Crony Capitalism in five easy steps!
Step One: Warren Buffet, after a conversation with President Obama, loaned Bank of America $5 billion, even though BofA was protesting loudly that they were sound and didn't need a bailout.
Step Two: Bank of America makes headlines by deciding to pass on the costs of the Frank-n-Dodd regulations to their account holders (as opponents of the law forecast last summer) in the form of a $5 per month fee for use of debit cards (not including ATM withdrawals). Rest assured the other banks will be following suit - after BofA takes the heat for them, of course.
Showing posts with label corruption. Show all posts
Showing posts with label corruption. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
AXELROD WEIGHS IN
Whew, what a relief! David Axelrod has come out and said that the White House has "investigated" the Sestak bribery situation and found nothing of merit. The DOJ has also weighed in, and have decided there is no reason to appoint a special prosecutor. Stunning developments, no?
Since the White House investigated themselves, there's surely no reason to continue to demand answers. Nothing to see here - move along, move along. After all, there's no reason to doubt Axe's word, now is there? It's not like these allegations are felonies that are impeachable offenses or anything. Really, nothing says above board and transparent like a secret internal "investigation" by the people accused of the wrongdoing. Just ask Penn State.
What is curious is Sestak's continued insistence that there was abribe job offer. He throws the allegation out there now and again seemingly to keep interest going, but refuses to clear up the issue. That strikes me as interesting. This is, after all, a man who has bucked his leadership in persisting with his story. He could have simply said that he "misspoke" and that it wasn't so much a bribe to back out of the primary as it was a "redirection" of his talents.
It's hard to figure his stance on this. Did he mention it for purely selfish reasons in an effort to show his opponent in a bad light - as in, not even the administration thinks Specter had a shot in hell of winning so they had to clear the field as much as possible? Or is it that he is more of a moderate who is setting up the far-left administration for a fall, without wanting to get his hands too dirty and thus risk alienating his base? The fact that he keeps commenting on the subject, instead of the standard "no comment" gives weight to the set-up theory. The problem is, he isn't really a moderate - he's voted with the party on most of Obama/Pelosi's agenda so far.
As puzzling as this whole situation is, don't expect any answers for quite a while. Axelrod's coming out personally on damage control is pretty indicative that there will be no legitimate investigations into this situation until there is a party change in congress. Axe is the official stone wall of the administration. His stepping in is meant to give the impression that this is the last word on the issue.
Meanwhile, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) has been trying to get the DOJ to appoint a special prosecutor, but the DOJ just released their response - an unequivocal 'no'. Is it any surprise that they feel that a special prosecutor and an investigation is "not necessary"? Did Rep. Issa really believe they would check this out? This is the same DOJ that dropped charges against Black Panther members for one of the most blatant (videotaped) cases of voter initimidation in recent history, after all.
The administration has circled the wagons on this one, and for good reason. According to Title 18 U.S.C. § 595 : US Code - Section 595, any person employed in any administrative position by the United States, or by any department or agency thereof who:
This is a felony. As a felony it is also an impeachable offense. There is a reason why the DOJ is refusing to investigate. For those who say some random low level administration official made the offer independent of the administration, take a moment to consider the job that many believe was offered. It is a Cabinet level spot - Secretary of the Navy. The only person authorized to give away those positions is the President. Could it have been a rogue agent, like Rahm Emanuel or perhaps Axelrod himself? Certainly, but the odds are good that their boss knew about the attempts, and quite possibly approved of them.
Let's remember for a minute that Nixon faced impeachment because of his role in the cover-up, not the break-in itself. This bribery scandal is far more aggregious, and it seems to have more direct ties to upper levels of the White House than Watergate did. It has been ten weeks since the initial disclosure and there has been nothing but denial and stonewalling from the administration. If there was truly nothing to the allegation, if Sestak was merely lying to make his opponent look weak and unsupported, why hasn't the administration attempted to prove that fact? Maybe put pressure on Sestak to 'fess up by withholding election funds? If, on the other hand, it's to save Sestak from looking like a liar and possibly losing an election, that means they are willing to risk throwing an entire administration, including the President himself, under the bus to save a senate seat. That seems a little far fetched, doesn't it?
Since the DOJ has officially refused to investigate, the only other option right now it to try to persuade state attorney generals to investigate. There may be a few takers on that one, if the number of AG's going after the health care bill is any indication, but don't be surprised if this has to be put on hold until the Republicans take the majority again.
