A Brief History of American Assassination Attempts

A Brief History of American Assassination Attempts

This is a great time line of American History. You have to learn and understand History in order not to repeat it. One thing all these assassins have in common is that they were more or less mentally ill. Rarely do you find yourself with a sophisticated intellect who happens to be a assassin. That's why it might be your right to do and say what you want but you still have to be responsible with those rights. If this time line of history does not show how outside influences can cause nut jobs to act crazy, I think we are doomed to repeat history again.

Are The New Airport Body Scanners Really Safe? No One Knows!

A few days ago, I passed through the airport security checkpoint. I stood with my legs shoulder-width apart, my hand holding an invisible triangle, and tried not to think about how the burly security guard was looking at my x-rayed body right through my clothes. I wouldn’t say I’m a terribly private person. At any given airport, you can probably hear my big mouth in conversation. I’m a writer by trade, whose job it is to bare all my innermost thoughts, which you’re reading some of right now. I also feel it’s better to be safe than to be dead, which I think most people would agree with. Yet, with any quick solution that just surfaces out-of-the-blue, we’ve got to ask: Are the new airport scanners really safe?

Dr. David J. Brenner, Higgins Professor of Radiation Biophysics at Columbia University & Director of the Center for Radiological Research, contends that there is some concern over airline pilots, flight attendants and frequent fliers who may pass through these controversial scanners “anywhere from 200 to 400 times a year,” thus magnifying their exposure to radiation. Another concern, he says, are the 750 million people who pass airport security each year. “So we have a small risk, but we have an awful lot of people exposed to that small risk. And that gives you a public health concern as well as a concern for the individuals,” Dr. Brenner warns.

AOL News recently published an expose, attacking the Transportation Security Administration for making false claims of safety when, in reality, it’s all a bunch of hot air. For one, the TSA says the safety of the devices was determined by the Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Army Public Health Command, the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, and the Health Physics Society… but when contacted, the groups said they had “no responsibility” in the matter. While medical x-ray machines are regulated by the FDA, they do not regulate identical machines used in nonmedical facilities.

John Sedat, a professor emeritus of biochemistry at the University of California at San Francisco, told AOL News, "We found that essentially none of this information was known or made public, and more interestingly, it looked like this technology had not been independently vetted by the scientific community, published, peer-reviewed or even discussed openly. Essentially, all the information was coming from companies that were making the devices, and it looked like it was being parroted by the FDA and the TSA, which didn't seem reasonable.”

I would conclude that even a child would understand that small amounts of radiation may not be a terrible danger to the human body, but accumulated exposure over time could pose a greater risk. In some ways, these new machines seem like the Patriot Act – passed in a fly-by-night way, on little sound evidence that it’s necessary, doing very little to actually stop terrorists, and putting a lot of good people through stressful situations.

Tom Delay tells Chris Matthews he would carry a gun on the House floor to a debate.

I really can't believe what I just listened to on the Chris Matthew's show. Matthews had former House Majority Leader Tom Delay on discussing his 3 year sentence on a money laundering conviction. Matthews and Delay also debated the 2nd Amendment again, one of the Republicans favorite. Delay said he would broadcast to all licensed gun owners to come to his town hall meetings in Texas. He said he would feel really "safe" if the people in the crowd were carrying concealed weapons as long as they were licensed. Delay also told Matthews he would carry a gun on the House Of Representatives floor for his safety if he could.

Delay was also showing support for Republican. Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas. Rep. Gohmert plans on introducing a bill allowing guns to be carried in the District of Columbia. The reason Gohmert said he's introducing the bill is in wake of the Tucson tragedy, there has been a rash of legislation further infringing on the 2nd Amendment. Gohmert himself said he would not carry a gun but would support any members of congress who wanted to.

Two of the most popular Republicans, Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh, also showed their support for the Tuscon tragedy in their own unique way. Rush Limbaugh just recently put a very supportive non provocative Bill Board up in Tucson Arizona, very near were the shooting rampage went down. Sarah Palin thought the best way she could show her support was to agree to HeadLine a Gun Convention later this month in Reno Nevada, sponsored by the Safari Club International.

I think it's time to tell these jerks in both parties to stop the crazy talk. It might be your right to push the boundaries with talk and action but you have to be responsible with those rights. If you push too far to prove your point you might get a crazy person like Jared Loughner to take it too far and shoot up a crowd.


