Not Feeling The Paranoia

The reliably calm and reasonable Eugene Volokh is a bit too calm and reasonable with his defense of a new White House message management tactic.  He links to the JammieWearing Fool, who writes this:

White House Blog Seeking Snitches

The Obama administration is starting to look more like Castro's Cuba by the day. Here they claim they're not concerned about protests against ObamaCare, but still, just in case, feel free to snitch on your neighbors.

There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to [email protected].

So if you find someone who disagrees with Dear Leader, rat them out.

Prof. Volokh demurs:

In this instance, it strikes me that the terms "snitch" and "rat" are entirely misplaced (even allowing for some facetiousness on the poster's part), as is the criticism of the government. The Administration is trying to promote a particular political agenda. They are naturally and reasonably interested in hearing what the arguments against it are, and doubtless sincerely believe that many of the arguments may be unsound or even factually false. They want to rebut such arguments, but they can't do so promptly unless they hear about it promptly.

There's nothing totalitarian about asking supporters to gather this information. And there's nothing morally contemptible (as the terms "snitch" and "rat" suggest) in passing along this information, if you genuinely think that the information is misleading.

Now of course if you think that the Administration would prosecute your friend for e-mailing you supposed "disinformation about health insurance reform," then indeed you shouldn't help the Administration do it. But, seriously, is that really likely? JammieWearingFool and the Administration's other critics seem not to worry that their criticisms of the Administration will get them thrown in prison, or even will lead to any harassment from the FBI or the like. (To be sure, some criticisms, for instance ones that contain threats against the President, might yield that, but I assume that this isn't what the information reported to [email protected] is likely to contain.) I take it that they think, as do I, that blog posts or e-mails to friends about health insurance reform are pretty safe from legal punishment and governmental harassment. And that makes it pretty likely that alerting people on your political side of the aisle in the Administration will simply lead to public rebuttal. It's hardly "look[ing] more like Castro's Cuba" for that to happen, nor is it "snitch[ing]" or "rat[ing people] out" when someone facilitates it.

Hmm.  There are other consequences than prosecution; a moment channeling my Inner Right Wing Caveman (Surprisingly easy!) summons an image of tax audits, and I have no doubt that the Cro-Magnon would go on if I let him.

But let's take a step back.  I blog, I criticize the government, and I don't worry about harassment from the FBI.  However, I am pretty well aware of what I am typing and how it might be perceived; I can control my own message management, as can the Jammie Fool and Prof. Volokh.

But I can't control the way some Obama supporter might characterize my verbiage in an email to the White House.  And on his behalf, I will guess that somewhere, some lib would be inclined to characterize something Prof. Volokh said on healthcare as not only inaccurate, but coming from a racist right-wing gun nut.  (Gun nut?  C'mon, the guy has read the 2nd Amendment and takes it seriously.  Racist? That is synonomous with "Right-wing" to many libs.)

So is that how Prof. Volokh, through no particular fault of his own, would like to be commemorated in a White House data base?  It would be a shame if, a few years down the road, his name was floated for a Federal judgeship only to be shot down because a quick check of the data bases kicked up the "racist" problem.  Or maybe it's not a judgeship that is lost, but just an invitation to a White House dinner - Obama had planed to meet with some interesting scholars but found that his supporters really deplored Prof. Volokh.  Oh, well, they can pick another name from the list, and Prof. Volokh won't know that what he never feared hurt him.

But enough about public pundits who routinely toss their views out in front of the world.  What approach should lawyers, bankers, doctors, or anyone who might have business with the government take at a dinner party?  Is everything off the record, or should the guests just stick to golf? (Seriously, if that becomes the emerging trend you can't euthanize me quickly enough.)

My guess is there are plenty of people who would like to express their opinion of the President without worrying that their name will be entered into a data base of cranks and malcontents.  In fact, I would think that my inner Cro Magnon could muster an argument that this Obama approach chills my free speech rights - freedom of speech ought to include the freedom to speak without worrying that the White House would fact check me.

And what tirade would be complete without a slippery slope argument?  Today Team Obama wants to counter what they consider to be misinformation on health care.  Tomorrow it could be the war on drugs (I can see the email now: My neighbor is such a hypocrite - he opposes the President but is such a toker...), or gun control, or the President's message on his birth certificate.

I don't see this as a good thing.

