On September 11th of 2012, our U.S. Ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, and his people were left alone, without any protection or security from their country, from mad men who attacked them! To not have given them extra ramped up protection on that date, is inconceivable, especially since they asked for enhanced security, repeatedly! Someone needs to be held accountable. For seven hours, the White House and State Department refused to send anyone to their aid, in spite of their pleas for help. I may not agree with Lindsey Graham on everything, but I am very proud of him, for not letting this go, and for being unrelenting in asking for the name's of the Benghazi survivor's so that they can question them. The FBI has them, along with their statements, but so far, have refused to give them up to our Congress - go figure!
This Wednesday, May 8th, there are three brave career state department official 'whistle blowers' Eric Nordstrom, a Diplomatic Security Officer in Libya, Gregory Hicks, U.S. Deputy Chief of Missions in Libya, and Mark Thompson, former marine and now Deputy Coordinator for operations in the agencies counter terrorism bureau, who will be testifying before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee which is chaired by representative Darrell Issa, a republican from California, regarding many of the unanswered questions we've all had.
The leader of our state department at the time, Secretary Clinton, said that she never even heard about the requests for more security. However, since then, it has been proven that her email address was also on the list that received them. What is up with that? Four Americans are dead and their families need to know why, along with the rest of America. Our government let our people down, which ended in their deaths.
How can it be that those who attacked our consulate are still free, and even more importantly, the mastermind of the Benghazi terrorist attack is still being spotted and 'living large' in Libya, even though the President and Hillary insist that everything is being done to get to the bottom of it and see justice done! Only with collusion...at many high levels in this present 'regime' could this be happening. Collusion that included our President and his Vice, people in high ranking military positions, Hillary Clinton and others in the State Department, along with the boot licking media that faithfully kept the full story of this tragedy from the American public throughout the last weeks leading up to the 2012 election...and may I add, are still complicit in an ongoing cover-up.
When Hillary Clinton testified concerning this tragic attack on our consulate in Libya, she answered a question that really, no one was pressing her for at that time. She basically created a 'new' question for herself to answer in an attempt to get them off the line of questioning she was receiving and didn't want to answer! She poses to them a different question: "Who cares who or why those who attacked them, attacked them? "What difference, at this point, does it make?" I believe what they were trying to get her to answer was, "What did you know, and when did you know it?" Nevertheless, the question she threw out there, through them off track, and the answer that she gave to it left many of us speechless? Did the Secretary of our State Department just do that, and then actually say that? I can't believe it! Many of us, truly, had to pick ours jaws up, off the floor!
Just recently, President Obama's press secretary, Jay Carney thought that just stating, hey guys..."it happened a long time ago" was going to make the few brave journalists who have been willing to ask the pertinent questions, just pack them up and go away! "Yah, you're right Jay, what were they thinking?" Can you imagine? It's obvious that poor Jay is truly 'scraping the bottom of the barrel' for replies to questions on Benghazi. I'm not sure how, but I think that I'm starting to feel sorry for him, working for this President.
We can all expect the left wing media to stay true to form, and use all the same 'weapons of mass destruction' that they generally use to destroy 'their enemies'...this time, namely, Eric, Greg and Mark, after they testify this Wednesday. Lindsey Graham stated that we should all expect to have a clearer picture of just how fragile and unsafe our State Dept. had aloud our American Consulate to become, leading up to the attack.
One would almost have to believe that they 'wanted it that way.' Yes, that statement is somewhat provocative, but ImJusSayin one can't help but wonder.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Is America Changing? AreTraditional American Virtues No Longer Inspiring to Our Citizens?
(The following was sent to me by our local 9-12 Group. Rabbi
Pruzansky hits the nail on the head, over and over. It is well worth
the read.)
Pruzansky hits the nail on the head, over and over. It is well worth
the read.)
Rabbi Steven Pruzansky is the spiritual leader of Congregation
Bnai Yeshurunin Teaneck, New Jersey.
Bnai Yeshurunin Teaneck, New Jersey.
Please take a moment to digest his provocative article. It is far
and away the most succinct and thoughtful explanation of how
our nation is changing. The article appeared in The Israel National
News, and is directed to Jewish readership. 70% of American
Jews vote as Democrats. The Rabbi has some interesting comments
in that regard. "The most charitable way of explaining the election
results of 2012 is that Americans voted for the status quo - for the
incumbent President and for a divided Congress. They must enjoy
gridlock, partisanship, incompetence, economic stagnation and
avoidance of responsibility. And fewer people voted.
our nation is changing. The article appeared in The Israel National
News, and is directed to Jewish readership. 70% of American
Jews vote as Democrats. The Rabbi has some interesting comments
in that regard. "The most charitable way of explaining the election
results of 2012 is that Americans voted for the status quo - for the
incumbent President and for a divided Congress. They must enjoy
gridlock, partisanship, incompetence, economic stagnation and
avoidance of responsibility. And fewer people voted.
But as we awake from the nightmare, it is important to eschew
the facile explanations for the Romney defeat that will prevail
among the chattering classes. Romney did not lose because of
the effects of Hurricane Sandy that devastated this area, nor did
he lose because he ran a poor campaign,nor did he lose because
the Republicans could have chosen better candidates, nor did he
lose because Obama benefited from a slight uptick in the economy
due to the business cycle.
Romney lost because he didn't get enough votes to win.
That might seem obvious, but not for the obvious reasons.
Romney lost because the conservative virtues - the traditional
American virtuesof liberty, hard work, free enterprise, private
initiative and aspirations to moral greatness - no longer inspire
or animate a majority of the electorate.
The simplest reason why Romney lost was because it is impossible
to compete against free stuff.
