Media Matters
All the News That’s Fit to Bury
The New York Times finds itself on the wrong page of history.
On the morning after, there wasn’t much surprise in the lobby of our D.C. hotel about the coverage in the New York Times about the previous day’s Taxpayer March on Washington, a massive rally that Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana, the third-ranking Republican leader in the House of Representatives, described as “the largest gathering of conservatives in American history.”
One could add that it was the largest march in favor of capitalism in U.S. history. Who’d ever think that we’d need such a thing?
The Times ran a photo of the march on page 1, below the fold, but no article. Readers were instructed to go to page 37 for the coverage.
Two other stories were deemed more important for the Times’ front page. One, “Awakening Brooklyn for Ramadan, with a Big Drum, at 4 A.M.,” was about a Pakistani immigrant, Mohammad Boota, who beats his drum in the middle of the night on the sidewalks, a tradition that’s designed to rouse sleepers, explains the Times, “so they can eat a meal before the day’s fasting begins.”
It seems not to have occurred to Boota that alarm clocks would do the trick, ringing all across Brooklyn on the night stands of his fellow worshippers. With just the adoption of that small bit of Western technology, the late-night bar crowd, with heads already banging, could avoid being jolted out of bed by an added dose of banging from the street the minute their heads hit the pillow.
“Everywhere they complain,” Boota is quoted as saying. “People go, ‘What the hell? What you doing, man?’ They never know it’s Ramadan.”
A photo of Boota making his pre-dawn racket on the sidewalk is about twice as large as the Times’ photo of the protest rally.
The other front page story that beat out coverage of the march, “In Wisconsin, Hopeful Signs For Factories,” reports that a Rockwell factory in Mequon “reinstated a shift, hiring a dozen workers.” A sign, I suppose, that Obamanomics is working its magic.
I went to page 37 to read the Times’ coverage of the rally and nothing was there except a story about a New York politician looking for illegals on a duck farm and an article about how an uninsured woman got an E-coli infection from a hamburger and now owes $400 a month in medical bills, “Without Health Care, and Just a Hamburger From Financial Ruin.”
I eventually found the Times’ article on the protest on page 33, directly facing an article on page 32 about President’s Obama’s brief stop at the Target Center in Minneapolis on the same day. The headlines described events of rough equivalency.
The headline about Obama’s speech at the partly-empty Target facility: “Thousands Rally in Minnesota Behind Obama’s Call for Health Care Overall.”
The Times’ headline about the Washington rally’s over-flowing crowd (estimated at “as many as one million people” by London’s Daily Mail): “Thousands Attend Broad Protest of Government.”
Reporting that Obama was “addressing a crowd numbering only a fraction of the total that turned out on the streets of Washington — 15,000 health reform supporters at the Target Center in Minneapolis, a venue that can hold over 25,000,” Investor’s Business Daily asked this question: “When Americans have to turn to the foreign press for truthful reports of the size of popular protests in Washington, it’s time to wonder: Are we dominated by ‘state-run media’?”
There wasn’t much wondering among the marchers about the mainstream media’s bias. Raising reasonable issues all summer at tea parties and town halls, they’d been either ignored or labeled as “Nazis,” “unAmerican,” “Brown Shirts,” “an angry mob,” “evil-mongers” — or as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi put it, “astroturfers.”
This time around, in vast and growing numbers, they carried homemade placards with slogans like “Can You Hear Us Now?,” “Hey Nancy, Ever See Astroturf Grow This Fast?,” “Axis of Evil: NBC, CBS, ABC.”
About the Author
Ralph R. Reiland is the B. Kenneth Simon professor of free enterprise and an associate professor of economics at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh.
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Melvin| 9.21.09 @ 7:54AM
Here is something to think about. A million Conservatives took time, their own money and effort to gather from all points across this nation in our nation's capitol. The pundits seem to be forgetting one thing, there are "millions "of Conservatives, Libertarians, and those with no political affiliation other than wanting government to get off their backs that could not go to Washington D.C. .
The great elite powers in Washington need only to realize one thing. The next time when this many Conservatives, Libertarians, and those that want government to get off their backs show up, we will be in much greater numbers and we won't be so peaceful the next time.
martin j smith| 9.21.09 @ 8:10AM
I have given up on the New York Times years ago but since it has been viriually a" left "political organ I think it is appropriate to talk about that papaer just as would commment on Pelosi,Obama and any other political figure. Thus I have heard a suggestion to have a really large demonstration around some major media center:
CNN or the New York Times or NBC would good targets to consider. Demonstration should be peaceful. I think it would unwise to speak in any other terms.
Charles Butler | 9.21.09 @ 8:22AM
Operation CAN YOU HEAR US NOW is underway. A march on MSM offices Oct. 17. Read up
www.operationcanyouhearusnow.com
Appleby| 9.21.09 @ 10:21AM
Keep me posted. This one I am going to make, as long as they don't close the borders between Kanukistan and the USA meanwhile.
NC Voter| 9.21.09 @ 8:53AM
Our local paper here in Raleigh NC ran a column from Thomas Friedman of the NYT last week in which he complained that we were all overreacting because Pres Obama is governing as a "centrist." I nearly spilled my coffee from laughing so hard. And remember Dan Rather's comment to Bernard Goldberg that he thinks the NYT is "middle of the road."
S.L. Toddard| 9.21.09 @ 9:01AM
Failing to adequately cover the Glenn Beck parade is the least of the MSM failings:
• The NY Times uncovered that the Bush administration was spying on American citizens without warrants, in violation of the law – a clear and unmitigated felony. Make that felonies. “Perhaps thousands” of them. Instead of exposing this abuse – these crimes, this violation of the Constitution – the NY Times, at Bush’s request, *sat on the story for a year*:
h**p://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/16/politics/16program.html?hp&ex=1134795600&en=c7596fe0d4798785&ei=5094&partner=homepage
• Extreme deference to powerful political figures, esp the president, whether he Democrat or Republican. Scott McClellan himself called the media “"too deferential" to the Bush White House and its ludicrous claims of mushroom clouds and WMD, saying “the "liberal media" didn't live up to its reputation. If it had, the country would have been better served.” He called “the news media 'complicit enablers' in the White House's 'carefully orchestrated campaign to shape and manipulate sources of public approval' in the march to the Iraq war in 2002 and 2003."
