The Political Commentator

Mayor Michael Bloomberg starring in "No sweet drinks for you!" (Video)

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Haltman) — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 13:26:00 +0000

New York Times ad 6/2/2012 Page A5) from the Center for Consumer Freedom

When a freedom or personal choice is taken away, it won't be coming back!

Today the Bloomberg Nanny State wants to tell you that there will be no sweet drinks sold in certain venues if those drinks are over 16 ounces in size!

Why is that? Because as Bloomberg and anyone else walking down the street in NYC can tell you, there is an obesity problem in New York!

And, because parents, adults and children are apparently not capable of resisting the temptation for sweets or deciding whether to eat them on their own, NYC government will do it for you!

The irony of course is that this Bloomberg pronouncement coincided with National Donut Day.

What's next in line for abolishment?

As the freedom to choose and to manage our own lives slowly gets taken from us, what will be next?

Will your television have a timer limiting its use to a certain number of hours a day after which it shuts itself down, a one gyro limit at the Greek restaurant or maybe the cornbread side being outlawed at your local rib place because its deemed an extraneous and extremely fattening unnecessary addition to the meal?

How about a monitor for supermarket shopping carts that limits the total caloric content inside, and when a certain level is reached nothing else can be added?

Whatever happened to parents leading by example and monitoring what their own kids do in order to make sure mindless video games and other sources of inactivity are replaced by exercise and that what they eat is controlled?

Whatever happened to all adults deciding for themselves if they want to be fat or they want to lose weight?

What will become of peoples right to choose?

What's the next freedom to be taken away by nanny? Who knows but remember that once a freedom of choice is taken away, it won't be coming back!

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Those lovable animated bears explain what QE3, no jobs and inflation means to you! (Video)

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Haltman) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 18:29:00 +0000

The old hope and pray trade!

Few jobs created and higher unemployment can mean only one thing! An expectation for the Federal Reserve to step in with yet another round of Quantitative Easing!

One would suppose that the definition for insanity could be invoked were the Fed to embark on another round of QE (doing the same thing time and time again while expecting a different outcome), but on the other hand they have no other ammunition left in the quiver.

They can of course do nothing which is their other option but either way there are pros, cons and unintended consequences.

The consequences of a zero interest rate policy!

Remember the adage that there is no free lunch!

The truth of the matter is that inflation in the U.S. remains a growing problem whether you choose to look at it ex-food and energy or include food and energy, savers reliant on interest income are being badly hurt with yields being kept as low as they are, the attempt by the Fed to push these same savers into risky assets like stocks can backfire (as we are seeing today) and if banks aren't lending and businesses aren't trying to borrow due to regulations and uncertainty it is all moot anyway!

Let the animated bears explain the situation to you clearly, concisely and so that anyone can understand which is unlike listening to any of the "experts" who try to tell you why any weakness represents a great buying opportunity in language that no one but they can understand!

Da Bears!

H/T The Daily Capitalist
Cartoon Source

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Finally, something intelligent out of the mouth of John Rocker!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Haltman) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:21:00 +0000

If you're a New York Mets fan you will surely remember this former Atlanta Braves reliever!

Perhaps John Rocker is the same man he was when he made his infamous statements about New York City and New Yorkers while he was playing for the Atlanta Braves circa 1999. I opined as much not very long ago in an article titled "John Rocker, ex-Atlanta Braves reliever, on being a racist! (Video)".

Or perhaps, as Rocker contends, his statements made during a 10-hour interview with Jeff Pearlman of Sports Illustrated 20+ years ago were taken out of context and manipulated in order to present him in a certain predetermined light.

These are two of the most well known statements in the article:

•On ever playing for a New York team: "I would retire first. It's the most hectic, nerve-racking city. Imagine having to take the [Number] 7 train to the ballpark, looking like you're [riding through] Beirut next to some kid with purple hair next to some queer with AIDS right next to some dude who just got out of jail for the fourth time right next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids. It's depressing."

•On New York City itself: "The biggest thing I don't like about New York are the foreigners. I'm not a very big fan of foreigners. You can walk an entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English. Asians and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people and everything up there. How the hell did they get in this country?" (Source)

According to Rocker, the following is the real story of the interview:

“Pearlman spent nearly 10 hours with me that day and we engaged in numerous very long-winded conversations on everything from how to throw a breaking ball to the effects of a flawed U.S. immigration policy. Strategically extracting a sentence fragment here and separate thought there Pearlman painted the exact picture of me he intended from the very beginning and in doing so remained true to form and consistent with his long and decorated history of trash journalism. In my research I have found that Pearlman has done eerily similar hatchet jobs to dozens of other subjects during his 20 year career,” said Rocker.“ (Source)

Honestly for those of us who grew-up in New York as Mets fans it is hard to give this man any part of a benefit of the doubt, as for all of these years he has epitomized everything wrong with intolerance, racism and stereotyping.

However, as a compassionate conservative and given the wide span of time since the incident occurred, I am willing to think about a second chance for Rocker by giving some credence to his side of the story. After all, the media has been known to manipulate words and phrases to advance a story.

Given this, at the very least I wish to now congratulate John Rocker on his political savvy!

While some may say that voting against Obama is consistent with Rocker's persona of racist, I instead will attribute it to his being an American and wanting what is best for the country.

And an 2nd Obama term in the White House is certainly not that!

Quote Source
Picture Source

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Does Spexit* come before Grexit*?

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Haltman) — Thu, 31 May 2012 16:23:00 +0000

Is this a riddle or some kind of a joke being told in an imaginary language!

Unfortunately it's neither funny or creative but is deadly serious business which at the end of the day may affect us all regardless of the country we live or do business in!

The question, written in plain English, is will Greece or Spain be the first to leave the EU?

For many Spain is new to the discussion of pending EU exits, although it anything but new to the overall problem of being one of the PIIGS, aka the weak sisters of the Eurozone.

I offer the analysis from Mish Shedlock that will serve as a guide.

"Interest rates on the 10-Year Spanish bond touched 6.7% today after the ECB shot down prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's Ponzi plan to recapitalize banks.  

The Spanish banking condition is in such precarious shape that Matthew Lynn of Strategy Economics proposed 'Spexit' Will Come Before a 'Grexit'..."

Read the entire article including the six reasons Spain will be first to leave the EU at Global Economic Trend Analysis here.

*#Spexit and #Grexit are Twitter.com handles for Greece exit and Spain exit

Picture Source

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Obama "Hope and Change" video called "The rhetoric and the reality!"

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Haltman) — Thu, 31 May 2012 09:20:00 +0000

Obama: Leads through rhetoric while the American people suffer through the reality of his actions!

The beauty of running for president with no real record to speak of is that rhetoric becomes king.

For Barack Obama in particular, back in 2007 there was little of any substance to look back on and what was there got completely ignored by the media.

