Hypocritical President Slams Russia Without Knowing US History

President Obama slams Russia and declares retaliations for their "interference in US elections. And people cry foul as Trump slams CIA for its reports about Russian involvement in our elections. (The latter I will address later.)

But I have to stand dumbfounded at facts that seem to slip the minds of those declaring this reason enough for a war with Russia or for invalidating our election process.

Kind of hypocritical of Obama and the US to freak about Russian interference in US Elections. Example after example shows the US involvement with the overthrow and undermining of governments throughout the world and over decades.

Here's just a few:

Rwanda

http://humansarefree.com/2014/04/the-us-genocide-in-rwanda-you-will.html

Ukraine

http://www.globalresearch.ca/washington-was-behind-ukraine-coup-obama-admits-that-us-brokered-a-deal-in-support-of-regime-change/5429142

Iran

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cia-assisted-coup-overthrows-government-of-iran

Quatemala

http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB4/

Brazil

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1964_Brazilian_coup_d'état

Bosnia

http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h2071.html

More recently

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-fein/cias-gold-standard-for-in_b_11201644.html

http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=82588

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/10/13/the-long-history-of-the-u-s-interfering-with-elections-elsewhere/?utm_term=.6d26dba693a8

http://xpatnation.com/the-cia-operations-that-undermined-latin-american-democracy/

I cannot understand how this really intelligent man, who is a Constitutional lawyer yet trashes the founding document with almost every edict he issues, would be such a hypocrite about others interfering with our elections . . . . 

Okay, never mind. Any intelligent individual can see this administration is out of control. And the blind sheep who follow all of these far left and far right are the ones who keep putting these megalomaniacs into office.

Outside of the facts, the rest is simply my opinion, my take on things. And you can either agree or disagree. Because this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.

Have a great day.

Charles

Worth Repeating (A post from 2010)

Sometimes I write something and come back to it years later and say "Wow, that was pretty good."

With the current elections being not only important but wildly out of focus, I think this article I wrote back in 2010 is very relevant. "Who do you listen to??"

One additional reference I might suggest. Its called On The Issues and can be found at www.ontheissues.org. I again provide the link as well as have the site linked because some people have a block on their links.

You can either go to the page and type in the candidate you want to kn ow about, or Google the person and add "on the issues". (For instance, "Gary Johnson on the issues".) Or you can go to the page and right there on the front page is a row of pictures with all the presidential and vice presidential candidates. (Except for Ajamu Baraka, Jill Stein's running mate on the Green Party ticket. Him you have to plug into the search engine. I don't know why.)

Please check it out, let me know if it was helpful or what you think.

Have a great day, keep thinking for yourself and stop being sheep.

This is just me, Thinking Out Loud!

Charles

Really? Cop Killing to Protest? Stupid!

COMMENTARY - You all know I am a vocal opponent to most of our elected officials and often call them out on their blowhardedness. And you know I have been outspoken about some of the stupid things Tom Marino has said. But on this one thing (despite the fact I know he has an agenda for everything he does), I have to agree.

Here is what Marino sent out to press:

Rep. Marino Responds to Dallas Attack

Washington D.C.—Congressman Tom Marino (PA-10) issued the following statement after the attack on Dallas law enforcement officials that left 5 dead and several injured:

“Yesterday our nation experienced the deadliest attack on law enforcement since 9/11. The senseless loss of life this week is horrific and my thoughts are with the families of those who have been tragically taken. Instead of unifying and bringing our country together, too many of our leaders, including our president, have been the driving force in dividing us and pitting our citizens against one another. Some of this rhetoric has vilified our law enforcement to the point where individuals believe it is ok to commit mass murder against this community. The Dallas police chief said it himself - most days he and his team do not feel support. The very people who have dedicated their lives to protect us feel ostracized. Still, these officers ran headlong into danger and risked their lives so that the people around them and the city of Dallas would remain safe. My heart goes out to the injured officers, the victims’ families and their communities. There is absolutely no place for this type of violence. This divisiveness must stop.”

But I will go a step further than him by saying that if there weren't so many lawless people who feel they have a right to be as asinine and disgusting and disrespectful of life and authority, cops wouldn't be so on edge. If parents weren't so lacking in teaching their kids respect and responsibility, we wouldn't have a generation who thinks they can tell cops to "F" themselves or think its open season on our law enforcement members.

Sure there are bad cops, I am not so naive to think that there aren't bad ones out there. However, that is just like there are bad teachers and bad retail sales people and bad you name it. But the percentage of cops who are bad are a small number. Most are there to protect and serve and keep our society from de-evolving into chaos.

And if you think that any person has a right to just go blow away a cop in protest of what some other cop has done, then you have to believe that I am justified in blowing away any black person because a group of them mugged me once. Or that I have a right to just go blow away any neighbor because one raped a young girl I knew and destroyed her life. Or maybe I am justified in blowing away a car salesman because one screwed me over and left me on the brink of bankruptcy. Or a blow up the home of some random bank employee because a bank foreclosed on my house and left me homeless.

Your justification are stupid, so just SHUT UP with your racist BS. Yes, I told you to SHUT UP! Why? Because all the babble out there and raised voices of gang members and poor people and Hollywood types and a President who is so out of control he doesn't know when a leader should NOT add to the babble, are not doing anything to FIX THE PROBLEM, just add to the disease that is spreading across this country like leprosy.

Yes, some cops are racist. And so are some grocery store clerks. So are gang bangers. So are lots of others. But the numbers of ACTUAL racist people is small compared to the number of compassionate and caring people in America. SO STOP LUMPING people into a category just because someone with an agenda tells you to.

