by the Left Coast Rebel
So pathetic to the point of laughable to have a child hawk a political agenda; whether left or right, at the passing of a man of politics. Truly one of the most disturbing sights I have ever seen - Max Allen, Ted Kennedy's grandson used as a socialized medicine takeover prop. Even in death may they haunt us with constant schemes to rework our society in their image.
I pray that every American will have quality access to equal justice under the law and the pursuit of happiness without a boot on his neck at every turn of his life, I pray to the Lord. I pray that America would jettison a ruling-class oligarchy that believe in the Religion of the Almighty State to the point of child-indoctrination and subjugation, I pray to the Lord.
This should be absolute required viewing for all Americans at this point in our history. For those with even a modicum of a moral compass can see the evil portrayed. I hadn't planned on commenting on the passing of Ted Kennedy but this spectacle brought me out of the shadows....
Truly one of the most shocking things I have ever seen.
8.31.2009
Max Allen - Ted Kennedy's Funeral, Leftism Is a Religion
Harry Reid Vs. Las Vegas Newspaper - 57% Want Congress Changed, Double-Digit Dem Losses
Obama's Czars
by the Left Coast Rebel
To quote Carol Shea Porter in the above video taken over the weekend -
"There are not 35 Czars and that is just plain misinformation."
There aren't 35 Czars? Notice that the lady that questioned Shea Porter didn't mention a specific number? Aren't there 30+? When I started my blog there were over 20 or so. So obviously it is not misinformation to assume that there are 35 Czars, or at least close to that number. Watch the following video from Pajamas Media, how many do you count?
Coming away from this Pajamas expose I counted 30 Czars, as they mentioned; however there are several queued up as well. Since these folks aren't confirmed by Congress, who knows? Perhaps the Obamanation snuck in a few more on a late Friday evening.
Anyway to the credentials and backgrounds of the Czars. Some may seem benign, some in between and a few are off the charts. Listed -
- Gary Samore, the WMD Czar - Negotiated the original arms treaty with North Korea, under the Clinton administration. Was that a sterling success? You tell me.
- TARP Czar Herb Allison - CEO of Fannie Mae, from September 2008 until his appointment as the TARP Czar (which is overseeing funds going to Fannie Mae). Mr. Allison is on several boards and advisory councils currently, including Time Warner and the New York Federal Reserve Board. Conflict of interest?
- John Holdren, Science Czar - Advocated by Holdren in the past - Women could be forced to abort their pregnancies, whether they wanted to or not. The population at large could be sterilized by infertility drugs intentionally put into the nation’s drinking water or in food.People who “contribute to social deterioration” “can be required by law to exercise reproductive responsibility.” A radical and a nutjob. Has no place in a rational administration.
- Communications Czar on Health Reform, Linda Douglas - The genius behind the 'Fishy' email WH campaign, obvious disregard to privacy rights.
- Afghanistan Czar, Richard Holbrooke - From February 2001 until July 2008, Holbrooke was a member of the Board of Directors of the now almost bankrupt American International Group (AIG). During his time as a member of the board of directors of AIG the firm engaged in wildly speculative credit default insurance schemes that may cost the taxpayer hundreds of billions to prevent AIG from bringing down the entire financial system. Who better to have as the Afghan Czar than a corrupt AIG head? Perhaps he could help bring down the Afghan economy as well. Or is it that these folks want us to become more like a 3rd tier nation? You tell me.
- Ron Bloom, Car Czar - Was previously the special assistant to the President of the Unite
d Steel Workers based out of Pittsburgh since 1996. Before that he worked as a Investment Banker. Nice to see a union thug as the Car Czar. - Van Jones, Green Jobs Czar - Started his career as a staunch critic of capitalism. He later got involved with Standing Together to Organize a Revolutionary Movement (STORM), a collective which "dreamed of a multiracial socialist utopia." The most radical, at least in background of Obama's Czars.
Did I miss any, readers? I am merely scratching the surface here........
Astroturf Jerks Vs. Grassroots - Steven Crowder from Pajamas TV
by the Left Coast Rebel
Steven Crowder of Pajamas TV goes undercover in CA to a liberal activist group. Watch him on mission in exposing the hypocrisy of the so-called astroturf charge against anyone not in lockstep with the Left.....
8.30.2009
Rep. Shea-Porter Town Hall
by the Left Coast Rebel
This resident raised the most pertinent questions/comments. "What are you going to do about the thievery and corruption in Washington, what are you going to do to re-instate our liberties and freedoms?", she asks. She also mention the 35 czars and socialist infilitration of our government.