Every businessman knows this; that is why the "loss leader"
or the giveaway is such a powerful marketing tool. Obama's
America is one in which free stuff is given away: the adults among
the 47,000,000 on food stamps clearly recognized for whom they
should vote, and so they did, by the tens of millions; those who,
courtesy of Obama, receive two full years of unemployment benefits
(which, of course, both disincentivizes looking for work and also
motivates people to work off the books while collecting their windfall)
surely know for whom to vote. The lure of free stuff is irresistible.
The defining moment of the whole campaign was the revelation of the
secretly-recorded video in which Romney acknowledged the difficulty
of winning an election in which "47% of the people" start off against
him because they pay no taxes and just receive money - "free stuff"
from the government.
Almost half of the population has no skin in the game - they don't
care about high taxes, promoting business, or creating jobs, nor do
they care that the money for their free stuff is being borrowed from
their children and from the Chinese.
They just want the free stuff that comes their way at someone else's
expense. In the end, that 47% leaves very little margin for error for
any Republican, and does not bode well for the future.
It is impossible to imagine a conservative candidate winning
against such overwhelming odds. People do vote their pocket
books. In essence, the people vote for a Congress who will not
raise their taxes, and for a President who will give them free
stuff, never mind who has to pay for it.
That engenders the second reason why Romney lost: the
inescapable conclusion that the electorate is ignorant and
uninformed. Indeed, it does not pay to be an informed voter,
because most other voters - the clear majority are unintelligent
and easily swayed by emotion and raw populism. That is the
indelicate way of saying that too many people vote with their
hearts and not their heads. That is why Obama did not have to
produce a second term agenda, or even defend his first-term record.
He needed only to portray Mitt Romney as a rapacious capitalist
who throws elderly women over a cliff, when he is not just
snatching away their cancer medication, while starving the
poor and cutting taxes for the rich.
During his 1956 presidential campaign, a woman called out
to AdlaiStevenson: "Senator, you have the vote of every
thinking person!"Stevenson called back: "That's not enough,
madam, we need a majority!"
Truer words were never spoken.
Obama could get away with saying that "Romney wants the
rich to play by a different set of rules" - without ever defining
what those different rules were; with saying that the "rich should
pay their fair share" without ever defining what a "fair share" is;
with saying that Romney wants the poor, elderly and sick to "fend
for themselves"without even acknowledging that all these
government programs are going bankrupt, their current insolvency
only papered over by deficit spending.
Similarly, Obama (or his surrogates) could hint to blacks that
a Romney victory would lead them back into chains and proclaim
to women that their abortions and birth control would be taken
away. He could appeal to Hispanics that Romney would have them
all arrested and shipped to Mexico and unabashedly state that he
will not enforce the current immigration laws. He could espouse
the furtherance of the incestuous relationship between governments
and unions - in which politicians ply the unions with public money,
in exchange for which the unions provide the politicians with votes,
in exchange for which the politicians provide more money and the
unions provide more votes, etc., even though the money is gone.
Obama also knows that the electorate has changed - that whites will
soon be a minority in America (they're already a minority in California)
and that the new immigrants to the US are primarily from the Third
World and do not share the traditional American values that attracted
immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries.
It is a different world, and a different America. Obama is part of that
different America, knows it, and knows how to tap into it.
different America, knows it, and knows how to tap into it.
That is why he won.
Obama also proved again that negative advertising works,
invective sells, and harsh personal attacks succeed. That
Romney never engaged in such diatribes points to his essential
goodness as a person; his "negative ads"were simple facts,
never personal abuse - facts about high unemployment, lower
take-home pay, a loss of American power and prestige abroad,
a lack of leadership, etc. As a politician, though, Romney failed
because he did not embrace the devil's bargain of making
unsustainable promises.
It turned out that it was not possible for Romney and Ryan
people ofsubstance, depth and ideas - to compete with the
shallow populism andplatitudes of their opponents. Obama
mastered the politics of envy - ofclass warfare - never reaching
out to Americans as such but to individual groups, and cobbling
together a winning majority from these minority groups. If an
Obama could not be defeated - with his record and his vision of
America, America, in which free stuff seduces voters - it is
hard to envision any change in the future.
Obama also proved again that negative advertising works,
invective sells, and harsh personal attacks succeed. That
Romney never engaged in such diatribes points to his essential
goodness as a person; his "negative ads"were simple facts,
never personal abuse - facts about high unemployment, lower
take-home pay, a loss of American power and prestige abroad,
a lack of leadership, etc. As a politician, though, Romney failed
because he did not embrace the devil's bargain of making
unsustainable promises.
It turned out that it was not possible for Romney and Ryan
people ofsubstance, depth and ideas - to compete with the
shallow populism andplatitudes of their opponents. Obama
mastered the politics of envy - ofclass warfare - never reaching
out to Americans as such but to individual groups, and cobbling
together a winning majority from these minority groups. If an
Obama could not be defeated - with his record and his vision of
America, America, in which free stuff seduces voters - it is
hard to envision any change in the future.
The road to Hillary Clinton in 2016 and to a European-socialist
economy those very economies that are collapsing today in Europe
- is paved.
economy those very economies that are collapsing today in Europe
- is paved.
For Jews, mostly assimilated anyway and staunch Democrats,
the results demonstrate again that liberalism is their Torah.
Almost 70% voted for a president widely perceived by Israelis
and most committed Jews as hostile to Israel. They voted to
secure Obama's future at America's expense and at Israel's expense
- in effect, preferring Obama to Netanyahu by a wide margin.
A dangerous time is ahead. Under present circumstances, it is
inconceivable that the US will take any aggressive action against
Iran and will more likely thwart any Israeli initiative. The US will
preach the importance of negotiations up until the production of the
first Iranian nuclear weapon - and then state that the world must learn
to live with this new reality.
But this election should be a wake-up call to Jews. There is
no permanent empire, nor is there an enduring haven for Jews
anywhere in the exile. The American empire began to decline in
2007, and the deterioration has been exacerbated in the last five
years. This election only hastens that decline. Society is permeated
with sloth, greed, envy and materialistic excess. It has lost its
moorings and its moral foundations...
