The American Spectator

SC Mike| 6.18.09 @ 6:43AM

Like CETA (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) of thirty years ago, AmeriCorps has been a scandal waiting to happen. Congress funds a program with strict rules to do good things, making funds available to the locals to help deserving folks achieve the American Dream.

At first applications are closely monitored, funds are carefully disbursed, procedures are put in place to account for the funds, assuring that they're spend IAW the public law and organization's application, and all are happy. Then the nudging and corruptions start.

Over time, folks start nudging, as is probably the case with the CUNY program, where "after acceptance into the Fellows Program, participants are offered the opportunity to join AmeriCorps and thereby receive a taxpayer-funded education award of $4,725 for each of the two years they teach - for doing nothing in addition to what they had already agreed to do when they enrolled in the Fellows Program." So the "Fellows" collected a $9,450 stipend to assist with living expenses while in the Fellows Program and not doing a durn thang that the AmeriCorps law said that they were supposed. There's big money in this nudging -- $44M -- that should clearly be paid back. This may be the real reason Walpin was fired.

Over time too politicians, primarily from that party that makes the greatest use of patronage and similar diversions of other people's money to their own use, find that that this free money is accessible, and that was surely the case with St. Hope. Poor bookkeeping allowed Obama supporter Kevin Johnson to do what he wanted with the funds to supplement his chaotic operation, the primary purpose of which was to give him a platform to launch his mayoral candidacy. The books are probably in such a mess that a criminal referral is not possible, but the very agreement, hollow though it may be, to return $400K is remarkable.

There are probably enough problems with AmeriCorps to keep ten IGs and five US Attorneys busy for a decade. Heck, make all recipients comply with Sarbanes-Oxley and watch the fur fly.

Congress got so upset with the CETA sieve that they cancelled it, a fate AmeriCorps would face in a just society. But we're talking Chicago rules, so don't hold your breath.

Robbins Mitchell| 6.18.09 @ 6:59AM

In my view,more important than even the funding at stake,is whether or not a President can violate a law that he himself voted for with impunity or whether he can be held legally accountable for his actions....given Obama's performance in office so far,he doubtless thinks he is in the former category....if the Congressional Republicans cannot or will not draw a line in the sand over the outrageous firing of Gerald Walpin without cause,then I shudder to think of what further legal transgressions Obama may believe he can commit....and the rule of law that we have taken for granted will be,for all intents and purposes,a dead letter.

Kitty| 6.18.09 @ 7:01AM

Glenn Beck has had Walpin on his show the last two days, allowing Walpin to tell what happened in his own words.

The White House Thugs implied that Walpin was senile. So last night, Beck gave Walpin the standard test given to people suspected of dementia. Of course he passed.

Beck has been all over this case, as well as ACORN.

...

Don L| 6.18.09 @ 7:02AM

One team - the one that is naivve enough to believe that america is run fairly and the constitutional priciples are in play is honest, but always losing. Even when they win, they over spend, fail to roll back bad law, or clean the entrenched bureacratic agencies, but instead, invoke their own anti-constitutional favorites, like amnesty etc. The other team could give a hoot about the constitution, fair play, or abusing truth, destroying innocent life, and deceive and manipulate the naive or greedy citizens in order to gain power and control. It works -why stop?

Bram| 6.18.09 @ 7:31AM

This is a Clinton-style smear with less style. Outside of defense and the courts, I have lost all trust in the federal government. It is nothing but corruption. Every dime not spent on defense is nothing but a wasteful drain on the economy.

megapotamus| 6.18.09 @ 8:13AM

Yes, it is Clintonism without the skill. At least the Clintons, unmoored as they were and are from any moral stricture, considered themselves restrained by the practical rules of politics. This Obama crowd does not feel themselves constrained by anything. In part that is good news as it suggests they will crash and burn even more quickly and spectacularly but as long as Obama commands the benefits of affirmative action; a race-based immunity from consequences, the beatings will continue. Only when there is a material impact on his base of support in racially minded citizens and the media (redundancy there) will he lose his snake-charming ability. The staggering level of stupidity on display suggests this is coming quite soon. Dig in.

FED CONTROL| 6.18.09 @ 8:21AM

Obama is being set up for a massive fall. Which may well result, in civil war in America.

Is that what the STATE want anyway. The State control the system makes no difference who is in the White House. How do they buy their Government, by hige campaign funds to promote what they want not what you want.

This is why the Banks have got what they want the FED has gained powers over the other Banks, that is what they paid for. Obama raised more money than any other in the race. Over one Billion dollars.

What America needs is a new system, where its not the Pay Masters who control America but the people.

American politics is based on corruption not democracy.

The Americans have no voice in America.

