Viablity of Local "Press"

Watching the hit-and-run-locals dance around the breaking news about the Ocean City Maryland premie murders. The definition of "viable human" just keeps changing.

Inconsistant Truths

If you believe that Bush knew, or was complicit in, the attacks on September 11th...

Why didn't he plant WMDs in Iraq??

If you believe that withdrawing resources from Afghanistan was a mistake in the war on terror (Congressman Murphy, D-PA8)...

Then what makes you think redeploying troops from Iraq will be a success??

If you think humans cause Global Warming because the science is proven to be true...

Then why have so many of the scientists who contributed to the IPCC report Al Gore is tauting, as proof the issue is settled science, asked to have their portions of the report removed?

If you are outraged about the senseless abuse and killing of dogs by Micheal Vick...

Are you consistent by being equally appalled with the killing of baby humans? Or do dogs have more value?

If you think the Philadelphia political machine is corrupt...

They why would you fathom voting for suburban Democrats this fall??

Connecting Dots

First, why won't any news organization, local or otherwise, tell this story?




___________________________________

To summarize the piece...

The surge is working despite countless news stories telling us the exact opposite over the last two weeks. So what could be the reason for this? Why would US Military success be stifled?

Instead, the local networks, took the time to inform us about Cindy -arrest-Cheney-first- Sheehan's visit to Philadelphia today. She is here to announce her candidacy to oust Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and to enlighten us about her plans to impeach Bush.

If it weren't so blatant an attempt by the hit-n-run-locals to tell half of the story, one might confuse it with journalism. But it follows a very familiar pattern to anyone who has studied news coverage of the Vietnam War.

First, you stifle any military success by our guys. Next, make sure you cover any anti-war opinion poll, statement, or activity so it appears the public is against the war effort. Throw in the opinions of politicians who call for withdrawal; claiming we've lost.

The final piece of the puzzle during Nixon's years, of course was Watergate. The break-in and cover-up distracted Nixon at a time when some Vietnam historians think the war had turned in our favor. So far, Bush hasn't had his "I'm not a crook" moment. Not that there hasn't been several attempts to find one.

This is why Democrats (and hopeful Dems like Sheehan) tried to tell us that Bush lied about WMD's; why they blew the terrorist surveillance program out of proportion; and why they called the surge a failure, one month after it was at full strength.

However, the real attempt to find the Watergate moment, was what turned into the Scooter Libby case. Here, CIA non-covert agent Valerie Plame, sent her husband (Joe Wilson) over to Africa to dispute claims Bush made that Iraq sought uranium from North Africa. When the connection between the couple was told to Robert Novak (by Richard Armitage), the Bush White House (Cheney, Rove, et al) was accused for outing a covert agent. Had that actually been the case, the final piece of the Vietnam media template would have been complete.

So it starts with selective news coverage which distorts what's happening. The goal is to create the perception that we are failing, again. It repeats the predictable emotional responses of uninformed (isn't that convenient?) news viewers. It aims to build a consensus that wouldn't exist if the entire story were told. It's déjà vu all over.

Hey Philly, wake up, your being force-fed propaganda, again.

The Democrat Playbook

Last week, Joe Hoeffel and Ruth Damsker released a "plan" for Montgomery County. Damsker - former social worker - and Hoeffel - former commissioner, congressman, and senate candidate - want voters to believe they are concerned about women, kids and senior issues. They are following the nationwide Democrat template for winning elections. If it weren't possible for them to win in Montgomery County this coming fall, then their rhetoric would just be, well, rhetoric.

Here's how the template works...

First, proclaim yourself as being concerned about women, families, and the elderly. Next proclaim only you have the answers to making each of these target groups survive in the evil and unfair world of our GOP controlled county. As Hoeffel says (votedamskerhoeffel.com) ,

"We are determined to deliver better services more efficiently to our county residents."

Finally, announce grandiose plans which cite an "expert" report defining a problem, create a "task force" of some sort to address the report's findings, and introduce a program - like the "Healthy County" program these two are offering - to make it all better.

Hoeffel pointed out that the recent report of the Metropolitan Philadelphia Indicators Project, "Youth: Suburban Children at Risk"

As the caring candidate Damsker says,

"Last year an independent assessment report, authored by Temple University Business Professor of David Barton Smith identified gaps in service delivery, waiting lists, and problems that confront thousands of county residents each year,"

Once the foundation is set, how can anyone argue against it? Those evil Republicans must not care about the poor or they would endorse our ideas enthusiastically. And if the GOP offers similar ideas, they'll ask voters why not elect the original visionaries, the real caring politicians, of these grand plans.

I'll guarantee, before the end of this election, these candidates will proclaim that since Montgomery County is the wealthiest in the state, it must be failed political leadership which denies residents the level of services they are entitled to receive. The assumption that our residents somehow don't already receive top-notch services goes unchallenged by the local press. This typical Democrat approach focuses on the guilt-ridden suburban Philly soccer mom crowd who feel compelled to rely on these used car sales persons to resolve issues for the unfortunate.