h**p://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10649_Page2.html
h**p://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/washington/28mcclellan.html
• The MSM reprinting of pro-war government claims that were “allowed to stand unchallenged”, even at such “Liberal” organs as the NY Times:
h**p://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/26/international/middleeast/26FTE_NOTE.html?ex=1400990400&en=94c17fcffad92ca9&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND
• The Washington Post systematically burying anti-war views in the run-up to the Iraq War:
h**p://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A58127-2004Aug11?language=printer
• The near-universal use of Pentagon-controlled operatives masquerading as “independent analysts” to regurgitate the pro-government, pro-war claims with no challenge whatoever:
h**p://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/us/20generals.html?_r=1&hp;&oref;=login
• The near unanimous chorus of beltway establishment “journalists” to shield our most powerful elites from accountability for war crimes and other felonies:
h**p://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/14/AR2009011402931.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
• The MSM in general unquestioningly passing on unsubstantiated claims that Iraq and Saddam Hussein were responsible for the anthrax attacks in the run-up to the Iraq War
http://www.anthraxinvestigation.com/abc.html
• The NY Times “reporting” (i.e. unquestioningly and uncritically passing on the gov’t claim that)in Sept 02 (again in the lead-up to the Iraq War) "Iraq has stepped up its quest for nuclear weapons and has embarked on a worldwide hunt for materials to make an atomic bomb”
h**p://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/08/world/threats-responses-iraqis-us-says-hussein-intensifies-quest-for-bomb-parts.html
(change “h**p” to “http” to make the links viable)
Alan Brooks| 9.21.09 @ 10:52AM
"The NY Times uncovered that the Bush administration was spying on American citizens without warrants, in violation of the law – a clear and unmitigated felony. Make that felonies. “Perhaps thousands” of them. Instead of exposing this abuse – these crimes, this violation of the Constitution – the NY Times, at Bush’s request, *sat on the story for a year*"
Okay, okay. But you're like the rightwingnuts who in 2001 were still mentioning Juanita Broaderrick, Rose Law Firm, Monica.
Give it up, Todd. Let it go.
Alan Brooks| 9.21.09 @ 11:01AM
Todd,
you mean well; you mean TOO well, you're like Jimmuh Cawtah getting all indignant about racists under the bed..
Politics is a game, a serious game-- but you take it too seriously. Lighten up. You're like a Safety Patrol officer who wants to round up the bad guys in the playground and whack their heinies with a ruler.
S.L. Toddard| 9.21.09 @ 1:42PM
"Give it up, Todd. Let it go"
I would love to, believe me. My issue is this: the problem most AmSpec writers have with the press is not that it is not living up to its intended role as a check on gov't power - they have absolutely no problem with that; they are more than happy that our press serves as a megaphone for the most powerful interests rather than as a check on the same. No, their problem is that is no longer deviating from its duties to their party's advantage. It's rank hypocrisy.
Conrad Spiracy| 9.21.09 @ 4:29PM
Hey Sh!tL!st,
I'm baaaackk.
FISA (look it up) was written and passed by a Democrap congress (both houses), and signed into law by a D Prez - J.E. Carter. Every administration since has used unwarranted wiretaps - you just don't hear about the Demomented instances from the Dinosaur Press. Clinton used unwarranted wiretaps to break open the Walker/Whitworth spy ring.
FISA prescribes unwarranted taps when one end of the conversation is either overseas or involves a non-citizen. There are stipulations to using unwarranted taps - do you know what they are? I do - I read the act.
Let's ignore the gas centrifuge buried in the back yard of one of the top Iraqi scientists, shall we? And all the tractor trailers that crossed into Syria in the weeks before the invasion, too. As well as Saddam's gassing of the Kurds. And don't mention anything about Billaries quotes (BOTH of them) saying that Iraq had WMDs and Saddam needed to be taken out. We'll also forget about the fact that they made those quotes, and they did nothing, hence WTC1, Khobar Towers, 2 embassies, USS Cole and 9/11 (yes, it WAS their fault - through inaction).
I am sticking to just the national security issues, because without that, everything else is dustbunnies under the bed with the racists (hat-tip to A. Brooks).
32 years ago, I volunteered to give my life for my country. As an honorably discharged veteran with service connected disabilities, I can unequivocally state that all of this cr@p going on now is NOT what I volunteered to give my life for.
Grow up SL, or leave my country.
Con Spiracy
Margie| 9.22.09 @ 12:57AM
6 cheers to you, Con Spiracy! That's 3 from me and 3 from my Hubby.
Victor| 9.22.09 @ 1:55AM
Clear and Present Felonies?
Only in your liberal dreams.
The NYT "sat" on a story at GW's request? When did or does the Times do anything that a Republican wants? Go ask Bill Keller who asked him to squelch a story on money laundering by Arabs and what he told them. Kiss of, most likely.
After the "news" came out, the EU-PU told the banks not to co-operate with the US.
None of your sources pan out. If they did, the O-Bah-Ma boys would be holding hearings and subpeoning people, but they are not.
You want to talk about spying on Americans? Look into BillClinton's Echelon Program.
Irene Flick| 9.23.09 @ 1:50AM
Sorry Troll, I mean Todd, no one is reading these moldy citations you found under the bridge. Take off your Bush goggles and see what is happening now.
Ken (Old Texican)| 9.21.09 @ 9:08AM
Toddard thank you!
My scroll button was getting rusty. heh!
Ray| 9.21.09 @ 9:25AM
Here's some other news that the NYT's saw fit to bury: The Edwards Scandal. It wasn't "news" until he admitted his guilt. The same with van Jones, it wasn't news until he resigned. Ditto for Wright. He wasn't news until Obama denounced him and tossed him under the bus. This seems to be the pattern for the NYT's, ignoring Democrat scandals until they have no choice.
Barb| 9.21.09 @ 1:19PM
Or as in the case of ACORN, when they do finally have to cover it they spin it as an attack and not "news". NYT headline for the first ACORN story "Conservatives Draw Blood From Acorn" where they claim "It was, in effect, the latest scalp claimed by those on the right who have made no secret of their hope to weaken the Obama administration by attacking allies and appointees they view as leftist."
Then they have the following summary : "Conservatives believe that they have hit upon a winning formula for such attacks: mobilizing people to dig up dirt, trumpeting it on talk radio and television, prompting Congress to weigh in and demanding action from the Obama administration."
GASP!!! Imagine digging up dirt, publicizing it, prompting Congress to clean up the dirt and then demanding action by the President to ALSO clean up the dirt!
Ummm ... isn't that sort of the DEFINITION of journalism?
Louis Jenkins| 9.21.09 @ 11:19AM
There is irony, in that if you want to see how ridiculous our politics look you need to go to a foreign news source. On the other hand, the EU is a basket case as well. Are they being hypercritical of the US and cannot see their own backyard problems (ie, Eurostan)? Forget the NYT! Or other domestic print media. Did we read somewhere that Obama is in favor of a newspaper bailout?