Let's have a To Be Fair moment - if the White House limited themselves to widely available promotions of "misinformation", such as YouTube, home town editorials, or chain emails, well, OK.  But collecting reporting on private conversations for a White House data base is creepy.  The White House message does mention private conversations as a means of spreading misinformation and then asks for misinformation spread by the web or email, so they have blurred the line, and I am blurring it further.

And we close with the mandatory "Try and imagine"device - try and imagine the reaction if the Bush White House had complained that there was a lot of misinformation about the Iraq War and asked concerned citizens to please forward any emails from people who think we are wasting our time there.  No, I don't want to imagine it either.

FIGHTING FIRE WITH FIRE:  A commenter at the Volokh Conspiracy nails it:

I suggested that people oblige by reporting 'fishy' claims made by Obama himself... 'it will be revenue positive'... 'no, I'm not trying to eliminate employer-provided health insurance'... 'sure, you'll be able to keep your current plan'.

stevesturm

BEFORE I FORGET:  The greatest thing about the new White House video is the Psychic Interactivity.  Linda Douglas has the same problem I do, which is she needs glasses for reading but not otherwise.  Her not-very-camera-friendly solution was to perch her glasses on the end of her nose while reading from the Drudge Report.

Well - she then went into her pitch about the wonders of ObamaCare and I sat there thinking, geez, are those glasses going to slide right off?  That is incredibly distracting, and you need to lose them, like, now.

And through the magic of what must be Web 11.0, Ms. immediately reached up and removed her glasses.

It was a nice bipartisan moment where Team Obama showed they could address even the concerns of their right wing critics.  I hope we can build on it.

Comments

[clarice]

steve's got a super cool idea!!Sturm and Drang I call it.

[Drider]

So is this about the time the brownshirts enter the picture or is that in a later act, after the dear leader recruits the spies to spy on their neighbors and family members.

I find myself wanting to click my heels together three times while saying, "I ant to go home, I want to go home, I want to go home.

[Cecil Turner]

Hmm. There are other consequences than prosecution;

Yes, and the most likely is smearing from a White House and complicit press corps. We saw it with Clinton detractors and we're seeing it again in spades (e.g., Wall Street executives and pitchforks), most recently against Breitbart's perfectly fair video (and rejoinder, after being called disinformation). Being called a liar from the bully pulpit is hardly a symmetric communications exercise. Luckily it's largely self-limiting, as getting caught in lies tends to spike its effectiveness.

[Danube of Thought]

I just sent the following e-mail to the indicated address under the subject line, "Something Fishy":

"I see something fishy every time the president says, 'if you like your current plan, you can keep it; if you like your current doctor, you can keep him.'

"The president knows that’s false. If my current plan is provided by my employer, if the employer decides to discontinue it because the public option is available, I can’t keep it. And I can only keep my current doctor if he accepts whatever plan I am forced to go into.

"Why can’t the president be truthful about this?"

[matt]

If it was Bush, the ACLU would have already filed a lawsuit and the press would be having a field day. Why is it that the Democrats are always the fascists and the Republicans get blamed?

[Captain Hate]

It's not like we didn't anticipate this during the campaign. Even this will be deflected by the shills saying "They just want to have a chance to rebut disinformation" conveniently leaving unsaid that having honest political differences is different than "disinformation".

I wonder how many of the 52% this bothers; I'm afraid I'll get depressed if I learn the answer.

[Ann]

Malkin reminds us that, "the White House pushback on the Internet is coming from the health care czar’s office."

Also:

Nancy DeParle makes $158,500 as health care czar. Her flack, Linda Douglass, is not listed in the White House employee salary chart.

What is the budget of the health care czar’s office, which was established by executive order in April? How much are they spending on the Internet snitch brigade initiative?>

I am not worried. We were told that the czar's are just political appointments for friends that don't really have any power.

Besides, I am sure Eric Holder will promise to administer the law in an objective, nonpolitical manner.

Remember how Justice took care of the these NAACP guys who were intimidating voters?
Oh wait......

Yikes...Are there any Czar intimidation laws?

[centralcal]

Love the email, DoT!

[Mark O]

It turns out that Glenn Beck was right about this gang. I thought he was over the top, but he may have underestimated it.

[centralcal]

Ann: Urged on by your comment I went to Malkin's site. Can't stop laughing - she and most of her commenters are flooding the zone at the W.H. snitch website to report all the fishy things O and gang are saying and doing.

