Dump Harry Reid

SHERMAN FREDERICK: Enough is enough, Harry – Stop the childish bullying

This newspaper traces its roots to before Las Vegas was Las Vegas.

We’ve seen cattle ranches give way to railroads. We chronicled the construction of Hoover Dam. We reported on the first day of legalized gambling. The first hospital. The first school. The first church. We survived the mob, Howard Hughes, the Great Depression, several recessions, two world wars, dozens of news competitors and any number of two-bit politicians who couldn’t stand scrutiny, much less criticism.

We’re still here doing what we do for the people of Las Vegas and Nevada. So, let me assure you, if we weathered all of that, we can damn sure outlast the bully threats of Sen. Harry Reid.

On Wednesday, before he addressed a Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Reid joined the chamber’s board members for a meet-’n'-greet and a photo. One of the last in line was the Review-Journal’s director of advertising, Bob Brown, a hard-working Nevadan who toils every day on behalf of advertisers. He has nothing to do with news coverage or the opinion pages of the Review-Journal.

Yet, as Bob shook hands with our senior U.S. senator in what should have been nothing but a gracious business setting, Reid said: “I hope you go out of business.”

Later, in his public speech, Reid said he wanted to let everyone know that he wants the Review-Journal to continue selling advertising because the Las Vegas Sun is delivered inside the Review-Journal.

Such behavior cannot go unchallenged.

You could call Reid’s remark ugly and be right. It certainly was boorish. Asinine? That goes without saying.

But to fully capture the magnitude of Reid’s remark (and to stop him from doing the same thing to others) it must be called what it was — a full-on threat perpetrated by a bully who has forgotten that he was elected to office to protect Nevadans, not sound like he’s shaking them down.

No citizen should expect this kind of behavior from a U.S. senator. It is certainly not becoming of a man who is the majority leader in the U.S. Senate. And it absolutely is not what anyone would expect from a man who now asks Nevadans to send him back to the Senate for a fifth term.

If he thinks he can push the state’s largest newspaper around by exacting some kind of economic punishment in retaliation for not seeing eye to eye with him on matters of politics, I can only imagine how he pressures businesses and individuals who don’t have the wherewithal of the Review-Journal.

For the sake of all who live and work in Nevada, we can’t let this bully behavior pass without calling out Sen. Reid. If he’ll try it with the Review-Journal, you can bet that he’s tried it with others. So today, we serve notice on Sen. Reid that this creepy tactic will not be tolerated.

We won’t allow you to bully us. And if you try it with anyone else, count on going through us first.

That’s a promise, not a threat.

And it’s a promise to our readers, not to you, Sen. Reid.

Sherman Frederick (sfrederick@reviewjournal.com) is publisher of the Review-Journal and president of Stephens Media.

Visit the Dump Reid PAC web site at http://dumpreid.com/

Good news, Iran and North Korea are working together!

via UAE Seizes North Korean Weapons Shipment to Iran:

Aug. 28 (Bloomberg) — The United Arab Emirates has seized a ship carrying North Korean weapons bound for Iran, in violation of a United Nations arms embargo, diplomats said.The UAE two weeks ago notified the UN Security Council of the seizure, according to the diplomats, who spoke on condition they aren’t named because the communication hasn’t been made public.

The council committee that monitors enforcement of UN sanctions against North Korea wrote a letter to Iran asking for an explanation and one to the UAE expressing appreciation for the cooperation, the envoys said. No response has been received or further action taken, they said.

And it doesn’t seem like they are swapping DVDs or cook books:

The weapons seized on Aug. 14 included rocket launchers, detonators, munitions and ammunition for rocket-propelled grenades, they said. The ship, called the ANL-Australia, was Australian-owned and flying a Bahamas flag.

Too bad, we don’t scare anyone anymore.

Someone look up the word for the definition below for me please.

Government control of corporate entities – they make the rules, they tell you it is good for you, the country, the environment, and will help a tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, bit to ensure we leave a cleaner planet for your penniless-thanks-to-government-in-the-first-place children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren – all while the government makes a tidy profit from the transaction:

The Cash For Clunkers program is adding to the activity at treasurers’ offices all around South Dakota. First, people were asking for proof of ownership, so they could show they owned their vehicle for a full year, allowing them to cash it in. Now, they’ll be returning to register their new vehicle. And when they do, new owners need to bring every bit of paperwork provided to them by their dealer.”That means they need their title, their damage disclosure, their bill of sale and the dealers have 30 days to get that to them,” Minnehaha County Treasurer Pam Nelson said.