The takers outnumber the givers, and that will only increase in years
to come.
The "Occupy" riots across this country in the last two years were
mere dress rehearsals for what lies ahead - years of unrest sparked
by the increasing discontent of the unsuccessful who want to seize
the fruits and the bounty of the successful, and do not appreciate the
slow pace of redistribution.
mere dress rehearsals for what lies ahead - years of unrest sparked
by the increasing discontent of the unsuccessful who want to seize
the fruits and the bounty of the successful, and do not appreciate the
slow pace of redistribution.
If this election proves one thing, it is that the Old America is gone.
And, sad for the world, it is not coming back."
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Was Ben Carson's Speech At National Prayer Breakfast Disrespectful to President Obama?
Liberals keep saying that Dr. Ben Carson was disrespectful to President Obama, when speaking at this years National Prayer Breakfast. President Obama was sitting to the left of the doctor's podium during his speech, (from the view of the audience.) I'm assuming that it is due mostly, to the doctor's decision to take up the state of our union and share his views as to how our country could be aided through her present difficulties. Due to the content of that speach, Benjamin Carson IS now a rising star in the conservative movement! He wrote a book called: America The Beautiful. Many are hoping that he will consider running for office, maybe even the 'highest office in our land!' The Wall Street Journal editorial board has already inquired about this also! Dr. Carson recently said: "Freedom of thought and expression are so important...political correction muffles these. Rome was destroyed from within from moral decay and fiscal irresponsibility. If you don't think that it can happen to America, get out your (history) books and you'll see."
He recently shared on the Sean Hannity show, "If you lowered tax rates and lightened up on regulations, you would see money flowing into our system!" He says that the businesses all believe that we have a nefarious government just looking to take their money in one way or another. It was his opinion, that this is stifling growth in many ways. He wants us to start talking about ideas that make sense and stop putting all our money into things that don't work!
ImJusSayin, I've been hearing snipets of his ideas here and there, both on tv and on radio, as of late, and I for one, am thoroughly impressed. I had just blogged recently about how there is a dire need in this country, by the conservatives, to take the next four years and "educate, educate, and educate some more!" Therefore, I was elated to hear him say that he wants to help in educating our citizens so that they will be able to discern who the best people are to lead our country. He believes, at this time, a large part of our electorate are easily fooled and manipulated by the present administration. I couldn't agree more. He said that our government was originally created upon the concept: "Of the people, by the people and for the people" and that ours is NOT a monarchy! The current President and our government are supposed to be working for US! He speaks out about the PC Police especially, defining this as the media dictating how we should speak and think...which he clearly believes, is not a good thing!
Our founders said that we needed to have a 'well informed' populace or they would be VERY easy to manipulate. Dr. Carson wants people to think for themselves. "Don't let yourself become a 'puppet!' He is preparing to retire after being a very successful pediatric neurosurgeon and his new goals involve helping to educate our citizenry about our founding...our constitution and bill of rights...what is wonderful about capitalism, free enterprise, why we MUST NOT allow the government to control/destroy these very important things. If we do, our ability to 'pursue happiness' will be curtailed immensely, at best, and our country could financially collapse, at worst.
He was recently asked on the Sean Hannity Show, about those who are being raised in the ghetto today...how they can be helped, what are the problems, answers, etc. He began by stating that 70% of black American children are born out of wedlock. He says that they have to have a better 'value system' given to them at home than what many of them are receiving. In their schools they get indoctrinated with less than a 'can do' way of thinking. Instead they are convinced that they can't get ahead, and that the odds are against them. The results have been tragic. Definitely, they too, need to be re-educated about all that they truly can accomplish, and that they don't need the government to do so.
Someone asked him what he thought about the AMA supporting ObamaCare! He replied that only 23% of doctors belong to the AMA. Obviously, the Obama administration march them out as if they represented all doctors...but this is not true according to Dr. Carson! The government can now dictate how doctors should treat and deal with their patients, even those who have private health care plans. If he were the President, what would he do to change this? He says, "We would obviously need to repeal and rewrite it!" He believes that the politically correct liberal system has been trying to SILENCE all opposing views, and all discussion! "We NEED to talk MORE!" he said.
Back to his time at the National Prayer Breakfast, Dr. Carson said that the President did shake his hand after his speech and told him that he admired him. Dr. Benjamin said that he is praying that the President actually heard what he shared, but said that we won't really know if he did until we see what he does. Asked if he really thought that we can turn America around at this late date, Dr. Carson said that he thought that we could, but that we definitely have to use technology to our advantage to educate as many people as possible. This would include virtual classrooms, and more. He suggested that we all go to: Carsonscholars.org. When you go there you can read his blog, learn about his foundation, and much more...
ImJusSayin, I've said already that I was thoroughly impressed with this man, but after visiting his website, the same is true for his organization! Ninety cents of every dollar goes to educational initiatives. I have definitely saved it in my favorites, for easy access.
Here is a small excerpt from his webpage:
He recently shared on the Sean Hannity show, "If you lowered tax rates and lightened up on regulations, you would see money flowing into our system!" He says that the businesses all believe that we have a nefarious government just looking to take their money in one way or another. It was his opinion, that this is stifling growth in many ways. He wants us to start talking about ideas that make sense and stop putting all our money into things that don't work!
ImJusSayin, I've been hearing snipets of his ideas here and there, both on tv and on radio, as of late, and I for one, am thoroughly impressed. I had just blogged recently about how there is a dire need in this country, by the conservatives, to take the next four years and "educate, educate, and educate some more!" Therefore, I was elated to hear him say that he wants to help in educating our citizens so that they will be able to discern who the best people are to lead our country. He believes, at this time, a large part of our electorate are easily fooled and manipulated by the present administration. I couldn't agree more. He said that our government was originally created upon the concept: "Of the people, by the people and for the people" and that ours is NOT a monarchy! The current President and our government are supposed to be working for US! He speaks out about the PC Police especially, defining this as the media dictating how we should speak and think...which he clearly believes, is not a good thing!
