Comment on: Democrats gain in poll but GOP still leads as midterm elections near at 10/5/2010 11:32 AM EDT
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/05/AR2010100500005.html
Can't help but notice the double standard in the McMahon-Blumenthal CT Senate race; it’s the same Dems that vilified President Bush for serving in the Air National Guard during Vietnam that are giving Blumenthal a bye for hiding out in the Marine Corps Reserve during that time? Go Figure!
The main difference between Bush and Blumenthal when it comes to “what did you do in the War, Daddy?” was, Bush didn’t feel the need to lie about actually going to War!
For the record, not a single Marine Reserve unit was activated for that conflict so Blumenthal’s one weekend drill a month was a pretty cushy way to sit out the War.
By comparison, "W" looks like a war hero! For the record, Bush flying antique Air National Guard Convair F-102s was probably in more danger than I was during an extended CIB-earning tour in Vietnam! Also, during his time in the Guard, President Bush spent almost 2 years on active duty.
Granted, both Bush and Blumenthal’s “war records” look pretty good when compared to good old Joe "5-Deferment" Biden. Joe (and Dick Cheney I might add) did everything short of maiming himself to dodge the Draft during Vietnam (which neither he nor Cheney had the guts to do – I guess it's a prerequisite for VP). Of course, Joe did demonstrate a certain Military Expertise by the way he skillfully avoided any brush with armed conflict during his youth which I guess makes him qualified to give his “best Military advice” now to the President on Afghanistan and Iraq.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Wash-Post Article: Wyly brothers built an empire side-by-side
Comment on: Washington Post Article: Wyly brothers built an empire side-by-side at 7/31/2010 1:04 PM EDT
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/30/AR2010073006293.html
I am absolutely delighted they got these brotherly tax cheats, regardless of their political affiliation! My question is when will the DOJ go after the notorious tax cheat, Penny Pritzker?
During the Campaign, Ms. Pritzker was President Obama's Finance Chairman and now she is a prominent member of his Council of Economic Advisors. Here is what the NY Times even had to say about her when her name was floated as a possible Secretary of Commerce: "it had never made sense for Ms. Pritzker to become a nominee. 'The confirmation hearing could have been quite ugly' .... In 1988, the Pritzker family and another wealthy investor took over a failing savings and loan and turned it into Superior Bank. Ms. Pritzker was its chairwoman from 1991 to 1994, after which she sat on the board of the bank’s holding company.... concentrating on packaging subprime mortgages into securities.... regulators later discovered accounting irregularities that overstated the value of its assets. The bank was forced to write down huge losses, leaving it without adequate capital... A 2002 report by the inspector general of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation concluded that 'the failure of Superior Bank was directly attributable to bank management and the board of directors' ...Pritzkers agreed in 2001 to pay the F.D.I.C. $460 million .... The family also increased its wealth by exploiting loopholes in the tax code, including setting up a series of offshore trusts that sheltered their assets from taxes. The I.R.S. fought several battles with the Pritzkers over the arrangements. But the agency was hindered by foreign bank secrecy laws that concealed what the Pritzkers owned. In 2002, a few cracks appeared in the wall of secrecy when two young Pritzker heirs filed a lawsuit claiming their older relatives had looted their trusts. The litigation revealed that the family was worth at least $15 billion, that it was held in some 950 trusts...."
Ms. Pritzker is another Rich Democrat that isn't worried about Obama raising her taxes because she doesn't pay any by hiding here money overseas in a numbered bank account! When you're a Dem political operative and even the NY Times calls you sleazy, you must be "World-Class" sleazy!
Let’s see if the administration is an equal opportunity pursuer of tax cheats and goes after one of their own worst offenders! Is this more "change we can believe in?" or just another shady character Our President pals around with?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/30/AR2010073006293.html
I am absolutely delighted they got these brotherly tax cheats, regardless of their political affiliation! My question is when will the DOJ go after the notorious tax cheat, Penny Pritzker?