This is the worst case of BEING SHEEP I have seen in years. If you used your brain, you would remember the cop who gave you directions when you were hopelessly lost and on the verge of tears. Or the cop who held the little old lady's hand who had just been t-boned and was waiting for an ambulance. Or the the cop who caught the scum who stole your purse, broke into your house, raped your daughter's best friend. You would remember the feeling of relief as you walk at night from your job to your care when you saw the cop on the street or in the parking lot. Because you felt safer.

And you would remember the people who are afraid of cops are those who have a reason to be afraid of cops. (And I don't mean because they were brainwashed into thinking all cops are bad. Those poor kids turned into adults who feared cops for NO REASON. Only because bad people told them to afraid of cops.)

Okay by now the rabid crowds are slathering at all I have been saying. Calling me a racist. (Go stuff it because you don't know me or my life.) Calling me whatever pops into their little pea brains. But here's the thing.

I think if a cop has a bad shoot, they should be investigated and punished. If it was a legitimate mistake (someone with a BB gun points it and they kill the person, they STILL POINTED A WEAPON), then they should be punished accordingly - reprimand, re-training, dismissal, whatever a review board decides is appropriate. If a cop kills someone and it is manslaughter, murder, whatever, they should be punished accordingly. BY AN APPROPRIATE REVIEW BOARD. And if you disagree with the board, then complain to the person who appointed them. But DO NOT - I repeat for emphasis - DO NOT TAKE IT OUT ON ANY COP YOU SEE ON THE STREET!

This is anarchy. This is BS. These good cops you are lumping with the few bad ones have families. They have saved lives. They have protected you and your family. And deserve respect for putting on that badge everyday to go to work knowing they might not be coming home each night. They have lives just like you. They go to the store just like you. They want to see their parents 50th anniversary, they want to see their kids graduate and get married, they want to see the joy on their spouses' when they open that special Christmas gift they have been saving up for all year.

THEY are not the problem.

The ANGRY MOBS causing chaos are the problem. People venting anger and frustration at the wrong people are the problem. Politicians - and yes I am pointing my finger at the President specifically - who have an agenda or abuse their office, are the problem. Not letting justice take its course, not changing a system if you feel it is corrupt or broken, lazy people in general who will not do the work to fix things . . . THIS IS THE PROBLEM! Scumbags and cowards who take pot shots at cops who are just out there doing their jobs ARE THE PROBLEM! A culture of hate and violence and crime and irresponsibility for their own actions IS THE PROBLEM!

Advocating killing cops is the criminals solution, because it suits them! Blaming some poor guy out there doing his job because they don't want you to see they are not doing their's is the politicians solution, because it suits them!

I am angry. So this edition is angry. But you don't see me taking it to the streets and saying "kill all the protesters". And you don't see cops doing this either. I am trying to educate you so you thin k for yourselves, so that you are honest with yourselves. You are looking for someone to take out your anger and fear and frustration on. But you are targeting the wrong group. You are venting your hate in the wrong direction.

Just stop reacting with hate and start thinking. Fix the problems instead of adding to them.

Agree or disagree, its up to you. After all, this is just me - one person - Thinking Out Loud.

Charles

Trump, Trumpism, Charles Murray and the Anger of Americans

COMMENTARY - Trump vs Murray?? Charles Murray wrote this back in October 2015: "It could be the 1850s and the Know Nothings. Same fear, same rhetoric, same fascist tendencies. And I don’t use “fascist” loosely."

Yet today Murray writes in the Wall Street Journal (online - which you can only read the full story by logging in or subscribing) "If you are dismayed by Trumpism, don’t kid yourself that it will fade away if Donald Trump fails to win the Republican nomination. Trumpism is an expression of the legitimate anger that many Americans feel about the course that the country has taken, and its appearance was predictable. It is the endgame of a process that has been going on for a half-century: America’s divestment of its historic national identity."

So which is it, Mr. Murray? Is Trump and all he stands for the same rhetoric as the 1850's Know Nothings, representing fear and fascism? Or is it an "expression of legitimate anger"?

Like most "pundits" and politicians today, they just don't understand the appeal of someone like Donald Trump. Do people ACTUALLY want to elect The Donald as President of the United States of America? Mostly not. But what other choice do they have to vent their anger and frustration at a government intent on lying to (poorly) and dividing (convincingly) the entirety of the American people? What other choice do they have when there are so many incompetent people in power who really don't get the economy like a businessman of The Donald's obvious skills in that area? What choice do they have when the other choices are people who are cowards in the face of international mayhem?

With the damage this current president has done to not only the fabric of American society by the psyche of the American spirit, not to mention the nilly willy way in which he consistently violates the separation of powers with his use (or misuse) or executive orders, the people are frustrated.

Its also why Bernie Sanders on the Democrat side engenders so much support. Even though he has been a part of the problem for decades, he "says" the right things to a people who would not support ANY Republican. He is their ONLY choice to vent.

So what is the answer? Do away with parties. At least for President. Everyone can run on their own merit, their own ideas, their own platform. The person with the most votes (by the people, not some elusive "Electoral College") gets the job. The person with the second most votes becomes vice president. Its the only fair way in today's environment of political shenanigans and payoffs via party PACs and donations.

The American people are neither Republican nor Democrat nor Green nor Socialist as a whole. And neither should the President be. The President is NOT the leader of his respective party. He is the duly elected Executive for ALL the American people.

But you know what? This is just my opinion and thoughts on the matter. You can have your own opinion and thoughts on the matter. But thats what is great about our country. We can each have our own opinion and try to convince others of our ideas being the . . . .okay, I was going to say the right ideas. But in truth, as in governmental structure, there is no "right" and "wrong" idea. Its the BEST idea among all the competing ideas out there. Whats best for US. And I do mean US as in the capitalization "us".

