Your Sunday Hymn: How Can I Keep From singing

Enya’s version is probably slower than most of you are used to hearing it…but it’s nicely, nicely done:

Saturday Night cinema

Der Fuhrer gets some bad news…doesn’t take it well…

via the Blog Prof

The Rent is Too Damn High! song:

via iOWNTHEWORLD

Sights and sounds of the teaparty:

 

Indian media say Obama’s trip began “negatively”, call Obama “wishy washy”:

via Bob McCarty

Charles Krauthammer on Obama’s post election press conference: “His demeanor was subdued, which I suppose is his way to approximate humility, about as good as he gets, because he’s not very good at the real thing…”

Retired Lt. Colonel Allen West of FL, and South Carolina State Rep. Tim Scott on Hannity:

via Hot Air

Allen West On the Steve Malzberg Radio show:

via Breitbart t.v.

Linked by Betsy’s Page and Michelle Malkin, thanks!

Video:Reason TV bids A Fond farewell To Keefums

Reason TV has been putting out some great videos, lately. Their most recent effort is a reminder of why no one should miss this big, mashed up bag of  meat with a Cornell agricultural college diploma:

Video via Hot Air

Gabriel Malor offered up some fine analysis at AoSHQ, this morning, after noting that quite a few cable news personalities have made political donations,  including Chris Hayes who was to temporarily replace Olby, Joe Scarborough and CNBC’s Larry Kudlow.

It looks to me like NBC pulled the trigger on Olbermann before they even examined how common it is for commentators to make political monetary contributions aside from their obvious nightly political expressive contributions. Which puts this in the Shirley Sherrod — “rush, rush, fire her before the teabaggers react” — category. If they really have a rule that applies to a commentator like Olbermann, it’s a stupid rule. We already know he supports libtards. Duh. I hate to break it to the NBC execs, but no one expects journalistic integrity from Keith Olbermann and no one’s is upset that he doesn’t have any.

Which also puts his suspension and possible firing in the Juan Williams category. They were looking for a reason to ditch Olbermann. Could be his low ratings, his embarrassing on-screen behavior, or his treatment of others at NBC. Could be a combination of all three. But its probably not his support for Democrats. That was obvious before.

I think it may be that they were just looking for an excuse to get rid of him.

It can’t possibly be that by suspending Olby, MSNBC thinks they have  somehow proven their journalistic integrity…that  is too absurd for any reasonable person to take seriously, especially after their embarrassingly partisan election night coverage.

Yet, incredibly, some liberals have been trying to make that case, because the main target for them is Fox News. The Soros/Media Matters dog whistle has the drones reacting like Pavlov’s dogs, throwing Olby under the bus, if  they think Fox can be hurt in the process.

Here is what a liberal commenter argued in my previous thread:

As I said, Olbermann shouldn’t have done it, and I have no problem with him being suspended (or fired). But Fox’s policy is a bad one for any organization with “News” in its name.

I answered:

It’s no secret to anyone that MSNBC is a left-wing news organization. Why pretend otherwise?

Why stifle a private citizen’s right to support the candidate of his choosing?

His answer:

Agreed, just like it’s no secret that Fox News is a right-wing organization. But if you’re going to pretend to be an unbiased “news” organization, you shouldn’t be pimping for–or financially supporting–the people you’re interviewing.

Nevermind the bizarre leap that by donating to a candidate, you’re “pimping” him…I honestly don’t understand his confused thinking. Why allow cable news  anchors to vote, then, if by favoring  certain candidates, it makes them biased (we already know reporters are biased, some more overtly than others).  Would Keith Olbermann be an impartial journalist if he hadn’t donated? The whole argument is nonsensical to the core.

Olbermann’s main problem was that he had been  attacking Fox for doing the exact same thing he was doing. It always comes down to the rank hypocrisy and dishonesty of these people.

But my friend wasn’t through:

Let me put it to you this way: If a reporter gives to a Democratic candidate, does it make you more or less likely to believe s/he’s objective?

If you say it makes no difference, good for you–but I think you’re in the minority.

To which I replied:

Good grief… I already don’t believe that the MSM is objective!

Maybe it doesn’t bother us conservatives because we’re so used to blatant left-wing bias in the news, and we don’t think for one second that banning folks from making contributions, is going to have any effect on that.

I’ll give Ed Morrissey the last word:

But even if Olbermann was fired for stupid reasons (and this is definitely a stupid reason) … so what?  As long as MSNBC operates within the contract, it’s their decision to have whomever they want in that slot.  Why would anyone rush to defend someone who refers to conservative women as a “big bag of mashed-up meat with lipstick” while supposedly filling the role of a news anchor?  Does a man with a long track record of launching hyperbolic insults and accusations deserve to have people rushing to defend his violation of what appears to be a long-standing rule (even a stupid one), especially when the same person spent prime-time air just a few weeks ago blasting his competition for doing essentially the same thing?

If NBC does fire him, they have plenty of good reasons to do so, not the least of which was the dreadful, histrionic, and completely unprofessional meltdown on Election Night from their entire prime-time lineup.  They shouldn’t stop with Olbermann; in fact, they should start with Phil Griffin and start working downward.

UPDATE:

No, I’ll give Rachel Maddow the last word… not a fan, here, but I’ll give her this – the gal has a sense of humor!