Our founders said that we needed to have a 'well informed' populace or they would be VERY easy to manipulate. Dr. Carson wants people to think for themselves. "Don't let yourself become a 'puppet!' He is preparing to retire after being a very successful pediatric neurosurgeon and his new goals involve helping to educate our citizenry about our founding...our constitution and bill of rights...what is wonderful about capitalism, free enterprise, why we MUST NOT allow the government to control/destroy these very important things. If we do, our ability to 'pursue happiness' will be curtailed immensely, at best, and our country could financially collapse, at worst.
He was recently asked on the Sean Hannity Show, about those who are being raised in the ghetto today...how they can be helped, what are the problems, answers, etc. He began by stating that 70% of black American children are born out of wedlock. He says that they have to have a better 'value system' given to them at home than what many of them are receiving. In their schools they get indoctrinated with less than a 'can do' way of thinking. Instead they are convinced that they can't get ahead, and that the odds are against them. The results have been tragic. Definitely, they too, need to be re-educated about all that they truly can accomplish, and that they don't need the government to do so.
Someone asked him what he thought about the AMA supporting ObamaCare! He replied that only 23% of doctors belong to the AMA. Obviously, the Obama administration march them out as if they represented all doctors...but this is not true according to Dr. Carson! The government can now dictate how doctors should treat and deal with their patients, even those who have private health care plans. If he were the President, what would he do to change this? He says, "We would obviously need to repeal and rewrite it!" He believes that the politically correct liberal system has been trying to SILENCE all opposing views, and all discussion! "We NEED to talk MORE!" he said.
Back to his time at the National Prayer Breakfast, Dr. Carson said that the President did shake his hand after his speech and told him that he admired him. Dr. Benjamin said that he is praying that the President actually heard what he shared, but said that we won't really know if he did until we see what he does. Asked if he really thought that we can turn America around at this late date, Dr. Carson said that he thought that we could, but that we definitely have to use technology to our advantage to educate as many people as possible. This would include virtual classrooms, and more. He suggested that we all go to: Carsonscholars.org. When you go there you can read his blog, learn about his foundation, and much more...
ImJusSayin, I've said already that I was thoroughly impressed with this man, but after visiting his website, the same is true for his organization! Ninety cents of every dollar goes to educational initiatives. I have definitely saved it in my favorites, for easy access.
Here is a small excerpt from his webpage:
The Official Home for Dr. Ben Carson and The Carson Scholars Fund
The Carson Scholars Fund supports two main initiatives: Carson Scholarships and the Ben Carson Reading Project. Our scholarship program awards students who have embraced high levels of academic excellence and community service with $1,000 college scholarships. The Ben Carson Reading Project provides funding to schools to build and maintain Ben Carson Reading Rooms – warm, inviting rooms where children can discover the joy of independent leisure reading.
Carson Scholars Fund, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1994 by world renowned pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson and his wife, Candy. CSF seeks to combat the American education crisis by discovering promise and rewarding excellence in our nation’s youth through our Scholarship and Reading Room programs.
Friday, February 15, 2013
America Will Not Remain Free From Radical Islamic Violence Unless We All Unite and Refuse to Be Silenced!
"This story needs to be read by all. It is my honor to
reprint it for any and all who may fall upon my blog,
and thereby be enlightened to this truly incredible issue.
Protecting those who follow radical Islam, who
indoctrinate others into it, and encourage them to
murder the innocent, must be addressed and stopped,
before it is too late...ImJusSayin'..."
February 15, 2013
The Boston
A
troubled young man plans to go on a shooting rampage at a local mall. A devoted
fan of other mass murderers, he gets pleasure watching videos of cruel and
graphic violence: actual beheadings, disembowelments, maimings. He hates his neighbors
and wishes for their deaths. He's been taught to hate by religious extremists
who dominate his community while intimidating their opponents into silence. The
FBI catches him before he can go through with his plan to machine gun shoppers
at the mall, though the Bureau ignores the people who indoctrinated him. The
extremists, meanwhile, are demanding that the would-be murderer be released.
They teach their children that he is a hero, and that those who stopped him
from slaughtering innocent people are the true villains. A local newspaper
journalist knows all this but for motives unknown, she refuses to report this
story.
This is
not a fictional account. On November 10, 2010, we met with Boston Iraq
We also
shared with the Globe's reporter evidence of an intense campaign by local
Islamic extremists to pressure the Justice Department to release Mehanna back
into the community that he had planned to attack. The extremists insisted that
the twisted mind revealed in FBI-recorded conversations was actually a gentle
soul who loved children and playing with his cat. Claiming that Mehanna's
arrest was nothing but a witch hunt by the FBI, which they accused of hating
Muslims, they incited their followers against the U.S. government by painting
the ghoulish would-be killer as the victim.
We showed
Ms. Wangsness that well-known religious leaders with connections to Massachusetts Northeastern University
At our
meeting with Ms. Wangsness, we traced for her a timeline of Mehanna's trajectory from a Sudbury , MA Sharon , Massachusetts Boston India ,
his Massachusetts-based brothers raised money and recruited members for his
terrorist group in the Bay
State
Ms.
Wangsness learned how the Islamic Center of Worcester, in particular, actively
engages in youth indoctrination. During Mehanna's trial, the mosque's
elementary schoolchildren were tasked with drawing "Free Tarek
Mehanna" posters and then carted off to the Federal Court building in Boston
We shared
with Ms. Wangsness interviews with moderate Muslims who reached out to us
asking for help in fighting the extremists who had hijacked their community and
are brainwashing their children. We showed her a vicious and threatening letter
that local extremist leader Nabeel Khudairi sent to a moderate Muslim who dared
challenge the extremists in his mosque.
