• Del.icio.us Links

    links for 2010-01-31

    • The United Nations' expert panel on climate change based claims about ice disappearing from the world's mountain tops on a student's dissertation and an article in a mountaineering magazine.
      The revelation will cause fresh embarrassment for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which had to issue a humiliating apology earlier this month over inaccurate statements about global warming.

      The IPCC's remit is to provide an authoritative assessment of scientific evidence on climate change.
      In its most recent report, it stated that observed reductions in mountain ice in the Andes, Alps and Africa was being caused by global warming, citing two papers as the source of the information.

      However, it can be revealed that one of the sources quoted was a feature article published in a popular magazine for climbers which was based on anecdotal evidence from mountaineers about the changes they were witnessing on the mountainsides around them.
      ++++++
      Science pollution indeed

    • A STARTLING report by the United Nations climate watchdog that global warming might wipe out 40% of the Amazon rainforest was based on an unsubstantiated claim by green campaigners who had little scientific expertise.

      The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said in its 2007 benchmark report that even a slight change in rainfall could see swathes of the rainforest rapidly replaced by savanna grassland.

      The source for its claim was a report from WWF, an environmental pressure group, which was authored by two green activists. They had based their “research” on a study published in Nature, the science journal, which did not assess rainfall but in fact looked at the impact on the forest of human activity such as logging and burning. This weekend WWF said it was launching an internal inquiry into the study.
      +++++++
      Bogus indeed

    • Only to the likes of MSNBC's Keith Olbermann is support for limited government a species of nihilism. But Tea Partiers are, in fact, working on a platform, which they've called the Contract From America . Though the name may remind some of Newt Gingrich's Contract with America, this is something very different.

      It's a set of ideas developed via an interactive Web site, where voting determines which elements are most important. And it's not a top-down contract consisting of promises made by leaders to the voters — it's more in the nature of a contract of employment from the voters, which politicians may choose to accept, or look for alternative employment.

      This is basically a crowd-sourced party platform, with the smoke-filled rooms and convention logrolling taken out of the picture. More dis-intermediation. I'm guessing that the political class won't like it much, either.

    • The deployments include expanded land-based Patriot defensive missile installations in Kuwait, Qatar, UAE and Bahrain, as well as Navy ships with missile defense systems within striking distance in and around the Mediterranean, officials said.

      General David Petraeus, who as head of U.S. Central Command is responsible for military operations across the Middle East, said this month that the United States has stationed eight Patriot missile batteries in four Gulf countries, which he did not identify.

      The buildup began under the Bush administration, but has expanded under President Barack Obama, who is pushing for a new round of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.
      ++++++
      Started under Bush and continuing under Obama

  • Day By Day,  Nancy Pelosi

    Day By Day January 31, 2010 – He Joined for the Party

    Day By Day by Chris Muir

    The Congressional Democrats and the Obama Administration are repeating the same “culture of corruption” 1994 mistakes of Bill, Hillary Clinton and the Congress then dominated by the Democrats. The House before the 1994 election had been controlled the Democrats for over forty years (since 1952).

    Remember the House post office scandal?

    Remember Democrat Speaker of the House Jim Wright and the scandals?

    Same political crap with Speaker Nancy Pelosi –  just different politicians.

    It reads like a dream order for a wild frat party: Maker’s Mark whiskey, Courvoisier cognac, Johnny Walker Red scotch, Grey Goose vodka, E&J brandy, Bailey’s Irish Crème, Bacardi Light rum, Jim Beam whiskey, Beefeater gin, Dewars scotch, Bombay Sapphire gin, Jack Daniels whiskey … and Corona beer.

    But that single receipt makes up just part of the more than $101,000 taxpayers paid for “in-flight services” – including food and liquor, for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trips on Air Force jets over the last two years. That’s almost $1,000 per week.

    Documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by Judicial Watch, which investigates and prosecutes government corruption, show Pelosi incurred expenses of some $2.1 million for her use of Air Force jets for travel
    over that time.

    “Speaker Pelosi has a history of wasting taxpayer funds with her boorish demands for military travel,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said today. “And these documents suggest the Speaker’s congressional delegations are more about partying than anything else.”

    American taxpayers/voters WILL send the Democrats a message this November.

    Previous:

    The Day By Day Archive


    Technorati Tags: ,

  • Twitter

    @Flap Twitter Updates for 2010-01-31

    Powered by Twitter Tools

  • Del.icio.us Links

    links for 2010-01-30

    • With the release of new Field and PPIC polls in the last week showing former eBay executive Meg Whitman opening up a potentially commanding lead over Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner in the race for the GOP nomination for governor, there is a natural tendency among some observers to assume the race is all but over.

      Among them are people with relatively short memories.

      The last time there was a contested GOP primary for governor — in 2002 — former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan held an even larger lead in the polls in January, which at the time was much closer to Election Day (the primary was in March instead of June back then).

