What's On First

CATO: Buffet's Secretary Paying More Tax Story is Bogus

2012-01-27T17:38:00.000-08:00

see http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/warren-buffetts-tax-story-is-bogus/

Warren Buffett’s Tax Story Is Bogus

For years, Warren Buffett has been claiming that his secretary pays a higher tax rate than he does. Recently, President Obama has taken that claim and run with it. I don’t know Mr. Buffett’s particular tax situation, but I do know that his claim as a general matter is bogus.

Let’s look at some numbers. The first chart shows IRS data for income tax rates by income group for 2009. These are average effective tax rates, calculated as income taxes paid divided by adjusted gross income (AGI). The chart shows that taxpayers with incomes above $500,000 had tax rates averaging about 25 percent. Middle-income taxpayers had tax rates of half of that or less. A few years ago, Buffett claimed that his secretary earned $60,000 and paid a 30 percent tax rate. But looking just at income taxes, that seems way off. (Note that this data doesn’t include the “refundable” portion of tax credits, which wipes out taxes for many people at the bottom end).

Perhaps Buffett was referring to the fact that his secretary pays a heavy load of payroll taxes in addition to income taxes. But when you look at data which includes all federal taxes, the system is still highly graduated with much higher rates at the top end.

Chart 2 shows CBO data for 2007 on average effective tax rates, including essentially all federal taxes—individual income, corporate income, payroll, and excise. Buffett’s secretary would fit into the fourth group in the chart, where the average tax rate was 17.4 percent. So if she is really paying 30 percent, then Buffett needs to show her some of his tax-reduction tricks. Note in the chart that Buffett’s peers in the top 1 percent paid an average rate of 29.5 percent, which is double the rate paid by middle-income taxpayers.

In 2007, Buffett said that he paid a 17.7 percent tax rate. Alan Reynolds notes that Buffett earns large amounts of capital gains, which are taxed at a maximum federal rate of 15 percent. People in the top income groups do report a lot of capital gains, which reduces their overall effective tax rate. However, capital gains are included in chart 1, above, and you can see that the top income groups still pay much higher tax rates than others on average. One reason is that a large amount of income at the top is small business income, which is hit by ordinary income tax rates of up to 35 percent.

You have to go to the extreme top end of the income spectrum in order for capital gains realizations to really push down overall effective tax rates. The IRS publishes data for the 400 highest-income taxpayers. For these taxpayers, the average effective income tax rate in 2008 was 18.1 percent.

Since the beginning of the income tax, we have nearly always had special treatment of capital gains for some very good reasons, as I discuss here. I point out that virtually all high-income nations recognize that capital gains are different and that special rules are needed. A number of OECD nations have long-term capital gains tax rates of zero, including New Zealand and the Netherlands.

Another important aspect to this debate regards the link between capital gains and dynamism in the economy and dynamism in tax payments. The political left makes it seem as if there were a permanent aristocracy at the top end of the income spectrum in America. However, IRS data show the exact opposite—the top 400 are a highly dynamic group. Notice first in IRS Table 1 that 57 percent of AGI for these taxpayers is capital gains. That is a key reason why the people in this group are constantly changing—large capital gains realizations are occasional events that rocket people to the top of the AGI heap. One example is when an entrepreneur sells her successful and longstanding business and retires.

The last table in the IRS document reveals the dynamism. The IRS traced the identities of all taxpayers who showed up in the top 400 anytime between 1992 and 2008. The IRS found that there were a huge 3,672 different taxpayers who appeared during that timeframe. Of these 3,672, fully 73 percent only appeared once in the top 400! And 85 percent appeared only once or twice.

So at the top end of our capitalist system is a continual generation of new wealth and new wealthy people, and that dynamism reflects the still-energetic and free-wheeling nature of our economy.

Chris Edwards • September 21, 2011 @ 2:14 pm
Filed under: Tax and Budget Policy

newsmax

. Warren Buffett Secretary Buys Second Home
Billionaire investor Warren Buffett’s secretary Debra Bosanek has become the face of President Barack Obama’s so-called Buffett Rule, which maintains that the secretaries of wealthy Americans should not pay a higher tax rate than their boss.
Yet despite her presumably crushing tax burden, Bosanek and her husband last year were able to buy a second home in Arizona complete with a swimming pool and putting green.
The Bosaneks bought the 2,100-square-foot home in Surprise, a city outside Phoenix, paying $144,000 for the four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath property, according to The Smoking Gun website.
Their principal residence is in Bellevue, Neb., not far from Buffett’s corporate headquarters in Omaha. That home, built in 2000 and valued last year at $217,000, also has four bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths — but no swimming pool or putting green.
Bosanek, 55, attended Obama’s State of the Union speech on Tuesday as a guest of first lady Michelle Obama to spotlight the president’s proposal to impose a minimum tax rate of 30 percent on Americans earning more than $1 million a year.
Buffett — who is worth an estimated $50 billion — said in an August editorial that he paid an effective income tax rate of 17.4 percent, lower than the wage earners in his office, and has said of that discrepancy: “How can that be fair?”
Mitt Romney called attention to the income tax disparity this week when he released his income tax returns for two years, showing that he paid a 13.9 percent rate on his earnings in 2010 and 15.4 percent in 2011.

Apple 1984: Imperialist IPhones Kill Chinese Workers

2012-01-27T13:09:00.000-08:00

The last piece I wrote "Tonight We Assemble XBOX's in Hell" compared the workers who stood up to mistreatment by threatening mass suicide to the noble 300 Spartans. In August, UK's Economist mentioned the anti-jumper nets in "Robots don't complain, demand high wages... or kill themselves" Now the New York Times really socked to Apple in "In China, Human Costs Are Built Into an iPad" with nary a peep from the usual Asian American politically correct police or even the China Daily which usually has lot of stuff under the "wierd things that happen to China" category.

I remember growing up in the 70s watching the Chinese toil during "The Good Earth" and reading about the horrors of the Chinese communists that my parents fled from, and all the Chinese who died in the name of modernization and 5 year plans as their answer to what imperialist powers did to China before they were chased out. My generation was also given Brave New World and 1984 as reading assignments, though we all knew "well I'm glad that never happened" as we would never live in a world that worshiped corporations and their leaders like Ford or Steve Jobs. I notice my son doing a paper on Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" which exposed conditions at American meatpacking plants.

The New York Time's featured victim was Lai Xiaodong who worked at Foxconn's factory in Chengdu, where my mother grew up. Foxconn is a company from Taiwan, once known as "Free China". This was the factory producing the IPad which features a brushed aluminum back. Instead of "Arbeit Macht Frei", banner proclaimed a no-more cheerful "Work hard on the job today or work hard to find a job tomorrow." which even beats the Simpsons Mr Burn's nuclear plant for boosting morale. Although Foxconn pledged to Apple not to work its people more than 60 hours in a week, Lai's paychecks show he was putting in 12 hours a day six days a week, while the less fortunate were worked without a single day of rest.

He was one of the better paid workers as his college degree upped his pay to $22 day (about $5500 a year). He at least got a bedroom large enough for a wardrobe and desk where he could waste the remaining hours playing "Fight the Landlord" online compared to some 3-room apartments where they shoe-horned up to 20 workers which doesn't sound much better than conditions in American Chinatowns. Foxconn houses 70,000 workers in this town, enough people to fill a large NFL stadium. After Apple clamped down on conditions with audits, they were proud to report only two-thirds of 36 audits showed employees regularly working over 60 hours a week, and just six "core violations" such as hiring underage 15-year-olds and falsifying records. (Note Obama's recent call to criminalize Americans working before the age of 18 by requiring all youths to stay in high school until the age of 18)

In my college days, we gave demonstrations at the Pacific Science Center at the foot of the Space Needle where we puffed some air into coffee can of flour with a candle to produce a small explosion. Unfortunately, this also happens in industrial scale in Indiana in 2003 with aluminum dust (which is also used to make solid rocket motors) and at a sugar factory in Georgia in 2008 killing 14. Coal dust can also do the job. The blast that burned Lai to death killed 4 and injured 18 came from aluminum dust from machines which polished the brushed aluminum cases. Smoke was coming out of shattered windows. When his girlfriend came, she saw his skin completely burned away and he only recognized his legs. At least the company had the decency to send a team of workers to his family's home to deliver ashes, and wire him a check for $150,000, nearly 30 years of salary, probably to head off any possibility of an ugly lawsuit. Because of the blast, Foxconn stopped production at all shops to improve ventilation and dust disposal, but only 7 months later there was another blast that injured 59.