Politics Daily - Palin to Keynote Gun and Hunting Convention in Nevada

The Hill - GOP's Gohmert plans to introduce bill to allow firearms in DC

Salon - Rush Limbaugh's totally inappropriate billboard stirs outrage

Alternate Views And News makes it all the way to the White House

I just wanted to say thank you to one of our loyal followers for taking Alternate Views and News all the way to the very top, The White House. She wrote Theavnlife.com on the poster to show her support for the site. If you ever visit Washington D.C. I suggest you take the D.C. at night tour. I know you will love it if you like Washington D.C. and it's history.

Radio host Glenn Beck "thinking about killing Michael Moore"

Radio host Glenn Beck "thinking about killing Michael Moore"

In one of my latest post " U.S. Rep. Shot in the head by possible Sarah Palin supporter" I wrote about how this hateful rhetoric from both sides can cause crazy people to act irrationally. You have these Big talking radio and T.V. heads like Glen Beck claim it's their right to say these stupid things over the air waves. Well keep on talking hateful and ignorant and it does not matter what side of the isle your on eventually you are going to get a nut job that listens literally and does something stupid.

Former Miss England Katrina Hodge is being deployed to Afghanistan once a again setting an example for Americans

Why dose it seem that England is taking the lead on the world stage lately by setting great examples for us all? When the Euro Zone was about to collapse England was one of the first countries to impose new financial regulations onto itself to stay a float. When it came to the war in Afghanistan England sent Prince harry into the Lions Den to set an example for it's fellow country men. Now We have none other then former Miss England Katrina Hodge getting set to deploy to Afghanistan.

Katrina Hodge joined the armed forces when she was 17 years old and has already served in the Iraq war. Now Hodge 24 years old and married is getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan for her first tour of duty there. Hodge is known in England as " Combat Barbie " , when asked how she felt about going to Afghanistan she said it was a " Culture Shock ". She went on to say that it's going to be hard in Afghanistan but it's her job.

The point I am trying to make with this post is that I don't want America to get left behind in the world. We need High profile Americans to start leading our country by setting positive examples. Enough rhetoric back and forth between the two parties lets see leaders of both parties propose real sacrifices. Real sacrifices will let constitutes on both sides of the isle know that the times are serious and we need to make changes to ensure all Americans quality of life.

Huffington Post - Former Miss England set for deployment

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Gifford is in critical condition after being shot by possible Sarah Palin supporter

Jared L. Loughner is the raging lunatic who went a shooting spree yesterday at a supermarket in Arizona. In is senseless wake of destruction he left 11 wounded including Dem. Rep. Gabrille Gifford. The shooter also killed 6 including a 9 year girl and Chief Judge John Roll of the U.S. District Court for Arizona. Police recovered a 9mm hand gun with a extended clip at the scene of the crime which was used by Laughner.

According to Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik 22 year old Laughner has been writing anti Government rhetoric on the Internet and also had previous run ins with the law. Laughner rallied against Government "Mind Control" and literacy on his Myspace page. The FBI and local authorities are looking for another person of interest that was seen with Loughner just before the tragedy.

Rep. Gifford just won a hard fought fight for re election in November against a Tea Party Candidate. At some of Giffords political rallies Tea party members were reported being there caring fire arms. On Sarah Palins Facebook page she literally put a target on a map with Rep. Giffords congressional seat in the cross hairs. In March of '10 Giffords home town office was vandalised because of her support of the Health Care Bill.

This is what happens when people don't use common sense and use the law to hide behind their ignorance. When the rhetoric is so anti anything sooner or later you are going to get a nut job who cannot distinguish what is reality. If you want to let people show up at political rallies with guns, put targets on Reps. backs and say it's your right, fine. When Government officlas start getting killed just don't pretend like you don't know why.

It will cost you $1000 to smoke outside in Great Neck New York. Is it worth it to you?

If you plan on visiting Great Neck New York in the near future I hope you don't smoke. As of this past Wednesday the 5th it has become officially illegal to smoke outside in certain areas in Great Neck. This law began with Residents complaining to Great Neck Mayor Ralph J. Kreitzman who is a previous smoker himself. They were complaining that second hand smoke from smokers standing outside stores was flowing back inside the stores.

