Tag: politics

Washington Post does the race hustle

Remember that Obama in joker makeup poster story that I blogged about? It now seems that the Washington Post has decided that it is racist.

From Washington Post’s Resident Race Baiter:

Between Jack Nicholson’s 1989 portrayal of the Joker in “Batman” and Heath Ledger’s 2008 characterization in “The Dark Knight,” something sinister happened to the villain’s iconic makeup. What had been a mask, with the clearly delineated lines of a carnival character, became simply war paint, and not very well applied.

The visual change signaled a change in the Joker’s inner mechanism. Nicholson’s dandified virtuoso of violence was replaced by a darker, more unpredictable and psychotic figure. What had been a caricature became more real and threatening. An urbane mocker of civilized values became simply a deformed product of urban violence.

[…]

The new Obama poster has two basic thrusts. Obama is a socialist, or a crypto-socialist. And Obama is somehow like the Joker, unpredictable and dangerous. But joining these two messages together yields more questions and contradictions than good poster art can sustain. The Joker is violent and dangerous, but a socialist? And didn’t we see George W. Bush depicted as the Joker not so long ago?

[….]

So why the anonymity? Perhaps because the poster is ultimately a racially charged image. By using the “urban” makeup of the Heath Ledger Joker, instead of the urbane makeup of the Jack Nicholson character, the poster connects Obama to something many of his detractors fear but can’t openly discuss. He is black and he is identified with the inner city, a source of political instability in the 1960s and ’70s, and a lingering bogeyman in political consciousness despite falling crime rates.

[….]

The Joker’s makeup in “Dark Knight” — the latest film in a long franchise that dramatizes fear of the urban world — emphasized the wounded nature of the villain, the sense that he was both a product and source of violence. Although Ledger was white, and the Joker is white, this equation of the wounded and the wounding mirrors basic racial typology in America. Urban blacks — the thinking goes — don’t just live in dangerous neighborhoods, they carry that danger with them like a virus. Scientific studies, which demonstrate the social consequences of living in neighborhoods with high rates of crime, get processed and misinterpreted in the popular unconscious, underscoring the idea. Violence breeds violence.

[….]

Superimpose that idea, through the Joker’s makeup, onto Obama’s face, and you have subtly coded, highly effective racial and political argument. Forget socialism, this poster is another attempt to accomplish an association between Obama and the unpredictable, seeming danger of urban life. It is another effort to establish what failed to jell in the debate about Obama’s association with Chicago radical William Ayers and the controversy over the racially charged sermons of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Obama, like the Joker and like the racial stereotype of the black man, carries within him an unknowable, volatile and dangerous marker of urban violence, which could erupt at any time. The charge of socialism is secondary to the basic message that Obama can’t be trusted, not because he is a politician, but because he’s black.

Cue the Music!

This is nothing more than classic race hustling or race baiting. To say that the poster depicting Obama as the joker invokes images of racism; is a bit of stretch. It simple implies that we real, true, America-loving citizens do not approve of Obama’s socialistic agenda. Nothing more, nothing less. If anyone gets anything other than this out of it. They are projecting something onto it, that is not there.

Again, this is more of your Post-Racism Racialism that exists within the Democratic Party. It is simply more of that stirring of the pot, that brings more votes to that party. It also most likely is a some sort of interference run; see that Obama’s numbers are lower than Bush’s were during his first few months in office. I mean, point blank; the man has been a damn failure in office and the American people are feeling a bad case of voters remorse and it is showing. Of course some are pointing to some over sampling in the polls and fear a nefarious motive. This could very well be, but I like to think that people are just waking up; and that, my friends, is a good thing.

So, again, this article is nothing more than a lame social Liberal attempt to avert attention away from the important facts about this Administration and to stir up old wounds of a Pre-Post-Racial America. Nice try guys; but real clear thinking Americans are just not buying it.

Nancy Pelosi's Swastika Problem.

First the Video:

Money Quote:

Interviewer: Do you think there’s legitimate grassroot opposition going on here?

Pelosi: “I think they’re Astroturf… You be the judge. “They’re carrying swastikas and symbols like that to a town meeting on healthcare.”

