Hello:

We've got TWO different things going on... We've got REALITY, and we've got the CONVERSATION about reality... They are NOT the same thing.

In my view, the right wing won the conversation hands down. They're not good at governing, but they ARE good at coming up with good sound bites... Words like "death panel", "government takeover" and "socialist" won the day. Everybody understand those words. Nobody understood what a "public option" is.

In reality, Obama is a center right president. But, every righty thinks he's a socialist solely because of the conversation, not because of the facts.

I don't think that bodes well for us. You?

excon

It is unclear what he really is because a year into his Presidency he has handed off the bulk of his agenda to the leaders of the Legislative branch to take the lead . Since they are clearly Fabians, the agenda is so called "progressive" . If it wasn't his intent to go in that direction he should've made his wishes clearer to Congress. But instead he has applauded their efforts leading me to believe he supports the leftist direction the nation is taking on his watch.

leading me to believe he supports the leftist direction the nation is taking on his watch.Hello again, tom:

You make my point for me. The nation is NOT taking a leftist direction. The CONVERSATION about what's happening says that we're taking a leftist direction.

I don't disagree that the INTENT of health care was leftist... However, the RESULT, is anything but leftist. What the result is, is incomprehensible. What IS comprehensible, is that the bill will regulate insurance companies. YOU may consider that leftist. I consider it good governance.

Beyond that, he's pretty much aligned himself with Bush in terms of national security, sans torture.

In terms of the economy, it's the BUSH economy that we're recovering from. That's reality. The conversation, however, is that it's Obama's.

The point of my post is not to swoon over Obama, and blame everybody else. The conversation problem is one of his own making. He did NOT address the anger over the bank bailout. He HIRED the crooks who caused it in the first place. He HIRED a lobbyist at his first opportunity, when he said he wouldn't. And, he ditched his base.

I jut wonder if you think the CONVERSATION is GOOD for us. I think the conversation is a lie, and NOT good for us.

excon

The insurance companies are already heavily regulated . That is why only certain ones are permitted to provide their services to each state . Businesses and consumers are prohibited to take advantage of the competition that would be available if there were not regulatory restrictions imposed on them... mostly by the states.

You say that all that would be accomplished if the legislations passed was ultimately passed into law was more regulation of the industry . I say that there is much more in the language of the 2 bills passed ;and there would've been essentially a nationalization of the industry if the CONVERSATION had not taken place.

You can argue that a nationalization attempt is not a leftist direction if you want . On that we disagree.

But what got passed by the Senate and House were what they could pass because of the sway the CONVERSATION had on the public.
Once they pass what is possible ;they will be back for more . That is the essential strategy of the fabians.

Obama won the election partly because of the conversation. He promised transparency, bipartisanship, fiscal sanity and posed as a centrist. His presidency has been anything but and the media has covered his a$$ most of the way, that's reality.

In 2006 Democrats won based on the conversation, they promised transparency and fiscal sanity and gagged their loudmouths during the campaign. Their reign has proven anything but what they promised, that's reality.

The right did impact the conversation, and I'm glad they did. Someone had to expose "the agenda" and hold the Dems' feet to the fire.

Steve the avatar is scaring me.

Steve the avatar is scaring me.

Don't let it, it's my mom... she passed away last week. It's my little tribute...

Sorry to hear that . God rest her soul .

What bothers me most about what's being said from both sides is there usually is some truth behind it that's pushing it. How can someone elect to choose the term czar and then think it doesn't have a communistic glow to it. Whether by accident or design its of his own making. Another big thing has been in the news is his seemingly arrogance when he speaks in public. If he can stop saying "me" so much then maybe people would listen. I think that like most people running for president he didn't have a clue of what he was getting into. There is a big difference saying you want something and that first day when they pull back the curten. Its hard to say where this country is really going and it will take a look back to decide. But I'm my opinion I don't believe the current president is centerist in his ways or leanings. That scares me.

Thanks, tom.

Now back to the conversation. The Coakley campaign in Massachusetts issued a flier saying Scott Brown opposes medical treatment for rape victims (http://dailycaller.com/2010/01/16/republican-scott-brown-to-file-criminal-complaint-against-massachusetts-democratic-party-over-flier/). The flier said, “1,736 women were raped in Massachusetts in 2008. Scott Brown wants hospitals to turn them all away.”

Is that the reality or just outright malicious 'conversation?'

Thanks, tom.