Alas the brouhaha over Apples imperialist ways comes after the passing of Steve Jobs, not known for whipping Apple into a Corporate Superpower by being Mr. Nice Guy. It also comes when Apple announced jaw-dropping $13 billion in profit in a single quarter on $46.33 billion in sales. Reports are that Apple is on track to not only pass Hewlett Packard as the world's largest computer company, but also Exxon as the most valuable company in stock value. Molly Wood of CNET notes that even after Apple audits its suppliers for labor, health, and safety since 2007 that "problems remain--the kinds of problems that kill people." "The company got there by riding its legendary legacy of never compromising, never accepting "no" for an answer, and of squeezing margins so it can release new and improved products virtually every year at the same price as the year before."

Also from CNET: "The only way you make money working for Apple is figuring out how to do things more efficiently or cheaper. And then they'll come back the next year, and force a 10 percent price cut."
That's from an executive at one company that helped bring the iPad to market.
Then, there's this from a former Apple exec "with firsthand knowledge of the supplier responsibility group":
"You can set all the rules you want, but they're meaningless if you don't give suppliers enough profit to treat workers well. If you squeeze margins, you're forcing them to cut safety."
It doesn't stop there. Li Mingqi, a former Foxconn manager:
"Apple never cared about anything other than increasing product quality and decreasing production cost."

What did Apple public relations have to say?

"Any accident is deeply troubling, and any issue with working conditions is cause for concern."
Adding: "Any suggestion that we don't care is patently false and offensive to us. As you know better than anyone, accusations like these are contrary to our values. It's not who we are.

BRUCE SILVERMAN of Minneapolis wrote the NYT in a section titled "Has the iOrwell Arrived": It’s ironic and disheartening that the company that set out to change the world could accomplish the task only by employing vendors who subject workers to slave-labor wages and an Orwellian work environment. With all due respect to the late, great Steve Jobs, if the famous 1984 Super Bowl commercial for Apple were reshot, the image of Big Brother on the giant screen might fittingly be his own. In stark contrast to its counterculture origins, Apple seems to have evolved into the embodiment of everything it once despised — a greedy, callous, ruthless behemoth beholden only to fund managers who demand incremental profits every quarter at any cost.

ANDREA GARA of Palo Alto, Calif wrote: I can pay more for humanely produced beef. Maybe it’s time for stickers certifying humanely produced electronics.

"Those jobs aren't coming back"

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/business/apple-america-and-a-squeezed-middle-class.html

But as Steven P. Jobs of Apple spoke,President Obama interrupted with an inquiry of his own: what would it take to make iPhones in the United States? Mr. Jobs’s reply was unambiguous. “Those jobs aren’t coming back,” he said. The president’s question touched upon a central conviction at Apple. It isn’t just that workers are cheaper abroad. Rather, Apple’s executives believe the vast scale of overseas factories as well as the flexibility, diligence and industrial skills of foreign workers have so outpaced their American counterparts that “Made in the U.S.A.” is no longer a viable option for most Apple products.

Coleen Martinez of Knoxville Tenn wrote: Jennifer Rigoni, former supply demand manager for Apple, said about the American work force: “What U.S. plant can find 3,000 people overnight and convince them to live in dorms?” Has Apple ever wondered who could afford to buy its products if Americans aren’t working?

CNET alone has this whole series of articles:

Apple catches flak in China supply chain saga

by CNET News staff January 27, 2012 11:48 AM PST

Scenes from Apple supply facilities in Shanghai. At left, workers assemble MacBook Pros; at right, an audit takes place.

(Credit: Apple)

The maker of iPads and iPhones is hardly alone among tech companies that rely heavily on Chinese factories under scrutiny for labor practices. But it has become the flashpoint.

Dear Apple: Do something about Chinese working conditions

As stories keep emerging about terrible working conditions in consumer electronics factories, it's time for Apple to step up. They've got the power and the cash to make meaningful change. Let's hold them to it.
(Posted in Molly Rants by Molly Wood)
January 27, 2012 11:48 a.m. PT

ZDNet: Apple's supply chain flap--it's really about us

commentary Apple is under fire for its supply chain labor, but every tech item--and everything you own--goes through the same manufacturing paces.
(Posted in Between the Lines by Larry Dignan)
January 27, 2012, 3:04 a.m. PT

Tim Cook: Apple cares about 'every worker' in its supply chain

Tim Cook responds to a report about working conditions at a factory in China, saying that any suggestion it doesn't care about worker welfare is "false and offensive."
(Posted in Apple by Steven Musil)
January 26, 2012 11:25 p.m. PT

A kinder, gentler Apple? Don't bet on it

A New York Times article depicting the high human costs built into the making of Apple products has provoked a strong reaction from readers and consumers. How will Apple respond?
(Posted in Fully Equipped by David Carnoy)
January 26, 2012 12:39 p.m. PT

Apple and the Foxconn problem

Putting a human cost on the iPad

An in-depth New York Times report focuses on the final months of a factory worker who died as a result of an explosion at a factory that makes iPads, as well as the conditions workers often endure.
• A tale of Apple, the iPhone, and overseas manufacturing
(Posted in Apple by Steven Musil)
January 25, 2012 10:00 p.m. PT

Apple gets tax incentives in Brazil to begin iPad production

According to a report from Brazilian newspaper Folha, Foxconn will begin producing iPads after being officially granted a batch of tax incentives from the Brazilian government.
(Posted in iPhone Atlas by Joe Aimonetti)
January 25, 2012 5:48 p.m. PT

Apple's Siri teaches Jon Stewart about Foxconn

Moved by Rick Perry's plea that we need to get jobs (and Steve Jobs) back to America, Jon Stewart asks Siri about the factory where Apple products are made. It is an ear-opener.
(Posted in Technically Incorrect by Chris Matyszczyk)
January 18, 2012 9:46 a.m. PT

Apple's latest supplier report details labor issues

In an auditing report on the factories where its products are made, Apple says its findings include cases of underage workers and environmental violations. It also says it has joined a third-party auditing group.
(Posted in Apple by Josh Lowensohn)
January 13, 2012 10:17 a.m. PT

Foxconn settles with workers who threatened mass suicide

The company says 150 of its workers were involved in the protest, of whom 45 apparently resigned rather than take the deal.
• Microsoft probing report of Foxconn mass-suicide threat
(Posted in The Digital Home by Don Reisinger)
January 12, 2012 10:44 a.m. PT

previous coverage

Inside Foxconn's fatal iPad factory

The lack of safety precautions for workers was most alarming at the company's Chengdu plant, according to a report released just two weeks before an explosion at the factory killed two.
(Posted in Crave by Eric Mack)
May 21, 2011 12:21 p.m. PT

Apple report reveals grim truths behind gadgets

Progress report on its suppliers' practices marks first time Apple acknowledges worker poisonings. Also, many suppliers fail to comply with child-labor, other guidelines.
(Posted in Health Tech by Elizabeth Armstrong Moore)
February 15, 2011 4:30 p.m. PT

Apple reports on Foxconn, supplier workplace standards

Apple's latest supplier report details actions taken to help Foxconn with worker suicides and other facilities with underage workers.
(Posted in Apple by Jim Dalrymple)
February 14, 2011 12:45 p.m. PT

Apple fan's faith put to the test (Q&A)

Mike Daisey's new monologue, "The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs," chronicles his love affair with Apple products, a revealing visit to China, and why people need to think about where our devices come from.
(Posted in Apple by Anne Dujmovic)
January 31, 2011 4:00 a.m. PT

Reporters' Roundtable: The human cost of gadgets

Can consumers do anything to ensure that their smartphones, cameras, and gadgets are ethically made? Our experts discuss.
(Posted in Reporter's Roundtable by Rafe Needleman)
October 15 31, 2011 2:46 p.m. PT

Apple, Dell, HP looking into Foxconn factory suicides

After a spate of workers having died or been injured in suicide attempts, three of Foxconn's biggest clients speak out.
(Posted in Apple by Erica Ogg)
May 26, 2010 8:25 a.m. PT

81% of Newsmax prefer romney over 14% Gingrich??

2012-01-27T12:36:00.000-08:00

latest newsmax ad poll

Top part is confusing, but 2nd part seems to indicate 81% prefer romney to 14% Gingrich? Sounds wierd to me.

n a Republican primary race between Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney, which candidate for president would you prefer to lead the GOP?

32891(5%)

Mitt Romney

132989(22%)

12042(2%)

2292(0%)

Newt Gingrich

227400(37%)

108832(18%)

49436(8%)

24633(4%)

8925(1%)

821(0%)

321(0%)

In a Republican primary including all of the candidates, who would you prefer as the GOP nominee for president?

Newt Gingrich

85761(14%)

Mitt Romney

490737(81%)

Rick Santorum

13579(2%)

Ron Paul

10531(1%)

If the election were held today, would you vote to re-elect Barack Obama for president?

Yes, I'd vote to re-elect Obama

13456(13%)

No, I'd vote for another candidate who opposes Obama

83613(86%)

Read more on Newsmax.com: SurveyResults
Important: Do You Support Pres. Obama's Re-Election? Vote Here Now!