SteveC| 6.18.09 @ 8:21AM

Based on all that's been made public, including Walpin's interview with Beck yesterday afternoon, I have a recommendation for the Obama adminstration:

Rescind Walpin's termination, put him on paid administrative leave and follow the rules for dismissal that are codified in the law Obama himself voted for as Senator. If it's shown, after an appropriate review, Walpin is not fit, then he's gone. Otherwise, he stays put.

Note to the President: You got caught with your hand in the cookie jar. Put the cookie back and do what you do best -- pretend like it never happened and we'll all forget it two weeks from now. Keep the cookie and you might regret it in 3 1/2 years.

Bob| 6.18.09 @ 8:34AM

This is from Fox News:

In a letter to the bipartisan leaders of the Senate Committee that oversees AmeriCorps, Obama listed these alleged defects in Walpin's leadership as an Inspector General.

* Removed after unanimous request from the AmeriCorps board of directors
* At May, 20, 2009, board meeting Walpin "was confused, disoriented and unable to answer questions and exhibited behavior that led the board to question his capacity to serve."
* The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California complained about Walpin's conduct to the IG oversight board and alleged he withheld exculpatory evidence.
* Walpin had "been absent from the Corporation's headquarters, insisting upon working from his home in New York over the objection" of the board.
* He "exhibited a lack of candor in providing material information to decision makers."
* He "engaged in other troubling and inappropriate conduct."
* He "had become unduly disruptive to agency operations, impairing his effectiveness."

The letter, authored by Norman Eisen, Special Counsel to the President for ethics, concluded: "It was for these reasons that Mr. Walpin was removed."

Mattled| 6.18.09 @ 8:41AM

The media enable this Organizer-in-Chief at every opportunity. If the RNC or someone doesn't come up with a media plan to talk over NBCABCCBSCNNNYTPBS, we will lose.

The Letterman example is a good primer for what a concerted effort can bring.

Next up: ABC's shameless propaganda broadcast next week. Call your local ABC affiliate (have friends and family do the same) and say no more local news viewing if you allow this DNC/White House ad to air WITHOUT allowing any ads to counter Obama-No-care-for you Special.

The General Managers at local ABC affiliates have clout----you start calling the stations, and their local advertisers and say you will not watch the local news, or buy from anyone advertising in their local news and you'll see action.

NBC should be next. Chris Matthews has become an absolute joke and should be pulled. Maybe he'll be the next hire for Obam----seems like he's jockeying for a position anyway---perhaps as practice for a run at Senate in PA.

Mattled| 6.18.09 @ 8:45AM

Oh, of course, since Obama listed them, they must be true.

Next up: Evidence from Media Matters and Dailykos courtesy of the trolls.

Jeremy Stevens| 6.18.09 @ 9:07AM

Obama is the textbook case of the little boy abandoned and/or neglected by irresponsible parents and left in the care of others, in this case the white grandparents, and then catered to like The Little Prince who's the smartest little boy in the world and to whom nothing must ever be denied.

When such a little prince grows up, he becomes the arrogant, cocky, condescending "intellectual" we're now stuck with as President.

The bonus with this particular snob is that we have added into the mix the smarmiest elements of the Democrat Party and the thuggery hard-knucklers from the Chicago political machine.

Please God, this will all combine to equal One-and-Done, and hopefully before another terror attack happens the wizards of smart at the RNC will get their act together (though with that hope we are banking on a miracle greater than the parting of the Red Sea or the multiplication of the loaves and fishes!).

Trotter| 6.18.09 @ 9:49AM

The termination of Walpin was done in open violation of the statute covering his position. But, much like Obama's trashing of bankruptcy law, I guess it really doesn't matter. Good grief, this WH is nothing more than a Russian mob on American soil.

JP| 6.18.09 @ 9:52AM

Bob,
The only problem with the spin you are re-issueing is that the Obama administration didn't follow the law, nor is it living up to the standards that the Democrats in Congress demanded of the Bush admin (vis-a-vis Federal Prosecutors). Currently Harriet Miers is being questioned by Waxman for letting go 4 prosecutors in 2005.

If the Americorps IG is competent and the WH and the board cannot document and prove his "dementia", they have a big problem on thier hands.

Michael Tomlinson| 6.18.09 @ 9:58AM

This is another taxpayer funded Democrat special interest group that needs to be abolished or reorganized so it is independent of politics and politician's partisan agendas. Let them do good works, but not work good for Democrats.

As for the firing of Walpin Obama broke the law and should he held accountable. We need real transparency in this administration not smoke being blown up the public's bottom.

Republicans in Congress need to sink their teeth in this and other corrupt Obama pracitices and not let go. It's terrier time.

