| Obama: Class warrior, part of the problem, hearts power, flunked Econ 101, meddles in Bay State, lies about ACORN-Care, triggers global trade war for unions, agonizes over ACORN, H8s non-union jobs. Mismanagement: ACORN probe board exposed, ACORN Dems duck, Soros hears Van, union bigs punish taxpayers, labor-state fail, union bigs embezzle, NBA refs locked out. International: Walesa rips Obama, Hugo apes Barack, Yanqui go home, Argentina progs advance. |
Rebuilding the Middle Class? ... President Obama's approval rating has dropped below 50 percent among middle-income Americans, according to tracking done by the Gallup Poll during the period from Sept. 7-Sept. 13. For a month, President Obama’s overall job approval rating has been scraping along at or just above 50%, according the Gallup tracking poll, which interviews approximately 1,000 adult Americans everyday. In the most recent three day period, the poll put his overall approval rating at 51%. Among Americans in the middle-income brackets, however, the president's approval rating has now dropped below 50%. (cnsnews.com)
Obamunists are not part of the solution ... The audience at President Obama's "fixing Wall Street" speech at Federal Hall this week was packed with Democratic donors and lefty community organizers. Of course, the White House can invite whoever it likes to such events -- but the rest of us ought to ponder the message contained in that guest list. It's thus significant that the crowd invited to hear Obama deliver what the White House billed as a major policy address outlining the president's vision for financial reform was full of people who arguably helped cause the economic meltdown. (nypost.com)
New Prog anger: It's all about power ... The lefties' only work experience has been organizing protests, crafting slogans and manipulating the media. But regular Americans, in addition to their day jobs in building America and making it work have now also learned the stagecraft of protesting, sloganeering and leveraging the alternative media, while upstaging the mainstream media. Unlike regular Americans, lefties have never produced anything that works -- neither in the private nor public sector. They have no frame of reference to assess whether their new world order will work; they haven't participated in building what works today. Nor have they ever built any sort of successful competing socio-economic model on any scale to show the rest of us that their future state on a larger scale could work. More frightening, lefties don't care. Their only interest is to exercise the power of overthrow and erasure. (americanthinker.com)
Obama runs U.S. economy into the ditch ... Forty-two states lost jobs last month, up from 29 in July, with the biggest net payroll cuts coming in Texas, Michigan, Georgia and Ohio. The Labor Department also reported Friday that 27 states saw their unemployment rates increase in August, and 14 states and Washington D.C., reported unemployment rates of 10 percent or above. (washingtonexaminer.com)
Obama meddles shamelessly in Massachusetts ... Gov. Deval Patrick said Friday that President Barack Obama had personally talked to him about changing the Senate succession law in Massachusetts, and White House aides were pushing for him to gain the power to temporarily replace the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy amid the administration's health care push. A month after a White House spokesman labeled the issue a state matter, Patrick said he and Obama spoke about changing the law as they both attended Kennedy's funeral in Boston last month. He also said White House aides have been in contact frequently ever since and pushing for the change so they can regain their filibuster-proof majority in the U.S. Senate. (washingtonexaminer.com)
Why does Obama lie about ACORN-Care? ... It seems that the “Anointed One” in trying to make a case for health-insurance regulation, told a rather poignant story about a guy in Illinois, who was getting chemotherapy, but was dropped from his insurance plan when the insurer discovered an unreported gallstone (which by the way, the patient didn’t even know he had). “They delayed his treatment and he died because of it” the president said in a nationally televised address. In point of fact the man, Otto S. Raddatz, didn’t die because the insurance company rescinded his coverage once he became ill, an act known as recission. Through the efforts of his sister and the office of the Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, they were able to get Mr. Raddatz’s policy reinstated within three weeks of his April 2005 recission, and secured a life extending stem cell transplant for him. The patient’s sister, Peggy M. Raddatz, testified before the House Energy and Commerce oversight subcommittee on 16 June, 2009, that her brother ultimately received treatment that extended his life for another THREE years. Just goes to show that the “Anointed One” can blow smoke with the best of them. Ah yes, a rose by any other name still smells like fertilizer. I have cleaned up the language a bit. (In the interest of civility you know). (canadafreepress.com)NYT: The crux of Obama's global trade war
