White House meeting fails to bring budget agreement

Here

Leaking the Government’s Secrets

Obama’s ‘Openness’ a Transparent Lie

by Patrick Richardson
The Associated Press is reporting that the Obama administration has denied more than a third of the Freedom of Information Act requests submitted last year.
This is no surprise to Pajamas Media or myself. We’ve had several refused in just the last year, and we’re still waiting on an answer to one more at least.
In October, we asked the FDIC to release to us records pertaining to their alleged maintenance of a list of politically connected banks which then received special treatment.
The Washington Post wrote at the time:

A Washington Post review of documents and interviews with many involved in the decisions show that regulators flagged the bank early on for its “highly visible” connection — in OneUnited’s case, a former board member who is married to Waters, the chairman of an important banking subcommittee. The alert was part of a previously undisclosed practice at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. of trying to identify banks that might cause “unnecessary press or public relations” problems, according to testimony a top FDIC official gave to House ethics investigators.

More  Here

Obama Drug CZAR Collapses! Twice!

El caso Gross y las cretinadas del Dpto de Estado

Mientras Radio Marti despliega titulares con lo que le mandan a decir a un verraco [Philip Crowley, vocero del Departamento de Estado estadounidense],   EUU exige "inmediata e incondicional" liberación de Gross la administracion Obama amplia los espacios para burlar lo que queda del "embargo".

 

Mr. Gross debiera ser canjeado por Mr. Crowley, que no se le ocurre decir algo menos imbecil que le pregunten a la Inc. que contrato directamente a Gross, la que a su vez fue contrada por una agencia federal del gobierno norteamericano.

 

Con ello se estan desentendiendo del asunto y lavandose las manos, mientras otro Mr., en este caso Saladrigas va a La Habana a coordinar la puesta en marcha del Plan Miami-Cuba.

 

Por otro lado Radio Marti en dura porfia por obtener el premio a la cretinada anual, cuelga la siguiente Encuesta

Cree que el régimen cubano teme a internet por:

 el poder de convocatoria  el acceso a libre información  ser una ventana a la libertad  ser una plataforma de denuncia  todo lo anterior 

Poll: Blame for possible US government shutdown is divided

Americans are divided over who would be to blame for a potential government shutdown, with large numbers saying Republicans and President Obama are playing politics with the issue, according to a new Washington Post poll.

More

Poll: Blame for possible government shutdown is divided

US Sec of Defense Vs. Obama?

"Any Defense Sec Who Sends The Army Into Asia Or Africa Or Middle East Should Have His Head Examined!" didn't come from a lunatic socialist, but from Robert Gates Secretary of Defense on Bush and Obama's administrations. 

However, the US Army is already in the area to do whatever it's necessary to step down Gadhafi's regime. What Mr. Gates is talking about?

Multi-Billion Dollar Mortgage Settlement

The Obama administration is seeking to broker a deal that would have the nation's largest mortgage lenders agree to pay as much as $30 billion in fines to settle state and federal claims that they abused borrowers and illegally foreclosed on homes, according to state and federal officials engaged in the talks.

Full story >>

US Government shutdown: Facts and figures

By Ed O'Keefe

Despite assurances from the Obama administration and congressional leaders that they don't want a government shutdown, each day closer to March 4 without a final agreement makes the suspension of government services more likely.
So let's review some of the basic shutdown facts published in the newest Congressional Research Service report on the issue, sent to lawmakers late last week and obtained by The Federal Eye late Wednesday.