Doctor Right| 9.21.09 @ 11:39AM
It's increasingly clear that "an understanding" has been reached between the media and the Obama Administration. In other words, They have "A Deal".
"The Deal" works like this:
1. Obama and Congress will intervene to prop-up failing left-wing networks and newspapers. (See Obama's latest thoughts on a "Newspaper Bailout" bill)
2.... In return, these same media outlets have agreed NOT to say anything negative about the Obama Administration, and not to pursue any stories or leads that might cast a negative shadow over the Administration.
This is the identical relationship that PRAVDA had with the government of the SOVIET UNION.
We DO NOT have a free press in the USA. With rare exception, we have a state-run media.Read More
Margie| 9.22.09 @ 1:02AM
Hey! Is that you? aka Dr. of Democracy? Anyhow, you, as usual are right on the money. I just pray enough of us wake up in time. Or is it already too late? I try to be optimistic, but it ain't easy.
Victor| 9.22.09 @ 2:07AM
Actually Pravda (Truth) was the official paper of the Communist Party and Isvestiya (News) was the official paper of the Soviet Government. This led to a popular saying in Russia:
In the Truth there is no news, and in the News there is no truth.
Much like today with the State-Run Media or SRM for short.
No Truth, No News, No Nothing!
Now they want to control the Internet and what we see and hear.
tonypal| 9.21.09 @ 12:18PM
S.L. Toddard:
Go to work.
Kerry Marvin| 9.21.09 @ 12:52PM
Re: On Feingold, Letter to the President:
Although, I Agree that the Question should have been asked. There is still another Question and Another after that to Still Be Answered.
One, Where Is The Birth Certificate.
Two, What Did You Know and When Did You Know It? For All, the TZAR”S You Have Surrounded Yourself With?
Three, When Did You Look To, Your Oath of Office, For anything other than, Absolute Power?
Why Would You Not Support the Constitution and Our Troops in the Face of The International Criminal Courts Attempt to Usurp Our Sovereignty?
And Finally, for the support of George Stephanopolis,
Outstanding George S. Now We Know the Meaning of the Word: TAX.
Now if we could only get the Other George S. to Come Around and Support what is Constitutional for THIS Country!
Obam is Ready to Give over Our Soldiers and Contractors And DISTRACTOR"S,
to The World Court By Supporting the ICC, as In INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT?
Where Is this, in His Oath of Office to Defend and Protect the Constitution from All Enemies Foreign Or Domestic or the Sovereignty of THIS NATION?
For If and When, He Does This, He Does.
He Disregards his Sworn Word, And His Oath of Office!
Try Looking up the definition of the word: TREASON. expl: ref: Latin tradere, To Give or Deliver over or up to give: 1. Betrayal of Trust or Faith: Treachery, 2. Violation of the Allegiance owed to One's Sovereign or State: Betrayal of One's Own country,
Specif., In The U.S.(as Declared in the Constitution), consisting only in levying war against the U.S. or in Giving Aid and Comfort to it's Enemies.
Treasonable: adj; Of Having the nature of, or involving treason: Traitorous. Treasonous, adj; traitorous.
ConservativeOutcry.com draws out attention to this headline, "Obama To Preside At UN Security Council," and reminds us that the U. S. Constitution has a few words to say about this: "No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State." "Chairman of the United Nations Security Council" clearly meets the Constitutional definition of both an Office and a Title bestowed by not only a foreign State but by a huge collection of foreign States. Since Congress has not given its consent, it appears that ONCE AGAIN, Obama ignores the U. S. Constitution, a document he described as, "a charter of negative liberties."
Enough Said?
Not by a LONG SHOT!
Come Nov Election's.
VOTE THEM "ALL" OUT! Let's Start the Conversation Over. For the Constitution, And American JUSTICE!
Quote : A liberal senator on Wednesday questioned President Barack Obama's policy "czars" after the senior advisers have taken heat mostly from Republican lawmakers.
Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) sent a letter to the president requesting the White House release information regarding the "roles and responsibilities" of the "czars." The Senate Judiciary Committee member also requested that the president's legal advisers prepare a "judgment" on the "czars'" constitutionality.
Feingold's letter represents one of the first examples of Democratic scrutiny of the president's "czars," who are not required to be confirmed by the Senate.
Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), who has been absent from the Senate since experiencing health issues, also expressed skepticism of Obama's use of policy "czars" in February.
Republicans in Congress ramped up criticism of the the appointed advisers following the resignation of former green jobs czar Van Jones after his signature was found on a petition implying the Bush administration played a role in the 9/11 terrorist attacks and making other controversial statements.
Earlier today, Reps. Darrell Issa (Calif.) and Lamar Smith (R-Tex.), the top Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the House Judiciary Committee respectively, sent a similar letter to White House counsel Greg Craig.
Energy and Environment "czar" Carol Browner, and FCC Diversity "czar" Mark Lloyd have also faced flak after they made other questionable remarks.
Full letter after the jump:
The President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
From the beginning of your administration, you have made an admirable commitment to transparency and open government. You showed the strength of your commitment by sending a memorandum to the heads of executive departments and agencies within a week of your inauguration, stating: "My administration will take appropriate action, consistent with law and policy, to disclose information rapidly in forms that the public can readily find and use."
As you know, there has been much discussion about your decisions to create and assign apparently significant policy-making responsibilities to White House and other executive positions; many of the persons filling these positions have come to be referred to in the media and even within your administration as policy "czars." I heard firsthand about this issue on several occasions from my constituents in recent town hall meetings in Wisconsin.
The Constitution gives the Senate the duty to oversee the appointment of Executive officers through the Appointments Clause in Article II, section 2. The Appointments Clause states that the President "shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise proved for, and which shall be established by law." This clause is an important part of the constitutional scheme of separation of powers, empowering the Senate to weigh in on the appropriateness of significant appointments and assisting in its oversight of the Executive Branch.
As a member of the Senate with the duty to oversee executive appointments and as the Chairman of the Senate Constitution Subcommittee, I respectfully urge you to disclose as much information as you can about these policy advisors and "czars." Specifically, I ask that you identify these individuals' roles and responsibilities, and provide the judgment(s) of your legal advisors as to whether and how these positions are consistent with the Appointments Clause. I hope that this information will help address some of the concerns that have been raised about new positions in the White House and elsewhere in the Executive Branch, and will inform any hearing that the Subcommittee holds on this topic.
Thank you for considering my views on this important matter. I very much appreciate your commitment to transparency and open government and look forward to your prompt response.
