incompetence. Mr. Holder has stated that he did not know who fugitive tax cheat Marc Rich was. Ranking Republican Arlen Specter had the following exchange with Mr. Holder:

Specter: Did you receive information about the facts of the Rich case from anyone other than Mr. Rich’s attorney, Jack Quinn?

Holder: No.

Eric Holder could not find the internet.

At the time in question Mr. Holder was the Deputy Attorney General of the United States, he worked in the Justice Department yet he failed to notice the fact that tax-cheat and international fugitive Marc Rich was on the United States Justice Department's Ten Most Wanted List.

The corruption of Mr. Obama and the Democratic Party continues apace.

Update:
Here's a little help for Eric Holder and all of those Obamanites who are having trouble with those sticky facts, it's Bill Curtis and he has helpfully found the internet for Mr. Holder.

Terrorists to Obama: BFF!

2009-01-26T10:41:00.005-06:00

Obama to Bankrupt Domestic Auto Industry

2009-01-26T08:18:00.008-06:00

Copyright.

Copyright. Obama drove this carbon-spewing gas hog, a Chrysler 300 C Hemi until it was politically inconvenient.

Leave to a hazard from Harvard to be utterly incapable of understanding something as relatively simple as the auto industry. This morning Obama is scheduled to announce (NY Times registration required) the imposition of brand new emission requirements for automobiles sold in America. Considering that this clown drove a Chrysler 300 C Hemi (nearly 300 grams of CO2 per kilometer) before the Clinton supporters pointed out his hypocrisy (he then bought a hybrid) this just shows another "for thee but not for me" moment for the Democrats.

Here is my problem with this governmental regimen, they are taxing the companies rather than the buyer of the actual vehicles. If the Democrats have a problem with SUVs (and they do) they should tax the mileage or the pollutant output of vehicles rather than saddling an entire corporation. The Big 3 are clearly not in position to do what BMW and Mercedes does, they pay the fines. A more rational situation would be for the fines to be paid by the people who make the purchasing decisions rather than some failed auto executives. The Japanese auto companies have a dramatic advantage over domestic auto makers because the only cars that are widely marketable in Japan are small and efficient due to the lack of space and resources on that island nation. If the federal government is so insistent on "saving" these failed auto companies they should at least allow the domestics to compete on a leveled playing field.

Democrats have given themselves Pats On the Back for cleaning up automobiles through the CAFE Standards that have been imposed on autos sold in America, yet nothing could be further from the truth. The dramatic efficiency gains made by automobiles are due to the miniaturization of computers, NASA had more to do with the clean-up than Congress. The Obama people could be the final nail in the coffin for GM, Chrysler is already dead.

Do Not Use My Religion To Attack My Beliefs

2009-01-26T06:15:00.002-06:00

This satirical video contains enough reality to be hysterical, and the women sound like Monte Python characters.

Hat Tip: Atlas Shrugged

Murderers Don't Fall Far From the Tree

2009-01-25T10:00:00.007-06:00

Researchers at the Andrew Jackson Papers Project at the University of Tennessee have found as authentic a letter that threatened the life of President Andrew Jackson, the letter was written by the father of Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth. English born Shakespearean actor Junius Brutus Booth threatened Jackson that he would "cut your throat whilst you are sleeping" because he was upset over the prosecution of two pirates in a trial that was said to be the OJ Simpson trial of the day. So the father of the man who murdered one of the founding fathers of the Republican Party threatened to murder the founding father of the Democratic Party over the prosecution of pirates, rather than any of President Jackson's actual disgraces. It is interesting that John Wilkes Booth fancied himself as Brutus, a plotter against the life of Julius Caesar, Shakespearean character (et tu, Brute?) and the given middle name of his father. Once again, the nuts don't fall far from the trees.

Hat Tip: Instapundit

Al-Qaeda to Obama: Let My People Go!

2009-01-24T18:51:00.002-06:00

Oh great, now two Guantanamo Bay prisoners have shown up in an al-qaeda propaganda film. By all means let's close the place down. Sheesh.

Obama Takes Oath Second Time

2009-01-21T21:26:00.003-06:00

I think that this is a good idea, no reason to start off giving fuel to the crazies on either side. After President Obama and Chief Justice Roberts both flubbed the Oath of Office on Tuesday, Roberts went to the White House this evening and administered the oath a second time.

Biofuels in the Winter

2009-01-21T21:12:00.005-06:00

Well it sure didn't work out so well for the Bloomington, Minnesota where it was more than 10 degrees below zero last week. Here is the Star Tribune report from last Thursday:

All schools in the Bloomington School District will be closed today after state-required biodiesel fuel clogged in school buses Thursday morning and left dozens of students stranded in frigid weather, the district said late Thursday.

I have a friend who has made his own bio-diesel and he used a small heater on the gas tank during the winter.

Hat Tip: Watts Up With That

Perfect - Mexican Oligarch Buys into NY Times

2009-01-20T10:02:00.003-06:00

This is just too funny, Mexican oligarch Carlos Slim has bought into America's premier propaganda rag. Mr. Slim made his money the Mexican way, the government stole it for him.