Full story

Government shutdown: Facts and figures

KNIGHT: American dream or socialist nightmare

Progressive propaganda is seeping into the budget debate

By Robert Knight

-

The Washington Times

6:13 p.m., Thursday, February 24, 2011

Illustration: Van Jones by Greg Groesch for The Washington Times

There are few things more galling than communists lecturing Americans on how we can live up to our “values.” A case in point is former Obama administration “green jobs czar” Van Jones rhapsodizing about the union rent-a-mobs in Madison, Wis., Indiana and coming to a city near you.
In his article “Introducing the ‘American Dream’ ” at the Huffington Post, Mr. Jones, who lost his White House job when his communist affiliations surfaced, says these “heroes and heroines” in the mobs will usher in a new nation by confiscating and redistributing wealth. Well, he doesn’t put it that way, exactly, but he uses progressive-speak about “fairness,” “democracy” and “justice.” This means dreaming of taxpayers trussed up like hogs on a spit or cows lined up at the milking machine.
Except for the 14 Democratic Wisconsin Senate shirkers in hiding to avoid a vote on fiscal sanity and the 38 Democratic Senate shirkers in Indiana doing the same thing, Mr. Jones and Moveon.org want all radicals to get off their BarcaLoungers and raise a public ruckus.
Declaring that “the American Dream is under fierce attack” (finally, something we can agree on), Moveon.org is calling for rallies on Feb. 26 in all 50 state capitals. Mr. Jones concurs: “Over the next hours and days, all who love this country need to do everything possible to spread the ‘spirit of Madison’ to all 50 states,” Mr. Jones implores. “This does not mean we need to occupy 50 state capitol buildings; things elsewhere are not yet that dire.”
Oh, if only they were. Then we could truly relive the 1960s, with their broken glass, obscenities, pot smoke and invasions of college presidents’ offices. Only this time, the gray-ponytailed crowd will get to sit in governors’ chairs while smoking cigars (well, they could be joints). And instead of quaffing Boone’s Farm apple wine, they’ll be knocking back shots of Maalox.
Yes, times have changed, but not for unreconstructed radicals who follow relative youngsters like Mr. Jones back to the revolutionary ramparts. At the head of this parade is the ghost of Saul Alinsky, the brilliant community organizer whose left-wing school in Chicago helped educate President Obama. Alinsky’s prize pupil has called Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker‘s proposed reforms “an assault” on unions.
In his seminal book “Rules for Radicals,”Alinsky advises revolutionaries to “make the enemy live up to their own book of rules.” That’s why we’re hearing leftists like Mr. Jones loudly saying they want to preserve the American dream. Their version of that dream, however, is not “God bless America” but more like “Imagine,” John Lennon‘s anthem to abolishing private property.
Alinsky is smiling somewhere (if he’s permitted) as his students hector the nation about “civility” while screaming obscenity-laden epithets. He’s doubling over with mirth while they shed crocodile tears over government spending and deficits. Here’s an example from Mr. Jones:
“Nobody objects to politicians cutting budgetary fat. But the GOP program everywhere is so reckless that it would actually cut muscle, bone and marrow, too.”
Translation: Any cuts, no matter how small, will be met with this kind of hyperbole, plus mobs. But Mr. Jones was just getting warmed up:
Story Continues →

US Gob's crisis: Federal agencies preparing for shutdown, White House says

Federal agencies are preparing to operate at reduced levels if a government shutdown occurs, but the Obama administration hopes to strike a deal with congressional Republicans to avoid one, the White House said Tuesday.

Full story

Federal agencies preparing for shutdown, White House says

Nine [9] days to shutdown US Goverment

Dems Ratchet Up Government Shutdown Rhetoric as GOPers Ready Response

“[House Speaker John Boehner is] being misled and pushed around by his conservative freshmen who don't remember what happened in 1995, and not only don't fear a government shutdown, but they actually say they welcome one. Sarah Palin, leader of this right-wing group, said on Thursday, last Thursday, on Long Island that she wanted a government shutdown."

-- Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., on a conference call with reporters

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/02/23/dems-dare-gop-federal-shutdown/#ixzz1EnRLKOzN

Sen. Rand Paul on Temporary Budget Extension: 'We’re not even close.'

Next week the operating funds for the federal government run out, but unless there are more cuts to the proposed budget extension Sen. Rand Paul said he will not vote for it – even if it risks a federal shutdown.
“You have to do much more. We’re not even close,” the co-founder of the Senate Tea Party caucus and author of "The Tea Party Goes to Washington" said.

Full story

Sen. Rand Paul on Temporary Budget Extension: 'We’re not even close.'

White House: We're ready for a government shutdown

Ed O'Keefe | Federal Eye

Reid to introduce measure to keep federal government running for 30 days at current funding levels.

White House: We're ready for a government shutdown

Congress, Obama brace for showdown as government shutdown looms

By Paul Kane

Washington Post Staff Writer


The prospect of a government shutdown appeared more possible Saturday after the House passed a budget measure in the pre-dawn hours that cuts $61 billion - and was immediately rejected by Senate Democrats and President Obama.

Full story
Congress, Obama brace for showdown as government shutdown looms

US Department of Defense: “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

Service Secretaries Receive 'Don't Ask' Repeal Plan

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2011 – Pentagon officials today sent the Defense Department’s implementation plan for repeal of the law commonly known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” to the service secretaries with a March 1 deadline for their first progress update.

