a little reality check for the reality checkers...

I stumbled upon the latest Reality Check brought to you by WhiteHouse.gov. Apparently the Obama administration is still obsessing over FOX news, this time targeting Glenn Beck. They took Beck to task, providing the "REALITY" to his "RHETORIC". I provide the *ACTUAL REALITY*.

What topic do they take issue with? His comments on Afghanistan? Health Care? The economy? Nope. The Olympics.

The problem is, I don't think they were very honest or thorough in their fact checking.

Last night Fox News continued its disregard for the facts in an attempt to smear the Administration's efforts to win the Olympics for the United States. In the past, hosting the Olympics has been a source of pride and unity for the country, but once again Fox News' Glenn Beck program has shown that nothing is worthy of respect if it can be used as part of a partisan attack to boost ratings.

RHETORIC:
BECK SAID VANCOUVER LOST $1 BILLION WHEN IT "HAD THE OLYMPICS." Glenn Beck said, "Vancouver lost, how much was it? they lost a billion dollars when they had the Olympics." [Transcript, Glenn Beck Show, 9/29/09]

REALITY:
VANCOUVER'S OLYMPICS WILL NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL 2010. Vancouver will host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games from February 12 – 28, 2010 and March 12-21, 2010, respectively. [Vancouver2010.com, accessed 9/29/09]

ACTUAL REALITY:
MONTREAL OLYMPICS LOST $1 BILLION. Beck just got the name of the Canadian cities mixed up.

"Montreal's Olympic Stadium needs a new nickname — the Big Owe no longer applies because Quebecers have finally paid off their $1.5-billion debt from the 1976 Summer Games."

"Australian taxpayers are still paying off an Olympic debt from the 2004 Sydney Games that could cost them $32 million a year for a decade. Barcelona is still paying back a $1.4 billion Olympic deficit. And even the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002 left Utah with a $155 million deficit."

"Greece is facing a massive budget deficit as it tries to absorb the cost of the Olympic Games."

The Auditor General of New South Wales stated cost overruns plagued the 2000 Sydney Olympics and as the guarantor of the games, the state government spent $2.3 billion.

The 1994 Lillehammer and 1992 Albertville Olympics along with the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympic Games ran multimillion dollar deficits.

Even Calgary – considered a model Winter Olympic Games – lost money. The International Olympic Committee claims Calgary turned a $90 million profit in 1988, but Thomas Walkom, a Toronto Starr reporter and columnist disputes those figures.

In 1999, he reported the organizing committee omitted the cost of building facilities from its figures. The federal, provincial and municipal governments contributed $461million towards the games – nullifying any profits.

***

RHETORIC:
VALERIE JARRETT "WAS LAST SEEN WITH THE NEA." Beck's guest, FOX News contributor Pat Caddell, said, "[Obama] is going to go [to Copenhagen] with Valerie Jarrett who was last seen with the NEA pumping up their use of, you know, money." [Transcript, Glenn Beck Show, 9/29/09]

REALITY:
VALERIE JARRETT WAS NOT ON THE NEA CONFERENCE CALL. Valerie Jarrett was not a participant in the August 10, 2009 United We Serve/NEA conference call.

ACTUAL REALITY:
FROM TRANSCRIPT OF CONFERENCE CALL:

Ms Buffy Wicks: So, I'm at the office of Public Engagement at the White House. Our office does a lot of outreach to communities all across the country, either by constituency groups or issue. We have about 20 folks and we work under Valerie Jarrett, she's one of our fantastic leaders, and Tina Chen. And so we're really here at your disposal as we want to be helpful to you.

Jarrett was not a participant on the conference call, but the call was placed on her behalf, and the White House, as stated by Buffy Wicks.

***
RHETORIC:

CHICAGO IS CLOSING THE GOVERNMENT SEVERAL DAYS A WEEK BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO BE OPEN. Beck's guest Caddell said, "Chicago is closing the government several days a week because they cannot afford to be open. They are going to go and reward -- this is the biggest scandal." [Transcript, Glenn Beck Show, 9/29/09]

REALITY:
CHICAGO HAS HAD ONE REDUCED-SERVICE DAY IN 2009, AND WILL HAVE TWO MORE ON THE FRIDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING AND ON CHRISTMAS EVE. On August 17, 2009, CBS Chicago reported, "If you planned to check out a library book, visit a city clinic or have your garbage picked up on Monday, you're out of luck. The City of Chicago is basically closed for business on Aug. 17, a reduced-service day in which most city employees are off without pay. City Hall, public libraries, health clinics and most city offices will be closed. Emergency service providers including police, firefighters and paramedics are working at full strength, but most services not directly related to public safety, including street sweeping, will not be provided. That also includes garbage pickup. Residents who receive regular collection on Mondays should expect trash to be picked up on Tuesday. Some other customers may experience a one-day delay as collectors catch up. As part of the 2009 budget, three reduced-service days were planned for 2009, days which are unpaid for all affected employees -- the Friday after Thanksgiving; Christmas Eve; and New Year's Eve. The City Council recently approved moving the reduced-service day planned for New Year's Eve to Monday. The 2009 budget anticipates saving $8.3 million due to the reduced-service days. In addition to reduced service days, all non-union employees were asked to take a series of furlough days and unpaid holidays, and most non-sworn union employees agreed to similar unpaid time off." [CBS Chicago, 8/17/09]

ACTUAL REALITY:
According to WH.gov, Pat Caddell said this, not Beck. Caddell has worked for Democratic presidential candidates George McGovern in 1972, Jimmy Carter in 1976 and 1980, Gary Hart in 1984, Joe Biden in 1988, and Jerry Brown in 1992....so, take it up with him, not Beck.

