I wonder if this is why President Obama is ramping up his fundraising machine (H/T to Cam Edwards).
I still think BoomershootWife has the better idea about what to do with him.
Category Archives: Current News
Another violent liberal
Via email from Donald W. we have this report:
A former Democratic political operative has been indicted by federal authorities for allegedly planting a bomb in a Clayton parking garage in 2008. The bomb went off, seriously injuring a Clayton attorney.
…
Milton Ohlsen iii nicknamed “Skip” is well known to law enforcement. He’s also well known in Democratic political circles. The feds now say he’s the one who planted a bomb in a garage at 190 Carondolet plaza in Clayton on October 15, 2008.
…
Starting in 2004 Ohlsen was used as a consultant by the Missouri Democratic party. He even had lunch at the governor’s mansion with then-governor Bob Holden.
Quote of the day—John Lott
This case can almost be viewed as if the Obama administration wanted to increase the number of American guns used in crimes in Mexico.
The timing of the “Gunwalker” case is even more troubling since the program got going at about the same time that the Obama administration was trying to claim (falsely) that American guns were showing up in a significant number of Mexican crime scenes.
Is it possible that the Obama administration pushed this program to help gin up more support for gun control in the United States?
John Lott
July 8, 2011
|he Puzzle of ‘Operation Fast and Furious’ — When Will Team Obama Come Clean About Failed Gun Program?
[Is it possible? Of course. The people in this administration are the most anti-gun set of people in the history of our country. But they could also be classified as some of the most incompetent.
I’m still undecided on whether “Gunwalker” was a method to justify support for more gun control or massive incompetence. If it wasn’t intended to justify more gun control then it was a mighty strange coincidence that we had all the “Mexican gunrunner” noise for years at the same time. Can we determine which came first? If Gunwalker started before the “OMG drug cartels have guns” meme started then I’m convinced it was a deliberate attempt to advance gun control. But if the other way around it’s still possible but less likely.
In any case I fully support the Mexicans request that we extradite the ATF, FBI, DOJ, DEA, and any other (BoomershootWife is hoping Obama was involved) criminals to Mexico for trial there on one condition. That condition is that once they get a fair trail and have served their sentences they must ship the bodies back so we can mount their heads on poles on the Whitehouse lawn as a reminder and a warning for others.—Joe]
Quote of the day—Alan Gottlieb
Yesterday’s win was a wake-up call to Chicago. Today’s motion is a signal to the Illinois Legislature that the state’s total ban on carrying of firearms for personal protection is counter to both Supreme Court rulings on the Second Amendment, and yesterday’s ruling by the Seventh Circuit appeals panel that shredded Chicago’s gun ordinance. Our victory Wednesday and today’s motion are key components of SAF’s overall mission to win back firearms freedoms one lawsuit at a time.
Alan Gottlieb
SAF Executive Vice President
July 7, 2011
SAF FILES FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION AGAINST ILLINOIS CARRY BAN
[They are winning and winning big. Don’t let money be a bottleneck for SAF. Donate and help them win everywhere and every time.
I’m a Life (Defenders Club) member and donate addition money monthly. And remember that donations to SAF are tax deductible.—Joe]
In the endzone
Sebastian defined what he calls “our opponent’s endzone” in regards to Second Amendment activism as, “Basically, they no longer have any real relevance in the public debate.”
We might be there because if this poll is correct it should mean that we can “score at will”:
A poll unveiled Wednesday by Rasmussen Reports offers a glimpse into the mind of American voters. The poll found a majority of Americans like the National Rifle Association (NRA) but have a harsher view of the National Education Association (NEA).
The poll found that 54 percent of those surveyed have a favorable view of the NRA — with 29 percent holding a very favorable view of the organization which defends the Second Amendment and promotes gun safety; 41 percent of those surveyed view the NRA as unfavorable. The poll found a partisan divide, with 80 percent of Republicans seeing the NRA in a favorable light, 63 percent of Democrats viewing it as unfavorable. A majority of independents — 53 percent — hold the NRA in favorable regard.