According to the new law you cannot smoke within 125 feet of Middle Neck road in front of commercial businesses. Middle Neck road in Great Neck is a major road with many business sprawling along side of it. The law also states you cannot not smoke in the Village Green which is a public park , the local public housing and park benches leading up to Middle Neck road. The total non smoking area is 1.3 miles in the center of Great Neck. If you are caught smoking illegally you can face up to a $1000 fine or 15 days in jail. The first sidewalk smoking Ban in the U.S. was in Berkley California in 2008.

Is this new law going too far or not far enough in your eyes? When is enough enough? To me our society is slowly turning into all those classic sci-fi movies like Clock work Orange , Minority Report, A.I. Artificial Intelligence and so on.


Newsday - Great Neck Village smoking ban takes effect.

Ny State Governor Cuomo winks Goodbye to Unions with a proposed one year freeze on state workers pay.

In keeping with his word newly sworn in Ny Governor Cuomo has begun finding ways of slashing Ny states $9 billion defecit. One of the fist places is going to be the once untouchable state union workers. Gov. Cuomo has proposed a one year salary freeze on all state workers. The proposed freeze in pay is meant to show the state is in serious financial trouble, also that the Governor is willing to make hard fiscal decisions. The pay freeze would be a savings of $200 to $400 million for the year.

Governor Cuomo has two things going for him, in March the unions contracts are up for negotiations and also both Republicans and Democrats or shying away from unions right now with all the major deficits that have to be paid for. Ny State has 190 thousand workers in the union system the vast majority of them are represented by the Civil Service Employees Association. The CSEA has said that they are willing to negotiate with the state but they don't want to feel like the are being backed into a corner.

It once was dream for many getting into any type of union. The union represented security, health care , pensions and consistent raises. Now Unions represent big expensess over bloated pension funds and major health care bills. Over the past few years look at all the big blows Unions have taken. To be a Teamster these days it cost more then you get paid , Uaw got wiped out with Gm , Ford renegotiated and now State unions are starting to get a economic reality check.

Ny Times - Cuomo Plans One-Year Freeze on State Workers’ Pay

Tea Party: Renter's Shouldn't Vote

Initially, when I heard Tea Party leader Judson Philips felt that renters shouldn't have the right to vote, I wondered what "The Rent Is Too Damn High" Party's Jimmy McMillan would say about that. Then I realized he's too busy peddling his action figures and soliciting dates to really care.

On a Tea Party Nation radio show, Philips alleged:

“The Founding Fathers originally said, they put certain restrictions on who gets the right to vote. It wasn’t you were just a citizen and you got to vote. Some of the restrictions, you know, you obviously would not think about today. But one of those was you had to be a property owner. And that makes a lot of sense, because if you’re a property owner you actually have a vested stake in the community. If you’re not a property owner, you know, I’m sorry but property owners have a little bit more of a vested interest in the community than non-property owners.”

Is this really true? I'm a property owner and I do pay annual taxes, but I'm not voting at every community board meeting, volunteering, or running a non-profit community organization. Last I checked, renters are just as capable of doing all those things as me. Sure, I care about my property value dropping, but I wouldn't say I did anything about it this year. Besides, renters are still paying taxes on their groceries, taxes on their clothes, taxes on their income. I think I'm missing the point here.

Some Founding Fathers Theory nut-jobs would argue that only "white, property-owning males over the age of 21" should have the right to vote because that's how it was in the earliest years of our nation. However, the Founding Fathers themselves argued for states' rights.

By and large, the states did dictate who could and couldn't vote until the 15th amendment was ratified in 1870, declaring: "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." Still, states like Alabama, Virginia and Mississippi levied poll taxes to limit the "power of the people."

As the wise Benjamin Franklin once said:

"Today a man owns a jackass worth 50 dollars and he is entitled to vote; but before the next election the jackass dies. The man in the mean time has become more experienced, his knowledge of the principles of government, and his acquaintance with mankind, are more extensive, and he is therefore better qualified to make a proper selection of rulers—but the jackass is dead and the man cannot vote. Now gentlemen, pray inform me, in whom is the right of suffrage? In the man or in the jackass?"

But perhaps it's not so much about renters as it is about voting bases and xenophobia.