Bottom line, though, is that America is pissed. And it will continue to be pissed long after whoever is elected president is sworn in. Because none of the damage done in the past 70 years can be corrected overnight. Or even in four years. But even if it doesn't, and even if Americans stay angry, if something isn't done to make corrections NOW, it will just keep getting worse. And THAT is the appeal of Trump and Trumpism. So Murray might finally have it right. Not sure because I will not be paying for a subscription of the Wall Street Journal to rad the conclusion of this article of his. I just can't afford it.

So, as I always say here, agree or disagree, thats up to you. Just do your research and think for yourselves. Don't be sheep and think what the pundits or your "betters" in politics tell you what to think. Not even me. Because this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.

Have a great day.

Charles

Who To Blame Now?! Redux 2016!

COMMENTARY - There are some things to remember amidst all the new presidential campaign rhetoric being posted on social media sites, and throughout both mainstream and alternative media. Not everyone is honest. And social media is filled with accusations, claims and misrepresentations that people keep 'sharing' and touting as fact.

Take for instance Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT). He has been railing against the Republican party blaming them for everything wrong in America. An old video of him slamming Alan Greenspan has surfaced and is labeled as him vehemently attacking the Republican party for the destruction of our economy.

Here's some realities.

In 1977, then President Jimmy Carter created the CRA (Community Reinvestment Act). This was to get banks / lending institutions to be more helpful to members of the communities in which they operate. However, this particular approach was made null and void with all the massive banking convergences. There are no longer local community banking / lending institutions. They are all national (and in some cases, international) conglomerates who don't really “operate” locally in the sense they did when the CRA was enacted.

Then in 1995 then president Bill Clinton lowered the standards about who could get low cost, no-cost housing loans, which – by all accounts – directly led to too many unqualified people getting loans they were never going to be able to pay back.

The blame game began in earnest which led to the current economic crisis America finds itself in.

In April of 2001, the Bush Administration first red flagged Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac stating that "financial trouble of a large GSE could cause strong repercussions in financial markets, affecting Federally insured entities and economic activity."

(Note - Bush also pushed for an audit of the Fed and experienced push back by the Democrats. Here is an interesting timeline on the White House's own archives.)

In response to the Bush's regulatory overhaul proposal, Barney Frank, a ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee, defended Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac saying,

“These two entities -- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – are not facing any kind of financial crisis, the more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing . . . I think it is clear that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are sufficiently secure so they are in no great danger. . . I don't think we face a crisis; I don't think that we have an impending disaster. . . . Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac do very good work, and they are not endangering the fiscal health of this country.”

Barney Frank railed against the Bush administration's attempts to regulate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as a racist move. Maxine Waters declared vehemently that they were trying to fix something that “wasn't broken”. Gregory Meeks stated in a hearing (where he felt he had more important places to be other than there) that there was nothing wrong with “you know, Fannie Mae” and even attacked the competency of the oversight agency. Lacy Clay claimed the whole thing was actually about the “political lynching of Franklin Raines” (who was black, thus invoking old time racism prior to the Civil Rights movement).

Democrat after Democrat came to the defense of a broken system that led directly to the financial crisis we have been facing for far too many years. And now Bernie Sanders, Democrats and the media rant against Republicans laying the blame at their feet. When in fact it is the fault of both parties. Democrats for their failed judgment time and time again in the name of social programs, Republicans for a lack of bravery (or cajones) to stop them. BUT MOST OF ALL, it is the fault of the American people as well for being asleep at the wheel and letting these self absorbed and self serving people do ALL of these things.

This is yet another reason NOT to elect anyone from the established political parties. They are all complicit in the decline of America. And any rant to the contrary is simply political showmanship and proof of business as usual.

There are many places to find out this information but here is one source where you can find this information out (See more at: http://www.thehispanicconservative.com/General/the-fanny-mae-and-freddie-mac-debacle.html#sthash.eEnRbonG.dpuf). However, I have always stated that you should never simply take someone's word for it. Go to many sources and form your own opinion from facts you find. (I repeat, FACTS you find.) I don't even want you to simply take my word for it. I am just giving you factual food for thought with my own opinion thrown in. (Thus, why this article is labeled as “Commentary” and “Op/Ed”.)

So, agree or disagree, I only ask that you do so from your own base of knowledge. Don't disagree with me (or even agree with me) because someone else told you to. In order for America to right this listing ship of state, we ALL must learn to think for ourselves and stop being sheep!

But whatever you decide, this is just me, Thinking Out Loud!

Have a great day!

Charles

Enough is Enough!

Stop catering to cowards and murderers who want nothing more than your annihilation!

I know this will cause some commotion. But I am so sick of the "political correctness" of remaining silent. I feel no pity for the people of muslim countries. I do feel sorrow for them, but not pity. They follow a religion that for centuries has been about the total domination of the world under an Islam banner. They believe there is no room for any other religion. And any muslim that says they want a peaceful coexistence with others is either lying to you or themselves. Their religion says its okay to lie to anyone not a muslim. So when someone cries about why there is no coverage of how we bomb them or shoot them or whatever, I just get so boiling mad. We would leave them be if they would stop doing things like Paris. Like 9/11, like London, like Moscow. We would leave them alone if they would stop trying to usurp our countries, our religions, our laws, our customs and our traditions. But they will NEVER stop. People really need to understand this. I do not want harm to come to anyone. But I will also not sit by while they decide to cause me, mine or other innocent people harm. Enough is enough.

Moderate Islam. Extreme Islam. Peaceful Islam.

These are all the same.

They want nothing more than the total annihilation of those who are NOT Islam. Thats it. Bottom line. Its what their religion, what their "prophet", what their entire ideology calls for. Their "great book" calls for the destruction of infidels. Make no mistake about it, thats us, folks. Thats anyone NOT muslim, NOT followers of the prophet. NOT believers in Islam.