Too cool! You know, conservatives have had a lot of years observing and/or being victims of the left. Looks like ordinary folks are learning how to play their danged games.

[RichatUF]

I'd be curious how high the wall will be between this database and the one Obama uses for his Organizing for America. What better way to silence criticism than to send out Organizing for America "volunteers" to the homes of people identified in the collected emails as critics of the program?

But since the Administration has so mishandled the deathcare debate all this email and website will do is crash White House servers as people send the White House critical analysis of deathcare.

[Danube of Thought]

It took Pravda (literally) to point out that the appropriate term for these people is not "czar," it's "commissar."

[Parking Lot]

Prof. Volokh's mistaken assumption is that the Ministry of Truth really does care about truth.

[Thomas Collins]

I think this is a real problem. The structure of the Obama statement, I believe, encourages the forwarding to the White House of emails that the sender could reasonably believe to be private communications. What if the Reagan White House had provided a PO Box to which letters mischaracterizing Reagan's tax reform proposals could be sent? Would that be viewed as proper by the Sulzberger crowd?

Obama has folks who can do Google searches of web sites that put comments out in the stream of public awareness. Obama should stick to that and revoke this ill-thought out statement.

[GMax]

So I see DOT volunteering for the Internal Revenue Service colonoscopy! You will love the colonic cleansing, all of those toxins removed ( along with your wallet !).

Anyone else care for the treatment?

[centralcal]

RichatUF: It is macabre, but I think your slogan is the only one than should be used from here on - Obama Deathcare.

Sadly, it applies to just about all of his programs so far.

[clarice]

GMax I used your name and addy on my mine. I was certain you wouldn't mind.

[Extraneus]

Next time around, we need to identify where these goons are and bring some baseball bats of our own. No guns allowed at polling places, right? Even without weapons, there should be adequate poll watchers from both sides in 2010 and 2012, just in case. I wouldn't think an altercation or two would be so harmful to the polity, considering the likely result of not stepping up.

That's where this is all leading, isn't it?

[PeterUK.]

There is no need for intimidation,the knowledge that "Big Brother is Watching You" is enough.
Contrary to common belief,the Gestapo wasn't a vast organisation,it relied on people denouncing their neighbours and the knowledge that this was happening.

Funny,under these circumstances,Obama is reluctant to be open and honest about himself.

[matt]

is it paranoia when the government is actually watching you?

[PeterUK.]

" Why is it that the Democrats are always the fascists and the Republicans get blamed?"

Because the Democrats are fascists,by the classic definition of the word.

[Rob Crawford]

It took Pravda (literally) to point out that the appropriate term for these people is not "czar," it's "commissar."

Only if you think their aims are less than imperial.

[matt]

we could just say we're coming back from practice ext. I believe we have a right to carry bats, maces, claymores and shillelaghs, depending upon ethnicity and athleticism.

[Rob Crawford]

Oh, and ya know, if they Democrats had run this snitch line from a party site, I don't think it would have gotten a comment. Instead, they chose to run it from the White House domain.

That makes it sound like a government program -- yes, even if it is just about political message control.

And, honestly, if the idea of the executive branch collecting names and tips on opposition to a political question doesn't give you the willies, you're not thinking clearly.

[Pagar]

No one needs to wonder how this or anything else the Obama administration does will turn out. Just talk to some of the escapees from the hell that is Cuba or Venezuela today.
Everything that Obama is doing, Castro has already done and Chavez is doing now.

[RichatUF]

Extraneus-

That's where this is all leading, isn't it?

"I need you to go out and talk to your friends and talk to your neighbors,” Barack Obama told a crowd in Elko, Nev. “I want you to talk to them whether they are independent or whether they are Republican. I want you to argue with them and get in their face.”

Don't be surprised if the list they are making ends up with Organizing for America. Think of Obama as Santa Claus.

[Ann]

DRUDGE Headline: Russian Subs Patrolling Off East Coast

Don't Worry...Zero is in charge and will asks the guys over for a beer.

[RichatUF]

centralcal-

Call it like I see it and killing off old people is part of the plan. However, I think Rick was the first to call it Deathcare.

[GMax]

Careful Clarice, two can play that game!

Heck the pictures of me and W on the company website are probably enough to relegate me to the gulag anyway.

