| Author | Message | ||
     Reindog |
The following is 2.5 years old but is worth repeating as we Americans have the responsibility to never forget Obama's repudiation of American Exceptionalism. December 31, 2010 12:00 A.M. Yes, the Greatest Country Ever Our greatness is simply a fact. By Rich Lowry When the likes of Marco Rubio, the new Republican senator from Florida, say this is the greatest country ever, sophisticated opinion-makers cluck and roll their eyes. What a noxious tea-party nostrum. How chauvinistic. What hubris. Yet, what other countries deserve this designation? For the sake of convenience, start at 1648, when the Peace of Westphalia ratified the modern system of nation-states. And grade on power, prosperity and goodness. Is Spain the greatest ever? It had a nice run a couple of hundred years ago based on plundering the New World of its gold and silver. By 1800, it was one of the poorest countries in Europe. Today, it teeters on bankruptcy. Is France? Its model of centralizing monarchy in the 17th century was extremely influential, and admirable — if you like elaborate court ritual, religious persecution and expansionistic wars. It gave the world the template for modern ideological madness in the French Revolution and for the modern tyrant in Napoleon. After the debacle of World War II, it recovered to a power of middling rank. If there’s no doubting the greatness of the French, their history comes with the implicit admonition: “Do not try this at home.” Germany? In the 18th and 19th centuries, it was a cultural jewel. And one of the most talented statesmen ever, Bismarck, forged a nation that became an industrial behemoth. It also had an illiberal heart. Germany today is an anchor of democratic Europe, but with a hellish black mark against it that will last for all time. Russia? By the beginning of the 20th century, a decrepit autocracy sat atop a mass of misery. Then, things went south. The communists murdered and enslaved many millions across seven decades. Russia remains an important, if vastly diminished, power, governed by a prickly, grasping kleptocracy. Britain? Getting warmer. It invented the rights that are the bedrock of liberal democracy. More than most European powers, it lived by Adam Smith’s formula for prosperity: “peace, easy taxes, and a tolerable administration of justice.” From a tiny island, it came to govern an enormous extent of the globe in a relatively benign colonialism. It was a bulwark against the dictatorships of the Continent, from Napoleon, to the Kaiser, to Hitler. And it spawned the countries that have made the English-speaking world a synonym for good governance and liberty: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and America. Which brings us to the U.S. We had the advantage of jumping off from the achievement of the British. We founded our nation upon self-evident truths about the rights of man, even if our conduct hasn’t always matched them. We pushed aside Spain and Mexico in muscling across the continent, but brought order and liberty in our wake. Our treatment of the Indians was appalling, but par for the course in the context of the time. It took centuries of mistreatment of blacks before we finally heeded our own ideals. The positive side of the ledger, though, is immense: We got constitutional government to work on a scale no one had thought possible; made ourselves a haven of liberty for the world’s peoples; and created a fluid, open society. We amassed unbelievable wealth, and spread it widely. Internationally, we wielded our overwhelming military and industrial power as a benevolent hegemon. We led the coalitions against the ideological empires of the 20th century and protected the global commons. We remain the world’s sole superpower, looked to by most of the world as a leader distinctly better than any of the alternatives. Our greatness is simply a fact. Only the churlish or malevolent can deny it, or even get irked at its assertion. When a Marco Rubio talks of the greatness of America, it’s not bumptious self-congratulation. Our greatness comes with the responsibility to preserve our traditional dynamism and status as a robust middle-class society. To paraphrase the Benjamin Franklin of lore, we have the greatest country ever — if we can keep it. — Rich Lowry is editor of National Review. He can be reached via e-mail, comments.lowry@nationalreview.com. © 2010 by King Features Syndicate. | ||
| Reindog |
Need I say more? Liberals: when are you going to wake up from your delirious sleep? http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2012/08/21/justice-depar tment-recruits-dwarfs/ Holder Justice Department Recruits Dwarfs, Schizophrenics, and the ‘Intellectually Disabled’ The PJ Tatler has obtained documents from the Justice Department detailing efforts to recruit attorneys and staff who are dwarfs or who have “psychiatric disabilities” or “severe intellectual disabilities.” On May 31, 2012, Assistant Attorney General Tom Perez issued a directive to affirmatively recruit people with these “targeted disabilities.” This DOJ policy does not merely involve prohibitions against discrimination, but rather the documents reveal deliberate recruitment efforts to hire as attorneys and staff for the Department of