Updated 11/20/08 – the Birth Certificate Question is still Unanswered. Original post: Could this be the REAL reason Obama is in Hawaii? (Update – The Plot Thickens?!)

UPDATE 12/19/08: WorldNetDaily is reporting:

A second conference has been posted on the docket for the U.S. Supreme Court over the issue of Barack Obama’s eligibility to occupy the White House, this one scheduled a week after Congress is to review the Electoral College vote tabulation.

The latest issue posted is a request for an injunction on the election results pending the resolution of a petition for a writ of certiorari filed by attorney Philip J. Berg, a case that is docketed for a similar conference among the justices on Jan. 9.

Berg’s original case raises questions about Obama’s eligibility and his injunction request first was filed early in December. It was submitted to and rejected by two different justices before it came before Justice Antonin Scalia on Dec. 18. Then just before Christmas the docket was updated to reflect that the motion had been ‘distributed for conference of January 16, 2009.’…Continue reading on WorldNetDaily >>

MORE UPDATES ON 11/20/08: Maggie is reporting: Supreme Court to Conference on Obama’s Citizenship: Write Now and Political Pistachio has commentary (hat-tip Red Dirt Report)

UPDATE 11/20/08: LifeSiteNews is reporting:

November 19, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A Sacramento Supreme Court petition filed on behalf of Alan Keyes and others has asked the Secretary of State to withhold the state’s 55 electoral votes from the December Electoral College tally until President-Elect Barack Obama proves he is eligible to take office.

The court document joins a host of litigation questioning Obama’s eligibility in as many as 15 states, with confirmed cases in Ohio, Connecticut, Washington, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Hawaii, and unconfirmed reports from Utah, Wyoming, Florida, New York, North Carolina, Texas, California and Virginia, according to WorldNetDaily.

All the cases reported to have failed were dismissed due to the plaintiff’s lack of standing, without the court actually investigating the complaint.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, in the case that Berg brought before the Supreme Court, The FEC has waived its right to respond in the Petition for a writ of certiorari (Due by 12/1/08). (See Docket for 08-570)

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UPDATE 10/25/08: Maggie’s Notebook is reporting:

Philip Berg’s lawsuit against Barack Obama and the DNC has been dismissed in a Philadelphia Federal Court.

Jeff Schreiber at America’s Right is reporting that Judge Surrick finds that Berg lacks “standing,” (more)

(also on Wake Up America)

UPDATE 10/23/08: Maggie, of Maggie’s Notebook has been researching and phoning her U.S. Senators to find out what can be done to “validate a candidate’s natural-born citizenship status before filing for the office of The President.” Find out what she was told, here.

UPDATE 10/23/08: Phillip Berg, who has filed a more well-known lawsuit for Obama’s birth and education records, has put out the following video to explain his case (Nancy Morgan, of Right Bias, has more information):

UPDATE 10/23/08: Andy Martin now believes Obama’s biological father is Frank Marshall Davis, his communist mentor. Interesting theory…read the details, here. Also, Joan Swirsky of the Canada Free Press has a good rundown of the Obamamess’ birth woes, here. (So, Obama – Who’s your Daddy?!)

UPDATE 10/21/08: We received the following from Paulie, of Paulie’s Point:

“Take it from a Chicagoan who knows that anything is conceivable when it comes to Barack Obama. What actually bothers me the most is the petitioner and so-called writer Andy Martin.

“Martin is certifiable nut-job. Who runs for office every chance he gets. He also threatens to sue anyone and everyone who criticizes him and writes about his well-documented anti-Semitic tirades and other offensive behavior. Yours truly has been threatened by him on numerous occasions.

“If Martin wants to travel to Hawaii and give Obama a hard time, who am I to stop him. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.”

ORIGINAL POST 10/21/08: Barack Obama is currently on a temporary leave from his campaign, visiting Hawaii – we’ve been told that he’s there to visit his ailing grandmother. Debbie, of Right Truth has more info about Obama’s grandmother:

Sen. Barack Obama is taking off two days from his campaign this week for an urgent visit to his ailing grandmother in Hawaii. Madelyn Dunham, 86, has apparently been ill for some time now, in and out of the hospital recently. It is only natural that Obama would want to spend some time with her. I want to say that our prayers go out to Mrs. Dunham at this time.

