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Alissa Jesle: I Went to Glenn Beck’s Restoring Honor Rally
It was like people were camping out for a concert. Blankets, coolers, lawn chairs, reading by flashlight. People had staked out their spaces 10 hours before an event. They weren’t there for Lady Gaga or Madonna. They were there for political rock stars Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin and Saturday’s Restoring Honor Rally in Washington, D.C.
Walking around the Lincoln Memorial at midnight and seeing people ready for a rally that wouldn’t start for 10 more hours floored me! I couldn’t believe people were already there. My friends and I debated about getting there around 4 a.m. to beat the Metro and bus traffic but sleep won out and we got to the rally an hour before it started.
The streets were crazy busy. People wore Restoring Honor T-shirts — Faith, Hope and Charity shirts with Sam Adams, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin under those respective titles. It was nice seeing the Founding Fathers making a comeback.
Faith, Hope and Charity are themes woven through Beck’s television show but at this rally Faith took center stage. It was about turning back to God who gives us our rights, not the government. Our Declaration of Independence says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Part of the Restoring Honor event was renewing faith in God or risk losing our liberties.
Three people were singled out for the values of Faith, Hope and Charity. The Rev. C.L. Jackson was presented with the Faith merit medal. Albert Pujols, the St. Louis Cardinals superstar introduced by manager Tony La Russa, was given the Hope merit medal. Receiving the Charity merit medal was philanthropist Jon Huntsman Sr., who has given billions of dollars to charities, including those for cancer research, domestic violence shelters and homeless shelters.
The Restoring Honor Rally was not political, but there was a general frustration over the current Congress and the Obama administration among the crowd and myself, especially with the continuing expansion of government, rising unemployment and ballooning debt. The rally was also not about Beck, Palin, Republicans, Democrats, or the Tea Party. This rally was about Honor. Period. Honor to our troops and veterans. Honor to our freedoms. Honor to God. Honor to the Constitution. Honor for our country.
The Lincoln Memorial area was packed. I met up with a friend from Minnesota and her friends. We weren’t near any JumboTrons or speakers but it didn’t matter. My friend and I walked within the crowd to see and hear the event. For me, it was about being part of a moment in history, gathering with people who want to restore America. The Restoring Honor event to me was a celebration of the freedoms and choices that are available to all of us, courtesy of our noble heroes. I don’t like crowds and yet there I was smack in the middle of between 300,000 and 600,000 people. But I wasn’t anxious. I was with people who weren’t angry but rejoicing in the day. The weather was perfect, the speeches were inspiring, and I had a goosebumps moment when I got to the top of the Memorial to look out across the National Mall. Talk about amazing! It was so awesome seeing such a massive group assembling peacefully. It was a moment when I felt so blessed to be an American.
An interesting thing about this event was there were no signs of any kind. NOT ONE SIGN! The crowd was made up families, couples, singles, old, young, black and white coming together to send a message to Washington, D.C., that we didn’t like that our country was going down a road that our Founding Fathers never intended for us to be on.
Although people focus on the fact that Beck organized the event and that Palin spoke at it, the rally was also sponsored by the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. SOWF is devoted to providing a college education to every child who has lost a parent while serving in Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps Special Operations during an operational or training mission. So while people rail against Beck, Palin and the event, it was also a way of honoring our military. From this rally alone, $5.5 million was raised, money that will go to SOWF and help those children whose parents made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and freedoms. (Click here to make a donation to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.)
Marcus Luttrell, a Navy Seal petty officer first class and Afghanistan War hero; James “Eddie” Wright, a retired Marine sergeant and Bronze Star recipient; and retired Air Force Col. Tom Kirk, Vietnam veteran and a prisoner of war for five years, were all greeted with chants of “USA, USA, USA!”
One Minnesota attendee told me, “I wish more Americans would honor our troops and military like this event.”
Palin said to the enthusiastic crowd, “Not fundamentally transform America as some would want but we must restore America and restore her honor.”
The Rev. Alveda King, niece of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., spoke about rebuilding and uniting America.
“We are united by one race, the human race,” she said. “We are one human family. We must not oppress each other but help those who are oppressed.”
Going to the Restoring Honor Event was a fantastic decision. I wanted to be part of a rally where I could stand among others who believe that America is the greatest nation on Earth, no apologies. I want children to live the lives they want without being a slave to the government or the federal debt.
I would say most of the crowd believed in God, and we prayed for those who served and are serving our country. A special mention to those who served in the Vietnam War brought applause and, as a daughter of a Marine who almost died fighting in Vietnam, it was especially touching.
There was a sense of patriotic camaraderie I felt that day. Looking over my video I’m happily astounded by the hundreds of thousands of people who came together waving their flags, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing the National Anthem. I have true hope for our country and the freedom to stand up for an America where government is not the answer to our problems.
My friend, Linda, said she “would like Glenn Beck to have this event every year.”
The people at the Restoring Honor Rally were so nice. They shared taxis with us. Complete strangers talked to me. They shared their bottled water and said “excuse me” and “thank you.” People picked up after themselves when the rally was over. I was amazed at the huge commitment so many people made to being at this event. I spoke with people from California, Florida, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Texas.
I attended this rally with Linda and her friends. I loved that I could hang out with people who I never met before, and have a fabulous time all because we were at a rally celebrating the greatness of America.
Restoring Honor was about individual responsibility, and not looking to the government to take care of us but helping those who are in need because we want to and believe it’s the right thing to do. It was not a negative rally about what’s wrong with America; it was about what’s possible for America.
For me, I believe in the greatness and exceptionalism of our country. I believe in our troops and veterans. I have faith that America’s best days are not behind her. I have hope that the phrase “We the People” will no longer be a slogan on a T-shirt or a talking point but a call to action, a new and improved way of governing regardless of political party. If this Restoring Honor Rally is any indication, I can see November from the Lincoln Memorial.
— Alissa Jesle is a Santa Barbara native, sports nut and former TV reporter.
Comments
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» on 08.30.10 @ 07:08 PM
Sorry, but you’re brainwashed. Where were you when the previous president got us into two unfunded wars and ran the country’s economy into the ditch?
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» on 08.30.10 @ 10:10 PM
I honestly don’t get this rally. If I want religious advice and inspiration I go to my priest not Glenn Beck. May I respectfully suggest that next year instead of flying to Washington you donate the funds to a local homeless shelter or your favorite local cause. That is where faith, hope and charity are truely found.
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» on 08.31.10 @ 06:08 AM
Get this woman a uniform. She deserves the right to serve her country on the front lines. Her hundreds of thousands turned out to be around 80,000, the normal size crowd on the mall any weekend. I particularly glad she was able to separate those who she identifies with, those “who love their country” and the rest of us. Please…
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» on 08.31.10 @ 07:04 AM
I agree with the above commenters.