Now back to the conversation. The Coakley campaign in Massachusetts issued a flier saying Scott Brown opposes medical treatment for rape victims (http://dailycaller.com/2010/01/16/republican-scott-brown-to-file-criminal-complaint-against-massachusetts-democratic-party-over-flier/). The flier said, “1,736 women were raped in Massachusetts in 2008. Scott Brown wants hospitals to turn them all away.”

Is that the reality or just outright malicious 'conversation?'

Since we are on the subject Ill pass this along to go with it.

Ed Schultz: I'd cheat to keep Brown from winning - Water Cooler - Washington Times (http://washingtontimes.com/weblogs/watercooler/2010/jan/16/ed-schultz-id-cheat-keep-brown-winning/)

More on the conversation, Ed Schultz, MSNBC pundit and the man who was asked to run for Byron Dorgan's seat, said if he could he'd cheat (http://radioequalizer.blogspot.com/2010/01/msnbc-libtalker-ed-schultz-supports.html) to keep "these bastards" out of Kennedy's seat.


"I tell you what, if I lived in Massachusetts I'd try to vote 10 times. I don't know if they'd let me or not, but I'd try to. Yeah, that's right. I'd cheat to keep these bastards out. I would. 'Cause that's exactly what they are."

Ya think everyone understands what "these bastards" means?

Since we are on the subject Ill pass this along to go with it.

Ed Schultz: I'd cheat to keep Brown from winning - Water Cooler - Washington Times (http://washingtontimes.com/weblogs/watercooler/2010/jan/16/ed-schultz-id-cheat-keep-brown-winning/)

So you caught that, too. On your previous post, besides Obama's narcissism he loves to use the phrase, "let me be clear (http://www.nj.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/national-14/1263833518315040.xml&storylist=washington)." If he were ever clear on his agenda he wouldn't have been elected.

Constrast the President Bush address Dec 29,2004 after the tsunami with President Obama's address about Haiti .


Bush :

Across the United States this week, our flags will fly at half-staff to honor the victims of this disaster. We mourn especially the tens of thousands of children who are lost. We think of the tens of thousands more who will grow up without their parents or their brothers or their sisters. We hold in our prayers all the people whose fate is still unknown.
The United States government is in close contact with the governments of the affected countries, and America is playing a leading role in the relief and recovery efforts. Our nation has committed military assets and made an initial commitment of $350 million for disaster relief. We're working with the United Nations and with governments around the world to coordinate the comprehensive international response. American military assets in the region are now aiding recovery efforts. Patrol and cargo aircraft have been surveying damage and delivering supplies for several days. Air Force C-130s are flying aid missions 24 hours a day. We are grateful for the hard work of the men and women who wear our nation's uniform. The Abraham Lincoln carrier group is in place near Indonesia and transporting relief supplies by helicopter. Other naval and Marine assets will arrive shortly to generate clean water and provide further logistical help.

Obama :

This morning I spoke with President Préval of Haiti, who has been in regular contact with our ambassador on the ground. I expressed to President Préval my deepest condolences for the people of Haiti and our strong support for the relief efforts that are underway.

Like so many Haitians, President Préval himself has lost his home, and his government is working under extraordinarily difficult conditions. Many communications are down and remain -- and many people remain unaccounted for. The scale of the devastation is extraordinary, as I think all of us are seeing on television, and the losses are heartbreaking.

I pledged America's continued commitment to the government and the people of Haiti -- in the immediate effort to save lives and deliver relief, and in the long-term effort to rebuild. President Préval and I agreed that it is absolutely essential that these efforts are well coordinated among the United States and the government of Haiti; with the United Nations, which continues to play a central role; and with the many international partners and aid organizations that are now on the ground.

Meanwhile, American resources continue to arrive in Haiti. Search and rescue efforts continue to work, pulling people out of the rubble. Our team has saved both the lives of American citizens and Haitian citizens, often under extraordinarily difficult circumstances.

This morning, the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson arrived, along with helicopters that will be critical in delivering assistance in the days to come. They are preparing to move badly needed water, food, and other life-saving supplies to priority areas in Port-au-Prince. Food, water, and medicine continues to arrive, along with doctors and aid workers.

At the airport, help continues to flow in, not just from the United States but from Brazil, Mexico, Canada, France, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic, among others. This underscores the point that I made to the President this morning: The entire world stands with the government and the people of Haiti, for in Haiti's devastation, we all see the common humanity that we share.

And as the international community continues to respond, I do believe that America has a continued responsibility to act. Our nation has a unique capacity to reach out quickly and broadly and to deliver assistance that can save lives.