She
looked at all our evidence, thanked us politely, and reported nothing. Now
perhaps we can understand why.
On
January 30, 2013, Wangsness spent part
of the day with
Abdul Cader Asmal -- the disgraced medical doctor and supporter of Tarek
Mehanna; with officials from the Islamic Center of Worcester -- which was the
incubator for Mehanna's hatred and still may be for dozens of young children;
and with Nabeel Khudairi -- the intimidator of moderate Muslims. Their goal,
according to leaked
emails, was to
pressure the Catholic Diocese of Worcester to cancel a talk by Robert Spencer,
a well-known critic of Islamic doctrine, especially its treatment of
non-believers, whom they falsely accused of hating Muslims.
They
succeeded. The Worcester Diocese cancelled Spencer's talk without the courtesy
of informing him directly. He had to learn about it from Wangsness, who reached
out to him for comment in a series of emails whose line of questioning followed
the "have you stopped beating your wife?" formula. The article she
published in the next day's Boston
Robert
Spencer is a controversial author and speaker, yet in some ways, his views on
Islam tend to be more scholarly than many of the atheist critics of
Christianity, who, without much fuss, populate American universities and
cultural institutions. Spencer forcefully makes the point that, as with all
religions, adherents range widely -- from the absolute literalists to the
largely secular "cultural" Muslims. Spencer says he is not against
Muslims, but against the political aspect of Islam, which demands that its
followers act -- violently if necessary -- to subjugate infidels and establish
a theocracy.
Disagreeing
with Spencer is simply not a valid reason to prevent people from hearing his
arguments and his warnings. A pluralistic and open society must always favor
the free exchange of all ideas to the intolerant suppression of dissent. It is sadly ironic, though
no longer surprising, that a member of the press would join Islamist extremists
in trying to suppress free speech, and -- in Wangsness' case -- go as far asto
effectively censor information related to extremist activities.
Why would
Ms.Wangsness behave this way? Surely she doesn't share the radical Islamic
ideological hatred toward America Boston
Commenting
on the infamous YouTube video criticizing Islam's prophet Mohammed, which
resulted in Muslim mobs rioting and killing around the world, President Obama
expressed a strange view on the concept of dissent in a free society. He said:
"The future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of
Islam." With this statement, Obama attacked the right to criticize Islam,
and he was in effect targeting not only YouTube provocateurs, but also people
like Robert Spencer.
Not
enough significance has been paid to the implications of the president's
bizarre pronouncement. Obama left unsaid what he thinks should be done with
those who criticize Islam in order to ensure that "the future must not
belong" to them. However, the subsequent arrest of the producer of the
offending YouTube video on charges that posting the video violated his
probation, speaks louder than words. Will Robert Spencer and other authors and
scholars who find sufficient reason to criticize any aspect of Islam have to
worry about special scrutiny that could lead to prosecution or face other, more
subtle, government sanctions?
Amazingly,
such threats to freedom of expression seem not to bother those who otherwise
make criticism of those in power the key element of their profession.
This is not a new phenomenon. In his essays, "Writers and Leviathan"
and "The Prevention of Literature," George Orwell seems to speak from
the grave directly to Lisa Wangsness and journalists like her:
Freedom
of the Press, if it means anything at all, means the freedom to criticize and
oppose... To yield subjectively, not merely to a party machine, but even to a
group ideology, is to destroy yourself as a writer... If you possess
information that conflicts with the prevailing orthodoxy you are expected
either to distort it or to keep quiet about it... Even a single taboo can have
an all-round crippling effect upon the mind, because there is always the danger
that any thought which is freely followed up may lead to the forbidden thought.
A modern
literary intellectual lives and writes in constant dread -- not, indeed, of
public opinion in the wider sense, but of public opinion within his own group.
As a rule, luckily, there is more than one group, but also at any given moment
there is a dominant orthodoxy, to offend against which needs a thick skin... To
accept an orthodoxy is always to inherit unresolved contradictions... In every
such case there is a conclusion which is perfectly plain but which can only be
drawn if one is privately disloyal to the official ideology. The normal
response is to push the question, unanswered, into a corner of one's mind, and
then continue repeating contradictory catchwords.
Ms.
Wangsness has redefined the role of the journalist from providing true
information to promoting a group's dominant orthodoxy, which in this case also
requires blacklisting, silencing, and employing neo-McCarthyism against those
who violate its taboos. The ultimate victims here are the people of New England , who are kept ignorant of the potential
dangers in their community. Welcome to the New Journalism -- serving private
ideology against the public interest.
The writers are,
respectively, Research Director and President of Americans for Peace and
Tolerance (www.peaceandtolerance.org)
Monday, February 11, 2013
Time to Insist on Answers from the President on Benghazi
What was President Obama doing the afternoon, and throughout the night
of the Benghazi massacre? Lindsey Graham says that Brennan and Hagel
should not be approved until the president talks. Joe Biden used this strategy
before, "no confirmation without information!" Lindsey Graham says that
he is going to push for the same thing. What took place in Benghazi was a
shocking outrage, but the liberal media made sure that Obama got re-elected
anyway! Most of them, decidedly overlooked it and refused to tell the country that it
happened at all, until after the election...and even then, only minimally! The President,
Hillary and Susan Rice all claimed it was an uprising over a video for two weeks after,
which we all know, that it was not! I am SO glad to see that the investigation
concerning all of this is still ongoing. Our outgoing defense minister says that Obama
didn't discuss it with anyone from 5:00 p.m. until the next morning! I have a very
hard time believing this!It's actually totally absurd! Our ambassador is being
murdered, along with many others in a terrorist attack, and our president is giving
it no attention, and no one is even filling him in on what is going on?
This 'take' on what took place that day/evening screams neglect, if true! The
continuing obfuscation taking place is mind boggling. Earlier on, we were told that
the president was aware of it all, and was being kept up on what was going on, now
the explanation of the Benghazi travesty and what was going on here in Washington
seems to be leaving the president out of it, all together. He can't have it both ways!