So right off the bat, moonbat Shea-Porter denies that there are 35 czars and that it is prepostorous to assert that Americans would elect communists and socialists. Hmm, actually that is the precise point, that the communists and socialists here, in our government are in it's very shadows and the intellectual framework here - the czars, advisers and such, the unelected, extraconstitutional, shadow-government folks. Americans aren't so stupid as to believe the horse-hockey and poppycock coming out of the silver-tongued mouths these days. That is the anger that you see at town halls like this.
Thursday night, Rep. Shea-Porter had this to say here to health care activists - SEIU, Health Care for America Now!, DNC members and others -
"Find those tea-baggers who don't like the idea of this and talk to them. You won't get all of them..... there have been some uncomfortable comments ... and this way nobody feels intimidated."
The last part of the quotation above was in reference to her being questioned as to why her town hall was held in a Federal building. She feels intimidated by teabaggers....how fitting for a woman that made her name as an anti-war activist, a Cindy Sheehan wannabe so-to-speak. She was even once forcibly removed from a Bush event in Portsmouth here. What a peach this Shea-Porter is, obviously she doesn't have a problem with protesters being escorted away from her event, per below. His offense? Speaking out of turn, not being one of the few of a group of 100 chosen by raffle to ask 2 minute questions. By the way, his name is Carl Tomanelli and he's a retired NH police officer. Wow.
From the local Nashtua Telegraph here -
The irony is, of course, that Shea-Porter used to be a "tea-bagger'' on the left. She stalked then-congressman Jeb Bradley at town hall-style meetings the 1st District Republican incumbent held throughout his district.
Shea-Porter's passion against the Iraq war and other Bush policies made her a darling of the liberal throng that came out to rock the house in September 2006 and deliver her a stunning blowout victory over former House Democratic Leader Jim Craig, of Manchester.
The Government Can - Tim Hawkins
by the Left Coast Rebel
I just happened to come across this video over at the Campaign for Liberty site. This is seriously funny stuff, painfully true, about our current state of affairs. I did a little reading at his site here and found that he is a 'clean comic' with a lot of church affiliation. I didn't see any mention of political sattire or belief - even though from this video, it is obvious that he is a friend of liberty. Anyone else heard of him?
8.29.2009
Hopson V. Commissioner of Internal Revenue - Turbotax Timothy Geithner
The U.S. Tax Court in Washington rejected an appeal of accuracy-based penalties assessed by the Internal Revenue Service on Kenneth and Linda Hopson, who claimed they relied on tax-return preparation software that failed to detect income they had omitted from their 2006 federal tax returns.
One simple word comes to my mind, OLIGARCHY.
On many levels, for whom it is supposed to work for; (the taxpaying productive citizen), our government simply doesn't work any more. There is one set of rules for our rulers, one set for the serfs. Ostensibly Turbotax Geithner should have been prosecuted, or in the least held to the same standard as any citizen for his tax-infringement. Anything otherwise is tyrannical, ludicrous, dangerous and antithetical to what America should stand for. We are not, (or shouldn't be), a nation of serfs to be ruled by a ruling-class. And by the way this is a Democrat and a Republican issue, both parties are culpable on this offense.
As I said many months ago when this issue came to light with Timmy the Tax Dodger, (hat-tip No Sheeples), an ordinary citizen would be prosecuted and incarcerated for breaking the tax laws in such a manner. I would go to prison most likely, so would you.
One set of rules for them, one for you and I; the opposite of that which our Founders envisioned.
Disclaimer : At the behest of Smitty over at The Other McCain, I am adding a disclaimer to this post stating that -
- I in no way condone dodging or evading taxes.
- I in no way support said dodge or evasion by attending court in one's defense, based on the illegitimate defense of our crooked leaders.
- Just because our leaders are above the law, (as Smitty says, a shredded condom-law at this point), doesn't mean that we are. Don't fool around with your taxes. If you screw up with your Turbotax software, you as an individual are liable. Remember that. Unlike Timmy, you will be prosecuted, fined, beheaded and disemboweled or otherwise.
Rep. Tim Bishop Town Hall
by the Left Coast Rebel
Last night Rep. Tim Bishop Democrat, NY held a town hall meeting. Word is that Bishop shipped in several bus loads of union members to the event, many from outside districts? Anyway this blogger here from NY has a great summation of the event.
From above mentioned Gathering of Eagles: NY -
Union members, many from outside the district, were snuck into the hall beforehand in an effort to stack the deck with a friendly audience.
The last straw came when one of the union leaders from outside the district was asked to speak. The citizens erupted in open revolt which almost led to violence from the union goons.
As you will see in the following video -
The crowd outside was nearly as big as the one inside -
The MOB in action.......
8.28.2009
Rep. Diane Watson - In Her Own Words
by the Left Coast Rebel
Audio from KABC, an L.A. station just north of me, L.A. Representative, ( I use the term loosely), waxing eloquently. No elaborative comment needed on my part.