This was Caddell's introduction for his appearance: "Pat Caddell is a former senior adviser to President Carter. He's a Democrat and a proud Democrat, not a Democrat that agrees with the crazy revolutionaries that seemed to have hijacked his party." Is this a vast right wing conspiracy?

Perhaps he meant "several times a year"? Regardless of the actual number of days offices are closing, they ARE closing on certain days to save $8.3 M. In addition to reduced service days, all non-union employees were asked to take a series of furlough days and unpaid holidays, and most non-sworn union employees agreed to similar unpaid time off."

***

RHETORIC:
VALERIE JARRETT WILL BENEFIT FINANCIALLY. Beck asked, "Is it possible that she is going to benefit if the Olympics come to Chicago?" Caddell responded, "Well, that’s the word. She has certainly had a lot of dealings going on in real estate." [Transcript, Glenn Beck Show, 9/29/09]

REALITY:
UPON ENTERING GOVERNMENT, VALERIE JARRETT DIVESTED ALL HER REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT HOLDINGS EXCEPT FOR A SINGLE INVESTMENT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OLYMPIC BID. Valerie Jarrett divested all her investment real estate holdings upon entering government except for a single real estate holding that she was unable to sell. This single real estate investment has been determined by White House Counsel and the independent Office of Government Ethics to present no conflict of interest in performing her duties as a White House advisor. It has nothing to do with the Olympic bid.

ACTUAL REALITY:

Until joining the Obama Administration, Jarrett was the CEO of The Habitat Company, a real estate development and management company which she joined in 1995. She has been replaced by Mark Segal, a lawyer who joined the company in 2002, as CEO. Daniel E. Levin is the Chairman of Habitat, which was formed in 1971. Jarrett was a member of the board of Chicago Stock Exchange (2000–2007, as Chairman, 2004–2007).

She is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Chicago Medical Center, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Chicago and a Trustee of Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. Jarrett serves on the board of directors of USG Corporation, a Chicago based building materials corporation.

Jarrett's previous year's income, in a 2009 report, was a $300,000 salary and $550,000 in deferred compensation from The Habitat Executive Services, Inc. The Wall Street Journal also reported she disclosed payments of more than $346,000 for service on boards of directors that reflect her political ties, and work in Chicago real estate and community development. She was paid $76,000 for service as a director of Navigant Consulting, Inc. a Chicago-based global consulting group with governmental clients. She received $146,600 from USG, and $58,000 to serve on the board of Rreef American REIT II, a real estate investment trust based in San Francisco. The Chicago Stock Exchange, Inc., paid her $34,444.



Jarrett received hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments, and deferred compensations, for her service on boards for various companies. She serves on the board of directors of USG Corporation, a Chicago based building materials company. Are we supposed to believe that she will not benefit through some means of compensation for her efforts to bring the Olympics to Chicago?

Other comments that were made in the same interview:

BECK: "Pat, let me ask you this. Fox TV in Chicago was told they can't run a story on the negative part of the Olympics. And Valerie Jarrett -- some people say she was a slumlord and she may personally benefit."

CADDELL: "Look, Tony Rezko, in the end, probably will make money on this. This is the greatest outrage, and people need to tell the Congress right now to pass a law -- not a penny, not a dime from us to bail it out for stimulus grants to pay for this. This is going to be a disaster at a level we've never seen in American politics financially."

Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, announced today that it has obtained documents linking Valerie Jarrett, an advisor to Barack Obama and the co-chairman of the President-Elect's transition team, to a series of real estate scandals, including several housing projects operated by convicted felon and Obama fundraiser/friend Antoin "Tony" Rezko.

According to the documents obtained by Judicial Watch from the Illinois Secretary of State, Valerie Jarrett served as a board member for several organizations that provided funding and support for Chicago housing projects operated by real estate developers and Obama financial backers Rezko and Allison Davis.

"Like Barack Obama, Valerie Jarrett is a product of the corrupt Chicago political machine. And it is no stretch to say that she was a slumlord," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. "We have real concerns about Jarrett's ethics. Washington already has plenty of corruption. We don't need to import more of it from Chicago."

Why didn't the White House respond to this *rhetoric*? Why didn't they address these statements?

While you ponder that question, take a look - I think I found the top secret Chicago Olympic Presentation Video!

"deliver us obama"

Are you shittin' me?*


H/T Hot Air

(*This saying is an inside joke...)

Lots more on memorandum about this. I am speechless...

"shifting financial obligations of this magnitude to future generations is immoral, unacceptable and unsustainable"

"We are spending enough of our kids' money," the letter said. "Our country needs to get back to following the teachings of Romans 13:8, which says we should 'let no debt remain outstanding.'"

"In our view, shifting financial obligations of this magnitude to future generations is immoral, unacceptable and unsustainable," the senators' letter said.

"All of us are willing to work with your administration on a plan for...reform that will keep the system solvent for the long term," the senators said. "But we are concerned about the fiscal crisis facing the nation."

Pelosi said the president would be met by people every step of the way who support keeping the system the way it is.

Can you say HYPOCRITES!?

These are quotes from a 2005 article, Dems Rally Against Social Security Plan

House and Senate Democrats rallied Thursday against President Bush's plan to revamp Social Security, to show they would not let it pass without a fight.