Full story
Service Secretaries Receive 'Don't Ask' Repeal Plan

Shakedown: The Continuing Conspiracy Against the American Taxpayer

USA: The State of the Union

Last night President Barack Obama gave his State of the Union address, followed by Republican responses by Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Michelle Bachmann (R-MN). Everyone paid respect to Gabrielle Giffords. Also notable were people who did not attend. Paul Broun (R-GA) stayed away, but tweeted, “Mr. President, you don’t believe in the Constitution. You believe in socialism.” Equaling Broun in ignominious disrespect, the three most anti-constitutional Supreme Court Justices also boycotted the speech: Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. In this article, I have the complete video of all three speeches, my own in depth analysis of Obama’s speech and comments on the two Republican responses. Every speech contained at least one major lie.



Obama rightly said that Republicans and Democrats will have to move forward together or not at all. At several points throughout the speech he pointed to accomplishments from the last two years, but I prefer to concentrate just on his proposals.

He wants to eliminate subsidies for the oil industry and invest the savings in green energy. I fully agree. Boehner almost cried over that one.

He wants to make permanent the $10K tuition tax credit for four years of college. This idea does not go far enough, because it benefits only those families that pay $2,500 a year or more in taxes.

He wants to take on the immigration issue and alluded to the Dream Act. I agree, but need more specifics.

He wants build infrastructure, including giving 80% of Americans access to high speed rail and 90% of Americans access to the next generation of high speed wireless. I fully agree.

He wants to lower corporate tax rates by closing loopholes that favor some companies and industries. I’m cautious here. If ALL the loopholes are truly closed, especially those enable companies to evade taxes by keeping profits offshore, I would support it, because the most abusive corporations would actually pay more taxes.

He wants to review all government regulations, but create and enforce safeguards to protect the American people. I support the former, but only contingent on the latter.

He wants to freeze annual domestic spending for the next five years, without harming our most vulnerable citizens or cutting programs we cannot afford to do without. It sounds good in principle, but I don’t see how he can do so and build infrastructure too.

He wants medical malpractice reform for frivolous lawsuits. I’m OK with that as long as only frivolous lawsuits are impacted, and there are no caps on punitive damages.

He wants to strengthen Medicare and Social Security without cutting benefits or privatization. I’m concerned that he failed to mention retirement age and COLAs.

He wants to eliminate the Bush tax cut for the top 2%. I agree. Boehner’s eyes got very big here. He may have soiled his pants.

He wants to merge, consolidate and reorganize the government to eliminate duplication and overlap. This is a truly herculean task, but it desperately needs to be done. There are currently twelve different agencies regulating the oil industry. There should be one regulating all energy matters.

He promised to veto any bill that contains earmarks. While not all earmarks are bad, some, especially Republicans abuse them.

He attributed Republican members of Congress for having the same dream for the American people that he does. This was Obama’s big lie. The Republican dream for the American people is to eliminate the middle class and establish one party rule. If they shared a dream for the American people, they would on occasion do something for our benefit. They have not and do not. Republicans rule exclusively for the benefit of millionaires, billionaires, and criminal corporations. For Obama to attribute the same dream to them is anthropomorphizing a snake.

Paul Ryan’s Republican response was a compendium of attacks and lies.



He blamed Obama for Republican debt and attacked Obama’s agenda while offering none of his own. But since Republicans made him the Budget Czar yesterday in HR-38, the person with complete control over spending levels in the House Budget, his Roadmap for America is a good summary of Republican proposals.

Republicans want to simplify the tax code, raising taxes on people making under $250,000, and lowering them for millionaires, billionaires and corporations.

Republicans want to end Social Security for people under 55.

Republicans want to replace Medicare with discount vouchers for seniors, which they can use to purchase their own private insurance. Because the risks od insuring the elderly are so high, there is no private insurance.

To his credit, Ryan did say that government must provide a safety net for people who cannot support themselves. However, I believe he lied. Consider Jan Brewer’s Republican safety net.

Finally, Michelle Bachmann spoke as only she can. This author takes no responsibility for damage done to screens and keyboards as a result of watching the video.



Michelle was unable to figure out how to manage two cameras. Staring off into empty space is the most intelligent thing she said or did, but she does think the founding fathers ended slavery.

Of the three, while Obama’s speech needs to be fleshed out with more specifics, his vision for the future is far superior to the Republican alternatives.

