tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post5127691314418290940..comments2023-08-05T07:24:04.413-05:00Comments on Hope n' Change Cartoons: Doctoring The BooksUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-80742130791314146992013-05-15T20:51:02.404-05:002013-05-15T20:51:02.404-05:00@Readers- Commenting on this page is now closed.@Readers- <b>Commenting on this page is now closed</b>. Stilton Jarlsberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14503164551782304564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-47147645863964602512013-05-15T20:44:00.162-05:002013-05-15T20:44:00.162-05:00@Ted Brist- Actually, I nuked your previous post n...@Ted Brist- Actually, I nuked your previous post not out of cowardice, but to spare the readers here your ignorance and vehemence. However, I haven't checked the blog until now and see that you've engaged in some conversations (hint: you're losing badly) so I'll say a couple of things before going about the business of nuking anything else you write.<br /><br />The question isn't whether or not Republicans made budget cuts to State Department security, but whether any such cuts had an effect on what happened in Benghazi. And the answer, clearly and repeatedly stated, is "no."<br /><br />Here's a quote from National Review: "Democrats have claimed that budget cuts resulted in the lack of security in Benghazi, but Charlene Lamb, a <b>deputy assistant secretary of state for diplomatic security</b>, testified in October that <b>budget cuts did not affect resources for security in Benghazi</b>. On Face the Nation that same month, House Oversight Committee chairman Darrell Issa said the State Department was sitting on <b>more than $2.2 billion in unused funds designated for embassy security</b>. Nothing that Chaffetz said changes this by the State Department's own admission.<br /><br />The lack of requested security in Benghazi comes down to <i>purely political decisions</i> by the State Department and Obama Administration <i>not to provide such security</i> no matter how much Chris Stevens begged for it. <br /><br />Presumably this was because Barry didn't want to offend the Libyans by showing a "lack of trust" (ie, adequate security). But we shouldn't have to <i>presume</i> anything: we should investigate and get answers. But then again, you seem awfully eager to avoid such an investigation, perhaps because you already know that the truth won't be to your liking.<br /><br />Your argument that we couldn't get anyone to Libya to help is (what's the word I'm looking for?) stupid. I think the Americans who died in the seventh hour of fighting might have been pretty happy to see those fighter jets show up <i>three hours earlier</i>. But how did anyone know that the firefight would only last 7 hours instead of a full day? Two days? No, the decision not to send help was because it was deemed preferable to let the Americans die than draw attention to the situation or create an international "incident" 60 days before the election.<br /><br />If indeed Sean Smith was any friend of yours, I'd think you'd be pretty interested in really finding out whose hands his blood is on - though at this point, it's been spread pretty thin between administration liars (who, incidentally, impeded the FBI investigation into the deaths with their lies, which is a criminal offense).<br /><br />In short, Ted, you don't know WTF you're talking about. Goodbye.<br /><br />Stilton Jarlsberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14503164551782304564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-9372895179225015662013-05-15T20:23:33.562-05:002013-05-15T20:23:33.562-05:00And lest you think I'm ducking the issue, here...And lest you think I'm ducking the issue, here's the Republican, Jason Chaffetz, saying that he absolutely cut the funding.<br /><br /> O’BRIEN: Is it true that you voted to cut the funding for embassy security?<br /><br /> CHAFFETZ: Absolutely. Look, we have to make priorities and choices in this country. We have — think about this — 15,000 contractors in Iraq. We have more than 6,000 contractors, private army there for President Obama in Baghdad.<br /><br /> And we’re talking about can we get two dozen or so people into Libya to help protect our forces? When you’re in tough economic times, you have to make difficult choices how to prioritize this.<br /><br />Is this the republicans fault? "Absolutley".Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08527577733110263558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-73439146993659641592013-05-15T20:19:32.316-05:002013-05-15T20:19:32.316-05:00@JustAJeepGuy: You mean the drones Alex Jones told...@JustAJeepGuy: You mean the drones Alex Jones told you were there, right after he told you the lizard people were coming for your teeth?<br /><br />Next you're gonna tell me that the Libyan civilians who were trying to get a man to the hospital were raping him, right? (Cause Gay Sex=EVIL, so therefore all evil people are gay).<br /><br />The closest actual military intervention was realistically 4 hours away. Notice I said realistically - if you bring up there being fighter jets ready and waiting on the runway in Sicily, you're confusing life with a Micheal Bay movie again.Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08527577733110263558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-81276391211814701592013-05-15T20:13:46.922-05:002013-05-15T20:13:46.922-05:00@Ted, did Susan Rice go on all those Sunday mornin...@Ted, did Susan Rice go on all those Sunday morning news shows and say the video "may have been a factor"? Or did she say it WAS the cause of the attack? And didn't Barack Hussein go to the UN and say the video WAS the cause of the attack? <br /><br />If you're privy to the details of the Embassy Security Staff budget cuts, please let us have those details. But even those details won't explain away the inaction of the administration during the actual attack. You know, the attack the administration was watching in real time from the drone flying overhead.... JustaJeepGuynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-26596195500843958712013-05-15T18:23:32.221-05:002013-05-15T18:23:32.221-05:00@John THe Econ: I notice you didn't actually r...@John THe Econ: I notice you didn't actually respond to how the Republicans cutting the Embassy Security Staff budget led to those four Americans being killed.<br /><br />And I know that you're such a simple creature that you think all things in life only happen because of one thing, but a more reasonable person would know that saying the video may have been a factor doesn't rule out Al Qaeda also being a factor.Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08527577733110263558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-6153900928570329382013-05-15T16:55:36.254-05:002013-05-15T16:55:36.254-05:00@Ted Brist, again, the Obama Administration, at al...@Ted Brist, again, the Obama Administration, at all levels propagated "the video" narrative long after there was no doubt that the attack was a coordinated assault, and not a wholly organic response to an obscure YouTube video.<br /><br />The armed response sent to incarcerate the video's creator, soon to be beamed all over the planet, was far better prepared than the consulate security staff.<br /><br />So tell me this: If from day one, the Obama Administration acknowledged this this was, in fact, a "terror" attack, then why the phony pretense over the video?<br /><br />This silly spin effort might float well at the Daily Kos. But here, it's just pathetic.John the Econnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-14878123637125599182013-05-15T15:29:00.085-05:002013-05-15T15:29:00.085-05:00@Stilton Jarlsberg: Good to see you went the route...@Stilton Jarlsberg: Good to see you went the route of a coward and covered up what I said, that contained absolutely no obscenities, and was therefore only offensive to you in that it (rightfully) threatened your malformed views.<br /><br />@John the Econ: While Conservatives continue to demonize the fact that Obama said Act of terror, which is clearly not the same as a terrorist act for REASONS, the actual root cause of the deaths of four Americans (including my friend, Sean Smith) is the Republicans cutting the embassy security staff budget.<br /><br />The IRS needing to create a way to flag groups in the first place is due to understaffing meaning only a tiny percentage of forms can be viewed in detail.<br /><br /><br />Which of these is indicative of a government thats too big, again?Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08527577733110263558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-39755910209077578592013-05-15T09:18:52.103-05:002013-05-15T09:18:52.103-05:00@John the Econ- It seems that Lefties continually ...@John the Econ- It seems that Lefties continually excuse even blatant corruption and misuse of power by claiming "Bush did it too." Claiming that "everyone is guilty" isn't quite the same as proclaiming innocence.<br /><br />@txGreg- Brist's comments only went downhill, and the last was so spectacularly ignorant that I chose to spare all of you from it. It's not a sin to be stupid, but to <i>choose</i> to be a fool is unforgiveable.Stilton Jarlsberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14503164551782304564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-4484244262971437342013-05-15T09:12:21.060-05:002013-05-15T09:12:21.060-05:00@Ted Brist,
Congratulations - you managed to find...@Ted Brist,<br /><br />Congratulations - you managed to find a remaining sliver of generosity... at first. I read your initial comment and laughed out loud. I was ready to tell you that you should include a [sarcasm] tag or somesuch so that everyone could laugh with you rather than at you.<br /><br />Then, I read further and realized that you weren't being sarcastic... you really were that dumb and (apparently deliberately) uninformed. <br /><br />Now, you just make me sad. Another sliver of my attempt to hope for the best in humanity, gone for good...