Hiding in the shadows

the real power behind the throne?
Good ole Alfred E. Newman?

It's not...Just my imagination

in print today
Remember the song...Just my imagination, wasn't it, running away from me? Yes, it's just my imagination...

This morning down in the left column of Drudge, I read about over-saturation of the new presidency and how it might demystify Obama's attraction to the masses. However, when I went in to read further, it was an article written by Peggy Noonan in today's Wall Street Journal.

Blah, blah, blah...then the revelation that no, I haven't been imagining something, others are waking up as well...

People are getting the mood of the age in their in boxes. How many emails have you received the past few months from acquaintances telling you in brisk words meant to communicate optimism and forestall pity that "it's been a great ride," but they're "moving on" to "explore new opportunities"? And there's a broad feeling one detects, a kind of psychic sense, some sort of knowledge in the collective unconscious, that we lived through magic times the past half-century, and now the nonmagic time has begun, and it won't be over next summer. That's not the way it will work. It will last a while.

Biden to head middle class task force to assess how to help us make it through, to the other side...power and the lack thereof...
Now this is scary...Mr. Gaff himself, given the task to help us out? After all, Biden was so happy to be living in Public Housing now. Who are we kidding here? The middle class is being eliminated. We have been destroyed, as Noonan states here...

There's a sense among many, certainly here in New York, that we somehow had it too good too long, a feeling part Puritan, part mystic and obscurely guilty, that some bill is coming due. Hard to get a stimulus package that addresses that.

blah, blago
Isn't this a sign of the times when the powerful, think they can get away with anything? Power, and the pot calling the kettle black...all those Senators making judgment calls that, "Yes, you are eliminated!"

Personally, I think Blago may be guilty, but he gave us a telling sign when he said that "they knew how politics was run"...hey, that sure was honest. It scared them as they knew they had to go along with the crowd, but how have they performed in similar circumstances.

I have to give it to Blago, he's real smart, but not smart enough...who wanted him out of office and why? Was he too greedy and power mad?
Noonan's take

(The guilt was part of the power of Blago. He's the last American who doesn't feel guilt. He thinks something is moral because he did it. He's like a good-natured Idi Amin, up there yammering about how he's a poor boy who only wanted to protect the people of Chicago from the flu. You wish you could believe it! You wish he really were what he is in his imagination, a hero battling dark forces against the odds.)

Noonan's diagnosis

I think there is an illness called Goldmansachs Head. I think it's in the DSM. When you have Goldmansachs Head, the party's never over. You take private planes to ask for bailout money, you entertain customers at high-end spas while your writers prep your testimony, you take and give huge bonuses as the company tanks. When you take the kids camping, you bring a private chef. Goldmansachs Head is Bernie Madoff complaining he's feeling cooped up in the penthouse. It is the delusion that the old days continue and the old ways prevail and you, Prince of the Abundance, can just keep rolling along. Here is how you know if someone has GSH: He has everything but a watch. He doesn't know what time it is.

From Blood Sweat and Tears song, "does anybody really know what time it is?"

For several months I have included information from George Ure's site www.urbansurvival.com and for good reason.

As stated many times before, there is a computer program developed and used by a friend of his, Cliff, referencing "predictive linguistics." Basically, taking all the "words" flying in the ether, somehow, a future knowledge comes forth and wallah, you see in advance what will occur. Who said knowledge is power...and having a small glimmer of what is coming, opens many eyes.

When I see it, I will bring it, cause "I will be a looking!"

HOPE!
And just on Fox at 4:12pm Eastern time, Michael Steele, former Lt. Governor of Maryland, has been elected GOP Chairman. From his brief speech, I believe he will bring back a strong and conservative winning team of Republicans to our country.

have a great weekend!
oli

Change in style

Today begins a new line of posting. As there are so many topics that need attention, mine and yours, I have been working on a new style, including more links to full stories and attention to more information...my cynicism still in tact, but also glimmers of hope.

close to home
Once again, elected officials, namely a mayor on our Gulf Coast and his wife, took advantage of FEMA, HUD and other agencies, who are providing homeowners help in rebuilding after Katrina.

Yesterday, the US Attorney’s office in the Southern District of Mississippi handed down a 16 count indictment accusing Republican Gulfport Mayor Brent Warr and his wife Laura Warr of illegally obtaining grant monies for personal use. If convicted on all counts, they each face a total of 210 years in federal prison and up to $4 million in fines. This has been a cooperative investigation between the FBI, HUD, Homeland Security, Office of the Inspector General, the US Attorneys Office and State Auditor Stacey Pickering’s office.

Yall Politics offers more links to indictment of alleged crooked dealings of rising star of Republican Party in Mississippi.

We need SUM $$$
I can only imagine what all this spending will do to our economic future. To date, 4.7 million Americans are now unemployed. These figures do not include those already receiving extended benefits.