By all indications she was a good mother and good grandmother…Continue reading on Right Truth >>

However, Andy Martin, who is writing an anti-Obama book, and has been trying to get information about Obama’s birth records has filed the following in the state of Hawaii this week:

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Hawai’i Supreme Court Petition

ANDY MARTIN

Post Office Box 1851

New York, NY 10150-1851

Toll-free tel. (866) 70-6-2639

Toll-free fax (866) 707-2639

Temporary Hawai’i contact:

Cell phone (917) 664-9329

Petitioner Pro Se

IN THE

SUPREME COURT OF HAWAI’I

SUPREME COURT DOCKET NUMBER: 29414

ANDY MARTIN,

Petitioner,

HON. LINDA LINGLE, in her

official capacity as Governor;

DR. CHIYOME FUKINO, in her

official capacity as Director

of the Department of Health,

HON. BERT AYABE, in his official

capacity as Circuit Judge,

Respondents.

___________________________________

EMERGENCY PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS

INTRODUCTION AND PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

The question of the authenticity and public availability of the birth certificate of Senator Barack Obama (hereinafter “Obama”) has become a source of increasing embarrassment for Hawai’i Government.

Although Obama has purportedly posted a copy of his birth certificate on his own web site, and others claim to have posted other versions, Obama refuses to allow public access to the official records of the State of Hawaii.

Petitioner is an author and columnist who came to Hawai’i to do research on Obama’s years in Hawai’i. After arriving in Honolulu, Petitioner decided he needed a copy of the original birth certificate, as well as any official files relating to the issuance of said certificate.

The Executive Branch Department of Health has repeatedly and egregiously mischaracterized the Hawai’i statute governing access to birth certificates, and did so again on October 17th in a statement to the Honolulu Advertiser.

Petitioner applies to this Court for an appropriate writ, and offers two separate avenues of potential relief for the Court to consider.

I.

JURISDICTION

This court has jurisdiction of this Petition pursuant to HRS § 602-5 (a)(3).

II.

FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS

1. The Petitioner

Petitioner Andy Martin has been writing about Obama for over four years. Petitioner is the author of the best selling book “Obama: The Man Behind The Mask.”

Petitioner publishes an Internet newspaper, http://ContrarianCommentary.com, as well as related blogs, http://Contrariancommentary.wordpress.com and http://ContrarianCommentary.blogspot.com.

Although Petitioner is not a practicing attorney, he is a respected public interest and consumer rights litigator, see http://www.AndyMartin.com. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois College of Law.

For example, in 2003 the Pennsylvania Supreme Court granted Petitioner special leave of court to represent a U.S. Marine in a landmark case arising under the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act of 1940, see http://www.firstrespondersonline.us/director.htm (see attached).

Petitioner is also highly controversial. His corruption-fighting efforts in the Illinois courts and federal courts have provoked intense hostility and counter-reactions from judges who were the targets of his exposures see http://www.AndyMartin.com. These judges have sought to vilify and demonize petitioner, and Obama has sought to use these corrupt techniques to divert attention from Obama’s own questionable personal history.

Petitioner is undaunted.

In Hawai’i, petitioner is accompanied by a network television camera crew. Thus the bona fide news value of his current litigation activity is not subject to question.

2. The Respondents

A. Respondent Linda Lingle is named in her official capacity as Governor and Chief Executive of the Executive Branch of Hawai’i government.

B. Respondent Dr. Chiyome Fukino is joined in her official capacity as Director of the Hawai’i Department of Health.

C. The Hon. Bert Ayabe is named in his official capacity as a Circuit Judge of the First Circuit. As will be shown below, Judge Ayabe’s joinder in this petition does not necessarily involve any criticism of the judge and reflects the absence of any local rules to govern the judge’s authority.

3. The birth certificate (certificate of live birth)

A. For the convenience of this court, Petitioner has submitted a copy of the Circuit Court proceedings as a separate Appendix. Those documents are incorporated by reference in this petition.

B. In summary, Petitioner applied for and was denied a copy of Obama’s birth certificate. Petitioner then commenced a proceeding in the First Circuit on October 17, 2008 while still physically present in Honolulu.

C. Petitioner notified Judge Ayabe of Petitioner’s limited availability in Hawaii, and requested or suggested an emergency hearing.