Forty-three of the 44 Democrat senators, plus Independent Sen. Jim Jeffords of Vermont, signed a letter to the president saying it was "immoral" to borrow more money to pay for the plan, even quoting from the New Testament to make their point.

Bush says the Social Security system is broken and will be "bankrupt" in just a few decades if it's not fixed, and he favors private investment accounts that would be funded by drawing a percentage of money out of Social Security taxes that otherwise would go to pay benefits.

Pelosi said,"the president would be met by people every step of the way who support keeping the [Social Security] system the way it is."

But now, when Conservatives are worried about the out of control spending and huge deficits, and recession that we are in, and Republicans are working to develop plans for health care reform that won't bankrupt the country, they are hateful, racist, teabagging extremists who just want to see people die?

From Newsbusters:

Social Security In Deficit, Obama Applauded Reform's Demise in 2006

Contrary to what the Left and their media minions told Americans in 2005 when President George W. Bush wanted to reform Social Security, the nation's largest entitlement program is now projected to run deficits for at least the next two years.

In an article on the subject published Sunday, the Associated Press mysteriously hid the seriousness of this revelation while never once mentioning the Republican push to solve this problem four years ago, or that Democrats in January 2006 -- including Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) -- actually applauded the death of the previous year's reform efforts.

The obfuscation began with the headline:

"Early Retirements Strain Social Security System."

Strain? How about calling a spade a spade and letting people know up front that Social Security is about to run a deficit?

No. Such honesty came later:

Big job losses and a spike in early retirement claims from laid-off seniors will force Social Security to pay out more in benefits than it collects in taxes the next two years, the first time that's happened since the 1980s.

The deficits — $10 billion in 2010 and $9 billion in 2011 — won't affect payments to retirees because Social Security has accumulated surpluses from previous years totaling $2.5 trillion. But they will add to the overall federal deficit.

Applications for retirement benefits are 23 percent higher than last year, while disability claims have risen by about 20 percent. Social Security officials had expected applications to increase from the growing number of baby boomers reaching retirement, but they didn't expect the increase to be so large.

What happened? The recession hit and many older workers suddenly found themselves laid off with no place to turn but Social Security.

Finally, the facts:

The Congressional Budget Office is projecting that Social Security will pay out more in benefits than it collects in taxes next year and in 2011, a first since the early 1980s, when Congress last overhauled Social Security.

Social Security is projected to start generating surpluses again in 2012 before permanently returning to deficits in 2016 unless Congress acts again to shore up the program. Without a new fix, the $2.5 trillion in Social Security's trust funds will be exhausted in 2037.

Might have been a nice time to mention that in 2005, President Bush wanted to overhaul Social Security to prevent this from happening, and that Democrats in Congress aided and abetted by their media minions convinced the American people that this wasn't a serious problem that needed to be addressed yet.

Hmmm. So the crisis Bush and the Republicans predicted is now here, and not only doesn't the AP mention that, it also didn't express any shock whatsoever that Obama isn't focusing on this now.

Read the entire Newsbusters article here.



The Democrats, while Bush was President, said "shifting financial obligations of this magnitude to future generations is immoral, unacceptable and unsustainable".

But, now apparently it is hunky dory? And if you don't agree, well, then, you are racist.

What a bunch of lying phonies.

no, the media won't report it....

John Amato from Crooks and Liars asks:

Will the media ever report about how low in the polling Republicans have sunk?
By John Amato Saturday Sep 26, 2009 7:00am

We constantly are seeing polling down from the major news services that follow President Obama's approval ratings and it is an important stat to keep track of, but can you tell me what the media is not covering? How low the Republicans have been polling ever since they became the party of "Waterloo."

The Democratic leaders do have terrible polling numbers, Nancy Pelosi has a 34% approval rating in DKOS's new poll and Harry Reid has a 31% approval rating, but let's take a look at the Republican leadership, shall we?



Mitch McConnell is polling at an 18% approval rating. That's eighteen percent. John Boehner is polling at 12% approval rating. Just think about that one. And it doesn't take much to make him cry. Mitch and Boehner are viewed less favorably than Dick Cheney was during the dark days of the Bush administration. Why don't we hear about that on teevee?

The overall approval ratings of Congressional Republicans is 17% as a party! The Dems are taking their lumps over this chaotic time, but nowhere near the kinds of wounds the GOP are suffering. The media make it appear that all these teabaggers are rallying around the RNC and the country just loves the Beltway elites' favorite party, but that's not true at all.

Let's see if we hear any of this on the Sunday talk Shows. But I won't hold my breath.

Seriously? No the media won't discuss this poll. Why?

1. It destroys their claims that the tea party attendees are just a bunch of racists.

2. It destroys their screams that the tea party attendees are just a bunch of extreme right wingers.

3. It proves that the tea party protesters are angry with BOTH parties.

4. And personally, I think it shows that the Republicans pay closer attention to what those in Washington are doing. How are Pelosi and Reid even polling in the 30's?

"protesters" vs. "angry mobs of angry teabaggers"

G20 Summit - Pittsburgh

"Demonstrators, protesters and activists", just "trying to get their voices heard":


Just trying to get their voices heard by trashing businesses, throwing rocks, rolling trash bins...

new book on the obama's reveals someone's been a lyin'...

they started this

[Tucker:] But let me just say, very clearly, it was the Obama campaign that first bought up the race question. It was the Obama people who smeared the Clintons as racists, Bill and Hillary Clinton. They made the case to reporters off-the-record, including me, that the Clintons were racists. They started this.