Top 5 Christmas Youtube Parodies

Tis the season to be jolly, but it’s also the season for hilarious Youtube parodies. It’s almost an American tradition to subjugate the true meaning of Christmas to fit our agenda – whether it’s to sell a Lexus, push legislation through Congress, guilt relatives into spending time with us, solicit charitable donations, switch to a new cable service provider, peddle Jehovah’s Witness brochures, or get consumers to open up their coiffeurs and spend, spend, spend!

Here’s a few of my favorite Christmas Youtube videos…

1. JibJab: Year in Review

Well, okay, this first one isn’t necessarily a Christmas video, so much as it’s a New Year video, but this annual JibJab offering always comes out around Christmas, so I’m including it on my list. This one’s a little more fast-paced and hard to comprehend in one sitting than previous years, but it’s no less enjoyable. You’ll fondly recall all of this year’s worst national memories… performed by puppets. Classic!

2. Lady Gaga’s Christmas Album

Just last night, I was telling my father and sister how much I hate the Mariah Carey Christmas album. “Mariah Carey is getting old and she’s probably getting ready to pass on the torch to some younger trick,” I worried. “Just imagine what’s next – Lady Gaga’s Christmas album! Fa-la-la-la-laaaa, Fa-la, La-la-laaaa. It’s going to be bad… real bad.” Apparently I’m not the only one who is concerned about this.

3. Sarah Palin Kills Rudolph

Admittedly, I’m not crazy about Jimmy Kimmel. I do like that he aptly points out the mean-spirited timing behind Sarah Palin’s highly publicized reindeer hunting expedition putting a damper on Christmas, while young kids anxiously await Santa’s and his eight reindeer. Also, as a child of the eighties, I love claymation everything.

4. Joe Biden’s War On Christmas

Just when the Bill O’Reilly followers have declared this year marks a “win” on the War Against Christmas, Joe Biden makes legislators (gasp) do their job the week before Christmas (ho ho hoh-no!) and comes out and makes a statement like “Don’t tell ME about Christmas.” Love his audacity and love this Christmas parody.

5. Antoine Dodson Christmas Song

This video will only be funny if you’ve been following the plight of Youtube Remix Sensation, Antoine Dodson. So if you have no idea what I’m talking about please see Exhibit A and Exhibit B first. Then you may appreciate this latest parody. You know nothing will ever top the original Rapist in Lincoln Park remix, but this gives you something new to quote with your friends at any rate.

Tea Party candidate elect Allen West is already butting heads before he is even sworn in.

It should come to no surprise to anyone who knows Tea Party elect Republican Rep. Allen West of florida that he is not afraid to speak his mind. Allen West was first brought to national attention in 2003 during the Iraq war. Allen West is a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the U.S. army. In 2003 while in Iraq lets say he got a little over zealous during a interrogation. West thought an Iraqi police officer was with holding information and allegedly shot a few rounds with his .45 next to the police officers head. Lets just say the Iraqi police officer began to sing a like a canary. It was never proven whether the information West obtained through his tactics were factual but West said he would do it again to keep his men safe. Allen West was court marshaled and allowed to retire with full military benefits.

In more recent history Allen West has been accused of being too closely associated with a shady biker gang named the "Out laws Motorcycle Club". He has been photoed at rallies that the Out Laws were sponsoring. Emails were also obtained where it seems West is defending his association with the Out Laws.

Who is Allen West butting heads with now? Come January House Majority leader Eric Cantor of all people. Probably not the best way to make new friends in congress or maybe that West's point. West wrote a letter to Cantor complaining that in the entire month of January their is only 10 days of scheduled work. In the entire year only 123 days of congressional sessions. In the letter West asked Cantor how any progress could be made with all the large looming problems are country faces with only 10 days of Congressional sessions. "As we know, Congress needs to work to create jobs, reduce the deficit, strengthen our economy, limit the size of government and contend with a plethora of national security issues," West wrote in a statement to Cantor. "How are we to do that when, among other things, we start off being in session only ten days the entire month of January?" In response to that Eric Cantors spokesman Brad Dayspring said that more time in Washington does not necessarily mean more work will be accomplished.

I agree with Allen West here, I think are politicians should be setting a new tone in Washington. These are not ordinary times we are in and anything different and positive can help. Who do you agree with Eric Cantor or Allen West.