Click here for my piece re: the incestuous relationship between our press and the Castro people. Click here as well for a site devoted to the actual state of affairs in Cuba and here for an expose of CNN and their Castro-obsession.
Dear Left Coast Rebel Readers
by the Left Coast Rebel
This afternoon I am pondering a few things. At the foremost of my mind is my appreciation of my readers. You guys rock, to say the least. And what a broad and diverse swath of unique individuals - everyone comes here from different walks of life and different ways of looking at things. I have it all - military veterans, (God bless you and your service), libertarians, moderates, outraged democrats, old-right conservative Ron Paulistas, catholic mommies, teenagers, seniors, black Americans, cranky Texans and disaffected Californians, liberals, born-again progressive Jesus fans, uber-successful equity traders and analysts, expatriates......the list goes on and on.
Talk about smashing the liberal lexicon to bits, that conservatives are white, racist, southern, redneck, half-wit morons.
The love of liberty knows no color, creed or identity; it lives in all of us.
This may sound like a going away statement and assure you that it is anything but. What it is, what it truly is; is an extension of my gratitude to you, the reader, for making my blog what it is becoming. Without you I would just be muttering to myself, incoherent ramblings in my dark little office. The neighbors would most-likely call the authorities eventually. My ramblings would only serve the purpose of maddening me further. With my blog, I am making ripples in the pond, so to speak.
Also, speaking of ramblings as well; it seems Ramblings from I'm Always Right is back, note this excerpt from a comment he left here at LCR -
It is a grand and sublime spectacle, to see the old battles play out in the old tired streets of the world's capitals. Yet no more so then the doughty fighter London has come to represent in the hearts and minds of so many people. It has seen, every step of the way, the old battles of tyranny of centralized control versus the eloquent innocence of freedom.
One could have blindfolded me and read the above passage and I would have pinned it on Ramblings. After a month + absence, it will be nice to see what his formidable faculties put forth. Remember, he's 17 years old, there is hope. I would rather have 3 readers of this caliber than tens of thousands of otherwise.
On another note as well William Jacobson over at Legal Insurrection put me up as Blog of the Day. I am honored, thank you Mr. Jacobson, you are one of the best in the blogosphere.
On closing as well I noted this morning while running analytics for my site that I had a lightning-storm of hits yesterday. After some investigative work I found that they came from Malkin's site. For the life of me however, I couldn't find the specific link or mention of the Left Coast Rebel. Give me a heads-up if you see anything!
Thanks for reading, as always.....
LCR
Daniel Hannan - Reason TV
by the Left Coast Rebel
Points from Hannan that stood out to me, things to ponder, first off his book, The Plan -
- We're in this strange situation where we exported the tradition of British freedom to this part of the world where it thrived but in the mother country it has withered....
On how the American right can learn from the recent conservative resurgence in Britain -
- If you are a conservative it is very easy to be negative because the world is not the way we would like it....we come across very easily as curmudgeonly if all we do is complain. The lesson from Reagan is that to be a successful conservative you also have to imbue your vision with a little breath of warmth, you have to convey a sense of optimism....posit a vision of what could be better....instead of being the 'angry old man.'
Not much elaboration is needed from Hannan's words, obviously. He speaks with such brevity and command of the English language. He posits true conservative ideals. He seems to be a Reagan-type figure.
Of special note is the last bullet point. To convey and win in the realm of ideas as conservatives we must learn how to engender that Reaganesque optimism, even when it doesn't arrive to us casually. I spoke about this yesterday. We need to argue our points from the heart, but with a tender heart as well. I am guilty. I have been known to complain and brow-beat.
Perhaps I can win over more to that which is right, the Right; by following his simple advice. America needs a Hannan-voice!
8.27.2009
Bloomberg Double-Hitter - British Suicide, Obama Channeling Reagan
I had the cable news channels on earlier today, it seems that the MSM collective coronation is going to be the passing of Ted Kennedy. I'm surprised that the Democrats didn't have a controversial socialist bill queued up, just in case.....
Wait, it sure seems to me that they are using his death as a podium; a Wellstone moment. And for that I hope they do have a Wellstone moment, (electorally).
So I'm scanning and pondering two great stories from Bloomberg today. First stop here, the United States canary in the coal mine - British taxation and the fleeing of high(er) income earners.
Some quotes from Americans leaving, on what is happening in the city -
“Expats feel the tone has changed; it’s less welcoming.”
“London’s ability to attract talent has gone down.”
“We are fed up with all the stealth taxes, the non-doms levy, and now the 50 percent tax rate, six American families have moved from my street in the last six months.”