So for him to get up with a straight face and say the media is bringing this race issue up… No, it was your campaign that started this.

Greta Van Susteren: How did they bring it up?

Tucker Carlson: By this whisper campaign. That Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton were somehow opposing Barack Obama because they did not like the fact he was black. And that various statements they made, remember Hillary Clinton famously said that of course it was Lyndon Johnson who signed the Civil Rights Act, you know. Martin Luther King might have advocated for it but it was the president who signed it.

Somehow that became a racist statement according to allies of Barack Obama. He didn’t tell them to be quiet then. He allowed that to happen. Allowed, I think, the slur against the Clintons to fester. That they were somehow animated by bigotry was outrageous. And he did nothing to clear the air.

H/T pm317 at No Quarter

keep f*cking that chicken!

Former President Bill Clinton appeared on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart September 17. They discussed a range of topics including Bill's current projects, his involvement freeing the journalists from North Korea, and the current health care debate.

I was going to just post the portion of his interview, but the beginning of the show is so funny I had to share. (The Daily Show web site has the unedited version of Bill's interview, if you would like to see it, click here.

Stewart starts the show by talking about a local NY newscast, and a slip of the tongue. I was rolling on the floor. He then moves on to the election in Afghanistan. I urge you to not miss the hilarious ending to a segment that begins at the 5:00 mark.

finally...zo's latest rant

I've been waiting for Zo to put out a new rant, wondering what has been running through his mind lately.



He never disappoints.

wolf blitzer in jeopardy

Wolf Blitzer gets spanked by Andy Richter in Celebrity Jeopardy.

H/T Hot Air
According to Wikipedia, "The incident created a stir when, after airing, CNN President Jonathan Klein suggested that Andy Richter might be a better choice to host The Situation Room than Blitzer."

Perhaps those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones?

"...Ferguson cracked that the former Alaska governor is "quite funny," evoking audience laughter, and asked about her future. Ferguson: "Hey, what about Sarah Palin, talking about "quite funny"? Do you think she's gone? Do you think that's it?"

Blitzer responded: "No, she’s not gone. We’ll be seeing a lot of her. She’s going to be writing a book. She’ll be doing speeches. She’ll be on TV. You’re going to have a lot of material. ... If you need material, you’ll have it."

Or mock others TV appearances.

I think Jonathan Klein is right...maybe hiring Andy would help CNN. That was terribly embarrassing and painful to watch.

yep....words, just words UPDATED

Flopping Aces had a great post up this week about Obama's empty words and dare I say, lies. It really points out how empty Obama's promises were/are when it comes to bipartisanship, and the truth about what is going on in Washington.

Congressmen Took Obama At His Word Over Invite to Review Health Bill “Line by Line”

Yet calls and letters go unanswered!

President Obama issued the following invitation at a Town Hall meeting he held in July in Raleigh, NC (White House transcript):

So I just want everybody to know, Congress will have time to read the bill. They will have time to debate the bill. They will have all of August to review the various legislative proposals. When we come back in September, I will be available to answer any question that members of Congress have. If they want to come over to the White House and go over line by line what’s going on, I will be happy to do that.

as the ACORN scandal turns - san diego

The newest installment brought to you by Hannah and James. The only investigative journalists left in America(?).

With 70 miles of stunning beaches and picture-perfect weather all year round, having fun during the summer in San Diego doesn’t require a lot of money.

The city combines old-fashioned Mexican charm with a modern edge. In a city where the sun is always shining, it’s the perfect place to get away for a bit of relaxation or stimulation.

If you’re looking for trendy boutique hotels, an exploding culinary scene, or visiting the local ACORN to get your underage prostitutes smuggled across the Mexican border, you’re in the right place.

JIMMY CARTER HOMOPHOBIC

Jimmy Carter is holding a town hall in Atlanta. I tuned in to see if he was asked about the racist comments, and the White House disagreeing with him.

What do I hear instead? I hear him make homophobic comments. A woman asked him about the photo of him in the White House with Bush, Obama, Clinton and Bush Sr. She said she noticed how far away he was from the others, and if he ever stopped feeling like a Washington outsider.


Carter responded, revealing his homophobia. Carter said where he is from men don't stand next to each other, touching each other. He was the only one acting as men should, normal. If you look out on (Emory University) campus, you won't see, you will see very few men standing so close they are touching each other.

This is paraphrased - it is as close as I could remember. It just happened. It was dripping with bigotry and showed his homophobia. I will paste a transcript and video when I find them. I'm sure they will pop up soon.

It's an abominable circumstance, and it grieves me and concerns me very deeply.

how big was it? it was this big!

There have been NUMEROUS attempts by the Left to discredit the size of the crowd that attended the 9/12 Tea Party. I think the total number is irrelevant - there is no way you can look at the images and dismiss this as a *non-event*.

From Iowntheworld.com:

Mr.Pinko has obtained an exclusive from the Photographer Michael A. Beck and FreedomWorks.org. Pinko sat on this image for days before just now getting the green light to publish.

This is a RARE photo of the 9/12 Rally taken in extreme High Resolution from atop the Capitol Building. Mr. Beck was personally escorted to this rare vantage point by a congressman who will remain anonymous. This panoramic view offers the viewer documentation of the epic scale of this peaceful demonstration of democracy in action.

Click to enlarge.

That sure is a whole lotta racists!
/snark

H/T HotAir!

hypocrisy is thy name....

...wasting tax payers money is thy game.