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» on 08.31.10 @ 07:37 AM
“Not one sign”?! Please tell us what kind of police-state tactics were used to conceal protesters from public view. No wonder this wasn’t called the “restoring freedom of speech” rally. I am sure that rally-goers are God-fearing, America-loving, nice, polite folks, as you say, but Glenn Beck is a racist, homophobic demagogue who will continue to rankle his followers’ basest instincts for his own political and pecuniary gain.
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» on 08.31.10 @ 07:48 AM
Crowd estimates are about 87,000 plus/minus 9,000 from aerial photo. It is a shame that there is so much misinformation in this country that will end up hurting this country even more if believed.
“CBO Data Show Tax Cuts Have Played Much Larger Role than Domestic Spending Increases in Fueling the Deficit” http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=966
It was the last administration that drove the country into the ditch and if those policies had been continued, the country would have gone over the cliff. The bailout happened at the end of the last administration, when the country was losing 700,000 jobs a month. That loss has stopped and even reversed, to the point where this administration has created more jobs (about 3 million) than the last admin did in 8 years (about 1 million).
Graphs of interest:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/speakerpelosi/4691566101/in/set-72157623367757714/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/speakerpelosi/4866883298/in/set-72157623367757714/
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» on 08.31.10 @ 07:55 AM
Come on people, please practice tolerance. Isn’t that what you preach all the time?
Remember what Hillary said, dissent is patriotic.
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» on 08.31.10 @ 08:10 AM
The first three comments pretty much sum it up.
Dismissing
Attacking
Mocking.
About all that is available to you when logic and reason are gone. It doesn’t matter who put on the rally, if the message insists on personal responsibility WITH accountablity it angers those who want Big Brother to “make me happy and make the bad man go away.” It’s just the slow deliberate march to a better country.
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» on 08.31.10 @ 08:10 AM
You say this was not political and end with a comment about November.
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» on 08.31.10 @ 08:14 AM
“...who believe that America is the greatest nation on Earth, no apologies.” I see, so American has never made a mistake or done anything it should apologize for? Or it has but shouldn’t apologize? If humility is a virtue, why shouldn’t our country be humble? Not being able to apologize is usually considered a character flaw, meaning our country is not great if it can’t apologize. Pride, arrogance and ignorance are usual reasons for not apologizing and not associated with true greatness. I wouldn’t apologize for our countries greatness, I would apologize for our countries pride, arrogance and ignorance.
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» on 08.31.10 @ 08:21 AM
Line up white people! Rev. Beck has some Kool-Aide for you. Find a nice place to lay down and enjoy the rest of your day.
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» on 08.31.10 @ 08:22 AM
I think it’s great that folks who pride themselves on their independent thinking can all get together and experience the joys of GroupThink just for one weekend. Ms. Jesle got to discover some of the allure of collectivist thought that a (now mostly dead) generation of Germans went for, and a generation of aging Chinese, Cubans and even American Woodstockers still remember. But it really is poison in large doses; you’ve got to stand back and think about what’s been said, even if it was all wrapped up in religion and patriotism.
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» on 08.31.10 @ 08:25 AM
You all just don’t get it. Forget about Palin, Beck and Bush. This is bigger and more noble than that. This is about getting back to the founding principles and ideals that made America a unique and successful experiment in freedom and democracy. Go rent the DVD “John Adams” starring Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney. Its not about Republican or Democrat successes or failures. Live in a country where freedom doesn’t exist and where fear, censorship and over-taxation is the norm, and you will understand why everyone has been flooding to America for the last 250 years. If we don’t correct the path we are on, we will loose what makes our country great. You will eventually even loose the right to speak freely in blogs like this. “Don’t Tread On Me!” was the cry of resistance to British repressive acts in Colonial America. And as American citizens, it should be our cry now.
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» on 08.31.10 @ 08:47 AM
Excuse me, Ms. Jesle, but dissent will only be tolerated when a Republican is in the White House. How dare you imply that Dear Leader has not united our country and restored our standing around the world. He will be the first to tell you that He has.
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» on 08.31.10 @ 08:55 AM
You say this was not political and end with a comment about November.
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» on 08.31.10 @ 09:09 AM
“clover” stated: “It was the last administration that drove the country into the ditch and if those policies had been continued, the country would have gone over the cliff.”
While it’s correct that the financial problems started DURING the last administration it is NOT correct that the administration caused it. In fact the administration tried to reign in the policies at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that encouraged people to get loans which they could not afford and Barnie Frank, Chris Dodd, Maxine Waters, others in CONGRESS would not allow it.
So the financial meltdown can be attributed to Congress, not the administration. Go back and check the facts.
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» on 08.31.10 @ 09:36 AM
Signs were prohibited at this event for a reason, because they would reveal what the audience really believes.
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» on 08.31.10 @ 10:34 AM
It’s always nice to see comments about a rally from folks who did not attend. I’m sure they know exactly what was said. Those who did not attend are probably also unaware that over 100 clergy including Reverends, Priests, Imams, Rabbis, etc. were on the stage with every speaker through the entire 3 hour event. The theme of the rally was Hope, Faith, and Charity. Geez, that does sound disgusting and divisive, and politically motivated doesn’t it? The message was to lead your life with conviction no matter what religion you practice. What’s wrong with encouraging someone to live their life with grace and dignity, and making hard decisions and sacrifices for the betterment of yourself, your family, and your country? Am I a wacko because I believe you reap what you sow? I live a productive and responsible life and think others should too. Is that also wrong? I’ll never understand why some American’s think they need government to improve their lot in life. If you are too stupid to make good decisions, you deserve the consequences. If you are afraid of working hard, you don’t deserve the finer things in life. I was by no means born into a wealthy family. My parents were divorced and my family was dysfunctional at best. My sister and I are the only people in our family to attend college (mother & fathers sides including aunts, uncles, and cousins). I’ve had a job since I was 15 years old. I graduated salutatorian of my high school class. I didn’t get a full ride to college so I’m still paying off student loans today. I persevered and so can you!! All it takes is conviction and hard work.
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» on 08.31.10 @ 01:24 PM
Man, are people on the left ever angry. They seem to be very intolerant as well. They do not like Christians, Jews or Muslims. They hate white people. They are heterophobes. They do not believe in self reliance or personal freedom. They love slavery but only if it is government run.
So when a few hundred thousand people show up for a rally about restoring honor (which they obviously find offensive) their hatred, narrow mindedness and intolerance really pours out. Nice display from the liars who want you to believe they are the compassionate and tolerant ones.
Ok I’m sorry, maybe liberal/progressives are tolerant. They tolerate violence, but only that committed by radical Muslims. They tolerate crime, but only that committed by illegal immigrants who become identity thieves and drug runners. They tolerate theft, but only that committed by national government and more specifically democrats in national government. They tolerate religious oppression, but only toward those nasty Christians. They tolerate censorship, but only censorship of opposing ideas. They tolerate self destructive behavior, but only that committed by a liberal/progressive.