"Hope and Change" therefore became a great campaign slogan.

Fast forward to 2012! The problem for Obama in the 2012 election is that he will now be judged worthy or not worthy for a second-term in office based on the actual results of his administration.

Not by rhetoric, not by ceding responsibility for failure to his predecessor and not through the use of catchy campaign slogans.

For Obama, his downfall in the 2012 election will be that instead of "Hope and Change" the American people will judge him on a little thing called "Policies and Results".

For this politician, even with the help of his MSM bench, the facts will be his worst nightmare come November!

The video: Obama rhetoric versus reality

Picture source
Video H/T Common Cents

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Waiter, there's cesium-137 in my soup!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Haltman) — Wed, 30 May 2012 16:44:00 +0000

Source

Is the Fukushima nuclear disaster hitting the dinners plates of America?

The issues surrounding the ongoing nuclear crisis at Fukushima are embellished by some and minimized by others. But whatever the true status of the plant and nuclear waste are what we do know is that the story is not discussed that often in mainstream sources for news.

The fact of the matter is that some "experts" say (the Japanese government) that the situation in Japan has been stabilized and that Fukushima poses virtually no risk to anyone.

Other opinions run the gamut from Fukushima being a potential health hazard for the foreseeable future in Japan to it affecting global health and food supplies until the half-lives of all radioactive elements present in the waste have been reached and surpassed.

That would assume of course that the flow of radioactive material out of the plant can at some point be stopped.

What we do know is that at the very least Reactor 4 continues to pose a serious ongoing problem and that a great deal of nuclear waste has already been dumped into the Pacific Ocean since the crisis began.

Assuming that ocean currents exist as we know that they do, this means that other parts of the world will be at some level of risk from the radioactive material and any effect that this material has on fish and other wildlife.

While all of this remains a serious unknown this story will continue to have legs and/or fins!

Waiter, I found radiation (not a fly and not soup) in my fish!

Dateline the California Coast: "...Radioactive cesium was detected in samples of highly prized Pacific bluefin tuna, but it is well below levels considered unsafe for humans, the scientists say.

The evidence is "unequivocal" that the tuna - caught off San Diego a year ago - were contaminated with radiation from Japan's nuclear disaster, the researchers said…

…Before the Fukushima earthquake and tsunami, low levels of the radioactive cesium-137 , which decays to harmlessness only over thousands of years, had been measured in Japanese waters, while the shorter-lived cesium-134 was undetectable, the scientists said. That difference, they said, was crucial in concluding that the radioactive contamination was linked to the Fukushima disaster…” (Source)

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Can somebody please help me?

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Haltman) — Wed, 30 May 2012 12:34:00 +0000

Help me to understand that is!

Relax! This is not a cry for a donation to keep TPC on the air or for any other type of material aid.

This is a call for help in understanding. Understanding in terms of how the admitted heavy drug use by Barack Obama is not enough to make his quest for a 2nd-term in office a non-starter!

Why is this incredibly large character flaw simply glossed over where the admission by Bill Clinton that he puffed but didn't inhale created a media firestorm that had an impact on his drive for the White House?

Why is this topic seemingly off limits in the same way the Obama-Reverend Wright connection is off limits, radical connections and friendships with the likes of Bill Ayers are off limits, the holes in his resume from the college years are off limits, questions surrounding the actual location of his birth are off limits and, well, you get the idea!

Why such great fear to address these issues?

Is it because to do so might open the door for those on the Left to issue and use the race card?

That in some way bringing up these important topics and potential character flaws would be akin to attacking Barack Obama because he is black and not because anyone seeking the presidency is typically exhaustively vetted and then vetted some more?

Or is it because those very same "journalists" who should be reporting the news and asking the tough questions are firmly ensconced as members of Team Obama?

Role model - in - Chief

Among his other jobs, the President of the United States has always served as something of a role model for the youth of our society.

Not a perfect human being because there is no one on earth who can claim to be that. But an example for what can be achieved if you followed the rules, worked hard, stayed focused and persevered in whatever endeavor you were involved in.

I remember when I was young and the teacher would ask the class what people wanted to be when they grew up and President of the United States was always an answer given by one or more of the students.

Society has changed since then where kids today want to be reality T.V. stars, viral YouTube sensations, rappers or professional athletes.

For many of us sound-bites have replaced commitment in every aspect of our lives from marriage to career.

But how can a parent today sit a kid down who may is heading down the wrong path, look them in the eye and say if you ever want to be President of the United States you are killing that dream by getting involved with drugs.

How can that conversation, if there is any conversation between the parent and the kid, take place?

Can somebody help me please?

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Watcher's Council "Greece, Spain and Syria on the brink" Edition!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Haltman) — Wed, 30 May 2012 10:10:00 +0000

Source

The Watcher's Council: Over 30 articles from some of the top conservative bloggers around the world and all in one easy to read location!

If it's Wednesday (and sometimes early Thursday) that can mean only one thing! That the time has come for the weekly collection of article nominations at the Watcher's Council to make themselves known!

This week’s Watcher's Council article offerings are dedicated to some of the crises that have the potential to come to a head at any time.

The Eurozone as a whole, save for Germany, is in the throes of severe recession with Greece and Spain serving as the current flash points for bankruptcy, sovereign default (not the first time for Greece, only the most recent) and the potential for even more severe social unrest.

These countries could quickly upset the charade that EU leaders are attempting to foist on the world which is that by throwing more money at these countries and in return getting promises for fixing their fiscal houses, that somehow the problem will be solved there. That likely won't happen and even if it did the problems with the rest of the PIIGS will still exist.

In Syria the slaughter of women and children by the al-Assad government shows no signs of abating with the only constant being that of Obama administration inaction to help stop it.

Where the President was quick to step in during the relatively non-violent "Arab Spring" in Egypt that resulted in what will likely be a Muslim Brotherhood takeover of the government there, he is MIA in the bloodbath occurring in Syria.

The only difference that I see for the urgency in Egypt was that Mubarak was a friend of the U.S. and Israel so apparently, at least according to the Obama administration he had to go, whereas al-Assad is anti-U.S. and anti-Israel so his ouster seems to be far less urgent...

And now, the Watcher's Council

So now who and what is the Watcher's Council?

The Watcher's Council is a long-standing group of 15 conservative bloggers from around the world and winner of the 2011 Fabulous 50 Blog Award in the category of Best Conservative Blog-Ring.

Each week, first thing Wednesday morning, we the members of the Watcher's Council make known our two articles for public consumption; one of our own (Council) and one from somewhere around the blogosphere (Non-Council) that address issues we feel are particularly timely and important to present.

After a secret ballot among the members, Friday morning the winners in each category are announced and the grand prize, the appreciation of our peers, is awarded!

Watcher's Council home gamers are not only welcome but they are encouraged! Pick your favorite articles below and cast your vote in the comments section.