Where is the modern day Woodward and Bernstein to blow this scandal wide open? Oh, that's right - they probably voted for Obama just like the rest of the press corps.
Since the White House investigated themselves, there's surely no reason to continue to demand answers. Nothing to see here - move along, move along. After all, there's no reason to doubt Axe's word, now is there? It's not like these allegations are felonies that are impeachable offenses or anything. Really, nothing says above board and transparent like a secret internal "investigation" by the people accused of the wrongdoing. Just ask Penn State.
What is curious is Sestak's continued insistence that there was a
It's hard to figure his stance on this. Did he mention it for purely selfish reasons in an effort to show his opponent in a bad light - as in, not even the administration thinks Specter had a shot in hell of winning so they had to clear the field as much as possible? Or is it that he is more of a moderate who is setting up the far-left administration for a fall, without wanting to get his hands too dirty and thus risk alienating his base? The fact that he keeps commenting on the subject, instead of the standard "no comment" gives weight to the set-up theory. The problem is, he isn't really a moderate - he's voted with the party on most of Obama/Pelosi's agenda so far.
As puzzling as this whole situation is, don't expect any answers for quite a while. Axelrod's coming out personally on damage control is pretty indicative that there will be no legitimate investigations into this situation until there is a party change in congress. Axe is the official stone wall of the administration. His stepping in is meant to give the impression that this is the last word on the issue.
Meanwhile, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) has been trying to get the DOJ to appoint a special prosecutor, but the DOJ just released their response - an unequivocal 'no'. Is it any surprise that they feel that a special prosecutor and an investigation is "not necessary"? Did Rep. Issa really believe they would check this out? This is the same DOJ that dropped charges against Black Panther members for one of the most blatant (videotaped) cases of voter initimidation in recent history, after all.
The administration has circled the wagons on this one, and for good reason. According to Title 18 U.S.C. § 595 : US Code - Section 595, any person employed in any administrative position by the United States, or by any department or agency thereof who:
uses his official authority for the purpose of interfering with, or affecting, the nomination or the election of any candidate for the office of President, Vice President, Presidential elector, Member of the Senate, Member of the House of Representatives, Delegate from the District of Columbia, or Resident Commissioner, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
This is a felony. As a felony it is also an impeachable offense. There is a reason why the DOJ is refusing to investigate. For those who say some random low level administration official made the offer independent of the administration, take a moment to consider the job that many believe was offered. It is a Cabinet level spot - Secretary of the Navy. The only person authorized to give away those positions is the President. Could it have been a rogue agent, like Rahm Emanuel or perhaps Axelrod himself? Certainly, but the odds are good that their boss knew about the attempts, and quite possibly approved of them.
Let's remember for a minute that Nixon faced impeachment because of his role in the cover-up, not the break-in itself. This bribery scandal is far more aggregious, and it seems to have more direct ties to upper levels of the White House than Watergate did. It has been ten weeks since the initial disclosure and there has been nothing but denial and stonewalling from the administration. If there was truly nothing to the allegation, if Sestak was merely lying to make his opponent look weak and unsupported, why hasn't the administration attempted to prove that fact? Maybe put pressure on Sestak to 'fess up by withholding election funds? If, on the other hand, it's to save Sestak from looking like a liar and possibly losing an election, that means they are willing to risk throwing an entire administration, including the President himself, under the bus to save a senate seat. That seems a little far fetched, doesn't it?
Since the DOJ has officially refused to investigate, the only other option right now it to try to persuade state attorney generals to investigate. There may be a few takers on that one, if the number of AG's going after the health care bill is any indication, but don't be surprised if this has to be put on hold until the Republicans take the majority again.
Where is the modern day Woodward and Bernstein to blow this scandal wide open? Oh, that's right - they probably voted for Obama just like the rest of the press corps.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
GAME ON
The race is on to ge the votes to pass reconciliation. Let the arm twisting and bribery begin.
Not only do we need to remember that the Senate bill includes the 'Louisiana Purchase' and the 'Cornhusker Kickback', but that they will be adding to it, as well.
I'm sure there will be plenty of arms twisted, if push comes to shove, but the preferred method these days
is 'sweeteners' - you and I would call them bribes. And you know what? Since we're footing the bill, we get to name it. It't time to start calling things what they are, so 'bribery' it is.
The first one to pop up is quite a doozy.