During the Campaign, Ms. Pritzker was President Obama's Finance Chairman and now she is a prominent member of his Council of Economic Advisors. Here is what the NY Times even had to say about her when her name was floated as a possible Secretary of Commerce: "it had never made sense for Ms. Pritzker to become a nominee. 'The confirmation hearing could have been quite ugly' .... In 1988, the Pritzker family and another wealthy investor took over a failing savings and loan and turned it into Superior Bank. Ms. Pritzker was its chairwoman from 1991 to 1994, after which she sat on the board of the bank’s holding company.... concentrating on packaging subprime mortgages into securities.... regulators later discovered accounting irregularities that overstated the value of its assets. The bank was forced to write down huge losses, leaving it without adequate capital... A 2002 report by the inspector general of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation concluded that 'the failure of Superior Bank was directly attributable to bank management and the board of directors' ...Pritzkers agreed in 2001 to pay the F.D.I.C. $460 million .... The family also increased its wealth by exploiting loopholes in the tax code, including setting up a series of offshore trusts that sheltered their assets from taxes. The I.R.S. fought several battles with the Pritzkers over the arrangements. But the agency was hindered by foreign bank secrecy laws that concealed what the Pritzkers owned. In 2002, a few cracks appeared in the wall of secrecy when two young Pritzker heirs filed a lawsuit claiming their older relatives had looted their trusts. The litigation revealed that the family was worth at least $15 billion, that it was held in some 950 trusts...."
Ms. Pritzker is another Rich Democrat that isn't worried about Obama raising her taxes because she doesn't pay any by hiding here money overseas in a numbered bank account! When you're a Dem political operative and even the NY Times calls you sleazy, you must be "World-Class" sleazy!
Let’s see if the administration is an equal opportunity pursuer of tax cheats and goes after one of their own worst offenders! Is this more "change we can believe in?" or just another shady character Our President pals around with?
Monday, October 12, 2009
Newsweek - 12 Oct 09 - Fawning Over Joe Biden?
The advantage to following good old Joe "5-Deferment" Biden’s advice is, when President Obama loses both our wars through inadequate resourcing, he can always blame it on this crack Military Expert’s advice. I know Joe "5-Deferment" Biden is the COWARD I would always turn to when it comes to advice on Military Strategy.
Then again, this fawning Newsweek Biden article does at least allow as how this COWARD “has not always showed the most clear-eyed judgment. In 1990 he voted against American involvement in the first Gulf war, which turned out to be a relatively low-cost success, whereas he voted for the invasion of Iraq, which turned into a near fiasco. He opposed the 2007 Iraq surge, which rescued the American effort from near defeat.” Also, wasn’t he the clown advocating splitting Iraq into three separate countries?
By placing the management of both our two Wars in good old Joe "5-deferment's" portfolio, the President might have already strongly sent the message he isn't interested in winning either of them.
Must admit “5-Deferment” Joe did demonstrate some degree of Military Expertise by the way he deftly avoided any brush with armed conflict during his youth when he successfully dodged the Vietnam draft (he and Dick Cheney did everything short of maiming themselves which neither had the guts to do – I guess it’s a prerequisite for VP). By contrast here Biden makes "W" look like a war hero! (For the record, Bush flying antique Air National Guard Convair F-102s was probably in more danger than I was during an extended CIB-earning tour in Vietnam!).
This COWARD is the reason every American should pray each evening for Obama's good health! He will go down in history as the dumbest and most inept vice president of all times; here by contrast he makes Palin look smart and Dan Quayle absolutely brilliant.
Fortunately, the other role President Obama has assigned this clown is that of designated "butt of jokes" for the late night comedians -- one for which he is eminently well qualified and ideally suited. I hope he devotes his attention to this role and leaves running Wars to the Pros like GEN McChrystal and GEN Petraeus.
Then again, this fawning Newsweek Biden article does at least allow as how this COWARD “has not always showed the most clear-eyed judgment. In 1990 he voted against American involvement in the first Gulf war, which turned out to be a relatively low-cost success, whereas he voted for the invasion of Iraq, which turned into a near fiasco. He opposed the 2007 Iraq surge, which rescued the American effort from near defeat.” Also, wasn’t he the clown advocating splitting Iraq into three separate countries?