Whether or not the results of these programs -like the FAILED programs offered in the Big City- actually prove to help their target victims doesn't matter. Their intentions are good, so we must elect them, or the victims will fall further into decline.

Now, who could be against that?

Top Ten List - Gun Violence

Top ten things that will NOT stop gun violence...

10. making anti-Charlton Heston documentaries
9. gun locks
8. gun amnesty programs (trade old guns for cash)
7. eliminating guns - like they did in the U.K.

6. background checks
5. candlelight vigils
4. stop the violence "walks"
3. one-gun-a-month legislation
2. creating gun-free schools zones
1. This idea

Even though all of the above ideas have been tried, the death rate due to guns in Philly hasn't subsided. The United Kingdom outlawed guns years ago, but with radical Muslims infiltrating their country, how many gun-less Brits could stop a terrorist before he tries blowing up the next local airport? Perhaps the gun violence issue is much larger than these well-intentioned ideas can overcome.

By the way, kudos to the Pennsylvania legislature and the NRA for coming together to approve this common sense law to curb gun violence.

Big Picture Numbers

Most of you have surely heard of President Bush's lagging poll numbers. Currently, the Commander in Chief is at a lowly 39% favorable rating (58 unfavorable) according to Rasmussen Reports (July 16). By the way, this is up 6 points just in the last 5 days.

Other numbers from Rasmussen, some comparable to Bush, some wish they were...

Supreme Court

John Rodgers (Conservative - Chief) 34/26

Sam Alito (Conservative) 35/37

Clarence Thomas (Conservative) 48/36

Antonin Scalia (Conservative) 50/50

Anthony Kennedy (Moderate/liberal) 15/42

Ruth Ginsberg (Liberal ) 37/35

John Paul Stevens (Liberal) 20/28

David Souter (Liberal) 17/38

Steven Breyer (Liberal)18/25

Others

Congress (with "mandate" in hand) 16/46

Hillary Clinton (Senator/wife of Bill) 52/46

Michael Moore (Comedian/film maker) 25/47

Bill Gates (Multi-millionaire/Microsoft founder) 76/20

Jessie Jackson (uh, Reverend?) 23/73

In other Rasmussen poll news...

Bush is right to wait for September

News has liberal bias - gee, I think I saw that somewhere

After immigration debate, Republicans gain in numbers

No Leftist Bias Here

In case you're of the opinion that a leftist bias doesn't exist in the news media, local or otherwise, perhaps you aren't paying attention. These "questions" - I'd call them political advertisments - took place during AM prime-time. Meanwhile, this story wasn't given a single mention by any local media.

With all due respect to Clayton Morris, he seems to be intelligent, witty, and more knowledgable than at least one member of congress. So why is it so tough for him to ask them a single tough question? Instead, he seems to be helping these two politicians make their points.

Some sample tough questions Clay could have used...

-Why didn't the Democrat controlled congress get troop withdrawl done, if there was such a "mandate", by simply getting enough votes to override Bush's veto?

-Why did the Democrat Congress try to tie a withdrawl timeline to funding for the troops?

-Congressmen, I hear there is good news coming from a battle just north of Bahgdad where locals stood side-by-side with Iraqi troops, aided by American jets who took out bridges which pinned the enemy inside the town. The result, some would say, is a sign that the Iraqi's are fighting back against Al Quaeda. Is this, gentlemen, proof of the surge working?

I guess those questions will come the day after a Democrat is in the White House.

Gore Jumping the Shark

Live Aid raised money for famine relief in Africa.
Farm Aid raised money for farmers.
Live 8 raised money for alternative lifestyles.


So exactly who profited from Live Earth's worldwide concert?

Live Earth promoters predicted 2 billion viewers prior to the broadcast. However, the actual numbers were much less impressive.

When you can't get Bob Geldof, Paul McCartney, or David Gilmore to sign on to a "Live____" concert series, your message isn't resonating with the public.

Kinda like the global warming concept he is trying to sell, Gore's movement isn't exactly as massive as advertised.

Priorities Backwards

Anyone else find it amusing that during the Pennsylvania State government shutdown...

Parks, museums, and campgrounds were closed; contractor payments were not made...

Meanwhile, the lottery and liquor operations continued on as planned....

At least the tax collection was halted.

Silly Sestak

Our ports are vulnerable. So, Congressman Joe Sestak (D-PA13) wants to scan every single ship, container, and box that comes across our ports, because that damn evil Bush administration just refuses to protect us, according to him.

Most of the contents in containers that enter our ports have traceable roots to legitimate manufacturers all over the globe. Most are legitimate goods that we use on a daily basis. A good number of these containers - as Sestak told Fox 29 on July 3rd - are already checked at overseas facilities. If, let's say, only 99% of the items brought into our ports are known, wouldn't it be a terrible waste of resources to check 100% of the containers shipped? That is a 99% percent waste of taxpayer funds.