Ok so maybe they are tolerant after all, huh?
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» on 08.31.10 @ 07:05 PM
Who else commenting here was at the rally besides Ms. Jesle? Thought so. I for one can’t comment on what went on there because I wasn’t there. I also can’t comment on what was said because aside from a few snippets on the news, I didn’t hear it.
What I can say is this: Why is it when someone has something good happen in their life and they share it, a whole troop of naysayers come out of the woodwork to malign them? So they didn’t have signs. Who cares? So there were more than tens of thousands that showed up. Who cares?
The degree of vitriol and intellectual dishonesty displayed on this thread is embarrassing to say the least. Give it a rest, will ya? Ms. Jesle had a good time and experienced a meaningful event in her life. Good for her. I just wish a few other people would go out and do the same.
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» on 08.31.10 @ 09:41 PM
I was at the rally as was my wife, our daughter and grandson. The rally was uplifting and focused on God, which apparently is offensive to so many. Over time, God-fearing Americans have turned our backs on the “little” changes that have slowly eroded the principles and foundations that made our country great. We must stand up now and fight to get back to where we were as a nation ... or else we will not have a country to fight for. There were no signs at the rally, just by a few ignorant few outside the rally.
“The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and judgment to a electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a symptom of what ails America. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama; it is less likely to survive those who made him their president.”
It is up to the American people to limit the folles of any person who is willing to destroy the foundations of our society. The so-called leadership of our Presidents and Congress have taken us down the wrong road ... and it is up to all of us to heed the call of the 8.28 rally. We must take our country back.
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» on 09.01.10 @ 06:42 AM
It is interesting to note the number of people who are so filled with hatred towards anything done by anyone other than a democrat. Read the comments by those who are against the rally that earned 5.5 million for the wounded warriors and honored our country and faith in God.
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» on 09.01.10 @ 06:54 AM
Ahhh…. Mr.CDickinson , if only you would heed your own words. I will wait a while more to defend or condemn the tenure of President Obama. Meanwhile , you and those who think like you , need a dose of introspect .
You cite the danger of a citizenry capable of electing “a man like him ” . This comment begs the question - what made the you think that a man like George Bush was worth your vote? Did you stop to evaluate his record as a businessman? Did you pay attention to his environmental misdeeds as Governor of Texas. Did you stop to consider his earlier personal life follies?
Beck / Palin followers need to ditch the holier than thou preachings and ask themselves about their own roles in creating so many of todays problems .
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» on 09.01.10 @ 08:05 AM
So now we go spinning off into the Neverland of insults and irrationality.
An un-attributed quote is thrown out, part of which says: “The Republic can survive a Barack Obama; it is less likely to survive those who made him their president”
This begs some questions:
1) Who said this?
A minute of research online leads back to Sean Hannity who attributes it to a translation from a Czech newspaper (Prager Zeitung of 29 April 2010). Was it an editorial or a letter to the editor or does it exist in reality at all? And why do conservative politicos who dismiss European criticism of Republican policies impute great value to this one?
The passage has several permutations that have circulated on right-wing websites and emails, some of which refer to the President of the United States as “merely a fool” or as “the prince of fools”.
I visited the website of the newspaper and found nothing there that seemed to correlate with the quote. Maybe someone with more time should do a more thorough search. Anyway, at the moment I am left to wonder who wrote this, really? Of course the knee-jerk response will be that the value is in the content and not in the authorship. So…
2) What does this long quote mean? Since Obama won the election by about 10 million popular votes and more than doubled McCain’s electoral college total, does this passage mean that the nearly sixty-nine million voters who selected “a man like him” (what IS “a man like him”) are all enemies of the Republic and ought to be disqualified from voting next time around? That seems to be the inference.
Me, I think that people who support candidates based on their religious beliefs are the voters who represent the greatest threat to America.
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» on 09.01.10 @ 09:03 AM
what is wrong with all you Liberal Democrats, this was not about Politics!
This was about LOVE!
This was about FREEDOM! The Freedom to live your own life without the Government telling us what to DO! This is about listening to Glen Beck telling us what to do! um, i mean God!
If you’re not with us, then you are against us!
It’s not about Politics, it’s about what happens next November. (i think that means Thanksgiving)
It’s about White People standing up for their rights!
It’s about protecting our children against the dangers of Gay People getting married!
It’s about HONOR.
It’s about restoring Freedom Fries back in the Congressional cafeteria!
Now let’s just move forward, and on to the BAN on GAY MARRIAGE RALLY!
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» on 09.01.10 @ 09:16 AM
Good one, FREEDOM. I’m surprised nobody mentioned that Beck organized his rally on the anniversary of MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech, and at the location of the speech. But Beck denies that was his intent. Pure coincidence he says. Ridiculous I say.
I say to the author and Mr. Dickinson: Please practice whatever religion you want. I defend your right to do so fully. But, please don’t let your religious beliefs spill over into the legislation and policies of our government. THAT is what the rest of us don’t support.
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» on 09.01.10 @ 10:39 AM
Well, i DID have a dream…
a dream of a world where the Government OF the people, a Government FOR the people,
a government that asks it’s people to give the greatest sacrifice, also had the strength and ability to pay them for it.
Has it occurred to Beck that the Military is part of our Government?
and that the only way the Government can pay it’s employees, including the Soldiers, is thru taxation?
and perhaps the payment of those giving the most, those who have made the greatest sacrifice for our country, shouldn’t be left to Charity?
perhaps it shouldn’t be left to the Hope that Mr Beck might donate one of his Rolex’s?
Perhaps those very soldiers, who consist of various religions, or sometimes no religion, deserve more than Glen’s Charity…
Let them eat Cake!
oh, wait… this wasn’t political, SORRY!!!
I urge ALL of you compassionate 80,000 strong faithful Christians to remain non-political!
Stay home this November, and PRAY for the rest of us!
Have Faith in your leadership!
And donate all your Charitable contributions to the IRS so we can pay for the highways, clean water, and the military!
maybe you could slice off just a little for me… I’m just saying… like 2%... seriously… who’s gonna miss it?
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» on 09.01.10 @ 11:05 AM
Once again the GOP uses God to win elections. The people who belong to God’s special club bring us Glen Beck now. Alissa, I guess, as a representative of God and Beck tells us why we should vote for the GOP.
Really tricky writer - veiling the obvious GOP rhetoric with the usual “honoring” of faith, hope, and charity while literally using the “Mall” as a backdrop.
If the GOP had their “Tea Party” ways, there wouldn’t be a mall because “tax payers” dollars were used to build it. And isn’t that the “expansion” of big government.