American in Somalia to write book on pirates kidnapped by.. Somali pirates

2012-01-27T11:29:00.001-08:00

The other Michael Moore gets kidnapped.

see http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/27/10251033-sources-no-rescue-planned-for-american-kidnapped-in-somalia#c61930707

the irony.... guy in somalia writing book on pirates gets kidnapped by Somali pirates.

Obama Next Silly Idea: High School Diploma or Else

2012-01-26T22:24:00.000-08:00

Obama: Control College Costs, Raise Dropout Age (education week)

In his State of the Union speech, President Barack Obama called directly on universities to hold down costs and urged states to raise the dropout age to 18.• Teacher Beat Blog: Obama Offers Teacher Proposals in State of the Union

Obama'' graduate high school or else is a BAD idea. In the old days. traditionally and biologically, kids are adults by junior high school. It wasn't until WWII that the idea came about that EVERYBODY had to go to high school.

At the turn of the century, most high schools required examinations to get in, high school was only for the elites.

Then came the idea that high school was for everybody whether you trained for a trade or went to a college, and everybody had to go the same comprehensive high school, a model that Europe and Asia did NOT follow - they had DIFFERENT high schools for different tracks and different talents. The "world class" one-high-standard-for-all is strictly an American fantasy.

The next level is that EVERYBODY has to be ready for college and be able write a novel and synthesize new ways to do basic arithmetic at a graduate math student level by 4th grade. Oh wait, we ALREADY have state standards with this ridiculous idea - that was WASL and all the other flavors of "certificate of mastery" characteristic of outcome based education debacle. Then everybody has to have 2 years of tech training or college. Already anyone who doesn't have a 4 year degree is "at risk" and is doomed to a poor paying job, never mind that police and firefighters don't even need a 2 year degree to have a job that can eventually pays from $45,000 up to $80,000 a year with early retirement benefits.

Eventually everybody will have to have a phd, and then "lifelong learning" where you never ever graduate until you die, and are enrolled in government school and daycare the minute you leave the womb. Just because some people are billionares or millionares or pull in $60,000 a year does NOT MEAN EVERYBODY HAS TO MAKE THAT KIND OF MONEY.

If anything, we need to return to the notion that you can be a responsible adult if you chose to marry and have kids as soon as you are able, or chose to work and start a household or leave school at 16 and not be classified as a confirmed high risk failure. School teachers used to be girls that now would go to high school. Now they don't want to declare you grown up until you're ready to retire.

My saying - government cannot promise or require ANY level of education or proficiency. Any attempt to do so is evil and doome to fail.

Ron Paul Top Contributors: Army Navy AF, Microsoft Boeing Google

2012-01-26T15:10:00.000-08:00

Ron Paul (R)

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/contrib.php?id=N00005906

Top Contributors

This table lists the top donors to this candidate in the 2012 election cycle. The organizations themselves did not donate, rather the money came from the organizations' PACs, their individual members or employees or owners, and those individuals' immediate families. Organization totals include subsidiaries and affiliates.

Because of contribution limits, organizations that bundle together many individual contributions are often among the top donors to presidential candidates. These contributions can come from the organization's members or employees (and their families). The organization may support one candidate, or hedge its bets by supporting multiple candidates. Groups with national networks of donors - like EMILY's List and Club for Growth - make for particularly big bundlers.

US Army	$24,503
US Air Force	$23,335
US Navy	$17,432
Mason Capital Management	$14,000
Microsoft Corp	$13,398
Boeing Co	$10,620
Google Inc	$10,390
Overland Sheepskin	$10,350
IBM Corp	$8,294
US Government	$7,756
DUNN Capital Management	$7,500
Corriente Advisors	$7,500
Greenstreet Co	$7,500
Northrop Grumman	$7,272
Lockheed Martin	$7,208
Intel Corp	$6,855
US Dept of Defense	$6,524
United Technologies	$6,316
Federal Express Corp	$6,255
Entergy Corp	$5,950

Percent of Contributions Coded

Coded	$3,161,194	(65%)
Uncoded	$1,711,511	(35%)
Total	$4,872,705	Why (and How) We Use Donors' Employer/Occupation Information METHODOLOGY NOTE: All the numbers on this page are for the 2012 election cycle and based on Federal Election Commission data released electronically on Monday, December 05, 2011. ("Help! The numbers don't add up...") Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics. For permission to reprint for commercial uses, such as textbooks, contact the Center.

Mitt Romney Top Contributors

2012-01-26T15:08:00.001-08:00

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/contrib.php?id=N00000286&cycle=2012

Mitt Romney (R)

Top Contributors

Goldman Sachs	$367,200
Credit Suisse Group	$203,750
Morgan Stanley	$199,800
HIG Capital	$186,500
Barclays	$157,750
Kirkland & Ellis	$132,100
Bank of America	$126,500
PriceWaterhouseCoopers	$118,250
EMC Corp	$117,300
JPMorgan Chase & Co	$112,250
The Villages	$97,500
Vivint Inc	$80,750
Marriott International	$79,837
Sullivan & Cromwell	$79,250
Bain Capital	$74,500
UBS AG	$73,750
Wells Fargo	$61,500
Blackstone Group	$59,800
Citigroup Inc	$57,050
Bain & Co	$52,500

Percent of Contributions Coded

Coded	$20,882,176	(73%)
Uncoded	$7,846,560	(27%)
Total	$28,728,736

Why (and How) We Use Donors' Employer/Occupation Information
METHODOLOGY
NOTE: All the numbers on this page are for the 2012 election cycle and based on Federal Election Commission data released electronically on Monday, December 05, 2011.
("Help! The numbers don't add up...")

Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics. For permission to reprint for commercial uses, such as textbooks, contact the Center.

Forbes Warren Buffett's Secretary Likely Makes Between $200,000 And $500,000/Year to pay higher tax than boss

2012-01-26T12:49:00.000-08:00

The IRS publishes detailed tax tables by income level. The latest results are for 2009. They show that taxpayers earning an adjusted gross income between $100,000 and $200,000 pay an average rate of twelve percent. This is below Buffett’s rate; so she must earn more than that. Taxpayers earning adjusted gross incomes of $200,000 to $500,000, pay an average tax rate of nineteen percent. Therefore Buffett must pay Debbie Bosanke a salary above two hundred thousand

see http://www.forbes.com/sites/paulroderickgregory/2012/01/25/warren-buffetts-secretary-likely-makes-between-200000-and-500000year/

Newt Gingrich News Blog

2012-01-26T12:17:00.001-08:00

Jan 28, 2012

Herman Cain: I enthusiastically endorse Newt Gingrich for President

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70Lla1wDSZs

I hereby, officially, and enthusiastically endorse Newt Gingrich for President of the United States. - Herman Cain Learn more http://www.newt.org Originally ..

http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/Wildmon-Palin-Newt-Crucified/2012/01/28/id/425825

Rev. Wildmon: Palin Is Right, Newt Being 'Crucified'

Saturday, 28 Jan 2012 11:11 AM

By David A. Patten

One of the nation's most influential Christian and family leaders, the Rev. Donald E. Wildmon, says Sarah Palin is right, Newt Gingrich is being "crucified" by the Republican establishment and forces allied with Mitt Romney.

Jan 26, 2012

Wildmon, founder of the American Family Association, has strongly endorsed Gingrich for president, and this week has been urging fellow believers to vote in Florida's primary for the former House Speaker.

PITTS: Gingrich following GOP playbook on racism

Sacramento Bee‎ - 20 hours ago

By Leonard Pitts Jr. I got my first job when I was 12. The deacons at my church paid me $2 a week to keep it swept and mopped

Huge Poll: Half of Tea Partyers Support Gingrich

Thursday, 26 Jan 2012 13:28 PM

Tea partyers overwhelmingly back Newt Gingrich to be the Republican presidential nominee, a huge poll of 29,000 people s . . .

Read more on Newsmax.com: Rush: Newt Under ‘Coordinated Attack’

Well, he actually doesn't like Gingrich, but he does acknowledge the epic win and he's a bit funny. Pam Geller says yeah Gingrich is an SOB but he's OUR magnificent SOB.

Monday January 23, 2012
Indecision 2012 - The Gingrich Who Stole South Carolina

Newt Gingrich turns his campaign around by exploiting South Carolinian voters' anger at the media's supposed victimization of the Right.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

Jan 22, 2012

Palin: Gingrich Now Is GOP Front-Runner

4 days ago ... Sarah Palin still isn't endorsing a candidate in the Republican presidential race, but she acknowledges that she believes Newt Gingrich's ...

www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/Palin-Gingrich.../2012/.../425032

Jan 19, 2012

Palin Defends Gingrich on Marriage Charges

Thursday, 19 Jan 2012 11:10 PM

Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin came to Newt Gingrich's defense Thursday night as allegations about his second marriage threatened his surge in South Carolina's primary.