Dave Lincoln| 6.18.09 @ 9:59AM

Yes, Bob, Mr. Walpin tried to resist Big Brother. It is not nice to resist Big Brother. He must be removed, given psychiatric care and put in a nice, safe place.

You're such a lefty, Bob. One would think that, after all the time reading articles and comments here, you might have learned something. Oh, no, none of that!

Bob| 6.18.09 @ 10:06AM

JP -- I do not know the full truth here, and either do you. However, TAS NEVER puts out both sides of the case so people can make informed decisions. The fact that they didn't follow the law seems to be true and the Obama administration should take responsibility for this. These conspiracy theories from Malkin, etc., however, are just as bad as the ones played on George Bush. Whey they occurred, I railed against them. I am tired of the extremists on both sides not trying to find the FULL truth. I am considered a "troll" on the leftist boards as well being called a right wing extremist by opposing the bailouts, the Kennedy health care plan, and the stimulus.

Regarding the charge of "dementia", perhaps you can show me where the WH made this charge. Dementia is a permanent illness. You can become "confused, disoriented" from getting drunk, taking drugs, lack of sleep, hitting your head, etc.

Please show me a link where the WH talked about dementia -- not posts from right wing pundits. Unfortunately, this is another case where right wing extremists go one step too far in implying something that was never said.

Please prove me wrong....

Sue| 6.18.09 @ 10:18AM

To Bob: Quit drinking the kool-aid. The issue is "he was fired." An independent auditor that is charged with protecting the use of your taxpayer money. The firing is the problem!

Also, St. Hope repaid half of the money essentially admitting that it was misused. Now people can agree to disagree on the proper uses of taxpayer money, but the grants are usually very specific.

The issue is "he was fired" after discovering the misuse of funds. And, he was fired by the very person who sponsored the bill stating that 30 days notice is to be given, plus a just cause. This person was none other than Mr. Obama. He sponsored this bill under the "pretext" that watchdogs protect the taxpayer's interest in the distributing of monies to non-profits.

Now, since he's in office, the laws don't apply to him?

Oh, Bob, please stop drinking the kool-aid and think for yourself.

The issue is the man was FIRED for doing the very job Obama advocated when he was a senator!

If the man were senile, all Obama had to do was give 30 days notice, just cause, and he would be gone anyway.

Do you not understand that when an auditor finds wrong-doing it is serious and to prevent even more findings by the accused party, the easy way to stop it is to FIRE him.

dmzrn| 6.18.09 @ 10:26AM

barry's objective: Reparations on the Sly

JP| 6.18.09 @ 10:53AM

Bob,
No they didn't use dementia, but senility. But senility is the unofficial term for dementia. Thus words came from the Board of Trustees of AmeriCorps, who fired the IG and not the TAS.

There is a huge conflict of interest in this case, as the IG was investiating funding irregularities and was removed illegally while in the midst of the investigation. The WH and the Board brought this upon themselves.

Truth to Power| 6.18.09 @ 11:03AM

Bob as usual carries water for the Obama administration. Nice touch quoting Fox. This is typical Bob coming forward with a cherry picked fact and leaving out relevant facts. Obama was one of the co-sponsors of the law that required a thirty day notice to congress and cause. Well Bob wants to tell us about the late-delivered cause and nothing about Mayor KJ and what looks like Walpin being right on target with one of Obama's cronies. KJ complained and Walpin was fired in a highly suspicious and illegal manner. Walpin wouldn't play ball with the Obama crew and now he has jerks like Bob inferring he was drunk or on drugs. Will KJ get his stimulus money now that Walpin is out of the picture? This is what it looks like when a genuine whistle blower gets fired. Bob claims to care about irresponsible (probably crooked) spending but in the end all he does is defend Obama's corruption. What a phony. I guess he could be drunk, on drugs or suffering from lack of sleep. I'm still thinking he is a troll. Nobody in the middle would defend this banana republic stuff. He will have many more opportunities to defend this administration's corruption and I am sure he won't dissapoint.

Bob| 6.18.09 @ 11:08AM

JP -- Dementia is a far cry from senility and it is not the "unofficial term" for senility. Have you ever heard of having a "senior moment"? In addition, dementia is not necessarily aligned with Alzheimer's. The word "dementia" was used to provide bias, and you know it.

Regarding the conflict, I do not deny that this case may well be complicated. It could be that BOTH sides could be truthful. This just brings me back to the old "guilt by association" process.

If I had to make a guess here, I'd probably say that there is a bit of truth on both sides -- that's the way these things usually work out. I worked in executive positions for most of my life and if you wanted to get rid of someone, you looked for "opportunities" to document deficiencies.