That responsibility obviously is magnified when the devastation that's been suffered is so near to us. Haitians are our neighbors in the Americas, and for Americans they are family and friends. It's characteristic of the American people to help others in time of such severe need. That's the spirit that we will need to sustain this effort as it goes forward. There are going to be many difficult days ahead.

So, so many people are in need of assistance. The port continues to be closed, and the roads are damaged. Food is scarce and so is water. It will take time to establish distribution points so that we can ensure that resources are delivered safely and effectively and in an orderly fashion.

But I want the people of Haiti to know that we will do what it takes to save lives and to help them get back on their feet. In this effort I want to thank our people on the ground -- our men and women in uniform, who have moved so swiftly; our civilians and embassy staff, many of whom suffered their own losses in this tragedy; and those members of search and rescue teams from Florida and California and Virginia who have left their homes and their families behind to help others. To all of them I want you to know that you demonstrate the courage and decency of the American people, and we are extraordinarily proud of you.

I also want to thank the American people more broadly. In these tough times, you've shown extraordinary compassion, already donating millions of dollars. I encourage all of you who want to help to do so through whitehouse.gov where you can learn about how to contribute.

And tomorrow I will be meeting with President Clinton and President George W. Bush here at the White House to discuss how to enlist and help the American people in this recovery and rebuilding effort going forward.

I would note that as I ended my call with President Préval, he said that he has been extremely touched by the friendship and the generosity of the American people. It was an emotional moment. And this President, seeing the devastation around him, passed this message to the American people. He said, "From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of the people of Haiti, thank you, thank you, thank you."

As I told the President, we realize that he needs more help and his country needs more help -- much more. And in this difficult hour, we will continue to provide it.

Thank you very much.



YouTube - Toby Keith - I Wanna Talk About Me (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxUuDPNbkJk)

How can someone elect to choose the term czar and then think it doesnt have a communistic glow to it.Hello dad:

I don't know. Maybe because we've been calling our head drug cop the Drug Czar since 1982. I wonder why you didn't think THAT had a communist glow. Could it be because Reagan was pres in '82? Nahhh.. You guys aren't hypocritical like that.

excon

Hello dad:

I dunno. Maybe because we've been calling our head drug cop the Drug Czar since 1982. I wonder why you didn't think THAT had a communist glow. Could it be because Reagan was pres in '82? Nahhh.. You guys aren't hypocritical like that.

excon

Sure.. to me the term czar has that attatched to it. But it seems as of late we have many many more then from back in '82. Almost looks like a infiltration.. lol.

Speaking of the conversation, Chris Van Hollen, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, in trying to help the Coakley campaign offered up a delicious bit of irony (http://althouse.blogspot.com/2010/01/why-would-you-hand-keys-to-car-back-to.html) in the race to fill Kenedy's seat:


“Why would you hand the keys to the car back to the same guys whose policies drove the economy into the ditch and then walked away from the scene of the accident?”

That’s Chris Van Hollen, the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, meaning to help Coakley win Teddy Kennedy’s seat, and running right off the road into a ditch called Chappaquid.

LOL!

Back in the USSR they called all these mini czars Commissars . Surprised it hasn't caught on here.

More on the conversation, Eleanor Holmes Norton just told the people of Massachusetts the Dems don't really care what they think.

U6G5hSeqL2g

That's a huge reason why the people are pushing back, the Dems don't care what they think. They aren't interested in having the conversation.

Back in the USSR they called all these mini czars Commissars . Suprised it hasn't caught on here.

Is this a case of not knowing the meaning of the language? Commissar means commissioner or inspector not ruler over everything, so yes you do have them already

[QUOTE=tomder55;2182277]constrast the President Bush address Dec 29,2004 after the tsunami with President Obama's address about Haiti .

QUOTE]

I expect Obama couldn't resist the opportunity for a speech but Haiti being closer to home warranted a few more words to impress the people of Haiti, who probably will not hear the speech ,and the americans that the response to Katrina will not be repeated in this instance

[QUOTE=tomder55;2182277]constrast the President Bush address Dec 29,2004 after the tsunami with President Obama's address about Haiti .

QUOTE]

I expect Obama couldn't resist the opportunity for a speech but Haiti being closer to home warranted a few more words to impress the people of Haiti, who probably will not hear the speech ,and the americans that the response to Katrina will not be repeated in this instance

Closer to home? Katrina was within the US boarders where Haiti is not within our jurisdiction. Anything we do there has to be done by permission of the haitian government unlike it was here. Sort of apples and oranges in a legal sense.