Read more on Newsmax.com: Palin Defends Gingrich on Marriage Charges

Newt Gingrich Notes

2012-01-26T09:36:00.000-08:00

Who is Newt Gingrich? What does he stand for? Who is against him?

References

Newt Gingrich - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Political positions of Newt Gingrich

@@For

Israel: There is no moral equivalency between Israel and terrorist organizations Hamas and Fatah. Israel is a democracy with the rule of law / christian post labeled President Obama’s Israeli-Palestinian policy a “disaster” Gingrich said Obama’s remarks were “extraordinarily dangerous,” and further stated that “a president who can’t control his own border probably shouldn't lecture Israel about their border... I think that defining the 1967 border would be an act of suicide for Israel. They are totally non-defensible.”
Healthcare mandate: Gingrich speaking during an appearance on Meet the Press in October 1993:
“I am for people, individuals -- exactly like automobile insurance -- individuals having health insurance and being required to have health insurance. And I am prepared to vote for a voucher system which will give individuals, on a sliding scale, a government subsidy so we insure that everyone as individuals have health insurance.” Newsmax.com: Gingrich Backs Obamacare's Individual Mandate Requiring Health Insurance
Jobs: The poor should learn to work at jobs and eventually own them.
Immigration Amnesty Linda Chavez: amnesty for those illegal immigrants who have been here for a long time, have deep family and community ties, and have paid taxes and avoided breaking other laws. He didn't have to spend a lot of time defending his position because so few conservatives cared.

@@Against

Anwar al-Awlaki: killing Awlaki: Gingrich says the president did the right thing; Paul says he’s open to trying to impeach the president. “The fact is, Congressman Paul is wrong about the law,” the former House speaker told me. “He’s wrong about the Constitution.” link: Planning and directing terror plots to kill American civilians en masse is not a crime, to be handled through the judicial system; it is an act of war against the United States. Ron Paul opposed the killing

Cuba: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich vowed Monday night that as president he will overthrow the regime of Fidel Castro.

Newt Gingrich: I Will Overthrow Castro Regime

Fort Hood Massacre: This was an act of war. It was an act of terrorism. This was committed by a person who had been actively in touch with and actively supportive of terrorist activities, and I think it takes a willful blindness to minimize this.: fox news Ron Paul says radical Islam is not a threat.

Ground Zero Mosque: The Atlantic There should be no mosque near Ground Zero in New York so long as there are no churches or synagogues in Saudi Arabia. The time for double standards that allow Islamists to behave aggressively toward us while they demand our weakness and submission is over." Ron Paul supports building the mosque
Hamas: There is no moral equivalency between Israel and terrorist organizations Hamas and Fatah. Israel is a democracy with the rule of law. Hamas is an evil organization publicly dedicated to destroying Israel and preparing for terror against civilians (including a 3 month old baby deliberately slaughtered). There can be no peace until Hamas is defeated. Ron Paul believes Hamas is the legitimate elected government
Iran: called for regime change in Iran, saying the U.S. and its allies could ‘break’ the country within a year. Spelling out a strategy far more radical than anything put forward by Barack Obama to deal with Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Mr Gingrich said the U.S. could solve the problem by cutting off the country’s fuel supplies and sabotaging its sole oil refinery.uk daily mail

Occupy Wall Street: The movement "starts with the premise that we all owe them everything," said Gingrich. And the movement's sense of entitlement is a "symptom how much the left has collapsed as a moral system in this country, and why you need to reassert something as simple as saying, 'Go get a job right after you take a bath,'" the former speaker of the House concluded. weekly standard
Ron Paul: Paul said, “I think the Patriot Act is unpatriotic because it undermines our liberty … Timothy McVeigh was a vicious terrorist. He was arrested” — and Gingrich shot back, saying, “Timothy McVeigh succeeded. That’s the whole point.” “I don’t want a law that says after we lose a major American city, we’re sure going to come and find you,” Gingrich added. “I want a law that says, you try to take out an American city, we’re going to stop you.” daily caller

Sharia: “Sharia in its natural form has principles and punishments totally abhorrent to the Western world, and the underlying basic belief which is that law comes directly from God and is therefore imposed upon humans and no human can change the law without it being an act of apostasy is a fundamental violation of a tradition in the Western system which goes back to Rome, Athens, and Jerusalem and which has evolved in giving us freedom across the planet on a scale we can hardly imagine and which is now directly threatened by those who would impose it”
Tax increase on millionaires: Obama’s call for a 30 percent tax on millionaires is the “most destructive anti-jobs proposal by a president in my lifetime.” Gingrich: Obama Tax Plan Will Bring Economic Destruction

@@Opposed by

Aljazeera: Stereotypes are the lazy person's way of dealing with other people. Newt Gingrich is seen to be full of them. Gingrich has decades of racially coded messaging under his belt. In 1994 and 1995, he repeatedly spouted off, blaming a series of horrific mostly minority-related crimes on liberal Democrats and the sort of welfare state society they had created - rather than holding the criminals themselves responsible
Alan Grayson Via Newsbusters: I think there’s a sort of race between [Newt’s] egomania and his racism. And I think he’s running the most overtly racist campaign that I’ve seen in this country since George Wallace.
Anti-Semites: Stormfront, CAIR, Code Pink, Rense
CAIR: The Council for American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is accusing former House Speaker Newt Gingrich—along with deceased al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden—of “pushing Islamaphobia” in the United States. The report—“Same Hate, New Target: Islamaphobia and Its Impact in the United States, January 2009-December 2010” listed “individuals, institutions and groups” that CAIR argues were “at the center of pushing Islamophobia in America during the period covered” by the report. Among those listed were Newt Gingrich—and Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda.
Code Pink: According to the Code Pink website, they “took inspiration from Nick Espinosa, who 'glittered' Newt Gingrich at a conference in Minneapolis.” trendhunter
Conservative Republicans - immigration amnesty, health care mandate, ethics violations, marriages Mitt Romney,

Glenn Beck “he’s a progressive, would rather vote for Ron Paul”

nn Coulter - showed “doodles” to glenn beck

David Duke: In early 1995, Congressman Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the House, fired his newly appointed congressional librarian, Christina Jeffrey,2 for having once suggested that history students, when studying the Holocaust should also be exposed to the German point of view. davidduke
Infowars/Alex Jones: Mr New World Order: The anointment of Gingrich as Republican frontrunner is just the latest desperate bid to fool voters into supporting anyone other than Ron Paul
amocentrists: CAIR, Aljazeerah
Media Matters: Gingrich compares NYC Islamic community center to "Nazis"
Rense.com: anti-semitic conspiracy website

'Pledge To America' - Despicable GOP Ruse - Rense.com
Joel Skosen Anyone who holds up Newt Gingrich (the ultimate Republican deceiver) as an example of trust is dangerously ignorant.

Stormfront: (white nationalist) pro-Ron Paul newsboard:

TomatoBubble: right wing anti-semitic NWO conspiracy site calls him a “zionist sock puppet”
VDARE calls him “anti-white” quota king
Newt Gingrich: Propagandist for Israel - Stormfront

Veterans Today: Johnny Punish (on occupy wall street slam) Self-Appointed Historian and Resident Con-Man Newt Gingrich’s Mocking of U.S. Citizens Highlights Deeper More Sinister and Dark Political Challenge to a Future America
White Nationalists: Stormfront, Ron Paul, David Duke

@@Supported by

Chuck Norris
Fred Thompson
Linda Chavez
Michael Reagan defends Newt Gingrich as a Reagan conservative | MRCTV
mrctv.org
Pamela Geller
Rick Perry
Sarah Palin (just to keep race going) They, thinking that by trotting out this old Gingrich divorce interview that's old news -- and it does feature a disgruntled ex, claiming that it would destroy his campaign -- all this does, Sean, is incentivize conservatives and independents who are so sick of the politics of personal destruction, because it's played so selectively by the media, that their target, in this case Newt, he's now going to soar even more.Newsmax.com: Palin Defends Gingrich on Marriage Thomas Sowell

Alan Dis-Grayson Says Gingrich Runs Racist Campaign like Geoge Wallace

2012-01-26T09:32:00.000-08:00

Via Newsbusters:

ALAN GRAYSON: I think there’s a sort of race between [Newt’s] egomania and his racism. And I think he’s running the most overtly racist campaign that I’ve seen in this country since George Wallace [a democrat]. You’re talking about presidential campaigns. So I think that, what he tries to do is to do these dog-whistle things to people he thinks he can connect with to make up for his shortcomings frankly as a human being

If so, why are the John Birchers, neo-nazis, anti-semites, Iranians and Palestineans and conspiracy theorists backing Ron Paul, the real George Wallace of the 21st century?