As of late, we were hearing that there didn't seem to be any trace of the president's
where-abouts from 5:00 p.m. until the next morning. Now, we hear a report says that
says between 8 and 9:00 p.m. he spoke to the Israeli Prime Minister. The story is
continually evolving and changing.
ImJusSayin'...I am reluctantly coming to a very disturbing conclusion, (and
I don't think I'm alone) in part, because of the interview on the Judge Jeanine
show with the mother of one of the computer geeks who died in that attack, along with
our Ambassador and others. I blogged about it before...she told the Judge that he
told her, he believed that "they knew too much!" A statement like that begs the
question,"about what?" Rand Paul, of late, is suggesting that there may have been
gun running going on over there, by our government! An uncomfortable conclusion
is nagging within my soul, also in part, because of all the ongoing evasion of this
administration and all the mystery that is clouding us from learning just exactly who
knew what, when, etc. Judge Jeanine had her on her show the other night, again, but
that particular interview was very lack luster, and didn't reveal much of anything, this
time around. I was hoping that she would press her on the specific statement that she
had made in their last interview, but she didn't. That, too, was very frustrating.
I am praying that God will bring out the truth. All those who have suffered, died, all
of their families...and the American people...DESERVE to have the true, and
full story told...regardless of the outcome.
Im JusSayin'...Justice is waiting to be served up, to whom it is due.
of the Benghazi massacre? Lindsey Graham says that Brennan and Hagel
should not be approved until the president talks. Joe Biden used this strategy
before, "no confirmation without information!" Lindsey Graham says that
he is going to push for the same thing. What took place in Benghazi was a
shocking outrage, but the liberal media made sure that Obama got re-elected
anyway! Most of them, decidedly overlooked it and refused to tell the country that it
happened at all, until after the election...and even then, only minimally! The President,
Hillary and Susan Rice all claimed it was an uprising over a video for two weeks after,
which we all know, that it was not! I am SO glad to see that the investigation
concerning all of this is still ongoing. Our outgoing defense minister says that Obama
didn't discuss it with anyone from 5:00 p.m. until the next morning! I have a very
hard time believing this!It's actually totally absurd! Our ambassador is being
murdered, along with many others in a terrorist attack, and our president is giving
it no attention, and no one is even filling him in on what is going on?
This 'take' on what took place that day/evening screams neglect, if true! The
continuing obfuscation taking place is mind boggling. Earlier on, we were told that
the president was aware of it all, and was being kept up on what was going on, now
the explanation of the Benghazi travesty and what was going on here in Washington
seems to be leaving the president out of it, all together. He can't have it both ways!
As of late, we were hearing that there didn't seem to be any trace of the president's
where-abouts from 5:00 p.m. until the next morning. Now, we hear a report says that
says between 8 and 9:00 p.m. he spoke to the Israeli Prime Minister. The story is
continually evolving and changing.
ImJusSayin'...I am reluctantly coming to a very disturbing conclusion, (and
I don't think I'm alone) in part, because of the interview on the Judge Jeanine
show with the mother of one of the computer geeks who died in that attack, along with
our Ambassador and others. I blogged about it before...she told the Judge that he
told her, he believed that "they knew too much!" A statement like that begs the
question,"about what?" Rand Paul, of late, is suggesting that there may have been
gun running going on over there, by our government! An uncomfortable conclusion
is nagging within my soul, also in part, because of all the ongoing evasion of this
administration and all the mystery that is clouding us from learning just exactly who
knew what, when, etc. Judge Jeanine had her on her show the other night, again, but
that particular interview was very lack luster, and didn't reveal much of anything, this
time around. I was hoping that she would press her on the specific statement that she
had made in their last interview, but she didn't. That, too, was very frustrating.
I am praying that God will bring out the truth. All those who have suffered, died, all
of their families...and the American people...DESERVE to have the true, and
full story told...regardless of the outcome.
Im JusSayin'...Justice is waiting to be served up, to whom it is due.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
An INTERVENTION For Our Country's 'Liberal SLIDE!' (Read "Who's Lookin' Out For The Folks?" FIRST)
What, oh what shall we do? Shall we plan an 'intervention?' to STOP our country's
Liberal SLIDE? One like Alinon might prescribe for one addicted to gambling, and
spending? Well, I believe that is exactly what we had hoped to accomplish
this past election!! So now what? My guess is, we need to take these next four
years and educate, educate, and educate some more! In as many ways and
fashions as possible. We need to discuss openly and unashamedly, and also in more
subtle ways. I'm glad to hear that Rush Limbaugh is now designing more of
what he shares on his radio shows to reach the uninformed and the
under informed voter, and is sharing some of his radio time with other
important leaders in our party, like Marco Rubio, to get our message out.
He has other ideas, also, that he is implementing to get more people listening
to his show that must hear a conservative message of hope and help for
our country. "Good for you, Rush!"
Another idea: I think we need to get conservatives on all school and college boards,
BIG TIME! Those who are willing to do even more than just keep the spending down,
but keep an eye on those text books, making sure that TRUE history is being taught
and facts of our American and Christian heritage are NOT left out. Start classes and
clubs that teach and encourage students, teachers and parents to learn and KNOW
our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Making sure that English teachers are not teaching
and indoctrinating socialism to their students. Any and all tactics of intimidation against
conservative students need to be stopped! Colleges need to get back to allowing
students to express ALL ideas without discrimination. Today, conservative students
experience many forms of intimidation in the classrooms, and on the campuses.
Virtually no conservative speakers are invited to address the students. Protests should
be planned and carried out whenever this isn't allowed. (There were years when it
was the liberals who did this, now they are running most colleges!)