By placing the management of both our two Wars in good old Joe "5-deferment's" portfolio, the President might have already strongly sent the message he isn't interested in winning either of them.
Must admit “5-Deferment” Joe did demonstrate some degree of Military Expertise by the way he deftly avoided any brush with armed conflict during his youth when he successfully dodged the Vietnam draft (he and Dick Cheney did everything short of maiming themselves which neither had the guts to do – I guess it’s a prerequisite for VP). By contrast here Biden makes "W" look like a war hero! (For the record, Bush flying antique Air National Guard Convair F-102s was probably in more danger than I was during an extended CIB-earning tour in Vietnam!).
This COWARD is the reason every American should pray each evening for Obama's good health! He will go down in history as the dumbest and most inept vice president of all times; here by contrast he makes Palin look smart and Dan Quayle absolutely brilliant.
Fortunately, the other role President Obama has assigned this clown is that of designated "butt of jokes" for the late night comedians -- one for which he is eminently well qualified and ideally suited. I hope he devotes his attention to this role and leaves running Wars to the Pros like GEN McChrystal and GEN Petraeus.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Edward Kennedy Arlington National Cemetery Burial
Two years (1951-53) vacationing with the Army in Paris, France at the height of the Korean War while most of your fellow soldiers are fighting for their lives in Korea hardly qualifies one for burial in Arlington National Cemetery. Especially, when you consider that the recipient of such favorable treatment was the son of big-shot Democrat operative Joe Kennedy and the president at the time was Harry Truman. Dan Rather was so busy looking into Bush’s Air National Guard service he totally missed this one.
Must admit, Dan also missed looking into the ultimate COWARD, Joe “5-Deferment” Biden who (along with Dick Cheney) did everything short of maiming himself to avoid being drafted during Vietnam (neither had the guts for maiming – I guess it’s a prerequisite for VP).
By contrast, Kennedy, Cheney and Biden make "W" look like a war hero! (For the record, Bush flying antique Air National Guard Convair F-102s was probably in more danger than I was during an extended CIB-earning tour in Vietnam!).
One final observation, wasn't it his brother JFK that escalated Vietnam into a war; then made it ours by allowing Diem to be assassinated and bringing in hawks McNamara, Rusk and Bundy to expand it. Of the 58K killed in Vietnam, 37K of them were killed under the war leaders brought in by JFK and retained by LBJ.
Must admit, Dan also missed looking into the ultimate COWARD, Joe “5-Deferment” Biden who (along with Dick Cheney) did everything short of maiming himself to avoid being drafted during Vietnam (neither had the guts for maiming – I guess it’s a prerequisite for VP).
By contrast, Kennedy, Cheney and Biden make "W" look like a war hero! (For the record, Bush flying antique Air National Guard Convair F-102s was probably in more danger than I was during an extended CIB-earning tour in Vietnam!).
One final observation, wasn't it his brother JFK that escalated Vietnam into a war; then made it ours by allowing Diem to be assassinated and bringing in hawks McNamara, Rusk and Bundy to expand it. Of the 58K killed in Vietnam, 37K of them were killed under the war leaders brought in by JFK and retained by LBJ.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
We Got a Governor Race in VA This Year and Only One of the Candidates is a Vet!
Governor McDonnell has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? The only questions Virginians have to ask themselves this election cycle is do you want jobs or do you enjoy unemployment? Virginia has an unemployment rate at ~7% while the National average is ~9.4%, mainly because of a Republican legislature. If we were dumb enough to elect a Dem with "Card Check" and other business unfriendly initiatives on his agenda, we deserve to emulate California or Michigan with 15%+ unemployment and state insolvency.
Unfortunately, the entire Democrat Party is Union "owned" and "ACORN managed." Deeds even had the ACORN Organizer-in-Chief, President Obama, appear with him last week. What else can I say!
I would add that given Virginia's huge Military, Military retiree and veteran population, it should be noted that Lieutenant Colonel (USAR Ret) McDonnell is one of us and the only candidate in the race that has ever donned a uniform in defense of this nation. McDonnell was on active duty from Oct 76 to Apr 81 including 3 years overseas with the 2nd Armored Division in Germany. Even McDonnell's daughter, an Iraq War Vet, has more time defending this nation than Deeds!