Obviously there is a massive recession in Great Britain, the severity of which eclipses ours even. Their tonic is just as bad, if not worse for their malaise - Tax hikes, noosing the goose that lay the golden egg, falling back to the socialist policies that have gotten them to where they are. A jettisoning of Margaret Thatcher's principals. By the way, 250k is not nearly the amount of money that you would think it to be in London. Thank you Brown.
In other words, the Brits are propagating redistributionist nonsense and demagoguery that our Obamanation obsesses incessantly over. I wish our 'leadership' had the sense to view the English as the coal-mine canary for socialism.
Next stop from Bloomberg again here, titled, Obama Channeling Reagan Needs 5 Quarters of 7% GDP Growth Surge. The article is centered around Obama's re-appointment of Fed Chief Ben Bernanke, that Uncle Ben will be able to pull off a Volcker-style recovery and save the Obamanation agenda.
Two paragraphs from the piece to point you to -
Reagan announced Volcker’s reappointment on June 18, 1983. Three weeks later, the National Bureau of Economic Research declared the recession had ended the previous November after 16 months -- matching the duration of the 1973-1975 slump as the longest since the Great Depression.
“There was a feeling that we would have a V-shaped recovery with strong GDP growth,” recalled Niskanen, who is now chairman emeritus of the Cato Institute in Washington, a policy research group. “We were not discouraged by the conditions. Reagan w
as almost incurably optimistic.”
Indeed, Reagan lowered taxes and was an incurable optimist. He believed in the American spirit, in entrepreneurship, in liberty. He knew that a component of prosperity is inherent in each of us - to keep the fruits of one's labor, the essence of a free and vibrant market-economy.
Enter Barack Obamantion, Chief Community Organizer of Redress. He has and is going to hike taxes astronomically. He comes across during his daily chats, (until he went to Martha's Vineyard this week, thus giving me writer's-block), as anything but an incurable optimist. He thinks
that fairness and redistribution are the keys to aim for - not broadening the economic pie. He believes in the essence of a European welfare-state.And that is why he will never see 7% GDP growth, you just simply cannot have it both ways.
HR 3200 Divulges IRS Tax Data
by the Left Coast Rebel
A few more points to ponder in the health care debate that is still raging across the nation. This one comes to me today courtesy of Declan McCullagh @ CBS News Blogs here. I'm not familiar with Mr. McCullagh but after scanning his material it seems that he is a libertarian-leaning kind of guy. Perhaps a new up-and-coming John Stossel, (one of my heroes).
Anyway the piece Declan put up points to a seemingly incestuous relationship between HR 3200 and the Internal Revenue Service. A few points, excerpted -
Section 431(a) of the bill says that the IRS must divulge taxpayer identity information, including the filing status, the modified adjusted gross income, the number of dependents, and "other information as is prescribed by" regulation. That information will be provided to the new Health Choices Commissioner and and state health programs and used to determine who qualifies for "affordability credits."
Section 1801(a) says that the Social Security Administration can obtain tax return data on anyone who may be eligible for a "low-income prescription drug subsidy" but has not applied for it.
Section 245(b)(2)(A) says the IRS must divulge tax return details -- there's no specified limit on what's available or unavailable -- to the Health Choices Commissioner. The purpose, again, is to verify "affordability credits."
Orwellian? An infringement on our privacy and civil liberties? I thought that 'reforming' health care was centered around cost-cutting, (sorry senior-citizens).
Anyone here familiar with the Privacy Act of 1974? Click here for an HTML version of it. Essentially the Privacy Act places restrictions on how agencies can share an individuals data with other agencies. Click here for a synopsis of the Privacy Act and more details at left-of-center epic.org.
Anyway to avoid sounding like I am going on a tangent I will say that it is patently obvious that HR 3200, in addition to many terrible things and ideas; also infringes upon our civil liberties and privacy and even violates Federal law. Talk about Orwellian. Shame on you Obamanation, for if this damn thing had been presented to you, you would have signed it. What does that tell us about the man sitting in the White House? His competence, progressives?
And speaking of progressives and the netroots, where in the hell are the folks that were incessantly decrying the Bush Admin's assault on civil liberties? Why the silence with this leadership? Can you imagine conservatives setting up an infringement like this? Remember too that laws set up like this will one day be used against you my liberal friends. What about when we have a real 'right-winger' in the White House and Congressional leadership?
Party before principal, always.
Tax Tips for Democrats - David Boaz from Cato
by the Left Coast Rebel
Of course this is a bit tongue-in-cheek from Cato's Executive VP, albeit accurate.