<br /><br />Still - my best wishes to you... maybe a bit more propaganda efforts like this from you and you'll get your free Øbamaphone in the mail!txGregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-81116324135536943162013-05-15T08:32:15.245-05:002013-05-15T08:32:15.245-05:00For the better part of a month, the Obama Administ...For the better part of a month, the Obama Administration propagated "the video" narrative. They even spent money to produce and run a commercial about the video in the middle east:<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtNu6E7c4vA<br /><br />Meanwhile, the news on IRS links just keeps getting better (or worse). So now it seems that employees within the IRS were channeling confidential information on conservative groups to leftist groups and political operatives.<br /><br />@Ted Brist, defend Obama as you clearly will. But try to honestly answer this: Do not all these government out of control stories vindicate the agenda of the Tea Party? Or is political corruption at all levels just the price we must pay to live in a Progressive paradise?John the Econnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-15047021247717647192013-05-15T07:20:39.831-05:002013-05-15T07:20:39.831-05:00@Ted Brist- In the past, I've been criticized ...@Ted Brist- In the past, I've been criticized for trying too hard to find common ground with trolls, but I'm not in the mood to play that game just now.<br /><br />Your (hopefully final)post was deleted because it was factually wrong in every regard, filled with your own fantasies and delusions, and preposterous talking points from MSNBC (yes, ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Brist STILL insists that the Benghazi massacre <i>was caused by the Youtube video</i>).<br /><br />Say goodnight, Gracie.Stilton Jarlsberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14503164551782304564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-52326546339071598622013-05-15T02:00:37.977-05:002013-05-15T02:00:37.977-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08527577733110263558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-75708308141242640962013-05-14T23:59:51.657-05:002013-05-14T23:59:51.657-05:00@Ted Brist- You can be the pitcher or the catcher ...@Ted Brist- You can be the pitcher or the catcher (not that your private life is any of my business), but you can't also be the umpire here on my playing field.<br /><br />NOT Strike One- Rubio did NOT say the scandal originated with the IRS Commissioner, he said the IRS Commissioner should be fired for having presided over an out of control and poorly managed organization (this per the actual investigation results released today).<br /><br />On your next point, Presidents can be highly influential, especially when they hold your career in their sweaty, corrupt, power-crazed little hands. So it's entirely possible that Barry exerted pressure, but we won't <i>know</i> that until there's a large investigation with subpoenas. Similarly, your assertion that Obama has "less connection" to this scandal than Bush has no weight behind it before such an investigation. Although it does seem like an odd COINCIDENCE that the IRS went wild and started attacking Barry's political enemies if no one in his camp had anything to do with it.<br /><br />NOT Strike Two- Barry did NOT call it terrorism the next day (he did use the word "terror" in a generic sense), and <i>specifically said on 60 Minutes that he was not calling it terrorism.</i> He then continued to blame a preposterous video, including on the floor of the United Nations. The first "official" declaration by the Whitehouse that this was an act of terrorism came over two weeks after the massacre. When Obama says otherwise, he is flat out lying.<br /><br />NOT Strike Three- Well, I'm just going to have to call "bullshit" on this one, because all you're doing is giving your opinion that no complaints against your little Socialist tin god are valid.<br /><br />So considering you're bringing nothing to the party other than anger, lack of information, and intellectual dishonesty, I bid adieu to you and the horse you rode in on.Stilton Jarlsberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14503164551782304564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-7298850153230415482013-05-14T22:43:27.033-05:002013-05-14T22:43:27.033-05:00@Stilton Jarlsberg
"Why? Because NO ONE has ...@Stilton Jarlsberg<br /><br />"Why? Because NO ONE has accused the Bush appointee as being the guy who originated or implemented the IRS fiasco."<br /><br />STEE-RIKE ONE! Marco Rubio, the last hispanic man in the GOP, has said the scandal originated with the head of the IRS at the time - the Bush appointee.<br /><br />" The IRS position is specifically supposed to be apolitical, so assigning imagined loyalties to the guy based on who appointed him is wishful thinking on your part"<br /><br />And yet you manage to say the current president is influencing him despite being even less connected to the matter than Bush?<br /><br /><br />"And Ted, let me thank you for the laugh o' the day in calling this "one thing to legitimately complain about." I guess you don't give a rat's ass that a sitting American president lied about Benghazi to give cover to Al-Qaeda in order to protect his campaign phrase that Barry had 'em on the run."<br /><br />STEE-RIKE TWO! Obama called that an act of terror the very next dday. Unless you are the sort of tight ass grammar nazi that thinks semantics is a good strategy, that is clearly saying that Benghazi was terrorists.