Defenders of the Second Amendment could cheer another part of the poll, which found that 56 percent of those surveyed oppose stricter gun control, while only 36 percent back harsher restrictions on the right to carry arms.
I find it telling that no mention of any anti-gun organization is made. When 54 percent of those surveyed have a favorable view of the NRA what percentage could possibly have a favorable view of the Brady Campaign? And what percentage has even heard of the Violence Policy Center or Coalition to Stop Gun Violence?
If we can keep their coffers full SAF can run play (today–SAF FILES FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION AGAINST ILLINOIS CARRY BAN) after play (yesterday–SAF WINS INJUNCTION V. CHICAGO GUN RANGE BAN) with our undefeated superstar Alan Gura. The more we run up the score with these court victories while the opposition is in disarray the better off we will be in the long run.
One round of 9mm equals 15 years in prison
Steven L. Roberts, 43, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple to 15 years in federal prison without parole. Roberts was sentenced as an armed career criminal due to his prior felony convictions for crimes of violence.
On Feb. 8, 2011, Roberts pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition. Roberts admitted that he was in possession of one round of 9mm ammunition. Roberts was arrested on Aug. 8, 2009, after a short foot chase by Kansas City police officers. When Roberts was searched, officers found the ammunition in his pants pocket. Officers also found a Makarov 9mm semi–automatic pistol, a small amount of methamphetamine and some marijuana when they canvassed the area through which Roberts ran.
That seems a bit harsh to me. Where is the victim?
But that’s the point isn’t it? To make gun ownership extremely risky.
Quote of the day—Bob Owens
Gunwalker’s objective was never intended to be a “legitimate law enforcement interest.” Instead, it appears that ATF Acting Director Ken Melson and Department of Justice senior executives specifically created an operation that was designed from the outset to arm Mexican narco-terrorists and increase violence substantially along both sides of the Southwest border.
Success was measured not by the number of criminals being incarcerated, but by the number of weapons transiting the border and the violence those weapons caused. An ATF manager was “delighted” when Gunwalker guns started showing up at drug busts. It would be entirely consistent with this theory if DOJ communications reflected the approval of the ATF senior officials they were colluding with — but as we know, Holder’s Department of Justice refuses to cooperate.
Bob Owens
June 20, 2011
Mega-Scandal: Was ‘Gunwalker’ a PR Op for Gun Control?
[This claim falls into the category, “Too Good To Be True” for me. I really want to believe it but it’s going to take a lot more data for me to be really convinced.
I hope investigators continue to dig and find the truth. If the claim above is true then I hope the perpetrators can and will be prosecuted.—Joe]
Language
It was hard to fit this into one of Joe’s categories, so I put in “Current News”. I currently hear this sort of thing in the news. Does anyone else twitch a little bit when hearing that someone or other “taped” or “video taped” this or that, or that we’re about to be shown video “footage” of something that happened long after the 1990s?
Where do you buy the little videotape cassettes that fit into your mobile phone? How often do you change reels in your digital camera? Where do you get them developed?
What’s to be the replacement term for “footage”? Bitage? Bytage? How about “video”? “I got this or that on camera (or on video)” certainly works. I didn’t tape it– but I did record it and it’s on my flash drive. If the cops come after you for videotaping them, maybe it’s because they hate outdated technology. Ever thought of that?
Do we need some different terms, do we need simply to think about what we’re saying, or should we forget and submit? There are terms and sayings that linger well past the time when their original meanings were widely understood. “Flash in the pan” comes to mind. We still might say that someone is “letting off steam” but how many today understand that a steam engine might sometimes need to let off steam to avoid over-pressuring the boiler, so as to avoid a boiler explosion? It used to be that boiler explosions were a much more common problem, so when someone was said to be letting off steam it was understood to be the more preferable among possible outcomes.