So, what happens to Wilson now? Does he have to go sit in a corner with a dunce cap on for an hour?

Leading Democrats said the resolution put on the record that the House “disapproves of the behavior of the representative from South Carolina, Mr. Wilson, during the joint session of Congress held on Sept. 9, 2009,” and was needed to protect the integrity of the House and deter such acts in the future.

Democrats characterized the sanction as mild and said they would not have pursued any action at all had Mr. Wilson taken the floor and apologized to his colleagues for disrupting the address.

Mr. Wilson briefly argued his own case Tuesday and refused to offer the apology demanded by House Democrats, saying that Mr. Obama had already accepted his apology and that that should have ended the matter.

ACORN scandal california style

This is a Part I of the ACORN San Bernardino exposé. Updates to follow…



I am just so impressed with Hannah and James. They truly out did themselves.

This is the media's take on the story...



Shameful. I guess we can see why Charlie is retiring.

And meanwhile, the House is voting on whether or not to scold Wilson and tell him they are disappointed in him. What a colossal waste of time.

kid attacked for sitting in the wrong seat on the bus

A Belleville West High School (southwestern Illinois) student was beaten aboard a bus on the way to school Monday, and a police spokesman said the beating could be racially motivated.

The 17-year-old victim was white and the teen assailants were black. Police released a video of the beating, which shows the victim being punched repeatedly while other students on the bus gather to watch, some cheering. It doesn't appear that the victim did anything to provoke an attack and tried only to defend himself. Police said it all unfolded in a five-minute span.

The victim was trying to find a seat and was told by two students he could not sit next to them, police said. As he walked to the seat, someone shouted, "Beat his ass." When he did sit down, one teen tried to push him out of his seat then began grabbing the victim’s neck and punching him in the face. With each punch, some in the crowd chanted, "Boom, boom, boom."

"now THAT'S presidential!" sarcasm or praise? UPDATED

UPDATE: Audio added. (The Joe Wilson treatment? Please!)

President Barack Obama called hip-hop musician Kanye West a "jackass" on Monday in an off-the-record comment during an interview with CNBC, an ABC News anchor reported on Twitter.

Obama was apparently weighing in on an interruption that occurred the night before during the MTV Video Music Awards where West grabbed the microphone from teen country singer Taylor Swift during her award acceptance speech to announce his belief that Beyonce had a better music video.

"Pres. Obama just called Kanye West a 'jackass' for his outburst at VMAs when Taylor Swift won. Now THAT'S presidential," "Nightline" co-anchor Terry Moran wrote Monday evening to his more than 1 million followers.

Well, must say I agree with Obama on that one! But, I'm not sure if Terry was being facetious or sincere when he wrote, "Now THAT'S Presidential"...? I looked at Moran's Twitter page (they have since scrubbed the "offending" tweet) but I found these:

Would Wilson heckle a white POTUS like that? Dunno. But, in general, it's easier to be rude to those we do not consider our equals.

patrick swayze succumbs to pancreatic cancer

Patrick Swayze has died after a nearly two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

Swayze’s publicist Annett Wolf says the 57-year-old “Dirty Dancing” actor died Monday with family at his side. He came forward about his illness last spring, but continued working as he underwent treatments.

It was 1987 when Swayze became a star with his performance in “Dirty Dancing,” a coming-of-age story set in a Catskills resort. The 1990 film “Ghost” cemented his status as a screen favorite.




I hope he had the time of his life. RIP.

ACORN: will more nuts fall from the tree?

James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles strike again. This time in Brooklyn.

The women, Volda and Milagros, in this newest video from Brooklyn, NY, seem slightly less forthcoming than the women from the DC and Baltimore offices. They seem a tad uncomfortable, and don't look Hannah and James in the eye often. That said, it doesn't stop them from offering counsel on how to lie, avoid taxes, bury cash in the yard, etc.

You can read transcripts of the other videos, and many more related stories at Big.Government.com

hey, liberal media! you might want to quit delegitimizing the president...

Let me set aside my media designated "white cloak" for a moment, and offer some advice for Obama supporters.

Every time one of you (liberal media) label criticism of Obama as racist, you are the ones hurting Obama.

Barack Obama is not the Black President of America. He is the President of the United States of America.

To continually label him the Black President, and any criticism of him as racist, it implies he is only representing black America.

It's like the difference between the Oscars and the BET Awards...or Miss America and Miss Black America.


Obama, whether some of us like it or not, was elected The President of the United States of all America.

Quit throwing the race card! Every time you do, you are in fact revealing your self to be racist. You are the ones who demote his position, and his person. And YOU are the ones who keep seeing Obama's skin color.

To reduce criticism of Obama as nothing but racism you are reducing his role in the most powerful position in the world.

Is he above criticism because he is black? Is he not equal to past presidents, therefore capable of dealing with criticism? Should he be treated differently or special, because of his skin color?

Treating him differently, not as an equal, to past Presidents, is in itself racist. Isn't it?

As President of the United States, Obama is now in the position to execute the duties and responsibilities as awarded to any other POTUS in the history of America. And with that responsibility comes power, luxury, and criticism.

Yes, Obama was the first African American man elected as President. Yes, the country celebrated. (I even got a little misty, as mad as I was, seeing all the tears the night he won, seeing the sheer pride on African American faces.) But, enough! MOVE ON! You need to stop relegating Obama as the black President.

He is either President of the United States of America, or not...what's it going to be? If all he is to you is Black Student Body President, then we need to elect a President of all America...