Justice people suffering from psychiatric disorders and intellectual disabilities. Moreover, applicants can “self-identify” their disability by means of the “Standard Form 256, Self Identification Disability.” Those with “targeted disabilities” may be hired through a “non-competitive” appointment. That means they don’t have to endure the regular civil service competition among applicants, but can be plucked from the stack of resumes and hired immediately instead. According to the documents, those with these “targeted disabilities” may be hired “before the position is advertised” and even “before the position’s closing date.” Moreover, lawyers with psychiatric disabilities and “severe intellectual” disabilities receive a waiver from the requirement that a new DOJ employee have practiced law for one year before being hired. You can read the detailed Civil Rights Division “Hiring of Persons With Targeted Disabilities Policy” memo here. You can also read PJ Media’s full report on the attorneys hired for the Justice Department Civil Rights Division from 2009-2010 here in the Every Single One series. Speaking of preferences, here is another document, the entire “Operational Diversity Management Plan,” obtained by PJ Media. It should be fascinating to those interested in racial preferences in government policy. | ||
| Geedee |
Another slant on that Oldog. http://projectcamelotportal.com/kerrys-blog/1067-r osebud-on-obama-civil-war.html | ||
| Alfau |
We remain the world’s sole superpower, looked to by most of the world as a leader distinctly better than any of the alternatives. brainwashed? CHINA would chew you up and blow you out in bubbles! USA is the only western country in the world that does not have Free Medical Care for all of it's citizens. Perhaps spending your taxes on fighting wars is better than to give citizens something as basic as free medical care. If you have no health insurance your free to die. You only get free medical care if your a terrorist in Guantánamo Province at the southeastern end of Cuba. Poor are dominated by the rich to their detriment. | ||
| Reindog |
Here is a quiz, kids. What is this? (Hint: $500 million dollars of your hard earned tax money went to this, courtesy of the Obama Crime Syndicate.) The winner gets the first beer free when and if we meet after a Buell ride.  | ||
| Reindog |
Alfau. TINSTAAFL, my friend. BTW, we Americans spending on wars saved your country from domination by the Japanese Empire. Take your bilge water elsewhere, sir. Roll over like the little doggie you are, to your future Chinese masters if you think we Americans are bubble eaters. We Americans will stand like men, when and if the time comes. | ||
| Blake |
Lame. Tom, Please go see Dinesh D'Souza's documentary on Obama, 2016. I learned a lot. Really interesting conversation with Barry's brother too. | ||
| Reindog |
Laurie and I are heading out in 30 minutes to go see it. | ||
| Court |
We went yesterday. It's amazing, well researched fact that will scare the most liberal among out numbers. >>>USA is the only western country in the world that does not have Free Medical Care for all of it's citizens. Anyone . . anywhere believe that? Wow . . . | ||
| Aesquire |
Reindog, Solyndra solar tubes. Used as art. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/24/solyndra- art-installation_n_1828193.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpop ular | ||
| Aesquire |
Well, he's heard the propaganda, so it must be so. It's true, if you want to get fat suction, a nose job, or any number of elective procedures, you have to pony up the cash yourself, get "good" ( more expensive ) insurance from work, or go on the public welfare roles. ( who get "insurance" not as good as some who work.... better than others. ) If you have an accident, you just go to the Emergency room at the local hospital, and you get treated. Can't pay? No worries, the bill will chase you around for years, but you don't really ever have to pay for it.... Because the law says they have to treat you. That's why hospitals close E-rooms, the govt. payment plan is messed up. Because we have a semi-socialized medical system. Run by morons. That raises the price tag for every one. While Canada's system is pretty darn good, England's seems to be... problematic. ( meaning I'd be dead ) Holland is happy to Euthanize, liberally, ( all those old folks cost too much... old is incurable, right? so turn up the morphine drip ) and Cuba, often pointed to as a shining example of a Workers Paradise, imports from Europe doctors for it's elites. And ONLY it's elites. Sorta like the British system of not reporting crime to keep the numbers down, if you lie enough anything can sound good. While the US health care system is ranked #34, it's odd that so many advances in medicine happen here. Consider it costs a Billion $ to go from a herb picked in a jungle ( or a moss found in a Japanese temple ) to a working drug... and decades to do so, the hundred plus drugs that are tested, and found wanting, make it amazing that new stuff happens at all. It sure isn't coming from Russia. I have to ask, it is really a good thing to have tax payer paid health care? What happens when the money runs out at the end of the fiscal cycle? Let them die? Ration