8.26.2009
Change Worth Having - Rand Paul Action Alert
Readers, at my request Carl wrote this piece up for me, (and you), to lay out an 'action alert' for Kentucky senatorial candidate Rand Paul. As you know, Rand is the son of Texas congressman Ron Paul. His voice and economic expertise is much needed in today's government. I usually don't ask for something like this but today I am asking that you support him. Thank you, Carl for writing this up for the Left Coast Rebel!
Not so fast.
Republicans may be able to ride a wave of anti-Obama sentiment, but they should also be careful what they wish for.
Texas Governor George W. Bush rode into the presidency on a wave of Clinton fatigue and when he left, both he and his party were a smoldering mess.
The GOP might return to power in the House of Representatives in 2010, but if they return with nothing but a Bushless version of compassionate conservatism, it will be a Pyrrhic Victory.
For a victory worth attaining, we must provide a choice, not an echo. We must have a real platform, not a mindlessly repetitive slogan of “At least we’re not Democrats!” We must have a plan to show the country that Republicans are 
the party of small government, not the party of barely smaller government than the Democrats.
While the Democrats are spending money faster than Ben Bernanke can print it, now is the perfect time not only for the Republicans to return to power, but to return with oppositional force and the power of ideas.
Enter Rand Paul, Republican running for the U.S. Senate in Kentucky, but more importantly, he is running for liberty.
This is a time when grassroots Republicans can support and must demand candidates who will follow the Constitution and toe the party line only when the latter conforms to the former.
This is also the time to educate ourselves not just about the issues that face us but the candidates who purport to represent us.
Facing an establishment-approved candidate, physician Rand Paul has an uphill battle just to gain the Republican nomination. If a candidate, like Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson, does not even post his positions on issues on his website but boasts about “listening” to potential voters, be aware that that candidate is doing nothing to aid liberty for the individual but is pandering to the anti-Democratic vote.
Simple exploration of http://www.randpaul2010.com/ will educate the reader and demonstrate that Rand Paul is a candidate grassroots Republicans can support, even if they don’t live in Kentucky.
Even though Dr. Paul would officially represent only Kentuckians, being a member of the 100-member Senate would assure that his votes would impact people in all states. Anyone unsure of that may want ask themselves whether the Republicans could afford to break out of their 40-seat minority.
But to wage a winning campaign, more than just the right ideas are necessary. Enough money is needed to stay in a competitive primary and general election. Rand Paul has calculated that although his opponents will likely raise more, he will need $2 million, $1 million for each contest. While that seems like a lot to raise for a candidate who won’t have the big money backers, no big contribution is needed if lots of people just give a little.
For example, last Thursday, August 20, an online fundraiser brought in over $400,000 to the Rand Paul campaign bringing the total to almost $700,000. The campaign reported afterward that the average donation was $86 and 70% of the donations were under $100.
Here’s the plan:
· Please make a small donation. Contributions like these to a candidate like Rand Paul assures that he would be representing people like you and it shows that large, united grassroots efforts can effectively challenge the corporate interests that rule both parties.
· Subscribe to the youtube.com channel “RandPaulsupporter.” This is a compendium of speeches and appearances Rand Paul has made from Neil Cavuto’s afternoon program on Fox News to Russia Today to what is apparently the back of a pick-up truck in Richmond, Kentucky.
· Check out Rand Paul for U.S. Senate, a blog I keep with Matthiasj of the Kentucky Preppers Network. We search the news everyday for any story about Rand Paul, his opponents, or the Senate race in general.
· This is just a subpoint, but stay educated. Rand Paul has already been smeared by establishment mouthpieces. Rand Paul for U.S. Senate is one place where you can arm yourself with the truth to defend against the lies. The party establishment is only concerned with winning, not promoting freedom or conservative principles. If you don’t believe that, just consider how many times Arlen Specter was elected as a Republican.
· Join the Campaign for Liberty and create a page, not unlike facebook. The continuation of Ron Paul’s 2008 presidential campaign, the Campaign for Liberty will provide you with a variety of resources at your fingertips as well as a network of fellow liberty-minded patriots. Spend five minutes browsing through members’ blogs and you will be amazed at how many people are enthusiastic about liberty and not subservience to the State.
· Join facebook and become a supporter of Rand Paul. It may sound corny, but there are lots of messages and alerts sent out by groups and pages that follow the Paul campaign so you’ll always be informed.
Modest contributions and a grasp for the truth are enough to hoist Rand Paul to the nomination and all the way to the U.S. Senate. And it can be done with your help. A little bit of time, effort, and money from everyone who loves liberty is all we need to begin to chip away at the bipartisan racket of American politics.
If anyone has any questions about Rand Paul or the campaign, don’t hesitate to contact me via my blog where you can access my e-mail.