Condoleezza Rice: "'I cannot imagine myself running for office"

But she will be a great President


New York (CNN) -- Condoleezza Rice said she is enjoying life as a college professor outside the political realm, but she says the job is similar to her previous post -- secretary of state under former President George W. Bush.
"It has a lot of things in common," Rice said in an interview airing Wednesday on "Piers Morgan Tonight." "Trying to persuade 19-year-olds -- it's not all that different than trying to persuade some heads of state."
Asked whether she would ever seek an elected position, Rice said, "I cannot imagine myself running for office. Not because politics are so tough, but it's just not me."
She currently is a professor of political science at Stanford University and a professor of political economy in the university's graduate school of business. She's been at Stanford nearly 30 years, she said.
"It's certainly different being out of power," Rice said. "You can read the newspaper and you can say, 'Oh, isn't that interesting?' You can go on to the next page if you like, which I rather enjoy."
Being a public servant, she said, is different than seeking votes. "There's no greater challenge and there is no greater honor than to be in public service. ... Sometimes we tend to impugn the motives of public servants, but I can assure you they're not there for the glory. They're not there for themselves."
"I'm not very young anymore," she said, explaining why she doesn't want to run for office. "What are you, 30?" Morgan asked. "Thank you," she replied. "Thirty-nine?" he asked. "We'll leave it at that," she said. (For the record, she's 56.)

It's certainly different being out of power. You can read the newspaper and you can say, 'Oh, isn't that interesting?' You can go on to the next page if you like, which I rather enjoy.
--Condoleezza Rice

RELATED TOPICS

• Condoleezza Rice
• Piers Morgan

An extremely private person, Rice was loath to discuss many aspects of her personal life, but said she has "come close" to marriage -- she wouldn't say how many times -- and still hasn't ruled it out, although she allowed, "I think I'm well beyond the fairy tale wedding stage."
Her ideal man, she said, would like to watch football with her all day -- "I can watch football for hours on end" -- and would like classical music. An accomplished pianist, Rice said she harbored hopes of becoming a concert pianist one day, but now believes she wasn't good enough to attain that. She still plays piano daily, she said, and recalls her proudest moment as playing with cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
Asked what kind of men she finds attractive, she told Morgan, "I don't do hypothetical ... I've never met anybody that I wanted to live with. Now, when I do, I'll let you know."
However, she said she's "actually quite easy to get along with" and no slouch in the kitchen.
"I'd cook you fried chicken," she told Morgan. "Southern fried chicken. I would cook chili perhaps. Uh, corn bread. I'm quite good at corn bread. Or perhaps because of my half-Creole grandmother, I'd cook you gumbo."

When Morgan admitted he doesn't know what gumbo is, Rice said, "Go to New Orleans. They'll tell you."

Muere Theodore Sorensen el escritor de los discursos de JFK

AFP
Theodore Sorensen, cercano asesor y consejero, que durante 11 años escribió los discursos al presidente John F. Kennedy, falleció hoy a los 82 años.
Sorensen murió en el Presbyterian Hospital de Nueva York a causa de las complicaciones derivadas de un derrame cerebral que sufrió la semana pasada.
En su haber están el discurso de investidura del presidente Kennedy en 1961, en el que afirmó qu con su nombramiento “la antorcha pasa a una nueva generación de estadounidenses”.
También fue artífice de frases para movilizar a la ciudadanía como “no te preguntes qué puede hacer tu país por tí, pregúntate qué puedes hacer tú por tu país”.
Según el New York Times, Sorensen anticipó que el titular de su obituario sería “Theodore Sorenson, el escritor de discursos de Kennedy”, escribiendo mal su nombre y malinterpretando su trabajo.
“Nunca fui sólo un escritor de discursos”, defendió en una entrevista con este diario en 2007.
Sorensen entró en el círculo más cercano de asesores de Kennedy y participó en la redacción de la delicada correspondencia con el líder soviético Nikita Khrushchev durante la crisis de los misiles cubanos, recuerda el Washington Post.
El diario señala que Sorensen tuvo un papel fundamental en ayudar a Kennedy a escribir “Profiles in Courage”, en el que describe actos de valor e integridad realizados por ocho senadores estadounidenses y que le llevó a ganar el premio Pulitzer en 1956.
Tras la muerte de Kennedy, Sorensen se retiró a la actividad privada y en 1965 escribió una biografía sobre Kennedy que fue un éxito de ventas en todo el mundo.
También es autor de “The Kennedy Legacy” (1969), “Watchmen in the Night: Presidential Accountability After Watergate” (1975), “A Different Kind of Presidency: A Proposal for Breaking the Political Deadlock” (1984), “Let the Word Go Forth: The Speeches, Statements and Writings of John F. Kennedy, 1947-1963″ (1988), “Why I Am a Democrat” (1996) y “Counselor: A Life at the Edge of History” (2008).
Estaba casado con Gillian Sorensen y tenía tres hijos, Eric, Stephen y Philip, y una hija, Juliet.