care year round? ( in England the Doctors go on vacation when they have their mandatory hours in ) Perhaps you have a heart attack. How long a wait for a stent? Do you get supportive medicines while you wait? Are they more likely to operate than do drug therapy? Which operation? A stent? Bypass? Neglect? Now, Barry really wants tax paid universal health care. He has made a lot of noise about that, but almost none of what he promises is actually in the "affordable care act". That act is designed to destroy the existing system, to force us all into a non-existing universal system. http://www.verumserum.com/?p=5118 While I hate to say this.... do you really expect better health care when the decisions as to what you get are made by the folk at Austroads? ( here they ask, "what if the Post Office were in charge of your medical care?" Makes people shudder just to think about it..... ) | ||
| Court |
>>>>> give citizens something as basic as free medical care. . . . . . .is it FREE ? >>>>>That raises the price tag for every one. .. . . . or wait . . .is it PAID? | ||
| Oldog |
interesting twist GD I was sent other items but wont put them up in essence it says that barry's records may be subject to judicial review, and publication suit in progress ... there are some issues with how his school was paid for, some thing about a trip to pakistan, and other questionable activities my 0.02$ If ...... the bastard is really not from here, and many of his staff knew it before hand, a gallows should be built and used... the law re guarding qualifications to be president are crystal clear a child can understand them. | ||
| Aesquire |
Court, Australia might just have a nigh perfect health care system, paid for by taxes, and administered by medical people. Does it? I may be too influenced by the idea that when the Government does something, it costs far more, works quite badly, and limits the choices compared to private enterprise. After all, for every dollar going in to a wealth transfer program, nearly 22 cents goes to the people it's claimed to help. ( the rest pays for all the government people ) Some Charities have nearly as bad a throughput ratio, others much better. As far as spending our money on wars goes.... perhaps we should stop. Tomorrow. Most of our efforts are wasted, anyway. It's not like anyone sane expects Afghanistan's mountainous border region to be modern. No one really expects our troops in Germany will Stop the Russians from just taking Europe at will, N Korea, after it nukes Seoul, has more than enough troops to take S korea, and Germany, when it gets mad enough at Greece, or France isn't even going to slow down because of the Hospital we built there.... so why bother? We could go isolationist again, and watch Europe Burn and the new East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere center around Bejing. Odds are pretty good no one In Australia will have to learn Chinese for several years. We'd have at least a few months more. The dominant fact of the 1900's was the US and England spoke nearly the same language. WW1, WW2, Falklands... Gulf wars 1+2..... ( have to give the Aussies props here, New Guinea, Coast watchers, Vietnam, Korea.... best buddies for a long time... ) The dominant fact of the 2000's? Yet to be known, but my bet is the 21st century will be the great battle between the 2 most intolerant religions on Earth, after they conquer the rest of us. Time will tell. And...this is an Obama Thread. He's sympathetic, at the least, to both of those intolerant faiths. Raised in one, converted to the other... Not a happy thing for freedom. | ||
| Sifo |
Alfau, There WILL be world super-powers. I'm just curious; If not the US, who would you rather see in that slot? Not that it matters what you want, or me. I'm just curious. As for government health care... Modern health care has developed largely for a single reason. Profit. It continues to be advanced for that same reason. Most new medicines and procedures are being developed in the US for profit. That's just the way it is. It's a double edged sword. It had dramatically driven the price of health care up, and will continue to do so. It has also driven the effectiveness of health care forward dramatically. The research and testing costs a huge amount of cash, and governments just don't have the motive to spend that cash for decades for the hope of a big payoff. Why are all the big drug manufactures in the US? What are the other big names in drugs around the world? Just curious. If you want to dramatically lower the cost of health care, just let the market provide a cut rate version. Of course you won't get cool thing like MRI imaging, or complicated drug cocktails to control your ailments. You will be able to get the "take 2 aspirin and call me in the morning" advice though. I find it sort of amusing that people tend to not see all of this. | ||
| Geedee |
Diplomacy Alfau :-). You might have more luck if you take Sir Les Patterson's approach  . Regards, Gary | ||
| Reindog |
Geedee, No shiate  Not sure why Alfau threw a dingo on the barbie. --Bubbles. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Thats the brillance of the liberal lie. I would *love* free health care. Problem is, there is no such thing. So the argument isn't if we want free health care, its who we forcibly extract money from and under what circumstances we do it and who and what we cover as a result. That kinda takes all the fun out of it... | ||