Project ‘Fast And Furious Gun Restrictions’
The more I see on this scandal with the BATFE, the more it stinks. Here are several issues I have, in no particular order. To me they’re obvious quirks in the story that aren’t being discussed. If someone knows of these being brought up and addressed, please do share;
The Old Media are actually covering this to some extent. They don’t cover anything unless it in some way promotes the leftist cause. They’re actually being critical of the BATFE, but wait. The “problem” is being spun as one of too few restrictions. BATFE is bad, not because they’re idiots or self-serving thugs looking for more funding, or outright criminals or tyrants, but because they didn’t stop gun purchases. Keep an eye on this.
Very large purchases of guns were supposedly “allowed” to take place. We’re being asked to believe that Mexican criminals purchased up to dozens of guns at a time, on several occasions. First; if these were real straw purchases wherein there was a genuine worry about secrecy, they’d take place in dibs and dabs, so as not to attract attention. Second; why would powerful Mexican cartels with international influence be interested in paying hundreds of dollars more, per gun, in the U.S. compared to getting them at global street prices? Even the cartels would know about our background check system at gun stores, yet these purchases supposedly took place at gun dealerships, where they would know that such large purchases would attract immediate attention. But they did it anyway? Too many stinky points. I say the purchases were engineered, either by, or in close cooperation with, BATFE, and not simply “allowed”, as we’re being asked to believe.
We’re told that hundreds of these guns were found at crime scenes (I think I heard the number 800 dropped the other night). What? Really? Hundreds? That’s an awful lot of clumsy, absent-minded, criminals, isn’t it? Leaving their guns, so painstakingly straw-purchased at inflated prices at U.S. retail dealerships, behind at crime scenes to be found in very short order by our super heroes? Stinky, stinky, stinky.
A big government operation, not to shut down Mexican cartels, not to investigate corruption in Mexico that’s threatening people in the U.S., not to revisit the effects of our War On Drugs, but instead to draw attention to how our evil gun rights in the U.S. lead to death and destruction in other countries.
These issues aren’t being brought up in the press or by the Congressional “investigations”. Nope. Instead it’s all about; “You bastards! Why didn’t you guys stop gun sales?” All this after Obama promised anti gun rights groups he’d be doing something for them “…under the radar“.
I think the indignation we’re hearing from the press and from Congress is all feigned. Good Cop, Bad Cop.
My younger brother and I put together a list of socialist tenets many years ago. It’s been lost to computer upgrades and internet evolution, but one of those tenets was; “When restrictions on freedom produce disastrous results, freedom is to blame and the solution is more restrictions.” Look for it in this case. It’ll happen, I guarantee. It’s in the DNA of it.
This Public Servant Bit Needs More Discussion
This is an addendum to the post below.
As stated; as a public employee, as a public servant, your job, your individual tasks, your pay and the very existence of the department for which you work, exists purely at our (The People’s) pleasure. It is our prerogative to alter this relationship, to dismiss you, or to eliminate your department entirely, at a whim.
As a public servant, you have no “right” whatsoever to a particular salary, or to a particular job, etc. If we decide we must lower your pay or dismiss you altogether, your proper response would be something like; “I understand. Thank you for the opportunity to have served you.” At that point you are free to go your own way and prove your worth in the marketplace as you see fit. May you live long and prosper.
If you decide, on the other hand, to get hostile about it and start in with the name-calling and the threats, what can We The People conclude about the relationship we’ve had with you? Look at me when I’m talking to you!
In private practice, a servant that gets hostile with the home owner will probably result in the police being called in on a domestic disturbance. At the very best it would result in an unflattering reference when you apply for another job. This is OUR house. If the hostility continues and becomes threatening, what are we to do? If the police aren’t able to help us get you public servants under control, well then, what? What are we left with for options in that case? You aren’t going to get your way, let me just put it like that. Not for long, I can tell you. This is OUR country.
Someone Doesn’t Know Their History…
…as Dan here at UltiMAK said about this.
I’ve often said that the socialists are calling the anti-socialists socialists for not being socialist enough. Or the Communists are angry at the socialists for not being communist enough.