... Mr. Obama announced last Friday night that he would impose a 35% tariff on low cost tires imported from China. (A Friday night is not quite as slow as just after midnight on Labor Day Sunday, but it is close enough if avoiding scrutiny is the objective.) The tariff would be in effect for three years, declining to 30% and 25% over the last two years. The crux of the issue is expressed by the New York Times: "The decision is a major victory for the United Steelworkers, the union that represents American tire workers. And Mr. Obama cannot afford to jeopardize his relationship with major unions as he pushes Congress to overhaul the nation's health care system." (americanthinker.com)
Inside Obama's ACORN ... One ACORN official advises the "prostitute" on tape that the underage hookers could be listed as "dependents" and that she's really a "performance artist" for tax purposes. Well, why not? The National Endowment for the Arts has doled out tax money to nude "performance artists" who smear themselves with chocolate, or worse. And it fits in with the NEA's recent scandal in which the agency got caught ordering grant recipients to do propaganda projects promoting ObamaCare. There is so much corruption emerging from this young administration that it's like watching a skeet trap go haywire and release dozens of clay pigeons at once. If only the media would load their shotguns and have a go of it. Back to ACORN. Think there's enough for a story yet? Let's add two more facts: During the early 1990s, Barack Obama, now president of the United States, did leadership training and legal work for ACORN. You can look it up in a Winter 2003 article in the journal Social Policy entitled, "Case Study: Chicago -- The Barack Obama Campaign," by Toni Foulkes, a Chicago ACORN leader and member of ACORN's National Association Board. Or you can read Stanley Kurtz's excellent National Review article, "Inside Obama's Acorn," which brought the Foulkes article to a wider audience last year. (onenewsnow.com)
ACORN: What did Obama know and when did he know it? ... At the same time Obama was downplaying his connection to ACORN Americans were told over and over again about Obama's success as a community organizer and how he would use those skills to help bring "change" to America. What was Obama's role in ACORN? The record shows Obama lead Project Vote for ACORN in 1992. In 1993 he also helped obtain funding for ACORN while working with the anti-poverty group the Woods Fund of Chicago. In 1994, Obama served as an attorney for ACORN in Buycks-Roberson v. Citibank Federal Savings Bank case, which many experts believe was the beginning of the mortgage crisis. In 1995, he sued the State of Illinois on behalf of ACORN. During Obama's 2007 speech to ACORN he promised the group they would "have input into shaping the next presidency of the United States Of America." In August 2008, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that the Obama campaign donated $832,598.29 to Citizens Services Inc., an ACORN "offshoot", for "get out the vote" projects. Those donations were completely legal. However, as a 501(c)(3) organization ACORN was prevented by law from using the money to promote any specific candidates. It is widely known that ACORN branches across the country urged voters to support Obama. Reportedly there is also evidence that members of the Obama campaign were in direct contact with ACORN leaders during that time. (examiner.com)Bonus links:
• Summary of Saul Alinsky's 'Rules for Radicals'
• More Saul Alinsky stories: here
• 'Rules for Radicals' at amazon.com
Meet the ACORN probe board ... • John Podesta, President and CEO, Center for American Progress • Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Board Member, RFK Foundation, former MD Lt. Governor • Andrew Stern, International President, Service Employees International Union • Henry Cisneros, Executive Chairman, Cityview • John Banks, Vice President of Government Relations Con Ed • Eric Eve, Senior VP of Global Consumer Group, Community Relations, Citigroup • Harvey Hirschfeld, President, Lawcash • Dave Beckwith, Executive Director, Needmor Fund. John Podesta is the Bubba Clinton Vet who was tasked with the waterfall of pardons by Bubba and keeping a lid on the UFOs - I imagine we will learn more about the Spacemen in Rosewell than the synergy between SEIU/ACORN and the DNC. Kathleen Kennedy -Townsend, The Old Lion's Niece and a Kennedy - touch football, sailing, PT Boat accidents, water hazards, annulments and the poor and down-trodden. Andy Stern - not enough space here; the man who is killing organized labor and the American Middle Class. Andy will try and muzzle Bertha Lewis before she shoots her mouth off on Fox Sunday. Henry Cisneros was Bubba's running-with-britches-down mate in the early Clinton White House Housing and Urban Development who paid off one of his skirts, lied to G, did a guilty plea and pardoned by Bubba and John Podesta. John Banks - Up and Coming New York Government Relations fizer with MTA and Con Ed. Traffic and lights. Eric Eve another Clintonista who found a home with CITI Group who made out handsomely on bad loans and Federal Bailouts! Harvey Hirschfeld is Pay-to-Play Player in the Easy Loan Get Fed Money Finance World now with Litigation Lawyers CashLaw! Dave Beckwith is an AllStar Community Organizer Like Jesus Was! Like Jesus, Dave plays to win Dig it!" (cdobs.com)
ACORN Dems duck and cover ... Roger Montgomery was angry after he heard on talk radio Thursday about the forum that community-organizing group ACORN was hosting in Everett. Though he lives in Auburn, he wrote to one of the panelists, state Rep. Mike Sells, D-Everett, to express his frustration. “Most people are a little tired of the Obama clan already,” he wrote Sells, referring to President Barack Obama's past work with ACORN as an attorney and volunteer. “You may want to think of changing parties if you want to get reelected. Thank God this is still a free country where I can voice my concerns about our great country.” That e-mail and others are the reason, local ACORN organizers said, they decided to cancel the event the day it was supposed to happen. (enterprisenewspapers.com)