ImJusSayin, it's pretty obvious to anyone paying attention, that our
schools desperately need classes in civility, ethics, and others that
would help students to consider more conservative living choices
as viable options for themselves and their own families when they
have them. No doubt this could also result in changing one's
political views and voting habits, as well.
I would personally love to see courses offered in High School in how to take a
product through the stages necessary to bring it to market. There's nothing like
learning how to start and run your own business to help you to recognize the
importance of this contribution to society. This introduction could show thousands of
young people not only a pathway to success, but give them the faith to move forward
and truly get ahead, rather than ending up in dead end jobs doing things they have no
interest in. It could mean the the difference for some, of convincing them NOT to get
into selling drugs to make money. Obviously you would want to have, as part of this
course, a class that would show them the costs involved, and the way high taxes and
over regulation can keep their companies from growing and creating as many jobs as
they would like. Hello thousands of new, young conservative minded voters!
This could open up to encouraging the successful business men and women with
capital to invest in great ideas, and with a mind to see our country experience the
'paradigm shift' she needs to change the hearts and minds of the younger generation.
We need more conservatives running free, or low cost (yearly) conferences in cities
around the country, covering these types of topic, and also be there looking for
innovative products and ideas to help people along their endeavor to start businesses
and bring new products to the public. A great feature could be having people with
capital to come along side with funds to help with the development and marketing of
the best ideas.
No Shark Tank t.v. show-style help, however...that too often seems to exploit
those who come on that show for help, by buying them out for peanuts, or insisting on
the greater percentage of the business and leaving them with only a smidgen. This
show can definitely give the 1%ers a BAD name! None of that. Only those who have
a heart and mind to find and help worthy young entrepreneurs to move them along
their roads to success should get involved. More business owners, more conservative
thinking citizens, equal more educated, 'informed' voters. Having more people less
vulnerable to the socialist message, less fooled by it, is what we would be after.
Teaching about, yes, but also getting into the trenches and HELPING
people to understand and experience the beauty and blessings of a free
enterprise system and capitalistic society. Football teams send out scouts
to find good football players...maybe people with a this vision to stop our
nation's slide to the left, might see a part that they could play in looking for
new entrepreneurs with products/ideas to help in some ongoing fashion as
what I've shared.
We will also need as many Marco Rubio style conservatives, and 'forward
thinking' leaders in decision making positions and offices as possible, in all
levels of society. It's also time to embrase the concept of working for 'incremental
changes' made over generations, like the Chinese, and the socialists in our country
have been doing for a long time. They have been willing to put in the time and the
footwork, over the long haul to make the changes If they can't be there, they
pay people to do what they want to see done, such as protesting! We
need to be PRO ACTIVE about what we believe to be right, ourselves.
Who knew that it might actually come down to these types of community
endeavors with feet on the ground that could make the biggest differences
in our culture?...but I think that we are there, and need to see it through,
and walk this out.
ImJussayin' we're going to need authors and movie makers to make more movies,
write more books, lacing our conservative messages into the plot, the way it was
done in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, and how it has been done in Glenn
Beck's new novel, "Agenda 21." We need more conservatives in Hollywood to 'come
out' and speak out boldly for freedom from the tyranny of governments who overreach
and overtax, etc. We need famous musicians to take their place in this Intervention
of Education...and write more songs about the age that we're living in with the
dangers ahead if we don't do anything. The lefties wrote them in the sixties and
seventies, now it's our turn! I know that there are some, but we need to inundate the
You tube generation with serious, heartfelt music, skits, theater, and more. Our more
famous 'talking heads' need to stop repeating over and over the same things that they
have, with terms that the 'uninformed' voter just doesn't get! Like using words like
'demegod' and GDP! If you use them, for Gosh sakes, explain them! Every moment
should be considered a 'teachable moment' to take advantage of.
There's another thing I've been thinking about. It's important to
have dialogue about the harm that is being done to our nation by
leftist policies, no doubt, but, if in the end, we have spend all of
our time 'talking about what the left is doing' and not enough time DOING things
to further our own agendas, (other than just talking,) that we are fooling ourselves
that we are going to successfully stop anything. That idea alone could fill another
whole blog post! I think that we should be discussing NEW ideas, NEW things that
we can appropriate with the changing of hearts and minds, to the right side things
as the goal. People who believe that they can make a good living for
themselves, without the need of governmental help is what we are after.
Just talking conservative, political theories all the time isn't enough. This generation
seems to be looking for more than talk, they want to know how much you care about
them! Socialists are very GOOD at convincing people that they care about them...and
creating legislation that also seems as if they do...but we know that it all only creates
a government that becomes more and more controlling over our lives. We talk...they DO
...and we saw the fruits of their actions, and the result of our IN-ACTIONS in this last
election. Talking, sharing, teaching...ALL good, as I have said, but more must be done.
Things MUST be done, out where the low information voters live! This will be
SHOWING the younger generation that we care. THEN, and only then, will they be
more likely to look our way, and listen!
ImJussayin, last, but definitely not least, we need to be praying more! I'm
not praying "God Bless America" as much as I used to. I find myself praying:
"Please Lord, have mercy on America, save her, and help her to change her
ways, so that you can bless her, once again!
Liberal SLIDE? One like Alinon might prescribe for one addicted to gambling, and
spending? Well, I believe that is exactly what we had hoped to accomplish
this past election!! So now what? My guess is, we need to take these next four
years and educate, educate, and educate some more! In as many ways and
fashions as possible. We need to discuss openly and unashamedly, and also in more
subtle ways. I'm glad to hear that Rush Limbaugh is now designing more of
what he shares on his radio shows to reach the uninformed and the
under informed voter, and is sharing some of his radio time with other
important leaders in our party, like Marco Rubio, to get our message out.
He has other ideas, also, that he is implementing to get more people listening
to his show that must hear a conservative message of hope and help for
our country. "Good for you, Rush!"