MSNBC’s Maddow Defends Olbermann: “We Should Have Keith Back” (<<<Watch video at link.)

“Keith is a liberal, so am I.

(Liberal? Hey, why not come out of the closet, and fess up like your colleague Lawrence O’Donnell? I’d respect you more for it).

There are other people on this network whose political views are shared openly with our viewers. (all ten of them)

Election night, 2010;

(8-11pm)

P2+
FNC 6,957,000
CNN 2,423,000
MSNBC 1,945,000

P25-54
FNC – 2,431,000
CNN – 1,030,000
MSNBC – 669,000

We are not a political operation.

FOX is.

We are a news operation.

The rules around here are part how you know. Keith Olbermann attracted the ire of the right-wing and raged against what he saw as the errors and sins of the previous administration. Keith was also the one who brought to light FOX News’ water-carrying role for the Bush administration,” Rachel Maddow said in defense of her MSNBC colleague on her show Friday night.

There is of course, no water carrying done at MSNBC, for the Obama administration. Good lord, woman.

-

Do MSNBC viewers actually buy this drivel?

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To paraphrase Gabe; these folks are so alien to me I can’t meaningfully comprehend their minuscule brain activity.

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Linked by Michelle Malkin, and Doug Ross, thanks!

Olbermann Suspended From MSNBC

CBS News, Political Hotsheet reports the glorious news:

Keith Olbermann has been suspended indefinitely without pay from MSNBC for making donations to three Democrats in violation of NBC’s ethics policy.

“I became aware of Keith’s political contributions late last night,” Phil Griffin, President of MSNBC, said in a statement. “Mindful of NBC News policy and standards, I have suspended him indefinitely without pay.”

Olbermann, who does not hide his liberal views, has acknowledged donations of $2,400 each to Kentucky Senate candidate Jack Conway and Arizona Reps. Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords during this election cycle.

NBC’s ethics policy generally bars political activity, including contributions, without the approval of the president of NBC News, Steve Capus, according to a 2007 story on MSNBC.com.

Ed Morrissey doubts the suspension will last past the weekend.

See also

Olbermann Watch: Olbermann Caught! Gave Thousands to Dem Candidates Then Anchored Election Coverage!

The Blog Prof: MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann suspended without pay for Democrat campaign contributions

I don’t get this one. MSNBC has suspended Keith Olbermann because he contributed  to several Democrat campaigns. Apparently, MSNBC wants to maintain it’s image as a non-biased news organization. Which engenders this response from me: WHAT?!? Are they kidding? The man’s 8pm show ought to be listed as an in-kind contribution to the DNC. Good grief. Really – is this a big deal? The cat’s been out of that bag so long ago that it’s dead.

Drew says: Schadenfreude overdose.

Newsbusters: BREAKING: MSNBC Suspends Keith Olbermann Indefinitely

Tweet ‘o the day: @Doc_0: Olbermann suspended? Hey, this “Restoring Sanity” thing is really catching on!

AnnCoulter‘s having too much fun on Twitter:

Olberdork indefinitely suspended????? very sad. I will miss watching the pompous, know-nothing fruitcake.

—

I can’t believe they’d treat a graduate of Cornell’s agricultural college this way.

—

(LOL!)

Great – now, how are we supposed to know who the Worst Person in the World is? Thanks, MSNBC!

MORE:

Egad…A disturbing replacement idea has emerged….

Michelle Malkin: Support Olbermann? No freaking way; Poll added: Who should replace Olbermann?

I like RS McCain’s take: Stunning Discovery: Shadowy Corporate Donors Contribute to Political Campaigns

I was not shocked to learn that MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann had contributed to Democrats. What truly shocked me? Finding out that NBC has an “ethics policy”!

See Da Techguy for some “serious snarkitude”.

UPDATE:

Hot Air: TV Newser: “Insiders” say Olbermann won’t be back

Allah makes some great points:

What bugs me about suspending Olby for “ethics” infractions is that, if only in a nominal way, it lets MSNBC go on pretending that its commentators are journalists. It’s like when a major paper runs a “news” story that’s obviously slanted to the left and which happens to contain a spelling error. They’ll happily issue a correction for the misspelling but the bias goes unmentioned; that’s their way of signaling to readers that they’re scrupulous about accuracy even while they’re dropping hatchet jobs on conservatives while professing impartiality all the while. As Ed noted earlier, it’s a sick joke to suggest that Olby throwing a few thou to Democratic candidates is an unpardonable journalistic sin while that horror show that MSNBC happily aired on Tuesday night is just good reportorial funsies for the viewers at home. I don’t care how many posters of Murrow Olby has on his wall: He’s not a reporter, he’s not a journalist, and no one but no one but no one thinks that he is, so why are journalistic ethics being applied to him?

Linked by Michelle Malkin, thanks!

Obama Says He Needs To Do A Better Job Persuading The Ignorant Masses

I’m almost positive he doesn’t even believe his own b.s., here,

I think that, over the course of two years we were so busy and so focused on getting a bunch of stuff done that, we stopped paying attention to the fact that leadership isn’t just legislation. That it’s a matter of persuading people. And giving them confidence and bringing them together. And setting a tone,” Mr. Obama told 60 Minutes’ Steve Kroft in an exclusive interview set to air Sunday. (See clip below)

“Making an argument that people can understand,” Mr. Obama continued, “I think that we haven’t always been successful at that. And I take personal responsibility for that. And it’s something that I’ve got to examine carefully … as I go forward.”