I could go on and on - seriously folks, “If it walks like a duck…”
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» on 09.01.10 @ 11:20 AM
Alissa, the minute I saw the title of your article I knew that the reaction would be a veritable onslaught of verbal insults, implied violence, all the while while trying to mock you and those who have a dream like you…and yet, Alissa, through all that vacant vitriol, hatred, and self loathing; one thing really stands out (and this really pisses them off) - the message from last Saturday drowns out the small minded screaming so aptly represented by Voice of Reason, sbtwo, 2centsplain, sbpat, CoolerHeadsPrevail, clover, CWMoss, Ezzyme, BUFF, AHamilton, PGL, David Pritchett, GeeWillikersWally, and passing-by. They are sad lost souls. You have triumphed. I’m glad you made it to the event, it was truly an historical watershed.
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» on 09.01.10 @ 02:50 PM
I never said I fully supported G.W. Bush, in fact there were quite a few things that he did that I very much disapproved. My statement was “The so-called leadership of our Presidents and Congress have taken us down the wrong road ... and it is up to all of us to heed the call of the 8.28 rally. We must take our country back.” This includes Democrats and Republicans alike that are turning away from what our founding fathers fought. There’s a reason why Bush’s numbers tanked and there’s a reason why Obama’s are falling fast now.
I refuse to get into a tit for tat argument about specific candidates - I do believe that we cannot spend our way out of debt like the Democratic leaders believe is necessary. Bush spent way too much money, but Obama has only increased this trend. We can’t continue as a country with either.
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» on 09.01.10 @ 05:48 PM
One reason why so many are a bit, uh, skeptical about Glenn Beck and Fox News etc. is because of deliberate disinformation like this, where Beck told his crowd and TV audience that he personally held a document by George Washington.
As widely reported today via the article linked below, that imagined stunt by Beck did not happen, and he lied. Period.
If fans of Beck et al. want to call me or others “haters” or whatever because we point out simple facts like this, feel free to do so, anonymously if you like. But do know that facts are stubborn things, and one is not entitled to one’s own facts because it makes a nice story.
LINK
http://motherjones.com/politics/2010/08/glenn-beck-george-washington-restoring-honor
EXCERPT
Holding out his hands for emphasis, he declared with emotion, “I went to the National Archives, and I held the first inaugural address written in his own hand by George Washington.“Beck did receive a special VIP tour of the archives, arranged by an as-yet unidentified member of Congress. During that tour, he did get a peek inside the “legislative vault,” which isn’t open to ordinary visitors. But Archives spokeswoman Susan Cooper insists that Beck didn’t lay a finger on any precious documents, much less George Washington’s inaugural address. That would be a major violation of policy. “Those kinds of treasures are only handled by specially trained archival staff,” she explains.
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» on 09.01.10 @ 05:52 PM
I really enjoyed your article, and I’m so glad you had a good time at the Restoring Honor Rally. I really wish I could have gone, but I did get to watch on C-SPAN and I was really moved that 300,000-500,000 people (actual numbers) flocked to D.C. because they believe in something more for this great nation!
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» on 09.01.10 @ 07:07 PM
It was a great event. Thanks for sharing. Petry is right, the naysayers comments are hollow and show how vacant their beliefs are.
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» on 09.01.10 @ 09:35 PM
@ Art So many Republicans devotedly supporting their corporate masters. Greed and credit default swaps and corruption caused the meltdown.
“Specifically, the court indicated that the following claims could proceed:
Securities fraud claims against Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and their respective CEOs, Ken Lewis and John Thain, for alleged misstatements related to the failure to disclose the agreement to pay up to $5.8 billion in discretionary bonuses, and against Ken Lewis and Bank of America for alleged omissions related to the bonus arrangement.
False proxy statement claims against Ken Lewis, John Thain, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and certain Bank of America directors about the bonus arrangement.”
etc.
“The Securities and Exchange Commission in June filed a civil lawsuit against former Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo and two other top executives at the bank. The SEC alleges the three misled investors by claiming the mortgage company underwrote loans to folks who had good credit scores and the ability to afford down payments, shielding investors from the knowledge the company was also doling out the riskier subprime loans to borrowers. Mozilo also faces SEC charges of insider trading with Countrywide stock. That trial is set for October.
As for the criminal investigation, there’s still time. The statue of limitations doesn’t run out for several more years.
See full article from DailyFinance: http://srph.it/ab489u “
just for starters. And Mozilo only made about $120 million.
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» on 09.01.10 @ 11:18 PM
I know the bottom feeders are out when their comments have absolutely nothing to do with the article. Bye bye.
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» on 09.01.10 @ 11:31 PM
Let me see. Who would I prefer to stand next to in a rally in D.C. 500,000 people that have a positive vision of this country, and actually clean up after themselves. Or a low life race baiter whose real claim to fame are things like T. Brawley. Not only did Brawley recant, but one of the two men originally accused of the rape committed suicide because he felt that he would never be able to clear his name. Mr. Pagones, the other man falsely accused, later sued Sharpton and won a settlement which Sharpton never paid. Not only a low life race baiter but a deadbeat too.
And let’s not forget the numerous people who died when a New York City boutique was set on fire after Sharpton made some false statements about its ownership. All of those were innocent people, too. That’s quite a body count. Not quite 500,000 but I’m sure Voice of Reason, sbtwo, 2centsplain, sbpat, CoolerHeadsPrevail, clover, CWMoss, Ezzyme, BUFF, AHamilton, PGL, David Pritchett, GeeWillikersWally, passing-by, and our resident oxymoron progressive patriot have no problem with that.
I think I’ll hang with real Americans, and Alissa, not some media clown or.
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» on 09.02.10 @ 12:05 AM
» David Pritchett on 09.01.10 @ 05:48 PM
He lied? Really? You were there and witnessed what occurred? Oh, it’s Mother Jones reporting comments by a spokesperson who’s job it is to protect somebody’s job. Who to believe?
Let’s see ... MJ has been spewing garbage for years. Glenn Beck, from what I’ve seen, is pretty much hitting his mark every time. Who to believe? Yes, I’m skeptical. If that’s the best you’ve got, please try again, because you missed your mark.
Anyway, this article was about a lady who enjoyed herself at a rally in Wash D.C. and experienced something memorable to her. She shared her story with us. Nowhere in the story did I see a “let’s bash Beck” sign anywhere. Nor did I see any signs indicating that we “bash Bush,” “bash conservatives,” “bash the Tea Party,” or any other group of people. Must have missed that. <sarcasm off>
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» on 09.02.10 @ 12:36 AM
Man, Charlene, what did I ever say that would get me classified as a Sharpton lover?! The guy’s nothing more than a con man and race-baiting thug with blood on his hands. Although I do miss the days when he sported the flowing mane and the velour warmup suits with the Mercedes-Benz medallion draped from his neck.