Charles Murray on the Rich Liberate Elite vs Regular Slobs

2012-01-25T17:37:00.000-08:00

see http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204301404577170733817181646.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTTopStories

THE SATURDAY ESSAY

JANUARY 21, 2012

The New American Divide

The ideal of an 'American way of life' is fading as the working class falls further away from institutions like marriage and religion and the upper class becomes more isolated. Charles Murray on what's cleaving America, and why.

By CHARLES MURRAY

America is coming apart. For most of our nation's history, whatever the inequality in wealth between the richest and poorest citizens, we maintained a cultural equality known nowhere else in the world—for whites, anyway. "The more opulent citizens take great care not to stand aloof from the people," wrote Alexis de Tocqueville, the great chronicler of American democracy, in the 1830s. "On the contrary, they constantly keep on easy terms with the lower classes: They listen to them, they speak to them every day."
Americans love to see themselves this way. But there's a problem: It's not true anymore, and it has been progressively less true since the 1960s.

View Interactive

People are starting to notice the great divide. The tea party sees the aloofness in a political elite that thinks it knows best and orders the rest of America to fall in line. The Occupy movement sees it in an economic elite that lives in mansions and flies on private jets. Each is right about an aspect of the problem, but that problem is more pervasive than either political or economic inequality. What we now face is a problem of cultural inequality.
When Americans used to brag about "the American way of life"—a phrase still in common use in 1960—they were talking about a civic culture that swept an extremely large proportion of Americans of all classes into its embrace. It was a culture encompassing shared experiences of daily life and shared assumptions about central American values involving marriage, honesty, hard work and religiosity.

Top 10 SuperZIPs

In 'Coming Apart,' Charles Murray identifies 882 'SuperZIPs,' ZIP Codes where residents score in the 95th through the 99th percentile on a combined measure of income and education, based on the 2000 census. Here are the top-ranked areas:

1. 60043: Kenilworth, Ill. (Chicago's North Shore)
2. 60022: Glencoe, Ill. (Chicago's North Shore)
3. 07078: Short Hills, N.J. (New York metro area)
4. 94027: Atherton, Calif. (San Francisco-San Jose corridor)
5. 10514: Chappaqua, N.Y. (New York metro area)
6. 19035: Gladwyne, Pa. (Philadelphia's Main Line)
7. 94028: Portola Valley, Calif. (S.F.-San Jose corridor)
8. 92067: Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (San Diego suburbs)
9. 02493: Weston, Mass. (Boston suburbs)
10. 10577: Purchase, N.Y. (New York metro area)

Over the past 50 years, that common civic culture has unraveled. We have developed a new upper class with advanced educations, often obtained at elite schools, sharing tastes and preferences that set them apart from mainstream America. At the same time, we have developed a new lower class, characterized not by poverty but by withdrawal from America's core cultural institutions....

Taken separately, the differences in lifestyle that now separate Belmont from Fishtown are not sinister, but those quirks of the upper-middle class that I mentioned—the yogurt and muesli and the rest—are part of a mosaic of distinctive practices that have developed in Belmont. These have to do with the food Belmonters eat, their drinking habits, the ages at which they marry and have children, the books they read (and their number), the television shows and movies they watch (and the hours spent on them), the humor they enjoy, the way they take care of their bodies, the way they decorate their homes, their leisure activities, their work environments and their child-raising practices. Together, they have engendered cultural separation.

Enlarge Image

M. Scott Brauer for The Wall Street Journal

Belmont, an archetypal suburb of Boston, stands in for the white upper middle class.

It gets worse. A subset of Belmont consists of those who have risen to the top of American society. They run the country, meaning that they are responsible for the films and television shows you watch, the news you see and read, the fortunes of the nation's corporations and financial institutions, and the jurisprudence, legislation and regulations produced by government. They are the new upper class, even more detached from the lives of the great majority of Americans than the people of Belmont—not just socially but spatially as well. The members of this elite have increasingly sorted themselves into hyper-wealthy and hyper-elite ZIP Codes that I call the SuperZIPs.

In 1960, America already had the equivalent of SuperZIPs in the form of famously elite neighborhoods—places like the Upper East Side of New York, Philadelphia's Main Line, the North Shore of Chicago and Beverly Hills. But despite their prestige, the people in them weren't uniformly wealthy or even affluent. Across 14 of the most elite places to live in 1960, the median family income wasn't close to affluence. It was just $84,000 (in today's purchasing power). Only one in four adults in those elite communities had a college degree.

By 2000, that diversity had dwindled. Median family income had doubled, to $163,000 in the same elite ZIP Codes. The percentage of adults with B.A.s rose to 67% from 26%. And it's not just that elite neighborhoods became more homogeneously affluent and highly educated—they also formed larger and larger clusters.....

The Gingrich That Stole South Carolina: Daily Show

2012-01-25T17:29:00.001-08:00

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

Kathleen Battle - Pie Jesu - Requiem - Gabriel Fauré

2012-01-23T16:12:00.001-08:00

played this in Seattle Youth Symphony in 70s under Sokol

found in playlist for RetiredRosie

wow 130 hits for ... an opera singer???

Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Disaster

2012-01-20T10:28:00.000-08:00

Best links

wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Concordia_disaster

The rock (wikipedia)

News blog

Jan 21,2012

http://foxnewsinsider.com/2012/01/21/death-toll-on-doomed-costa-concordia-cruise-reaches-12-as-womans-body-is-discovered-in-ships-corridor/

Death Toll on Doomed Costa Concordia Cruise Reaches 12 as Woman’s Body Is Discovered in Ship’s Corridor A woman’s body was discovered in a hallway of the Costa Concordia cruise ship that hit a rock last week and sank off the coast of Italy. The woman was in a difficult-to-reach area of the ship, and she was found wearing a life vest.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/9029644/Costa-Concordia-ships-doctor-describes-chaotic-scenes-as-liner-keeled-over.html

Costa Concordia: ship's doctor describes chaotic scenes as liner keeled over

The ship’s doctor on the Costa Concordia cruise liner has described scenes of panic and chaos as he helped dozens of terrified passengers clamber into lifeboats as the vessel keeled over.

Dr Cinquini insisted that the ship’s officers did their best amid the chaos and fear, even though video footage which emerged on Friday suggested the crew had told passengers to go back to their cabins as late as 10.25pm – more than 40 minutes after the collision. The abandon ship alarm was only given at 10.58pm.

Costa Concordia: stricken cruise ship becomes tourist spectacle

22 Jan 2012

Tourists flock to Italian shipwreck

22 Jan 2012

Moldovan dancer at centre of Concordia disaster to be questioned by Italian prosecutors

22 Jan 2012

Captain: cruise company 'insisted' on sail-pasts

22 Jan 2012

Audio recording: Concordia captain vows to stay on ship

22 Jan 2012

Costa Concordia: 'I'm going to stay here,' said captain

21 Jan 2012

http://overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/20/10196829-rescue-divers-unlikely-to-find-cruise-ship-survivors
Wreck threatens sea grass, sea sponges and mollusks!
A week after the Concordia struck a reef off the fishing and tourism island of Giglio, flipping on its side, its crippled 114,000-ton hull rests on seabed rich with an underwater prairie of sea grass vital to the ecosystem. The dead weight has likely already damaged a variety of marine life, including endangered sea sponges, and crustaceans and mollusks, even before a drop of any fuel leaks, environmentalists contend.
"The longer it stays there, the longer it impedes light from reaching the vegetation," said Francesco Cinelli, an ecology professor at the University of Pisa, in Tuscany. And the sheer weight of the Concordia will also crush sea life, he said.
The seabed where the Concordia lies is a flourishing home to Poseidon sea grass native to the Mediterranean,

from
http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/19/world/europe/italy-cruise-cook/index.html
Cruise ship's cook says captain ordered dinner after crash

By the CNN Wire Staff

updated 10:38 AM EST, Fri January 20, 2012

In an interview with GMA Network, cook Rogelio Barista said Capt. Francesco Schettino ordered dinner less than an hour after the accident.
"We wondered what was going on. ... At that time, we really felt something was wrong. ... The stuff in the kitchen was falling off shelves and we realized how grave the situation was," Barista told GMA.
Schettino ordered dinner around 10:30 p.m. Friday, Barista said. Authorities say the ship struck the rocks at 9:41 p.m.
"I have had 12 years of experience as a cook on a cruise ship. ... I have even witnessed fires, so I wasn't that scared," Barista said. "But I did wonder, though, what the captain was doing ... why was he still there."