Closer to home? Katrina was within the US boarders where Haiti is not within our jurisdiction. Anything we do there has to be done by permission of the haitian government unlike it was here. Sort of apples and oranges in a legal sense.

Tome's post was with respect to the Tsunami in SE Asia, not Katrina.

Haiti is obviously a lot closer to home than SE Asia, thus demanding greater attention from the US. And Katrina was a mess that nobody would want to see repeated.

Is this a case of not knowing the meaning of the language? Commissar means commissioner or inspector not ruler over everything, so yes you do have them already

That may be true in Aussie but in the old soviet union it was mostly used for People's Commissar (or narkom) for government ministers... party hacks . Obama uses Czars as pseudo-ministers for the purpose of bypassing the confirmation process ,so in this case the Soviet example applies.

Tome's post was with respect to the Tsunami in SE Asia, not Katrina.

Haiti is obviously a lot closer to home than SE Asia, thus demanding greater attention from the US. And Katrina was a mess that nobody would want to see repeated.

That's odd because I used the quote comment from paraclete's post and that's where I was making the Katrina reference. Somehow it sucked toms partial quote in there with it.

I expect Obama couldn't resist the opportunity for a speech but Haiti being closer to home warranted a few more words to impress the people of Haiti, who probably will not hear the speech ,and the americans that the response to Katrina will not be repeated in this instance

Yeah the dinosaur media is carrying the water for the American response to date ;this time correctly pointing out the difficulties in the logisitics.If Bush were President no such slack would be given . They would all be echoing Chavez and al Jazeera by now .

. They would all be echoing Chavez and al Jazeera by now .

Don't forget France

US accused of 'occupying' Haiti as troops flood in - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/centralamericaandthecaribbean/haiti/7020908/US-accused-of-occupying-Haiti-as-troops-flood-in.html)

This is why the Dems lost the conversation, not Republican sound bites but liberal rants and insults. Chris Matthews said, "If they go for Republican Scott Brown it's deliberate, premeditated murder for health care!"

Health care is fine, it's the best in the world. The left wants to commit deliberate, premeditated murder on the insurance industry.

Health care is fine, it's the best in the world.

Been shown time and again that this comment is highly debatable and doubtful.

Skell in the end if the larger populace wanted their health system fundamentally changed the dems would.ve passed their proposal in the Summer.

Don't forget France

With all due respect to the French ;they have zero room to talk about Haiti .They got whipped by a slave rebellion there and left the country without a workable governing model. I am not thrilled the US is the only country capable of managing this tragic disaster ;but so be it .

Skell in the end if the larger populace wanted their health system fundamentally changed the dems would.ve passed their proposal in the Summer.

Agreed. Fear of change played a major part.

Speaking again of the CONVERSATION and REALITY, Obama has a mysterious fan named Ellie Light writing letters to the media from local addresses all over the place...


A woman has written the same letter defending Obama to dozens of publications across the country, getting them published in at least 42 newspapers in 18 states, as well as Politico.com, the Washington Times, and USA Today. And the woman, Ellie Light, has claimed residence in many of these states.

Think there might be some phony Astroturfing there? (http://patterico.com/2010/01/23/ellie-light-obama-astroturfer-or-very-very-very-energetic-but-independent-letter-writer/)

At the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Sabrina Eaton makes a nice catch:


Ellie Light sure gets around.

In recent weeks, Light has published virtually identical “Letters to the Editor” in support of President Barack Obama in more than a dozen newspapers.Every letter claimed a different residence for Light that happened to be in the newspaper’s circulation area.

“It’s time for Americans to realize that governing is hard work, and that a president can’t just wave a magic wand and fix everything,” said a letter from alleged Philadelphian Ellie Light, that was published in the Jan. 19 edition of The Philadelphia Daily News.

A letter from Light in the Jan. 20 edition of the San Francisco Examiner concluded with an identical sentence, but with an address for Light all the way across the country in Daly City, California.

Variations of Light’s letter ran in Ohio’s Mansfield News Journal on Jan. 13, with Light claiming an address in Mansfield; in New Mexico’s Ruidoso News on Jan. 12, claiming an address in Three Rivers; in South Carolina’s The Sun News on Jan. 18, claiming an address in Myrtle Beach; and in the Daily News Leader of Staunton, Virginia on Jan. 15, claiming an address in Waynesboro. Her publications list includes other papers in Ohio, West Virginia, Maine, Michigan, Iowa, Pennsylvania and California, all claiming separate addresses.

She has more houses than John McCain!