Sincerely,
Russell D. Feingold
United States Senator
End Quote:
In View of the above letter, I Suggest a Conspectus of events and ask for the same consideration be done by “all” of this Congress and Senate Now!
YOU SHOULD GOOGLE THE “Bilderbergers Club”. For The Meeting held in Virginia, During the Campaign.
Who Attended, Gietner, Clinton and Obama When The Press was Left on the Plane? An Investigation, Should be done,
By The States and Congress and the Senate Now. Into Any and ALL Allegations of Corruption.
THEN GET THE NAMES OF THE PARTICIPANTS, AND FIND THEIR CONGRESSIONAL SEAT, OFFICE AND DISTRICT.
PETITION AND PICKET OUTSIDE, WITH THE FACTS, DATES AND AGENDA THEY ARE FOISTING ON THE U.S.
“I DO BELIEVE THAT MEANS YOU TOO!”
So Let’s, Learn a New Word to ask Questions with. Who, What, When, Where and WHY?
Conspiracy: prob; lat conspirare;
a planning and acting together secretly, esp. for an unlawful or harmful purpose, such as murder or Treason.
the plan agreed on; plot. the group taking part in such plan. a combining or working together, the conspiracy of events.
Conspirator: a Person who takes part in a conspiracy.
Conspiratorial: of or characteristic of a conspirator or conspiracy. conspiring or fond of conspiracy.
Conspire: latin conspirare - to breath together, agree, unite. latin They Should be Voted Out of That Office.
Kurt| 9.21.09 @ 11:13PM
Oh yeah, just too long, nobody's gonna read and pay heed.
Victor| 9.22.09 @ 2:13AM
This letter needs to be cut and pasted everywhere and printed out and signed by as many people as possible and mailed to:
That Man in the White House
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Oh, Save the USA
and send a Tea Bag a day
to the same address and put the return address:
1 Long Wharf,
Boston, MA
Kerry Marvin| 9.21.09 @ 12:57PM
What Can and Will Be Done? YOUR VOTE IS WHAT WILL BE DONE .
Come November 2010.
and So will This Government, Elite Representatives, if they do Not Represent and uphold their Oath of Office
Barb| 9.21.09 @ 1:23PM
Upcoming "March on the Media" October 17th. Anyone up for a trip to NYC???
http://www.operationcanyouhearusnow.com/
Jobe| 9.21.09 @ 1:37PM
It certainly is no secret that the NY times is the house organ for the liberal wing of the democratic party. This means that it spends its time preaching to the choir because no one who is interested in actual news pays it any attention. In fact, most of the people I know don't even discuss the times any more because it is not worth the time.
Pingback| 9.21.09 @ 1:45PM
Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : All the News That's Fit to Bury [spe links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Memento Mori| 9.21.09 @ 2:18PM
Regarding the NY Times I am reminded of this quotation: "Mediocrity is the excuse failure uses to avoid contempt."
Hasta la vista, Gray Lady...
Kerry Marvin| 9.21.09 @ 2:29PM
For Your Attention:
RE: Official 2008 Bilderberg Participant List
Friday, June 6, 2008
BILDERBERG MEETING
"Chantilly, Virginia, USA"
5-8 June 2008
CURRENT LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
Honorary Chairman
BEL "Davignon, Etienne" "Vice Chairman, Suez-Tractebel"
DEU "Ackermann, Josef" "Chairman of the Management Board and the Group Executive Committee, Deutsche Bank AG"
CAN "Adams, John" Associate Deputy Minister of National Defence and Chief of the Communications Security Establishment Canada
USA "Ajami, Fouad" "Director, Middle East Studies Program, The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, The Johns Hopkins University"
USA "Alexander, Keith B." "Director, National Security Agency"
INT "Almunia, Joaquín " "Commissioner, European Commission"
GRC "Alogoskoufis, George" Minister of Economy and Finance
USA "Altman, Roger C." "Chairman, Evercore Partners Inc."
TUR "Babacan, Ali " Minister of Foreign Affairs
NLD "Balkenende, Jan Peter" Prime Minister
PRT "Balsemão, Francisco Pinto" "Chairman and CEO, IMPRESA, S.G.P.S.; Former Prime Minister"
FRA "Baverez, Nicolas" "Partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP"
ITA "Bernabè, Franco" "CEO, Telecom Italia Spa"
USA "Bernanke, Ben S." "Chairman, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System"
SWE "Bildt, Carl" Minister of Foreign Affairs
FIN "Blåfield, Antti " "Senior Editorial Writer, Helsingin Sanomat"
DNK "Bosse, Stine" "CEO, TrygVesta"
CAN "Brodie, Ian " "Chief of Staff, Prime Minister's Office"
AUT "Bronner, Oscar" "Publisher and Editor, Der Standard"
FRA "Castries, Henri de " "Chairman of the Management Board and CEO, AXA"
ESP "Cebrián, Juan Luis" "CEO, PRISA"
CAN "Clark, Edmund" "President and CEO, TD Bank Financial Group"
GBR "Clarke, Kenneth" Member of Parliament
NOR "Clemet, Kristin" "Managing Director, Civita"
USA "Collins, Timothy C." "Senior Managing Director and CEO, Ripplewood Holdings, LLC"
FRA "Collomb, Bertrand" "Honorary Chairman, Lafarge"
PRT "Costa, António" Mayor of Lisbon
USA "Crocker, Chester A." James R. Schlesinger Professor of Strategic Studies
USA "Daschle, Thomas A." Former US Senator and Senate Majority Leader
CAN "Desmarais, Jr., Paul " "Chairman and co-CEO, Power Corporation of Canada"
GRC "Diamantopoulou, Anna" Member of Parliament
USA "Donilon, Thomas E." "Partner, O'Melveny & Myers"
ITA "Draghi, Mario" "Governor, Banca d'Italia"
AUT "Ederer, Brigitte" "CEO, Siemens AG Österreich"
CAN "Edwards, N. Murray " "Vice Chairman, Candian Natural Resources Limited"
DNK "Eldrup, Anders " "President, DONG A/S"
ITA "Elkann, John" "Vice Chairman, Fiat S.p.A."
USA "Farah, Martha J." "Director, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience; Walter H. Annenberg Professor in the Natural Sciences, University of Pennsylvania"
USA "Feldstein, Martin S." "President and CEO, National Bureau of Economic Research"
DEU "Fischer, Joschka" Former Minister of Foreign Affairs
USA "Ford, Jr., Harold E." "Vice Chairman, Merill Lynch & Co., Inc."