Can I have a show of hands? Who thinks Obama didn’t spend enough time pushing, and “explaining” his policies for the past two years?

I’m counting approximately zero of you. Because if you’re like me, you lunge for the remote every time you see the most over-exposed President in American history about to make another speech on t.v.

Obama’s problem isn’t that he didn’t spend enough time making his arguments. By March 19 of this year, he had made 471 speeches; 54 speeches on the health care bill, alone.

On no other issue has President Obama put in as much effort and displayed as much passion as on health care.

Since launching his campaign for health care reform with a White House forum on March 5th of last year, Mr. Obama has delivered 54 speeches and statements on the issue.

He has done health care events in 12 states, some of them more than once. He’s done 9 Town Hall Meetings on health care and made it the focus of 13 of his Saturday radio and Internet addresses.

No, the problem is the content of his speeches. The American people have heard him loud and clear, and they resoundingly reject his big government solutions.  What more, after so many of his assertions have proven to be lies, people no longer trust him to tell the truth. That, more than anything else, is what led to the historic shellacking on election day. Voters hate to be lied to.

But he can’t admit any of this, can he? So he’s left with the, “poor messaging” excuse. Of course with Democrat-Socialists, everything comes down to “messaging”...”How can we fool them today”…so in that sense he’s being honest, I guess. He needs to come up with better lies to fool people with.

Linked by Michelle Malkin, thanks!

Friday Free-For-All

Via Theo Spark

Can you believe that Nancy Pelosi, somehow missing Tuesday’s message, is mulling a run for minority leader?

Good lord, it’s almost Too Good to Be True, says Jennifer Rubin:…

Can you imagine? The voters deliver a historic thumping, toss out more than 60 Democrats, and the survivors — in a demonstration of how clearly they understood the voters’ message — put Pelosi in charge of their caucus. Oh, and she is the most vilified Democrat on the scene, and perhaps the figure who appeared most frequently in campaign ads — for the other party.

Betsy says: Pelosi’s plans a gift for the GOP

What could be better for the Republicans to have Pelosi hang around as the liberal foil for what they’re doing? Usually the House Minority Leader remains obscure to the American public, but Pelosi already has great name recognition and low approval rates. John Boehner might not inspire excitement, but he’ll always have going for him the fact that he’s not Nancy Pelosi.

And Allahpundit is of the same mind: Great, great news: Pelosi might stay on as House minority leader

Blue Dogs like Heath Shuler and Jim Matheson are making noise about opposing her, but they’re now vastly outnumbered by lefties in the caucus. I’m sitting here trying to figure out what strategic angle I might be missing in all this, because it strikes me as simply impossible that this dead weight might actually be retained as the face of the Democratic House caucus. Her favorable rating among independents as of Sunday was eight percent. The GOP just won 60+ seats thanks to a national campaign targeting her above all other Democrats (Obama included) as the archvillain of the Beltway. The progressive caucus can’t possibly be so stupidly loyal as to saddle the party with her toxic numbers for the next House election in 2012 too — especially given their endless crowing vis-a-vis Palin and centrists. To put it in perspective, Palin’s favorables with Democrats are roughly the same as Pelosi’s are with independents. And yet here they are, all set to crown Nancy as the once and future leader of the pack. We can’t possibly be this lucky.

Perhaps we can’t.

The National Journal reports: Anger at Pelosi Likely to Topple Her, Senior Democrat Says

There is a seething anger within the House Democratic Caucus toward Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on the heels of Tuesday’s election drubbing, and it will be very difficult for her to remain at the helm as minority leader, a senior House Democrat told National Journal today.

But the liberal Democrat, a Pelosi supporter and admirer who did not want to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue, said there has been little communication so far among Democrats about any specific successors to Pelosi.

The veteran lawmaker – who is himself not interested in a leadership job – said it is obvious to him that Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., wants to become the next minority leader, but predicted that others would emerge.

The lawmaker said those internal talks are stymied because Pelosi continues to provide no signal about what she plans to do. Ultimately, he said, Pelosi may not be given a choice.

We will soon find out if all vestiges of sanity have left the (Dem) House.

Election/voter fraud or gross incompetence is becoming apparent in Connecticut. Lauraw at AoSHQ hs been keeping an eye on the situation: Bridgeport Connecticut: Video From The Polls

See also, Slublog at AoSHQ: Surprise! Bag of Uncounted Ballots Found in CT Something is very, very wrong there.

Geoff has the new unemployment chart up: October 2010 Unemployment Rate – Not Much Change

Olbermann in the news…

Newsbusters: Olbermann Frets Obama Will Cave to McConnell ‘Instead of Kicking Him in the Ass’

Oh, that’s right, I forgot. To the left, Obama is “Captain Kick-Ass”.

Newsbusters: BREAKING: Keith Olbermann Donated Maximum Contribution to Three Democrats, possibly violating MSNBC’s ethics code.