Obama is like the Denzel Washington of politics. He won the Oscar for Best Actor*.


Why do you keep giving Obama the Daytime After School Special Award for Best Black Actor?

Are you going to stop revealing your own racism, and stop seeing Obama's skin color? Will you call him President, with no more caveats? You are, after all, his supporters...



*Denzel won the second Best Leading Actor award ever won by an African American. Sidney Poitier won the first in 1963 for Lilies of the Field. My point is Denzel won Best Leading Actor - not Best Black Actor.

sunday cartoon - 1934 chicago tribune

The cartoon was a response to FDR's New Deal printed in the Chicago Tribune on April 21, 1934.

Atop the donkey is Rexford Tugwell, head of the Resettlement Administration. In the wagon are FDR cabinet members Harold Ickes, Henry Wallace and Donald Richberg, along with the power-drunk "Young Pinkies from Columbia and Harvard."

Meanwhile, a man in the lower left corner documents the "Plan of Action for the U.S.":
1) Spend! Spend! Spend under the guise of recovery
2) Bust the government
3) Blame the capitalists for the failure
4) Junk the Consitution and declare a dictatorship.

Check, check, check...

Thanks to Diana who sent this to me in email.

ACORN scandal: baltimore city state’s attorneys may bring charges...against the (fake) pimp and pro!

STATEMENT OF STATE’S ATTORNEYS OFFICE FOR BALTIMORE CITY RELATIVE TO THE ALLEGED BALTIMORE ACORN INCIDENT

Baltimore, MD – September 11, 2009 – We have received inquiries from citizens and the media asking whether the Baltimore City State’s Attorneys Office would initiate a criminal investigation for acts allegedly committed at ACORN offices located in Baltimore. The only information received in reference to this alleged criminal behavior was a YouTube video. Upon review by this office, the video appears to be incomplete. In addition, the audio portion could possibly have been obtained in violation of Maryland Law, Annotated Code of Maryland Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article §10-402, which requires two party consent.



If it is determined that the audio portion now being heard on YouTube was illegally obtained, it is also illegal under Maryland Law to willfully use or willfully disclose the content of said audio. The penalty for the unlawful interception, disclosure or use of it is a felony punishable up to 5 years.

Would it be really cynical to wonder if her decision to possibly prosecute the makers of the video, and not the ACORN employees, could be politically motivated or biased?



Now, perhaps Hannah Giles and James O’Keefe did violate some code about video taping without consent, but is that really the focus of Patricia Jessamy? ACORN employees were instructing two people on how to manipulate the law, falsify federal documents and provide cover for underage sex slaves. And she wants to prosecute the people who exposed them?

Now, it's no No-Doz worthy scandal, but Jessamy was accused by her opponent of accepting dirty money, and siding with criminals over cops.



Maybe there is a pattern of behavior there...

senate dems move to close loophole in health care reform bill

From Politico: Wilson wins?

The controversy over Republican Rep. Joe Wilson's shouting out "You Lie!" at the President over his claim that illegal immigrants wouldn't benefit from health-care reform apparently sparked some reconsideration of the relevant language.

"We really thought we'd resolved this question of people who are here illegally, but as we reflected on the President's speech last night we wanted to go back and drill down again," said Senator Kent Conrad, one of the Democrats in the talks after a meeting Thursday morning. Baucus later that afternoon said the group would put in a proof of citizenship requirement to participate in the new health exchange — a move likely to inflame the left.

And from FOX: Rep. Wilson Outburst Leads Senate Dems to Close Loophole in Health Reform Bill

In the Senate, Democrats in the so called "Gang of Six," began moving quickly to close the loophole Rep. Joe Wilson helped bring to light with his outburst during President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday night.

House Republican Minority Leader John Boehner amplified the complaint that without proof of citizenship, illegal immigrants could be insured.

"There were two opportunities for House Democrats to make clear that illegal immigrants wouldn't be covered by putting in requirements to show citizenships," he said. "Both of those amendments were, in fact, rejected."

In the Senate, Democrats in the so called "Gang of Six," a group of bipartisan senators on the Senate Finance Committee which is the last panel yet to release its bill, began moving quickly to close the loophole that Wilson helped bring greater attention to.

"We absolutely assure that those who are here illegally would not get the benefit of any of these initiatives," Sen. Kent Conrad said.

So, I guess Joe didn't yell this out just because he's a junky hooped up on No-Doz? (yes, someone really tried to make a scandal out of this...)

I wonder when Joe Wilson is going to get an apology? For sure Olbermann owes him one. (I didn't watch the video...no need to.)

And Shuster, too. “The fact that Joe Wilson is from South Carolina...it strikes a lot of people as awfully close to the idea that maybe there was some sort of racist or bigoted element there.”



Really Shuster? It couldn't just be that Obama was LYING??

Oh, and in case you were wondering what the Republicans were waving around during Obama's speech - they were waving around the 30+ health care reform bills that they have come up with. You know, the ideas that Obama keeps saying his opponents "don't have".

Why use the props? "To say in a quiet and respectful way, 'Here are our ideas,' " Price says. "To say to the president, 'You're not being honest with the American people when you say that there haven't been ideas put forward, and that you've listened to them, because you haven't.' "

there's another ACORN prostitution tape...