Let me describe it another way. IF the Bush administration traced the calls of 100% of the American people, that would also be a waste of 99% of the resources exhausted. Which is exactly why he only cares about the calls terrorists make to the US. Using an analogy from A Few Good Men, Sestak's idea is - the difference between paper defense and real defense.

As the highest-ranking former military officer ever elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and former Director for Defense Policy at the National Security Council in the Clinton White House, one would have hoped his intelligence would be more concrete.

On a side note...
Why did Sestak's office suddenly have a flurry of press releases (to PoliticsPA for example) and TV appearances last week? Could he be reading early polling data that doesn't look so good?

Someone Check on Schwartz

"The decision of President Bush to commute the prison sentence of Scooter Libby is outrageous. We have long known the President considers himself unaccountable to the American people, and it is now crystal clear: he considers all members of his Administration above the law. This choice by the President demonstrates yet another case of his terrible lack of judgment. Scooter Libby lied to a grand jury and he lied to the FBI, but the President apparently believes Libby's lies were acceptable."
-Allyson Schwartz (D) PA-13th July 5th 2007

Oh Congressperson Schwartz, your memory and recollection are starting to worry me. Perhaps you should see a specialist. I hear the Cuban doctors are swell people.

First - the "leaker" was known to prosecutor Fitzgerald - THE DAY HE ASSUMED THE JOB. His (the leaker) name, as I'm sure you must know, was Richard Armitage. Armitage, a Clinton appointee from the State Department - not the oval office - told Bob Novak about Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson's connection.

Despite this knowledge, Fitzgerald proceeded with the investigation. What he could possibly be investigating, once he knows who the leaker was, is baffling at best. However, that evil Bush administration didn't aim to stop the investigation.

Second - Valerie Plame was NOT covert, undercover, nor unknown to anyone who was remotely interested at the time. However, she is the wife of Wilson, and she sent her husband to Northern Africa to dispute claims by Bush of Iraq seeking yellow cake, as the President did in his famous State of the Union address in '03. Wilson, who was apparently so convinced that Bush had made up the yellow-cake claim, failed to mention this to anyone until a report he wrote 6 months after his visit to the region. After her "outing", the media tour the Wilson's went on sure didn't make Valerie appear like someone wanting her status to be covert.

Third - Bill Clinton pardoned 14o people and commuted the sentences of several others in August of '99 , including 16 members of FALN. This group of Puerto Rican nationalists, was convicted of 120 bombings in New York and Chicago.

Now let's compare. On one hand, we have Scooter Libby. Fact: Libby didn't out Valerie Plame, Richard Armitage did. The investigation that followed was therefore a witch hunt. Without interference from the Bush administration, Libby was still asked to testify under oath. He was found guilty of lying under oath, despite the prosecutor's admission of "no underlying crime of outing (Plame)". Bush commuted his sentence. Still, Libby paid a $250,400 fine.

In the other corner, Bill Clinton (former President of the United States and lawyer) lied under oath and paid a fine. Further, he commuted sentences of criminals which can, at the very least, be seen as curious. Hillary agrees with me on this one; at least she did when she was running for the Senate (link). Would Allyson view these as critically as she does President Bush's communtation? Does the 13th District of Pennsylvania representative understand this action is completely within their constitutional rights as occupant of the oval office?

Now exactly who is "above the law" Mrs. Schwartz??

The Pledge - Red Skelton

Courtesy of Clown Ministry
Click here for the original audio version from the Red Skelton hour (January 14, 1969)

On January 14, 1969, Red Skelton touched the hearts of millions of Americans with his "Pledge Of Allegiance", in which he explained the meaning of each and every word. Red Skelton's recitation of the "Pledge of Allegiance" was twice read into the Congressional Record of the United States and received numerous awards.


RED SKELTON: "I remember this one teacher. To me, he was the greatest teacher, a real sage of my time. He had such wisdom. We were all reciting the Pledge Of Allegiance and he walked over. Mr. Lasswell was his name... He said": "I've been listening to you boys and girls recite the Pledge Of Allegiance all semester and it seems as though it is becoming monotonous to you. If I may, may I recite it and try to explain to you the meaning of each word:

I
Me; an individual; a committee of one.
Pledge
Dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self-pity.
Allegiance
My love and my devotion.
To the Flag
Our standard; Old Glory ; a symbol of Freedom; wherever she waves there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts, Freedom is everybody's job.
of the United
That means that we have all come together.
States
Individual communities that have united into forty-eight great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose. All divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that is love for country.
And to the Republic
Republic -- a state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people; and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.
For which it stands,
One Nation
One Nation -- meaning, so blessed by God.
Indivisible
Incapable of being divided.
With Liberty
Which is Freedom; the right of power to live one's own life, without threats, fear, or some sort of retaliation.
And Justice
The principle, or quality, of dealing fairly with others.
For All
For All -- which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine. And now, boys and girls, let me hear you recite the Pledge of Allegiance:
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands; one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country, and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance: Under God. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer, and that would be eliminated from schools, too?"

Editor's note: sadly, Red Skelton was prescient - the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals (the most overturned court in the United States of America) has done exactly that.