But many of those cashing in on the clunkers program are surprised when they get to the treasurer’s office windows. That’s because the government’s rebate of up to $4500 dollars for every clunker is taxable.

“They didn’t realize that would be taxable. A lot of people don’t realize that. So they’re not happy and kind of surprised when they find that out,” Nelson said.

via Some Surprised By ‘Clunker’ Tax.

Both parties do it, one funnels its favors to the corporate world, the other to the government world. I guess defining “good/bad” all depends on the side your are rooting for.

Racist?

Guess the party and skin color before preceding.

And never forget, to give them a pass….

What gets nationalized next?

Bill would give president emergency control of Internet:

Internet companies and civil liberties groups were alarmed this spring when a U.S. Senate bill proposed handing the White House the power to disconnect private-sector computers from the Internet.

They’re not much happier about a revised version that aides to Sen. Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, have spent months drafting behind closed doors. CNET News has obtained a copy of the 55-page draft of S.773 (excerpt), which still appears to permit the president to seize temporary control of private-sector networks during a so-called cybersecurity emergency.

The new version would allow the president to “declare a cybersecurity emergency” relating to “non-governmental” computer networks and do what’s necessary to respond to the threat. Other sections of the proposal include a federal certification program for “cybersecurity professionals,” and a requirement that certain computer systems and networks in the private sector be managed by people who have been awarded that license.

Private-in-Chief

Hot Air: Guess who has a missile defense system?

The Bush administration argued for increasing investment in missile defense systems to combat two growing threats — Iran and North Korea.  Barack Obama attacked this policy during the presidential campaign, and has offered to retreat on missile defense in Europe in exchange for Russian concessions on Iran, among other issues.  But Russia’s opposition to missile defense in Europe doesn’t appear to be matched by their increasing fear over North Korea’s missile development…

On-The-Job training continues....

Big Hollywood: Undercover with Liberals! RIP Crowder

Epilogues: Kennedy, Bush, CBS

President Bush at West Point circa 2002.

Today gives us the chance to put some things to rest.

Remember the Bush=AWOL rubbish? Me, too.

Hot Air: Mary Mapes knew Bush volunteered for Vietnam: CBS report:

Mapes had information prior to the airing of the September 8 [2004] Segment that President Bush, while in the TexANG [Texas Air National Guard] did volunteer for service in Vietnam but was turned down in favor of more experienced pilots. For example, a flight instructor who served in the TexANG with Lieutenant Bush advised Mapes in 1999 that Lieutenant Bush “did want to go to Vietnam but others went first.” Similarly, several others advised Mapes in 1999, and again in 2004 before September 8, that Lieutenant Bush had volunteered to go to Vietnam but did not have enough flight hours to qualify.

Wow, who’da thunk it? They knew it was a lie and still went with it.

This leads us to CBS today via BlackFive:

CBS News interviewed staffers and family and did not investigate this claim [emphasis mine].

And, even when he was out-voted, Kennedy was willing to take unpopular stands. He was one of the first politicians to oppose the 2003 American invasion of Iraq.

But Kennedy supported the soldiers who served in Iraq, and their families -
especially those from his own state.

“He’s gone to the funeral of every soldier who’s come home from Iraq in a casket, whether it’s up in Massachusetts or at Arlington Cemetery. And it’s hard. But he knows it pays respect for giving the last full measure that these young soldiers have given. And after he goes to that funeral, he goes up and visits the graves of his brothers,” according to long-time Kennedy aide Melody Miller…

I didn’t know about this article until a few soldiers from Massachusets [sic] emailed me to tell me that they never saw Senator Kennedy at a military funeral.  I’m sure that he went to some, but “every soldier”?

Here’s part of an email from a commander:

I’ve buried two kids myself, Ted wasn’t there…

Oh, I would be remiss in ignoring the passing of the last of the Kennedy brothers.

They were unique and all served their country as best they could. Not many know Ted Kennedy was a military man:

Kennedy enlisted in the United States Army in June 1951.[12] Following basic training at Fort Dix, he requested assignment to Fort Holabird for Army Intelligence training, but was dropped after a few weeks without explanation.[12] He went to Camp Gordon for training in the Military Police Corps.[12] In June 1952, he was assigned to the honor guard at SHAPE headquarters in Paris.[6][12] His father’s political connections ensured he was not deployed to the ongoing Korean War.[6][13] While stationed in Europe he travelled extensively on weekends and climbed the Matterhorn.[14] He was discharged in March 1953 as a private first class.[12][14]

I know quoting wikipedia is not exactly academic level research, however, I do like how they present the information.