What I dislike is the jumping to conclusions you find on the political extremes. I believe it is right to pursue malfeasance by the administration but not right to completely disregard the other side.

Dave Lincoln| 6.18.09 @ 11:10AM

"However, TAS NEVER puts out both sides of the case so people can make informed decisions."

Yeah, Bob, they may assume sometimes that the reader has heard the other side of the issue. How? From the mainstream media that does nothing but present the other side! Just look at what you quoted from Fox news. Who's side is that? The Spectator might have figured that thinking people may want to hear the other side from that spewed by the government news networks.

Eric Damon| 6.18.09 @ 11:17AM

The problem with the Obama explanation here is that they have tried their best to paint the man as incompetent, but they have no proof to back it up. Their line about his being "confused" is purely designed to make him look like an old man who cannot do his job, and he explained that they knew he was working from home and had approved it. Everything they have thrown out at him is intended to smear him, as can be seen with the vague charges they continue to level at him.

The Obama administration is proving itself to be more opaque than the Bush admoinistration and is as lawless as the Nixon administration has been accused of being. They think they are exempt from the laws of the land and are sure that the press will shield them from all their mistakes. But with the internet, talk radio, and the eeeevilll Fox News reporting the news, the administration cannot hide all their missteps and foibles.

Richard| 6.18.09 @ 11:19AM

How is it that the Dems have total control of Americorp, and get to use it to advance their liberal agenda? The only input the Repubs get is to question whether it is crooked. Why are the libs allowed this toy by default? Is Americorp simply about youth serving liberal goals, or is it supposed to be non political? What am I missing?

Robert Rosencrans| 6.18.09 @ 11:34AM

The real corruption here is the cozy relationship between the Obama White House and the state run press.

Obama's warts and wrinkles are glossed over, and, as he stutters so eloquently in response to direction from his soul less teleprompter, he is revered in main stream.

From the get go the Obama administration has misled the public with promises of government ethi

Robert Rosencrans| 6.18.09 @ 11:36AM

The real corruption here is the cozy relationship between the Obama White House and the state run press.

Obama's warts and wrinkles are glossed over, and, as he stutters so eloquently in response to direction from his soul less teleprompter, he is revered in main stream.

From the get go the Obama administration has misled the public with promises of government ethics while running a slime factory from the White House whose managers are tax cheats and other questionable individuals.

David Govett| 6.18.09 @ 11:45AM

We are all Chicagoans now. America has become Chicago, and not Al Bundy Chicago, but Al Capone Chicago.

Oldefarte| 6.18.09 @ 11:53AM

Bob, you need to read AS's links to the specific questions that should be submitted for answers to the board that fired Walpin, and quit LEWINSKING Obama and his kool-aid!!!!

Think First| 6.18.09 @ 11:57AM

Bob has it partially right in what they listed as the reasons AFTER he was fired, not before the 30 day cooling off period, then firing IF proven. What Bob did not say was how this was at the meeting where he presented his initial findings to the board which pissed them off. This is in the same piece so how was that missed?

If you are being truly independent here Bob, then quote the whole story and don't just cherry pick what you want to say. All the facts are not known at this point so we have only Obama's words about a key supporter against a man who has a sterling history of independence wherever the chips may fall.

If Bush had done this they would be all over him like they were with AGs he had every right to fire for no reason whatsoever but proved they were incompetent as a matter of course. Not the firing of all of them like Clinton did so he could derail the investigations of him and key supporters ongoing at the time. Nobody made a peep.

If you are calling for the facts Bob then list them and don't see what isn't there and accept what is. The facts say Walpin was fired for daring to challenge Obama cronies wasting OUR money and getting away with it. What is also missing here is the political pressure put on the original DA to back off which he meekly did. That's what got the IG involved to begin with because none of the people who should have followed through on this had the guts to stand up do it before it even got to this point.

As more of the facts become clear, this is only the first shot of telling everyone what we already know. Oppose Obama and his friends at your own risk because you will be dealt with in the harshest possible way if you do.

Bob| 6.18.09 @ 11:58AM

Actually, Dave, I doubt if you and the vast majority of people here get "the other side". The quote I gave was not on TV, it was in an obscure internet statement.

The real problem here is the lack of critical thinking and analysis of hard right "conservatives". This is too bad as if one takes an objective view, they will be convinced of many conservative principles. The "thinking" problem here is that social conservatives have taken over the Republican party and they believe, but they don't reason. That's why most people here eschew the value of education and will vote in people of lesser intelligence. Interestingly enough, there are some very bright people in the party like Romney, Jindal, Ryan, etc., who could make a cogent argument. But Romney is forced away from the successful person he used to be by the core of social conservatives. Every time Jindal presents a cogent argument, he loses ground with the party. I guess the best way to get elected as a Republican is the Michele Bachmann methodology of not understanding anything about our country.