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» on 09.02.10 @ 05:54 AM
» socaljay on 09.02.10 @ 12:05 AM
» David Pritchett on 09.01.10 @ 05:48 PM
“He lied? Really? You were there and witnessed what occurred? Oh, it’s Mother Jones reporting comments by a spokesperson who’s job it is to protect somebody’s job. Who to believe?”
There is video tape of the event, and it shows that Beck said he “held” GW’s inaugural address. National Archives report that he was shown the document but was not allowed to handle that; only trained staff do that.
He was also wrong on the historical facts about the construction of the Washington Monument.
Facts don’t matter when the world is edited to fit ideology.
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» on 09.02.10 @ 07:44 AM
Curious, no one has taken exception to my post on character but I’ve been stereotyped with the liberal fanatics. I guess fanatic patriots who believe that fundamentally a country must be based on character are still offended when their hypocrisy is pointed out.
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» on 09.02.10 @ 08:11 AM
@ ggomez. I feel for you because you will never understand what that event was. It confuses and scares you. So as the infantile lib your are, you lash out like your brethren, thinking that by doing so you diminish what was a magnificent gathering of Americans. You are like the wind, always blowing, never knowing your place in the world, you have no “home”. It’s sad.
Let me wade into your attempt to deflect the conversation while you ignore that what was the actual meaning. Confusing statement eh? Anyway. Beck’s statement that has you in such apoplectic fits that he “held” the documents in his hands is a literary metaphor. He didn’t “hold” the actual paper in his hands. After the restoration project in 2001 the documents are displayed under tight controls under environmental glass…you can actually “put” your hands on them through the glass but it is by invitation only, that’s good because I imagine you would spit on them.
Now as for the Washington Monument.
The original design competition was won by Robert Mills in 1836. The committee then raised over $80,000 for its construction – all by individual donations. Due to vandalism and theft contributions and the increasing tensions leading up to the civil war construction ceased till after the war. It began again in 1876 and then finished.
Facts don’t matter when the world is edited to fit ideology.
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» on 09.02.10 @ 08:13 AM
No Ezzyme, we just don’t think you make any sense. That’s our response to you.
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» on 09.02.10 @ 08:26 AM
But let’s exam a quote attributed to Glenn Beck at the rally:
“The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and judgment to a electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a symptom of what ails the US of A. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama; it is less likely to survive those who made him their president.”
Wow! Half the country is hell bent on destroying the very foundation of our Republic! Worse, half our country is fundamentally corrupt! I’m sure (from my observations of Mr. Beck only and not from empirical evidence) that he believes this is not from mal intent, but he implies ignorance. This half of the country doesn’t have any common sense or ability to effectively consider the information before them, the circumstances of their lives, the circumstances of the country, and the potential effects of their actions (judgement.) Nothing like saying half the people in the country are the enemy and you are special because you understand this. What to do about this other half of the country? Re-educate them? Shoot the ones that can’t be re-educated? “We must do everything necessary to save this Republic!”
So this wasn’t a political rally. No Obama bashing? This quote implies that he is just about the worst thing that could happen to our country, but we will survive him. There is an assumption here that everyone Mr. Beck is talking to also believes this. Why do so many people literally hate President Obama? Is it because he’s a liberal? I don’t recall anyone comparing President Clinton to Hitler yet President Clinton was an unabashed liberal, trying desperately at the beginning of his Presidency to pass universal health care, something that even President Obama may not have accomplished with the health care reform act. Could it be that despite what I believe are huge gains in a color blind society, a large proportion of our citizens, consciously or unconsciously, are offended by a half black, half white person speaking to them from behind the president’s desk in the oval office? And herein lies the opportunity for profiteering, panderering, rabble rousing propagandists like Mr. Beck, Mr. Hannity, Mr. Ales, and Mr. Murdoch. Now Mr. Beck is dipping into the coffers of religion as well.
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» on 09.02.10 @ 08:28 AM
“» Charlene Davis on 09.02.10 @ 08:13 AM
No Ezzyme, we just don’t think you make any sense. That’s our response to you.”
I see, you don’t have the ability to understand.
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» on 09.02.10 @ 08:51 AM
Reading these comments makes me wonder about how we come to the conclusions we do.
Some hate Bush because of the ditch he drove us into - but I often wonder how 9/11 impacted our economy.. if we think about the financial impact of that day and consider the cause and effect of those towers coming down, we can begin to discover the impacts - from lost income, to lost lives - from crashed airliners, to 2 major buildings completely destroyed - from small companies surrounding the buildings, to large companies stopped dead in their tracks… many have never recovered and never will.
How about all of the new laws and regulations put in to place as a result of that day, what has that cost our nation?
What would happen if we all took the time to think about this one day and the impact on our nation - how we are impacted today, and we can begin to see how that day send our country through a new door - which is leading us to a new place we have never been before.
Alissa’s story of going to a rally, in an effort to renew her faith in what she believes and THINKS is something that should give us all pause, when is the last time we have stopped to reflect on our life and the life of our Country?
What would happen if we quit tearing one another down and began to build one another up - share an encouraging thought instead of resorting to our lower human nature of ripping up a person who is seeking truth?
This author clearly has a larger world view than those who have little regard for her journey and so resort to name calling and tearing down?
What would happen if we all took a little time to stop and think and consider the big picture?
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» on 09.02.10 @ 08:57 AM
Nope.
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» on 09.02.10 @ 09:09 AM
Actually I feel duped and regret that I voted for this Manchurian candidate. I, like so many of my friends that voted for him, now realize that he and his sycophants totally lied about who he was. Their goal was no matter what lie had to be told get him in the WH. There is no excuse for us not doing the research that was easily available to us. His true nature was always there we just got lazy. I apologize to those I ignored who were trying to show me the truth. Believe me if we knew who he was there would not be this aberation in the White House. Thank God we’ll correct it in November.
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» on 09.02.10 @ 09:41 AM
Ezzyme, half of that half recognize they made a mistake. They realize it now and will correct it in November as well as 2012. Unlike you hard-line fanatic liberal/progressives most of the rest of us vote our beliefs and convictions and don’t give a rip about party loyalty.
Many of you on the left call bragging rights to tolerance, open mindedness and fairness but only pay it lip service. Your despicable vitriol filled comments here show your glaring hypocrisy. As I stated earlier sarcastically, you only believe in tolerance when it suits your ideology. Your minds are as close as any racist, homophobe bigot when someone does not hold your point of view and fairness is some fantasy that exists when you get what you want at someone else’s expense.
Most of the leftist comments here show a deep seated emotional disconnect from reality, almost like a spoiled teenager who is denied permission to use dad’s car for a date. You pout, cry, scream, slam doors and call everyone not agreeing with you every dirty name in the book. Calm down. This woman went to a very positive rally even if it was held by someone you dislike very much.