| Court |
>>>>Most new medicines and procedures are being developed in the US for profit. And . . . guess where anybody in the world who wants the BEST health care in the world high tails it to? :-) There are always motorcades of world leaders scooting about NYC while they are here for various procedures. I'm betting it's far from free. The profit motive, love it or hate it, has evolved the world's best health care. We may struggle with the delivery but we do quite well at the science. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Without the profit motive, healthcare wouldn't exist. Same goes for almost everything. Even the most die-hard socialist expects to be paid for an honest days work or for a good they've produced. THAT is the profit motive. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
The spending on Medical/Social/Humanitarian programs surpassed Defense spending. If you don't believe me; Please go add up the expenditures for SS, SSI, Medicare, Medicaid, Section 8 HUD, Welfare (TANF) and the ancillary budgets and expenditures for the 'disparate' populations of old, young, diverse, ill, alternative lifestyle consequences, for their care, feeding, housing, education, and yes incarceration. 1/3 of my paycheck disappears to these suckholes of expenditure; tired of paying for the entitlements. Waiting for the pig to die already. (because it will collapse - look no further than USSR, Weimar, Rome, Greece etc) | ||
| Geedee |
Reindog, one of the refreshing things about our neighbours is they say it as they see it. No beating around the bush. I like that. America has a good ally in Australia, one of the best. Like NZ we are 'young' countries, and the only culture we really have is agriculture. Sometimes it shows. We don't purposefully intend to offend. OK, maybe sometimes. An American was knocked unconscious in a serious accident while traveling in Australia. The ambulance took him to a local hospital for treatment. When he finally woke up he asked the nurse, "Was I brought here to die?" "No," said the nurse. "You were brought in here yesterday."  What do you mean you don't get it? | ||
| Geedee |
"Gary, a quick question as I scan the 'net for today's news: What do you think of Congressman Allen West?" Fb1, I've looked at the links to him posted on Badweb, but haven't done much more than that. I've got a good feeling for him. He appears to be a gentleman, and an eloquent speaker. My initial impression is he might be a little hawkish with regards to the middle east. The incident regarding his military career speaks volumes about his character, and I'd trust him to watch my back. It also tells me he can think for himself. "I'd love to see Romney/Ryan for eight years, then Ryan/West for eight years, then West/? for eight years. We could undo a lot of damage in this dream scenario."  Dude, that's 24 years out. I like an optomist. I'm wondering how any of us will fare the next 2 years out and am preparing myself for an international incident. Only hope I've not left it too late. I'm going to offer you a scenario. You may laugh, but I don't care. I've got my reasons. Alan West, with Cynthia McKinney as his Independent VP. Stuff the 'only two choices' politics! That's yesterday's thinking. That's the control mechanism. Imagine allegiance first to the people and then the country, and not to the party first and the corporation. West and McKinney. Some nous and some empathy, some ying and yang. None of it about these days. They could gather around them the best people (not politicians) America has to offer, and fix it in a flash. Erik could write a new 200 year plan for the country. Crazy? Nope! Are you gonna stop laughing? You're not laughing? David Icke talks of the 'totalitarian tip-toe', how the agenda progresses from A to Z by hopping all over the place so you hopefully won't notice. Found this, now 20 years old. That is an entire generation ago. Joined a few dots for me. Makes the tragedies in the school and theatre incidents even more sinister if 'they' have these profiles on people. It also explains the 'only two choices' scenario we are always offered by government. It doesn't matter which party is in office either. Oh boy! Regards, Gary More here: http://tipggita32.wordpress.com/2012/08/24/outcome -based-education-is-not-education-it-is-social-eng ineering/ | ||
| Geedee |