California is bankrupt for all intents and purposes. It looks as though some of the money, $25,000,000 allotted in this recovery package, written by Pelosi and friends, will go to build ATV trails. Gosh, that will provide ATV vehicle owners fun time while looking for employment. Wonder where the fuel, to have fun, will come from?

Wishingtonia
Somehow I think all this spending will make problems for our new President. However, once elected, he had promises to keep. Unfortunately, our system has provided a way to get access to the highest office in the land when one wants it bad enough to go to the highest bidder. The brazen statement, "Get over it, I won," doesn't play well with conservatives.

Alinsky - model of a new Amerika
Remember the Saul Alinsky model for CHANGE...oops...Rules for Radicals
Rule 13. Pick the target (Rush Limbaugh), freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it. In conflict tactics there are certain rules that [should be regarded] as universalities. One is that the opposition must be singled out as the target and 'frozen.' ... When you 'freeze the target,' you disregard these [rational but distracting] arguments and carry out your attack.... One acts decisively only in the conviction that all the angles are on one side and all the devils on the other."

Hmmmm...Jest thinking

H.R. 645:
111st Congress

To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish national emergency centers on military installations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `National Emergency Centers Establishment Act'.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY CENTERS.

(a) In General- In accordance with the requirements of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish not fewer than 6 national emergency centers on military installations.

(b) Purpose of National Emergency Centers- The purpose of a national emergency center shall be to use existing infrastructure--

(1) to provide temporary housing, medical, and humanitarian assistance to individuals and families dislocated due to an emergency or major disaster;

(2) to provide centralized locations for the purposes of training and ensuring the coordination of Federal, State, and local first responders;

(3) to provide centralized locations to improve the coordination of preparedness, response, and recovery efforts of government, private, and not-for-profit entities and faith-based organizations; and

(4) to meet other appropriate needs, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security.

In the viral community of the net, there have been many conspiracy theorists who have alluded to FEMA Internment Camps, made to hold "dangerous" or "large groups of people" who need to be removed in case of "civil unrest".

In November, a study done by a "think tank" in Washington, namely, The War College, offered a "what if" scenario of national civil unrest or national emergency.

So what does this bill actually mean? As we now have a bill before Congress in its initial phase to establish these camps, consider Biden's and others proclamation of how this administration would be TESTED in the first six months.

history lessons
Bush 2 - 911, USS Cole
Clinton - Waco, Oklahoma City, Ruby Ridge, World Trade Center

No really memorable state-side terror, other than those of radical extremist groups and lone wolves, has gone un-noticed by terrorist watchmen of the "state".

What evidence do we have that the "camps" will be needed sooner rather than later.

However, the gloom surrounding this year’s World Economic Forum descended into confrontation yesterday as international labor leaders launched a withering attack on the 1,400 business executives and 41 heads of government at Davos Switzerland over what the labor leaders alleged was their failure to respond effectively to a deepening crisis of their own creation.

Guy Ryder, the general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, said that the current financial world turmoil had triggered a social time bomb that would lead to deepening civil unrest and soaring crime.

As strikes involving hundreds of thousands of workers erupted across France and Germany, Ryder said,“We are on the road to serious social instability, which could be extremely dangerous in some countries to democracy itself.”

Notably, what happens over there, will happen here, especially the social unrest, should another national emergency like Katrina occur...not to mention increasing earthquake clusters on the west coast.

Hey, its got to fall off sometime, 2012 is coming and we need camps to put rioters, survivors, and radical extremists into.

Das comrade, can you say Gulag?

Nuther #2 Gaff by Biden

As seen on Fox...

Once again, Biden makes a funny about Chief Justice's mess up with the swearing in ceremony of President Obama. You can read President Obama's displeasure on his face and the touching of Biden's elbow, that he was not amused.

I have a feeling Biden's elbow will be black and blue before this administration gets under way, and probably won't have one at the end of four years and understandably, President Obama wants to send the message that we are facing dire times. Any negative commentary, how little it appears to be, detracts from the task at hand.

Update for earlier post...

Breaking News from ABCNEWS.com:

President Obama To Sign Executive Order Thursday to Close Gitmo Within a Year.

Oh well...

Firsts of many firsts for President Obama

President Obama has executed many first of firsts on signing Executive Orders which go to his promises on transparency in government.

Below, a statement from the White House on the president's actions.

The President today signed two Executive Orders and three Presidential Memorandum. These five documents represent a bold first step to fulfill his campaign promises to make government more responsible and accountable, to launch sweeping ethics reform, and to begin a new era of transparent and open government.

Across the country, families are tightening their belts in this economic crisis, and so should Washington. That is why in the Presidential Memorandum Regarding Pay Freeze the President has announced that he will freeze his White House senior staff pay at current levels to the full extent allowed by law. This will enable the White House to stretch its budget to get more done for the country. The President and his staff recognize that in these austere times, everyone must do more with less, and the White House is no exception.