Huffington Post - Allen West sends letter to Eric Cantor

Tax cut deal: What to expect in your paycheck

Tax cut deal: What to expect in your paycheck

With all this debate back and forth about tax cuts and extensions this is what it all boils down to. Check out the link and see how you will benefit or not. Are you happy about the compromise President Obama made in order to extend the Bush era tax cuts?

Top 5 Notorious Celebrities of 2010

Celebrity gossip is one of those strange phenomena that just sort of seeks you out, whether you care about it or not. Perhaps you glimpsed a headline of a magazine in the checkout line, heard a snippet of the news as you were changing channels, or caught wind of it on your friend’s Facebook page. Somehow our heads are filled with all these useless details, these fixations on other people’s unfortunate breakdowns. With 2010 wrapping up, let’s take a look back at some of the most outrageous and notorious celebrity moments of 2010…

1. Charlie Sheen

Charlie Sheen is one of those misogynist creeps you really can’t hear enough about. He snorts cocaine, he binge drinks, he parties with hookers, he skips paying the bill on said hookers, he threatens to kill them, he trashes hotel rooms, he yells slurs at the cops – all while playing the role of “Father and Husband.” Oh Charlie, what can’t you do?

This year was a doozy for Mr. Sheen. He spent much of it in rehab for drugs and alcohol, but still managed to make headlines with his wild nights out on the town. The debacle began with a few $5,000 bottles of champagne and some blow at Daniels Restaurant in New York. Then his porn star concubine Capri Anderson refused to have sex with him in the restaurant bathroom because he still owed her $12,000. His assistant found him naked on the toilet with cocaine covering his face.

Later, Sheen had trouble finding his wallet back at his Plaza Hotel room, which caused him to fly into a violent $7,000-hotel-damages-bill sort of rage and lock his naked hooker pal in the closet. This was while he was in town to see his children, with ex-wife Denise Richards staying another room over, mind you. The best way out? Have a spokesperson say you had an allergic reaction to a medication and go to the hospital, post haste.

2. Lady Gaga

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Lady Gaga is a world-class weirdo. Yet, to her fans, it’s precisely this oddball fetish that draws them to her. They love her lavish Marie Antoinette hairstyles and meat dresses. They love her bright red lipstick and her topless crowd surfing at Lollapalooza.

Jerry Seinfeld and Mets fans were not impressed when Lady Gaga got real drunk and flipped everyone off continuously, while wearing a leather jacket and a bathing suit. Later, she caused an even bigger stir when she watched the Mets vs. Yankees game at Yankee Stadium with her bra hanging out of a half-buttoned Yankees jersey. She guzzled her whiskey and sauntered into the locker room like she owned the place, groping herself and seeing if there were any takers. (There weren’t.) Hal Steinbrunner banned her from the clubhouse indefinitely.

3. Mel Gibson

We all like to think of Mel Gibson as heroic Benjamin Martin from “The Patriot” or Scottish rebel William Wallace from “Braveheart.” Maybe you even think he’s a bit romantic, given his roles in “What Women Want” or “Forever Young.” Well, he’s come a long way, baby.

In 2010, his most notorious moment involves his contempt for breast implants. The highly publicized call with Oksana Grigorieva, the mother of his lovechild, began with Mel ripping into her for breast feeding with “fake t*ts.” She, of course, denies it and he launches into quite a rant. He told her they look like “a Vegas whore,” that she looks like a “bitch in heat.”

The real contention comes when he told her, “If you get raped by a pack of ni**ers, it will be your fault, alright? Because you provoked it.” Yikes. It’s bad enough that Joan Rivers and Winona Ryder say Mel is a “horrible anti-semite,” but now he had to pull the race card and add another monkey to his back… way to go…

4. Lindsay Lohan

If you were looking forward to seeing Lindsay Lohan cast as Linda Lovelace from "Deep Throat," then you can think Lohan’s penchant for cocaine and boozing for dashing your dreams. Producers find her capricious, unpredictable, up-all-night partying ways to be “100% uninsurable.”

It seemed Miss Lohan just couldn’t stay out of jail and/or rehab this year. It was as if she just couldn’t wait to get out, get busted again, and see what she could get away with this time.

She served 14 days of a 90-day sentence the first time. She stayed at her rehab treatment facility for 23 days out of 90.

She then served a few hours and paid $300,000 bail to get out of a 30-day sentence for violating her probation.

At one of her court hearings, she reportedly had the words "F**k U" painted on her nails, which led many to believe she's not very serious about her recovery.