Bob| 6.18.09 @ 12:03PM

Hey, First -- is this something like firing one of your U.S. Attorneys for not pursuing and unwarranted case?

I happen to agree with most of what you said -- we don't know ALL of the details. Is there a "smoking gun" tying Obama directly to the firing, or was it just a recommendation that he agreed with? My only point is that this has reason to be pursued to find out the truth. I just happen to believe you should presume innocence until proven guilty. That's never done at TAS unless it regards Sarah...

JeffW| 6.18.09 @ 12:43PM

Bob,
Call it senility, dementia, Senior moment, or a brain fart. The name doesn't matter. The point is the administration did not follow proper procedure. The very same procedure sponsored by Obama himself. Therefore he can not claim ignorance of the proper way to fire someone. If this makes them look guilty regardless of guilt who's fault is that? This is just one of what appears to be many cases where someone can not be critical of the Obama administration and keep their job. If people jump to that conclusion it is because there appears to be a rapidly growing history of it. Check out the Chicago Sun and you will see there have been 2 other IG's fired recently, not just Walpin. 9 times out of 10 where there is smoke, there is fire. Innocent until proven guilty is nice if your in a court of law. Obama is in a court of public opinion. The outcomes there happen a lot faster and usually are not reversed. They should keep that in mind. I'm from Illinois and have watched him act this way for years, when he did anything besides campaign for his next job that is.

Dustoff| 6.18.09 @ 1:05PM

Bob
Have you ever heard of having a "senior moment
*************************************

Sure we have. When Obama said what 57 states!

So should we fire him for that one.

Please, this excuse is just plain silly. If the guy had a history and had seen a Doc for it. Then I might by it.

Right now it's just hear say.

Angel| 6.18.09 @ 1:15PM

Bob has morphed: His 'good' RINO schtick used to be defending Obama's Ivy League education and superior knowledge, now it's defending Obama's latest incidence of corruption.

It's gonna get stickier for you Bob, but it'll be amusing to watch you twist yourself into a pretzel defending the Chicago Thug in Chief.

Of course, only a 'good' RINO would defend Obama's deceit. Troll.

Michael Tomlinson| 6.18.09 @ 1:18PM

Bob the Obama staff are "Walpining" NSA Director Jones with the same smear tactics and rumor mongering used against Gerald Walpin. Why? Some excuses are he's from a different generation, but there seems to be some thought it is because he's close to John McCain and isn't a rubber stamp for Obama's vaginal foreign policy.

CJohnson| 6.18.09 @ 1:25PM

Wow, Did the White House call Mr. Walpins' cell phone, while he was driving, to fire him after deciding Mr Walpin was "confused and disoriented'.... ? If Mr. Walpin was able to talk on the phone, digest the ramifications, and then make it into his driveway unscathed, maybe Mr. Obama can find him a job in the motor pool.

Jamie Lynne| 6.18.09 @ 1:45PM

Isn't this the kind of crap Stalin pulled on his enemies?

Truth to Power| 6.18.09 @ 1:47PM

Bob is such the Obama defending troll. Watch him squirm as he talks about Romney, Jindal, Malkin, presumed innocence, intelligence or whatever comes into his confused mind. He has over reached as a troll pretending to be in the middle and now we get to watch him prattle on in a Huffington Post buzz work bingo kind of way. He has never pulled this off very well but today is a new low. Maybe alcohol, drugs or lack of sleep might explain this. Maybe he is just not as smart as he thinks he is.

Smitty| 6.18.09 @ 1:48PM

This has Michelle's fingerprints all over it. Looks like we elected ourselves another twofer; just like the Clintons.

Michael Tomlinson| 6.18.09 @ 2:05PM

Bob I missed your childish slur against social conservatives. How undignified.

I guess the "intelligent" people voted for Obama.

The same Obama who read the Irish Prime Ministers speech and didn't catch it wasn't his speech. Obama who thought there were 57 states (I believe the UN identifies 57 Muslim nations), believes we're a major Muslim nation and Islam actually influenced our country. The same supplicant who bowed to the Saudis king in homage, sent a bust of Winston Churchill back to the British on some flimsy excuse, stupidly gave the British PM DVD's he can't play and full of his own self gave the British Queen an IPod filled with his speeches - she graciously declined his "gift."

His understanding of the Constitution is sophmoric and aside from being able to effectively read a speech (even someone elses) and decree new laws by fiat he seems bereft of real intellectual curiosity or creative thinking.