For those who say "they don't know any better" I say BAH!

People have brains. People have common sense. If you are taught and indoctrinated into thinking this is right, then you are foolish. You are mindless. You don't know how to use your brain and think for yourself.

How many Germans fought against Hitler because they knew it was wrong? How many fought Stalin? The czars? These people were taught and indoctrinated into a certain belief. And they KNEW it was wrong. These people WANT to believe its right to cause the genocide of the world that is not Islam.

So I don't want to hear that they don't know any better because its what they were taught. Its like all those morons who were taught differently but decide to join these cowards and murderers. They WANT to do what is wrong!

So if you want to play all nicey-nice and sympathetic to them, and let them kill you. Go for it.

Me and mine? I'm not going let anyone do this. And you can call me mean, heartless or whatever. I don't play nice with someone dedicated to destroying me and my way of life.

Agree, disagree, I just don't care anymore. You want to be sheep and let them erase you, you want to listen to the spin that our bogus leaders are spewing, you want to NOT think for yourself . . . by all means, go ahead. This is just me, Thinking Out Loud and deciding enough is enough of being silent.

Thinking about voting for Hillary? Read this first . . .

If you are thinking about voting for Hillary Clinton in 2016 . . . all I ask is that you read this first. You can still vote for her if this and all the recent news from Benghazi to her flagrant snubbing of her nose at the law, Congress and the American people does not dissuade you.

And its not a woman thing. I know that will be what many people say. Just like they said (and still do) that any criticism against Obama is a race thing. Which is ridiculous. I could care less if he is black. I just just don't like him, his olitics, his arrogance and his vapid allegiance to everyone OTHER than the America people. Anyway . . .

But read this and then make up your own mind. Don't just believe me. Read and research the truth. Don't be fooled by SPIN. Think For Yourself.

But this is just me . . . thinking out loud!

Have a great day.

Charles

Government shutdown . . . SMH

This was apparently an email that was sent out recently. Someone posted it on Facebook. Take a look.

From: Barack Obama

Subject: This has gone too far

Friends --

This has gone too far.

House Republicans are threatening to shut down the government -- and potentially default on our bills for the first time in history -- because they want to sabotage the Affordable Care Act.

Well let me state this as clearly as I can: I won’t let the Republicans prevent 30 million people from getting health insurance, and I won’t let them inflict economic pain on millions more just so they can make an ideological point.

But I need you standing with me. That’s why I’m asking you to step up before this fundraising deadline and help me defend everything we’ve fought for together:

Click here to give $3 or more today and your donation will be triple-matched.

House Republicans are promising to roll back all the hard-earned economic progress we’ve made.

I need you to show them that you won’t stand for it.

http://dccc.org/Do-Your-Part

Thanks,

Barack Obama

It truly baffles me how people can make (minimum $172,000 a year - for Obama its $400,000 a yr just from his job as President, although he is reportedly making in the million range) will ask hard working Americans to donate money so they can do their job. Don't they make enough to spend on themselves to "do their job". And really, we don't elect them to be intractable with each other, we elect them to go and represent us to work with those that millions of others elect to work with each other and so on. Dividing us on this point or that point is counter to their job description. If we went to work and were intractable with our co-workers and asked our bosses to give us even more money so we can be this way, plus we get our bosses to argue with each other, how long would we keep OUR jobs? yes, the President is right. This has gone too far.

And the link attached with the FACEBOOK posting took you to the website, "Democrats for 2014".

Here is what it asked for on this website.

"Support President Obama's Agenda

Will you chip in right now to help us fight back against Republican attacks and support President Obama's agenda?

The average gift today is $23.12

Your Contribution to DCCC

$25

$100

$250

$1,000

$ (fill in the blank here with what you are willing to sacrifice so they can stay in office)

(Disclaimer Note – that last part not in Italics I threw in.)

Then it has the gall to ask how many contributions you want to make. Its like you're renting or leasing a car. Instead, its renting or leasing a political party, a political candidate or a political ideology.

"Make this contribution...

Once

Each month for the next months"

Don't get me wrong. The other side has done this for just as long and is just as bad.

But don't blame them. We did this. We made them this way. We allowed this type of person to hijack OUR government. A government that is supposed to be of, by and for the people. But our collective apathy has led them to think they can do whatever they want, pull whatever wool over our eyes they feel like and trample whatever facet of our country's history that doesn't fit with their personal agenda, or the agenda of those manipulating them.

We have allowed them, through a lack of our own understanding of how this country was formed, through our caring about ourselves and each other.

Let me step back just for a moment to head off some of the objections to my last statement that will most assuredly be forthcoming.

The cries will ring out “If you cared, you wouldn't object to Obamacare, unemployment extensions, (fill int he blank for entitlement programs of your choice here).”

To the contrary, I care more than you do. I say that because you want to hand out and hand out and hand out – simply because it makes you feel good. I want to help up, empower and shuttle people on their way because it is good for them, for me and for America to have useful, contributing members of society rather than useless, unmotivated leeches draining from the rest of us. I want REAL healthcare reform that will address the REAL problems our country faces, not just a smattering of nice pieces here and there bundled in with all the stinking parts. I want doctors to treat patients for reasonable fees so they can provide for their family. I want enough insurance companies providing insurance to fill EVERYONE'S needs no matter what they do or where they live. I want an end to irresponsible and frivolous people who think they will get rich off of a lawsuit (one of the top three ways Americans think they will get rich) and who think they are ENTITLED to something without having to work for it.