D. Judge Ayabe responded promptly through his judicial assistant with a hearing date after the 2008 election on November 7th. Petitioner was also notified that in order to exercise his rights and pursue his petition he would have to return from Chicago to Honolulu, as there was no provision for telephone hearings. (It was not clear whether the judge viewed the absence of telephone rules as a preclusion of telephone hearings, or was imposing his own individual rules of practice).

E. Petitioner was required to file his lawsuit in Hawai’i. No other court system has jurisdiction of local Hawai’i officials. Petitioner should be as welcome in the Hawai’i court system as a Hawai’i citizen would be on the mainland. There are no artificial boundaries or distinctions under the Privileges and Immunities Clause of the U. S. Constitution. If Petitioner must be present in Hawai’i in order to vindicate rights and remedies under the Hawai’i Constitution and statutes he will be precluded from doing so.

F. Hawai’i is a sophisticated international business center. It is simply impractical for parties to be physically present in the State as a precondition of access to Hawai’i government or the judicial system.

G. Rule 11 of the Probate Rules provides for “Telephone Conference Call Hearings.” On information and belief there is no parallel provision in the Civil Rules.

H. Petitioner remains present in Hawai’i through October 22nd and available for emergency hearings in person.

I. This Court can take its own judicial or official notice that numerous state and federal court systems provide for telephonic participation, see e.g. Florida Rules of Judicial Administration 2.530.

III.

RELIEF REQUESTED

This Court can deal with this petition by either one of two separate approaches.

First, the Court could decide that the Executive Branch’s misapplication and misinterpretation of the relevant statute (see Exhibit 1 to the Circuit Court Complaint) raises issues of sufficiently great public and national importance that the Court will entertain the issues presented as a matter of the exercise of this Court’s original jurisdiction. In that case the writ of mandamus, if granted, would issue directly to the executive branch and Judge Ayabe’s role would become moot and coram non judice.

Second, this Court could decide that the Circuit Court should conduct an expedited hearing, and do so either while Petitioner is still physically present in Hawai’i or while Petitioner is allowed to participate on the telephone, directing that the Circuit Judge either schedule a prompt hearing or ask that the case be reassigned to a judge who can conduct a hearing before the 2008 election. In that case the writ, if granted, would issue to the Circuit Judge.

The approach which this Court prefers to adopt is entirely at the discretion of the tribunal.

IV.

BASIS FOR GRANTING RELIEF

A. The constitutional issue

In Elrod v. Burns, 427 U.S. 347, 373, 96 S. Ct. 2673, (1976) the Supreme Court stated “The loss of First Amendment freedoms, for even minimal periods of time, unquestionably constitutes irreparable injury.” The authenticity and contents of a presidential candidate’s birth certificate is at the apex of First Amendment concerns, Monitor Patriot v. Roy, 401 U.S. 265, 91 S.Ct. 621 (1971)(“[I]t can hardly be doubted that the constitutional guarantee has its fullest and most urgent application precisely to the conduct of campaigns for political office.”)

To say that a proceeding will not be convened until after the election is to create the very type of unconstitutional delay precluded by Elrod, and creates a justifiable public suspicion of a conspiracy and cover-up by Hawai’i officials.

Elrod does not appear to have been cited by any Hawai’i court but has been cited numerous times by federal judges in Honolulu, see e.g. Rapp v. Disciplinary Board, 916 F. Supp. 1525, 1539 (D. Hawai’i 1996); Walsh v. Honolulu, 423 F.Supp.2d 1094, 1108 (D. Hawai’i 2006); Swanson v. University, 269 F. Supp. 1252, 1260 (D. Hawai’i 2003); Legal Aid v. Legal Services, 961 F. Supp. 1402, 1417 (D. Hawai’i 1997). Although Petitioner filed his Circuit Court lawsuit under the Hawai’i Constitution and not the First Amendment, this Court has previously interpreted those rights to be coextensive.

B. The procedural issue

There is an anomaly under Hawai’i procedure where probate rules provide for telephone hearings but civil rules do not. Perhaps this gap motivated the circuit judge to deny a hearing, or to adhere to such procedures as a general practice.

Certainly in the modern commercial age, with Hawai’i at the crossroads of international business, antiquated notions of physical presence as a precondition for access to Hawai’i government should be reconsidered. The Privileges and Immunities Clause of the U.S. Constitution would also appear to lean in favor of allowing out-of-state litigants from the mainland to be heard by telephone.