But there are a few more places her little pro-Obama missive appeared, besides those documented.

Like Ben Smith at Politico.

And the Washington Times.

And a blog at USA Today.

And the Sheboygan Press in Wisconsin. And the Stevens Point Journal in Wisconsin — listing an address of Algoma, Wisconsin.

And in addition to the Californian.com link provided in the Plain Dealer story, listing an address in Salinas, CA, there are other California letters with other California addresses.

The letter appears in the Gilroy Dispatch and Morgan Hill Times, both listing an address of San Felipe, CA.

And in Good Times, listing an address in Santa Cruz, CA.

And in TheUnion.com, listing an address of Grass Valley, CA.

And Connecticut’s stamfordadvocate.com.

A letter was sent to a columnist at the local Daily Breeze here in the South Bay area of Los Angeles.

On an unrelated note, recall that recently, Glenn Greenwald flagged the fact that Obama’s pal (and head of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs) Cass Sunstein recently wrote this paper suggesting something sounding a lot like Astroturfing:


Sunstein advocates that the Government’s stealth infiltration should be accomplished by sending covert agents into “chat rooms, online social networks, or even real-space groups.” He also proposes that the Government make secret payments to so-called “independent” credible voices to bolster the Government’s messaging (on the ground that those who don’t believe government sources will be more inclined to listen to those who appear independent while secretly acting on behalf of the Government).

Who is Ellie Light?

I would like to know.

Wouldn’t you?

P.S. If you find other examples, please leave them in comments with a link. Many more updates in the extended entry.

UPDATE: Add the following:

California: The Los Banos Enterprise, listing an address of Gustine, CA.

Maine: In addition to the Maine link above, there is another appearance of the letter in Maine: in the Bangor Daily News, in which Light lists an address of Bangor, Maine.

Maryland: The Baltimore Chronicle.

Massachusetts: The North Adams Transcript, listing an address of Williamstown.

List your additions below.

UPDATE x2: Add these as well:

Connecticut: Another Connecticut paper, in addition to the Stamford listing: the Danbury News-Times. And here’s another: the Greenwich Time a/k/a Ctpost.com. (Address listed is Greenwich.)

Georgia: Gainesville Times. (Her address is listed as Gainesville.)

Massachusetts: In addition to the above, there is The Berkshire Eagle.

New Hampshire: It appeared in the Seacoastonline, which appears to be an online version of several New England papers including the Portsmouth Herald, Exeter News Letter, and others. Light’s address was listed as Portsmouth, NH.

Vermont: Bennington Banner.

Wisconsin: In addition to the above, there is the Oshkosh Northwestern (address listed is Oshkosh).

So far I count 35 publications in 16 states as well as the District of Columbia. Light managed to get herself published in media outlets in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, D.C. West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

UPDATE x3: redc1c4 adds Spectrum.com in Utah, where Light claims to be from Washington City. That’s 36 publications in 17 states plus D.C.

UPDATE x4: DRJ adds 5 more publications in comments:


Here are a few more:

HudsonHubTimes.com, in which Ellie listed Streetsboro OH as her hometown.

[Duplicate already mentioned in the Plain Dealer article eliminated.]

The Willits News, with Willits CA as the hometown.

CDAPress.com of Coeur d’Alene ID, with Ellie listing a hometown of Post Falls.

From Ohio, the Chillicothe Gazette, with Chillicothe OH as the hometown.

And my current favorite so far, The Bangkok Post — the “World’s Window to Thailand.” No hometown provided.

Idaho is thus included as a new state, bringing the running total to 41 publications in 18 states plus D.C.

UPDATE x4: redc1c4 adds an Annapolis, Maryland publication. Light lists her city of residence as Annapolis. That’s 42 publications in 18 states plus D.C.

Curious, no? Who is Ellie Light and when will she debut at AMHD?

I am Spartacus!

Seriously, which work at home spam-site is offering this gig and how much does it pay?

I am Spartacus!

Seriously, which work at home spam-site is offering this gig and how much does it pay?

It's a one time gig worth a lot but you can't tell anyone. Apply at your nearest Acorn outlet.

Its a one time gig worth alot but you can't tell anyone. Apply at your nearest Acorn outlet.

I love it! But aren't they underground yet?

No? Somebody call Beck.

I love it! But aren't they underground yet?

No? Somebody call Beck.

No.. but they should be : )

Axelrod helped the conversation yesterday on This Week, he said, "people will never know what's in that bill until we pass it."

Um, that's what we're afraid of you idiot.