For the week of May 28, 2012 the Watcher's Council nominations are...

Council Submissions

The Noisy Room – Stalking the Blogosphere BlogBurst Friday for Free Speech

The Colossus of Rhodey – This Is Even Funnier Because Of Her Obstinance

Simply Jews – Viktor Dvorakovsky: an undermartyred Russian Islamist

The Independent Sentinel – Obama’s Truth Team Engaging In Deceptive Propaganda

The Political Commentator – The IPO: Did Facebook “Jump the Shark”?

Joshuapundit-Memorial Day: An Honest Man Versus A Liar

Rhymes With Right – Religious Freedom Alert – South Carolina Jailer Declares No Mass For Catholic Prisoners

The Razor – Media Bias and the Sin of Omission

GrEaT sAtAn”S gIrLfRiEnD – Syria Phobia

The Right Planet – BlogBurst Friday: Blog About #BrettKimberlin Day

Bookworm Room – Book review: Marcus Luttrell’s “Service: A Navy SEAL at War”

The Glittering Eye -I’d Really Like to Know How They Think Things Should Work

Gay Patriot – Richard Grenell, gay conservatives & the GOP

VA Right!- McConnell Blasts Obama Admin for Spending $20 Mil to Promote Obamacare at a Time of Record Debt & Deficit

The Mellow Jihadi – Mandatory Arabic In Harlem

Honorable Mentions

Right Truth – Bob Dylan Receives Medal Of Freedom

Crazy Bald Guy – The Happiness Index

Common Cents – 43 Catholic Organizations bring lawsuit against Obamacare…19 seconds of Press Coverage

The Pirates Cove – Today’s Hyperventilating AGW Story: “Climate change ‘will cause civilisation to collapse’”

Against All Enemies – The Six Commandments

Non-Council Submissions

Mark Steyn –The Facebook Caliphate submitted by The Noisy Room

Natural Born Conservative – Adventures in Politicking II : No Shot submitted by The Colossus of Rhodey

The Warped Mirror – Think Progress On Preconditions For Negotiations submitted by Simply Jews

Newsmax – MSNBC Host ‘Uncomfortable’ Calling Fallen Soldiers Heroes submitted by The Independent Sentinel

Mises Institute -The Systemic Siesta submitted by The Political Commentator

Adam Garfinkle – Look Before You Leap submitted by Joshuapundit

Breitbart.Com – Former DOJ Attorney: Eric Holder Could Stop SWATings ‘in 48 Hours’ submitted by Rhymes with Right

Victor Davis Hanson –The Power of Cool submitted by The Razor

Security Clearance – Inside Jordan, Worries About Iran And Syria submitted by GrEaT sAtAn”S gIrLfRiEnD

American Spectator – Terror by Any Other Name submitted by The Right Planet

Omri Ceren/Commentary Magazine -The Consequences of Obama’s Conceit submitted by Bookworm Room

Azizonomics – Keynesianism & Eugenics submitted by The Glittering Eye

Nice Deb -Aaron Worthing Arrested After Kimberlin Peace Order Hearing submitted by Gay Patriot

Jim Treacher–Jay Carney explains the difference between Solyndra and Bain Capital, so try to keep up submitted by The Watcher

Barry Rubin – Bush And Obama Together At Last In Misunderstanding the Middle Easat submitted by The Watcher

Hugh Hewitt – The Chicago GangGoes After Romney submitted by The Watcher

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Political humor from NewsBusters for May 29, 2012 (Video)

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Haltman) — Tue, 29 May 2012 23:47:00 +0000

The Choom Gang

Some of the people and topics featured in this episode of NewsBusters include...

--Mitt Romney --President Obama --Bain Capital --President Obama's Sons? --Trayvon Martin Day --Obama's High School Drug Dealer --Facebook Stock --Harvard --Unabomber Ted Kaczynski

Picture Source

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Animated video: Obama and the audacity of "dope"

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Haltman) — Tue, 29 May 2012 12:57:00 +0000

From NMA.TV, a video on the life and (high) times of the POT-US!

Source

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Obama-Biden 2012 wants you to speak your mind but...

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Haltman) — Tue, 29 May 2012 09:27:00 +0000

Sourc

Don't expect your comments to be used in original form with original intent if they are even used at all!

Is it really true that the Obama-Biden campaign wants to know what I think about how they have been doing? They say that they do but I'm not really sure that they are serious.

At this website they say that as the campaign gets revved up (as if it hasn't been in full swing since inauguration day), they need to know what people think about what they are doing, how they are doing it and what they could be doing better.

But if you look closely at the fine print it will actually say, as fine print so often does, something else entirely!

Beware the small print before you respond!

On the same page for people to provide their thoughts is an innocuous looking link to what are called the Submission Terms for your comments. When you inspect these terms you find that the Obama-Biden campaign has given itself carte blanche to change or modify your comments in any way and for any reason or purpose that they so desire.

So do the people who are leading the push of a second Obama term really want to know what people like me think? Do they really want to know the reality of what about 50% or more of the American people feel about the way that this President has performed in his first term?

I don't think so!

The bottom-line is that what the Obama-Biden campaign is really looking for are statements of sublime contentment, satisfaction and support that can be used in future ad campaigns. Statements that will be manipulated to present a President who is universally beloved and who the people feel has been doing a great job.

They are not looking for thoughts from those who think that given their past performance this ticket does not deserve a second-term in office!

Whatever it is that the Obama-Biden campaign people creates from these comments, you can bet that to the critical eye it will be a work of carefully crafted fiction.

H/T Pundit Press

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Obama foreign policy and national security report card! You guessed it: Fail!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Haltman) — Mon, 28 May 2012 15:03:00 +0000

Source

On this Memorial Day let's look past administration rhetoric to see just how well this President is doing in his primary job, that as commander-in-chief?

At this point in the Obama first term in the White House most readers have no doubt been confused by what it is that a president, or more specifically this President, actually does for a living.

Is being president all about spending time on the campaign trail, the fundraising trail, the cart path on a golf course, ceding responsibility for our national security and foreign policy to the United Nations or merely using the bully pulpit that is his to speechify on what it is that has supposedly been accomplished when the actual record shows otherwise?

Here is a short scorecard of just some of the foreign policy and national security "accomplishments" of the Obama administration!

Can the United States survive four more years of it?

Iran nuclear weapons program - The administration methodology for stopping this clear and present danger is to allow the United Nations to handle things while utilizing sanctions as our main weapon.

The end result is uranium enriched to weapons grade, two new nuclear plants planned and that country thumbing its nose in our faces.

Obama Grade: Fail

Syria slaughter of civilians - Yet another potentially destabilizing event in the Middle East while also presenting a humanitarian nightmare.

While President Obama was quick to act in the "Arab Spring" uprising in Egypt, what the Syrian people get is Obama administration rhetoric and a ceding of any solution to the slaughter that is taking place there to the feckless (to use John McCains's term) U.N. Security Council.