<br /><br />"There are dozens of other "legitimate" complaints about this administration which are raised right here on a regular basis, and none of the links to Obama are tenuous."<br /><br />STEE-RIKE THREE! YOU'RE OUT! None of the complaints raised by you are the legitamite ones. THe word legitmatie means having a legal basis, while not a single goddamn thing you have brought up has any for of legal or factual basis. And the actual Obama scandals that have a factual base are glossed over by you, because the major scandals with Obama are him acting like a Republican.Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08527577733110263558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-16357776510794326182013-05-14T22:19:55.607-05:002013-05-14T22:19:55.607-05:00@Ted Brist- First, I think we all need to give Ted...@Ted Brist- First, I think we all need to give Ted a group hug. He, and everyone else on the Left, is having a tough week. And trying to pin things on Bush isn't going to really help much.<br /><br />Why? Because NO ONE has accused the Bush appointee as being the guy who originated or implemented the IRS fiasco. Did he help try to cover it up? Quite possibly, but so far there are no "blatant and public facts" making him the fall guy here.<br /><br />But apart from that, what in God's name makes you think that a Bush appointee couldn't be (ahem) "influenced" by a sitting president? The IRS position is specifically supposed to be apolitical, so assigning imagined loyalties to the guy based on who appointed him is wishful thinking on your part, which is still slightly better than no thinking at all on your part.<br /><br />And Ted, let me thank you for the laugh o' the day in calling this "one thing to legitimately complain about." I guess you don't give a rat's ass that a sitting American president lied about Benghazi <i>to give cover to Al-Qaeda</i> in order to protect his campaign phrase that Barry had 'em on the run.<br /><br />There are dozens of other "legitimate" complaints about this administration which are raised right here on a regular basis, and none of the links to Obama are tenuous.<br /><br />You can hang around and learn something, but you'll actually enjoy it more if you expose yourself to some actual news (might I suggest you start with the Wall Street Journal?) so you can keep up with the class.Stilton Jarlsberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14503164551782304564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-81694933511605248592013-05-14T20:57:07.504-05:002013-05-14T20:57:07.504-05:00"I wonder how the Obambam voters are feeling ..."I wonder how the Obambam voters are feeling about their "Holy One", POTUS now. This is the most disgraceful and corrupt administration in my lifetime."<br /><br />You are, of course, talking about the Bush administration that appointed this guy, right? As in the only President who had any form of influence over this set of affairs, and the only President who could be linked to this in any way? You are of course only referring to Bush, because otherwise you are indeed going completely against the blatant and public facts of this affair?<br /><br />Just because you regressives finally got one thing to legitimately complain about, does not mean you can just blame whoever you want. If you want to be treated like adults, then you have to leave the blame where it actually is, not drag this out forever while trying to find some tenuous link to Obama.Tedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08527577733110263558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-65005607960037193942013-05-14T20:10:12.336-05:002013-05-14T20:10:12.336-05:00@Readers- I don't have much of anything to add...@Readers- I don't have much of anything to add to the lively dialogue above, but I'm sure enjoying it!<br /><br />Unsurprisingly, these topics will all still be on the table for Wednesday's Hope n' Change!Stilton Jarlsberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14503164551782304564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-9876026128534576682013-05-14T18:33:04.435-05:002013-05-14T18:33:04.435-05:00I wonder how the Obambam voters are feeling about ...I wonder how the Obambam voters are feeling about their "Holy One", POTUS now. This is the most disgraceful and corrupt administration in my lifetime.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-85715834034065178472013-05-14T17:08:17.641-05:002013-05-14T17:08:17.641-05:00No need to fear, Eric Holder is on the case!:
htt...No need to fear, Eric Holder is on the case!:<br /><br />http://news.yahoo.com/justice-investigate-irs-targeting-tea-party-191244797.html<br /><br /><i>"Those (actions) were, I think, as everyone can agree, if not criminal, they were certainly outrageous and unacceptable," Holder said. "But we are examining the facts to see if there were criminal violations..."<br /><br />Holder said he wasn't sure which laws may have been broken."</i><br /><br />Sounds to me like a job for a "special prosecutor", one of those things invented in the wake of Nixon, that the left has been regretting ever since Clinton.John the Econnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-43529545639832823402013-05-14T14:48:07.810-05:002013-05-14T14:48:07.810-05:00Agreed, the IRS thing could be huge, IF it can be ...Agreed, the IRS thing could be huge, <b>IF</b> it can be tracked back to El Casa Blanca. And we all know BO is really good at covering his little weasel tracks. Still, the impeachment hearings were not directly successful in removing Richard Nixon, but the fallout became unbearable enough to bring a resignation.<br /><br />I still think the AP thing has huge potential. If the media turns on HRH Barry, he's toast. Already, even uber-liberal Carl Bernstein has blasted BO, so there is a slight glimmer of hope here. Colbynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-70635281985267839932013-05-14T14:24:31.818-05:002013-05-14T14:24:31.818-05:00Agreed, John, the IRS scandal is the biggie. I'...Agreed, John, the IRS scandal is the biggie. I've always said I'd rather have the FBI, CIA & KGB after me than the IRS. The first 3 can kill you but the IRS can REALLY ruin your life.grayladynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-9133043014391059252013-05-14T14:22:55.066-05:002013-05-14T14:22:55.066-05:00@John The Econ: Reference from the articles of Imp...@John The Econ: Reference from the articles of Impeachment - <br /><br />Article 2<br /><br />Using the powers of the office of President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in disregard of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has repeatedly engaged in conduct violating the constitutional rights of citizens, impairing the due and proper administration of justice and the conduct of lawful inquiries, or contravening the laws governing agencies of the executive branch and the purposed of these agencies.<br />This conduct has included one or more of the following:<br />He has, acting personally and through his subordinates and agents, endeavoured to obtain from the Internal Revenue Service, in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens, confidential information contained in income tax returns for purposed not authorized by law, and to cause, in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens, income tax audits or other income tax investigations to be intitiated or conducted in a discriminatory manner.<br /><br />I think the spin mongers in the Zero Dark Squirty's administration are in full panic mode and are throwing out whatever to try and distract, not realizing that all they are doing is adding on. Now let's also add the DoE and their green energy grants to the investigations.SeaDog52http://grumpy52.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-17541461885757513982013-05-14T13:47:10.189-05:002013-05-14T13:47:10.189-05:00I don't know @Earl Allison and skeptical other...I don't know @Earl Allison and skeptical others; The idea that Obama would intentionally set the IRS thing lose as a distraction from Benghazi makes about as much sense as chopping off your nose to spite your face.<br /><br />Say what you will about the scandal that is Benghazi, but at the end of the day, <b>there really isn't any crime (legally, anyway) about it.</b> It's now blatantly obvious that consulate security was a compete joke, and that the Obama Administration was incompetent and their reaction to the whole mess was to propagate a lie about it. But politicians and administrations lie every day. The Clinton Administration did it daily. ("Yesterday's story is now inoperative) By itself, it's an embarrassment, but hardly an impeachable offense.<br /><br />On the other hand, revelations that the Obama Administration was actively using the IRS as a method to attack, punish, and/or intimidate political rivals <b>clearly is an impeachable offense, with precedent.</b><br /><br />Also consider, as I've mentioned here numerous times before, that relatively few Americans can relate at all to the tragedy and scandal that is Benghazi. On the other hand, <b>nearly all Americans, regardless of their political stripe, can relate to being intimidated by the IRS; a government agency with immense powers, its own court system that works in reverse of the normal system, (guilty until proven innocent) and the ability to seize all your property, throw you in jail, and attach the fruits of your labor literally forever.</b><br /><br />If I was the Obama Administration, I'd be using Benghazi as a distraction from the IRS scandal, and not the other way around.John the Econnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8993108951931633758.post-39609065774752875142013-05-14T13:17:35.905-05:002013-05-14T13:17:35.905-05:00Damn, no gouda, your comment about "electric ...Damn, no gouda, your comment about "electric brownies" brought on a full blown chocoholic fit, a pound bag of M&M's gone. (I don't drink alcohol and prefer my emotion-sustaining imbibing to be of the chocolate type. Buy stock in Hershey's, boys, it can only go up!)<br />And yes, the IRS story is supposed to be a distraction as is the AP revelation. Perhaps the Zero Dark Squirty (I LOVED that, Earl) administration thinks they can numb us to the violation of our rights by ramping up the number of sustained of hits. After a while they think we'll be so numb we just won't notice any more hits.grayladynoreply@blogger.com