Good day.
www.randpaul2010.com/issues
http://randpaulforsenate.blogspot.com/
http://uncouthruminations.blogspot.com/
Senator Kennedy Passes Away at 77
by Reaganite Republican Resistance
Well, I do feel sorry for him and his family... while no fan, to be sure. And I'll say a prayer for Ted Kennedy and the rest of the clan (am Irish, after all)- I hope that you do to. It's tough, especially with the star-crossed Kennedy's history- I just went through all that with mine, and it's a drag.
Both Michelle Malkin and Jay at Stop the ACLU are correct in saying that exercising some restraint verbally and politically on our side is advisable... whilst on-the-ropes statist opportunists surely attempt to weld ObamaCare passage to "honoring" Teddy... or whatever. Besides the fact that we conservatives should show some class here, America could really use an example of moral clarity at this point in time- and they're not going to get it from the Left.
That said, Teddy Kennedy was a moral black hole.
As noted by Carol at No Sheeples Here, this man was a complete and utter fraud as leader of any kind, but long promoted as a poster-child for limousine liberal's noblesse oblige none-the-less. Kennedy's far-left, liberal influence on the laws of this land also did -and continues to do- far more damage than good. I don't know if he was an evil man, but oft-tipsy Teddy was a comprehensively irresponsible and selfish fake with a seriously-tweaked moral compass. He had NO business preaching to anyone about anything to do with ethics or "social justice"- please.
But he did it anyway, and for decades- even after he committed carelessly cold manslaughter in an act of mind-boggling selfishness. He then dispensed relentless liberal drivel in the Senate because it was his best professional option, and they let him off the hook. If nobody else that mattered to his political career cared... why should he? Like they say, great work if you can get it.
8.25.2009
Obama's Summer of Discontent - Ajami in the Wall Street Journal
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The failure of the Carter years was, in Reagan's view, the failure of the man at the helm and the policies he had pursued at home and abroad. At no time had Ronald Reagan believed that the American covenant had failed, that America should apologize for itself in the world beyond its shores. There was no narcissism in Reagan. It was stirring that the man who headed into the sunset of his life would bid his country farewell by reminding it that its best days were yet to come.
In contrast, there is joylessness in Mr. Obama. He is a scold, the "Yes we can!" mantra is shallow, and at any rate, it is about the coming to power of a man, and a political class, invested in its own sense of smarts and wisdom, and its right to alter the social contract of the land. In this view, the country had lost its way and the new leader and the political class arrayed around him will bring it back to the right path.
Thus the moment of crisis would become an opportunity to push through a political economy of redistribution and a foreign policy of American penance. The independent voters were the first to break ranks. They hadn't underwritten this fundamental change in the American policy when they cast their votes for Mr. Obama.
In the American tradition, the "mandate of heaven" is gained and lost every day and people talk back to their leaders. They are not held in thrall by them. The leaders are not infallible or a breed apart. That way is the Third World way, the way it plays out in Arab and Latin American politics.
The entire brilliant piece again is here.
Of special note and significance to me is the last excerpt that I have above, that the "mandate of heaven" is gained and lost every day in America and people talk back to their leaders. That our leaders are human and fallible. That we don't hold our leaders up as messianic figures, (despite proof @ left, a rally in Oregon)
, not be questioned, to rule by monarchical strides. Perhaps that we see such anger and vitriol from our leaders in concern to town hall dissenter should be no surprise. The political class in the US truly does think that they know best and that we are serfs to be ruled.
They have another thing coming, to say the least.
One many great reasons that America is so different than any other countries in the world is that we don't hold our leaders to higher regard than any other citizen. Ostensibly even the President of the United States is not different than you or I. He has no special privileges or rights above me. He is a citizen like I. He is not a Savior. He is not a cultish leader. He is to be questioned at every corner and ousted if deemed.
That is what was so disturbing to me about the 2008 election and truly why I even started my blog. I was aware of Obama's nefarious connections and ideology. His anger towards that which makes America great - capitalism, individual freedom, liberty. I knew all-too-much of his desire to dismantle our way of life.
Yet this mattered not to the state-press, or did it? Either way they covered for him 24/7. They propagated and propagandized every messianic, Third World cult-leader worship angle that they possibly could. It was the second coming. It was shocking to see this in my freedom-loving country.
And now it seems that my fellow Americans are coming out from their drunken daze.
Talk about an up-and-coming hangover.
Dick Morris - Democrats Could Lose 100 Seats in 2010
by the Left Coast Rebel
Morris -
"The real thing that is going on here is this unbelievable groundswell against the health care package and of concern about the deficit......"
"The catastrophe is the debt and what that is going to mean in the next year, in 2010......it is very likely that we have a double-dip recession. It's a disaster for the Democrats, you could literally see 100 seats changing hands......"