Obama Grade: Fail

Relations with Pakistan - As bad as they have ever been, this supposed ally of the United States is attempting to extort money from us for critical supply truck passage into Afghanistan and have recently tried and convicted the doctor who helped the U.S. locate and kill Osama bin Laden (after the Pakistani government was apparently harboring the worlds most wanted terrorist).

The solution is of course rhetoric from key Obama administration personnel that Pakistan needs to change its ways.

Obama Grade: Fail

Egypt elections - As discussed here previously the Obama administration rush to embrace the Tahrir Square uprising when the composition of the players was extremely suspect and the end result unknown and impossible to predict has resulted in a runoff election between a member of the Muslim Brotherhood and a general from the old Egyptian military.

For the United States, the region and the people of Egypt this result that was helped in part by President Obama insistence that Mubarak step down immediately can only be described a lose-lose-lose!

Obama Grade: Fail

While we may not know much about the actual school record of Barack Obama, this report card tells you everything you need to know when it comes time to vote in November!

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Society Check: The "Divorce Hotel and Reality Show": Couples check-in but they don't check out!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Haltman) — Mon, 28 May 2012 12:09:00 +0000

Source

The perfect solution for American couples who need immediate gratification, their 15 minutes of fame and who have no problem laying it out there for all to see!

Remember those good old days when getting divorced, filing for bankruptcy or having your house foreclosed on were actually considered private matters with a little bit of a stigma attached?

In fact in some circles these occurrences made those involved feel like in some way they had failed at some aspect of life whether interpersonal or financial.

There has been, however, a not-so-subtle change in peoples thought process and outlook.

The financial crisis that began in 2008 has made the process of filing for bankruptcy or having your home foreclosed much easier for people to go through as we all understand that reversals of fortune can sometimes not be avoided.

On the relationship side we live in a society where people have access to every imaginable disposable product, so why not marriage as well? And nothing could have epitomized this trend better than the Kim Kardashian 72-day marriage that was more of a publicity stunt than union between two people.

The entertainment business has followed right along with these societal trends as the original afternoon shock TV shows like Jerry Springer have made way for prime-time reality shows that delve into some of the darker corners of our society. This includes such shows as Jersey Shore, the Real Housewives franchise, Hardcore Pawn and Repo Games that cast a casual light on behavior that is considered to be "normal".

Meet the newest concept, Divorce Hotel!

"Divorcehotel.com’ stands for an easily accessible, affordable manner of getting a divorce, that is of high quality. Do you prefer the sharply priced traditional high-quality divorce at one of our offices in your own area or do you opt for the fast, but intensively guided hotel divorce in a single weekend? We offer you an affordable 5 star divorce made-to-measure. Whether you wish to divorce together or without your partner, at a low hourly rate or for a fixed price, you are the one who determines the manner in which we can be for service to you!" (Source)

With the divorce rate being what it is, a seemingly never-ending pool of people willing to bare all being who they are, TV producers being what they are and luxury location hoteliers no doubt willing to put up their venues gratis for the publicity, a show like this should do very well in the United States.

If viewers have been all over the idiots of the Jersey Shore, how could something like "Divorce Hotel" miss as it will offer everything that the "thinking" TV viewer in the United States is looking for!

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Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach, New York (Blue Angels video)

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Haltman) — Sun, 27 May 2012 19:19:00 +0000

In honor of Memorial Day, a video of the Navy Blue Angels in action!

Just got back from the annual Memorial Day Air Show at Jones Beach, New York. If a military air show is not enough to stir your patriotic juices you just might not have any!

Navy Blue Angels

Previously recorded YouTube video

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Bill Clinton: It seems a leopard never changes its spots! (TMZ porn actress video interview)

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Haltman) — Sun, 27 May 2012 07:06:00 +0000

Source

Bill Clinton and his tryst with Monica Lewinsky is of course legend!

But as a former President the good times are definitely not over.

As Hillary travels the world as Secretary of State in the Obama administration, Bill travels the world and lives the good life along with his Secret Service detail, evidenced by this up close and personal photo of Clinton with two adult film actresses.

This picture was taken in Monaco, and the two actresses are Tasha Reign and Brooklyn Lee. Lee is not your average performer having won Best New Starlet and Most Outrageous Sex Scene at the 2012 AVN Awards.

"Reached in Monaco, where she created a firestorm by tweeting a picture of herself with Bill Clinton at a charity gala, porn star Brooklyn Lee says she ‘squeezed his abs’—and the former president ‘still has it." (Source)

So while Hillary is working hard trying to make Obama national security and foreign policy positions seem coherent and plausible, Bill is continuing to do what he does best. So why is it that his eye is always wandering? I have no idea!

Source

TMZ video interview with the two actresses who tell their side of the story!

Video Source

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Greece economic debacle: Et tu Spain?

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Haltman) — Sat, 26 May 2012 20:58:00 +0000

Source

Loose translation: Greece is on the brink, how about you Spain?

Politicians, banks and regular people around the world are worried about the endgame for Greece and the impact or ripple effect a bad outcome there could have on some of the weaker Eurozone economies like Spain.

The fact of the matter is, however, that Spain is in trouble all on its own due to some of the same indiscretions as Greece, and a bad outcome in Greece might just accelerate conditions on the Iberian Peninsula (including Portugal) that would at some point have come to a head anyway.

An article at Global Economic Trend Analysis provides some of the grim details.

"Spain's Bankrupt Catalonia Region "Running Out of Options" to Refinance €13 Billion; Total Regional Needs are €50.7 Billion; Regions Want "Open Bar" with Central Bank Guarantees

The crisis in Spain is rapidly coming to a head. This crisis has nothing to do with Greek "contagion" as is widely believed. Spain dug this hole by itself. Spain's immediate unsolvable problems are a bankrupt banking system coupled with bankrupt regions that have no way to pay bills. Spain's regional governments need to roll €35.7 billion and there is current deficit of €15 billion..."

Read the rest of the article here.

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Egypt: Another BIG Obama foreign policy and national security failure!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Haltman) — Sat, 26 May 2012 06:08:00 +0000

Source

Egypt Round 1 election results are in and the winners are....?

The "Arab Spring" in Egypt has turned into what will most likely be a summer of discontent and possible violence as the choice for leader will revolve around the Muslim Brotherhood and the prior Mubarak regime!

Remember how President Obama and the rest of the left fell over each other demanding that Mubarak step down so that the "Arab Spring" uprising could usher a new era of democracy into Egypt.

While it was an uprising of unknown composition, at the time the one assurance that we did have was that the Muslim Brotherhood would not attempt to become part of any new government.

Who gave us that assurance? Why the Muslim Brotherhood of course. Fast forward to the end of the first round of elections and what do we have?