Politico noted that on October 7, Olbermann had House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) on his show to discuss Murdoch News Corp. donations to Republicans, and asked Clyburn: “Is there a legislative response to the idea that there is a national cable-news outlet that goes beyond having a point of view and actually starts to shill for partisan causes and actually starts to donate to partisan groups of one party?” Obviously, Keith should have been talking into the mirror — which you just know he does a lot.

Olby must be becoming an embarrassment to the left, for Politico to go after him.

See update below!!!

The Blaze has the latest mental droppings  from Obama pal,  Bernardine Dohrn: Bill Ayers Wife: U.S. Gov‘t is ’Real Terrorist‘ While Right is ’Racist,‘ ’Armed,‘ and ’Hostile’:

Bernadine Dohrn, wife of Bill Ayers and co-founder of the radical left group Weather Underground, reportedly spoke with NewsClick India recently about her thoughts on America and called the right “racist,“ ”armed,“ ”hostile,“ and ”unspeakable.“ The clip ends with her saying that the American government is the ”real terrorist”: Watch the video at the Blaze.

Keep in mind, this is the woman who said of the Manson Family murders:

“Dig it! First they killed those pigs, then they ate dinner in the same room with them. They even shoved a fork into the victim’s stomach! Wild!”  The “War Council” ended with a formal declaration of war against “AmeriKKKa,” always spelled with three K’s to signify the United States’ allegedly ineradicable white racism.

She hasn’t changed much at all…

The Obama State Dept is ticking off our  allies again: Obama’s state department to Indian officials; Show us your papers

High ranking officials from the state of Maharashtra were invited to an event at the Taj Mahal hotel with Mr. Obama, but were told that they would have to show their papers to get in. According to The Times of India:

Miffed by the US consulate demanding personal details like birth date, nationality and passport number, Maharashtra’s top politicians and bureaucrats have decided to pay it back in the same currency. While the home minister and the home secretary have declined to attend an event graced by President Barack Obama, four others, including chief minister Ashok Chavan and deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal, are mulling the same.

“We are shocked over the tone of the invitation letter. (US consul general Paul) Folmsbee expects Chavan and Bhujbal to produce their identity cards before entering the venue. They have been asked to submit their details like date of birth, nationality, passport and PAN to the consulate,” said a senior official on condition of anonymity. “We feel this is no way to treat the chief minister of a state. Chavan and Bhujbal are undecided on whether to attend the event.”

And Reason TV’s Nanny of the Month Award goes to….

You can. market. carrots!!1!!

Stay tuned, more to come.

See Right Klik for: Ten Buck Fridays: Victory Edition

Drew at AoSHQ: Obama: The Lesson Of The Midterms Is I Need To Speak To You Idiots Slower And Use Smaller Words

Michelle Malkin says: Introspective Obama: I didn’t communicate “sit in the back seat, Tea Party racists” clearly enough

The most overexposed President in American history thinks he has a “messaging” problem… too freaking much…I’m doing my own separate post on that one:

Here it is: Obama Says He Needs To Do A Better Job Persuading The Ignorant Masses

Michelle Malkin: Voters speak: No to soak-the-rich schemes

My column today spotlights the defeat of a little-noticed initiative in Washington state pushed by left-wing class warriors — and what it portends for the punish-the-wealthy zealots in Washington, D.C. The results should embolden the GOP to demand all-or-nothing tax relief. The message: Stop the Obama tax increases. Stop the war on wealth and prosperity. Stop the Beltway job-killing machine (speaking of which, the latest jobless report is out and unemployment remains stuck at 9.6 percent).

Dingy Harry has already dug in. Get ready to rumble.

BREAKING!

Keith Olbermann Suspended from MSNBC

WOO HOO!!!!!

Scary Larry O’Donnell makes a stunning admission on Morning Joe: MSNBC‘s Lawrence O’Donnell Admits On-Air: ‘I am a Socialist’ video at link.

Moe Lane: The Matter of Pelosi.

Linked by Michelle Malkin, and Pirate’s Cove, thanks!

Audio: Day After “Shellacking”, Obama Signals It’s Full Steam Ahead For His Agenda In MoveOn.org Conference Call

If you were scratching your head, wondering why Obama would be talking about the need for “compromise” (with him), in the face of such an overwhelming rejection of his policies, you are not alone.

As Peter Wehner notes in Commentary Contentions, the depth of his self-delusion, is stunning.

To put things in perspective: the Democratic Party just suffered the worst repudiation any political party has since before the middle of the last century. The defeat was staggering in the House (where Republicans will net more than 60 seats), in the Senate (+6 for the GOP), and in races for governorships (where the GOP has a net gain of six, with a couple of contests still outstanding). Republicans also took control of at least 19 legislative chambers and gained more than 500 legislative seats. No region in America, not even the Northeast, was untouched by the Republican wave.

If you listened to the president, though, the “shellacking” was because of process rather than substance. ObamaCare, he assured us, is a sparkling, wondrous law; the only downside to it was the horse-trading that went on to secure its passage. They would be “misreading the election,” the president helpfully informed Republicans, if they decide to “relitigate the arguments of the last two years.”