On October 22nd, she was ordered to remain in rehab at the Betty Ford Center until January 3, 2011. Despite all her weepy theatrics, do you think she’s “trying the best she could?”

5. Alec Baldwin

Of all the characters in the Top 5 of 2010 notorious celebrity list, Alec Baldwin seems the most unlikely to land here. Yet, his firebrand daughter is really pushing him to the brink of insanity. This year, a 2007 voicemail was released where he called Kim Basinger “a thoughtless pain the ass” and his 11-year-old daughter Ireland “a rude thoughtless little pig.” He threatens to hop on a plane to “straighten her ass out,” which doesn’t really sound like father-daughter bonding time.

Three years later, he apologized for his embarrassingly public speech. Yet, in another phone conversation, he told Ireland, “I'm tired of this… I'm going to take some pills… I'm going to end this," prompting her to make a frantic call to 911. He was checked into a hospital to make sure he was in no danger of harming himself and you’d better believe the Paparazzi were waiting for him outside the hospital. When reporters were still dogging him after he got out of work that day, he flew off the handle, paranoid that Kim Basinger had put his daughter up to calling 911, and attacked NY Post photographer Tim Wiencis. Is Baldwin a man pushed to the edge by circumstance, or is this just the beginning of his mid-life crisis?

Voyager 1 Spacecraft Headed for the Edge of our Solar System

In this very moment, 10.8 billion miles from the sun, nuclear-powered Voyager 1 is hurtling towards the edge of our solar system at a rapid 38,000mph. In 1998 Voyager 1 bypassed Pioneer 10 and claimed the honor of being the farthest reaching human-made object in space. This mighty journey that launched in 1977 has brought to the scientific community an incredible amount of excitement and accomplishment for the past 33 years. The constant trickle of information that this unmanned probe reveals to us about our vast, incredibly unknown universe (or, at least for now, our galaxy), is invaluable to our exploration of space and helps us begin to understand it and the wonders it hides. Voyager 1 has been exploring a particular region of space where the solar winds (a 1 million mile per hour stream of charged particles gushing from the sun) eventually slows and converges with thin gasses between stars. As the outward speed of the solar winds drops to zero, scientists are finally seeing the indication they were expecting, telling them that the probe is approaching the edge of the solar system. This area is known as the heliopause. Though it will take an additional four years from now for Voyager 1 to exit our solar system, the wealth of information that we will receive once it reaches interstellar space (as well as the information obtained along the way) will continue to inspire and help the scientific community. Space exploration is coming to an extremely exciting age and is just now able to reach places we could only dream of in earlier decades.

If the thought of interstellar space exploration isn’t enough for you, here’s another bit of fun information that makes the Voyager 1 even more of a catch. Carl Sagan, a well known and loved physicist, along with his associates at Cornell University, assembled a spectacular greeting for intelligent extraterrestrial life (or future humans) should they be encountered. This 12-inch, gold plated phonograph record made for NASA contains a compilation of what Dr. Sagan believed to be a fine representation of the wide diversity found in human civilization. The disk contains a total of 155 images and sounds that are in an assortment of languages and covers many different eras. This compilation encompasses human culture in a nutshell so wonderfully that it would be a shame for intelligent life not to find it. Until extraterrestrial contact is made, however, we’ll just have to be content with the continuing excitement that the Voyager 1’s journey brings those wgi are entrapped by the many mysteries of space.

Is Republican Rep. John A. Boehner a cry baby?

Rep. John A. Boehner from Ohio the newly elected Republican Speaker of the House seems to be a very emotional man . In two recent notable examples he has been over come by his emotions. Even out going House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said that Rep. Boehner has cried before while debating hard fought bills on the House floor.

His two latest crying incidents have come when he won re election in November and as recently as last weekend during a interview with Lesley Stahl on " 60 minutes ". In both incidents he was brought to tears by explaining how hard he worked to achieve the American Dream and how hard it is for school children to succeed today. Rep. Boehner is well known for crying at retirement speeches, victory speeches and when it comes to children and education according to his friend Rep. Tom Latham a Republican from Ohio.