January 19, 2012
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/01/19/captain-in-cruise-ship-disaster-says-fell-out-ship-during-evacuation/

Costa Concordia captain reportedly seen dining with mystery woman before deadly crash
| FoxNews.com
This image taken from Il Secolo's website reportedly shows 25-year-old Domnica Cemortan. The Moldovan woman is believed to have been the blonde female seen dining with Costa Concordia Capt. Francesco Schettino shortly before the ship crashed Friday night, according to the newspaper.
The search for 21 people still missing in the Costa Concordia shipwreck resumed Thursday amid reports the captain was seen dining with a mystery woman -- who may have been on board illegally -- shortly before the liner crashed off the Italian coast.
The woman is believed to be Domnica Cemortan, a 25-year-old Moldovan, thought to be the same blonde woman seen dining with Capt. Francesco Schettino Friday evening, almost an hour before the ship struck a reef, killing at least 11 people, the Italian newspaper Il Secolo XIX reported Thursday.

Jan 16
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/interactive-graphics/9018076/Concordia-How-the-disaster-unfolded.html

Interactive timeline shows the key events of Costa Concordia cruise disaster

By Michael Agar, Andrew Blenkinsop

3:57PM GMT 16 Jan 2012

Costa Concordia, the stricken cruise liner, capsized after the captain tried to turn around and head into the island’s port in an apparent attempt to make it easier to evacuate.

January 14, 2012
fox news slideshow

http://www.foxnews.com/slideshow/world/2012/01/14/luxury-ship-runs-aground-off-italy-bodies-found/#slide=1

Next Slide PreviousImage 1 of 18

PC Collapse or PC's Plus TabletPhones?

2012-01-20T08:04:00.000-08:00

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes says The PC industry is heading for collapse

see http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/the-pc-industry-is-heading-for-collapse/17828?tag=content;siu-container

check out the two charts of unit-share and %unit share showing increases in phones and tablets. Still, if PC is flattening out, that's not the same as collapse and people will still use their pc, windows 8 will let people use their PCs as tablets and drive tablet-format PCs which did not succeed before.

By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes | January 20, 2012, 5:51am PST

Summary: Two enormous warning signs that the PC industry as we know it is eroding away from under the OEMs.

Horace Dediu of Asymco and technical writer Jeremy Reimer have pulled together extensive historical data which covers the rise (and fall) of computing platforms since 1975, including the PC.

There’s are several aspects of this chart that are worth noting:

....As Dediu points out, after less than two years enough units have been sold to put it within an order of magnitude of all PCs sold. That’s incredible growth.
Android phones are doing much better. We can easily expect Android handsets to outsell PCs by the end of the year.
New platforms such as the iOS and Android have represented the first real challenge to the dominance of the PC since 1991 (where the PC was put under pressure by Macintosh and Amiga.

If we take a look at a second chart which shows market share over time, we can begin to see just how disruptive the combination of Android, iPhone and iPad have been, pushing the PC market share to under 50% in a few years.

So, PC shipments are flat-lining, and the market share of the platform has fallen to below 50%.

Gingrich on Obama: Keystone "Stunningly Stupid Thing To Do!"

2012-01-19T21:17:00.001-08:00

Barack Obama has vetoed the XL Pipeline. Newt Gingrich shares his thoughts about Obama's "sheer utter stupidity":

h/t Canadian at http://www.smalldeadanimals.com/

Full SC Republican Presidential Debate pt

2012-01-19T20:49:00.000-08:00

see http://hu1st.blogspot.com/2012/01/gingrich-attacks-cnns-john-king-as.html about Gingrich taking down John King on his ex-wife allegations.

and http://hu1st.blogspot.com/2012/01/gingrich-on-obama-keystone-stunningly.html to see him calling Obama "stunningly stupid" on the xl pipeline.

This Asian American is backing Gingrich

thanks to the hardwork of moxnews

pt 1

pt 2

pt 3

pt 4

pt 5

pt 6

pt 7

pt 8

pt 9

Gingrich "Attacks" CNN's John King As "Despicable"

2012-01-19T20:10:00.000-08:00

UK's liberal Guardian accuses Gingrich of "attacking" King????

To take an ex-wife and make it two days before the primary a significant question for a presidential campaign is as close to despicable as anything I can imagine.(APPLAUSE)
I am frankly astounded that CNN would take trash like that and use it to open a presidential debate.
(APPLAUSE)
KING: As you noted, Mr Speaker, this story did not come from our network. As you also know, it is a subject of conversation on the campaign. I'm not – I get your point. I take your point.
GINGRICH: John, John, it was repeated by your network. You chose to start the debate with it. Don't try to blame somebody else. You and your staff chose to start this debate with it.
(APPLAUSE)

NewtsNews(4 hours ago)

ELECTION 2012 TRACKING GOP
Ballot updates daily
Election Primary and Caucus Results Update Periodically
----------- 1/11 ----- 1/12 --- 1/17 ---- 1/18 ---- 1/19 ---- Iowa --- New H --- S. Car
Ron P. -- 13% ---- 13% --- 12%^ --- 15%^ --- 16%^ ---- 22% ---- 23% ----- 19%^
Mitt R. --- 31%^ --- 34% --- 34%v -- 28%^ ---- 33%v --- 24% ---- 39% ----- 32%v
Newt G. - 16%v --- 14% --- 15% ---- 21% ---- 17%^ ---- 13% ----- 9% ----- 33%^Rick S. -- 16%v --- 15% --- 15% ---- 16% ---- 13%v -----24% ---- 9% ------ 9%
Removed from Virginia Primary: Newt G. - Rick S.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/19/politics/gop-debate/index.html?iref=obnetwork

Gingrich delivers show-stopper at beginning of South Carolina debate

By Rachel Streitfeld and Paul Steinhauser, CNN
An angry Gingrich chastised CNN for starting off with the question about his marriage

Newt Gingrich turned his contempt for the media into one of his strongest performances yet. When CNN Chief National Correspondent John King opened the debate with a question about open marriage, following an interview by Gingrich's ex-wife saying that he had sought one, the Republican chastised him."To take an ex-wife and make it two days before the primary a significant question in a presidential campaign is as close to despicable as anything I can imagine," Gingrich told King, the moderator of the debate.
Gingrich's response elicited loud applause from the audience

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71705.html
CNN’s John King puts himself on firing line

This is one of the most explosive moments we’ve seen in debate history,” CNN’s David Gergen said on the air afterward. “It was also one of the harshest attacks that we’ve had on the press that I can remember in a long, long time.”
King, who seemed defensive during Gingrich’s onslaught, took full responsibility for the question.
“This is one of those damned if you do, damned if you don’t,” he said during an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper after the debate. “It was my judgment, my decision, and mine alone. If we’re going to deal with it, let’s deal with it upfront, let’s not try to sneak it into the middle of the debate somewhere.”
King elaborated on that decision later in a conversation with POLITICO. “My old AP training is, you deal with the lead of the day upfront first,” he said. “I respect anybody who disagrees, but we made our decision.”
“[Newt’s] criticism of the media is his right,” King continued. “He has the same First Amendment we do. It’s a tactic he’s used throughout the debate season.”
Gingrich press secretary R.C. Hammond accused King of “gotcha journalism” but said he didn’t think it would hurt King’s reputation.
former Reagan administration official Bud McFarlane, was equally critical. “I think Newt was hard on John King, but John King asked for it,” Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71705.html#ixzz1k1XSubkl

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71705.html#ixzz1k1X8OMBI

Newsmax:Gingrich Slams CNN for Marriage Questions, Gets Standing Ovations
Newt Gingrich hit back forcefully at the opening of CNN's presidential debate at an allegation that he asked his second wife to tolerate an "open marriage," angrily denying the claim. "I think the disruptive, vicious, negative nature of the news media makes it harder to govern this country," Gingrich fumed at the debate moderator, John King of CNN. "I am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that." Gingrich's comments were greeted by multiple standing ovations from the audience.
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2012/01/19/gingrich-slams-cnns-king-i-am-appalled-you-would-begin-presidential-d

Gingrich Slams CNN's King: 'I Am Appalled That You Would Begin a Presidential Debate With a Topic Like That'

By Noel Sheppard | January 19, 2012 | 20:52

CNN’s John King despicably started Thursday’s Republican presidential debate in South Carolina by bringing up allegations made by Newt Gingrich’s ex-wife earlier in the day.
When asked to respond to the controversy, the former Speaker of the House said, “I am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate with a topic like that,” (video follows with transcribed highlights and commentary):

Story Continues Below Ad ↓

To the amazement of those in the audience as well as viewers at home, King addressed this issue right out of the gate.
“As you know," said the moderator to the former Speaker, "your ex-wife gave an interview to ABC News and another interview with the Washington Post and this story has now gone viral on the Internet. In it, she says you came to her in 1999 at a time when you were having an affair. She says you asked her, Sir, to enter into an open marriage. Would you like to take some time to respond to that?”
“No,” answered Gingrich, “but I will.”