ACORN's culture of corruption exposed ... What stuns me is that, for all my knowledge of ACORN employees’ illegal behavior, it never would have occurred to me that so many of them would blithely collaborate in encouraging prostitution—and child prostitution at that! One ACORN defender said, in effect, well, that’s what you get when you hire low-income people; but I refuse to believe that that’s standard operating procedure even in the most disadvantaged of demographics. What is it about the culture of ACORN that makes collaboration in prostitution standard operating procedure? No wonder that 67% of voters have an unfavorable view of ACORN, according to pollster Scott Rasmussen. One wonders about the 15% who have positive views—an even lower percentage than the 17% of House members who voted against defunding ACORN. (washingtonexaminer.com)
We don't need no stinkin' non-union labor ... Current law requires most public works projects, either by local or state governments, must pay "prevailing wage" to workers. The rule is cherished by labor unions - but it drives up the cost of constructing schools and roads, bridges and water systems, public buildings and anything else government at any level undertakes. Prevailing wage levels are set by the Ohio Department of Commerce, with input from labor unions. It has been pointed out that often, the levels are artificially high - that is, they are above rates actually paid to most workers in a given area. Compliance with prevailing wage rules is expensive. One study has estimated the law adds about $300 million to the cost of public works projects in Ohio each year. (advertiser-tribune.com)
Soros hearts Van Jones ... When the list of donors to the Van Jones "Green for All" organization is examined, one name stands out - the Open Society Institute of billionaire George Soros. The Green for All 2008 annual report is also notable for the pictures of the powerful people who associated with Jones. They include House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Vice President Al Gore. While the Open Society Institute was supporting Green for All in 2008, when Jones was running it, the Soros-funded organization was financially underwriting the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights when Jones was in charge of that group. The Open Society Institute gave the Ella Baker Center $151,800 in 2006 and $140,000 in 2007. Jones ran this group during the years 1996-2007. He then emerged as a senior fellow at the Soros-funded Center for American Progress. (postchronicle.com)
How labor-state bigs punish taxpayers ... State Labor Commissioner Michael Tanchek has released the prevailing wage rates for nonresidential public construction projects based on information supplied by 635 contractors. The amounts vary by county and job. For example, basic hourly rates for carpenters in Clark County will increase from $47.61 to 48.70; for electrician linemen from $50.02 to $51.95; for flaggers from $39.69 to $41.44; for truck drivers from $43.85 to $46.13; and for roofers from $30.08 to $31.83. Though the state’s high unemployment rate would seem to put downward pressure on wages, Tanchek said wages will rise because they are based on a survey of what the contractors are paying. Clark County’s heavy union presence affects the average and such workers may have cost-of-living increases built into their contracts, he said. (lasvegassun.com)
Gov't union pays private-sector strikers ... In a resolution passed this week, CUPE pledges its financial and moral support to the United Steelworkers locals on strike at Vale Inco. Workers are on strike in Sudbury and Port Colbourne, Ontario, and in Voisey's Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. The resolution comes as thousands of workers enter their third month on strike. Vale Inco, which is now 100 per cent owned by Brazilian interests, is attempting to gut workers' collective agreements by demanding they accept inferior pension plans and seniority agreements. Instead of returning to the bargaining table, Vale Inco is resuming production during the labour dispute by using inexperienced, non-union staff and scab labour. (marketwire.com)
New Jersey: Where everything is for sale ... Wharton laid out the common causes of corruption. According to Wharton, public officials are financially desperate due to campaign costs, they have no morals and there is money to be made if you are in control of the "green light" for expensive land development deals. Additionally, the voting population does not (or can not) pay much attention to local politics because they are busy with their private business and disenchanted with the political process. Wharton presented multiple examples of elected officials holding more than one government position at once, even positions that present a conflict of interest, and getting away with it simply because voters are not informed about it. (thestute.com)
We don't need no stinkin' Department of Labor ... The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe stands firm on the position that their "casino workforce" does not fall under the National Labor Relations Act with regard to labor relation issues because they are a sovereign nation. (themorningsun.com)