While his misguided self-infatuation knows no bounds he coldly mocks the handicapped, has his DHS director publish a document attacking veterans, gun owners, Christians, pro-life advocates and those who don't genuflect to him. He reveals his enmity to freedom of the press by berating a news source that dares to criticize him . . .

Yes, the "intelligent" people voted for Obama. While we "stupid" conservatives vote for people with less intelligence like Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. Personally, the latter are heads and shoulder smarter and principled than Obama on a good day.

You might like to read Dr. Victor David Hanson's article Our Historically Challenged President to get a glimspe of how shallow BO is or you might actually listen to him talk using his circular logic and magical thinking . . .

Everly Waverly| 6.18.09 @ 2:16PM

Don't be surprised if Walpin one day is found "necklaced", with an appropriately sized flaming tire wired around his neck. Winnie Mandella would be proud....

Dave Lincoln| 6.18.09 @ 2:37PM

"Actually, Dave, I doubt if you and the vast majority of people here get "the other side". The quote I gave was not on TV, it was in an obscure internet statement. "

Of course the quote you gave us was the other side of the story. It's not that I believe it or anything like that, coming from (you say) either Obama or one of his henchman. Mr. Eisen. Why did you put it in your post to begin with if not to try to prove "the other side of the story".

However, at some point the facts are what counts, not the spin. That's why I don't get news off of TV anymore. It's nothing but opinion, and CNN these days seems truly just to be the Federal Government Channel. There is nothing else on besides government. That's not news, nor is a broadcast from inside the Whitehouse by ABC trying to sell Americans on a socialist healthcare scheme.

Kent Lyon| 6.18.09 @ 2:44PM

Does breaking the law by firing this AG constitute a high crime or a misdemeanor?

Dave Lincoln| 6.18.09 @ 2:46PM

As others above have written, this story is not just about some corrupt small politics within the white house. The problem is that this whole Americorps thing is very much reminiscent of the Red Guards deal in China in the 1960's - 1970;s. The US taxpayers should not be forced to fork over money to a government organization that promotes a political point of view. It's quite the conflict of interest, and it is not what a Constitutional Republic form of government does. This is what this controversy is really about.

Mr. Walpin wanted to do his job running things as it was written, but not as the Obama administration really intended when they pushed these programs through. That's why they want him out. He is trying to do the job as Congress and the law intended - not too cool with Obama.

I wouldn't put it past them, Everly, after seeing things like the black panthers and the nightsticks at the voting booth in Philadelphia.

Mattled| 6.18.09 @ 2:57PM

Bravo Michael Tomlinson.

I'm not allowed to talk politics to our neighbors, my in-laws or my spouses best friend because-----they are hard core liberals and for the last 5 years I have put them in their place with facts, logic (when they state something I then say, by your logic...) from which they can't recover and most of all....humor.

It goes something like this:

When they said George Bush is stupid and he got passing grades at Yale and Harvard its because he's a Bush---that goes on in the Ivy League with those "blue bloods."

OK--by your logic, every Kennedy is an idiot. And John Kerry too. Speechless.

My sister-in-law got caught funneling tens of thousands of dollars of her dad's money into her account.

I said, what's the big deal?

She took money from someone who earned it.
Distributed it to herself. Marxism!

Got a "high" when she put a grand or two in her account and then came down when the money ran out and then went and got some more she didn't earn---WELFARE!!

When she got caught, she made everyone miserable, including herself bringing everyone down (except me of course)---Liberalism!!

I told my spouse that that they raised her (the thief)perfectly and that my spouse was the black sheep for marrying a Christian Conservative.

My sister-in-law was just practicing everything my liberal in-laws had been teaching her all her life.

Take money from someone else by tricking i.e. taxes (or as Democrats call it investing), spend it on beer, cigarettes, concerts and travel---wait for the next fix and voila!---A democrat!

T S| 6.18.09 @ 3:01PM

Well, this President has busted the lock on the Treasuries safe (our money), and also has them printing money at a record pace so he can give to whomever he pleases. Couple that with no oversight, it's a recipe for disaster for corruption. All we can do is sit and watch in fury while the media applaudes everything this man does with no questions. This Congress is inept, and everyone of them needs to be fired for their job performance, and a lack of spines to stand up against this self-appointed regime! We all need to show our support for Mr. Walpin, and get involved locally. I hate to say it, but this is only the beginning of the corruption that's to come.

gene hauber| 6.18.09 @ 3:10PM

Just like mayors of large cities and members oF congress that have control of large budgets of public funds (taxpayer money), IF THEY ARE afro-americans or black, HOWEVER THEY LIKE TO DESCRIBE THEMSELVES, THERE IS ONLY ONE THING ON THEIR MINDS.
How can I spread the "wealth" around to "my people" for as long as I can and in a way to keep me in office??
For this reason, I say, IF you are drawing any public assistance funds, at all, you should lose your vote because we all know who you will vote for ALWAYS. It's the candidate that will promise y'all a bigger space at the public slopshute..
We will never get rid of the "welfare plantation folks" until we make it better for them to get a paycheck job, HORRORS, and make them useful members of society instead useless takers of other peoples earnings.