C. The substantive issue

a. The statute

HRS § 338-18 (b) limits disclosure of records to persons having “a direct and tangible interest in the record.” The statute then provides thirteen (13) examples as illustrative, but not exclusive, including number (9): “A person whose right to inspect or obtain a certified copy of the record is established by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction.”

The Respondents have steadfastly misinterpreted the “direct and tangible interest” standard into one requiring a direct and tangible “relationship” between the party and the record. Thus there is a serious abuse of discretion and statutory misinterpretation by the executive branch. The Respondents have persisted in this misinterpretation despite notice that their interpretation of the statute was a misinterpretation, and will no doubt proffer the same misinterpretation to this Court as their initial response to this petition.

Researchers, scholars, writers and news media—and Petitioner has attributes of all of the foregoing—have a “tangible interest” in many public citizens without any “relationship” to those persons. Petitioner is sensitive to privacy issues and identity theft issues. But no one is likely to try to hold themselves out to be “Barack Obama” using a birth certificate issued by Respondents.

Nevertheless, the very vehemence with which Hawai’i officials have misconstrued a state statue, and the manner in which Obama has attempted to manipulate and control access to his personal records (see infra), raise legitimate suspicions in the mind of the public.

b. The waiver and admission issues

Obama claims that he has posted a conformed copy of his birth certificate on a web site. It is impossible to say whether this assertion is true, because Petitioner has no official copy to compare to the Internet version. Obama has not posted any of the source information or supporting data. If Obama has posted a version of his birth certificate, it would appear he has waived any privacy issues and the statutory restrictions on issuance of a copy to Petitioner no longer apply.

It is indeed a very peculiar state as now exists where Obama claims he has released his birth certificate or at least his latest version of the document, and yet claims that no one should be able to obtain an official copy of the same document from the State of Hawai’i or review the source information for the certificate. Waiver would appear to be applicable and render nugatory any privacy concerns.

Obama has claimed he was born in a Honolulu hospital, but there is no verifiable evidence to sustain that claim. An examination of birth records is thus essential to resolve the lingering doubts.

As judges, certainly the members of this Court are aware that punctilious concern for accuracy would mandate that any counsel preparing a case in which the birth certificate was an issue, must obtain a certified copy and not a copy grabbed off an Internet web site. As an author and columnist, Petitioner adheres to the same high standards of accuracy in the search for original truth.

The fact that Obama has in fact posted his birth certificate on the Internet is a confirmation that he believes that issue is a topic of legitimate public interest.

D. The common law writ of mandamus

Petitioner has reviewed this Court’s jurisprudence concerning and construing the common law writ of mandamus. Petitioner submits that the extraordinary facts of this Petition provide a basis for extraordinary and emergency action. As the attached docket sheet from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court attests, Petitioner is experienced in preparing, filing and obtaining relief through extraordinary writs on an emergency basis.

CONCLUSION

Most respectfully, Petitioner asks this Court to take emergency action and to grant one of the alternative forms of relief outlined in this petition.

DATED: October 20, 2008

Honolulu, HI

Respectfully submitted,

ANDY MARTIN

Post Office Box 1851

New York, NY 10150-1851

Toll-free tel. (866) 70-6-2639

Toll-free fax (866) 707-2639

Temporary Hawai’i contact:

Cell phone (917) 664-9329

Petitioner Pro Se

So, what’s the REAL reason for the trip? Time will tell. Meanwhile, we do wish the Obamas and Dunhams a meaningful, memorable visit, and our prayers are with Mrs. Dunham during this difficult time.

Also see: Contrarian Commentary

Hat-Tip John Lillpop

The Birth Certificate: The New Administration’s Stain on the Blue Dress (Updated)

UPDATED 12/15/08: The Supreme Court has declined to hear any of the cases presented, and the Electoral College as officially made Barack Hussein Obama our President Elect, regardless of his eligibility. This is a very sad day in America.

UPDATED 12/8/08: The Donofrio case has been rejected and will not be heard by the Supreme Court but the Berg case is still pending.

ORIGINAL POST 12/4/08: Here it is again. Yes, we’re all tired of hearing about it. Yes, it seems like a question with a painfully simple answer: Where were you born, Mr. Obama?