Christie is being called “Hitler” for trying to cut government spending. The name-caller would have more credibility if he simply called Christie a “snotty nosed poopy pants”.
There is the fact that the communists are often bitterly angry at Progressives (who believe in achieving the goals of Marx through progressive steps). The communists think the time is right to pounce– to take off the masks and have the “People’s Revolution” right now. The Progressives are still in progressive mode, so there is a real conflict, but invoking the name of a famous socialist, as an epithet, doesn’t help their case.
There is also some conflict between the National Socialists verses the global socialists (FDR, Stalin and Hitler all held the same basic tentets, but differed only on the details and the execution) but I’m no more interested in the details than in the differences between rival crime gangs. They’re all enemies and they all have to be ground into the dustbin of history if we’re going to have a free society.
ETA; You public employees around the country seem to be terrible confused. See, you’re not “The People”. You’re The Government– our servants. Big difference. Your jobs, your pay and your benifits, exist at our pleasure. It’s when you tell us what our jobs, pay and benefits etc. should be, that’s Nazi-ish. Get it?
HT to Drudge.
Something to keep in mind
I did not know that:
Police said a hotel worker found the guns inside a trash can around 9 a.m. and alerted police. Both guns had one round in the chamber and two in the clip.
Police called the ATF, who ran the serial number. According to the ATF and FBI, the way the gun was loaded is consistent with a professional hit.
My hypothesis is the “ATF and FBI” either didn’t say that or are just making random stuff up.
Quote of the day—Kieran Healy
I guess on Sunday when the #Rapture people feel really upset, we can’t console them by saying “Cheer up, it’s not the end of the world”.
Kieran Healy
May 20, 2011
[Via a retweet by Kris R.
On a more serious note—I should have updated my website www.whenprophecyfails.info. It still has a lot of great info on it. But I should have included info about this particular incident a week or two ago. I procrastinate too much.—Joe]
Do all socialists have this much money?
One has to wonder where socialists get all their money and why doesn’t everyone have as much wealth as this guy in all socialists societies? [/sarcasm]
Mr Strauss-Kahn secured his release from Rikers Island prison as it was announced a grand jury had voted to have him prosecuted for the alleged sexual attack of a 32-year-old maid in his hotel room.
In a hearing at New York supreme court, Judge Michael Obus said he would allow the 62-year-old former head of the IMF out of jail despite the fact there was a “serious risk” he would try to flee.
He warned Mr Strauss-Kahn, who was arrested at JFK airport on a flight about to take off for Paris, that the consequences would be serious “if there is the slightest problem with your compliance”.
…
He must move into an apartment in Manhattan rented by his wife, and “will be monitored 24 hours, seven days a week, electronically and by at least one armed guard”, the judge said.
He will pay $1 million (£600,000) upfront, provide a guarantee for a further $5 million (£3 million), and cover the expense of his own security, which was estimated at $200,000 (£120,000) a week and include an armed guard at all times.
Critical Pedagogy Hits Home
There’s been some talk about it lately and it’s been in the news, but it’s also been in your home town school for some time. Here is a history paper, handed out in my son’s history class, complete with syntax errors, inexplicable asterisks, bad grammar, omitted words, and miss-numbering. The kids were told to memorize it. Keep in mind the title of the piece – “U.S. History” This is all American. Everything below is what made/makes us tick;
U.S. History
Philosophies — Foreign and Domestic
“What Made/Makes Us Tick”
1. Capitalism – Pure*** vs. Regulated
An economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately or corporately owned and development is proportionate to the accumulation and reinvestment of profits gained in a free market.
OK, right there; no mention of property rights, the acknowledgement and protection of which result in capitalism. “Corporately owned” IS privately owned, but they must make a distinction.