Congressman Jim Matheson's (D-UT) brother has just been nominated for a federal judgeship. What a coincidence. I don't know what's worse - the obvious vote buying going on, or the country's blase attitude about it. The sad part is, the brother is probably a good judicial candidate, but now he may be sullied by the whole affair and may end up paying a career price as well.
It will be interesting to see what else is being bartered and how successful those graft attempts are once the sun shines in.
This whole situation is, at best, an embarrassment - they are behaving like some third world country. I'm waiting for someone to throw a chair, followed by a mass brawl. At worst, this is highly unethical. Not that that means much of anything anymore.
Hopefully this will be the only post about outright bribery, but the pattern of ethics that has been established so far by this Congress points in the other direction.
So what do you think the odds are that this story will get picked up by the neo-pravda media?
Not only do we need to remember that the Senate bill includes the 'Louisiana Purchase' and the 'Cornhusker Kickback', but that they will be adding to it, as well.
I'm sure there will be plenty of arms twisted, if push comes to shove, but the preferred method these days
is 'sweeteners' - you and I would call them bribes. And you know what? Since we're footing the bill, we get to name it. It't time to start calling things what they are, so 'bribery' it is.
The first one to pop up is quite a doozy.
Congressman Jim Matheson's (D-UT) brother has just been nominated for a federal judgeship. What a coincidence. I don't know what's worse - the obvious vote buying going on, or the country's blase attitude about it. The sad part is, the brother is probably a good judicial candidate, but now he may be sullied by the whole affair and may end up paying a career price as well.
It will be interesting to see what else is being bartered and how successful those graft attempts are once the sun shines in.
This whole situation is, at best, an embarrassment - they are behaving like some third world country. I'm waiting for someone to throw a chair, followed by a mass brawl. At worst, this is highly unethical. Not that that means much of anything anymore.
Hopefully this will be the only post about outright bribery, but the pattern of ethics that has been established so far by this Congress points in the other direction.
So what do you think the odds are that this story will get picked up by the neo-pravda media?
Friday, November 13, 2009
DESPICABLE BUT NOT UNEXPECTED
I heard this audio for the first time yesterday on BigGovernment.com, and just had to blog about it, especially since ACORN just filed suit against the federal government to get their funding back.
According to David Lagstein, a CA ACORN spokesman, the 'investigation' into ACORN corruption is going to focus on the two independent film makers, Giles and O'Keefe, instead of on ACORN, and they will face punitive action, not ACORN. This audio was recorded on Oct. 15, but has just recently come to light.
This is absolutely despicable. Unfortunately, it is also not unexpected.
The fact that a DA is having conversations about prosecuting the case with one of the parties being investigated, is making pronouncements on the investigation before it is concluded (if it's even begun, which is up for debate) and has basically said the investigation itself is merely a politically expedient thing to do in an election year shows just how deep the corruption goes.
The Governator needs to set up an independent investigation into not just ACORN, but Jerry Brown's involvement and whitewashing of the original investigation.
The Obama administration has taken no steps whatsoever to investigate the nationwide ACORN corruption that was made apparent in those tapes.
The 'independent review' ACORN CEO Bertha Lewis crowed about a month ago has gone nowhere, to no one's surprise.
There are some in the GOP who are saying that ACORN is on the brink of bankruptcy, but, honestly, how many GOP-ers do you think have access to the inner workings of that democratic bastion of corruption and collusion? One can hope, of course, but I think this Hydra isn't beaten just yet.
The fact that they are now suing the government to reinstate their funding is about as
ballsy a maneuver as I've seen in a while. But, considering the attitude of government officials like Jerry Brown, I suppose they feel they have a pretty good shot at being re-funded.
That, too, would be despicable, but not unexpected.
After all, 2010 is an election year, and, let's face it, the democrats need all the help they can get.
According to David Lagstein, a CA ACORN spokesman, the 'investigation' into ACORN corruption is going to focus on the two independent film makers, Giles and O'Keefe, instead of on ACORN, and they will face punitive action, not ACORN. This audio was recorded on Oct. 15, but has just recently come to light.
This is absolutely despicable. Unfortunately, it is also not unexpected.
The fact that a DA is having conversations about prosecuting the case with one of the parties being investigated, is making pronouncements on the investigation before it is concluded (if it's even begun, which is up for debate) and has basically said the investigation itself is merely a politically expedient thing to do in an election year shows just how deep the corruption goes.
The Governator needs to set up an independent investigation into not just ACORN, but Jerry Brown's involvement and whitewashing of the original investigation.