Reindog posted on Sunday, August 26, 2012 - 03:19 pm: December 31, 2010 12:00 A.M. Yes, the Greatest Country Ever Our greatness is simply a fact. By Rich Lowry ... Is Spain the greatest ever? ... Is France? ... Germany? ... Russia? ... Britain? ... Will history show America added to the list? They all thought they were pretty good for a while. Sometimes to see the future you must look to the past. "When we begin to draw parallels between France of 1789, Britain of 1640, Russia of 1917, Germany and Hungary of 1918-19, and Spain of 1936, we shall feel that drama grip us with a new and personal sense of reality. "Revolution is a blow struck at a paralytic." Even so, however, it must be obvious that immense organization, and vast resources, as well as cunning and secrecy far above the ordinary are necessary for its successful preparation. It is amazing indeed that people should suppose that "mobs" or "the people" ever have, or ever could, undertake such a complicated and costly operation. No mistake more-over could be more dangerous; for it will result in total inability to recognize the true significance of events, or the source and focus of a revolutionary movement. The process or organizing revolution is seen to be firstly the infliction of paralysis; and secondly, the striking of the blow or blows. It is for the first process, the production of paralysis, that the secrecy is essential. Its outward signs are debt, loss of publicity control, and the existence of alien-influenced secret organizations in the doomed state. Debt, particularly international debt, is the first and over-mastering grip. Through it men in high places are suborned, and alien powers and influences are introduced into the body politic. When the debt grip has been firmly established, control of every form of publicity and political activity soon follows, together with a full grip on industrialists. The stage for the revolutionary blow is then set. The grip of the right hand of finance established the paralysis; while it is the revolutionary left that holds the dagger and deals the fatal blow. Moral corruption facilitates the whole process." The Nameless War by Archibald Maule Ramsay' "One of the 'little gems' that has been suppressed and gives us a side of history that has NEVER been included in the history books for all to see." I wonder if Rich Lowry has read it? If he hasn't, he should. Google it. | ||
| Aesquire |
http://barackobama.tumblr.com/post/30199041207/nei ls-spirit-of-discovery-lives-on-in-all-the-men The President honors the memory of Neil Armstrong. With a picture of himself. This is the kind of guy that would give a mp3 player to the Queen of England, full of his own speeches. Or claim his election means the Earth will stop warming, and the seas fall. ( how's that working out for you King Canute? ) Face it, while all politicians have to have a big ego, or they'd get real jobs, this guy is not healthy. http://www.infowars.com/us-veterans-forcibly-seque stered-in-mental-hospitals-is-indefinite-detention / Most recently is the inception of oppositional defiance disorder (ODD) which is described as a mental disease wherein free thinkers, non-conformists, civil disobedience supporters, those who question authority and are perceived as being hostile toward the government are labeled mentally ill. Psychiatrics claim that sufferers have “a recurrent pattern of negativistic, defiant, disobedient, and hostile behavior toward authority figures that persists for at least 6 months” which includes: • Persistent stubbornness • Resistance to directions • Unwillingness to go along with the crowd • Deliberately annoying others • Testing limits by ignoring orders Who's mentally ill here? | ||
| Britchri10 |
Moi! (LOL) Chris C | ||
| Cityxslicker |
why do you burn the library at Alexandria ?... Nothing has changed in the centuries of man If you study history intently, and from multiple sources (because everyone has their axe to grind) you will find the simple truths: Money, Greed, Power, Debauchery, Slavery and Consumption are the drivers of the crash of nations. The ideals of freedom, independence, self determination - while popular in iconography; have been subverted at nearly every instance of mention. It matters little who is elected in the fall; what matters more is who CONTROLS, FINANCES and ADVISES them. You want real change ? Bankers, Lawyers, Pirates : treat them to the same yardarm. (that would scare most politicians out of office) | ||
| Aesquire |
First, City, Obviously If I went along with the "first we hang all the lawyers" approach, I'd be diagnosed with ODD. You know, being a Man. ( OR Woman. I'm a Libber. ) Methinks I dislike this Soviet approach to mental health as a means to suppress dissent. Oh, CRAP! I DO have ODD! But people have always thought me Odd. I ride a Buell, after all. http://www.daybydaycartoon.com/2012/08/11/ | ||
| Reindog |
"2016: Obama's America" has grossed over $9 million of which $6 million came last weekend in ~1000 theaters. It will be showing in 1800 theaters this coming weekend. Go check it out as you will learn a great deal about Obama. The theater was packed full when Laurie and I saw it last Sunday. There was a loud ovation from the audience as the closing credits rolled. I am coming to the conclusion that FB1 is correct in his evaluation of President Obama. | ||
| Fb1 |
Trailer for "2016: Obama's America": http://2016themovie.com/ Citizens United Productions is screening the new documentary "The Hope and The Change" in Tampa as we speak: http://thehopeandthechange.com/ Tom, I watched Ann Romney's and Chris Christie's speeches from Tampa last night live on the 'net (http://www.therightscoop.com/watch-the-rnc-convent ion-live-stream/); powerful stuff. Former Democrat Artur Davis, who seconded President Obama's nomination at the DNC in 2008, also spoke powerfully in Tampa last night:
Watch his speech here: http://www.therightscoop.com/rnc-speech-artur-davi s-brings-the-house-down/ |