We have a really bad choice for the people to make in round two between an Islamist government run by the Muslim Brotherhood candidate (Mohammed Morsi) and a return to the prior status quo through a military candidate (Ahmed Shafiq) who was a Mubarak ally.

Those supposed democracy seeking freedom fighters from Tahrir Square? They're out!

So if President Obama and his national security team could be so wrong on what for most was a fairly obvious call on Egypt, how comfortable should we be with them calling the shots on an even more obvious and dangerous situation surrounding Iran and its nuclear program?

President Obama is pretty darn sure that sanctions and diplomacy will do the trick in Iran even though uranium enriched to weapons grade has been found. Just like he was so sure that what is happening now in Egypt would never happen!

Remember in November that foreign policy and national security are key components to the job of president and this President has clearly shown that he is not up to the task!

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NewsBusted Memorial Day Edition!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Haltman) — Sat, 26 May 2012 04:33:00 +0000

Political humor brought to you by NewsBusted and Jodi Miller!

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Madison Rising and The Star Spangled Banner (Video)

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Haltman) — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:54:00 +0000

Madison Rising is a rock band that "promotes the principles of liberty, independence, smaller government and personal responsibility."

Madison Rising was last featured here back in December during the OWS debacle in Zuccotti Park when New York City denied them a permit to play and the band followed the law and did not.

In celebration of the Memorial Day holiday, this is Madison Rising playing their rendition of The Star Spangled Banner!

Madison Rising!

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Re: Brett Kimberlin Day and at least for today, a true bipartisan issue!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Haltman) — Fri, 25 May 2012 11:34:00 +0000

Who is Brett Kimberlin and why does he have a day?

This is a must-read article that clearly explains the need for everyone, regardless of political ideology, to join this observance that "celebrates" our right to freedom of speech! If after reading this you agree, please pass it along.

This is reprinted from the blog Simple Justice and is titled:

Blog About Brett Kimberlin Day by Scott H. Greenfield

For many (and by that I mean many) bloggers, the only question is whether someone is friend or foe. It's all about partisanship, fellow travelers in the cause, whatever that cause may be. Sides are chosen because someone else shares your ideology, loves the people you love or hates the people you hate. We're on teams, and our team is against their team.  

At Popehat, Ken made the point, that we defend free speech because it's speech, not because we agree with the speaker. It's not a novel point, by any stretch, but it needs to be repeated and reinforced constantly. It seems that whenever an interest clashes with free speech, the latter is always the first to go.  

Some of you may be familiar with blog called Patterico's Pontifications, written by a Los Angeles County prosecutor named Patrick Frey. He's a good guy with a great sense of humor, despite the fact the we tend to view things pretty differently. Because he took up arms against a fellow named Brett Kimberlin, he was SWAT-ed.

At 12:35 a.m. on July 1, 2011, sheriff’s deputies pounded on my front door and rang my doorbell. They shouted for me to open the door and come out with my hands up.

When I opened the door, deputies pointed guns at me and ordered me to put my hands in the air. I had a cell phone in my hand. Fortunately, they did not mistake it for a gun.

They ordered me to turn around and put my hands behind my back. They handcuffed me. They shouted questions at me: IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE HOUSE? and WHERE ARE THEY? and ARE THEY ALIVE?

I told them: Yes, my wife and my children are in the house. They’re upstairs in their bedrooms, sleeping. Of course they’re alive.

Deputies led me down the street to a patrol car parked about 2-3 houses away. At least one neighbor was watching out of her window as I was placed, handcuffed, in the back of the patrol car. I saw numerous patrol cars on my quiet street. There was a police helicopter flying overhead, shining a spotlight down on us as I walked towards the patrol car. Several neighbors later told us the helicopter woke them up. I saw a fire engine and an ambulance. A neighbor later told me they had a HazMat vehicle out on the street as well.

Meanwhile, police rushed into my home. They woke up my wife, led her downstairs and to the front porch, frisked her, and asked her where the children were. Then police ordered her to stand on the front porch with her hands against the wall while they entered my children’s bedrooms to make sure they were alive.

The call that sent deputies to my home was a hoax. Someone had pretended to be me. They called the police to say I had shot my wife. 

This is beyond any pale. This is sick stuff. This happened because Patrick wrote something on his blog that the other team didn't like.  

At Popehat, Ken (who has become perhaps the most active participant in the war against online censorship by his willingness to stand up for bloggers pro bono against threats and intimidation) has been writing about Aaron Worthing's battle against a false prosecution designed to not merely shut up his criticism, but destroy his life. It's not because Ken is on Worthing's political team. He's not. But speech isn't free for anyone if it isn't free for everyone. That's just how rights work.

  I may share very little ideology with Patrick or Aaron, but I most certainly share one belief: they have the right to express their views without fear of being gunned down because some sick, malicious individual on the other end of the political spectrum disagrees with their views.  

A blogger named Lee Stranahan declared today, May 25th, to be Blog about Brett Kimberlin Day, as I learned from Ken and Patrick, as Kimberlin has become the poster boy for this diseased approach to shutting down speech through the use of the most vile and outrageous means. I lend my voice and bandwidth to support those, like Ken, who champion free speech and denounce anyone, whether Brett Kimberlin or anyone else, who would do harm to their enemies to stifle their voice, regardless of what they have to say.

If you agree, pass it along!

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Watcher's Council winners: The EU "damned if you do damned if you don't" Edition!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Haltman) — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:04:00 +0000

Source

The Euro bond: Now there's an idea!

After a period of rising sovereign bond yields in some of the weaker EU members like Spain that was approaching 7% for its 10-year, the solution being pressed to solve the crisis of confidence are Euro bonds. What are Euro bonds?

"...Borrowing costs are rising for many of the single currency's 17-members. Italy, Spain, Portugal and Ireland are among those that must pay sky high interest rates on their debts. But what if France and Germany helped out? What if the biggest economies on the continent agreed to issue euro loans on behalf of all countries in the currency club? A euro loan, or bond, could be issued by one country, but would be underwritten by all of them. Germany would pay more for its debts and Greece would pay less..." (Source)

It's hoped that by providing this lower cost source of funds backed by all of the EU it will ease fears surrounding the unknown risks of a Eurozone break-up that's been causing a run on banks in country's like Greece.

Question: Would Germany ever sign on to taking responsibility for funding growth over austerity for the PIIGS when it was the wild spending of the PIIGS thanks to lower available borrowing costs that helped to bring this crisis on in the first place?

And if Angela Merkel refuses to go along, in part for political and in part for pragmatic reasons, what would happen next to the economies across Europe and by extension the economy of Germany?

Prediction: More rhetoric and promises from the PIIGS that allows Merkel to save face and agree to the Euro bond. Would this solve the Eurozone financial crisis or just prolong it? Stay tuned!

In other words, "damned if you do and damned if you don't" also know as "stuck between a rock and a hard place!"