***

And what set of Obama remarks would be complete without the requisite lecturing — in this case, on the importance of “civility in our discourse” and the importance of being able to “disagree without being disagreeable.” This admonition comes after Obama, during the last few days of the campaign, referred to his opponents as “enemies,” hinted that the Tea Party Movement is tinged with racism, charged Republicans with being dishonest, and accused, without a shred of evidence, the Chamber of Commerce of using illegal money to support Republican candidates across the country. But never mind. After his victory in 2008, Obama’s message to Republicans was: “I won.” Today, after his party was throttled, Obama’s message is: “Come let us reason together.”

And what better way is there to  bring reason and civility into discourse, than a strategy session, (just a few hours after his press conference) with the far left, Soros and Tides funded, MoveOn.org:

Video via The Blaze.

Obama says he will continue to  pursue his progressive agenda, working hard to “deliver the change the American people want… We didn’t sign up for what was easy,” he said.

Keep that in mind when the “newly chastened, humbled, introspective, reflective President Obama” shows his commitment to  Common Ground with high profile meetings with GOP and Democrat leaders in the weeks to come.

RELATED:

The guy who coined the term, “lightworker” chastises young activists in this SF Chronicle oped:

Look, I’m sorry. I know I’m being far too hard on you. Of course it’s not just you. It’s not completely your fault these dimwit Repubs were allowed to ooze back into a bit of power so soon. As many analysts have pointed out, this wasn’t a vote for the Republicans, but against the limp-wristed Dems who didn’t step up and lead with more authority and clarity of purpose. Truly, libs and independents of every age are frustrated Obama isn’t governing with the same kind of magical, balls-out visionary zeal that fueled his campaign. 

And let’s not forget a shockingly unintelligent Tea Party movement that stands for exactly nothing and fears exactly everything, all ghost-funded by a couple of creepy libertarian oil billionaires — the leathery old Koch brothers — who eat their young for a snack. Who could’ve predicted that gnarled political contraption would hold water? But hey, when Americans are angry and nervous, they do stupid things. Like vote Republican. It happens. Just did.

I frankly, would like to see the President, and the rest of the Dems continue down this road of lurching ever leftward while demeaning those who object, in order to ensure an even more devastating shellacking in 2012.

SEE ALSO:

Sister Toldjah: Laughing out loud: Day 2 of liberal duhnial well underway

What I’m paying attention to – and you should to – is how, in light of Tuesday night’s “shellacking,” – is how the left, including “leaders” like Pelosi, Reid, and of course Obama, are in COMPLETE denial of Why Tuesday Happened. A familiar theme is emerging: We didn’t go far enough. Didn’t do enough. We ignored “the process.” It’s not that we didn’t get alot accomplishmed, it’s that we didn’t communicate effectively as to what all “we’ve done” for the American people. They’re not “feeling it” because we didn’t talk about it enough. DNC Chair Tim Kaine blamed “secret money” for Tuesday’s losses.The duhnial is too thick to cut even with the world’s largest Gzinsu.

A question that has emerged in the comments: Is the President really in denial, or does he know exactly what he’s doing?

El Rushbo says, yes to the latter:

Look, let me lay it out here. I don’t care what he says in this press conference.  What he says in this press conference is all BS, and it’s designed to give everybody in the Republican Party what they want to hear, and then he’s gonna leave, he’s gonna go to India.  When he comes back there’s gonna be none of this, he’s not gonna compromise.  This guy is committed to his agenda and he’s not going to abandon it.  In fact, he’s set up now.  I will bet you Obama’s disappointed that he didn’t lose the Senate.  My prediction way back when, I think Obama was happy to lose the House and was looking forward to losing the Senate because he wants to run against Republicans in 2012.  Well, now he’s not gonna be able to run only against Republicans.  He’s going to have a bunch of Democrats in the Senate.  They’re gonna run that show and he’s not gonna be able to intellectually, honestly say the Republicans are the party of “no.”  He’s gonna do it anyway but he’s not gonna be able to get away with it.  But this is a giant setup.  Do not doubt me. 

I know this guy.  I know the kind of person he is because of what he believes.  I know liberals.  I know socialists.  I know Marxists. I know exactly how they do things. I know people that understand and love Saul Alinsky.  I understand exactly what the tactics are.  I know how they go about achieving what they want. (interruption)  What do you mean how can he pivot on health care?  What is there to pivot on health care about?  He’s got health care. (interruption) When the Republicans are trying to repeal some of it?  Well, he’s not gonna go for that. He’s not gonna pivot on health care.  Of course there’s no common ground between Republicans and Obama, unless the Republicans decide they want to have some.  There is no common ground.  That’s the best way to describe this.  What do we have in common with the guy?  I don’t have anything in common with him in terms of his view of this country, where he wants to take it versus what I think it is and where it should go.  Nothing in common there.  Pivot on health care?  I mean that’s one of the things he’s checked off on the list, “Okay, got that.”  He’s gonna dare ‘em to repeal it.

Linked by Ace o Spades HQ in Top Headlines, thanks!

Notre Dame Sees Drop In Donations Since Hosting Obama

Who can forget the raging debate that followed Notre Dame University’s decision to roll out the red carpet for Barack Obama, the most pro-abortion President in US history? In the Spring of ’09, the “formerly Catholic” institution’s President,  Father Jenkins invited him to speak at its graduation, and gave him an honorary law degree, sparking protests from Catholics all across the land…

88 pro life activists (known as the ND88) are still facing charges of “trespassing” for their peaceful protest on Notre Dame grounds in May, 2009. For their crimes of praying the rosary, and holding up pro-life signs, they were targeted by ND campus police, handcuffed and hauled off to jail. See The Thomas More Society for information about their ongoing case.