I guess it depends on what the meaning of “where” is, right?

Although the Republican establishment and even most of the prominent “new media” refused to even touch this issue in time to really save our country from another Clintonian-style humiliation before the eyes of the world, the issue isn’t going away.

Lawsuits are mounting – some reasonable and some silly. Some bloggers, like Maggie’s Notebook have done a great coverage on the topic (the FHK Archive is here), and WorldNetDaily has been all over it (be sure to check the extensive list of “previous stories” for full coverage). Also see, The Obama File.

Obama has once again shown contempt for the American public by simply not responding to requests to produce the vault copy of his birth certificate, to prove he’s a natural-born citizen, to explain why his grandmother thinks he was born in Kenya, to explain why his older relatives disagree over which Hawaiian hospital he was supposedly born in, and now, why none of the hospitals in Hawaii have record of him being born there.

Meanwhile, there are some indications that preparations have been underway in Chicago since 2006 to simply do away with that pesky “natural born” clause in our Constitution. That’s probably just a coincidence. /sarc.

Will this birth certificate (or absence of one) will prove to be the stain on that blue dress that just won’t go away? Probably, but the more important question is will history show it to be Obama’s Waterloo, or America’s Trojan horse?

Hat-Tip to Andrew of the Red Dirt Report, and TXPoet of Ft. Hard Knox for helping provide the links in this latest update.

Did Karl Rove Kill Conservativism?

Reading the words of Karl Rove in a recent Wall Street Journal article shows that the mindless blame game continues.

The man most credited with the GOP’s sucesses in the past decade really misses [or ignores] the relevant points. Missing in his article are the facts that McCain ran as a moderate after dismising the conservatives, how McCain was more concerned with running a clean campaign than showing America who the real B.H.O. is, how many conservatives voted for the real liberal while many others stayed home, and how a true conservative stomped the liberal in Georgia.

Too many running the Republican Party have dismissed Reagan conservatives. Many voters today realize that the current powers that are running the GOP have got to go. Karl Rove just proved that in spades.

 

Right Photoshop: Al Franken Finds Another Vote

Votes keep managing to pop up everywhere for Al Franken in Minnesotta while the Republican challenger, surprisingly, has not gotten one extra vote. Hmmm.

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Also see: Michelle Malkin – The Franken Coleman Recount and The Skepticians – Intent Schmintent

 

Republicans Intimidated at PA Polls

Reports have been filed of Republican poll watchers being intimidated and told to leave PA polling places.

The Hard Work Is Done. Now Get Out And Vote. (Photo Essay)

I’ll be working at the polls all day Tuesday, so while some of you are sitting home hoping for the right outcome I thought you might enjoy these pictures.

About 1 month ago I worked on a ‘float’ which we used in our Whistle Stop Tour, where we ran through the entire county passing out lawn signs. We met a lot of good folks who all planned on voting for the hero, not the zero.

We ran out of McCain/Palin signs early on, so we pooled our resources to order a few hundred more. I personally donated for 50, and left them at the HQ to be given away. Note the signature in the right side corner of the sign.

Due to Obama tools being jealous, we lost quite a few lawn signs. This caused more than a few McAniacs to design their own.

As I’ll be busy all day Tuesday I decided to set just 1 more sign. I don’t think 4 feet tall by 8 feet wide is too big at all.

Take note of the bottom of the stop sign. A good camera would show the STOP sign with a NOBAMA sticker on the bottom. I will do the responsible thing and remove it after the election. Really!

Don’t forget to vote, and don’t forget that I’ll be there waiting for you.

 

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Also see: Michelle Malkin – Pray

Mogadishu Redux. An Open Letter To Our Candidates About Islam Abroad

Gentlemen:

My sister’s blood, a child’s blood, cries out to me.

Last week, a barbaric gang of Somali Muslim fundamentalists gang-raped a 13 year-old girl after which they stoned her to death. One thousand spectators in the Kismayo stadium cheered the stoning on. The victim’s name was Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow.