I want jobs for people - in THIS country. I want companies to act responsibly, pay their employees and offer them reasonable benefits. I want unions to revert back to their original function of making sure workers are not taken advantage of, rather than the current situation where THEY take advantage of the workers, destroy the companies and cater to politicians all in the name of solidifying a power base of their own.

I want kids to get an education. And I want them to be able to further their education after high school IF THEY WANT without having to contract their first born child to indentured servitude. I want industry leaders to realize an educated workforce is better for them and their bottom line of profit so they combine forces to help fund education in this country.

But I also want other things. And this is where both the bleeding heart, liberal idiots and the right wing extremists and I part ways.

But lest you think that the rhetoric being bandied about is a concern about government shutdowns – the very plea the President and others are blitzing out there on the airwaves, beltways and cyberwaves. It isn't. Because it (looming shutdowns) happens all the time.

Like in 2012. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/22/us-usa-congress-shutdown-idUSBRE88L03720120922

And in 2011. http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2011/0409/Government-shutdown-2011-avoided-with-11th-hour-budget-deal

In 2010 . . . http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/09/10/another-government-shutdown, 2009 . . . http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2009/Sep/25/house_passes_bill_to_prevent_government_shutdown.html . . .

In fact, threats of government shutdowns happen ALL THE TIME throughout our history. And there have been 17 times it actually happened. (http://uspolitics.about.com/od/thefederalbudget/a/Government-Shutdowns-In-The-Past.htm)

Before the 70's, arguments and late passing budgets happened all the time, and most people didn't care because it didn't affect them. But President Carter's Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti, passed a legal opinion saying that government workers could not report to work until Congress passed a budget. Thus leading to the modern phenomena of shutdown threats and all the political posturing associated with them.

Which is what they are, posturing. They are political maneuvering for one side or the other to get what they want.

All to dupe the stupid voter into feeling relieved when a shutdown is either averted or finally ended. Politicians count on your gullibility, naivete, ignorance and apathy to use these shutdowns to score political points.

For which I say “Shame on you, Washington! Shame on you, Mr. President! Shame on you Senate and House leaders! And shame on you America for constantly voting in these frauds, these charlatans, these dissension-makers, these greedy, power hungry jerks year after year after year after year.

So who is to blame? Civiletti? Carter? Obama? Congress?

Not really. We let them think they could do what they want. We fall under their “spell” and become outraged by what they TELL US to be outraged about.

Therefore, its our own fault.

Personally, I'd say let it shutdown. Then maybe people will realize we need to vote them ALL out of office and become more educated with the people we elect to serve us. Maybe we'd be more in tune with WHY we are SUPPOSED to be sending these “representatives of the people” to Washington for in the first place.

I'd say that, but I'd know it would never happen. Americans are too lazy. Americans could care less about each other except where it makes themselves feel good, or gain something from it. Americans deserve what they get. And God help us all because we have to live with the stupidity and general haplessness of the American majority.

But you know what, you can agree with me or disagree with me and that is your free choice. In fact, I want you to check things out for yourself before believing anything I or ANYONE else tells you so you can be truly informed about what is really going on in this country. So its no skin off my nose if you agree or not, because this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.

Have a great day.

Charles

Been a while, but this bugged me

I know its been a while. I have been busy trying to do work that will pay the bills. Although I love doing this blog, it really doesn't pay the rent, phone, electric, car, etc bills. But this article by one of my mainstream colleagues kind of peeved me. I started to write a comment reply and it ended up getting to long. So here I am responding via blog.

Olivier Knox over at Yahoo News! wrote and article entitled "Everyone knows politicians lie. Why don't reporters say so?"

In the article Knox asks if it is an important question. "Does it matter?"

Part of the answer is that we don’t necessarily know when someone is lying — meaning when they knowingly pass along something that isn’t true with the intent to deceive.

One official told me Clapper’s assertion that the NSA doesn’t collect information about millions of Americans was technically true because the intelligence community definition of “collect” means that an analyst has reviewed the information. So the NSA could scoop up millions of phone records and that wouldn’t technically count as “collection.”

More broadly, there is the thinking that if someone believes their statement to be technically true, it doesn't meet the definition of lying — at least for reporting purposes

This article splits way too many hairs. Although it is not always necessary to label something a "lie" or someone a "liar", it is certainly incumbent for the media - mainstream or otherwise - to make the public aware of the falsehoods. To ignore that the President has told one or more of these falsehoods gives the public a false sense of security in their commander-in-chief when he does not deserve it. It IS important to point this out. When a government official lies because of incompetence (he didn't mean to tell a lie, he just doesn't know what is going on), the media needs to be the eyes and ears of the public and let them know. So many elections are accused of failing to focus on the issues but the truth is the media isn't giving them the information they need to BE INFORMED. The only poignant and true thing this reporter tells about the media is that they fear losing "access" for their next story. It should be government officials and politicians who fear losing access. The media should be the disciplinarian here when it comes to access, not the supposed public servant. If an official lies - or misrepresents the truth due to "technicalities" or "incompetence" - it should be they who fear the media for shining that light on their lie, incompetence or misrepresentation. The media, as the fourth estate in this country, has a responsibility to the public to not only report but investigate and report on government, industry, the public.

Well, thats my bit. Anyone who has read my blogs before knows how I feel about the reponssibility of the media to the people. I know this won't be my last complaint about the whole argument of media access to government officials or government activities. It surely won't change if these two things never happen.

1) The media does have to stop being "pansies". ("“I do think the blogosphere is too quick to say ‘You guys are pansies 'cause you won’t say lie,’” Ron Fournier, the National Journal writer who worked for years at The Associated Press, told Yahoo News.") I think Fournier is a little sensitive on this issue. If they would step up no one would be quick to call mainstream media "pansies". But since they won't step up AT ALL, the label sticks.