[Terry Gain]

Canada Free Press Reports

The Northeast Intelligence Network and Canada Free Press are in possession of extremely sensitive investigative documents, including a stunning written admission by a nationally known talk show host stating that he was threatened with his career – or worse - should he talk about the issue of Barack Hussein Obama’s birth records to a national audience. This document was obtained on December 10, 2008, and provides explicit detail of a “gag order” imposed on this host before and immediately following the national election last November

http://www.canadafreepress.com/

It fits, but is it true? Who will investigate?

I shouldn't brag but I admitted several months ago that I suffer from ODS.

[Extraneus]

No sense volunteering in my own town, since the volunteers are all in their 80's and they seem to have it under control, but I'd be willing to pitch in within driving distance if there was a way to know where help is needed. Does one need to be pre-approved to be a poll-watcher? Is it required to be a resident of the state?

[clarice]

That varies from state to state and locality to locality, Extraneus.

[PeterUK.]

"DRUDGE Headline: Russian Subs Patrolling Off East Coast"

They are there to stop you getting out.

[Bob]

Dear White House Staff,

On the following web page

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Facts-Are-Stubborn-Things/

your blog encourages citizens to inform the White House whenever we witness something fishy about health insurance reform on the web. The following web page seems awfully fishy to me:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Facts-Are-Stubborn-Things/

Thank you for your consideration.

[Sue]

Ex,

I'm scared to death of the little old polling ladies where I vote. I would hate to see what they would do to someone standing outside intimidating their voters. ::shiver::

[Danube of Thought]

The day after Bush I broke his tax pledge--I'm talking very next day--I sent him a letter, hard copy (no other means of protest back then) on my personal letterhead as follows:

"Dear Mr. President:
"Read my lips: go fuck yourself."

Thus I suspect this gang will find at least one hit when they go to their database. Come and get me, coppers!

[Danube of Thought]

"...a stunning written admission by a nationally known talk show host stating that he was threatened with his career – or worse - should he talk about the issue of Barack Hussein Obama’s birth records to a national audience..."

Why is it called an "admission?" And why is the threat apparently no longer operative? And what about all the talk show people who talked about it incessantlly?

Think in terms of evidence...

[Sue]

DoT,

LOL.

[clarice]

"Think in terms of evidence?" Why? And miss all the fun?
Gee,DoT.

[Pofarmer]

And what about all the talk show people who talked about it incessantlly?

Like who? Most of the talk show hosts I've heard have seriously downplayed it.

[Sue]

If I disappear, this is why:

I have seen a website that is very fishy and needs to be checked immediately.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Facts-Are-Stubborn-Things/

The propaganda at that website is truly frightening.

Thank you for policing the web against disinformation.

I signed my real name, address and telephone number. DoT inspired me. Come and get me coppers, indeed! I just hope DoT and all the other attorneys around here come and get us miscreants out of the jailhouse!

[Terry Gain]

DOT

Why is it called an "admission?"

Presumably b/c the person was reluctant to make the statement.

And why is the threat apparently no longer operative?

Who said it wasn't?

And what about all the talk show people who talked about it incessantlly?

Who? Other than to dismiss it without investigation. (As you are doing to this claim.)

Think in terms of evidence...

Precisely. As I implied there will be precious little evidence without investigation. But who will investigate?

[verner]

Linda Douglas attacking Drudge and Andrew quoting Obama directly, with a video as proof, has got to be the most 1984kafkaesquepravda moment of this administration to date.

That's right folks, you are paying for this administration to tell you that 2+2=5.

I expect the beerfest temporary reprieve in the disapproval numbers to evaporate this weekend. That Joker poster says it all. I want it on a bumpersticker.

[Extraneus]

Does anyone know if those Panthers were official, certified poll watchers? I would think any ol' regular people could get up there and stand with those patriots to help make sure everything's on the up and up in 2010.

(OT, I know, but Ann's pic pisses me off all over again.)

[Danube of Thought]

Well, there are a number of talk show hosts who think it's pretty much the equivalent of alien kinappings: open the subject and the phone lines will be jammed with screwballs for the next three hours.

But seriously--does anybody really think that discussion of this issue has been stifled? How do you account for people filing lawsuits about it with impunity? Well before election day I had heard and seen it discussed until I was kind of weary of it. Can you name anyone whose career was trashed, mysteriously or otherwise, as a result?