This atrocious scenario, and similar atrocities, are increasingly familiar in Muslim countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. When a Muslim woman dares to allege rape, she is treated as if she herself has committed a capital crime. And she is not merely shunned or disbelieved-she is punished, tortured, murdered. Her attackers go free or buy their way out of even a light sentence…Continue reading on Chesler Chronicles >>

Much Needed Perspective

Two days until election day and both liberals and conservatives alike are worried.  Tuesday has the potential to be another razor close election, though some liberals are predicting an Obama landslide.  On the other side, Tammy Bruce, filling in on the Laura Ingraham show Friday predicted a McCain win. I don’t know about you but these nail biters are taking their toll on me.

As someone with strong political views and a solid conservative ideology, it has been pretty standard for me to place a great deal of confidence in my political philosophy.  That’s true both in the capacity of that philosophy to win the day in the arena of ideas and in its ability as a governing philosophy to create sound government.  I assume the other side feels pretty much the same way about their political philosophy and ideals.  For both, Wednesday will either be a day of celebration or a day of mourning.

Following the ‘06 elections I was fairly depressed for several weeks.  I wondered how we’d survive as a nation with liberals in control again.  Certainly the results of that election haven’t exactly produced or inspired a lot of confidence in the American people.  The current Congress has the lowest approval ratings since congressional approval ratings have been taken.  But America is still here.  We haven’t disappeared into the abyss.

Lately I’ve been ruminating on the wisdom of placing so much faith in a political philosophy.  While I’m not prepared to jetison sound political thinking, I recognize that the basic problems in this country are not the result of politics, cries to the contrary not withstanding.  While a political party or philosophy may encourage right behavior or wrong behavior, it is what is in people’s hearts that dictate the choices they make, not what party is in power.

I recognize that not all readers at Ft Hard Knox, nor necessarily even all the authors are Christians but I am.  And what has been on my mind lately is the fact that, as far as I’m concerned, God is still in control.  Some will find that a difficult statement to swallow.  For you I am truly sorry.

I’ve always said that my Christian faith informs and directs my political philosophy.  I still believe that but I’ve come to realize that I’ve managed to get the cart before the horse.  I’ve elevated the political philosophy above the Christian faith without ever realizing I’ve done so.  And that is a problem.

It is my sincere belief that no matter who wins the presidential election on Tuesday, God will still be in control.  If the Democrats achieve a 60 vote fillibuster proof majority in the Senate and make substantial gains in the House so that Republicans can’t do a thing to stop them, God will still be in control!

With such a perspective I expect to wake up Wednesday morning with a smile on my face regardless of the election results because God is in control.  I’ve found that He does a much better job of running things than I do and for that I am eternally grateful.  I really don’t know how anyone survives in this world apart from faith in God.  I think I’d place all my faith in political philosophy and I’d be eternally disappointed, disillusioned and depressed.  I don’t want to live that way and I’m resolving not to.

I still hold the same ideological beliefs, the same political philosophy I did.  I still believe conservatism is superior to liberalism.  But I recognize that neither philosophy is going to change people’s hearts.  Only God can do that!

Can We Afford to Forget Obama’s Price Signals?

 

Obama said he wants to send “price signals” to change behavior. In other words, Obama wants the government to raise prices with regard to energy in order to change human consumption behavior.

In an interview on IPTV Nov. 2007, Obama said, “I think voters do understand it. I think it is important for us to send some price signals to change behavior.”

How would that come about? By using taxes or tariffs to drive energy cost upwards.

But government “price signals” don’t affect the rich. Still, Obama wants to protect the poor from the devastating effects of governmental “price signals.” So who pays?

In an Obama administration, the middle class pays.

Obama said “It won’t be painless.”

Yesterday Hot Air asked an important question that highlights the differences between conservatives and liberals. “Is that the function of government — to fix prices as a punitive measure to change consumer behavior?”

If you believe that it is a function of government to change, reward, or punish human behavior, then you are probably a liberal. But even liberals need to be asking some serious questions.

What human behaviors will an Obama administration decide to penalize next?

Hot Air recalled another time when governmental “price signals’ were used to bring about our present day financial disasters:

When government wanted more loans given to risky borrowers for political purposes, they sent “price signals” to lenders by having Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac buy up tons of subprime paper, and then mandated their conversion to securities to send “price signals” to investors. How did those “price signals” work out for taxpayers, consumers, and investors?

We can thank the Democrats for that fiasco. And it’s just another reason why conservatives fear another Democratic administration!