The American people also deserve more than simply an assurance that those coming to Washington will serve their interests. They deserve to know that there are rules on the books to keep it that way. In the Executive Order on Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel, the President, first, prohibits executive branch employees from accepting gifts from lobbyists. Second, he closes the revolving door that allows government officials to move to and from private sector jobs in ways that give that sector undue influence over government. Third, he requires that government hiring be based upon qualifications, competence and experience, not political connections. He has ordered every one of his appointees to sign a pledge abiding by these tough new rules as a down payment on the change he has promised to bring to Washington.

In the Presidential Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government, and the Presidential Memorandum on the Freedom of Information Act, the President instructs all members of his administration to operate under principles of openness, transparency and of engaging citizens with their government. To implement these principles and make them concrete, the Memorandum on Transparency instructs three senior officials to produce an Open Government Directive within 120 days directing specific actions to implement the principles in the Memorandum. And the Memorandum on FOIA instructs the Attorney General to in that same time period issue new guidelines to the government implementing those same principles of openness and transparency in the FOIA context.

Finally, the Executive Order on Presidential Records brings those principles to presidential records by giving the American people greater access to these historic documents. This order ends the practice of having others besides the President assert executive privilege for records after an administration ends. Now, only the President will have that power, limiting its potential for abuse. And the order also requires the Attorney General and the White House Counsel to review claims of executive privilege about covered records to make sure those claims are fully warranted by the Constitution.

Well, we can certainly see from his action, he is a man of his word. What is interesting is that there are going to be changes in Washington.

Did you notice I spelled Washington correctly instead of Wishingtonia? Maybe, just maybe we will have a better government.

Gitmo questions
However, there are questions I have, from word from Washington, of not continuing prosecutions of Gitmo detainees I have a problem with that especially since 61 of those released, returned to Al-Quida camps. Duh? Why weren't they prosecuted? They have returned to the very criminal actions against our troops that are fighting for our freedoms. Help me out with this one...

Refining this morning's early post
Two words missing from my posts this morning, ethics and integrity...also defines character. Come on Washington, get it together as we don't have that much time to get it right.

The Classless State of Affairs

The rude behavior of the masses spoiled a moment in history, all should remember with pride.

The masses should have taken the cue from President Obama and his transition team who praised President Bush for how smooth their transition was, due to the professionalism of Team Bush; so unlike the last transition and the missing "W"'s on the computer keyboards.

Only Presidents know the difficulties of the highest office in the land. In times past, I don't recall the President's viewing box being empty before the last band passed by. But there stood President Obama and his wife till the very end, showing appreciation to all who came to honor him.

When I began reading reports, and hearing the same, of the disrespect shown President Bush upon being announced for the last time, really spurred my frustration. I am certain their has been disrespect shown in other Inaugurations, but I don't recall them. How can we expect the nation to change until we change.

President Obama has more to conquer than that of a bad economy, two wars and the threats to our country. He has to lead by example and all those folks that will be trained into serving the United States of America, need to learn how to be respectful.

This needs to come from the top down, Nancy Pelosi. Your determination to seek criminal indictments against the former administration shows your lack of class. You, in your great wisdom, should realize that you too, have committed acts that appear criminal. Folks who live in glass houses should not be tossing bricks.

For President Obama's administration to achieve his goals, we urgently need lessons on how to show common respect. We can always agree to disagree, but with decorum, not ill-mannered and rude behavior.

Mr. President, it was rude for your guests to abandon you and Mrs. Obama at your viewing stand, as it was equally improper for your VIP guests to not show the same dignified respect to the past Presidents and then no respect to President Bush.

I am certain Mr. Bush knows, just as you will in the coming days, when you are forced to make tough decisions that will affect every Americans life. Just as I am certain there may not ever be another day in history as was yesterday, the arrogance and clueless nature of the masses reflect how little dignity, loyalty, character and honor we have in our country.

If we could only have had more "character-building" education and less emphasis on the "me,me, me" generation, we might not be in this shape today. Somewhere, somehow, families forgot to pass these ideals along.

May your service to our country be everything you hope it to be and may you demonstrate to our classless and clueless society what true character is.

Nuther Gaff O Biden

Well, leave it to the Bidens, namely Dr. Jill, VP-elect's wife, who, on Oprah today said that the Prez-elect offered either the VP or Sucatary of State to ole Jo before offering it to the Hill.

Can we say oops? And ole Joe tried to shush the doctor, while she was blurting it out.

"Well, he did and I said "wouldn't you rather be at home where all the family could visit rather than gone all the time?""

Ya know, we are going to be privy to a lot of funnies the next four years!

And I don't watch Oprah...hahahahahahaha!