[Sue]

I took it to mean his boss shut him up. Or her.

[narciso]

Linda Douglas, I remember from my earlier time with the American Spectator, was a good
friend of the Hubbells, and were caught off guard when he was indicted, I think that was
a Byron York piece.

[Sue]

Did y'all just see Max Baucus discussing Obama today? The senators behind him were laughing at him. Schumer in particular.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Obama Deathcare:

You would think that these narcissistic geniuses at the White House would realize that they are only a grey whisker away from being old themselves.

Or are they like their mentors who haven't matured one day over 1968?

[clarice]

No, Sue. What were they laughing at?

"Does anyone know if those Panthers were official, certified poll watchers?"--I know that one of the perps reportedly was just certified again as an official Dem poll watcher which makes me think that's what he was during the 2008 election. I think DoJ withdrew from filing the final papers to convict because these guys got Dem walking around money to do this and DoJ wanted to shut them up. I cna't think of any other reason to drop this after the defendants had been found guilty by default.

[Terry Gain]

Can you name anyone whose career was trashed, mysteriously or otherwise, as a result?

Can you name one prominent TV personality that didn't dismiss the possibility that ... oh wait for it, scary thought ...Obama may not be eligible out of hand as if the very question is madness itself?

[Sue]

Baucus was telling us how he had just had a luncheon with Obama and how listening to Obama is like listening to a symphony. Schumer was laughing. And it was a "oh come on now" laugh.

[clarice]

Baucus said that? He's usually not so batso.

[Terry Gain]

Will the real Clarice please stand up.

I think DoJ withdrew from filing the final papers to convict because these guys got Dem walking around money to do this and DoJ wanted to shut them up. I cna't think of any other reason to drop this after the defendants had been found guilty by default.
Posted by: clarice | August 04, 2009 at 09:16 PM
----
Think in terms of evidence?" Why? And miss all the fun?
Gee,DoT.Posted by: clarice | August 04, 2009 at 08:47 PM

[Original MikeS]

So, if I'm an Islamic terrorist, it takes a FISA warrant to snoop on my communications. Since I am a freedom loving capitalist zealot, I don't have that protection?

War is peace. Yes we can!

[Rosita]

I think you are too calm and reasonable about this as well. This is the epitome of un-American. Rat out your friends who are ideologically opposed to the president's takeover of the healthcare system? A healthcare system that calls for euthenasia and government-funded abortions, and pretty soon the government will provide all healthcare? This is a crackdown on dissent. Plain and simple. And encouraging Americans to inform on each other.

[narciso]

Hold everything, I think the Alaskanbloggers
are really on to something, it's a distressing reality I've had to confront. In the LUN

[Terry Gain]

This is the epitome of un-American. Rat out your friends who are ideologically opposed to the president's takeover of the healthcare system?

Yes, but it's standard practice in Kenya. As is dismissing senior citizens on one hour's notice. (Just kidding)

[Terry Gain]

I've misplaced my glasses. Is that Michelle Obama behind Sarah?

[verner]

Speaking of marxist socialist revolutions who lie to the people and steal freedom, has anybody caught the stuff on Glen Beck about the Appolo group?

We knew about that stuff years ago. Such a pity nobody would listen.

[Sue]

What if I turn in someone, by name, for saying something untrue about Obama's healthcare agenda? What then? I am almost curious enough to give them my husband's name to see if they contact him.

[clarice]

I believe the entire family is jailed, Sue..and their Ipods, twitters and facebooks erased.

[Terry Gain]

Sue,

What could go wrong? Go for it! LOL

[Dave (in MA)]

Earlier today Lileks put a post up that shows what happens when you express a negative thought about ØbamaCare™.

[Original MikeS]

This new scheme for reporting disagreeable ideas sounds creepy at first, but it is entirely acceptable under Sharia Law.

[narciso]

I had to throw that in, because the really seems kind of bleak .feels like they're working toward a scaled down version of the CDR. THat's bloc committee for the defense of the revolution.

[Terry Gain]

Finally The Eligibilty Controversy Ends

Scott Ott

President Barack Obama today celebrated his 48th birthday with a retroactive declaration of statehood for Kenya, his father's homeland and the nation where some skeptics say he was born on August 4, 1961.