‘Family political connections keep young serviceman from serving in on going war and keep him out of harm’s way…’.

Sound familiar?

For those of you keeping score:

Bush+CBS=BS

Kennedy+CBS=BS

OK, Boomer and Nutroots America. Let’s just close two chapters in our common history right now.

Ted, rest in peace.

Thank you, Kennedy family, now please go away.

Thank you, Bush=AWOL proponents, now please go away.

We have a bigger idiot than the two previously mentioned men to deal with right now…

It’s funny because it would be true

Cube: “What’s The Difference” Game: Bush v. Obama

NEA using tax dollars to promote President’s agenda

Big Hollywood: The National Endowment for the Art of Persuasion?

It sounded, how should I phrase it…unusual, that the NEA would invite the art community to a meeting to discuss issues currently under vehement national debate. I decided to call in, and what I heard concerned me.

The people running the conference call and rallying the group to get active on these issues were Yosi Sergant, the Director of Communications for the National Endowment for the Arts; Buffy Wicks, Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement; Nell Abernathy, Director of Outreach for United We Serve; Thomas Bates, Vice President of Civic Engagement for Rock the Vote; and Michael Skolnik, Political Director for Russell Simmons.

We were encouraged to bring the same sense of enthusiasm to these “focus areas” as we had brought to Obama’s presidential campaign, and we were encouraged to create art and art initiatives that brought awareness to these issues. Throughout the conversation, we were reminded of our ability as artists and art professionals to “shape the lives” of those around us. The now famous Obama “Hope” poster, created by artist Shepard Fairey and promoted by many of those on the phone call, and will.i.am’s “Yes We Can” song and music video were presented as shining examples of our group’s clear role in the election.

Obama has a strong arts agenda, we were told, and has been very supportive of both using and supporting the arts in creative ways to talk about the issues facing the country. We were “selected for a reason,” they told us. We had played a key role in the election and now Obama was putting out the call of service to help create change. We knew “how to make a stink,” and were encouraged to do so.

Throughout the conversation my inner dialogue was firing away questions so fast that the NRA would’ve been envious. Is this truly the role of the NEA? Is building a message distribution network, for matters other than increasing access to the arts and arts education, the role of the National Endowment for the Arts? Is providing the art community issues to address, especially those that are currently being vehemently debated nationally, a legitimate role for the NEA? I found it highly unlikely that this was in their original charter, so I checked.

Read the whole thing.

LOL: Don’t taze me, Mr. Pink Elephant!

Daniel Wood burst into flames after police tried to subdue him with a Taser gun. He had been sniffing from an aerosol can.

Read more

I can’t stop laughing at the picture.

Spot the Idiot: Maurice Schwenkler

Wow, watch the tune changes as the song is sung:

One of two people suspected of shattering 11 windows Tuesday morning at the state Democratic Party headquarters has an arrest record and a history of helping a Democratic political candidate, public records show.

Police said that about 2:20 a.m., 24-year-old Maurice Schwenkler, now in custody, and an at-large accomplice took a hammer to the picture windows displaying posters touting President Barack Obama and his health care reform efforts.

Early Tuesday, Democratic Party chairwoman Pat Waak said the damage to her building in Denver’s art district was a consequence of “an effort on the other side to stir up hate.” She tempered her statement after Schwenkler’s political history was revealed.

“What I’ve been saying is there is a lot of rhetoric out there from both sides of the spectrum,” Waak said. “That’s what’s been disturbing to me. People are saying a lot of things not appropriate for civil discourse.”

[emphasis added]

Seems he’s a bigger idiot than already believed.

It would be a nice change

The Jawa Report: If this is the new face of the GOP, Count Me In

Welcome to government run health care

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – At least 1,200 veterans across the country have been mistakenly told by the Veterans Administration that they suffer from a fatal neurological disease.

One of the leaders of a Gulf War veterans group says panicked veterans from Alabama, Florida, Kansas, North Carolina, West Virginia and Wyoming have contacted the group about the error.

Denise Nichols, the vice president of the National Gulf War Resource Center, says the VA is blaming a coding error for the mistake.

Letters dated Aug. 12 were intended to notify veterans who have Lou Gehrig’s disease of disability benefits available to them.

Calls to the VA were not immediately returned Monday.

Lou Gehrig’s disease, or ALS, is a rapidly progressive disease that attacks the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles.

Not the first time the VA has crapped on the people it is charged with caring for….

ObamaCare also another bailout for unions?

Why unions are “Astroturfing” health-care town halls.