2) Politicians need to understand that their actions and words, whether an outright lie or a incompetent repetition of unsubstantiated information they are passing along as fact, have consequences. They lie or they unknowingly pass along a lie, their credibility with the public MUST be called into question. It must be they who fear losing the media and the public.

Anyway, thats my thoughts. You can agree or not, its all good. Don't take my word on it. Look at all the information from all sides and make your own decision. An INFORMED decision. Think for yourselves and avoid the spin. But, hey, this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.

Have a great day.

Charles

Gun Control does NOT stop criminals

So, you all are hearing about all this gun control rhetoric from DC. Most of it is such crap. It addresses nothing and positions the government to take away more and more from Americans.

Now there is an email form the White House that is just loaded with lies, bupkas and more crap.


"For the first time since the 1990s, Congress might be on track to pass legislation aimed at reducing gun violence in the United States."

Legislation to control guns does NOT stop gun violence. Chicago, IL has the most restrictive gun control laws in the country. Would you feel safe walking the streets of that city during the day let alone at 2am? Not me. In 2012, gun violence was UP, not down. And new gun legislation won't affect the illegal purchase of guns.

"And it's because folks in Washington are starting to understand that the rest of the country isn't going to sit by and let them ignore this issue. Your voices are the reason we have a chance to win this debate. The American people expect and demand a yes or no vote."

No, moron, what the American people demand is you get your heads out of your butts and understand what the real issues are and not your insipid knee-jerk reactions to events like Sandy Hook Elementary.

"But this is a critical moment. It's been almost four months since the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, thousands more Americans have died at the hands of gun violence, and time is on the side of those who would prefer that we do nothing."

Ta da! See, Sandy Hook. The legislation they are proposing would NOT have stopped that tragedy. A better mental health view in this country WOULD HAVE!


"We want to make sure that your voices are impossible to ignore. So we're asking people from all over the country to speak out online in concert -- all at the same time. Will you join us?"

I agree wholeheartedly. Speak out. And tell these idiots to stop worrying about their re-election campaigns and where their next special interest payment is coming from and start doing some good. Spread the word on Facebook to call up, email, visit your leaders in DC and tell them that 1) Gun legislation WILL NOT stop the violence in this country 2) Maybe they don't think they are an overbearing government that would strip our rights but even the founding fathers knew that future governments might not be as faithful to our Constitution and gave us the right to protect ourselves from such governments with the Second Amendment 3) Mental health is a better use of their time than gun laws that won't work 4) If they keep worrying about their re-election and their special interest kick backs we will make sure they don't have anything to worry about. 5) Stop with the knee jerk reactions to things. Sandy hook was a tragedy but you are focusing on the wrong aspect of that tragedy.

"So let's make sure that there's absolutely no confusion about the public consensus."

YES! 100% in agreement. Let us REALLY give them an idea of public consensus. Tell them THEY ARE FREAKING MORONS! Stop making laws that don't work! Stop wasting their time on these useless pieces of legislation!

Okay, that is my rant for the day. Agree or not, just so long as you stop listening to every word from these people who have no care about you as gospel. Start looking at FACTS not SPIN, and decide for yourself. Whether you agree or not makes no difference to me, just think for yourselves. ANyway, this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.

have a great day.

Charles

Afghans . . . good riddance

I am so sick and tired of reports like this and actions from Middle East (so-called) leaders.

BBC report of Afhan President ordering US Special Forces out of a particular province.

And even more sick and tired of our SO-CALLED leaders - from the White House on down - who cower from pompous, dictatorial, (oh I would so like to use profanity at this point) jerks.

An Afghan politician is "ordering" US Special Forces out. Who the hell do our boys and girls work for? OUR {PRESIDENT, not some loser who can't handle his own people. This jackal can ASK our President to remove our troops from a particular location. But just who the hell does this limp noodle terrorist puppet on a string think he is ORDERING our military ANYWHERE?!?!?!

So here is what I would do as President. (Which I know our loser commander-in-chief that couldn't lead his way out of a paper bag among REAL Americans will NEVER do because he is such a wimp!)

I would immediately order the start of removal of ALL our troops from these savage nations. (Don't get me wrong. This area of the world was once rich in culture and science and art - but is no longer due to fanatical losers who are brainwashed into blowing their own dumbasses up and taking their poor kids with them.) At the samer time, I would revoke all visas to anyone from this section of the world. I wouldn't care who they were, who they loved or what their situation was. They would be gone. Then I would restrict travel of anyone from this area of the world into the United States. They would all be routed to an airport that could be under 100% government control and had security out the ying-yang. (This would free up Americans who travel from having to have their three-year old wheel chair bound child from being patted down and traumatized.)

AND AT THE SAME TIME, I would cut off all foreign aide to these deplorable centers of fear, hate and cowardice (and letting them know this is exactly what they are and what they represent) and "redistribute" this wealth to our own people starving and homeless and without healthcare in OUR OWN COUNTRY.

Because charity begins at home.

some may say this is a bit extreme, but how should the United States react when they are constantly berated (and for actions that are the responsibility of their own people, not ours) for military actions but at the same time pleaded with to be the world's police force? How should the United States react when they are being called the "evil empire" with venom while at the same exact time being bled dry by people who can't take care of themselves?

The reason there are so many homeless, sick, poor, jobless, broken and hungry people in America (which is always being lauded as the richest nation in the world) is because we take care of so much of the world, we don't take care of our own.

As President, this is the first thing I would fix.

Well, maybe the second.

The first would be to get rid of all the special interest laden, self serving political structure that has been failing to lead us for decades.

But THEN I would send a message to the world.

ENOUGH!

Enough begging from us. Enough trying to kill us for your own shortcomings. Enough spewing your hatred at us, while all the time asking for our help. ENOUGH!