I am glad that Rep Boehner is comfortable expressing his emotions but I wonder what people would say if Nancy Pelosi was crying all the time? Rep. Boehner worked at his family owned Pub in Cincinnati Ohio named "Andy's Cafe". I would assume his family was making enough money to employ him, plus it might be easier working for a family business. That in no way to takes away from their success but Rep Boehners rise to the top might not be the struggle one might think when you see him crying all the time. I think he's always crying because he knows that he is a lucky man and those are tears of joy. All of us work hard and try to do are best but we don't whined being Speaker of the House.

The Washington Post - For Boehner, there's crying in politics - and other times, too

Los Angeles Times - A crying Shame

Rep. Boehner Crying at his victory speech.




Cbs "60 Minutes" Interview video with Lesly Stahl and John A. Boehner

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Federal Reserve?

Ben Bernanke's watery, sleepless doe eyes stared placidly at Scott Pelley of 60 Minutes. He spoke softly, but he did not carry a big stick. His face twitched nervously and his lip curled unnaturally. His body language told me to be afraid... be very, very afraid. This was the man trusted with chairing the Federal Reserve and overseeing the economy... you know, the economy that's tanking. It was under his watch that all these regrettable subprime mortgage scams prevailed, banks dried up and stopped lending, the biggest bail-out in history was passed, and 8.5 million jobs were lost.

That's all old news, of course... but what worries me is that Bernanke is openly unhinged about two aspects of the economy -- the unemployment that he says will "likely take five to six years to recover," and worse yet, the possibility that our low inflation will lead to declining prices, falling wages, and a downward spiral much like the Great Depression. To be optimistic, Bernanke tells us that the housing market can't get any weaker: it's already at rock bottom. That's hardly a vote of confidence.

Predictably, this master of financial voodoo is still trying to convince us that the best course of action for the economy is more from the Federal Reserve. The only thing propping us up right now, Bernanke tells us, is the Fed's buying up of Treasury securities to keep interest rates low. He wants to clean up the tax code, close loopholes, lower rates across the board. He wants more regulatory power and oversight of financial institutions like Goldman Sachs and AIG. He believes better education will close the gap between rich and poor.

But as hopeful as Bernanke tries to be in his description of possible solutions, his demeanor tells us he's freaked out. His last words in the interview was, " I think that in the longer term the United States will retain its leading position in the world. But again, we gotta get there. And we have some very difficult challenges over the next few years." Yet, in Bernanke's worst nightmare, the entire budget will go toward Medicare, Medicaid, and debt interest, leaving the country with no defense budget -- completely disarmed and helpless.

Perhaps a new type of nightmare is coming to the Federal Reserve, however. In 2011, Ron Paul will head the House Subcommittee on Monetary Policy. This rogue Libertarian will be in charge of the oversight of Bernanke and cronies. Ron Paul's contempt for the Federal Reserve is not very secret. This week, CNBC asked him, "So you've written a book titled 'End the Fed'. Do you still want to eliminate the Federal Reserve?" His response was, "Oh sure, but I think the Fed will end itself before I'm able to do it."

One can only wonder what sort of wild ride is ahead -- both for Bernanke, with his dreams of heightened power, and for the fragile economy that's propped up by cooked books and crooks.

Senate Republicans say NO to helping 9/11 First Responders

Senate Republicans on Thursday Prevented a measure to provide extra funds to September 11th first responders who have become sick from working at the World Trade Center site. The Bill that was voted down was called the Zadroga Bill after a New York City police officer who died from respiratory disease. The vote came out to 57-42 which allowed the Senate Republicans to hold up the bill.

Republicans vowed not to pass any further legislation until The tax cut and Government funding Bill were passed first. They also had concerns about how the government was going to come up with the estimated $7.4 billion it would take to fund the 9/11 bill. Sadder then the fact that it has been ten years and this bill still has not passed next year with the change in power it's very unlikely the Zadroga Bill will even make it to the house floor.

New york state Sen. Kristen Gillinbrand said "Frankly, it's exactly whats wrong with Washington -- an example of politics put above the people". Sen. Chuck Schumer vowed "to pursue every possible route" before the end of the year to pass the bill. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said it's “a tragic example of partisan politics trumping patriotism,” and that Republicans should reconsider.

I just wrote a post about hypocrisy and here you again before the ink dries the Republicans seem to through up another example. I hate to keep on picking on Republicans but when you refuse to pass a $20 billion un employment bill or even worse a $7.4 billion 9/11 first responders bill in order to first pass a $900 billion two year tax extension things seem pretty clear to me. God forbid we have another attack I hope first responders don't second guess doing their jobs because of this lack of support.