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» on 09.02.10 @ 10:07 AM
@ letsthink - I couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately there are some that are beyond compromise. Too polarized and a paradigm shift has to reset things.
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» on 09.02.10 @ 02:31 PM
Facts remain stubborn things. Does someone really believe this event and speeches were not recorded on video? And does someone really believe that this story all over the TV news a couple of days ago was not true because the source is Mother Jones magazine?
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» on 09.02.10 @ 03:07 PM
Talk about a distortion of a comment ...
» Ezzyme on 09.02.10 @ 08:26 AM
But let’s exam a quote attributed to Glenn Beck at the rally:
“The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and judgment to a electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a symptom of what ails the US of A. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama; it is less likely to survive those who made him their president.”
This was NEVER a quote at the rally. It was comment from an unattributed quote I received in an email PRIOR to the rally. The point of adding this quote is to illustrate that electing someone like Obama even though he has so many close ties to anti-American and anti-Capitalist individuals speaks loudly about how the people in this country have completely lost touch with what our founding fathers fought for.
In the name of fairness to all, we have tossed aside many freedoms we took for granted. Are we a better nation? Certainly not. The rally was founded on FAITH, HOPE and CHARITY - it was about building solidarity and cultural confidence in America, its Constitution, its military heritage, its freedom. If that is offensive to anyone, then I suggest you find another country.
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» on 09.02.10 @ 06:33 PM
Obama is a tool of the rich oligarchs and corporate interests just like most of the politicians in both parties. That he’s considered a liberal, let alone a communist, shows how distorted the entire discourse is.
As to Mr. Beck’s rally, here is a wonderful video that examines the beliefs of some of those in attendance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht8PmEjxUfg
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» on 09.02.10 @ 06:57 PM
» David Pritchett on 09.02.10 @ 02:31 PM
——————-
Facts remain stubborn things. Does someone really believe this event and speeches were not recorded on video? And does someone really believe that this story all over the TV news a couple of days ago was not true because the source is Mother Jones magazine?
———————
David, you completely missed the point, but I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Anybody anywhere can find a person who will say what they want to hear to make their point. The fact is that you weren’t there, yet you speak as if you were. What you know is hearsay, that’s it.
My grandfather used to tell me, “Believe nothing that you hear, and only half of what you see. Because even if you see it, you only know half the story.” That seems fitting and sage advice here. As to your argument, here’s a clue: If I hand you a document, and it’s in a plastic document holder, are you holding it? Even if you’re not touching it?
One should never let their personal bias cloud their powers of observation. All it does is make one look foolish.
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» on 09.02.10 @ 07:14 PM
» Progressive Patriot on 09.01.10 @ 09:35 PM
—————-
@ Art So many Republicans devotedly supporting their corporate masters. Greed and credit default swaps and corruption caused the meltdown.
—————-
It’s fitting that your tag isn’t Progressive “American” Patriot, because the progressive movement is as anti-American as it gets.
I think you need to go do a little homework, because you’re missing your target. Probably on purpose. According to what I’ve read lately, a growing majority of corporate interests actually lean Democrat, not Republican. Who’s in bed with Wall Street? Wasn’t it just reported that several Wall Street executives were given positions in the Obama administration?
Modern day Democrats are not of John Kennedy’s ilk, they are more than likely progressives. In addition, there are a growing number of Republicans that are adopting a progressive mentality as well. Progressive = Statist = bad for America.
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» on 09.02.10 @ 07:27 PM
» Daniel Petry on 09.02.10 @ 10:07 AM
————-
@ letsthink - I couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately there are some that are beyond compromise. Too polarized and a paradigm shift has to reset things.
————-
A good number of people refuse to accept the truth, or even worse, refuse to acknowledge that it even exists, because it’s either not convenient or doesn’t support their world view.
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» on 09.02.10 @ 10:05 PM
» Charlene Davis on 09.02.10 @ 08:11 AM “@ ggomez. I feel for you…”
I don’t think you do.
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» on 09.02.10 @ 10:23 PM
socaljay: I don’t get it.
You dismiss pritchett’s opinions because they are based on hearsay.
Then you present your own opinions based on what you have “read lately”.
So, your hearsay is better than pritchett’s hearsay, is that the deal?
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» on 09.03.10 @ 12:39 AM
» passing-by on 09.02.10 @ 10:23 PM
socaljay: I don’t get it.
You dismiss pritchett’s opinions because they are based on hearsay.
Then you present your own opinions based on what you have “read lately”.
So, your hearsay is better than pritchett’s hearsay, is that the deal?
———————
Obviously not. My comment was based on common knowledge where it’s usually not necessary to cite specific sources because there are so many sources that address the subject matter. Anyone who follows the topic could talk to the issue. I guess I could go do some quick research of credible sources, but do I really need to? Would that really make you happy? Probably not.
He, on the other hand, was citing a specific event with a specific criticism and accusation. Clearly not the same thing. And I didn’t dismiss his comment, I challenged it. When you make specific accusations, that’s normally what happens, isn’t it? My comments were general in nature and open for discussion. His were not, based on the way he presented them. But you already knew that, didn’t you?
I’d be more than happy to change my tune if Pritchett had something more than a he said, she said, scenario. Besides, dare I mention that he’s focusing on a term that’s commonly used in a general way. An example of this would be someone carrying a box with something inside, and commented that “I held it in my arms.” Much to do about nothing. I could probably find a number of things that could be commented on about the rally that were more interesting, except that I wasn’t even there, which was also my point.
My apologies if I upset your sensibilities, but it gets under my skin when people spread so much hate about people they don’t even know or have never met. It boggles the mind. Yet when someone brings up a legitimate concern, like a policy issue, oh no, they are a hater, or racist, or bigot, or some other nasty being. How dare they question the almighty one. Tell me, who is going to question our leaders, if we don’t?
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» on 09.03.10 @ 12:54 AM
TO—> » passing-by on 09.02.10 @ 10:23 PM
As a follow-up: It took all of 30 seconds to find this, and it’s months old:
Again, my point is a commonly held belief, not a direct accusation against someone. Is it that hard to tell the difference?
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» on 09.03.10 @ 04:06 AM
Watch the video:
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» on 09.03.10 @ 08:13 AM
As per socaljay: “Again, my point is a commonly held belief, not a direct accusation against someone. Is it that hard to tell the difference?”
Well, yeah.
Pritchett cites a lefty magazine with a clear political bias which quotes an administrator at the Archives as saying that Beck did not handle the document. So you conclude that the whole issue is a he-said-she-said, unsubstantiated charge. Objection: Hearsay.