The Maddoff's - A Family of Crooks

2009-01-20T06:47:00.002-06:00

Well it turns out that scumbag Bernie Madoff comes from a family of dirtball frauds, his mother ran a securities firm that was closed down by the SEC in 1963. The scum doesn't fall far from the toilet.

Thank You President George W. Bush...

2009-01-19T21:21:00.002-06:00

... For not letting those jihadists kill any more of us Americans. I write this as a person who spends his working days in a target.

A Song for the US Fed

2009-01-06T20:27:00.007-06:00

...get your money for nothing and your chicks for free...

Sure the Dollar has slid a bit since October but short term t-bills barely earn a return. Lord help us if Paulson shows up for a press conference sporting a headband and leather pants.

Thank you Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits, oh yeh - Sting too. Video from 1984.

Iraq Opens Bidding on 90% of Oil Reserves

2009-01-02T09:44:00.002-06:00

The AP has the story here.

Hat Tip: Asian Energy

Happy New Year From Blago

2009-01-01T21:40:00.003-06:00

Happy Bleeping New Year indeed. The fact that the Illinois taxpayers have to pay for this thug's hacks is galling.

Hat Tip: Marathon Pundit

Muslim Swine Have Attacked Jews In Copenhagen

2008-12-31T09:50:00.004-06:00

Now they are attacking Jews in Europe. Will the Western "progressive" (read: regressive) clowns ever wake up? This article describes these thugs as "Arab youths".

The fantastic Gateway Pundit has the story.

Senator Burris?

2008-12-30T12:10:00.003-06:00

That's what is being reported, that Blagojevich will appoint Roland Burris as the junior US Senator from Illinois this afternoon. It takes some pressure off of Blagojevich and nobody is likely to object too strenuously, except maybe the Jackson family.

He's Not Whining About OJ Simpson

2008-12-29T18:06:00.005-06:00

*It is shocking, just shocking to see such Jew hatred from a Muslim, in New York City no less.*

*Sarcasm Alert*

Hat Tip: Atlas Shrugs

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T11:15:00.002-06:00

Here is one that reminds us how far animation has come, Hardrock, Coco and Joe:

Hat tip: the Chicagoist

Blago Talks - Dems Twist In Wind

2008-12-19T15:01:00.004-06:00

This has got to be killing the Democratic politicians of Illinois. The guy who knows where a lot of skeletons are buried is in a vice and he is being squeezed. Publicly they want him gone but privately they are probably donating to his legal defense. They don't want him saying nothing to nobody.

Humorously Blagojevich started out his press conference today by stating that "I will fight. I will fight. I will fight until I take my last breath." Listening to that opening and knowing how "with-it" pop culture-wise Blagojevich is (well, from a time when Elvis was the King) I wasn't sure if Hot Rod was riffing on Pat O'Brien in Knute Rockne All American as a shout-out to the Daley family or if he was about to announce his allegiance to the Jets from West Side Story. Here is the press conference:

Caroline Kennedy - Aided by the Corrupt Daley Machine

2008-12-16T11:32:00.001-06:00

As the nation's political conversation turns to the idea of Caroline Kennedy as the appointed US Senator from New York it is important to remember how she got to this point. It is very simple, she was born into consideration. The only reason that Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg is being considered for anything beyond art critic or legal associate is that her father was once President. It should be remembered that the only reason her father, John F Kennedy became President is that he was aided and abetted by vote fraud that was famously run by the Chicago Daley Machine. The Daley Machine is also the reason that Rod Blagojevich is currently the Governor of Illinois.

Beyond the fact that her entire life has been defined by the results of a dirty vote fraud in Chicago what does this woman think that she will bring to the table to help the State of New York? The Kennedy family has shown a lifetime of entitlement for generations and this is just more of the same for that family. I have to wonder, is Michael Skakel busy? It is almost riotous that members of the Democratic Party want the New York Senate seat to be occupied by a completely inexperienced woman with historic ties to the Chicago Daley Machine and its vote fraud activities.

On the other hand, like Steve Goodman's You Never Even Call by My Name she may be the perfect Democrtaic candidate for New York state, she is after all: the daughter of man who gained the pinacle of US politics with the help of the corrupt Chicago Democratic Machine, her uncle, a US Senator killed a woman while DUI, one cousin murdered a neighbor while high, another cousin ran into a DC barricade while DUI, another cousin was killed when he ran into a tree while SUI (skiing uinder the influence), she worked at an art museum, she has worked at the family library, she attended Radcliffe, she is a lawyer. If this is the best that New York can do then it is little more than a backwater, possum stew and all.

Mankiw Gives Obama Some Good Advice....

2008-12-12T08:41:00.004-06:00

...On tax policy and tax multipliers. Here is a piece of the Harvard Prof's advice:

My advice to Team Obama: Do not be intellectually bound by the textbook Keynesian model. Be prepared to recognize that the world is vastly more complicated than the one we describe in ec 10. In particular, empirical studies that do not impose the restrictions of Keynesian theory suggest that you might get more bang for the buck with tax cuts than spending hikes.

The rest of the post can be found here.