The Obama administration has taken no steps whatsoever to investigate the nationwide ACORN corruption that was made apparent in those tapes.
The 'independent review' ACORN CEO Bertha Lewis crowed about a month ago has gone nowhere, to no one's surprise.
There are some in the GOP who are saying that ACORN is on the brink of bankruptcy, but, honestly, how many GOP-ers do you think have access to the inner workings of that democratic bastion of corruption and collusion? One can hope, of course, but I think this Hydra isn't beaten just yet.
The fact that they are now suing the government to reinstate their funding is about as
ballsy a maneuver as I've seen in a while. But, considering the attitude of government officials like Jerry Brown, I suppose they feel they have a pretty good shot at being re-funded.That, too, would be despicable, but not unexpected.
After all, 2010 is an election year, and, let's face it, the democrats need all the help they can get.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
CONGRESSIONAL HIJINX
First on the docket today is the vote to force Charlie Rangel D-NY to step down from his chairmanship of the powerful Ways and Means committee. Mr. Rangel has hidden assets and cheated on his taxes - which has a special irony, since he is responsible for writing tax code - as well as bribing 119 members of congress, including three members of the ethics committee charged with investigating his criminal acts (to the tune of about $20,000 each). The result of the vote was predictable. One of his biggest supporters is none other than Nancy Pelosi, she of the 'most ethical Congress ever'.
Yeah, riiiiiight....
Although that particular vote illustrates the corruption and cronyism rife in Washington, the shenanigans surrounding the health care reform attempts takes the underhandedness of our current government to a whole new level.
As everyone knows, the democrats are currently enjoying a super majority, and, technically, can ride roughshod over the republicans and pass any legislation they want. And yet, curiously, they have been unable to pass health care reform. Why is this? Well, if you ask the democrats, it is because of the republicans being the 'party of no' and holding up the bills.
Let me reiterate: they have a Super Majority, including a filibuster-proof Senate. They don't need even a single vote from the republicans.
Even so, they still don't have the votes.
So what are they going to do? Well, there is a possible plan percolating that would bypass the voting process, so that when midterm elections come around next year, democrats can deny voting for this mess while still managing to get it implimented.
This is CYA (cover your ass) on a whole new level. They know this bill is unpopular and those in purple districts will face defeat in the voting booth if they support the bill, so they are trying to eat their cake and have it, too.
This plan is incredibly sneaky and underhanded. The Max Baucus bill will be part of the scheme, but the CBO estimate that came out yesterday claiming the bill will be deficit neutral is a preliminary report, as the bill still needs to be mashed together with the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, which the CBO has scored at costing over $600 billion over the next decade.
The 'mashing together' of the two bills will be done solely by Harry Reid D-NV, who will be able to add or subtract key points at his discretion, with no oversight. Those changes will not be voted on; the votes getting them out of committee, before his changes, will be binding, even though he may completely change the bills into something completely unrecognizable from what was originally voted on.
They will then use a previously voted in House bill (another option not mentioned in the Heritage article below is the House-passed Cap and Trade bill - two birds, one stone) as a shell for the health care legislation. This will be ground into the HELP/Finance committee bill to create a craptastic sausage of 'reform'
The Heritage Foundation explains the process best (I strongly suggest reading the whole article):
"Step One: “The Senate Finance Committee will finish work on the marking up of Senator Max Baucus’ (D-MT) conceptual framework for legislation by this Friday.” Progress on this had been stalled and the bill was not passed by the end of last week. Foxnews.com is reporting that the Congressional Budget Office score of the bill will be released later today and a high score may further stall progress on the Committee’s Vapor Bill. Senate Finance Committee’s progress on passing something out of committee – INCOMPLETE.
Step Two: Next, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will take the final product of the Senate Finance Committee and merge it with the product of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee. CNSnews.com has confirmed that “the actual final text of the legislation will be determined by Reid himself, who will consolidate the legislation approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and the still-unapproved legislation from the Senate Finance Committee. Reid will be able to draft and insert textual language that was not expressly approved by either committee.” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will write the final version of Obamacare to be considered in the Senate with no input from the American people. This is an extremely complex procedure that will not be done in public, or in the form of a hearing, or a public conference committee, and only Senator Harry Reid, some other Senators chosen by Reid and Obama Administration officials will be allowed to read the bill before the Senate debate starts. Merger of the bills – IN PROGRESS.