It's a catch-22 for the nation. A virtual smack down of the statist march and agenda, lead by further malaise in our economy; a head-fake of 'green shoots' that we see now. In other words, America may win herself back politically but still suffer greatly economically....
8.24.2009
Tom Daschle Behind the Scenes in the White House
by the Left Coast Rebel
From Saturday's NYT here, Daschle Has Ear of White House and Industry
Excerpts from the NYT with my rebuttal -
"....he talks constantly with top White House advisers, many of whom previously worked for him. He still speaks frequently to the president, who met with him as recently as Friday morning in the Oval Office. And he remains a highly paid policy adviser to hospital, drug, pharmaceutical and other health care industry clients of Alston & Bird, the law and lobbying firm."
(Hope and Change = politics as disgusting norm, Daschle resigned as health Secretary because of corruption, (tax-dodging), what makes us the WH think that he should have any plausible role in reform?Liberal readers of LCR, do you like these back-room shenanigans with this WH?).
"Mr. Daschle is not registered as a lobbyist and recently told U.S. News and World Report that he preferred to describe himself as a “resource” to those in government and industry."
(Wow, really NYT? Are your readers really this stupid? A lobbyist turning the language upside down, coining himself as a ''resource''? I guess Washington and our tax dollars are controlled by ''resources'' then).
"Before such industry groups, Mr. Daschle can sometimes cheer on their lobbying efforts, as he did at a meeting on Aug. 8 of chain drugstore executives when he urged them to push lawmakers to raise certain Medicaid reimbursements."
(Really, so Daschle is a resource for pharma? See video @ bottom. Once again, why does this seem so preposterous to me? Progressives???)
The most ridiculous thing from the NYT in this story? A picture worth a thousand words. The title of the piece being that Daschle has The Ear of the White House, rather it should be that he has the Eyeglasses of the White House.
Because he looks entirely ridiculous. I kid you not, this is not a photo-shopped pic, it is directly from the NYT.
To see through those eyes, through those eyeglasses.......a lobbyist turned resource.
And speaking of buyouts, back room deals, lobbyists and resources........
The Perspective of a Russian Immigrant - A Letter to Investor's Business Daily
by the Left Coast Rebel
Note to readers:
I read the following letter here from a reader to IBD on Friday, after reading it again today I decided to post it in it's entirety here at the Left Coast Rebel, something that I rarely do. Her points that spoke most clearly to me are highlighted. Read her words as a person that was once under an oppressive communist regime, how does she relate to you; how does she call your attention to things that we see on a daily basis?
The Perspective of a Russian Immigrant
by Svletlana Kunin
In the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, I was taught to believe individual pursuits are selfish and sacrificing for the collective good is noble.
In kindergarten we sang songs about Lenin, the leader of the Socialist Revolution. In school we learned about the beautiful socialist system, where everybody is equal and everything is fair; about ugly capitalism, where people are exploited and treat each other like wolves in the wilderness.
Life in the USSR modeled the socialist ideal. God-based religion was suppressed and replaced with cult like adoration for political figures.
The government-assigned salary of the proletariat (blue-collar worker) was 30%-50% higher then any professional. Without incentive to improve their life, professionals drank themselves to oblivion. They — engineers, lawyers, doctors, teachers — earned a government-determined salary that barely covered the necessities, mainly food.
Raising children was a hardship. It took four to six adults (parents and grandparents) to support a child. The usual size of the postwar family was one or two children. Every woman had the right to have an abortion and most of them did, often without anesthesia. 
There is a comparative historical reality that plays out the consequences of two competing ideologies: life in the USSR and in America. When the march to the worker's paradise — the Socialist Revolution — began in 1917, many people emigrated from Russia to the U.S.
In the USSR, economic equality was achieved by redistributing wealth, ensuring that everyone remained poor, with the exception of those doing the redistributing. Only the ruling class of communist leaders had access to special stores, medicine and accommodations that could compare to those in the West.
The rest of the citizenry had to deal with permanent shortages of food and other necessities, and had access to free but inferior, unsanitary and low-tech medical care. The egalitarian utopia of equality, achieved by the sacrifice of individual self-interest for the collective good, led to corruption, black markets, anger and envy.
Government-controlled health care destroyed human dignity.
Chairman Nikita Khrushchev released facts about Stalin and his purges. People learned of the horrific purge of more than 20 million citizens, murdered as enemies of the state.
Those who left Russia found a different set of values in America: freedom of religion, speech, individual pursuits, the right to private property and free enterprise. The majority of those immigrants achieved a better life for themselves and their children in this capitalist land.