CHE "Forstmoser, Peter" "Professor for Civil, Corporation and Capital Markets Law, University of Zürich"
IRL "Gallagher, Paul " Attorney General
USA "Geithner, Timothy F. " "President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of New York"
USA "Gigot, Paul " "Editorial Page Editor, The Wall Street Journal"
IRL "Gleeson, Dermot " "Chairman, AIB Group"
NLD "Goddijn, Harold" "CEO, TomTom"
TUR "Gögüs, Zeynep " "Journalist; Founder, EurActiv.com.tr"
USA "Graham, Donald E." "Chairman and CEO, The Washington Post Company"
NLD "Halberstadt, Victor" "Professor of Economics, Leiden University; Former Honorary Secretary General of Bilderberg Meetings"
USA "Holbrooke, Richard C. " "Vice Chairman, Perseus, LLC"
FIN "Honkapohja, Seppo" "Member of the Board, Bank of Finland"
INT "Hoop Scheffer, Jaap G. de" "Secretary General, NATO"
USA "Hubbard, Allan B." "Chairman, E & A Industries, Inc."
BEL "Huyghebaert, Jan" "Chairman of the Board of Directors, KBC Group"
DEU "Ischinger, Wolfgang" Former Ambassador to the UK and US
USA "Jacobs, Kenneth" "Deputy Chairman, Head of Lazard U.S., Lazard Frères & Co. LLC"
USA "Johnson, James A." "Vice Chairman, Perseus, LLC" (Obama's man tasked with selecting his running mate)
SWE "Johnstone, Tom " "President and CEO, AB SKF"
USA "Jordan, Jr., Vernon E." "Senior Managing Director, Lazard Frères & Co. LLC"
FRA "Jouyet, Jean-Pierre " Minister of European Affairs
GBR "Kerr, John " "Member, House of Lords; Deputy Chairman, Royal Dutch Shell plc."
USA "Kissinger, Henry A." "Chairman, Kissinger Associates, Inc."
DEU "Klaeden, Eckart von" "Foreign Policy Spokesman, CDU/CSU"
USA "Kleinfeld, Klaus" "President and COO, Alcoa"
TUR "Koç, Mustafa " "Chairman, Koç Holding A.S."
FRA "Kodmani, Bassma" "Director, Arab Reform Initiative"
USA "Kravis, Henry R." "Founding Partner, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co."
USA "Kravis, Marie-Josée" "Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute, Inc."
INT "Kroes, Neelie " "Commissioner, European Commission"
POL "Kwasniewski, Aleksander " Former President
AUT "Leitner, Wolfgang" "CEO, Andritz AG"
ESP "León Gross, Bernardino" "Secretary General, Office of the Prime Minister"
INT "Mandelson, Peter" "Commissioner, European Commission"
FRA "Margerie, Christophe de" "CEO, Total"
CAN "Martin, Roger" "Dean, Joseph L. Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto"
HUN "Martonyi, János" "Professor of International Trade Law; Partner, Baker & McKenzie; Former Minister of Foreign Affairs"
USA "Mathews, Jessica T. " "President, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
INT "McCreevy, Charlie " "Commissioner, European Commission"
USA "McDonough, William J." "Vice Chairman and Special Advisor to the Chairman, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc."
CAN "McKenna, Frank" "Deputy Chair, TD Bank Financial Group"
GBR "McKillop, Tom " "Chairman, The Royal Bank of Scotland Group"
FRA "Montbrial, Thierry de" "President, French Institute for International Relations"
ITA "Monti, Mario" "President, Universita Commerciale Luigi Bocconi"
USA "Mundie, Craig J. " "Chief Research and Strategy Officer, Microsoft Corporation"
NOR "Myklebust, Egil" "Former Chairman of the Board of Directors SAS, Norsk Hydro ASA"
DEU "Nass, Matthias" "Deputy Editor, Die Zeit"
NLD "Netherlands, H.M. the Queen of the"
FRA "Ockrent, Christine" "CEO, French television and radio world service"
FIN "Ollila, Jorma" "Chairman, Royal Dutch Shell plc"
SWE "Olofsson, Maud " Minister of Enterprise and Energy; Deputy Prime Minister
NLD "Orange, H.R.H. the Prince of"
GBR "Osborne, George" Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
TUR "Öztrak, Faik" Member of Parliament
ITA "Padoa-Schioppa, Tommaso " Former Minister of Finance; President of Notre Europe
GRC "Papahelas, Alexis" "Journalist, Kathimerini"
GRC "Papalexopoulos, Dimitris" "CEO, Titan Cement Co. S.A."
USA "Paulson, Jr., Henry M." Secretary of the Treasury
USA "Pearl, Frank H." "Chairman and CEO, Perseus, LLC"
USA "Perle, Richard N." "Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research"
FRA "Pérol, François" Deputy General Secretary in charge of Economic Affairs
DEU "Perthes, Volker" "Director, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik"
BEL "Philippe, H.R.H. Prince"
CAN "Prichard, J. Robert S." "President and CEO, Torstar Corporation"
CAN "Reisman, Heather M." "Chair and CEO, Indigo Books & Music Inc."
USA "Rice, Condoleezza" Secretary of State
PRT "Rio, Rui " Mayor of Porto
USA "Rockefeller, David " "Former Chairman, Chase Manhattan Bank"
ESP "Rodriguez Inciarte, Matias" "Executive Vice Chairman, Grupo Santander"
USA "Rose, Charlie" "Producer, Rose Communications"
DNK "Rose, Flemming" "Editor, Jyllands Posten"
USA "Ross, Dennis B." "Counselor and Ziegler Distinguished Fellow, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy"
USA "Rubin, Barnett R." "Director of Studies and Senior Fellow, Center for International Cooperation, New York University"
TUR "Sahenk, Ferit " "Chairman, Dogus Holding A.S."