Step Three: Senator Reid will then move to proceed to H.R. 1586, a bill to impose a tax on bonuses received by certain TARP recipients. A senior aid to Senate Majority Leader Ried has confirmed that he will move to proceed to Senate Calendar Number 36, H.R. 1586, or another House passed tax measure, so the Senate can avoid the Constitutional mandate that tax bills originate in the House. Proceed to tax shell of a bill – CONFIRMED.
Step Four: This scenario would most likely be implemented after the Massachusetts state legislature gives Governor Deval Patrick the power to appoint a new Senator and that Senator is seated by the Senate. The Senate swore in new Massachusetts Senator Paul Kirk on September 25th. Change Law of Massachusetts to allow for interim Senator – COMPLETE."
The Baucus plan is rife with taxes, which is why it is deficit neutral. And where it doesn't tax, it passes on costs to states, to the tune of $14 billion over ten years. States like California, already on the brink of collapse, simply cannot sustain such expenditures. The other taxes are aimed at medical devices, insurance providers and hospitals, among others, but, really, all those 'fees' (liberalese for taxes) will be passed on to consumers.
So, although technically they aren't raising our taxes, believe you me, we will ALL be paying for this mess. The fact that we have no say in the legislation, and won't even know what the bill truly entails until after President Obama signs it into law illustrates the contempt our 'betters' in Congress hold for the public.
The desperate measures the administration is stooping to in order to pass this legislation speaks volumes about the true purpose of this legislation - power and control. If it was a good bill that would win over a majority of voters, it wouldn't have to be passed in the dark of night, unread. Heck, the darn thing isn't even written yet, and they want to vote on it.
How can they constitutionally pass legislation that isn't even written, and the few bits that are on paper will be radically altered after it is voted on?
Not only are they refusing to read the bills, now they aren't even bothering to write them!
Yeah, riiiiiight....
Although that particular vote illustrates the corruption and cronyism rife in Washington, the shenanigans surrounding the health care reform attempts takes the underhandedness of our current government to a whole new level.
As everyone knows, the democrats are currently enjoying a super majority, and, technically, can ride roughshod over the republicans and pass any legislation they want. And yet, curiously, they have been unable to pass health care reform. Why is this? Well, if you ask the democrats, it is because of the republicans being the 'party of no' and holding up the bills.
Let me reiterate: they have a Super Majority, including a filibuster-proof Senate. They don't need even a single vote from the republicans.
Even so, they still don't have the votes.
So what are they going to do? Well, there is a possible plan percolating that would bypass the voting process, so that when midterm elections come around next year, democrats can deny voting for this mess while still managing to get it implimented.
This is CYA (cover your ass) on a whole new level. They know this bill is unpopular and those in purple districts will face defeat in the voting booth if they support the bill, so they are trying to eat their cake and have it, too.
This plan is incredibly sneaky and underhanded. The Max Baucus bill will be part of the scheme, but the CBO estimate that came out yesterday claiming the bill will be deficit neutral is a preliminary report, as the bill still needs to be mashed together with the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, which the CBO has scored at costing over $600 billion over the next decade.
The 'mashing together' of the two bills will be done solely by Harry Reid D-NV, who will be able to add or subtract key points at his discretion, with no oversight. Those changes will not be voted on; the votes getting them out of committee, before his changes, will be binding, even though he may completely change the bills into something completely unrecognizable from what was originally voted on.
They will then use a previously voted in House bill (another option not mentioned in the Heritage article below is the House-passed Cap and Trade bill - two birds, one stone) as a shell for the health care legislation. This will be ground into the HELP/Finance committee bill to create a craptastic sausage of 'reform'
The Heritage Foundation explains the process best (I strongly suggest reading the whole article):
"Step One: “The Senate Finance Committee will finish work on the marking up of Senator Max Baucus’ (D-MT) conceptual framework for legislation by this Friday.” Progress on this had been stalled and the bill was not passed by the end of last week. Foxnews.com is reporting that the Congressional Budget Office score of the bill will be released later today and a high score may further stall progress on the Committee’s Vapor Bill. Senate Finance Committee’s progress on passing something out of committee – INCOMPLETE.