Katie Walker of American Life League (ALL) told OneNewsNow the school has paid a price for its malfeasance.

“Notre Dame has come out $120 million short for the fiscal year in which President Obama spoke during commencement and received an honorary law degree,” she reports.

She believes that staggering number is in direct response of alumni and others around the country who feel scandalized “that Notre Dame would host this man and give one of the most pro-abortion presidents in the nation’s history an honorary law degree.”

The pro-lifer points out that Obama “is a man whose philosophy of the law and philosophy of the country fundamentally is one that denies that all human beings deserve human rights,” so she wonders, “Is this a man [one] that ‘Our Lady’s’ university should be honoring and upholding and putting on a pedestal for her graduates?”

Walker feels the drop in funding should send a loud message to Notre Dame, which means “Our Lady.”

$120 million is well short exceeds the $8.2 million in donations alumni had promised to withhold, so I’m guessing that Notre Dame picked up some donations from other sources.

CORRECTION:

As  a commenter points out, unless the nature of mathematics has changed, $120 mil is quite a bit more than 8.2 mil. (I was looking at the number as 1.2 mil). So Notre Dame has really taken a grievous hit.

RELATED:

For Democrats, U.S. Catholic vote was the one that got away

54 percent of Catholic voters pulled the lever for Republicans on Tuesday and 44 percent for Democrats. In the 2008 House vote, the Democrats managed to get 55 percent of the Catholic vote while Republicans only got 42.

Cardinal Newman Society: Obama Administration Threatens Independence of Catholic Colleges

Weasel Zippers: Remember Those 20 “Pro-Life” Dems Who Flipped and Voted For ObamaCare? 15 of Them Were Defeated Tuesday…

Hat tip: Infidel Joe

Linked by Theo Spark, thanks!

PREVIOUSLY:

Obama Administration Dishonors Catholic College’s freedom Of Conscience

Bishop Finn:Dialogue Came To A Screeching Halt At Notre Dame

Video: Laura Ingraham Blasts Notre Dame On O’Reilly

Notre Dame PWNAGE

Obama Receives His Honorary Degree At Notre Dame Commencement

Catholics Rip Obama And Notre Dame University

Notre Dame Scandal Heating Up

Pro Life March Set For Notre Dame

Pro-Obama “We Support Notre Dame” Website Is Launched

Bishop of Phoenix sends Letter Of Rebuke to Notre Dame President

Notre Dame “Stop The Scandal” Petition Update

Stop The Scandal: Obama Invited To Notre Dame Commencement

Ed Schultz: “They Gotta Take Impeachment Off The Table!!!”

“Genius Envy”

Mark Finklestein at Newsbusters is having a bit of a snicker at Schultz’s comical paranoia. I think we’re witnessing a classic case of projection, myself. After all, what did lefty trolls like him obsess about for the last several years of Bush’s Presidency?

…what does Ed Schultz know that I don’t?  He splattered his MSNBC show this evening with incessant dark speculation to the effect that the new Republican majority is plotting to impeach Pres. Obama. 

ED SCHULTZ: Mr. Boehner, can I ask you tonight: are you going to take impeachment off the table? . . . And Reverend [Sharpton], do you think the Republicans should make sure the American people know that impeachment is off the table? . . . They gotta get impeachment off the table . . . I think he also has to bring the Republican leadership into the Oval Office and say what’s this about impeachment? . . . Coming up: I think Republicans are plotting to impeach the President . . . And in my playbook tonight, get ready for a slew of investiations.  I think they’re going to try to impeach the President.

Video at link.

How misplaced are Schulz’s fears?

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Darrell Issa, who’s been teasing Conservative activists for months about the investigations he’s going to launch as soon as he has subpoena power, caused untold numbers of conservatives to spit out their slurpies with these comments he made last night to reporters:

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who will have far-ranging subpoena power in the new Congress as a result of Tuesday’s election, is going out of his way to dispel perceptions that he’s a partisan bombthrower who plans to use his newfound authority to paralyze President Barack Obama’s administration.

“I want to prove the pundits wrong. My job is not to bring down the president. My job is to make the president a success,” Issa said on a midnight conference call with reporters, just after House Minority Leader John Boehner’s victory speech.

DUDE!

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Talk about “psycho talk”!

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Let’s hope he’s just trying to be gracious in victory… and he’s decided to keep his plans private for now…

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MORE:

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Here’s Issa  on MSNBC, this morning, talking about his investigations.

I’m not liking what I’m hearing, frankly.

It’s a far cry from his thirty-seven page [PDF] report from last August, which publicly charged the Obama administration with criminal activity, “unlawful public relations and propaganda initiatives”.

UPDATE:

Newsbusters: Schultz: Don’t Blame Me—I Got Impeachment Conspiracy From Clyburn

It’s Not right to Gloat….

…..But it sure can be fun.

…Especially when you can participate.

 

Tuesday’s Sweetest Victories, Bitterest Defeats

RealClearPolitics shows a Republican gain of 63-67 seats in the house, a few shy of the 70 we were hoping for, but still pretty impressive. And as it stands right now, we’ve picked up 6 seats in the Senate, bringing the tally to 51-46.