No-vote, forced unionism advances ... Two Michigan daycare providers say they're being forced to join a union and pay union dues. The Mackinac Center for Public Policy out of Midland is taking on the case saying these women work for their customers not a union they didn't vote for. Sherry Loar owns her own daycare center in Petosky. So does Dawn Ives next door. They both have clients that receive financial assistance for childcare because of their low income. They say, because of that, they're being forced into a union and to pay union dues. Sherry Loar says, "I got it in the mail. I opened a letter that said the daycare became some part of a union, and we would be paying union dues. I said 'what?'" Dawn Ives says, "I'm being forced to join something I don't need to be a part of." (connectmidmichigan.com)
Typical News Guild union embezzlement ... A reporter for an Indiana newspaper has been indicted on charges she embezzled $18,000 from the Gary Newspaper Guild, the U.S. Attorney's office says. Karen Snelling, 50, of Chicago faces one charge of embezzlement after a grand jury in South Bend determined there was evidence of a crime, the Gary (Ind.) Post-Tribune reported Friday. Snelling is accused of making $17,500 in unauthorized withdrawals from the guild's bank accounts while serving as treasurer. She also is accused of using $600 in union funds for personal purposes. (timesoftheinternet.com)Typical wrist-slap for union embezzler ... A Lafayette woman has been sentenced after pleading guilty to a federal charge of embezzlement of union funds from Iron Workers Local 379, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana said. Jeanne Brophy, 39, was sentenced to two years probation and a $1,000 fine. Local 379 represents 195 active and 245 retired structural iron workers who work for approximately 100 employers in a 13-county area around Lafayette. According to the U.S. Attorney, Brophy was the office manager for Local 379. Her responsibilities included completing government filings, reconciling local accounts, preparing union checks, and maintaining the ledgers of the local’s QuickBooks and the general ledger of the Boomer Vacation Fund, the latter of which was created to assist local members in saving for vacation days and paid holidays because employers did not pay for them. “A set amount of money was withheld from a union member’s payroll check and forwarded to the Boomer Vacation Fund,” the U.S. Attorney said. (chestertontribune.com)
Corrupt NBA refs reject contract ... The NBA will hold training camp next week with replacement officials, saying the referees union has rejected its final contract offer. The National Basketball Referees Association has been bracing for a lockout since talks first broke down last week, and lead negotiator Lamell McMorris called it "imminent and unavoidable" after no deal was reached Thursday. A statement from the NBA on Friday made it clear the lockout was under way. (sfexaminer.com)International Collectivism
Iconic global unionist rips Obama ... Former Polish President and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Lech Wałesa, has spoken out about media reports that the US has scrapped plans to install a missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. “Americans have always cared only about their interests, and all other [countries] have been used for their purposes. This is another example,” Mr Wałęsa told TVN24. “[Poles] need to review our view of America, we must first of all take care of our business,” he added. “I could tell from what I saw, what kind of policies President Obama cultivates,” the former president added. “I simply don't like this policy, not because this shield was required [in Poland], but [because of] the way we were treated,” he concluded. (wbj.pl)
Hugo apes Barack ... Venezuela will increase public spending to boost economic growth and generate employment in response to the global crisis. The government will invest in houses, schools, hospitals, roads and other public works projects, President Hugo Chávez told the Venezuelan state newspaper Correo del Orinoco in an interview published Friday. He did not say how the stimulus would be financed. Venezuela's economy contracted 1 percent during the first half of the year, and Chávez says unemployment is on the rise because of the world financial crisis. (newsday.com)
Leftwing LatAm thug secures marching powder supply ... The last 15 U.S. troops left Ecuador's Pacific Manta air base on Friday, officially closing the U.S. military post in what Ecuador's government calls a recovery of sovereignty. The small U.S. mission flew anti-narcotics flights meant to help catch cocaine smugglers close to the point of production. But Ecuador's leftist President Rafael Correa promised in his 2006 election campaign that he would not renew the U.S.' 10-year lease on the base. (lehighvalleylive.com)
New Prog speech thugs advance in Argentina ... If passed by the Senate, the law is expected to curb the power of one of leftist President Cristina Kirchner's main political enemies, Argentina's largest media group, Grupo Clarín. Alexandre Garcia, an analyst for Raymond James & Associates in São Paulo, says the hurriedly approved legislation contained "a lot of controversial clauses that are dangerous to Clarín," which has interests in newspapers, open-air and cable TV and radio. He says that Clarín might have to divest itself of some operations in certain markets if the measure is approved. (online.wsj.com)