In case you missed this story on No Quarter, Want To Open A Brothel? Ask ACORN How! UPDATED!!! please read it. ACORN employees in Baltimore were videotaped offering advice on how to set up a brothel, and how to handle 13 year old prostitutes. Glenn Beck covered this Thursday night, also interviewing the woman who posed as a prostitute.

people really do have the shortest memories... UPDATED

People are all a twitter because Joe Wilson yelled out *You Lie* last night when Obama said illegal immigrants would not be covered under his plan.


But, in the very same speech, just seconds prior, Obama accuses Sarah Palin and other Republicans (and the media) of LYING.

education faces the death panel, why wouldn't health care?

All this talk about Obama speaking to the *shoochildren* got me thinking about the school system. Can't one look at the education system when pondering what a government run health care program would look like?

Like health care, the US spends more than any other country on education (except Switzerland). And like health care, we are not ranked anywhere near the top. Out of 21 industrialized countries, U.S. 12th graders ranked 19th in math, 16th in science, and last in advanced physics.

According to a 2005 report from the OECD, the United States is tied for first place with Switzerland when it comes to annual spending per student on its public schools, with each of those two countries spending more than $11,000 (in U.S. currency). Despite this high level of funding, according to the OECD, U.S. public schools lag behind the schools of other developed countries in the areas of reading, math, and science.

According to a 2007 article in The Washington Post, the Washington D.C. public school district spends $12,979 per student per year. This is the third highest level of funding per student out of the 100 biggest school districts in the U.S. Despite this high level of funding, the school district has produced outcomes that are lower than the national average. In reading and math, the district's students score the lowest among 11 major school districts - even when poor children are compared with other poor children. 33% of poor fourth graders in the U.S. lack basic skills in math, but in Washington D.C., it's 62%.

The country has a reading literacy rate at 98% of the population over age 15, while ranking below average in science and mathematics understanding compared to other developed countries. In 2008, there was a 77% graduation rate from high school, below that of most developed countries.

With health care, the plan is to tax the top 1% of the country to pay for health care for others. Some people are already paying taxes for schools they don't use, and the plan is for them to pay taxes for health care they won't use, either?

Another issue is that many parents of private school and homeschooled children have taken issue with the idea of paying for an education their children are not receiving. However, tax proponents point out that every person pays property taxes for public education, not just parents of school-age children. Indeed, without it schools would not have enough money to remain open. Still, parents of students who go to private schools want to use this money instead to fund their children's private education. This is the foundation of the school voucher movement. School voucher programs were proposed by free-market advocates seeking competition in education, led by economist Milton Friedman, but have been criticized for damaging public schools, both in funding and diversity.

The US spends $972 billion annually for schools, covering 76.6 M children. The government is proposing a figure roughly equal, over 10 years, to cover how many American, exactly? They were throwing around the 46 million dollar figure, but Obama said health care reform would NOT cover illegal immigrants, who make up about 10 Million. (and by the way, what is their solution to handle those 10 million?) Also, the figure is bound to change when companies drop coverage or people prefer a cheaper option. So, do we know how many will need to be covered under the public option? And if the Dems get their way, and their reform morphs into single payer universal coverage, we would need to cover 200M people.

Anyway, my point is that if we do end up with a government run health care program, a la single payer, which is where the Administration and Democrats want to go, what will it cost per person for care and treatment? England spends roughly $3000 per person annually in health care. (Refer to my other post the impact of universal health care )

After looking at the budget for the education system, $11,000 annually per child, it made me think about how much it would cost to cover Americans with chronic illness.

According to the CDC:

In 2005, 133 million people, almost half of all Americans lived with at least one chronic condition.

Chronic diseases account for 70% of all deaths in the United States.

The medical care costs of people with chronic diseases account for more than 75% of the nation’s $2 trillion medical care costs.

Chronic diseases account for one-third of the years of potential life lost before age 65.

Hospitalizations for pregnancy-related complications occurring before delivery account for more than $1 billion annually.

The direct and indirect costs of diabetes is $174 billion a year.

Each year, arthritis results in estimated medical care costs of nearly $81 billion, and estimated total costs (medical care and lost productivity) of $128 billion.

The estimated direct and indirect costs associated with smoking exceed $193 billion annually.

In 2008, the cost of heart disease and stroke in the U.S. is projected to be $448 billion.

The estimated total costs of obesity was nearly $117 billion in 2000.

Cancer costs the nation an estimated $89 billion annually in direct medical costs.

Nearly $98.6 billion is spent on dental services each year.

And from the Coalition for the Advancement of Health Through Behavioral and Social Science Research, more than 45 percent of adults struggle with a chronic health condition that affects their daily activities. From diabetes to asthma, heart disease, depression, obesity, and AIDS, more and more Americans are living with chronic illnesses. More than 90 million Americans live with one or more chronic illness; at least 22 million live with three chronic illnesses.

Could we even afford that, under a universal health care program? Which led me to think about budgets and cost cutting in the health care industry.

Sarah Palin caused a firestorm with her comments:

"And who will suffer the most when they ration care?" Palin asks. "The sick, the elderly, and the disabled, of course. The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama’s 'death panel' so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their 'level of productivity in society,' whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil."

But, looking at the cuts made in education, for budget reasons, isn't she right in questioning what would happen with a government run health care program? States budgets are coming up short, and school programs are facing the educational version of death panels.

What cuts are being made? Teachers, healthy lunches, art, music, gym, after school programs, books, supplies, busses, and special education and special needs programs. I don't know about you, but I don't find it hard to imagine that when budgets need to be cut in a health care program, certain people may face a type of death panel that Palin was talking about...