The sweetest victories of the night for me were:

Vicky Hartzler, at the “Retire Ike Skelton” tea party, last weekend.

1. Daniel Webster in FL-8… Geico caveman, Alan Grayson kicked to the curb, thank you Jesus.

2. Allen West  in FL-22…his Dem opponent was quaking in fear all year, and for good reason. Congressman West will be fun to watch.

3. Vicky Hartzler in MO-4: Spikes 30+ year incumbent, Ike Skelton, taking his place on the Armed Services Committee …nice.

4. Mark Kirk in Il Senate: Yeah, I know he’s a RINO, but it’s Obama’s old seat, and he visited IL numerous times to stump for Giannoulias, bwahahahahahahah!

5. Pat Toomey in PA Senate: A genuine conservative wins big in a blue state, against corruptocrat, Sestak – what’s not to love?

6. Marco Rubio in FLA Senate: This  rising conservative star was expected to win, but it’s still great news for FL – great news for America.

7. Bobby Shilling in IL-17: It turns out voters in IL do worry about the Constitution, kick Phil Hare to the curb.

8. Chip Cravaack MN-8: Minnesota niiiice: 18 term career politician James “Porky” Oberstar didn’t think he’s wake up this morning w/o a job. Sweet.

9. Sean Duffy WI-7: Duffy, formerly of MTV’s “The Real World”  is a five-time world-champion log climber and was the Ashland County district attorney from August 2002 to June 2010. He takes over a seat held for 40 years by House Appropriations Chairman David Obey...Cool beans.

10. Kansas: USA Today: “Voters in Tuesday’s election gave the Kansas GOP its first clean sweep of statewide and congressional races since the Beatles were charting their early hits.” Kris Kobach won Sec of State on a platform combating voter fraud. His policies are ones he hopes to see other states adopt.

The most stinging defeats of the night:

(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

1. Jacob Turk in MO-5 - I had high hopes for Turk. He ran a good race, but he was up against a formidable Kansas City political machine. Once again, all of District-5 is sentenced to 2 more years of representation by race-baiting, Cuba-loving, Democrat Socialist, Emanuel Cleaver. Not cool.

2. Ruth McClung in AZ-7: It was a close race against Dem Socialist, Grijalva, who actually advocated a boycott against his own state, and called McClung, “Whitebread” in a mail piece, but he still managed to squeak out a win. WTF.

3. California: I consider CA to be a lost cause, a failed state. Conservatives should just leave. You’ve made your bed, California…. Don’t expect the rest of us to bail you out out of your fiscal misery.

4. Sharron Angle NV Senate: There is no way I can overstate my disappointment in Nevada voters for their decision to send the lamest, mangiest, dingiest  Dem  of them all, Harry “The Iraq War is Lost” Reid, back to the Senate, even as their economy faces an extended losing streak. Was ACORN involved?

5. Linda McMahon, CT Senate: All I can think of is how lonely and isolated conservatives must feel in a state that would elect a phony, corrupt, economically  illiterate dweeb like Blumenthal.

6. Christine O’Donnell, DE: I  knew she was going to lose, but it’s sad that the people of DE have no problem electing the smug, “bearded Marxist”, Coons to represent them in the Senate.

7. Joe Miller, AK Senate: UGH, how did so many voters  figure out how to spell Princess Lisa’s last name? Her husband even had to ask…

8. Sean Bielat MA-4: Just why? How could this young, appealing Marine Vet lose to  pompous windbag, Barney Frank, one of the architects of the financial crisis? What is in the water in the Commonwealth’s 4th district? Frank’s arrogant, partisan, and classless victory speech, here.

Cross-posted at NewsReal Blog

Linked by Babalu, thanks!

Krauthammer: GOP To Take “De Facto” Control of Senate

Just because Republicans failed to win enough Senate Seats to knock the deplorable and inexplicably re-elected Reid out of the majority, it doesn’t mean that they will be in the same feeble position they were in from 2009-2011. Charles Krauthammer, on Fox News this morning, said Republicans have won “de facto control” of the U.S. Senate, and now with “de jure” control of the House, they are in a perfect position, tactically.

The message voters delivered on Election Night was so strong, Krauthammer said, that Senate Democrats will continue to distance themselves from President Barack Obama’s policies for fear of political repercussions.

“I think there will be great resistance to any advance of the Obama agenda, and I think there will a lot of sympathy among these Democrats, the ones who are now up for reelection in two years for example, for an extension of the Bush tax cuts, for even a nibbling away of some of the edges of Obamacare,” he said.

Some of the Democratic senators coming into the new Congress, such as West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, who defeated Republican John Raese, actually ran in open opposition to the president’s policies.

There has been a shift of power in Congress, there is no doubt about that, but Krauthammer says we didn’t really want control of both Houses:

… because then Obama could do a Truman, where he ran against the do-nothing Congress and won re-election,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist said. “If you put too much of the actual, official power to the Republicans, it makes them responsible.

Conservative voters can still watch closely, and hold Republicans accountable for any jelly-spined, RINOish behaviors we detect. We didn’t elect them to compromise with the Democrat Socialists who survived Tuesday’s onslaught.