BloomBerg - Senate Republicans Block 9/11 Bill


Government Excutive - Republicans block 9/11 health bill

Does The U.S. Have The Balls To Deal With North Korea?

Does North Korea have war on their mind? At this point we can only speculate. There's a lot of tough talk flying around, a lot of tests, a few people killed here and there. This morning, U.S. military officials told North Korea that the United States' commitment to help South Korea maintain their independence is "unquestioned." But when it comes down to it, what sort of clout does the U.S. really carry anymore?

"I do think what that we've seen there is an example of how provocative American weakness can be," Liz Cheney, daughter of former VP Dick Cheney, told Fox News this week. "And I think that unfortunately it is policy of weakness that has expanded back into the Bush administration -- into the last years of the Bush administration," she added, taking a surprising jab at her father's tenure in office.

In 2008, President Bush removed Korea from "the Axis of Evil" distinction and the terrorist list. Even when Kim Jong-il conducted 2001 tests of the Taepodong-1 missile and told Bush that he "wouldn't hesitate" to strike the U.S. first in a military attack, we remained silent. (Click here to see a timeline of our wimpy policy with North Korea.) In the wake of rising aggression, the best we can do is send Bill Richardson on an "unofficial visit" with no real news at all? If North Korea is testing the United States, then we have failed miserably. The truth is, we're more afraid of what China could do if they happened to side with North Korea. At the moment, we're stuck at the impotent round-table of six party talks, as per China's request.

"I think that we've seen time and time again North Korea -- they test a nuclear weapon, there are no consequences, they build a reactor for the Syrians, there are no consequences," Liz Cheney said. "And what they have learned is that their belligerence, in fact, often times yields from us capitulation and concessions. I think that it's time for us to put them back on the terrorist list."

Cheney's proposed solution of putting North Korea back on the terrorist list is a mere technicality. "Sanctions" may be a bargaining chip for minor details, but aren't effective in this situation. The military drills we're conducting with Japan is a smart move. Other bold deterrents might be increasing troop levels in the South Korean peninsula, seeking a UN resolution authorizing use of force should North Korea escalate tensions again, and to encourage talks with Russia that assure North Korea that they will not have access to Russian nukes.

Hypocrisy at it's best the cost of extending the $3.9 trillion Bush era Tax cuts

With the end of the year looming the U.S. Congress has decided to work at a fever pitch to try and hammer out a deal to extend both unemployment benefits and the Bush era Tax cuts. In 2008 then Presidential nominee Barack Obama made it one of his campaign pledges not to extend the Bush era tax cuts for the wealthiest of Americans. It seems now that he might have to go back on his campaign promise in order to assure the extension of unemployment benefits to those in need.

As of today White House Deputy press Secretary Bill Burton has confirmed that negotiations are still on going and negotiators "have been making progress and the president is confident within the next couple of days" a deal will be had. Last week the house of Representatives approved President Obama proposal to extend the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts for those making $200,000 or less but house republicans would have none of that. On Saturday in an attempt to appease Senate Republicans the Democrats proposed setting the limit at million dollars or more before your taxes were increased but that also was not good enough for The Republicans to get on board.

The hypocrisy here is to extend the unemployment benefits its going to cost around $20 billion and to extend the Bush era tax cuts for the must wealthiest of Americans is going to cost more around $3.9 trillion over ten years. When are country was on the verge of total collapse President Obama's economic stimulus plan cost $780 billion and people were having heart attacks. We can have another three stimulus plans of $800 billion and still have a trillion dollars left over if we don't pass the tax extensions.

The Tea Party and the Republicans gained a lot of seats in the elections this November. They ran on the platform of reducing and controlling the federal deficit. The funny thing is that the majority of them support this massive unpaid increase to the national debt. The excuse they have is the same old thing you always hear the trickle down theory . I don't know about you but
over the last ten years I really have not felt anything trickling down into my pocket. The issue that annoys me the most is the Republicans can justify NOT having the money to extend the tax cuts but Democrats have to figure out where they are coming up with $2o billion to pay for unemployment benefits. You be the judge tell us how you feel about the Bush Tax Cut Extensions.

CNN- Obama: Tax Negotiations Continue