Now on to the Watcher's Council voting results!

The Watcher's Council nominations for the week of May 21st were presented, the votes were cast and counted, and the winner will now been announced!

For those who may be enjoying their first Watcher's Council experience, it is a group that consists of some of the top conservative bloggers from around the world.

A group that The Political Commentator is extremely proud to have been asked to be part of!

Each week members select and submit an article of their own creation in addition to one article from a non-council blog they find to be particularly topical and important.

While you may not always agree with what you read, that alone may make the experience that much more valuable!

Once the submissions have been received at an undisclosed location in secret ballot form, the Watcher's Council members then individually vote for their favorites.

Those votes are protected and held by outside auditing firm Arthur Andersen until such time as they are counted and a winner named for the Grand Prize.

This Grand Prize consists of the appreciation of ones peers.

In the end though, we all win because of the range of information and important analysis received on the critical issues of the day.

In a nutshell, the Watcher's Council is the ultimate conservative blog aggregator!

So without further ado the winner(s) of the Watcher's Council for the week of May 21st is (are)...?

Council Winners

*First place with 3 2/3 votes! Joshuapundit – What Does Peace Mean Anyway?

Second place with 2 2/3 votes – The Razor- Geert Wilders: A 21st Century Canary in a Coal Mine

Third place with 1 2/3 votes – The Right Planet-Marx Is For Hippies

Fourth place with 1 vote – Gay Patriot-Is there anything Barack Obama doesn’’t politicize?

Fifth place *t* with 2/3 vote – The Noisy Room- The Fiction of Barack Obama

Fifth place *t* with 2/3 vote – Simply Jews- Tombstone and Mexican spotted owl

Fifth place *t* with 2/3 vote – Bookworm Room- Is Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, a 1978 case rejecting academic racial quotas, the smoking gun behind Obama’s Kenyan identity? *UPDATED*

Fifth place *t* with 2/3 vote – The Colossus of Rhodey –Still More Narrative Fail

Fifth place *t* with 2/3 vote – The Mellow Jihadi –The Biggest Loser, Navy-style

Fifth place *t* with 2/3 vote – Rhymes With Right – Professional Malpractice By North Carolina Social Studies Teacher

Fifth place *t* with 2/3 vote – The Glittering Eye – The Enforcement Deficit

Sixth place *t* with 1/3 vote – The Political Commentator –It’s 8:00 AM, do you know where your tax money is going?

Non-Council Winners

First place with 4 2/3 votes! – The Other McCain- Brett Kimberlin Saga Takes a Bizarre Turn, Forcing Me to Leave Maryland submitted by Rhymes With Right

Second place *t* with 2 votes – Mark Steyn –Eternally shifting sands of Obama’s biography submitted by The Noisy Room

Second place *t* with 2 votes – Andrew McCarthy – Western Sharia submitted by Joshuapundit

Third place with 1 vote -Melanie Phillips The BBC Is Using Taxpayer’s Money To Spread An Ancient Racial Libel submitted by The Razor

Fourth place with 2/3 vote Israel Hayom -A Worthless Piece Of Paper submitted by The Political Commentator

Fourth place *t* with 2/3 vote -PJ Media/Roger Kimball Who Is Barack Obama? The Question that Won’’t Go Away submitted by The Right Planet

Fourth place *t* with 2/3 vote - The Texas Scribbler – Lynching A Black Man submitted by Simply Jews

Fifth place *t* with 2/3 vote -Paul Miller/Shadow Government –Obama’s legacy on Afghanistan submitted by The Glittering Eye

Fifth place *t* with 2/3 vote -Center for Defense Studies –Rushing for the Exits: The Wrong Lesson of Afghanistan submitted by GrEaT sAtAn”S gIrLfRiEnD

Sixth place *t* with 1/3 vote -FrontPage –Chicago Braces for Leftist Violence and Mayhem submitted by The Independent Sentinel

Sixth place *t* with 1/3 vote -Publius Forum–VIDEO: Violent Union Thugs Using Ball Bat on Effigy of SC Gov. Nikki Haley! submitted by VA Right!

Sixth place *t* with 1/3 vote -Gatestone Institute –Apartheid: The Big Lie submitted by The Watcher

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The IPO: Did Facebook "Jump the Shark"?

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Haltman) — Thu, 24 May 2012 15:09:00 +0000

Breaking news Monday May 29th, 2012: After opening May 18th with an IPO price of $38 and then trading up to about $44, less than two weeks later the stock with the ticker symbol FB is now incredibly trading with a 2-handle.

This helps serve to confirm that it does indeed appear that Facebook may have jumped the proverbial shark at least when it comes to what the company is worth, while it remains to be seen if this public offering of stock may also mark a top in the popularity of the brand!

Source

The Facebook IPO and a "Jumping the Shark" moment!

For those like me that grew up watching Happy Days on TV you know exactly what a "Jumping the Shark" moment is.

It's that time when something or someone pushes the envelope just a little too far or runs out of credible ideas and themes and goes from being beloved to being reviled or ridiculed.

On Happy Days "that" moment actually came when they had Fonzie jumping over a shark on water skis and it was all downhill after that.

Who knows how much longer the series could have gone on if instead of making it over they had him landing in the middle of the shark tank, but that is of course water under the proverbial bridge.

For Lebron James, his "moment" was a prime time television special modestly called "The Decision" (from a PR perspective and certainly not from a talent one)!

For Facebook could that turning point from a product that is used and loved by some portion of 900 million people have been its IPO?

Not because there is anything wrong with insiders cashing out some of their money although there is something wrong both legally and public relations wise if you share company information with some potential investors and not others.

And not because addicted users will stop using.

It's because the due diligence that was done on the company and its business model leading up to the IPO may have raised the red flag and made potential advertisers and others the company hopes to monetize question the overall value of the Facebook model and platform.

If that happens, this would in turn put even more pressure on performance going forward and potentially the stock price as well.

For Mark Zuckerberg the $38 IPO price may have been the best trade he will make for at least a portion of his holdings.

For other insiders who held on and sold nothing, they may look back on this potential "Jump the Shark" moment and wish that they had!

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What jobs are plumbers qualified to do? (Video)

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Haltman) — Thu, 24 May 2012 09:48:00 +0000

Source

Apparently, at least according to Vice President Joe Biden, they are not qualified to be President of the United States of America!

According to gaffe-master Joe Biden in the video below, being a plumber does not qualify a person to be president;
According to Joe Biden running a private equity firm and understanding how capitalism works also does not qualify a person to be president;
By extension, being a successful businessman and knowing how a for-profit business works are irrelevant qualifications for the position.
Running a state as governor? Fahgettaboudit!

So what exactly are viable and proper qualifications for being POTUS?