Gingrich Tears a Strip Off of John King & CNN

However you feel about Newt Gingrich, his response to CNN's John King, at the start of tonight's U.S. Presidential debate was sublime:

h/t Fred

Newt Gingrich SLAMS CNN For Question About His Ex-Wife! SC Republican Presidential Debate pt.1

Newt Gingrich and John King marriage exchange – the full transcript

‎

The Guardian - 1 hour ago

JOHN KING: And just as speaker Gingrich surged into contention here in South Carolina, a direct fresh character attack on the Speaker. ...

JOHN KING: And just as speaker Gingrich surged into contention here in South Carolina, a direct fresh character attack on the Speaker.
And Mr Speaker, I want to start with that this evening.

As you know, your ex-wife gave an interview to ABC News and another interview with The Washington Post. And this story has now gone viral on the internet.
In it, she says that you came to her in 1999, at a time when you were having an affair. She says you asked her, sir, to enter into an open marriage.
Would you like to take some time to respond to that?
GINGRICH: No, but I will.
(APPLAUSE)
GINGRICH: I think the destructive, vicious, negative nature of much of the news media makes it harder to govern this country, harder to attract decent people to run for public office. And I am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that.
(APPLAUSE)
KING: Is that all you want to say, sir?
GINGRICH: Let me finish.
KING: Please.
GINGRICH: Every person in here knows personal pain. Every person in here has had someone close to them go through painful things. To take an ex-wife and make it two days before the primary a significant question for a presidential campaign is as close to despicable as anything I can imagine.
(APPLAUSE)
My – my two daughters – my two daughters wrote the head of ABC and made the point that it was wrong, that they should pull it, and I am frankly astounded that CNN would take trash like that and use it to open a presidential debate.
(APPLAUSE)
KING: As you noted, Mr Speaker, this story did not come from our network. As you also know, it is a subject of conversation on the campaign. I'm not – I get your point. I take your point.
GINGRICH: John, John, it was repeated by your network. You chose to start the debate with it. Don't try to blame somebody else. You and your staff chose to start this debate with it.
(APPLAUSE)
Let me be quite clear. Let me be quite clear. The story is false. Every personal friend I have who knew us in that period said the story was false. We offered several of them to ABC to prove it was false. They weren't interested because they would like to attack any Republican. They're attacking the governor. They're attacking me. I'm sure they'll presently get around to Senator Santorum and Congressman Paul.
I am tired of the elite media protecting Barack Obama by attacking Republicans.
(APPLAUSE)

Local: Gingrich Slams CNN for Asking About Ex-Wife‎ WLTX.com
In-Depth: Gingrich Knocks Media for 'Open Marriage' Question‎ BloombergTelegraph.co.uk- Daily Caller
all 1512 news articles »

The Guardian

Newt Gingrich slams John King for question on ex-wife (2:01)

Washington Post - 11 minutes ago

Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich slammed John King for opening the Republican presidential debate with a question concerning his ex-wife. (Jan. ...

Pam Geller endorses Newt Gingrich

Gingrich Wins The GOP Debate In The First Five Minutes

First question from the enemedia's CNN, craven news network:

The country needs a fighter. There is a war on the American people, we are under attack from within, and the Republican establishment have been meek, kowed, defeated. Gingrich is fierce. We need a fighter to go toe to toe against the silver tongued snake in the White House.

Posted by Pamela Geller on Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 09:41 PM in WHITE HOUSE 2012 |

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Big Day in the GOP Race

Perry pulled out (it is with great joy that I note that my exposing Perry's Islamic curriculum and close ties to Grover Norquist helped to cut the Perry campaign off at the pass this past summer).

Santorum actually won Iowa (enemedia and GOP establishment feed distrust among Conservative voters).

Tne enemedia is Caining Newt.

I stand behind my endorsement for Newt. Atlas readers, get out the vote for Newt. He is right on the Muslim Brotherhood. He is right on sharia. He is right on the Fakestinian people.

Do not make perfect the enemy of the good.

UPDATE: At least he asked her ........

Here is Aga Khan/Rick Perry Curriculum: Scrubbed from Web, Cache Scrubbed from Google Search

"The religion that the Prophet Muhammad preached provided his followers an ethical and moral vision for leading a life of righteousness." Perry/Khan curriculum.

In one of my first posts on the controversial Aga Khan/Perry school curriculum on Islam for Texas public schools, I published the links (URLs) to the Muslim Histories and Cultures Program (MHC). The MHC page said proudly: "In April 2004, the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and UT-Austin finalized a grant proposal that created the partnership that became known as the Muslim Histories and Cultures Program (MHC).... Governor Perry was instrumental in getting this program off the ground."
Soon after I posted about it, the links went dead. It was curious that the multiple pages of all nine lessons plus adjunct powerpoints and lesson plans were all taken offline. Subsequently, I found the Google cached pages and posted those links of the curriculum material. Now those links have also been removed. The cache is gone. Why are they hiding this?
Before everything disappears, I am posting the text and the screenshots of all nine lessons of this proselytizing whitewash of Islam. We are handicapping our children by whitewashing the jihadic doctrine and the threat it presents to the West. This is the actual curriculum, not any one single teacher's lesson plan (which is what other misinformed blogs are using, claiming it is the actual official curriculum, in an attempt to exonerate Perry of this dastardly action).
Further, why is this even being taught in the public schools? There is no intense, extensive Jewish curriculum or Hindu curriculum or Christian curriculum. Further, these religions are not slaughtering Americans and non-believers in the hundreds of thousands, so why color it pretty?
Rick Perry's partner in this Islamic education program is the Aga Khan. The Aga Khan Development Network signed three agreements with the Syrian Government, and “between 2003 and 2008,” the Aga Khan’s group “spent $40 million to develop business in Syria.” Syria has been listed by the State Department as among the State Sponsors of Terrorism since December 29, 1979, and for years has allowed the jihad terror groups Hamas and Hezbollah to operate with impunity out of Damascus.
Another Aga Khan organization, the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, is one of the owners of the Bank al-Habib in Pakistan. In 2007, Daniel Pearl’s widow Mariane sued that bank, charging that it had funded al-Qaeda and was involved in killing Daniel Pearl. Those charges have never been answered.
SPIEGEL Interview with Aga Khan: Spiegel: So, what are the root causes of terrorism?

Aga Khan: Unsolved political conflicts, frustration and, above all, ignorance. Nothing that was born out of a theological conflict.
[...]
SPIEGEL: That means the West should deal with the radical Islamist Hamas as well?
Aga Khan: You have to work with whoever the population has elected as long as they are willing to respect what I call cosmopolitan ethics.

Aga Khan Senior: How the Eton-educated wartime Aga Khan offered '30,000 armed Arabs' to help Hitler - but still evaded treason trial

JihadWatch on Perry connections to Grover Norquist

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2012/01/norquist-protege-rick-perry-dropping-out-of-presidential-race.html
Grover Norquist may be more responsible than anyone else for Muslim Brotherhood access to the highest levels of power in the U.S. While it is hard for any Republican candidate to avoid Norquist altogether, so all-pervasive is his influence and power, Norquist is clearly much closer to Perry than to other candidates. Perry and Grover Norquist held a joint press conference in March 2011. Perry appeared at a fundraiser for Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform group. More: Norquist actively campaigned for Perry back in 2009. More still: Perry was investigated by the Texas Ethics Commission in 2004 for allegations that he illegally used campaign money to finance a trip to the Bahamas. In the course of this investigation, it came to light that along on the Bahamas trip at his own expense was Grover Norquist. Perry and Norquist are clearly not just casual acquaintances. Which other candidates have fundraised for Norquist? Which have vacationed with him?
Then there was the whole business of the Perry/Aga Khan curriculum on Islam for Texas schools, a complete whitewash of Islam and jihad that was initiated and officially sanctioned by Perry himself. The Perry campaign obviously realized how damaging the curriculum could have been to their man's chances, and so deleted it not only from the web, but also from the Google cache

Beautiful Video About Seattle University

2012-01-19T18:50:00.000-08:00

Just spotted this looking for snow closure information:

Seattle University - An Incredible Campus in a Beautiful City

Seattle Snow Drivin LANE CHANGE CRASH

2012-01-19T11:55:00.000-08:00

New Seattle Snow Driving Rule #27: DO NOT LANE CHANGE 405S near Totem Lake, dodged Nissan Maxima 2 cars ahead, changed left from center lane, tail swung out, turned backwards across car ahead of me into right lane, ended up on shoulder backwards and could not move in 5" of snow there. I stopped to ask if he needed help, he said he was fine, made it into bellevue fine.