USA "Sanford, Mark" Governor of South Carolina
USA "Schmidt, Eric" "Chairman of the Executive Committee and CEO, Google"
AUT "Scholten, Rudolf " "Member of the Board of Executive Directors, Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG"
DNK "Schur, Fritz H. " Fritz Schur Gruppen
CZE "Schwarzenberg, Karel " Minister of Foreign Affairs
USA "Sebelius, Kathleen" Governor of Kansas
USA "Shultz, George P." "Thomas W. and Susan B. Ford Distinguished Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University"
ESP "Spain, H.M. the Queen of"
CHE "Spillmann, Markus" "Editor-in-Chief and Head Managing Board, Neue Zürcher Zeitung AG"
USA "Summers, Lawrence H." "Charles W. Eliot Professor, Harvard University"
GBR "Taylor, J. Martin" "Chairman, Syngenta International AG"
USA "Thiel, Peter A." "President, Clarium Capital Management, LLC"
NLD "Timmermans, Frans " Minister of European Affairs
RUS "Trenin, Dmitri V." "Deputy Director and Senior Associate, Carnegie Moscow Center"
INT "Trichet, Jean-Claude" "President, European Central Bank"
USA "Vakil, Sanam" "Assistant Professor of Middle East Studies, The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University"
FRA "Valls, Manuel " Member of Parliament
GRC "Varvitsiotis, Thomas" "Co-Founder and President, V + O Communication"
CHE "Vasella, Daniel L." "Chairman and CEO, Novartis AG"
FIN "Väyrynen, Raimo" "Director, The Finnish Institute of International Affairs"
FRA "Védrine, Hubert" Hubert Védrine Conseil
NOR "Vollebaek, Knut" "High Commissioner on National Minorities, OSCE"
SWE "Wallenberg, Jacob" "Chairman, Investor AB"
USA "Weber, J. Vin" "CEO, Clark & Weinstock"
USA "Wolfensohn, James D. " "Chairman, Wolfensohn & Company, LLC"
USA "Wolfowitz, Paul " "Visiting Scholar, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research"
INT "Zoellick, Robert B. " "President, The World Bank Group"
Rapporteurs
GBR "Bredow, Vendeline von" "Business Correspondent, The Economist"
GBR "Wooldridge, Adrian D." "Foreign Correspondent, The Economist"
AUT Austria HUN Hungary
BEL Belgium INT International
CHE Switzerland IRL Ireland
CAN Canada ITA Italy
CZE Czech Republic NOR Norway
DEU Germany NLD Netherlands
DNK Denmark PRT Portugal
ESP Spain POL Poland
FRA France RUS Russia
FIN Finland SWE Sweden
GBR Great Britain TUR Turkey
GRC Greece USA United States of America
Let's Stick with the U.S. Representatives, for Now.
United States
George W. Ball[6] (1954-1992), former U.S. diplomat
John Edwards[7][8]
Gerald Ford[9]
Bill Clinton[10] (1991), former US President, 1993 - 2001
Jon Corzine (1995 - 1997[4], 1999, 2003, 2004), former US Senator, current Governor of New Jersey
Richard N. Haass (1991, 2003, 2004[11]), president, Council on Foreign Relations
Lee H. Hamilton (1997[4]), former US Congressman
Christian Herter[12] (1961, 1963, 1964, 1966), former Secretary of State
Richard Holbrooke (2006), former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
Joseph E. Johnson[13] (1954), former President, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Henry Kissinger[11] (1957, 1964, 1966, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1977-2008), Secretary of State, 1973 - 1977
Sam Nunn (1996, 1997[4]), former US Senator
Rick Perry[14] (2007), Current Governor of Texas
Kathleen Sebelius[15], Health and Human Services secretary
Timothy Geithner[16], Treasury Secretary
Lawrence Summers[17], Director of the National Economic Council
Barack Obama
Hillary Clinton
Paul Volcker[18], Chair of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board
What Exactly was the Agenda? Why Were They There? What Did Hillary Gain By; What did Mr Obama Gain? What was the Vetting Process for this Meeting?
What was the Vetting Process for Mr. Obama's Czar's ?
Who's Agenda Is Mr. Obama Following NOW?
Anyone Can Ask The Question's, But Where are the Answers? Where is Congress? Where is the Senate? Well Mr Fiengold, Stepped up to the Plate, Late, But there is a window of Opportunity to Ask these Questions, and Many, Many More!
Time to Aks Each of U.S. Where "WE THE PEOPLE" WANT TO GO WITH THIS?
any Comment, Mr Obama? Mrs. Clinton? and All The Rest on this List?
Kurt| 9.21.09 @ 11:17PM
Of course there will be no comment. You play right into their hands by appearing to be a radical nut case. I don't believe that, I don't believe they believe that, however, perception is reality my friend. For the good of mankind-condense!
Kerry Marvin| 9.21.09 @ 3:31PM
Welcome to Shreveport: Your rights are now suspended.
Over two months ago, the National Association for Gun Rights first broke this incredible tale out of Shreveport, Louisiana.
At the time, no other gun rights organization had touched the story. But when we tracked down the victim for an interview, we couldn't believe what we heard, and we immediately sent out a nationwide alert.
The story went viral overnight.
If this tale of government abuse moves you, send it to a friend or family member to get the word out.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
According to Cedric Glover, mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana, his cops "have a power that [. . .] the President of these Unites States does not have": His cops can take away your rights.
And would you like to guess which rights he has in mind?
Just ask Shreveport resident Robert Baillio, who got pulled over for having two pro-gun bumper stickers on the back of his truck -- and had his gun confiscated.
While the officer who pulled him over says Baillio failed to use his turn signal, the only questions he had for Baillio concerned guns: Whether he had a gun, where the gun was, and if he was a member of a pro-gun organization. No requests for a driver's licence, proof of insurance, or vehicle registration -- and no discussion of a turn signal.
Accordingly, Baillio told the officer the truth, which led the police officer to search his car without permission and confiscate his gun.
However, not only does Louisiana law allow resident to drive with loaded weapons in their vehicles, but Mr. Baillio possessed a concealed carry license!
What does such behavior demonstrate, other than transparent political profiling -- going so far as to use the infamous Department of Homeland Security report on "Americans of a rightwing persuasion" as a how-to guidebook, no less?
Mr. Baillio made no secret of his political affiliations: An American flag centers a wide flourish of pro-freedom stickers and decals on his back windshield.
In fact, when Baillio asked the officer if everyone he pulls over gets the same treatment, the officer said no and pointed to the back of his truck.
Baillio phoned Mayor Glover to complain about this "suspension of rights" only to find that his city's morbidly obese "commander in chief" was elated at the story: According to Glover, Baillio got "served well, protected well, and even got a consideration that maybe [he] should not have gotten."
Thankfully, Mr. Baillio recorded a good bit of that phone call. You can watch a video with the transcriptions here. I've reproduced a chunk of the call below:
Baillio: (in the context of being asked about the presence of a gun) Well, I answered that question honestly, and he disarmed me.
Glover: Which would be an appropriate and proper action, sir. The fact that you gave the correct answer -- it simply means that you did what it is you were supposed to have done, and that is to give that weapon to the police officer so he could appropriately place it in a place where it would not be a threat to you, to him, or to anyone in the general public.
[. . .]