If we use President Obama as a guide, some of the line items present or missing from a resume should include, but not be limited to, the following:

Zero private sector business experience;
Having no leadership experience, management responsibility or bottom-line metrics by which you are judged for running any enterprise at a profit;
Possessing extremely limited or non-existent foreign policy or national security experience prior to taking office;
Spending time as a community organizer;
Spending decades in a church led by an anti-Semitic and anti-American Reverend BUT, always being AWOL when any derogatory or inflammatory sermons are given;
Take extended time off, enjoy recreational activities on the taxpayers dime and be willing to spend more time on the road campaigning and fundraising than doing the people's business;
Have the political will and political machine that allows you to shield as much of your background as possible so that vetting becomes a virtual impossibility;
Be protected at all times not only by the Secret Service, but by the mainstream media as well;
Have questionable relationships with individuals who have experience with violent radical behavior;
Show a willingness to apologize and then apologize some more to other countries leaders; and finally,
Possess the desire and ability to say anything, promise anything and do anything to reach your goal of the White House!

At least if we use the current occupant of the White House as a guide.

Video of Joe Biden inserting his foot in his mouth yet again!

Video Source

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Watcher's Council "End of Irrational Exuberance" Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Haltman) — Wed, 23 May 2012 09:11:00 +0000

Photo Source

The Watcher's Council: Over 30 articles from some of the top conservative bloggers around the world and all in one easy to read location!

This week’s Watcher's Council article offerings are dedicated to that other recent offering, the Wall Street bomb aka Facebook that was one of the most anticipated initial public offerings possibly of all time.

It was an offering so hot and sizzling that the number of shares being sold was raised along with the price to over 400 million and $38 respectively.

Incredibly say some and predictably say others, Facebook shares are now trading at or close to a 2-handle which, for those who received stock in the offering at $38 and didn't flip it or who paid above that number to get a piece of "internet history", is a quick and significant loss.

Some pundits are calling this deal and the lead underwriter Morgan Stanley an unmitigated disaster due to the stocks performance.

I say isn't it the job of the underwriter to maximize the amount of money received by the company and not to leave money on the table so that the institutional investors can clean-up by flipping the stock at the open?

Damn straight it is although if you have something to disclose and want to avoid a look from the Feds and lawsuits from investors you should tell it to everyone and not just a select few!

And now, the Watcher's Council

So now who and what is the Watcher's Council?

The Watcher's Council is a long-standing group of 15 conservative bloggers from around the world and winner of the 2011 Fabulous 50 Blog Award in the category of Best Conservative Blog-Ring.

After a secret ballot among the members, Friday morning the winners in each category are announced and the grand prize, the appreciation of our peers, is awarded!

Watcher's Council home gamers are not only welcome but they are encouraged! Pick your favorite articles below and cast your vote in the comments section.

For the week of May 21, 2012 the Watcher's Council nominations are...

Council Submissions

The Noisy Room – The Fiction of Barack Obama

The Right Planet – Marx Is For Hippies

Joshuapundit-What Does Peace Mean Anyway?

The Colossus of Rhodey – Still More Narrative Fail

The Independent Sentinel – Sebellius Channels JFK to Promote Government As the New Religion

Simply Jews – Tombstone and Mexican spotted owl

GrEaT sAtAn”S gIrLfRiEnD – Yemen Blitz

The Political Commentator – It’s 8:00 AM, do you know where your tax money is going?

Bookworm Room – Is Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, a 1978 case rejecting academic racial quotas, the smoking gun behind Obamas Kenyan identity? *UPDATED*

Gay Patriot – Is there anything Barack Obama doesn’t politicize?

VA Right! - Defending Obama Has Become Like Defending Cigarettes

The Razor – Geert Wilders: A 21st Century Canary in a Coal Mine

Rhymes With Right – Professional Malpractice By North Carolina Social Studies Teacher

The Glittering Eye -The Enforcement Deficit

The Mellow Jihadi – The Biggest Loser, Navy-style

Honorable Mentions

The Pirate’s Cove – What If Occupy Gave A World Wide Demonstration And No One Came?

Maggie’s Notebook – Obama’s Gutted MediCare

The Mental Recession – Union Leader Beats Nikki Haley Effigy With a Baseball Bat

Non-Council Submissions

Mark Steyn –Eternally shifting sands of Obama’s biography submitted by The Noisy Room

PJ Media/Roger Kimball – Who Is Barack Obama? The Question that Won’t Go Away submitted by The Right Planet

Andrew McCarthy – Western Sharia submitted by Joshuapundit

Truth Before Dishonor – Just who is waging a war on women? submitted by The Colossus of Rhodey

FrontPage Magazine – Chicago Braces for Leftist Violence and Mayhem submitted by The The Independent Sentinel

The Texas Scribbler – Lynching A Black Man submitted by Simply Jews

Center for Defense Studies – Rushing for the Exits: The Wrong Lesson of Afghanistan submitted by GrEaT sAtAn”S gIrLfRiEnD

Israel Hayom -A Worthless Piece Of Papersubmitted by The Political Commentator

Maggie’s Farm/Bruce Kesler-The Difference Between John Kerry 2004 and Barack Obama 2012 submitted by Bookworm Room

American Spectator -Losing the World to Win Reelection submitted by Gay Patriot

Publius Forum – VIDEO: Violent Union Thugs Using Ball Bat on Effigy of SC Gov. Nikki Haley! submitted by VA Right!

Melanie Phillips –The BBC Is Using Taxpayer’s Money To Spread An Ancient Racial Libel submitted by The Razor

The Other McCain – Brett Kimberlin Saga Takes a Bizarre Turn, Forcing Me to Leave Maryland submitted by Rhymes with Right

Paul Miller/Shadow Government – Obama’s legacy on Afghanistan submitted by The Glittering Eye

Commentary – The Failure Of Arab Liberals submitted by The Watcher

Gatestone Institute – Apartheid: The Big Lie submitted by The Watcher

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A guide to the ongoing disaster called Fukushima Reactor 4!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Haltman) — Wed, 23 May 2012 01:05:00 +0000

Update May 27th, 2012: Hosono visits Fukushima No. 4 reactor amid concern over fuel pool (Source)

Seismic Activity Near Fukushima

The Fukushima nuclear power plant is already a Japanese disaster, but the rest of the world is by no means out of the woods!

Recently I posted an article that made the simple statement, "Remembering Fukushima".

Why is it necessary to "remember" a nuclear disaster that surpasses the marker of all nuclear accidents, Chernobyl?

Is it because the danger has passed and it's therefore out of the news, or is it because the potential danger Fukushima Reactor 4 poses is so great that to discuss it would be to create to much fear and anxiety over a problem that may have no reasonable solution?

The use of "terms" can sometimes be an exercise in hyperbole! And then again sometimes not!