You take care of yourselves and we will take care of ourselves. Don't like it? Tough! Get your money and your rice and your oil revenues from somewhere else.

Which would be the third thing I would fix in this country if I were President.

But I'll leave that for later. maybe for my announcement in forming and exploratory committee to run for President in 2016.

Maybe.

Anyway, you all know the drill, agree or not, it doesn't matter to me. So long as I get you thinking for yourselves instead of listening to the spin and acting like sheep, then I will consider my job done for the day.

Have a great day.

Charles

America is STILL a sovereign nation

The UN should not be allowed to run anything that is American. PERIOD!

They should not be allowed to tell us how to write our laws. They should not be allowed to tell us how to handle our gun rights. They should not be allowed to run our military. They need to keep their grubby hand out of our wallets. And they should definitely keep their collective mitts off our internet.

We are a sovereign nation. We fought a war 236 years ago that says so. We broke from a distant regime that tried to rule us then and we should not allow these foreigners any power to do so today.

I don't mean we should not cooperate with our neighbors in this world. But let them run their own damn countries and leave ours alone. The internal workings of America is OUR business, not theirs.

The minute our leaders abdicate our rights in the name of world cooperation is the minute we kick their collective butts out of office. And I mean that. I don't care if its a Democrat or Republican controlled government Administration. The UN has no business trying to run our country. Despite what has been going on the last several decades, America is run by Americans. True, the people have had very little say in our own government, but that is OUR fault. Collectively, we have given up our rights to an ever expanding Federal control. But it is still our American Federal government. The folks at the UN have a different idea.

And that simply cannot be allowed.

Get involved. Call and / or write your local, state and Federal officials. Tell them not only NO but HELL NO! to the UN takeover of America!

You can agree or disagree with this that the UN needs to stay out of America's business. You can agree or disagree that we need to maintain the sovereignty we fought to get and maintain over the past 236 years. But whatever you do, do NOT sit idly by as our leaders sell us down the river. Anyway, this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.

Have a great day.

Charles

Secession?

Okay, whiners are whiners, right? So Obama won. Big deal. Get over it.

This is the call from the left.

Its a mandate, some cry out. You lost. Stop whining you big babies.

All the Chris Matthews of the world clamber.

So what is with the rush by 30 states now to file petitions on the government's We The People website?

Is it really a bunch of people who lost the election crying in their beer that they didn't get their way? Is it a bunch of rich white people who hate poor black America? Is it thieving, conniving  Republicans who want to steal money form little old ladies, push grandma over a cliff and rip-off poor young students? Is it a bunch of racist pigs who want to stop poor latinos from getting into America?

Or is it something more? Could it be a reaction by true patriots who want to stop the madness that has left America on the brink of third world status? Could it be anger of the other half of America who don't want to see the country plunge into the abyss of European socialism? Could it be citizens who understand what the Federal government has been doing over the past several decades in gathering power they were never meant to have?

Maybe its just a bunch of pissed off people who are tired of a government intent on treating fully grown adults as irresponsible children all the while acting like the mindless irresponsible morons who couldn't figure out that 25 cents a pound is better than $60,000 a ton.

Maybe its a way for the common people to actually get a deaf government - who thinks they know better and we would too if they could only explain it better to us - to LISTEN to us.

The real issue behind the petitions of secession is to place the President on notice that there was no landslide, no mandate, and that the Federal Government as envisioned by the founders (read the Federalist Papers to understand how far we have traveled away) has been seriously eroded. Madison argued for a central federal government by dismissing claims that it would become too powerful and steal the rightful power of the states and the people. Despite Madison's assurances, this is exactly what has happened. These petitions are a response by a frustrated and angry citizenry. The President, Congress and the Federal government as a whole need to listen. If they don't, it will only get worse. These petitions of secession are not threats but cries for a government out of control to return to one of the people, for the people and by the people.

Agree, disagree, but stop listening to the Party apparatus on both sides. Research the things this is about, check out what the actual people are saying, ignore what the SPIN masters are saying and DECIDE FOR YOURSELF what you think about it. No matter how you come to a thought on this issue make sure it is YOUR thoughts. No matter what you decide, so long as YOU decide, then I will have done what I set out to do. After all, this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.

Have a great day.

Charles

Eliminate FEMA? Hell yes!

People are so upset that Romney wants to eliminate FEMA.

But what the heck is so wrong with that? I mean, FEMA is a federal agency, right? How are federal agencies funded? By us, thats who! Through taxes! So we pay less federal taxes. We will still need to pay taxes, but to the state emergency management agencies.

Think about it.

Local taxes to be distributed by local agencies for local emergencies. Makes more sense to me. Instead of having to go through all the federal red tape when we need emergency situation funding, we do it through our local agencies. No more crap from the feds on what is and what is not an emergency. instead of our governors begging for money from the federal government, they can just take care of it themselves.

$3.6 BILLION dollars to fund FEMA. But what if the states had access to that right away? faster response, better services and more accountability of the state governments to their local citizenry.

Americans have gotten so used to the nanny state mentality of the federal government. They have forgotten that when the founders created the federal government they envisioned a weak form that was accountable to the states and not the other way around. They have forgotten that if the federal government oversteps their bounds, the states have not only a right but a RESPONSIBILITY to stop them.

We need MORE federal government agencies cut! Not less.

But thats just my thoughts. Gotta go now because I have no power (thank you Hurricane Sandy) and have to leave where I am. So agree or not, doesn't matter, just so long as I get you to think and stop listening to the SPIN. This is just me Thinking Out Loud.

Have a great day and be safe.

Charles

Binders full of women? Seriously?

"Binders full of women"?? Seriously, this is what you people have to talk about?