Seems ol’ Pelosi has some issues with her, ahem, Vision….

Steve Gilbert over at Sweetness and Light makes a very good point:

Of course her mistake may be understandable, especially in view of Mr. Obama’s latest logo for his healthcare program:

And it has been suggested that receiving Botox injections can cause blurry vision.

Of course given that she was talking about Democrat town halls, her confusion is even more understandable given the overlap between Nazi programs and Democrats’ pet issues anyway, as we all know.

The Nazis being: against big banks and capitalism in general, against big department stores, against pollution, for two years mandatory voluntary service to the country, for make-work projects (such as the autobahn), against vivisection and cruelty and to animals, against smoking and all tobacco products, for abortion and euthanasia of the infirm and undesirable – and, of course, for cradle-to-grave nationalized healthcare.

In fact, if you look really hard, you can sometimes even find a hint of anti-Semitism in the Democrat Party.

My God. Is not it not the truth?  Is it not ironic that the same party that fought for and won the ability to segregate against blacks; is now trying to compare those who are opposed to the President’s idea of Nationalized Health-care as Nazi’s?

The Irony is amazing.

Sotomayor is approved to Supreme Court

I have blogged about this before; but I will write a few lines about it again. As much as I hate repeating myself. 🙄

Voting largely along party lines, the Senate on Thursday confirmed Judge Sonia Sotomayor as the 111th justice of the Supreme Court. She will be the first Hispanic and the third woman to serve on the court.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. was expected to administer the oath of office to Judge Sotomayor, 55, in the next few days, with a formal ceremony likely in September. She succeeds Justice David H. Souter, who retired in June.

Democrats celebrated the successful nomination and relatively smooth confirmation process as a bright spot in a summer when they have been buffeted by several challenges, including rocky progress on their attempts to overhaul the nation’s health care system, President Obama’s falling approval ratings, the climbing unemployment rate and other lingering economic problems.

Shortly after the vote, President Obama said he was “deeply gratified” and confident that Judge Sotomayor would become an outstanding justice. The ideals of “justice, equality, opportunity” that guide the high court are the very ones that made the judge’s “uniquely American story” possible in the first place, the president said.

via Senate Approves Sotomayor to Supreme Court – NYTimes.com.

As I have written here time and again, Elections have consequences and this, again, is one of the consequences of that election. The Republicans chose to run a rather idiotic political campaign through John McCain; one based upon fear and utter stupidity and they lost. They lost in 2006 and then lost horribly again in 2008. This also was the result of the Republican Party’s support of a Wilsonian style of rule for 8 years. This cost them horribly and rightfully so.

I hope that the Republican Party here in the next four to eight years will renounce this idiotic Wilsonian foreign policy nonsense and will develop a sensible approach to foreign policy. There are signs that some within that party are coming out from under the spell of the George W. Bush Wilsonian stupor. I hope that this will continue as time goes on.  The encouraging thing is that there are still some Conservatives on the bench and Mrs. Sotomayor is not the only person up there. There are some within Conservative ranks, which act as if she will be the only person in the Supreme Court; of course, that is foolishness. Hence the remark about fear mongering earlier.

Surprisingly there are some Progressive Liberals who do not believe that she is Liberal enough for the court; and likewise, there are some within the Gun Community, who believe that she is too liberal. The Lady cannot win, she is either one or the other, and she cannot be both! (Well, she could, but it would be weird! 😆 )

My feelings are this; time will tell. While I doubt highly that, her approval will drastically change anything in the short run; time will tell in the long run. This should give Conservatives and yes; Republicans pause and cause them to begin to think about the future of America. It should and I do say, Should; give them motivation to get off the stupidity and get back to the Business of saving this wonderful Republic of ours.

Yikes! – About half of U.S. mortgages are seen to be underwater by 2011

Tim Geithner call your office!

The percentage of U.S. homeowners who owe more than their house is worth will nearly double to 48 percent in 2011 from 26 percent at the end of March, portending another blow to the housing market, Deutsche Bank said on Wednesday.

Home price declines will have their biggest impact on prime “conforming” loans that meet underwriting and size guidelines of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the bank said in a report. Prime conforming loans make up two-thirds of mortgages, and are typically less risky because of stringent requirements.