Update:

Gateway Pundit:

EXPLOSIVE NEW AUDIO— Obama Promises San Francisco Audience He Will Bankrupt Coal Industry!!  —  OBAMA TOLD A SAN FRANCISCO AUDIENCE THAT HE WILL BANKRUPT THE COAL INDUSTRY!!!  —  ATTN: Coal states Virginia , Ohio, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Indiana, guess what Obama told San Francisco about you?

Fonda Is Weeping, Jong Is In Spasm-All Because Of Pre-Election Madness.

I have gone on record as an author, a therapist, a professor, an expert courtroom witness – and an activist to document and oppose the ways in which false psychiatric diagnoses are used to stigmatize, even demonize people. But, I’ve never denied that mental illness exists. On the contrary. It is a formidable enemy and causes great human suffering.

Still, I am uncertain about how to describe certain political “crowd” behaviors that might be characterized as “mad,” cult-like, hysterical. In the Wall Street Journal, Fouad Ajami, quotes Elias Cannetti’s 1960 work about Crowds and Power. Cannetti believes that marching together gives people the “illusion of equality.” But Ajami views American pro-Obama crowds as behaving more and more like crowds on the Arab Street, with huge emotionality and faith in a Great Leader. Ajami states that the “politics of charisma wrecked Arab and Muslim societies.”

Continue reading on Chesler Chronicles >>

Sarah and the Feminists

The Culture and Media Institute has just released a study entitled Character Assassination: How the TV Networks Have Portrayed Sarah Palin as Dunce or Demon. It documents that the mainstream media’s hostility to Governor Sarah Palin has been extreme, perhaps unprecedented. While the majority of the attacks have been launched by men, media women, including feminists on both sides of the aisle, have not been shy.

Many female journalists, including feminist activists Eve Ensler, Kim Gandy, Eleanor Smeal, Gloria Steinem, and Judith Warner, attacked Palin on the issues–abortion, birth control, equal pay, gun control, the environment, energy, and religion. This is entirely legitimate. But their tone was often unexpectedly and extremely personal, cruel, slightly hysterical. Palin gives Ensler “nightmares.” Warner views her as “fake as they come” and as “America’s Hottest Governor (Princess of the Fur Rendezvous 1983, Miss Wasilla).” Warner softens and, in a second piece views Palin as womens’ “inner Elle Woods,” the heroine played by Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde.

To continue reading, press here, Jewcy.com

Redistributing the Wealth In Action

The following object lesson in wealth redistribution is from my blogger friend Lennie, of the satiricle blog, Obamastates of America.

The following was in the Voice of the People in Wednesdays Chicago Tribune. (Hat tip: A Chicago Blog)

On my way to lunch recently, I passed a homeless guy with a sign that read “Vote Obama; I need the money.” I laughed. In a restaurant my server had on an “Obama 08″ tie. Again I laughed. Just imagine the coincidence. When the bill came, I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Barack-Obama-redistribution-of-wealth concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need—the homeless guy outside. The server angrily stormed from my sight. I went outside, gave the homeless guy $10 and told him to thank the server inside as I’ve decided he could use the money more. The homeless guy was grateful. At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment, I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn even though the actual recipient deserved money more. I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.

After reading this, I think we should all put this into action. Every time you go out to a restaurant from now until the election, ask your server who they are supporting (after you are done with your meal). If they are supporting Obama tell them you are happy to hear that and you are glad they are so compassionate towards the less fortunate. Then tell then you are going to donate their tip to the next homeless person you see in their name so they can start redistributing the wealth even before the election. Not only will you affect their opinion, they will tell every other server in that restaurant. If they don’t like this redistribution of their wealth, then tell ask them to reconsider their vote for Obama. Remember, you many want to avoid that restaurant for a while after this personal object lesson.

Doughnuts…mmmmm (Oh, and Ice Cream, too!)

November 4th: Krispy Kreme will celebrate National Election Day by offering all retail customers with an “I Voted” sticker a FREE star shaped doughnut with patriotic sprinkles. (Participating Stores Only)

(Hat-Tip, Okie Campaigns)

But wait, there’s more! Come to participating Ben and Jerrry’s scoop shops on November 4th from 5-8pm, and you’ll get a free scoop of ice cream.

(Hat-Tip, Emily)

I’m Not Drinking Your Kool Aid Obama

This video is an open explanation to Barack Obama and his campaign, explaining why she is not voting for him.

Hat-Tip Kender