There was about 2" of snow across the freeway and some ice/snow even in the ruts. My Mazda MPV with studs drove fine as along as it was under 40mph where most of traffic was. I got the studs after we got stuck in 2007 thanksgiving coming back from San Diego with worn all-weather tires on ice on hill near our house. Never needed snow tires for typical NW winters = 1.5 days of snow on ground.
I've have seen 3 other cars in the process of spinning out ahead of me or in my rearview mirror on I405 between Kirkland and Bellevue WHEN IT WAS DRY. Must be the slope or something, one was a blown tire from right lane, spun around and crossed in front of us about 30 ft ahead, ended up backwards after hitting center guard rail, woman was also ok.

Other rules

Don't run summer tires in winter
Replace your all-weather tires well before they hit the tread indicators
You can run snow tires all year, they just make more noise and will wear faster but you won't need to swap them and will come in handy the 3 or 4 days a year you will actually need them even if you never drive over the mountains
Studs are even better but you have to change tires each season and they are bad for roads and ar really noisy.
Drive SLOWLY

KIRO-FM Snow Storm King Rap

2012-01-18T18:00:00.001-08:00

More audio at MyNorthwest.com

Snowball Fight U Washington Quad
see http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150473606186531&set=vb.646651530&type=2&theater

Uploaded by paolomottolajr on Jan 17, 2012

SEE PART 2 AT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee1wZhDfr6w

A parody of Shit Girls Say at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-yLGIH7W9Y.

Shout out to the Seattle Twitterati crew for the inspiration and Sergio Mottola (@sergiomottola) for help filming. I'm at @paolojr.

La Nina Mayans and 2012 Seattle Snow: Poplar Pal

2012-01-18T12:41:00.000-08:00

UW College student's take on world. Family is snug in Bothell, he's in a dorm

see http://poplarpal.blogspot.com/2012/01/la-nina-mayans.html

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

La Nina > Mayans

Well... until we actually know 2013 doesn't exist, it's not fair to discount the Mayan calendar a predictor. Do we think it's a "sure" thing? Not really. Does the average person even know what a Mayan is? Probably not.

Here. Now you know what a Mayan looks like.

For predictors, we know rather that we can depend on the rooster to wake us up in the morning, the moon to put us to bed at night, and etc. Among such things, one thing that has stood the test of meteorologist time is the La Nina winter. It doesn't encompass winter weather in itself but for the savvy Seattlelite it means "SNOW". Too bad it doesn't do a very convincing job telling you when the snow will come. Towards the end of 2011, there were doubters - many of them. No white Thanksgiving, no white Christmas, nothing in between. Would La Nina fail us this year? Psh, if we knew what La Nina was thinking (pretending that she were animate) she would be rofl-ing - winter has just started (okay maybe not rofl-ing but something along those lines). It seems that La Nina prefers to be fashionably late to the party. For the last week or so, she even preferred to tease the Seattle area, picking and choosing regions to the North give 7 inches of snow and leaving elsewhere with nothing.

Snow in Bothell, WA - Jan 15th

Enter January 17th 2012: Weather channel, Komo4, Kiro7, and Cliff Mass of the UW weather center all in agreement that tomorrow could be it - this could be THE snowfall. Expectations were catastrophically inconsistent between 2" and 15" but that added to the fun.
Enter January 18th 2012: University of Washington classes closed for the day. Such a thing is a collectors item in local-speak. Fireworks set off on campus, dorm halls burst in exuberant cheers, facebook explodes with notifications everyone already knows... but it's okay because La Nina has finally shown her face and she has shown it in a big way too. Actually it was a good thing UW closed because La Nina showed a force of nature above any of our expectations. As I type, it's white, it's windy, it's cold, and it looks absolutely amazing. The Metro bus driver may cringe, so will the UPS driver and the mailman. Props to them, they have a hard job. But for the time being, commuters celebrate, greek row celebrate, students celebrate, children celebrate, husbands celebrate, wives celebrate. Above all, Cliff Mass, you weren't wrong. Celebrate.

2012 Snow Drive MPV Studs vs. Accord Old Tires vs. Subaru Legacy

2012-01-18T08:12:00.000-08:00

Tested out FWD 1991 Honda accord with 20% tread left in neighborhood with 3" of snow - it can drive on level roads just fine but tires spin a lot.

2004 MPV with studded snow tires drives fine, but some wheel spin. It barely clawed its way up the hill to the Kingsgate P-R in Kirkland when multiple cars couldn't make it up ice on monday. It has a lot more bulk and doesn't handle as well as the smaller Subaru in terms of turns and going where it is pointed. In the great storm of 1996, the 1995 Dodge Caravan was our snow vehicle of choice, and it also did pretty well in snow - it's got big tires, especially with chains. I've used chains on the MPV when we got a lot of snow 2 or 3 years back when it was 10" of snow or so into Redmond from Bothell.

2001 Subaru Legacy wagon with new all-weather tires with fairly wide tread drives like a champ, very little wheel spin with all-wheel drive. If the car skids a bit, just let off the power and put it back when the car is done going where it wants to go, usually less than a second of sliding.

Bellevue traffic cams here
http://www.bellevuewa.gov/trafficcam/
Snow doesn't seem bad in Bellevue, here is bravern near transit center:

Bothell Jan 17 Before Great Seattle Snow 2012

2012-01-17T23:32:00.001-08:00

Update 1/18 - South Sound has 13" and Bothell got .... 1" What a bust. University of Washington and Seattle University are closed. Missed Thalia Symphony rehearsal in a Seattle school last night. Tested out FWD 1991 Honda accord with 20% tread left in neighborhood with 3" of snow - it can drive on level roads just fine but tire spin a lot. 2004 MPV with studs drives fine, but some wheel spin. It barely clawed its way up the hill to the Kingsgate P-R in Kirkland when multiple cars couldn't make it up ice on monday. 2001 Subaru Legacy wagon with new all-weather tires with fairly wide tread drives like a champ, very little wheel spin with all-wheel drive

Marilyn Monroe in Bothell

Bellevue at Noon

QFC Before Big Storm

Canyon Park Snow

asfas


Nearly 4" of snow on trash can

What's On First

CATO: Buffet's Secretary Paying More Tax Story is Bogus

see http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/warren-buffetts-tax-story-is-bogus/

Apple 1984: Imperialist IPhones Kill Chinese Workers

Apple and the Foxconn problem

81% of Newsmax prefer romney over 14% Gingrich??

American in Somalia to write book on pirates kidnapped by.. Somali pirates

Obama Next Silly Idea: High School Diploma or Else

Ron Paul Top Contributors: Army Navy AF, Microsoft Boeing Google

Ron Paul (R)

Top Contributors

Percent of Contributions Coded

Mitt Romney Top Contributors

Mitt Romney (R)

Top Contributors

Percent of Contributions Coded

Forbes Warren Buffett's Secretary Likely Makes Between $200,000 And $500,000/Year to pay higher tax than boss

Newt Gingrich News Blog

Rev. Wildmon: Palin Is Right, Newt Being 'Crucified'

Palin Defends Gingrich on Marriage Charges

Newt Gingrich Notes

Alan Dis-Grayson Says Gingrich Runs Racist Campaign like Geoge Wallace

Charles Murray on the Rich Liberate Elite vs Regular Slobs

The New American Divide

The ideal of an 'American way of life' is fading as the working class falls further away from institutions like marriage and religion and the upper class becomes more isolated. Charles Murray on what's cleaving America, and why.

By CHARLES MURRAY

Top 10 SuperZIPs

The Gingrich That Stole South Carolina: Daily Show

Kathleen Battle - Pie Jesu - Requiem - Gabriel Fauré

Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Disaster

Costa Concordia: ship's doctor describes chaotic scenes as liner keeled over

The ship’s doctor on the Costa Concordia cruise liner has described scenes of panic and chaos as he helped dozens of terrified passengers clamber into lifeboats as the vessel keeled over.

Interactive timeline shows the key events of Costa Concordia cruise disaster

PC Collapse or PC's Plus TabletPhones?

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes says The PC industry is heading for collapse

Gingrich on Obama: Keystone "Stunningly Stupid Thing To Do!"

Full SC Republican Presidential Debate pt

Gingrich "Attacks" CNN's John King As "Despicable"

Gingrich delivers show-stopper at beginning of South Carolina debate

Gingrich Slams CNN's King: 'I Am Appalled That You Would Begin a Presidential Debate With a Topic Like That'

Gingrich Tears a Strip Off of John King & CNN

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Here is Aga Khan/Rick Perry Curriculum: Scrubbed from Web, Cache Scrubbed from Google Search

Beautiful Video About Seattle University

Seattle Snow Drivin LANE CHANGE CRASH

KIRO-FM Snow Storm King Rap

Category:

La Nina Mayans and 2012 Seattle Snow: Poplar Pal

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

La Nina > Mayans

2012 Snow Drive MPV Studs vs. Accord Old Tires vs. Subaru Legacy

Bothell Jan 17 Before Great Seattle Snow 2012