“We project the next phase of the housing decline will have a far greater impact on prime borrowers,” Deutsche analysts Karen Weaver and Ying Shen said in the report.

Of prime conforming loans, 41 percent will be “underwater” by the first quarter of 2011, up from 16 percent at the end of the first quarter 2009, it said. Forty-six percent of prime jumbo loans will be larger than their properties’ value, up from 29 percent, it said.

“The impact of this is significant given that these markets have the largest share of the total mortgage market outstanding,” the analysts said. Prime jumbo loans make up 13 percent of the total market.

via About half of U.S. mortgages seen underwater by 2011 | Reuters.

I wonder what “The One” will do about this? Cash for Refinancing?

Here’s why:

The drop in home prices is fueling a vicious cycle of foreclosures as it eliminates homeowner equity and gives borrowers an incentive to walk away from their mortgages. The more severe the negative equity, the more likely are defaults, since many borrowers believe prices will not recover enough.

Homeowners with the riskiest mortgages taken out during the housing boom have seen the greatest erosion in equity, in part because they were “affordability products” originated at the housing peak, Deutsche said. They include subprime loans, of which 69 percent will be underwater in 2011, up from 50 percent in March, Deutsche said,

Of option adjustable-rate mortgages — which cut payments by allowing principal balances to rise — 89 percent will be underwater in 2011, up from 77 percent, the report said.

Regions suffering the worst negative equity are areas in California, Florida, Arizona, Nevada, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Massachusetts and West Virginia. Las Vegas and parts of Florida and California will see 90 percent or more of their loans underwater by 2011, it added.

“For many, the home has morphed from piggy bank to albatross,” the analysts said.

It is classic; The textbook reason why you DO NOT give home loans to high risk persons. Because they are the first to lose their jobs when the economy takes a dump.  This is the invention of the Clinton Administration. But yet, no one on the left wants to blame slick willy. Call it the Clinton bubble, call it a huge screw up by the Democrats. I call it reality. Welcome to the Obama Economy and the Democratic Future, brought to you by Clinton stupidity.

A Blogger friend of mine needs help

realmeHis name is Sammy, He is Jewish.

I razzed him once about something and pissed him off. After a while, I felt like a dick and apologized. After we became friends, I learned much about Sammy, I found out we had much in common.

Anyway, Sammy’s now looking at some hard times right now; I can relate; many can, times are tough. I however, have a safety net of sorts. Sammy does not, he is toughing it out and making due. Job prospects are bad and he might have swallow hard and do the Walmart thing.

If you can head on over to Sammy’s Blog and give a buck or two. Consider it an act of charity to a man, who is not drinking the Kool-Aid.

Click here to read Sammy’s Blog Posting.

…..and Thank you.

BREAKING NEWS: Democratic Rep Brad Miller's Life Threatened over Healthcare Bill

Sigh….Why do people do dumb crap like this?!?!?!

Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC) will not be hosting any town hall events this August — instead, he’s making himself available to constituents for one-on-one meetings about health care reform — and at least part of the reason is this: His offices have received threatening phone calls, including at least one direct threat against his life.

“We had no town hall events scheduled for the August recess anyway, but in light of everything that’s happened — we have received a threatening phone call in the D.C. office, there have been calls to the Raleigh office,” said Miller communications director LuAnn Canipe, in an interview with TPM. The threatening call in question happened earlier this week.

“The call to the D.C. office was, ‘Miller could lose his life over this,'” said Canipe. “Our staffer took it so seriously, he confirmed what the guy was saying. He said, ‘Sir is that a threat?’ and at that time our staffer was getting the phone number off caller ID and turning it over to the Capitol Police.”

They haven’t heard anything back from the police yet, but they did get the caller’s number. So this could develop into something soon enough.

via Dem Congressman’s Office: His Life Has Been Threatened Over Health Care Bill | TPMDC.

This is extremely wrong and very stupid.

Blue Crab Boulevard calls B.S.:

First of all – he had no town hall meetings scheduled – so what, exactly, is he canceling? Let’s face it, Propaganda Points Memo is not exactly a trustworthy source for anything resembling truth, but in this case, the claim is so egregious that it begs for confirmation.