Conspiracy theorists, collectively called 'birthers' by those who trust the president's version of events, say Obama has refused to release his official birth certificate, so no one can be sure that he's a 'natural born' U.S. citizen, or even that he's at least 35 years old and, therefore, Constitutionally qualified for the office.

By declaring Kenya a U.S. state retroactive to July 1961, the president said he hoped to "put an end to fruitless speculation about my citizenship, which should -- by the way -- be a private matter between a woman and her obstetrician, or village midwife as the case may be."

Obama added: "We need to get the nation's focus back on the worst economy since the Great Depression, the 46 million uninsured Americans, and the global warming crisis that threatens our coastal cities with a briny death. More people believe in that stuff than will ever believe that I was born in Mombasa. I was elected to bring about change you can believe in."

As a citizen of either the 50th or the 51st state, Obama's eligibility for office is now unquestioned. For their part, citizens of Kenya will soon qualify for U.S. government-run health care, as well as a program designed to reduce greenhouse gasses by allowing people to trade in old chickens for more modern, efficient poultry -- a pilot project dubbed 'cash for cluckers'.

[Danube of Thought]

Try as I might, I can't think of a single prominent TV personality who dared to question whether the moon landings were faked. And that pretty much proves that they were, in fact, faked.

How come not a single talk-show host has ever looked into the fact that Dillinger's dick is pickled in a jar in the Smithsonian? Because they're all afraid! (I know for a fact that someone named Cl----e has gone there and seen it but I can understand her/his reluctance to come forward.)

[centralcal]

Oh, Dot! BAD to the bone.

[fdcol63]

" ... 'cash for cluckers' ..."

The next Federal government-run program from the Obama Chicago Machine:

"Flash for F**kers"

[narciso]

Well do you consider Whoopi Goldberg, prominent, Sheila Jackson Lee thinks the flag is on Mars, which goes to show that
she took Capricorn One too literally, as well as the Martian Chronicles.

[Terry Gain]

DOT

I see you still can't bring yourself to discuss this rationally. Too bad. I agree with about 90% of your comments on other issues but on this issue, as you illustrate above, you are outside of the sphere of rationality.

It would be much less embarrassing for you if you would simply logic up and demand the original LFBC.

[fdcol63]

Wait .... I thought that was Rasputin's weenie. LOL

[Parking Lot]

((I thought that was Rasputin's weenie.))

maybe the subs are patrolling cuz they want it back

[Melinda Romanoff]

Putin is in the middle of his summer "Masculinity" trip and no one remembers what he does AFTER these trips?

He has a power surge, and invades something, or cuts off their fuel. This is going to be a very, very busy fall. I've seen this movie before...

[fdcol63]

There was a news blurb somewhere (Drudge?) earlier today that said the Russians were on a heightened state of alert in Ossetia.

[Porchlight]

Interesting theory, Melinda. I saw that photo of him on the horse on Drudge today - sorry, can't find a direct link to the photo, but here's the story:

Bare-chested Vladimir Putin strikes a macho pose

[Porchlight]

OT,

In the FWIW department, Newsmax reporter Ron Kessler has a new book about the Secret Service in which it is revealed that Obama met secretly with Jeremiah Wright at Wright's home shortly before Wright's freakout session that prompted Obama to throw him under the bus.

Kessler on the Secret Service

[Sue]

Porch,

If anyone was so inclined, they could search the archives and find where I said Wright's freakout session was planned. No way that man (Wright) pulled that stunt without Obama's blessing.

[Porchlight]

I remember you saying that, Sue. I think you were one of the first to mention it.

[narciso]

So we have Russian attack subs, off the East Coast, what Marko Ramius got out again?
maneuvers of Russian forces in South Ossetia, and just to top it off, General Shamanov, of the Chechen and Georgian campaigns, now commander of air borne forces
is sending a little exploratory force into the Arctic

[Danube of Thought]

Mr. Gain, if you seek rational discussion from me on this matter, I urge you to comb this very site for everything I have had to say for the past week or so. That will have to do.

[clarice]

Do you suppose Shamanov is bringing yet another Obama B C with him? If not, who cares?

(Joking)

[Ann]

If there is one thing I can't stand are elite, condescending, lying, snobs that are CHEAP.

Here is a picture of ONE.
(Have you every seen such pathetic cupcakes ?)