Glover: My direction to you is that, had you chosen not to properly identify the fact that you had a weapon and directed that officer to where that weapon was located; had you been taken from the vehicle, and the officer, in the interest of his safety, chose to secure you in a safe position, and then looked, found, and determined that you did, in fact, have a weapon...then, sir, you would have faced additional, [inaudible], and more severe criminal sanctions.
Baillio: So what you're saying is: I give up all my rights to keep and bear arms if I'm stopped by the police: Is that correct?
Glover: Sir, you have no right, when you have been pulled over by a police officer for a potential criminal offense [which would be what?! - DB] to stand there with your weapon at your side in your hand [Baillio's weapon was nowhere near his side or his hand, and Glover knew that. -- DB] because of your second amendment rights, sir. That does not mean at that point your second amendment right has been taken away; it means at that particular point in time, it has been suspended.
Will Grigg from ProLibertate, an excellent freedom blog, has this to say:
According to Glover, a police officer may properly disarm any civilian at any time, and the civilian's duty is to surrender his gun -- willingly, readily, cheerfully, without cavil or question.
From Glover's perspective, it is only when firearms are in the hands of people other than the state's uniformed enforcers/oppressors that they constitute a threat, not only to the public and those in charge of exercising official violence but also to the private gun owner himself.
NAGR spoke with Mr. Baillio, and he told us that he's in the process of securing the official procedures and codes for firearm handling and private property confiscation for the Shreveport police department.
So far, the city has been half-heartedly cooperating with him.
"I felt sick," Baillio told NAGR. "My uncles didn't die for this country so I could surrender my rights like a wimp. I felt terrible. I was just thinking of all that my family has done for freedom in this nation -- including dying -- and here they are disarming me at a traffic stop."
What to do?
Read Luke's commentary here, and participate in the discussion by leaving a comment.
Send this around. This kind of behavior cannot go unchecked.
Call Mayor Glover's office to complain:
(318) 673-5050.
If You Won't Stand For this,
Stand up and Be Counted!
Kurt| 9.21.09 @ 11:19PM
Stimulus money at work.
Kerry Marvin| 9.21.09 @ 3:41PM
I'll leave you with one last consideration. As a licensed firearms instructor in charge of a hundred different students every month, I'm often asked if citizens should voluntarily inform police officers of the presence of a firearm during a routine traffic stop.
While different states have different laws, my answer for Colorado citizens is an emphatic "No": Colorado law doesn't require you to volunteer that kind of information, and this case in Louisiana proves why, if at all possible, you should never invite trouble by doing so.
For Liberty,
Dudley Brown
Executive Director
P.S. NAGR maintains a gun rights blog that our members use to keep abreast of current gun rights developments.
Whether the news is coming down from Congress, the states, the ATF, Michael Bloomberg, Eric Holder, or even this particular autocratic city official, Luke will keep you ahead of the game and up to speed on the battle for your gun rights.
To visit the blog, click here or point your browser to www.NationalGunRights.org/Blog.
Liberal Reader| 9.21.09 @ 3:58PM
Apparently reactionary websites like American Spectator are great places for hate-groups to canvas for new members.
Kurt| 9.21.09 @ 11:25PM
Yes Mr Liberal Reader, I do hate- scratch that ugly word-loath tyranny. But you know what, I love liberty, I've thrown my hatred down, won't you join me in this one world love of liberty? Please don't tell me you hate liberty. You do love liberty, don't you?
Margie| 9.22.09 @ 1:47AM
Gee LibReader, is that why you come here?
Kerry Marvin| 9.21.09 @ 4:42PM
Dear Liberal Reader, Whoever you may be,
I Would rather stand for the constitution as written, and the bill of Rights as they stand. to protect and Garantee your Freedom, as well as mine, and our children and their children.
The Thing You Obviously Do Not Understand. Is Those Who Go into Harms Way, Our Servicemembers, and Those Who Have Served. Our Vetrans, Stood For Their Oat, and Payed for your Right to "BITCH" and Complaign, and Do Nothing, to Forward this Nation.
They Have Also Died, For YOU!
What would you Do? Sign up to be the First, to Get Re-educated, by The Want to Control, OBAMA CZAR"S?
Who Are We To Elect Officials? Who Are Supposed to Write the Bill's and Pass the Laws? Oh, It's O.K. For the Appollo Alliance, to Circumvent the Constitution, and All Our Law's?
That's Right. What Goes Around, Comes Around. What will You Do When it is Your Rights? Or Your Life, Or Your Children?
Re-Educate Yourself.
Read The Constitution, and The Bill of Rights.
Maybe, You will Change Your Attitude, Dude!
Not Likely, But it Could Happen.
LOL-InDeed!
S.L. Toddard| 9.21.09 @ 4:50PM
FYI - you only really need to capitalize the first letter of the first word in a sentence, excluding proper nouns and so forth. Also, our rights are not threatened by anyone in Iraq, or Afghanistan for that matter. Whatever is being defended there, it is not our Constitution. The only plausible threat to our rights comes from the only body capable of taking them away - our own gov't.
That's a truism Republicans only bother to pay lip-service to when they are out of power, btw.
ben| 9.21.09 @ 8:12PM
"Also, our rights are not threatened by anyone in Iraq, or Afghanistan for that matter. "
----------------------
over 3,000 People Had Their "Right To Life" Taken Away On sept 11th 2001 By A Terrorist Group Operating Out Of Where Again?
"Whatever is being defended there, it is not our Constitution. "
-----------------------
our Lives Are Being Defended There.
"The only plausible threat to our rights comes from the only body capable of taking them away - our own gov't. "
----------------------------
so Foreign Governments Are No Threat To Us Or Our Rights? the Most Likely Threat Is Our Own Government, But Definitely Not The Only Threat. what About The Threat From Retoddard People Like You Voting Statist/Oppressors Like pinochiobama To Head Our Government?
the Truth Is That There Are Many Threats To Our Rights Other Than Our Own Government, But The Most Serious Threat To Our Rights Is Having Our Own Government Run By democrats.
Kurt| 9.21.09 @ 11:29PM
It is not true that the only threat to our liberty comes from our own government; it is true that the greatest threat to our liberty comes from our own government/from within/US.
Margie| 9.22.09 @ 1:59AM
"Also, our rights are not threatened by anyone in Iraq, or Afghanistan for that matter. Whatever is being defended there, it is not our Constitution."
-I am picturing S.L.Toddard embedded with one of our troops over in Afghanistan. Trying to picture it.
kea| 9.22.09 @ 4:40AM
"Also, our rights are not threatened by anyone in Iraq, or Afghanistan for that matter." - It's called Al Queda dimwit...and if you think they won't try again you've got your head in the sand. I just hope we don't leave before the job is finished and waste the American blood already shed. If you talk to almost any soldier or family they dont want to see their work go for naught.