Either produce a police report or stuff your report. This event, according to the report, was reported to the Capitol Police. Produce the report.

A congressman who had no plans to hold town hall meetings excitedly reporting that he is canceling all of his nonexistent town hall meetings stinks out loud of publicity stunt. Produce the report.

Or else you are a fraud. No middle ground here.

Well, I am not taking any chances. To All of the visitors here at PoliticalByline.com. Let me make this absolutely clear. I DO NOT CONDONE, AT ALL; THE USE OF THREATS  OF OR ACTUAL PHYSICAL VIOLENCE TO ACCOMPLISH A POLITICAL GOAL! THAT IS TERRORISM AND IT IS WRONG! 😡

I personally hope that whomever the bonehead was that made such a threat will end up spending some quality time behind bars. While I opposed to the socialism of the Liberal Left; this sort of nonsense is uncalled for and must be stopped. We have a peaceful process in this country, it is called political discourse and elections. Let us stick to that please. We are not Iran or North Korea people, let’s not act like them.

Others: Firedoglake, Now! Hampshire, Glenn Thrush’s Blog, Blue Crab Boulevard, Talking Points Memo and D-Day



William Jefferson found guilty on 11 of 16 counts

One Word…. Good.

Via Nola.com:

In the 16-count indictment, Jefferson was charged with soliciting bribes and other crimes for a series of schemes in which he helped American businesses broker deals in West African in exchange for payments or financial considerations to companies controlled by members of his family, including his brother Mose, his wife, Andrea, their five daughters and a son-in-law.

01nwJeffCase
William Jefferson - Shakedown Artist

Jefferson, 62, who represented the New Orleans-based 2nd Congressional District for nine terms, will now face sentencing by Judge T.S. Ellis III, who earlier meted out stiff sentences for lesser figures in the case. According to the U.S. attorney’s office, Jefferson faced 235 years in prison if convicted on all counts, and will still face substantial prison time.

Prosecutors asked that Jefferson be held as a flight risk, but the judge allowed him to remain free pending his sentencing scheduled for Oct. 30. A forfeiture hearing will be held Thursday to decide what assets Jefferson will have to surrender.

The verdict comes four years after the Aug. 3, 2005 raids of Jefferson’s homes in New Orleans and Washington, D.C., in which the FBI found $90,000 in cash hidden in the freezer of his D.C. home, money the government said Jefferson was going to deliver as a bribe to Atiku Abubakar, then vice president of Nigeria, to gain his help with a telecommunications deal in Nigeria being pursued by Lori Mody, a Northern Virginia businesswoman.

The money was the lion’s share of $100,000 in FBI cash that the congressman was videotaped receiving packed in a briefcase days earlier in a suburban Virginia parking lot from Mody, who, beginning in March of 2005, had become a cooperating witness for the FBI, secretly taping her conversations with Jefferson.

The jury did not find him guilty on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which was the count linked to the money in the freezer.

While Mody did not testify at the trial, the jury heard segments of her taped conversations with Jefferson along with more than six weeks of testimony from government witnesses, including iGate Inc. CEO Vernon Jackson and Mody financial adviser Brett Pfeffer, both of whom are serving time after pleading guilty to their involvement in the bribe schemes, and hoped to see their sentences reduced in exchange for their testimony against Jefferson.

Jefferson did not testify in his own defense and his formal defense lasted only about two hours. In his closing argument, lead defense attorney Robert Trout presented his client as a man whose dealings had placed him in an ethical “gray” area, but who had not broken the law.

I will simply say this; as a non-partisan Conservative blogger who knows full well that there is corruption on both sides of the aisle, I will simply say this. I am very pleased that this man was caught. I only hope now that it does not stop this guy; but rather continues with others that are extremely corrupt up on capital hill.

Exit question: How long till the race baiters like Al Sharpton come out saying that this bust was racially motivated?

Others: Gateway Pundit, Michelle Malkin, , Macsmind, Flopping Aces, Blue Crab Boulevard Wizbang, Patterico’s Pontifications,