You quote a conservative give-away newspaper with a clear political bias owned by a right-wing billionaire which in turn quotes Politico (another news organization with its own biases)indicating that Democrats as well as Republicans have close ties and economic relations with big business. And you conclude that the liberals are more beholden to corporate special interests than conservatives and that such fact is common knowledge. Objection: Hearsay.
You advise lefties to be more skeptical about their sources of information while you seem to have great confidence that your own third-hand conclusions are commonly held opinions. No. I still don’t get it.
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» on 09.03.10 @ 08:46 AM
Zzzzzzzzz
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» on 09.03.10 @ 09:21 AM
Socialjay just had a run of five out of seven comments. Socialjay is as persistent as a scrub jay, and just as annoying.
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» on 09.03.10 @ 10:03 AM
This may just be the longest string of comments in the history of Noozhawk. And contains some interesting lessons. Count the posts spewing vitriolic insults, hatred, putdowns, etc. and consider the political leanings of those posters. Do the same for those more interested in fact-based debate and rational discourse.
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» on 09.03.10 @ 10:49 AM
Love Glenn Beck or hate him - I think we all have to agree he has accomplished his mission, which it to get us all to think - not just accept all we read or hear - added to that, it has caused some of us who rarely ever comment to step out of or comfort zone and to speak up. Thanks NOOZHAWK for providing this save and open forum!
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» on 09.03.10 @ 11:10 AM
Nothing like Dan Petry’s article at http://www.noozhawk.com/opinions/article/010710_daniel_petry_how_progressives_killed_democracy
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» on 09.03.10 @ 11:29 AM
» passing-by on 09.03.10 @ 08:13 AM
What’s your point, really? If you look at my original comment, I said that a “spokesperson” for an organization is going to say whatever the entity wants them to say. I’ve worked for the government for 30 years, and have worked as a public affairs officer, so I know how it works.
I also pointed out that I felt Pritchett’s focusing on a hard-to-define action like “held” to accuse someone of lying is pretty weak, especially without the context of being there and witnessing the event. Maybe in Beck’s mind, his wrapping his arms around the case it was in to him was holding it? Even if it were a really important issue, the only people who know for sure are the ones who were there, which was my other point. All we really know is what people said about it.
To respond to your apparent angst, my only point was it was easy to find discussions about Democrats and Corporate America. It’s out there, all you have to do is look. Googling it comes up with more hits than I’d really care to spend the time looking into. It was not my intention to evaluate who was discussing it, as I didn’t even look, I just cut and paste the link and said, “look, thirty seconds!” I still contend that his original accusation requires facts, and my general discussion topic does not. It’s apples and oranges.
The bottom line here is Ms. Jesle wrote a really nice article on her experiences in Washington D.C. at the Restoring Honor Rally. Pritchett used it as an excuse to malign Mr. Beck, and quite frankly it got under my skin. You apparently side with Pritchett, hence your engaging me in discussing the issue. Does that about cover it? Or did you have something else in mind?
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» on 09.03.10 @ 02:05 PM
Passing by - excellent comment. I think it is all a function of the natural human tendency to fight a change of direction. Thanks.
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» on 09.03.10 @ 08:51 PM
Well, first: I am pretty sure that Petry has mistaken me for socaljay since I can’t imagine why he would be thanking me for a post.
Still, I do agree with Petry’s observation that, “I think it is all a function of the natural human tendency to fight a change of direction.” The pace of change in our current culture is unprecedented and it is a source of emotional distress for everyone. IMHO, that is a partial cause for the nasty stridency and polarization that is evident daily in the nation and this board.
As an aside, though, I will tip my hat to Petry—although I disagree with about 98% of his views and I harbor doubts about his resume, Petry does generate lots of ideas that represent his own unique point of view and he is less reliant on talking points cloned from political emails and right wing blogs than many of his cohorts.
socaljay: my point is that you have a double standard that you seem not to be unable to acknowledge. People read media sources and either believe them or discount them. When Pritchett concludes a source is credible you say he ought not to believe hearsay. When you do the same thing you say your belief is unassailable because it is common knowledge. I don’t see any difference. Each of you decides to believe whatever fits with your ideology.
As for Ms. Jesle, it is great that she enjoyed her experience and felt uplifted.
Me, I think Beck and Palin are demogogues who are cynically exploiting public frustrations and making millions of dollar in the process. I’ll bet that history bears out my viewpoint, but I know that socaljay and others will not agree.
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» on 09.03.10 @ 09:45 PM
Kudos Dan, passing-by I agree with you on some things but demagogues are not just the domain of the right. Since you acknowledge they do exist, it would do your ideology and help with a more open mind if you searched them out on your own side and recognized them there, if not for the sake of your next spar with Daniel, then at least to protect yourself from demagoguery out of the left. A good start would be our current president. No one does demagoguery like Barrack Obama, no one. Don’t take my word for it either, that opinion is coming from your fellow comrades on the left my friend.
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» on 09.04.10 @ 10:44 AM
letsthink commented:
“Love Glenn Beck or hate him - I think we all have to agree he has accomplished his mission, which it to get us all to think - ... Thanks NOOZHAWK for providing this save and open forum!”
I doubt that’s what Beck’s mission is (I’ve never met him) but I do agree with your other point: despite the occasional clouds of sock-puppets, Noozhawk is doing a terrific community service by hosting this sort of frank forum. I wonder if Noozhawk has any idea how many people are reading the threads?
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» on 09.04.10 @ 12:36 PM
Glenn Beck admits on his own radio show that he lied about holding the historic document by George Washington.
http://www.mediaite.com/online/glenn-beck-finally-admits-hes-a-liar-and-keith-olbermann-is-right/
Is this still hearsay now?
Facts remain stubborn things.
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» on 09.04.10 @ 01:30 PM
Passing-by, I don’t see how it can be a double standard since we’re comparing apples and oranges. He made a direct accusation against an individual (Beck lied), where I was making a general statement (Democrats have a dog in the corporate hunt). In my view, they a two completely different things, or I never would have brought it up in the first place.
As for Beck, I don’t need to watch his show to be convinced that something is going horribly wrong in America. I see it every day. The way people treat each other, the way people choose not to respect the laws that we have, just something as simple as drivers and traffic. Blatant violations like running traffic lights and stop signs. If Beck is using his bully pulpit to point that out, good for him.
Pritchett’s target could have been anyone, and I would have made the same comment. He was maligning someone he doesn’t know because he is in disagreement with their message. Since when, in a civil society, is that the right thing to do?
Of course, one could make the argument that we are going the way of the Romans, and will share their fate. From what I know of history, and have seen for my own eyes, I not only think it’s possible, but very probable if we keep going down the road we’re on. It’s lack of respect and tolerance that will be our undoing.