Double entendre...I just thought about that before hitting post. :)

[Sue]

Porch,

I am so rarely correct, when I am, I like to remind people. ::grin::

This is disturbing in so many ways, the least of which is Johnson being disturbed at his nickname:

Lyndon Johnson would walk around naked in the presence of his daughters; his wife, Lady Bird; and female secretaries. He was quite well endowed in the testicles, so everyone started calling him bull nuts. He found out about that and was very disturbed.

[Porchlight]

Ann, is that from today? I thought the One was hanging out on the Vineyard.

[Original MikeS]

Under the new Homeland Security threat response architecture, the reporting of un-Obama ideas and activities, will help the department redeploy assets that were formerly wasted surveilling international freedom fighters.

[Molon Labe]

It's not just tax audits you need to fear.

Your presence on their list will make it difficult to get that critical medical procedure done under Obamacare.

[Porchlight]

LBJ was quite the coarse one. He also was an expert blackmailer/armtwister who threatened lawmakers with any personal dirt he could get his hands on in order to ensure their support.

On the flip side, I have really enjoyed my trips out to the LBJ ranch, and I have heard his daughters tell sweet stories about him.

[Porchlight]

Back on topic re: the Rat Out Your Friends WH effort...

It's kind of strange that the cybersecurity czar quit for "personal reasons" just as this story broke. Maybe she didn't like some of the plans being laid?

[narciso]

Again, yet another case, of 'these goggles they do nothing'

[Parking Lot]

Helen Thomas needs a new bra.

[Rick Ballard]

"He found out about that and was very disturbed."

Sue,

My understanding of LBJ's ego would lead me to believe that he was shooting for coconuts.

[PD]

I posted this on another thread earlier. It's what I sent off after Rush mentioned the site and I went to have a look. There's been no knock on the door yet, but it's not quite the middle of the night.

Dear [email protected], aka "Gestapo":

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Facts-Are-Stubborn-Things/ says:

"There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to [email protected]."

Looks to me like you're trying to track down the people of this country who might disagree with government health care "reform". What for? So you can re-educate us? Round us up?

Don't we have a right in this country to speak against government policies, current or proposed?

You people are utterly despicable.

[Ann]

Yes, Porchlight, he is still in town. (I don't think he joins the family until the last two weeks in August.)

I haven't gotten a good picture of Fashion Icon Michelle since she came back from London. I think someone took her belt collection away from her, too. (After today, I realized that JOM regulars have already been reported to the commissars...but I can't think of a better group of people to be with in the re-education camp!)

We might as well go out in JOM fashion, telling the truth till the boat picks us up for St. Jane or Gitmo. (I have reasons to believe Zero needs beds in Cuba for other reasons.) LOL

[Dave (in MA)]

Gawd, Ann. My eyes!

How about a warning and a few dozen lines of filler space next time?

[Terry Gain]

Mr. Gain, if you seek rational discussion from me on this matter, I urge you to comb this very site for everything I have had to say for the past week or so. That will have to do.Posted by: Danube of Thought | August 04, 2009 at 11:03 PM

DOT

While I respect you, I don't have time. I have a busy law practice to run. Whether I get rational reponses from you is entirely up to you. As I said, I agree with you 90% of the time. All of us have our achilles heels and, in my percerption, the question of the location of Obama's birth is yours.

I do not consider him too audacious to run for POTUS even if not eligible. I do not know where he was born but I find it absurd that he wasn't required to produce his original LFBC in order to prove his eligibility.

And I find the use of the term birthers idiotic - as if there is some equivalence between demanding qualifying documentation and a beief in an insane theory that GWB, while Governor of Texas yet, conspired with al Qaeda to attack his own country. (As you know, the attack was in the planning stages for years.)

Show me a birth certificate with the signature of a doctor or midwife. Until then, show some respect for me, and for yourself, and acknowledge that the case is not yet proved. And it should never have come to this. And it wouldn't have, were Obama a Republican

[Porchlight]

Thanks, Ann. They definitely stuffed Michelle back into the steamer trunk after they got back from Europe. The "fashion" photos and constant fawning stories in the media must not have polled very well. People do have eyes and brains, after all.

[PaulL]

I do not consider him too audacious to run for POTUS even if not eligible. I do not know where he was born but I find it absurd that he wasn't required to produce his original LFBC in order to prove his eligibility.

Amen to that.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Michelle