Author: Patrick

Short Bio: I started blogging about politics in 2006, as a populist, skeptical left of center type, with a blog called simply, "The Populist."I suspect, but cannot prove; that my blog might have been hacked by some evil neoconservatives. I cannot prove that at all and also too, around the same time. Hackers from China where attacking wordpress blogs. I believe either the Neocons or the Chinese got my site. I don't know honestly know which.Either way, by 2007, I began to see that I really did not fit within the Democrat Party and liberal circles and after my blog was hacked; I created a blog called "Political Byline" and I kept writing; first as a Centrist and then as a Conservative PopulistFor my long bio, see the "About Me" section on this blog.

HotAir.com takes the first step to closing its comment section

Update: Blogger roundup: Editorial Times, Legal Insurrection

Post links in the comment section and I will add them here.

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Original Post:

This, I think, is going to prove to be a very bad move for this blog:

For almost ten years, Hot Air has utilized a proprietary, members-only comment system. In 2006, this kind of system made much sense, but Internet standards and technology have moved beyond this kind of system. Beginning tomorrow, Hot Air will move from its present proprietary closed-comment system to Facebook comments. At that time, native commenting functions will cease, and all comments will come through the Facebook interface. — Via: Hot Air to move to Facebook comment system « Hot Air

Let’s just be real folks; HotAir.com is huge and I mean really huge. I have been to sites that use a strictly Facebook commenting system and I do not believe that I would be exaggerating one bit, if I said that those places are nothing more than pure troll dens. This is usually the first step; first they will use the Facebook commenting system and then, things will get too bad and then they will close the comments sections for good.

I feel that once a site kills the comments section, it becomes nothing more than just another website. I for one, will never go to an external comment system, ever. I tried Disqus and it frankly sucked major donkey doo doo. They should call it disgust, because that’s how you will feel after trying to set it up — Disgusted!

As for HotAir.com, I think they are simply trying to be more inclusive and not have to work their tails off, in the upcoming election. While that might be a good idea for them, it might prove to be quite destructive for the site. Because the trolls will run the regulars off and the site will get a reputation among its core audience. Another thing that I feel will run people off is that Facebook’s founder is a known flaming liberal and there are many conservatives who will not use Facebook because of this fact. So, they will lose those people.

For the record here, I will never, ever, go to a closed commenting system, nor Disqus or Facebook; or any other commenting platform. The only system I will ever use is WordPress Native system which allows you to comment using your Facebook or other identities you choose to use.

I wish HotAir.com the best, because, Lord knows, they are going to need it.

Sad News: Supreme Court Justice Anthony Scalia dead at 79

Saw this when it broke over twitter…:

Supreme Court Justice Anthony Scalia died Saturday, according to multiple official sources. He was 79. — Source: Chief Justice Scalia dead at 79 | Fox News

 

Video via Fox News:

Reactions are pouring across twitter, here they are unfiltered. Caution: some of this might be ugly:


Update: Now the lead the story on Memeorandum

Update #2: Related Articles via Drudge:

Dylan Klebold’s Mother speaks out about her son

This is one of them posts that is very hard for me to write. I remember this tragic event, I watched it play out on live TV at the time.

Here are some clips from the ABC TV 20/20 show that aired last night:


ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos


ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos


ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos


ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos

I would like to think Diane Sawyer for handling this interview without coming off sounding like some anti-gun flaming liberal. Diane also handling this with the grace and professionalism that is sorely missing in the media today. Klebold’s Mother should not be blamed for what happened with her son. Mental illness is something that can hit anyone. Guns were simply the tool, if they had not used them, they would have used something else.

I could never imagine the literal and proverbial hell that this woman has been through. She says she does not believe in evil. Well, I must disrespectfully disagree with that. I really do not think that these guys were just evil young men; they were mentally ill young people, who were overlooked by the experts and ended up committing a horrible act of violence.

The unfortunate part about this entire situation, is that the political left in this Country; has used this situation and others like it; to attempt to exert strict gun laws and control on this Country —- none of which would have prevented this tragic event or any others like it since. It is has become a bit of a Cliché on the right — but it is absolutely true — Guns do not kill people, people kill people.

If these young man were going to kill people, they would have used other means, if the guns were not available. Are we going to ban knives? Are we going to ban cars? Are we going to be everything that can be potentially used as a weapon?

Of course not.

Still… one has to feel sorry or dare I say — Pity? For a woman that will go to her grave knowing that her son committed such acts towards people. It is a hell that will follow her to the grave — and that is a hell, that I would wish upon no one.

God be with her and the Harris family and with the family of the victims.