This president is no different than the black big city mayor or the local community organizer that he is so proud to say he is.
His following is, as usual, a group of THUGS AND GANGSTA'S JUST LIKE THE RAP SONGS PORTRAY THEM.
They'll come to your home at the drop of a hat to teach you "HOW NOT TO DISS THEM AND TO TEACH YOU HOW TO RESPECT THEIR THUGGISH, STUPID IDEAS. These ideas, by the way, fostered by none other than the community organizer-in-chief that "shitspot" in the whitehouse.
WHY DO TAXPAYERS FUND ACORN????
WE SHOULD BE OUT IN THE STREETS DESTROYING THEM..........THEY ARE THE NEW BROWNSHIRTS OF HITLER'S AGE. MAKE NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

YOU WHO VOTED FOR obama MADE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE AND YOU BETTER REFLECT ON THAT AND CHANGE YOUR MIND IN 2010AND 2012.

TRY TO REMEMBER YOU FOOLISH COLLEGE STUDENTS AND MOST OF ALL , YOU ABYSMALLY IGNORANT OF ALL, THE MTV GENERATION.........THIS IS AMERICA, NOT, AMERRIKA, USE YOUR GOD-GIVEN BRAIN.
concerned in brick, nj
Gene Hauber

basketball jones| 6.18.09 @ 4:17PM

Kevin Johnson -- needs to be investigated and his relationship with the WH - He said that "he wished" he could influence them (youtube interview on local tv) Here he says he did nothing wrong and yet he misappropriated $750K in grants; its my understanding that he has been accused at least twice in the past with improper behavior with children, he and his attorney cover his tracks, his board deletes incriminating evidence against him. The laundry list just goes on and on. His ties to this administration will of course guard him from the free throw line. That's why Michelle buddy was hired to make sure that all the money/grants get's to the entire team before a time-out is called. Congress is only good for calling technical fouls and explusions on the referee's.

Sassy| 6.18.09 @ 5:14PM

Dirty Democrats--redundancy.

Pat| 6.18.09 @ 6:57PM

Domocrats is the only way forward, and that's the reality.

Jim| 6.18.09 @ 7:21PM

Obama is a liar, cheat and thief who will let nothing stand in his way to create a new American Zimbabwe. He proves stereotypes are based on fact.

Calvin Dodge| 6.18.09 @ 9:07PM

Let's be sure to send this news along with a letter of thanks to the Republican idiots who voted to increase funding for Americorps.

Patty| 6.18.09 @ 10:12PM

They don't call the GOP the stupid party for nothin'.

Alan Brooks| 6.18.09 @ 10:52PM

okay, but, after eight years of Dubya's clueless presidency I want a time machine to go back to the Lewinsky era. Sad thing is, Bush thought he was doing it just right, when it was a mirror-image (not uncommon behavior)-- but then Dubya had alot of help in botching up. Special un-thanks must go to "deficits don't matter" Cheney.

Bush didn't mean to mess it up real bad, but neither did James Buchanan. They both couldn't help being bunglers; as time went on they showed their true colors ever brighter and in the end they rose to the level of their own abundant incompetences.
The Dynamic Duo from TX and WY are retired so they can write their chirpy Readers Digest memoirs, they can't be blamed much anymore. So the question is now:
what Bush, Dole, or McCain will the Grand Old Puddlers run in 2012?

IDEA| 6.18.09 @ 10:58PM

A class action Suit should be filed against Obama & company for the benefit of All China Citizens claiming the endangering the security of their investment here by a Usurper and Conspirators.

It will be beyond difficult for our courts to claim China has no standing when they Own Our Debt !

Richard Baker| 6.18.09 @ 11:06PM

Kevin Johnson. Didn't he take an oath as Mayor of Sacramento to uphold the law? Or not.

Osamas Pajamas| 6.19.09 @ 12:57AM

Kill off all these AmeriCorps and Vista and PeaceCorp programs, they drain the taxpayers for the benefit of Democrats and international bloodsuckers.

Daisy| 6.19.09 @ 1:12AM

Alan, agreed Bush screwed up a lot, but it's damned ungrateful of you not to give him praise for protecting your sorry butt for nearly eight years.

It's bad form on your part, and you don't say one negative thing about the fascist liberal now in office. Who knows if our country will even exist in four years?