Good God in heaven . . . don't you trolls have anything better to do than find NON-ISSUES to make a big deal out of? Is this a liberal or Democratic flim flam? Because I cannot imagine people of good intellect taking that statement and running amok with it . . . 

Okay, so I am re-thinking this. Most people are willing to be told what to think. So I should not be surprised when someone is making a positive statement about how there are LOTS of women qualified to fill positions out there. And that this person went out of their way top break the stereotypical response of just hiring qualified men. AND THEN people go completely ape**** over the comment.

And THIS is the important thing you take from a debate over important issues.

You people are 100% daft!

To quote a fictional President, "We have serious problems to solve, and we need serious people to solve them."

We need serious people to solve our problems. I just don't think there is anyone in politics that takes anything serious unless it has to do with their pay, what favors they can get for their cooperation and keeping their political office until they have milked it for all they can.

Another couple of quotes from that same movie has a lot to say about the people who are voting these morons into office. 

"Lewis Rothschild: People want leadership, Mr. President, and in the absence of genuine leadership, they'll listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone. They want leadership. They're so thirsty for it they'll crawl through the desert toward a mirage, and when they discover there's no water, they'll drink the sand.

President Andrew Shepherd: Lewis, we've had presidents who were beloved, who couldn't find a coherent sentence with two hands and a flashlight. People don't drink the sand because they're thirsty. They drink the sand because they don't know the difference." 

Yeah, that pretty much sums up the voting public. The American people are inundated and flim-flammed by so much spin, they just don't know the difference between charismatic and true leadership.

And they don't realize they will be paying the price for their stupidity.

To that thought, if the point of the President's debate strategy was to point out that Mitt Romney is a "rich guy who doesn't care about the middle class", this dumbo-eared nit wit needs to look in the mirror. He has (not single-handedly because there are hundreds in DC who are the same) destroyed the middle class in this country. And, um, he might want to peer at his checking account because he is a pretty "rich guy" himself.

Agree, disagree, it really doesn't matter. If I can get you to turn your on brain back on and stop listening to the guys who get paid the big bucks to tell you what to think, then there may be hope. EIther way, this is just me, Thinking Out Loud.

But remember, there is less than a month until election day. Something needs to give.

Have a great day.

Charles

No Friend of Mine

The presumption and audacity of these political emails is getting just too much for me. I kept getting them even though they were getting just too much full of BS than I could take. Because that is part of my job - keeping up with the campaigns and all they are saying and doing. But now I have to just "unsubscribe" because lately they have gotten way out of hand.

Like this recent one I got from Kal Penn. You know Kal, the actor who thinks he's a public servant - no, wait, he's an actor - nope, nope, he's a public servant. He keeps bouncing back and forth between an Administration position and acting, which he keeps resigning and can't figure out what he wants to be when he grows up.

So, anyway, Kal writes:

Friend (yes, we're friends) --

In 2007, I spent a few months in Iowa before the caucuses, getting all sorts of folks fired up to cast their vote for this guy named Barack Obama.

What I remember most: It was shockingly, painfully cold. And fun.

Actually, super fun. And easier than I thought, to talk to total strangers and ask them to vote. That's why I traveled to 25 other states for the President in 2008, and why I'm volunteering again. Well, that and because we don't want to see the progress we've made on everything from student loans to health care get turned back.

You could play that role this year, by joining Vote Corps -- a group of the most dedicated organizers out there.

If you join, you'll be doing exactly what I did -- going to one of the most critical states for a few weeks leading up to Election Day, and making sure people there go to the polls.

You'll make phone calls, knock on doors, and have one-on-one conversations with people about why you support President Obama. It's important, fun stuff.

Yeah, you'll be a volunteer, but the local staff, fellow volunteers, and people you meet will make it worth your while in donuts, love, and appreciation (and let's face it, donuts are legit).

Whenever you arrive, they'll want you to stay through Election Day -- and take my word for it, that'll be the best part. On Election Day in 2008, I was in Florida with a bunch of awesome young volunteers (and their sweet robot, pic below). Where will I go this year? Where will you go?

Sign up now to join Vote Corps, and a really nice organizer will drop you a line to tell you more:

http://my.barackobama.com/Vote-Corps

Just tell them Kal said you should do this. Because I did. And then fist bump and hug it out with your new friends. Smell that? It's freedom.

Thanks,

Kal

Sorry, Kal, but you are no friend of mine. If you were, you would know that I don't consider it progress to have hundreds of millions out of work. Not just out of work, but no longer looking for work. I don't consider a great man one who would discount these Americans because it makes a statistical upswing when they fall off the rolls of the unemployed assisted people onto the rolls of the forgotten. Obama complains about Romney's 47% gaff. Yet he consistently ignores that many and more when he talks about how many people want him to keep "moving forward."

Kal, if you were really a friend, you would know that I only keep the truly delusional ones like you because I personally like them. I don't even think your acting is all that great. And as for liking you for you, I don't even know you. So how could I decide to keep such a delusional friend.

Really, Kal, you need to decide what you want to be when you grow up. Until then, you need to leave politics to the adults.

As for volunteering for ANYTHING political, I certainly won't be doing so just because some actor - be you Kal Penn or Clint Eastwood - TOLD me I should. Most actors don't know their political truths from a hole in their butt. they live in Hollywood's make believe vault.

So Kal, one last bit here. Stop sending me emails. I have unsubscribed. Can't the political morons who populate these campaign offices even figure out that a do not call and do not email list actually has the word "NOT" in it?

Anyway, as usual, you can decide for yourself what you think. In fact, I PREFER you start thinking for yourself and stop listneing to twitlets like Kal Penn, or anyone who would tell you to do something "because they said so." Because this is, just me, Thinking Out Loud.

Have a great day.

Charles