These opportunities let the average immigrant live a better life than many elites in the Soviet Communist Party. The freedom to pursue personal self-interest led to prosperity. Prosperity generated charity, benefiting the collective good.
The descendants of those immigrants are now supporting policies that move America away from the values that gave so many immigrants the chance of a better life. Policies such as nationalized medicine, high tax rates and government intrusion into free enterprise are being sold to us under the socialistic motto of collective salvation.
Socialism has bankrupted and failed every society, while capitalism has lifted more people out of poverty than any other system.
There is no perfect society. There are no perfect people. Critics say that greed is the driving force of capitalism. My answer is that envy is the driving force of socialism. Change to socialism is not an improvement on the imperfections of the current system.
The slogans of "fairness and equality" sound better than the slogans of capitalism. But unlike at the beginning of the 20th century, when these slogans and ideas were yet to be tested, we have accumulated history and reality.
Today we can define the better system not by slogans, but by looking at the accumulated facts. We can compare which ideology leads to the most oppression and which brings the most opportunity.
When I came to America in 1980 and experienced life in this country, I thought it was fortunate that those living in the USSR did not know how unfortunate they were.
Now in 2009, I realize how unfortunate it is that many Americans do not understand how fortunate they are. They vote to give government more and more power without understanding the consequences.
And there you have it, words from the heart of a Russian immigrant. Perhaps increased immigration to our land of people like Svetlana is the tonic and the cure for the entitlement disease that afflicts many in our country. Perhaps she could be my president one day.......
Town Hall With Congressman Brian Baird - Marine Vet David Hedrick
by the Left Coast Rebel
First off this morning, a nice little quote from Washington state Congressman Brian Baird earlier this month here, regarding 'the mob' at town hall meetings/protests -
"What we're seeing right now is close to Brown Shirt tactics, I mean that very seriously."
The actual context of the above quote as well was in relation to his lack of attendance to town hall meetings to argue his support for Obamacare. He was arguing to Washington-based Columbian.com news, again here as to why he wouldn't show at town halls and would be hosting "telephone town halls" instead.
So anyway, local constituents are steaming-mad at his comment, case in point, this video shot last week, uploaded over the weekend -
This note as well from Hedrick who uploaded the video himself -
I, David William Hedrick, a member of the silent majority, decided that I was not going to be silent anymore. So, I let U.S. Congressman Brian Baird have it. I was one questioner out of 38, that was called at random from an audience that started at 3,000 earlier in the evening. Not expecting to be called on, I quickly scratched what I wanted to say on a borrowed piece of paper and with a pen that I borrowed from someone else in the audience minutes before I spoke. So much for the planned talking points of the right wing conspiracy.
Incendiary? Unacceptable language from citizen Hedrick? By the way too, I don't think that Pelosi has an SS on her sleeve, what she does have however is an unlimited potential for making a fool of herself, for despising main street folks and conservatives. For simply being one of the worst in this great country of ours.
It's your call but what I will say is that he represents a lot of people that feel they have lost any control over our government, that our government represents the biggest threat to our future and freedoms that it ever has in a historical context.
And boy oh boy did Pelosi and other socialized medicine proponents open a can of worms by broad-brushing all dissent and opposition as brown shirts, nazis, et al, an attempt of association to the LaRouche, (nazi poster@ right), crowd.
8.22.2009
Emerging Consensus = Dems Doomed - Reaganite Republican
Jon Voight, Obama's Civil War
by the Left Coast Rebel
On the heels of my last post on our Debtor Nation, feeling a bit grumpy and melancholy; I am reviewing an email from uber-blogger No Sheeples Here. Sheeples yesterday here requested that I put up her post on Jon Voight's recent comments to the Washington Times here.
Sheeples writes -
As a nation, we are facing clear evidence that we are becoming a socialist nation. We cannot afford to wait for the final proof. Americans have gradually lost sight of how dear their freedom is. Abraham Lincoln, who presided over a civil war said, “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”
"Do not let the Obama administration fool you with all their cunning Alinsky methods. And if you don't know what that method is, I implore you to get the book 'Rules for Radicals,' by Saul Alinsky. Mr. Obama is very well trained in these methods."
"The real truth is that the Obama administration is professional at bullying, as we have witnessed with ACORN at work during the presidential campaign. It seems to me they are sending down their bullies to create fist fights among average American citizens who don't want a government-run health care plan forced upon them. So I ask again. Is President Obama creating a civil war in our own country?"
Certainly this is shocking to hear from someone in Hollywood, judging by the nutroots collective reaction, he is certainly striking a nerve here. But is his opinion off-base?
By the way as well, it is true that Voight is Angelina Jolie's father and he was a Marxist as a younger man.
Voight in National Treasure, a great movie, (apologies for the Chinese subtitles) -