Unfortunately, the entire Democrat Party is Union "owned" and "ACORN managed." Deeds even had the ACORN Organizer-in-Chief, President Obama, appear with him last week. What else can I say!
I would add that given Virginia's huge Military, Military retiree and veteran population, it should be noted that Lieutenant Colonel (USAR Ret) McDonnell is one of us and the only candidate in the race that has ever donned a uniform in defense of this nation. McDonnell was on active duty from Oct 76 to Apr 81 including 3 years overseas with the 2nd Armored Division in Germany. Even McDonnell's daughter, an Iraq War Vet, has more time defending this nation than Deeds!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Michelle Obama meets with families at Va Navy base
Does anyone find it strange that First Lady Michelle Obama is so into the Military while her husband, President Obama, feels free to discriminate against us?
The current administration totally lacks diversity when it comes to Veterans inside the White House as Obama's is truly a "Vet-less Administration" when it comes to his inner circle. I suspect it's the "Veteran void" that has allowed the administration to blunder into such ill conceived schemes as billing veterans’ private insurance for combat connected disabilities and allowing his DHS Secretary to accuse Veterans of being prospective Terrorists when they are the only Americans fighting terrorism.
Although Vets are a little better represented in the rest of the Executive Branch, even the Washington Post recently noted this administration has the fewest Vets in the Cabinet since the Hoover Administration.
To add additional insult, we are now in our 6th year of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan and the President has the audacity to just now appoint Rep John McHugh (R-NY)as the new Secretary of the Army. Not only has Mr. McHugh never worn a uniform so has no clue what a "combat stressed" Army is going through but he is "in bed" with some of the most corrupt Defense Lobbyists and sleazy contractors ever to afflict the Military.
To take the measure of a man, look at his actions instead of listening to his rhetoric. Despite his public utterances of support for the Military and Vets, of the 41 White House appointees, only General James Jones has ever worn the uniform of our country. Even those of prime Vietnam era draft age like Rouse and Craig managed to avoid any brush with danger during their youth. Other than General Jones, not even his National Security team has Military experience. It is always easier to send others into harms way when you or your loved ones have never had to go!
Mr. Obama’s 2.4% Vets in the White House is beginning to make President Clinton’s abysmal 5% look pretty good but not quite as good as President Bush 41’s 34%.
Our first indication of how candidate Obama felt about the Military should have been his choice for Vice President. When he selected good old Joe "5-Deferment" Biden he showed he valued draft dodging over Military Service! Of course, Joe’s demonstrated his Military Expertise by the way he skillfully avoided any brush with armed conflict during his youth when he successfully dodged the draft and Vietnam (he and Dick Cheney did everything short of maiming themselves which neither had the guts to do – I guess it’s a prerequisite for VP). By comparison, Biden makes "W" look like a war hero! (For the record, Bush flying antique Air National Guard Convair F-102s was probably in more danger than I was during an extended CIB-earning tour in Vietnam!)
I suspect eventually for survival President Obama will be forced to hire at least a few Vets to help prevent him from repeating those previous boneheaded blunders. Even Ray Charles could have seen what the public reaction was going to be to them but the Presidents “Vet-less” inner circle allowed them anyway. Including a Vet in his decision circle could have pointed out the obvious and avoided some embarrassment.
All Americans should encourage President Obama to add a little “diversity” to his administration by hiring a few Vets so we can feel included. It might even have the serendipitous effect of lowering the Veteran unemployment rate. Now that would truly be “Change we can believe in!"
The current administration totally lacks diversity when it comes to Veterans inside the White House as Obama's is truly a "Vet-less Administration" when it comes to his inner circle. I suspect it's the "Veteran void" that has allowed the administration to blunder into such ill conceived schemes as billing veterans’ private insurance for combat connected disabilities and allowing his DHS Secretary to accuse Veterans of being prospective Terrorists when they are the only Americans fighting terrorism.
Although Vets are a little better represented in the rest of the Executive Branch, even the Washington Post recently noted this administration has the fewest Vets in the Cabinet since the Hoover Administration.