Step Two: Next, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will take the final product of the Senate Finance Committee and merge it with the product of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee. CNSnews.com has confirmed that “the actual final text of the legislation will be determined by Reid himself, who will consolidate the legislation approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and the still-unapproved legislation from the Senate Finance Committee. Reid will be able to draft and insert textual language that was not expressly approved by either committee.” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will write the final version of Obamacare to be considered in the Senate with no input from the American people. This is an extremely complex procedure that will not be done in public, or in the form of a hearing, or a public conference committee, and only Senator Harry Reid, some other Senators chosen by Reid and Obama Administration officials will be allowed to read the bill before the Senate debate starts. Merger of the bills – IN PROGRESS.
Step Three: Senator Reid will then move to proceed to H.R. 1586, a bill to impose a tax on bonuses received by certain TARP recipients. A senior aid to Senate Majority Leader Ried has confirmed that he will move to proceed to Senate Calendar Number 36, H.R. 1586, or another House passed tax measure, so the Senate can avoid the Constitutional mandate that tax bills originate in the House. Proceed to tax shell of a bill – CONFIRMED.
Step Four: This scenario would most likely be implemented after the Massachusetts state legislature gives Governor Deval Patrick the power to appoint a new Senator and that Senator is seated by the Senate. The Senate swore in new Massachusetts Senator Paul Kirk on September 25th. Change Law of Massachusetts to allow for interim Senator – COMPLETE."
The Baucus plan is rife with taxes, which is why it is deficit neutral. And where it doesn't tax, it passes on costs to states, to the tune of $14 billion over ten years. States like California, already on the brink of collapse, simply cannot sustain such expenditures. The other taxes are aimed at medical devices, insurance providers and hospitals, among others, but, really, all those 'fees' (liberalese for taxes) will be passed on to consumers.
So, although technically they aren't raising our taxes, believe you me, we will ALL be paying for this mess. The fact that we have no say in the legislation, and won't even know what the bill truly entails until after President Obama signs it into law illustrates the contempt our 'betters' in Congress hold for the public.
The desperate measures the administration is stooping to in order to pass this legislation speaks volumes about the true purpose of this legislation - power and control. If it was a good bill that would win over a majority of voters, it wouldn't have to be passed in the dark of night, unread. Heck, the darn thing isn't even written yet, and they want to vote on it.
How can they constitutionally pass legislation that isn't even written, and the few bits that are on paper will be radically altered after it is voted on?
Not only are they refusing to read the bills, now they aren't even bothering to write them!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
STRIKING GOLD IN SUNNY CALIFORNIA Updated
James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles have done it again, and oh, boy, did they strike gold! They travelled to San Bernadino, CA and paid a visit to the local ACORN office.
I don't want to give it away, but WOW!
One would assume they are saving the best for last, as it seems each tape is worse than the one before. I can't imagine what else they have in store for us! Can't wait to see Part 2....
Great job, Hannah and James!
UPDATE: And then there's this. This is just crazy!
UPDATE II: And this. Ooooh, and this one, too - how I wish I could be a fly on the wall when that letter is read! Sure do love Alinsky Rule #8!!
UPDATE III: Thankfully, the crazy woman working at the CA ACORN office didn't kill her husband. Kaelke and Miller are saying they were just 'playing along' and that she repeatedly told them she couldn't help them, but that it was edited out. Expect the entire unedited tape to be released this evening, after they present the next part tonight on Hannity. O'Keefe studied 'Rules for Radicals' and knows what tactics ACORN will try in order to discredit him, so I would assume he's prepared for this. Kaelke says ""They were clearly playing with me," she said "I decided to shock them as much as they were shocking me."" Miller says the ""whole thing was a preposterous production."" and 'said he couldn't believe the people wanted to propose such a "ludicrous enterprise," but continued talking to them and asking questions to see where it would lead'.
Exit question: If they knew there was something fishy going on, why didn't they call the cops? It would be rational to assume a national organization like ACORN would communicate amongst themselves about a pimp and a hooker talking about setting up an underaged brothel staffed with illegals in order to fund a congressional campaign and advise their staff to escort them out and/or call the cops. I would hardly think they would advise them to 'play along and take it up a notch while you're at it'. Seems a bit self-defeating, doesn't it?
I don't want to give it away, but WOW!
One would assume they are saving the best for last, as it seems each tape is worse than the one before. I can't imagine what else they have in store for us! Can't wait to see Part 2....
Great job, Hannah and James!
UPDATE: And then there's this. This is just crazy!
UPDATE II: And this. Ooooh, and this one, too - how I wish I could be a fly on the wall when that letter is read! Sure do love Alinsky Rule #8!!