      Here are the numbers from the Jan. 29, 2002 Field Poll: Riordan 46 percent, Bill Simon 13 percent, Bill Jones 13 percent. That's a 33-point lead. The Jan. 25, 2010 Field Poll shows Whitman at 45 percent and Poizner at 17 percent, a 28-point lead, with a lot more undecideds than there were in January '02.
      +++++
      Indeed. $20 million buys alot of love

    • Sarah PAC, the political action committee of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, collected $1.4 million over the final six months of 2009, a solid — if not spectacular — total that demonstrates her fundraising capacity as she mulls a bid for national office in 2012.

      "We are thrilled," said Palin senior adviser Meg Stapleton about the fundraising total. "Common sense Americans know the direction we need to take this country and that Sarah Palin will be instrumental in taking us there this year."

      For the year, Palin raised roughly $2.1 million through Sarah PAC and ended the year with $900,000 in the bank. She donated $64,600 to candidates and party committees.
      ++++++
      Now, to whom will go the spoils?

      (tags: sarah_palin)
    • The trial of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed won't be held in lower Manhattan and could take place in a military tribunal at Guantanamo Bay, sources said last night.

      Administration officials said that no final decision had been made but that officials of the Department of Justice and the White House were working feverishly to find a venue that would be less expensive and less of a security risk than New York City.

      The back-to-the-future Gitmo option was reported yesterday by Fox News and was not disputed by White House officials.
      ++++++++
      I thought Obama said to close Gitmo?

      What a joke.

    • A top Senate Democrat on Friday stressed that jobs and economic recovery, not healthcare reform, should have been the president's top priority last year.

      While Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) described President Barack Obama's focus on healthcare as "very important," he said the timing of Obama's legislative push ultimately "wasn't good."

      The North Dakota senator later added Obama should have pursued an agenda that was "all economy, all the time [and] all jobs, all the time" in order to "repair this economy and put people back to work" more quickly.
      +++++++
      Well, duh.

      and, this is why some many Congressional Dems are in jepardy for re-election.

    • From our You Never Know Until You Ask Files, Carly Fiorina got a most unexpected e-mail from Bay Area venture capitalist William Oberndorf — an invitation to contribute money to her rival for the state's Republican U.S. Senate nomination, former U.S. Rep. Tom Campbell.

      Oberndorf is the finance chairman of Campbell’s campaign, but he apparently didn’t bother to carefully scrub the campaign e-mail list closely before asking for donations.

      The Oberndorf solicitation, with the subject line “Exciting Opportunity for CA in the U.S. Senate,” was part of a bulk e-mail request from Campbell’s campaign.

      Campbell “is a tried-and-true fiscal conservative who understands the perils of deficit spending. He is also a social moderate who supports such issues as the right of women to choose,” the e-mail says.

      Speaking of Campbell’s fundraising, Campbell has brought on Kristin Hueter, who heads gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman’s Bay Area fundraising, to help raise money for his campaign
      +++
      Oops

  • Barack Obama,  Day By Day

    Day By Day January 30, 2010 – The Big Picture

    Day By Day by Chris Muir

    Chris, the big picture for President Obama is the economy and instead he has concentrated on nationalizing the health care system with Obamacare – none of which has become law after a year of Congressional action.

    Now, the American people do not trust the President.

    During his State-of-the-Union address Wednesday night, President Obama spoke about a deficit of trust between the American people and political leaders. New Rasmussen Reports polling on the president’s speech shows just how deep that trust deficit has become.

    The president in the speech declared that his administration has cut taxes for 95% of Americans. He even chided
    Republicans for not applauding on that point. However, just 21% of voters nationwide believe that taxes have been cut for 95% of Americans. Most (53%) say it has not happened, and 26% are not sure. Other polling shows that nearly half the nation’s voters expect their own taxes to go up during the Obama years.

    The president also asserted that “after two years of recession, the economy is growing again.” Just 35% of voters believe that statement is true, while 50% say it is false.

    Obama claimed that steps taken by his team are responsible for putting two million people to work “who would otherwise be unemployed.” Just 27% of voters say that statement is true. Fifty-one percent (51%) say it’s false.

    More than likely it will be impossible to turn around public perceptions about the Congressional Democrats by this November. I predict the Democrats will lose many seats in the House and Senate.

    However, if the economy does not turn around by the end of the year, Obama may very well be a lame duck President – just like Jimmy Carter.