Bush is gone--Obama is the problem. We have to look forward. Please!

Jeff| 6.19.09 @ 3:56AM

Hi, I am old, white, bitter and mildly rascist. Im the average American Spectator reader.

Enjoy the political wilderness. Demographics are not on your side.

Marc Jeric| 6.19.09 @ 5:31AM

Abu Hussein from Kenya has taken the looks and behavior of Julius Caesar - he can do anything and so he does. More inspectors will lose "his confidence" and be replaced with ACORN brownshirts. The 14-state FBI investigation of ACORN voter fraud will be squashed by Obama's AG Holder - well, the latter pardoned those murderous PR terrorists and was Castro's lawyer in the Elian Gonzalez case.

In the fray.| 6.19.09 @ 12:37PM

It seems to me that most of the posters here are doing nothing more than putting thier deep seated feelings (previously held) to paper at this point.

Wailpin was a Bush appointee for the IG post. He was a former director of the Federalist society. He was a right wing shrill. I am sure that there are many a Republican that can put aside thier own political ideology and do thier job honestly and faithfully. Wailpin showed that he could not be a partisan hack and public servant at the same time.

Wailpin tried to influence the Mayoral election by publically releasing statements to the media about "Kevin Johnsons suspected criminal acts" before even conferring with the US Attorney if there were even criminal acts commited. The IG is a political appointment, they investigate and make recommendations to the US attorney to determine what legal actions can/should be taken regarding thier investigations. They do not make unsubstantiated comments to the press as that brings negative attention to the president (they serve at his pleasure not thier own). He was fired because he would not offer his resignation when the option was offered.

This investigation and the decision to repay some of the funds by the ST Hope academy was in April of 2008. When President Bush was in Office. So I am curious how this came to be a Obama WH issue. The man was a employee who thought more of himself and his political affiliation than for doing his job in the manner that is was to be done. The replublican party is in no position to speak of or comment on justice or honesty as they are devoid of both. I suggest they focus on the needs of the American people of they will be the ones that are fired the next time a election is held. I think they are too besy trying to score cheap political points to see that.

Sassy| 6.19.09 @ 2:05PM

Look at the Obama corruption apologists--anything goes as long as it brings them more power. Squeal, liberal hogs at the trough!! Decent Americans will stop your lies and deceit.

Latest Gallup poll has Conservatives at 40%, Liberals at 20%, we'll see who is the vanishing demographic. You are traitors to our country.

Richard Baker| 6.19.09 @ 5:20PM

In the fray:
So illegal use of taxpayer's money is of no consequence to you? Amazing. So if I illegally take and misuse your money, because I think I can get away with it, you won't mind? Can I have your bank account numbers, please? Obviously, you have NO idea what an Inspector General is charged with doing.

Look out for your own| 6.19.09 @ 7:08PM

Obama is just a distraction, you people are normally more worried about Israel, and the Arab World.

Why are they so important, what have they got that you want.

People who express such hatred of Arabs is suddenly worried about the people in Iran, what the hell has it got to do with America.

When America has an election is the Iranian people interested, even in Bush stolen election, the Iranians sain nothing, it's none of their business.

Dave Lincoln| 6.19.09 @ 10:09PM

Look out for your own - En Engais, por favor.

Gracias.

catladyjan| 6.20.09 @ 2:50PM

When the bureaucratic bullies set out to get you, they create lies and distrort the truth...they are good at it but not so good at documenting. They are a bunch of A-holes and I hope Walpin wallopos them with a lawsuite and exposes the Magic Negro.

catladyjan| 6.20.09 @ 2:50PM

When the bureaucratic bullies set out to get you, they create lies and distrort the truth...they are good at it but not so good at documenting. They are a bunch of A-holes and I hope Walpin wallopos them with a lawsuite and exposes the Magic Negro.

Richard Baker| 6.21.09 @ 9:25AM

To catladyjan:
The Kenyan will eventually come to a reckoning for his tyrannical behavior. Too many people, and I don't just mean those with immense wealth, have too much to lose to let this modern day Huey Long destroy it all.

catladyjan| 6.21.09 @ 2:05PM

Still waiting to see that birth certificate (the long form, that is). Let me see Mr. Magic already spent over $1 million in legal fees to NOT produce it....hmmm. gee I wonder why?

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medical supplies It has not gone unnoticed among some Republicans on Capitol Hill that First Lady Michelle Obama's former chief of staff, Jackie Norris, recently stepped down from her White House position to become head of the Corporation for National and Community Service. According to White House sources, Norris and Obama have already discussed how AmeriCorps could fit into the First Lady's volunteerism projects.