UPDATE III: Thankfully, the crazy woman working at the CA ACORN office didn't kill her husband. Kaelke and Miller are saying they were just 'playing along' and that she repeatedly told them she couldn't help them, but that it was edited out. Expect the entire unedited tape to be released this evening, after they present the next part tonight on Hannity. O'Keefe studied 'Rules for Radicals' and knows what tactics ACORN will try in order to discredit him, so I would assume he's prepared for this. Kaelke says ""They were clearly playing with me," she said "I decided to shock them as much as they were shocking me."" Miller says the ""whole thing was a preposterous production."" and 'said he couldn't believe the people wanted to propose such a "ludicrous enterprise," but continued talking to them and asking questions to see where it would lead'.
Exit question: If they knew there was something fishy going on, why didn't they call the cops? It would be rational to assume a national organization like ACORN would communicate amongst themselves about a pimp and a hooker talking about setting up an underaged brothel staffed with illegals in order to fund a congressional campaign and advise their staff to escort them out and/or call the cops. I would hardly think they would advise them to 'play along and take it up a notch while you're at it'. Seems a bit self-defeating, doesn't it?
Monday, September 14, 2009
A CASE GROWS IN BROOKLYN
I was just going to add updates to my original ACORN story, but there is so much happening that I thought I should make a new post. In my earlier post, I talked about the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, MD ACORN offices that were the subject of two investigative journalists with hidden cameras.
Let's just say that corruption is rife at ACORN, and it's all funded by our tax dollars.
What was ACORN's response? Firing the on-camera workers and issuing a press release about each case being an isolated staffing problem. Isn't that what they keep saying about the fraudulent voter registrations? In 14 states, no less. According to them, those two incidents in D.C. and MD were aberrations, and did not, repeat NOT, mean it was a problem throughout the organization. Uh-huh.
Until today,that is, when Giles and O'Keefe released a tape of the Brooklyn, NY office. This one is unique because, not only are they advising her to lie about what she does and how to hide the fact that the under aged girls are being prostituted, but they are also counselling on how to launder the money so that the pimp/future congressman can fund his campaign.
Lovely.
From what I've been able to investigate, both money laundering and assisting illegals in entering the country are both violations of racketeering/RICO laws. One can only hope complicity in child prostitution will carry a felony charge as well, but these days, who knows!
So far, no DOJ investigation (I'm not holding my breath on Eric Holder stepping up voluntarily), but at least there's talk of cutting off the cash flow. That's a start. Taking away their Census gig was a major step, too.
Uh-Oh!! The Senate just voted to defund ACORN Housing 83-7!
More bad news! I just got word that ACORN is now being investigated by the Brooklyn District Attorney.
Oh my goodness! What a day! It sounds like more bad news for ACORN!
Andrew Breitbart, the creator of BigGovernment.com has just said that tomorrow's revelation about ACORN will be "devastating".
I can hardly wait!
Let's just say that corruption is rife at ACORN, and it's all funded by our tax dollars.
What was ACORN's response? Firing the on-camera workers and issuing a press release about each case being an isolated staffing problem. Isn't that what they keep saying about the fraudulent voter registrations? In 14 states, no less. According to them, those two incidents in D.C. and MD were aberrations, and did not, repeat NOT, mean it was a problem throughout the organization. Uh-huh.
Until today,that is, when Giles and O'Keefe released a tape of the Brooklyn, NY office. This one is unique because, not only are they advising her to lie about what she does and how to hide the fact that the under aged girls are being prostituted, but they are also counselling on how to launder the money so that the pimp/future congressman can fund his campaign.
Lovely.
From what I've been able to investigate, both money laundering and assisting illegals in entering the country are both violations of racketeering/RICO laws. One can only hope complicity in child prostitution will carry a felony charge as well, but these days, who knows!
So far, no DOJ investigation (I'm not holding my breath on Eric Holder stepping up voluntarily), but at least there's talk of cutting off the cash flow. That's a start. Taking away their Census gig was a major step, too.
Uh-Oh!! The Senate just voted to defund ACORN Housing 83-7!
More bad news! I just got word that ACORN is now being investigated by the Brooklyn District Attorney.
Oh my goodness! What a day! It sounds like more bad news for ACORN!
Andrew Breitbart, the creator of BigGovernment.com has just said that tomorrow's revelation about ACORN will be "devastating".
I can hardly wait!
Friday, August 21, 2009
GOD BLESS AIR AMERICA!