To add additional insult, we are now in our 6th year of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan and the President has the audacity to just now appoint Rep John McHugh (R-NY)as the new Secretary of the Army. Not only has Mr. McHugh never worn a uniform so has no clue what a "combat stressed" Army is going through but he is "in bed" with some of the most corrupt Defense Lobbyists and sleazy contractors ever to afflict the Military.
To take the measure of a man, look at his actions instead of listening to his rhetoric. Despite his public utterances of support for the Military and Vets, of the 41 White House appointees, only General James Jones has ever worn the uniform of our country. Even those of prime Vietnam era draft age like Rouse and Craig managed to avoid any brush with danger during their youth. Other than General Jones, not even his National Security team has Military experience. It is always easier to send others into harms way when you or your loved ones have never had to go!
Mr. Obama’s 2.4% Vets in the White House is beginning to make President Clinton’s abysmal 5% look pretty good but not quite as good as President Bush 41’s 34%.
Our first indication of how candidate Obama felt about the Military should have been his choice for Vice President. When he selected good old Joe "5-Deferment" Biden he showed he valued draft dodging over Military Service! Of course, Joe’s demonstrated his Military Expertise by the way he skillfully avoided any brush with armed conflict during his youth when he successfully dodged the draft and Vietnam (he and Dick Cheney did everything short of maiming themselves which neither had the guts to do – I guess it’s a prerequisite for VP). By comparison, Biden makes "W" look like a war hero! (For the record, Bush flying antique Air National Guard Convair F-102s was probably in more danger than I was during an extended CIB-earning tour in Vietnam!)
I suspect eventually for survival President Obama will be forced to hire at least a few Vets to help prevent him from repeating those previous boneheaded blunders. Even Ray Charles could have seen what the public reaction was going to be to them but the Presidents “Vet-less” inner circle allowed them anyway. Including a Vet in his decision circle could have pointed out the obvious and avoided some embarrassment.
All Americans should encourage President Obama to add a little “diversity” to his administration by hiring a few Vets so we can feel included. It might even have the serendipitous effect of lowering the Veteran unemployment rate. Now that would truly be “Change we can believe in!"
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Did Cronkite Cause the US to Lose in Vietnam?
Not to speak ill of the dead but many (I among them) believe we could have prevailed in Vietnam had it not been for the liberal media and especially Mr. Cronkite shaping public opinion against the War.
The end result of Mr. Cronkite's actions was to doom the Vietnam people we abandoned to unthinkable hardships. With the fall of Saigon, the new communist government sent many people who supported the old government in the South to "re-education camps." An estimated 1 million people were imprisoned without formal charges or trials and, according to published academic studies in the US and Europe, more than 165,000 people died in these re-education camps. Hundreds of thousands more were abused or tortured. These factors, coupled with poverty, caused hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese to flee the country many becoming "boat people." On the open seas, the boat people had to confront forces of nature, and elude pirates.
Related events in Cambodia allowed the Khmer Rouge regime to murder millions more people in their "Killing Fields."
Mr. Cronkite may have been a great newsman but this stain on his record needs to be a lesson to all Americans about what can happen when we abandon our commitments. Let's remember this as we deal with Iraq and Afghanistan.
The end result of Mr. Cronkite's actions was to doom the Vietnam people we abandoned to unthinkable hardships. With the fall of Saigon, the new communist government sent many people who supported the old government in the South to "re-education camps." An estimated 1 million people were imprisoned without formal charges or trials and, according to published academic studies in the US and Europe, more than 165,000 people died in these re-education camps. Hundreds of thousands more were abused or tortured. These factors, coupled with poverty, caused hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese to flee the country many becoming "boat people." On the open seas, the boat people had to confront forces of nature, and elude pirates.
Related events in Cambodia allowed the Khmer Rouge regime to murder millions more people in their "Killing Fields."
Mr. Cronkite may have been a great newsman but this stain on his record needs to be a lesson to all Americans about what can happen when we abandon our commitments. Let's remember this as we deal with Iraq and Afghanistan.
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