The term "meltdown" is used loosely to describe the mess of the financial crisis in the EU.
"Potential disaster" is used to describe full implementation of Obamacare or the possibility for an Obama second-term in office.
"Hopelessness" is rightly used to describe the U.S. economy and level of joblessness.
Crisis is used to describe the Iranian nuclear weapons program!
Crash refers to the Facebook IPO and what could happen to the global markets if Greece leaves the EU to be followed by others!
But what term or phrase would you apply to the Fukushima nuclear complex and specifically Reactor 4 that poses a real danger for global nuclear contamination?

I suppose the term for that last one would go something like "out of sight, out of mind!"

Here are two articles that discuss the potential outcome from Fukushima if the situation were to escalate any further. While the Japanese government appears to be trying to minimize the problem and may in fact be helpless to stop it, better to be aware than in the dark.

Reactor 4, earthquake risk, global risk!

"...The No. 4 pool is about 100 feet above ground, is structurally damaged and is exposed to the open elements," Alvarez said in his response. "If an earthquake or other event were to cause this pool to drain this could result in a catastrophic radiological fire involving nearly 10 times the amount of Cesium-137 released by the Chernobyl accident."

Mitsuhei Murata, Japan's former ambassador to Switzerland and Senegal, has also made it his mission to convince the UN and the world that urgent action is needed.

"It is no exaggeration to say that the fate of Japan and the whole world depends on No. 4 reactor," Murata said in a recent letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in which he urged him to back efforts to address the problem..." (Source)

"...The region around Japan is VERY seismically active. This fact alone should be cause for great concern of the horrifically damaged and exposed nuclear reactors at Fukushima Daiichi. Could this current earthquake swarm be the one that proceeds to finish it off? Hopefully not. But one thing’s for sure… one day, if the situation there isn’t fortified, there will be a quake that is strong enough…" (Source)

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Lebron James and "The Decision" are metaphors for the problems in this country (Cartoon) [del.icio.us]

halthouse1 — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 05:59:51 PDT

The priorities of the nation are slightly skewed.

Afghan Decision: Still Waiting [del.icio.us]

halthouse1 — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:25:09 PDT

The Politicians In The White House Continue The Military Debate

Security of our homeland begins in Iran and Afghanistan [del.icio.us]

halthouse1 — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:34:40 PDT

Article talks about the danger of appeasement and the Iranian missile crisis.

Jimmy Carter: One Term Wasn't Enough? [del.icio.us]

halthouse1 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:56:55 PDT

No, this former peanut farmer from Georgia wants to make sure that his name goes down in history as a destructive career diplomat as well, both foreign and domestic. His current diatribe concerns the fact that any criticism of the new administration must have its foundation in racism. ...While blatantly untrue, why is this ex-President playing the race card, particularly when it is so far off base? Why is he making statements at all?...

The FBI Is The New CIA: Where Is The Public Outrage? [del.icio.us]

halthouse1 — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:25:04 PDT

For President Obama, The War On Terror Is Now Over. Excuse me. For President Obama "violent extremism," "overseas contingency operations" and "man-caused disasters" is no longer of concern (politically correct verbiage)...

The Hypocrisy Of The Phrase: Failed Policies Of The Last 8 Years!! [del.icio.us]

halthouse1 — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 03:27:35 PST

I know the rules of Washington. What you say in front of the cameras today is the new reality that wipes out any of your actions that have actually occurred through the years (i.e. Chappaquiddick, sorry couldn't help myself). Even though I know these rules, you reach a point where you just can't listen to it anymore without expressing some outrage. Remember some of the players and situations from before Bush took office? Bill Clinton, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Melvin Watt, the expansion of the Community Reinvestment Act in 1995, the political clout of Fannie Mae, the political contributions made by Fannie Mae (now President Obama was a substantial beneficiary), sweetheart mortgage deals, the attempt to reign in the problem that was blocked by the Democrats when Bush was in office and so on and so on.

The Stimulus Bill Simplified [del.icio.us]

halthouse1 — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:00:47 PST

The Stimulus Bill Explained Shortly after class, an economics student approaches his economics professor and says, "I don't understand this stimulus bill. Can you explain it to me?" The professor replied, "I don't have any time to explain it at my office, but if you come over to my house on Saturday and help me with my weekend project, I'll be glad to explain it to you."...

Obama Mortgage Modifications: Life Preserver or Something Else? [del.icio.us]

halthouse1 — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 03:36:23 PST

Politicizing The Problem President Obama gave the speech today outlining a plan to curtail the volume of home foreclosures in front of a cheering crowd in Arizona, thereby politicizing a problem that might have been better discussed in a speech from the White House in prime time to a national audience. That would have been Washington business as usual at its best. Quote: The government infected us with the disease (starting with Clinton and continued by Bush), and now they are trying to kill us with the cure.

Democrats: The New Age Of Plausible Deniability [del.icio.us]

halthouse1 — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 03:22:27 PST

What Is Plausible Deniability? "The term plausible deniability was introduced into the English language in 1975 when the Church Committee, a US Senate committee, conducted an investigation into the intelligence agencies. Plausible deniability has been honed since in government and private enterprise, into an art form. We all do it, at home with the kids, at work, with our mates from our club and sometimes sadly, with ourselves. The problem for me is that plausible deniability is a phrase that equates to lack of accountability." (ChangeFactory.com)

Time For Hillary Clinton To Start Proving Her Mettle [del.icio.us]

halthouse1 — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 04:29:33 PST

This is the quandary of opening a dialogue with the leaders of Iran. Talks in good faith would be terrific but cannot be one sided. We can not allow ourselves to be used as pawns by the Iranian government who will no doubt say and promise one thing and do another. Now one argument is that the ordinary citizens of Iran have become disillusioned with the government and want change. Can they force change? Maybe, but doubtful. How long do we wait for the change to happen? Conventional wisdom, or at least my wisdom, would say that we need that to happen before Iran has the nuclear weapons making capability.

The Political Commentator

Mayor Michael Bloomberg starring in "No sweet drinks for you!" (Video)

Those lovable animated bears explain what QE3, no jobs and inflation means to you! (Video)

Finally, something intelligent out of the mouth of John Rocker!

Does Spexit* come before Grexit*?

Obama "Hope and Change" video called "The rhetoric and the reality!"

Waiter, there's cesium-137 in my soup!

Related articles

Can somebody please help me?

Watcher's Council "Greece, Spain and Syria on the brink" Edition!

Political humor from NewsBusters for May 29, 2012 (Video)

Animated video: Obama and the audacity of "dope"

Summer is for great wine, great food, outdoor fun and travel!

Obama-Biden 2012 wants you to speak your mind but...

Summer is for great wine, great food, outdoor fun and travel!

Obama foreign policy and national security report card! You guessed it: Fail!

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Society Check: The "Divorce Hotel and Reality Show": Couples check-in but they don't check out!

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Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach, New York (Blue Angels video)

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Bill Clinton: It seems a leopard never changes its spots! (TMZ porn actress video interview)

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Greece economic debacle: Et tu Spain?

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