    Previous:

    The Day By Day Archive


    Technorati Tags: ,

  • Twitter

    @Flap Twitter Updates for 2010-01-30

    • links for 2010-01-29 http://bit.ly/bQcGKF #tcot #
    • CA-Sen: Carly Fiorina Leads in U.S. Senate Campaign Cash http://bit.ly/ayARfc #tcot #
    • WA-Sen: Dem Sen Patty Murray's Seat In Play According To GOP Poll #tcot http://icio.us/seu2nx #
    • So, Frank Luntz how much did you pay The One for the mention? As Frank's head swells…..tada #tcot #
    • Mr President please refer to the Rep by his correct name,. Sheesh #tcot #
    • Watching the testy Obama on MSNBC since FNC cut away = #fail #tcot #
    • Gallup Poll Watch: Obama approval 48 per cent (+1); disapprove 45 per cent (-1) #tcot #
    • Kos and Ezra Klein are going GAGA over The One talking to Republicans. They are probably compelled when Obama eats breakfast. #fail #tcot #
    • Obama really resents groveling to the lowly Republicans, now doesn't he? #
    • RT @jimgeraghty: Obama is right when he says his health care plan is not a Bolshevik plot, because it's really more Trotskyite in nature|Yep #
    • @JoeMarier Thanks – I stand corrected. Joseph Cao from Lousiana voted for Obamacare in reply to JoeMarier #
    • @joshgillespie Yes, sorry I forgot about Joe Cao. He voted for Obamacare. So, ONE Republican and now Obama comes to the GOP retreat in reply to joshgillespie #
    • Oh correction: didn't one Louisiana Rep vote with the Dems on Obamacare? #
    • Reminder to the President: Not ONE Republican voted for his health care reform proposals. #tcot #
    • Bolshevik Plot = Obamacare? Damn straight Mr. President #tcot #
    • No wonder Hillary enjoyed debating Obama. Without a teleprompter he is very halting and well, average. #tcot #
    • @kdrum Sorry Kevin: Obama ain't no Ronald Reagan. Now, you are not really serious, right? in reply to kdrum #
    • Guess Obama knows that come November he will NOT have a Congressional super majority. —-> finally Axelrod figured it out #tcot #
    • Oh So now Obama wants to talk to the GOP? Where has he been for the past 12 months? #tcot #
    • 'Nobel Peace Prize-winner Barack Obama ups spending on nuclear weapons to even more than George Bush' #tcot http://icio.us/hs0mzj #
    • CA-Gov: Down in the polls, Steve Poizner comes out swinging #catcot #cagop http://icio.us/wixdj4 #
    • Now that Obamacare has been shelved when will Obama reach out to make Medicare and Social Security financially solvent? #tcot #
    • Bill ending banks' role in student loans stalls in Senate #tcot http://icio.us/bmfa3q #
    • CA-AG: Chapman Law School Dean John Eastman resigns, jumps into Attorney General's race #tcot #cagop #catcot http://icio.us/ygcnou #
    • Day By Day January 29, 2009 – Bunker Mentality http://bit.ly/d6PvbP #tcot #
    • Good #FollowFriday morning/afternoon/evening Flapsblog.com, Twitter, Friendfeed and Facebook friends: http://bit.ly/17ucG0 #ff #
    • Links for 2010-01-28 [del.icio.us] http://bit.ly/ckpCVf #tcot #
    • @Flap Twitter Updates for 2010-01-29 http://bit.ly/9qtmid #tcot #

    Powered by Twitter Tools

  • Del.icio.us Links

    links for 2010-01-29

    • In what is becoming a familiar refrain for Dems, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) could be facing a tough re-election fight, according to a new poll released today by a GOP survey firm.

      The poll, conducted by OR-based Moore Information (R), shows Murray trailing two-time GOV nominee Dino Rossi (R) in a hypothetical matchup. Rossi, Moore Information pollsters Bob Moore and Hans Kaiser note, is the state's best-known GOPer, though he has not been mentioned as a potential candidate against Murray. Rossi has lost two close elections to Gov. Chris Gregiore (D); he notably declined to run in '06 against Sen. Maria Cantwell (D) to challenge a second time Gregoire in '08.

      Moore Information surveyed 500 WA registered voters on Jan. 23 and 24, with a margin of error of +/- 4.4%.

      General Election Matchup

      Rossi 45%
      Murray 43
      +++++++
      Oh My!

    • Barack Obama has allocated £4.3billion to spend on maintaining the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile – £370million more than what was budgeted by George Bush.

      The budget will also be increased by more than £3.1billion over the next five years.

      The announcement comes despite the American President declaring nuclear weapons were the ‘greatest danger’ to U.S. people during in his State of the Union address on Wednesday.
      ++++++
      Why, of course.

      PLUS CA CHANGE

      (tags: barack_obama)
    • But, Poizner said, that's because few people who will vote in the June 8 primary are paying attention to the race. He noted that nearly half the voters are still undecided and argued that they really know little about Whitman other than what they hear on her ubiquitous radio ads.

      Poizner, a former Silicon Valley entrepreneur, said when he begins spending his $17.5 million war chest on 30-second TV spots — which he promised will be "soon" — California will learn more about Whitman and, more important, about him.