*Education Death Panels*

California - The Governor has proposed $1.3 billion in cuts to this current school year and another $4 billion in cuts for the next school year. If these cuts are approved in their entirety, they would add to the nearly $12 billion in cuts schools were already forced to sustain with the budget agreement that came about in February....including class-size increases in the South Pasadena Unified School District, which would result in kindergarten through third-grade classes having up to 32 students and fourth and fifth grade classes with as many as 36 children in each class; the cancellation of summer school programs at the Los Angeles Unified School District and the expected laying off of 2,250 teachers; and the recent vote by the Mount Diablo Unified School District board to lay off more than 400 teachers as well as the likely elimination of their sports and most music programs.

The poorest districts will be the hardest hit by the new layoffs, as they have the highest concentration of new teachers. Some school districts in wealthier areas of the state are seeking to compensate declining state funding by increasing local taxes that their residents can afford. About 75 percent of education funding currently comes from the state government.

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) recently voted to lay off over 2,000 teachers and over 1,000 educational personnel, though 500 of these layoffs were subsequently rescinded. As teachers are laid off, class sizes are slated to increase and materials will be scarcer as well.

At the end of last month, LAUSD announced that it was canceling most of its summer school programs, forcing many working parents to find alternative means of childcare. In past years the state has enrolled an average of 225,000 students in summer classes. The cancelled classes come as unemployment for youth is soaring.

The district is also planning $17 million in cuts to its school bus program, forcing many students to walk or take longer bus rides. A program to provide special transport for those facing hazardous walking conditions will also be canceled, potentially endangering thousands of students.

Georgia - teachers, who on average earn $48,300 a year, according to teacherportal.com — are facing the prospect of working several days without pay. That’s a not-insignificant sacrifice for teachers, although such pain has already been felt by thousands of people in other jobs.

Maryland - cut funding for a school breakfast pilot program, professional development for principals and educators, health clinics, gifted and talented summer centers, and math and science initiatives. For the coming fiscal year, Maryland’s governor has proposed cutting direct aid to local school districts by $69 million.

Massachusetts - enacted cuts to Head Start, universal pre-kindergarten programs, and early intervention services to help special-need children develop appropriately and be ready for school. Funding for K-12 has also been reduced, including spending for mentoring, teacher training, reimbursements for special education residential schools, services for disabled students, and programs for gifted and talented students.

Nevada - the governor has ordered various cuts to K-12 education, including delaying an all-day kindergarten expansion, cutting per pupil expenditures by $400 in a pilot program, eliminating funds for gifted and talented programs, eliminating funds for a magnet program for students who are deaf or hard of hearing, and making across-the-board cuts. Additionally, young children with developmental delays will lose more than 15,000 hours of needed services.

New York - the Governor proposes nearly $2 billion in cuts in education funding in FY 2010. Reductions in aid to individual school districts would range between 3 percent and 13 percent. In addition, a number of specific programs are eliminated, including supplemental math/science programs and new-teacher mentoring programs.

South Carolina - the Governor proposes suspending funding for textbook purchases in FY 2010.

Washington - the Governor has proposed reducing by one-third the amount the state spends to supplement education funding in property poor school districts. This proposal is likely to widen the gap in education funding between wealthy and poor districts.

New Haven — Children in more than 110 school districts and schools across Connecticut may soon be eating less nutritious school lunches as Governor Rell proposes to cut funding in half for the Healthy Food Program. The $2 million cut will force cash-strapped schools to find funding for the program or eliminate it, and replace fresh fruits and vegetables with less healthy food.

After school programs, and arts programs also suffer in budget cuts.

School budget cuts are wiping out entire departments, with art classes and programs for at-risk students disappearing fastest, the Daily News has learned. Intermediate School 218 in East New York, Brooklyn, is losing one third of its teachers, which will mean axing its music, art and computer programs, teachers said.

"From top to bottom, the school is going to be gutted," said Chris Schilling, the school's computer teacher and basketball coach whose position has been cut, he said.

"There's no paper, no ink in the printers - we can't even make copies," he said.

***

"We've been staying here on Saturdays, working for hours after school and we've raised our standards, so why would they make such a big cut. Read more.

***

In the face of today's gloomy economy, many school districts are facing the sad reality of budget cuts. In fact, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities predicts that half of all states will face budget shortfalls in fiscal year 2009.

***

“Every single grade is in desperate need of books,” Jones said, “and we can’t afford it.”

Cuts in teachers, after school programs, art, music, gym, computer classes, lunches, increased class size, supplies and books, busses, sports, special needs and advanced student courses cut, tutoring, counseling, librarians...

What do you think would happen with universal health care? Can we look at the education system, and guess?

UPDATE: Sarah Palin wrote an op-ed for the WSJ, in response to Obama's upcoming speech. You can read about it here, and more at memorandum.

happy labor day!

I haven't been home this past week, and was sans internet and news. I came home last night to find lots of interesting tidbits. One story I found very interesting was the resignation of Van Jones. Gateway Pundit covered this extensively, as did Glenn Beck.

I also heard about the speech Obama is set to give tomorrow in the schools. Apparently they forgot to verify that the schools were actually in session before they scheduled the speech. Oops. Apparently people have issue with some of the content of the lesson plan as well. It's not exactly "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country". It's more like, "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do to help Obama." I guess they have removed this portion of the suggested lesson plan.

And what is happening with health care? I thought Obama had scheduled a speech where he was going to provide specifics wrt his health care plans? So far it sounds like more flip flopping. Public Option, no public option...?

What else did I miss this week?