Another idea: I think we need to get conservatives on all school and college boards,
BIG TIME! Those who are willing to do even more than just keep the spending down,
but keep an eye on those text books, making sure that TRUE history is being taught
and facts of our American and Christian heritage are NOT left out. Start classes and
clubs that teach and encourage students, teachers and parents to learn and KNOW
our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Making sure that English teachers are not teaching
and indoctrinating socialism to their students. Any and all tactics of intimidation against
conservative students need to be stopped! Colleges need to get back to allowing
students to express ALL ideas without discrimination. Today, conservative students
experience many forms of intimidation in the classrooms, and on the campuses.
Virtually no conservative speakers are invited to address the students. Protests should
be planned and carried out whenever this isn't allowed. (There were years when it
was the liberals who did this, now they are running most colleges!)
ImJusSayin, it's pretty obvious to anyone paying attention, that our
schools desperately need classes in civility, ethics, and others that
would help students to consider more conservative living choices
as viable options for themselves and their own families when they
have them. No doubt this could also result in changing one's
political views and voting habits, as well.
I would personally love to see courses offered in High School in how to take a
product through the stages necessary to bring it to market. There's nothing like
learning how to start and run your own business to help you to recognize the
importance of this contribution to society. This introduction could show thousands of
young people not only a pathway to success, but give them the faith to move forward
and truly get ahead, rather than ending up in dead end jobs doing things they have no
interest in. It could mean the the difference for some, of convincing them NOT to get
into selling drugs to make money. Obviously you would want to have, as part of this
course, a class that would show them the costs involved, and the way high taxes and
over regulation can keep their companies from growing and creating as many jobs as
they would like. Hello thousands of new, young conservative minded voters!
This could open up to encouraging the successful business men and women with
capital to invest in great ideas, and with a mind to see our country experience the
'paradigm shift' she needs to change the hearts and minds of the younger generation.
We need more conservatives running free, or low cost (yearly) conferences in cities
around the country, covering these types of topic, and also be there looking for
innovative products and ideas to help people along their endeavor to start businesses
and bring new products to the public. A great feature could be having people with
capital to come along side with funds to help with the development and marketing of
the best ideas.
No Shark Tank t.v. show-style help, however...that too often seems to exploit
those who come on that show for help, by buying them out for peanuts, or insisting on
the greater percentage of the business and leaving them with only a smidgen. This
show can definitely give the 1%ers a BAD name! None of that. Only those who have
a heart and mind to find and help worthy young entrepreneurs to move them along
their roads to success should get involved. More business owners, more conservative
thinking citizens, equal more educated, 'informed' voters. Having more people less
vulnerable to the socialist message, less fooled by it, is what we would be after.
Teaching about, yes, but also getting into the trenches and HELPING
people to understand and experience the beauty and blessings of a free
enterprise system and capitalistic society. Football teams send out scouts
to find good football players...maybe people with a this vision to stop our
nation's slide to the left, might see a part that they could play in looking for
new entrepreneurs with products/ideas to help in some ongoing fashion as
what I've shared.
We will also need as many Marco Rubio style conservatives, and 'forward
thinking' leaders in decision making positions and offices as possible, in all
levels of society. It's also time to embrase the concept of working for 'incremental
changes' made over generations, like the Chinese, and the socialists in our country
have been doing for a long time. They have been willing to put in the time and the
footwork, over the long haul to make the changes If they can't be there, they
pay people to do what they want to see done, such as protesting! We
need to be PRO ACTIVE about what we believe to be right, ourselves.
Who knew that it might actually come down to these types of community
endeavors with feet on the ground that could make the biggest differences
in our culture?...but I think that we are there, and need to see it through,
and walk this out.
ImJussayin' we're going to need authors and movie makers to make more movies,
write more books, lacing our conservative messages into the plot, the way it was
done in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, and how it has been done in Glenn
Beck's new novel, "Agenda 21." We need more conservatives in Hollywood to 'come
out' and speak out boldly for freedom from the tyranny of governments who overreach
and overtax, etc. We need famous musicians to take their place in this Intervention
of Education...and write more songs about the age that we're living in with the
dangers ahead if we don't do anything. The lefties wrote them in the sixties and
seventies, now it's our turn! I know that there are some, but we need to inundate the
You tube generation with serious, heartfelt music, skits, theater, and more. Our more
famous 'talking heads' need to stop repeating over and over the same things that they
have, with terms that the 'uninformed' voter just doesn't get! Like using words like
'demegod' and GDP! If you use them, for Gosh sakes, explain them! Every moment
should be considered a 'teachable moment' to take advantage of.
There's another thing I've been thinking about. It's important to
have dialogue about the harm that is being done to our nation by
leftist policies, no doubt, but, if in the end, we have spend all of
our time 'talking about what the left is doing' and not enough time DOING things
to further our own agendas, (other than just talking,) that we are fooling ourselves
that we are going to successfully stop anything. That idea alone could fill another
whole blog post! I think that we should be discussing NEW ideas, NEW things that
we can appropriate with the changing of hearts and minds, to the right side things
as the goal. People who believe that they can make a good living for
themselves, without the need of governmental help is what we are after.
Just talking conservative, political theories all the time isn't enough. This generation
seems to be looking for more than talk, they want to know how much you care about
them! Socialists are very GOOD at convincing people that they care about them...and
creating legislation that also seems as if they do...but we know that it all only creates
a government that becomes more and more controlling over our lives. We talk...they DO
...and we saw the fruits of their actions, and the result of our IN-ACTIONS in this last
election. Talking, sharing, teaching...ALL good, as I have said, but more must be done.
Things MUST be done, out where the low information voters live! This will be
SHOWING the younger generation that we care. THEN, and only then, will they be
more likely to look our way, and listen!
ImJussayin, last, but definitely not least, we need to be praying more! I'm
not praying "God Bless America" as much as I used to. I find myself praying:
"Please Lord, have mercy on America, save her, and help her to change her
ways, so that you can bless her, once again!
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