      Although Whitman and Poizner are widely perceived as moderates, Poizner hinted that the ads will draw a clear distinction between their philosophies and skill sets.

      Voters will get to know him as "Steve Poizner the tax-cut guy," said Poizner, who dismissed Whitman as someone who "didn't vote for most of her life."

      "Voters have had it with celebrities, had it with career politicians and had it with rookies," Poizner said.
      +++++++
      But, will it be too late?

    • Four months after it sailed through the Democratic-led House, legislation to overhaul federal student lending and channel about $80 billion in savings toward an array of education initiatives has stalled in the Senate.

      In his State of the Union address Wednesday, President Obama exhorted the Senate to pass the bill, which he said would revitalize community colleges and make college more affordable. But the bill faces unified opposition from the Republican minority and sharp questions from at least some Democrats, according to congressional aides from both parties, and the Democratic majority has put it on hold during the drawn-out health-care deliberations.

      The assumption on Capitol Hill is that Democrats will attempt to move the student loan bill through a special procedure that requires a simple majority rather than the usual 60 votes out of 100 needed to stop a filibuster
      ++++++
      Reconciliation is a bad idea for THIS bad idea.

    • The race for California attorney general just keeps getting more and more crowded.

      On Wednesday, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Hillsborough) was spotted at a Capitol watering hole as word spread that she's entering the race.

      Today, Republican John Eastman announced that he's resigning as dean of Chapman University School of Law as of Feb. 1 to seek the GOP nomination to become California’s next top cop.

      Eastman first took out paperwork to run for attorney general last week. He issued a statement today saying that he has “decided to move forward with that endeavor.”

      He will be competing for the GOP nomination with Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley, who also jumped into the race this month, and state Sen. Tom Harman (R-Huntington Beach).
      ++++++++
      Steve Cooley will be a tough opponent for the little known (outside conservative legal circles) Eastman

  • Carly Fiorina,  Chuck DeVore,  Tom Campbell

    CA-Sen: Carly Fiorina Leads in U.S. Senate Campaign Cash

    California U.S. Senate candidate Carly Fiorina today hosting a Town Hall Meeting with High-Tech Entrepreneurs and Innovators

    The Federal Election Commission campaign disclosure reports are out and Carly Fiorina leads California Assemblyman Chuck DeVore by millions of dollars. Tom Campbell who just switched from the California governor’s race a few weeks ago did not file a report since he was not a candidate on December 31, 2009. Since Campbell cannot transfer funds raised for the Governor’s race he starts fresh with no campaign cash.

    Republican U.S. Senate candidates Carly Fiorina and Assemblyman Chuck DeVore each raised more than $1 million through the end of 2009, but Fiorina had a significant cash-on-hand advantage after loaning her campaign $2.5 million, according to year-end statements they released Friday.

    Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard CEO, had $2.75 million in cash at the end of 2009, compared to $226,364 for DeVore. Former congressman Tom Campbell entered the Senate race two weeks ago and had to start his fundraising anew after dropping his gubernatorial bid.

    Carly Fiorina who only announced her candidacy in November 2009 has raised almost $1.1 million, including more than 200 hundred contributions at the maximum ($2,400).

    Her contributors include:

    • Edward Atsinger of Salem Communications
    • Colin Powell, former Secretary of State
    • Jerry Perenchio, former Univision CEO
    • Donald Bren, CEO of the Irvine Company

    Fiorina’s campaign statement is here.

    On the other hand, Chuck DeVore only raised $445,000 since October 2009. His expenses during that time were $364,000 for a net for the last quarter of 2009 equal to less than $100,000. DeVore reports $226,364 cash on hand but has debts and obligations of $83,654. So, his net cash on hand is $142,710.

    DeVore’s poor showing in fundraising should re-ignite the rumors that he will soon drop out of the race.

    DeVore’s campaign statement is here.

    The only questions at this point are how much will Carly Fiorina be able to raise, how much will she and her husband self-fund and when will she begin to spend her campaign cash on advertising.

    Stay tuned…….


    Technorati Tags: , ,

  • Barack Obama,  Day By Day

    Day By Day January 29, 2010 – Bunker Mentality



    Day By Day by Chris Muir

    The You Tube depiction of Obama and his merry men of screwing up the economy is hilarious. Here it is embedded below (for as long as it lasts):

    Obama freaks out over economy! – (Hitler bunker parody)

    But, today, Obama is taking his teleprompter on the road to talk about the economy and jobs. What happened to Obamacare?

    Well, thankfully, it looks like it died.

    Now, Mr. President how about some tax cuts, instead of massive government spending? It just might work to turn the economy around.

    You think?

    Previous:

    The Day By Day Archive


    Technorati Tags: ,

  • Twitter

    @Flap Twitter Updates for 2010-01-29

    Powered by Twitter Tools