Pure capitalism over time results in poverty, worker abuse, environmental destruction, a two class social structure, and governmental control by the wealthy. All economic, political and social norms were control directly ad indirectly by the wealthy. Even the presentation of religious views were seen through the eyes of the capitalistic values.(2-
Karl Marx would be giddy with pride seeing what our public schools are teaching my kids today. There’s so much wrong with that one paragraph I don’t know where to begin. For one thing, “governmental control by the wealthy” defines a corrupt government. The acknowledgement and protection of property rights, which defines capitalism, does not lead to governmental control by the wealthy. That’s a contradiction in terms, but you’re not supposed to notice. Corrupt politicians lead to governmental control by the wealthy, and for that they should be arrested.
Regulated Capitalism – has produced our nation. Government regulates what industry can do within limits. Environmental impact (air quality), worker safety, fair pay, fair trade, and business dealings are regulated by law.
The Fascisti would certainly approve of that statement, and they were committed Marxists. Notice throughout this whole piece that there is no mention of human rights, or of America’s founding principles. That would blow the whole thing though, wouldn’t it?
2. Expansionism
The belief that the nation must grow to acquire natural resources, new areas of trade, and living space. (Safety Value Theory – Turner Thesis)
3. Manifest Destiny (New Manifest Destiny)***
— Similar to Expansionism. This was the belief that God had pre-determined (destined) the United States to expand. It was an outgrowth of the Puritan ethic [God rewards those who work hard and live an exemplary life.] The term eventually meant that the U.S. would eventually control the land from coast to coast. This belief system motivated the “Western Movement.” The acquisition of land and the displacement of Native Americans became justified in part by this belief system. The Mexican War, the Southwest land, Northwest Territory, and Alaska are also acquired with belief system as the driving force for America to expand.
Nearly every country that ever existed has practiced some version of Manifest Destiny or Expansionism. The American government did some terrible things to the Indians. The innuendo I get from this is that there are wrongs remaining to be righted, which is actually being said elsewhere, complete with the “R” word (revolution) in the above linked video, as part of a school curriculum.
4. Whiteman’s Burden – Anglo Saxonism*** The term is taken from a poem by Rudyard Kipling in which he states is was “the white man’s burden” to colonize the other nations for their benefit. In practice it was the belief that:
God had chosen the Anglo-Saxon race to colonize the “less fortunate” peoples of the world. In so doing they were to bring them education, the Christian faith, a Puritan work ethic, capitalism, health care, and the other “benefits” of our culture.
Ah, so America really IS racist! Crap!
5. Imperialism***
–,The control of one nation over another nation or territory for the purposes of acquiring natural resources, trade, and/or military advantage. This is the core of U.S. expansion. The acquisition of Hawaii, Cuba, and the Philippines are examples of imperialism.
Notice how they slipped trade in there, like trading with people in another nation amounts to Imperialism. We bastards! Those poor victims!
6. Rugged Individualism
— The belief that individuals are to provide for their own needs without the help of others. “I can do it myself.” This was the pioneer spirit and the belief of the nation in the 1800s. It worked against the average person during the latter part of the Industrial Revolution as corporations controlled the variables of life. Working harder did not mean greater rewards for the worker. It meant greater profits for the corporation.
The ideal of self sufficiency worked against the average person, eh? So you’d be better off relying on others. Notice too the repeated use of the word “worker”. “Workers of the World Unite” then, I guess. There are those evil corporations again, and the use of “profits” as an epithet.
7. Social Darwinism
— Applying the theory of Darwinism, survival of the fittest, to political and social life. The strong must survive to benefit the entire nation. No sympathy for the weak, (poor, workers). Laws and social customs were for the benefit of the fittest (rich, industrialist, upper crust of society). When you combine the philosophies of Social Darwinism with imperialism, and Manifest Destiny., the world created was a tough one for the average person.
The Nazis were Social Darwinists, or I would say “Socialist Darwinists”. Let’s be clear.
8. Humanitarianism
— the belief that mankind should help others just because they can. “Social Gospel” of the latter 1800s.
“Just because they can”, mind you. Not because it’s the right thing to do. Not because there are rich people who are, you know, actually human.