"The only plausible threat to our rights comes from the only body capable of taking them away - our own gov't." - Seems like plenty of that going around right now!!
Margie| 9.22.09 @ 2:11PM
Yes kea, and I heard this morning that the Liar-in-Cheif is voting "present" on sending the 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan that a General said we need to do the job. he's now President and he's still voting "present" like he did while a Senator. He is a COWARD! Do the right thing, Mr. Obama! DO THE RIGHT THING!
Oldefarte| 9.21.09 @ 5:04PM
Hopefully, beginning with the 2010 congressional elections, the NYT, CBS, NBC, The Boston Globe, the Washington Post, etc will ALL know the extent of American-taxpayer anger and disgust at the filth, corruption, illegality, etc that is occurring in our governments [and which is being facilitated by the MSM's brainwashing of Americans]!!!!!!!!!
Kurt| 9.21.09 @ 11:41PM
Hey brother olfart, you ain't wrong, but keep in mind we all need to look in the mirror and remember that whatever benefit we have ever received from Uncle Sam-military not withstanding-is part of this problem. That doesn't exclude folks like Haliburton or the other $100 hammer chargers to the military, indeed they may be worse than the tree hugger because they know better. When in doubt-vote 'em out, right old fart? If I was on facebook I would ask you to be my friend, or ask if you would be my friend-but I'm not. I am on your side.
Calvin Dodge| 9.21.09 @ 11:22PM
My favorite poster had the image of the Democrat party (the donky silhouette over stars and stripes), with the slogan "Marxism: Opiate of the Asses"
Kurt| 9.21.09 @ 11:44PM
Amen and goodnight while you think and dream of the mouse pulling the thorn out of the elephants zzzzz......zzzz..zzz.z..zzz.
Sam H| 9.22.09 @ 12:38AM
S.L. Toddard,
So Mr. Hussein was as innocent as driven snow, was he? Funny how you never mention the peace treaty ending my war that he abrogated. Funny how you never mention dual-purpose equipment and the man on tape explaining how he is just waiting for the UN inspectors to leave before ramping production up...again. Funny how you never mention his use of WMD and 5,000 dead Kurds. Funny how you never mention bounties paid to the families of dead Palestinian suicide bombers. Funny how you never mention his ties to Islamic terrorism. Funny how you never mention Abu Nidal living at the Baghdad Hilton. Funny how you never mention training facilities for jihadis. Funny how...
It was up to Mr. Hussein to account for his known stockpiles of WMD. The man refused to do so and wanted the world to think they existed.
I believe they still do.
And one thing is sure....Mr. Hussein does not possess WMD now.
Thank you Mr. Bush.
Sam H| 9.22.09 @ 12:38AM
S.L. Toddard,
So Mr. Hussein was as innocent as driven snow, was he? Funny how you never mention the peace treaty ending my war that he abrogated. Funny how you never mention dual-purpose equipment and the man on tape explaining how he is just waiting for the UN inspectors to leave before ramping production up...again. Funny how you never mention his use of WMD and 5,000 dead Kurds. Funny how you never mention bounties paid to the families of dead Palestinian suicide bombers. Funny how you never mention his ties to Islamic terrorism. Funny how you never mention Abu Nidal living at the Baghdad Hilton. Funny how you never mention training facilities for jihadis. Funny how...
It was up to Mr. Hussein to account for his known stockpiles of WMD. The man refused to do so and wanted the world to think they existed.
I believe they still do.
And one thing is sure....Mr. Hussein does not possess WMD now.
Thank you Mr. Bush.
juandomino| 9.22.09 @ 12:54AM
The End of America.
Had the leftists been patient enough to wait another twenty years to press their agenda they would have had total success with very little resistance. By that time the "Greatest Generation" would have been in their graves, Baby Boomers would have spawned and indoctrinated another generation of harmless idiots, and the zero liability voter would have outnumbered the rest of us 2 to 1. They should learn a little something from their Muslim brothers.
What does this mean for America? That we will turn back the advancing horde intent on destroying our liberty? No, they will win this war in the end. All empires fall, read your history books. What it means, clearly, for anyone with eyes to see is that the bloodless coup led by the radical left in November will lead to a bloody revolution in the near future. A revolution that will only succeed in dividing our people and our nation. We will be like so many other war torn regions of the globe, essentially reduced to a third world country with all the obvious and grim implications.
If you put your hope in next years election or the coming election of 2012, I am sorry to say, you are a fool. To imply that the fix for Washington is a new clique of politicians is like saying the fix for obesity is a bigger better burger.
Politicians may not represent the people in the sense that they enforce our views in Washington as they were elected to do but they most definately represent the people in the sense that they are Godless and completely corrupt, as is our nation.
Our problem in America is not that our leaders do not represent our values but that they represent our values all to well. In a nation where 85% of the population professes to believe in God, we certainly have an odd way of showing it.
More than half of all marriages end in divorce (the stats are the same for the churched and the unchurched). 85% of convicted felons come from those now fatherless homes. Half of all pregnancies in America are unintended, 40% of these pregnancies end with the child being aborted. 22% of all pregnancies end in abortion. The children that survive this intitial onslaught, we offer up to a public school system which is a complete and total failure, unless of course educating our children was never the intent in the first place. I could go on with hundreds of similarly depressing statistics, look them up for yourself sometime. We are a nation of liars, cheats and thieves. We are obsessed with entertainment, excess and leisure. We amuse ourselves with the suffering of others, (see Jerry Springer etc.).
There is no bailout for moral bankruptcy. There is no quick fix for a culture in decay. Will we be like Nineveh and turn from our wickedness, or will we like Pharaoh, harden our hearts? Is our fate already sealed, as Sodom and as Gomorrah, are we merely waiting on the brimstone? Whatever the case may be, our salvation will not come from a politician, a political movement, a conservative awakening or a patriotic uprising.
Our one and only hope is that we return our hearts to the true Messiah. Not that blabbering waste of human flesh that sits in the oval office or his equally unimpressive replacement, whomever he/she may be. Our hope is in God. Maybe we cannot save our country. But you can save your souls. Dear God people!!! Wake up!! The eleventh our is past.
David| 9.22.09 @ 4:01PM
When I was young, the need for Radio Free Europe was proof positive that the folks living behind the iron curtain were a poor lot indeed.
No more NYT, Time or Newsweek in my house. To read about the US, we get FT and the Economist.