No, I haven't lost my mind, and no, I'm not saying that because I know it will irritate the heck out of those liberal atheists over there (although it IS a nice little added perk). Once you see this, you will be saying the same thing (via RedState).
These are hard-core lefties, the base of his base. I never thought I would see the day when I would agree with anything said on this network - could this be another sign of the Apocalypse?! No, no, it's just the sunshine of sanity and reason reaching into the deep, dark depths of liberalism.
This may be the final straw for many of his idealistic die-hard supporters. In seven short months, Obama has broken promises on withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan, gay marriage, lobbyists, transparency, earmarks, the list goes on. But this backroom dealing is a level of shadiness that, until now had been, to them, a singularly republican thing. How this turn of events could be surprising to them is beyond me, considering the man cut his teeth on Chicago machine politics, but I have learned that naivete can be found in the most unusual places. Even so, for the ultra-left to turn on him was seemingly inconceivable, and the language they used, "charming liar" and "fascist", is just mind-boggling. I watched the clip a few times, just to make sure I heard what I thought I heard.
Is this a watershed moment for the administration? It's going to be remarkably difficult for even the die-hard supporters to shrug this off. Will they attack Air America? It's difficult to say. Let's face it, Air America is the last great bastion of liberalism - even HuffPo has a conservative thought or two. Not Air America. Will they call it a smear, if it's from deep within their own ranks?
Will he be this generation's Nixon, piercing the bubble of naivete surrounding the ranks of his most fervent ideologues?
So many of his supporters adored him because he projected himself as above the political fray, a new type of politician. One who deserved our trust; free of muck and imbued with an unimpeachable integrity. They held him to a higher standard when they brought him up, will they do the same as they cast him down? One can hope the MSM will pick this up, since the deal as well as the reaction are major stories, but the jury is still out. We all know by now how selective the 'press' can be when it comes to the Obama administration. They may very well try to marginalize this issue and Air America, because the press is nothing if not cannibalistic by nature.
Still, this must be quite a dilemma.
I think the left is coming to a crossroads. The hypocrisy is so blatant and the corruption so obvious and widespread that at some point they will have to face facts. In this age of information, it's getting harder and harder to turn a blind eye to them. If the administration continues on it's current path, it's hard to believe they won't eventually turn on him completely.
THAT backlash will make the town halls look like love-ins.
These are hard-core lefties, the base of his base. I never thought I would see the day when I would agree with anything said on this network - could this be another sign of the Apocalypse?! No, no, it's just the sunshine of sanity and reason reaching into the deep, dark depths of liberalism.
This may be the final straw for many of his idealistic die-hard supporters. In seven short months, Obama has broken promises on withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan, gay marriage, lobbyists, transparency, earmarks, the list goes on. But this backroom dealing is a level of shadiness that, until now had been, to them, a singularly republican thing. How this turn of events could be surprising to them is beyond me, considering the man cut his teeth on Chicago machine politics, but I have learned that naivete can be found in the most unusual places. Even so, for the ultra-left to turn on him was seemingly inconceivable, and the language they used, "charming liar" and "fascist", is just mind-boggling. I watched the clip a few times, just to make sure I heard what I thought I heard.
Is this a watershed moment for the administration? It's going to be remarkably difficult for even the die-hard supporters to shrug this off. Will they attack Air America? It's difficult to say. Let's face it, Air America is the last great bastion of liberalism - even HuffPo has a conservative thought or two. Not Air America. Will they call it a smear, if it's from deep within their own ranks?
Will he be this generation's Nixon, piercing the bubble of naivete surrounding the ranks of his most fervent ideologues?
So many of his supporters adored him because he projected himself as above the political fray, a new type of politician. One who deserved our trust; free of muck and imbued with an unimpeachable integrity. They held him to a higher standard when they brought him up, will they do the same as they cast him down? One can hope the MSM will pick this up, since the deal as well as the reaction are major stories, but the jury is still out. We all know by now how selective the 'press' can be when it comes to the Obama administration. They may very well try to marginalize this issue and Air America, because the press is nothing if not cannibalistic by nature.
Still, this must be quite a dilemma.
I think the left is coming to a crossroads. The hypocrisy is so blatant and the corruption so obvious and widespread that at some point they will have to face facts. In this age of information, it's getting harder and harder to turn a blind eye to them. If the administration continues on it's current path, it's hard to believe they won't eventually turn on him completely.
THAT backlash will make the town halls look like love-ins.
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