9. Liberty/Freedom/Self-determination*
These fundamental beliefs began to take on a new meaning for many of society as the end of the century approached. The empathy to “occupied countries” overseas and to the oppressed at home gains attention of a wider spectrum of society in the late 1800s.
Again no mention of rights, rights protection, or founding principles. Instead it’s all up for grabs, depending on prevailing theories.
9. AMERICAN IMPERIALISM
It is easier to define American Imperialism by contrasting it with Imperialism.
Imperialism is centered on Social Darwinism, Manifest Destiny, and White Man’s Burden.
There were never, ever, anywhere, any non-white Imperialists then. You racist, you.
American Imperialism tempers those beliefs with humanitarianism and the beliefs of self-determination, freedom and liberty. Our present foreign and domestic policies are motivated by this belief.
There you have it. We’re an Imperialist nation. Damn us all to hell.
This history lesson is a self-contradictory and confused jumble of omissions, lies, half truths and truths. Would Karl Marx strongly disagree with any of it?
Mother and child of Satan
Last year there was this guy that blew himself up and was in the hospital for some time but ultimately recovered. The speculation at the time was that he used Tannerite and he was extremely stupid in the application.
Even if the stupid part was correct it turns out that it wasn’t Tannerite. Darwin was unable to cure his stupidity and now the Federal Government is attempting to address the symptoms. He was arrested Monday and the affidavit for his arrest was unsealed yesterday with interesting details. His explosives included Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP) which is sometimes known as Mother of Satan because of its high susceptibility to accidental detonation.
Other interesting stuff in the affidavit indicates the world would have been much better off if Darwin had been successful. This guy appears to be someone many would characterize as a child of Satan.
Update: I found the following interesting as well. This is from the list of items to be searched for and seized in the affidavit. Notice that nearly every home has the precursor chemicals to make explosives. This is one of the reasons I say the TSA explosives tests cannot be effective and are a waste of time. Explosives can be easily made from common household materials. If the TSA were to screen for these they would generate so many false positives that the “pat downs” and extensive searches would raise the cost of TSA to even higher levels and create even more public outrage. Since they don’t test for these chemicals explosive devices can be easily made and detonated on board commercial flights at will.
Random thought of the day
Now that the U.S. has established the precedent of sending a hit squad into another country to kill those wanted for planning and implementing acts which resulted in the deaths of our citizens I wonder if the Mexican government will consider that justification for doing the same to those responsible for sending firearms to drug cartels in Mexico.
Quote of the day—David Hardy
While opinions may vary, I’ve always thought that undercover operations should stop short of committing acts of war.
David Hardy
May 5, 2011
Project Gunwalker getting bigger
[I love understated humor.—Joe]
The police lost the gun
As pointed out by Say Uncle (I also got an email from him) the letter that went out to all the gun dealers in Washington State earlier this month was because the Washington State Patrol lost a gun:
The state patrol won’t say how the gun disappeared — only that it was missing from the state patrol’s inventory in Tacoma last summer.
This is mostly reiteration of what nearly everyone else has said but poor handling on the part of the police is no reason for concern by anyone else. I’d use the letter for target practice.
Quote of the day—Milton Friedman
Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program.
Milton Friedman
[It is predicted the Federal budget deficit will reach $1.65 trillion this year with a $14.1 trillion debt and about $2.1 trillion in income. Yet the House cannot reach agreement on spending cuts. The House Republicans want to only cut $60 billion in spending and the Democrats only want to cut spending $6.5 billion. If you were to scale this down into numbers people might be able to relate to it would look like the following.
If your family income were $50,000 then:
- Family debt is $335,700
- Family deficit is $39,300 (spending is $89,300/year)
- The head of household wants to cut $1,430 in yearly spending
- The spouse wants to cut $154.80 in yearly spending
The children should cut up the credit cards and sell everything that isn’t the bare minimum needed for food, shelter, clothing, transportation, and communication. If the debt still isn’t being paid down they should consider selling their parents organs.—Joe]