Get the book:

Chuck Baldwin says something very wise

Chuck Baldwin says something very wise:

To say that we Americans are living in jeopardous days is an extreme understatement. Very understandably, the American people are increasingly distrustful of their government, their news media, and even their future. We desperately need cool heads and wise hearts to peacefully and successfully navigate these troubled waters. And what we need most is leadership from America’s pulpits. But it’s the lack of pastoral leadership that has mostly created this mess to begin with. The good news is America’s pastors could help lead our country out of this morass. If only they would

.

For the record Chuck Baldwin was referring to women joining the military and he says that is creating terrorists and causing people to distrust the government.

Now, that I might disagree with that. But that last paragraph above that I quoted is true we are living in precarious times and it is being fueled by neoconservatives and neoliberals who love big government.

So, Chuck Baldwin spot on right here. I may have disagreed with him in the past. But this here and the stuff he also said this article that I linked to is true.

This is why we need new leadership in Washington DC. I happen to be of the opinion, that everything rises and falls on leadership and Barack Obama has not shown the leadership of strength. But rather the leadership of compromise and capitulation.

This is why Iran is out of control, this is why North Korea is out of control, this is why China is screwing with us. We need a firm leader in the White House, passive leadership simply does not work.

Carly Fiorina bows out…

First Christie and now her; just like I said it would happen.

From her Facebook page:

This campaign was always about citizenship—taking back our country from a political class that only serves the big, the powerful, the wealthy, and the well connected. Election after election, the same empty promises are made and the same poll-tested stump speeches are given, but nothing changes. I’ve said throughout this campaign that I will not sit down and be quiet. I’m not going to start now. While I suspend my candidacy today, I will continue to travel this country and fight for those Americans who refuse to settle for the way things are and a status quo that no longer works for them.

Our Republican Party must fight alongside these Americans as well. We must end crony capitalism by fighting the policies that allow it to flourish. We must fix our festering problems by holding our bloated, inept government bureaucracy accountable. Republicans must stand for conservative principles that lift people up and recognize all Americans have the right to fulfill their God-given potential.

To young girls and women across the country, I say: do not let others define you. Do not listen to anyone who says you have to vote a certain way or for a certain candidate because you’re a woman. That is not feminism. Feminism doesn’t shut down conversations or threaten women. It is not about ideology. It is not a weapon to wield against your political opponent. A feminist is a woman who lives the life she chooses and uses all her God-given gifts. And always remember that a leader is not born, but made. Choose leadership.

As I have said to the many wonderful Americans I have met throughout this campaign, a leader is a servant whose highest calling is to unlock potential in others. I will continue to serve in order to restore citizen government to this great nation so that together we may fulfill our potential.

Good luck to her.

Hillary doesn’t deserve the black vote, says The Nation

I saw this on Memeorandum and my eyes bugged out. 😯

Via Michelle Alexander at The Nation:

Hillary Clinton loves black people. And black people love Hillary—or so it seems. Black politicians have lined up in droves to endorse her, eager to prove their loyalty to the Clintons in the hopes that their faithfulness will be remembered and rewarded. Black pastors are opening their church doors, and the Clintons are making themselves comfortably at home once again, engaging effortlessly in all the usual rituals associated with “courting the black vote,” a pursuit that typically begins and ends with Democratic politicians making black people feel liked and taken seriously. Doing something concrete to improve the conditions under which most black people live is generally not required.

Hillary is looking to gain momentum on the campaign trail as the primaries move out of Iowa and New Hampshire and into states like South Carolina, where large pockets of black voters can be found. According to some polls, she leads Bernie Sanders by as much as 60 percent among African Americans. It seems that we—black people—are her winning card, one that Hillary is eager to play.

And it seems we’re eager to get played. Again.

It gets better, go read this one. She spares no expense in gutting the Clintons. It’s that good.

Others: Mother Jones, Washington Post and Slantpoint

Chris Christie to bail, Maybe?

Getting alot of conflicting reports on this one.

First the Video, via Fox News Insider:

The Story via FNC Insider:

As results showed Chris Christie on track for a sixth place showing in New Hampshire, the New Jersey governor said that he would be heading home to evaluate his campaign, instead of continuing directly to South Carolina.

Christie said: “Mary Pat and I spoke tonight and we’ve decided we’re going to go home to New Jersey tomorrow and we’re going to take a deep breath, see what the final results are tonight. …

“We’ll make a decision on our next step forward based on the results.”

Watch the statement above.

UPDATE, 11:00am: The Christie campaign says no decision has been made on whether to end his presidential bid.

However, HotAir.com shares this tweet here:

So, who is right here? I don’t mean politically! I mean, about the story. 😉

Either way, I predicted this would happen in my last video that I shot last night. Sorry to see him go; I think Christie could have done well; if he had not had that bromance moment with President Obama. It might not have been what Christie had in mind; but in politics, image is everything and if you do something like that, it will come back to haunt you.