But they shouldn’t be blamed for Obama’s economy if he rejects all of their remedies.

See Also:

Senator DeMint has some excellent advice for  freshman Senators  in his WSJ oped, this morning:

Congratulations to all the tea party-backed candidates who overcame a determined, partisan opposition to win their elections. The next campaign begins today. Because you must now overcome determined party insiders if this nation is going to be spared from fiscal disaster.

Many of the people who will be welcoming the new class of Senate conservatives to Washington never wanted you here in the first place. The establishment is much more likely to try to buy off your votes than to buy into your limited-government philosophy. Consider what former GOP senator-turned-lobbyist Trent Lott told the Washington Post earlier this year: “As soon as they get here, we need to co-opt them.”

Don’t let them. Co-option is coercion. Washington operates on a favor-based economy and for every earmark, committee assignment or fancy title that’s given, payback is expected in return. The chits come due when the roll call votes begin. This is how big-spending bills that everyone always decries in public always manage to pass with just enough votes.

But someone can’t be bribed if they aren’t for sale. Here is some humble advice on how to recognize and refuse such offers.

Keep reading...

Linked by Michelle Malkin in Buzzworthy, The Moral Liberal, Obi’s Sister and GayPatriot, thanks.

Video: New Speaker of the House Gets A Little Emotional

God love him, watch it all, he breaks up a little towards the end….and then there’s  a “special” guest appearance:

video via Townhall.

Michelle Malkin has the text of the speech, and asks, thumbs up, or thumbs down?

UPDATE:

Hundreds of people are googling, “who is the new speaker of the House”. It’s John Boehner, OH-8. You should know that, people.

See also:

Politics AP: Meet the next House speaker, GOP’s John Boehner

Previously:

Boehner To Hit Obama Hard For “Enemies” Remark At Rally, Tonight

Future Speaker: Why Are We Funding A Left-Wing Organization? (Updated)

Boehner Promises Vicky Hartzler a Seat on Armed Services Committee if She Wins

Obama Sets His Sights On Boehner

Video: John Boehner Hits Back

Obama Slams Republicans in Pittsburgh Speech – Boehner Slams Obama For Diminishing Presidency

Video: OH Rep John Boehner Receives The The Henry J. Hyde Defender of Life Award

Video: Boehner Confronts Obama On Abortion Funding In Health Care Proposal

 

MO-4 and MO-5 Election Updates

Okay, I’m assuming that everyone knows the winners and losers so far (9:55 cst).

Congratulations Senator Rubio. Congratulations Congressman Webster. Thank you for Alan Grayson’s bitter tears. Thank you, thank you thank you!

And so on and so forth. A lot of big wins, a few heartaches.

Ace is covering the election results, as is Red State, Townhall, The Other McCain, and Michelle Malkin.

The two races I’m closely watching tonight, are MO-4, Skelton vs. Hartzler and and MO-5, Cleaver vs. Turk.

Here are the results, so far:

Missouri – District 4

67.5% of precincts reporting

Vicky Hartzler(R) – 50%  76,827 Votes

Ike Skelton (D) – 45%  68,602 Votes

Missouri – District 5

9.0% of precincts reporting

Jacob Turk( R) 58% 9,076 Votes

Emanuel Cleaver (D) 39% 6,052 Votes

Hartzler is projected to be the winner in District 4, taking over a seat that was held for over 30 years by Skelton.

With only 9% of the of the vote counted in District 5, and the urban votes not counted yet, Turk’s lead is looking precarious. He’s off to a good start, but it’s going to be a long night for Turk.

UPDATE:

WTF?

Missouri – District 5

66.6% of precincts reporting

The latest polls were much closer than this:

Emanuel Cleaver(D)61% Winner 70,330 Votes

Jacob Turk(R) 37% 42,896 Votes

Kansas City votes for the economy crushing Socialist. Nice going, there,  urban core. Jacob Turk would have worked his heart out for you.

UPDATE:

Final tally in MO-5:

100.0% of precincts reporting

Emanuel Cleaver (D) 49% Winner 122,040 Votes

Jacob Turk (R) 48% 119,240 Votes

Randy Langkraehr (I) 2% 4,189 Votes

Dave Lay (I) 1% 2,412 Votes

PSSSST: Randy and Dave? Nice job, guys….Emanuel Cleaver thanks you.

MORE:

Debbie Van Pelt McEnroe from the Lee’s Summit Trib:

It’s not over until it’s over. I interviewed someone at the Kansas City Election Board tonight. Missouri’s Centralized Voter Registration system was down (statewide) from 7:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. today. So, if someone wasn’t on the roles, the poll workers either sent them to the election board or gave them a provisional… ballot. They have 2 weeks to get those in to Sec. of State. Who knows what untrained election workers did in these cases?

UPDATE:

Final results have changed:

Cleaver (Incumbent)	101,076	53%
Turk	84,415	44%

UPDATE:

Allen West wins in Florida.

Pat Toomey wins in PA.

New Black Panther To Philly Voter: “Quit F*cking With Me, Or You’re Going To Get What You’re Going To Get”

Via Greg Hengler: Black Panthers At Same Polling Place & Still Threatening!

Lesson from 2008…..NOT LEARNED.

Thank you Obama Justice department.