I’ll leave you with two comments. First, I disliked Bush’s policies, and I like the policies of the current administration even less. They are of the same ilk, progressive statism. Second, why do we need a federal civilian security force that’s comparable to the uniformed military? Obama has brought it up several times in speeches. What will be their function, enforcing federal law? Is it a way to circumvent Posse Comitatus? This should make every citizen worried.
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» on 09.04.10 @ 01:35 PM
Art - some facts
1. Fannie and Freddie did not cause the housing bubble. In fact, you can think of the bubble as all the money that poured into the housing market on top of their regular and continuing contributions. There’s a good chart on Page 4 of the report illustrating this:
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/26/an-autopsy-of-fannie-mae-and-freddie-mac/
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» on 09.04.10 @ 04:41 PM
Oh my God…cats and dogs raining from the sky, fire balls peppering the nation, Christians to the left of us, Christians to the right of us, darkly robed priests, rabbi’s, reverends, Imams and Baptists in front of us - standing together in an unholy alliance; Dear Leader what are we to do? Glenn Beck used a literary metaphor - will we ever recover?
Pritchett you remind of the crowd of zombies in The Mummy who were brain dead to the point they could only mutter, “Imhotep, Imhotep”, as they beat a poor person to death.” Only in your case it is “Behhck lied, Behhck lied, Behhck lied.”
Now let’s look at a true liar:
“Senator Clinton believes the only way to achieve universal health care is to force everybody to purchase it. [We disagree.]” Barack Obama. A lie.
On March 23, Obama signed the individual mandate into law.
“I want to go line by line through every item in the Federal budget and eliminate programs that don’t work, and make sure that those that do work work better and cheaper.” Lie
“Instead of allowing lobbyists to slip big corporate tax breaks into bills…we will make sure every single tax break and earmark is available to every American online.” Lie
“We can no longer accept a process that doles out earmarks…” Lie
“If your family earns less than $250,000 a year, you will not see your taxes increased a single dime. I repeat: not one single dime.” Lie
“Lobbyists won’t work in my White House!“ Lie
“I will not sign any bill without giving the American public an opportunity to review and comment on the White House website for five days.” Lie
“I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Lie
So if I gotta chose between a megalomaniac who lies by his very presence and a recovering alcoholic who uses a metaphor to make a point. I’ll take the latter.
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» on 09.05.10 @ 08:42 PM
AN50;
Am I everything you hate? Do I stand for everything you loath? Am I everything that is wrong with the US of A? Am I everyone who isn’t on your side? I am a figment of your paranoid, fear driven imagination. Booo!
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» on 09.05.10 @ 10:31 PM
Petry says: “So if I gotta chose between a megalomaniac who lies by his very presence and a recovering alcoholic who uses a metaphor to make a point. I’ll take the latter.”
Well, no, you don’t gotta choose between one man or the other. You and I might try finding some reasonable voice that does not represent the extremes of political thought.
Two problems in Mr. Petry’s post.
First, a knowing mis-statement of fact is not a literary metaphor. It is a lie. Only important because it defines the kind of guy Beck is—the kind of a guy who lies simply because it makes it “easier” to tell a store that will boost his ratings, book sales and bank accounts.
Also, Mr. Petry maintains that the President of the United States “lies by his very presence”. A nice turn of phrase that defies rational analysis. What the heck does that mean?
He provides a long list of policy statements from President Obama that Mr. Petry believes are at odds with reality followed by an accusation of treason.
No doubt lots of us are unsatisfied with the current administration for lots of different reasons. That does not make him a traitor. Certainly, Obama has said things that he has not delivered or never intended to deliver… in that regard he joins a long line of recent Presidents from both ends of the political spectrum. I’m sure we could make a long list for each one, but these come to mind pretty quickly:
“The United States does not torture people.”
“I did not have sexual relations with that woman!”
“Read my lips – No new taxes.”
“We did not—repeat did not—trade weapons or anything else for hostages in Iran; nor will we.”
“Just put ‘Jimmy Carter, Plains, Georgia’ on the envelope, and I’ll get it. I open every letter myself and read them all.”
“I am not a crook.”
“We can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Point is that Obama is a politician and politicians play politics 24/7. He’s no better nor worse in terms of honesty or ethics than any other major player in national politics including Beck and Palin – neither of whom have any sworn obligation to the public good and every motivation to increase their own finances.
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» on 09.06.10 @ 09:20 AM
Passing by, not bad for an retired spin merchant – but then you have been out of the game for a while. You give a nice amount of written misdirection, parsing, and implied falsehoods. You were evidently adequate in your prior profession. The problem is that while all Presidents lie I can say that having lived through more than eleven of them it would not be accurate to say that any of those previous gentlemen were serial frauds. As a previous poster said…Obama is a true Manchurian candidate. With Obama, my life experience tells me that when he opens his mouth I can be sure that a lie, or misdirection, will be spoken – not unlike some word smiths I have read. So yes, his mere presence is a lie. You will not convince me otherwise. I can also say that I, myself, have held the Constitution of the United States in my hand…even-though it is behind glass.
And yes, I honestly believe that Obama is a traitor and should be treated as such. But then the American people have figured that out already.
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» on 09.06.10 @ 10:20 AM
The Dems have very deliberately and very forcefully destroyed their mandate and left a number of us previous democrats behind when they were co-opted by the socialist democratic party. They are the New Domocratic Party…not my party anymore. That is why Beck’s event had thousands of Democrats attending.
The New Dems did this all on their very own, first by foisting a clearly unqualified, over-hyped (to a ridiculous extent), off-the-fringe leftist narcissist racist (why do I say “racist”? his choice of “reverend” for 20 years; the incident with the Cambridge cops; the “typical white person” statement regarding the woman who raised him; the Obama Justice Dept. dropping the Black Panther case; etc., etc., etc.) for the job of President of the United States.
Next, the Dems went about “playing deaf” in most ostentatious manner, and instead of sticking to the very dire job that was presented at hand—helping create jobs and boost the economy—the “aristocracy” instead took this “opportunity” of a downward-spiraling economy to ram through unwanted, unneeded socialist policy (never let a crisis go to waste). The misplacing of priorities was bad enough; the actual policy is damaging and anti-constitutional and horrendous.
Next, the “aristocracy” serves up the most detestable politicking disingenuous unfounded tripe, calling Americans “racist” and every other undeserved name in the book, for daring to question they the self-serving bureaucrat elitists’ brand of utterly out-of-control, over-the-top, reckless, against-the-will-of-the-people brand of governance and legislating.
The New Democrats made their own bed, cheerfully and while giving us a big “screw you America, thou unwashed rabble” as part of the bargain. Now that November approaches, they suddenly develop a sense of consequence.
Time to clean out the self-serving cozening hacks.
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» on 09.06.10 @ 02:15 PM
Passing-by, are you for real?
Though I agree that “politicians do what they do,” I refuse to buy into your plausible deniability argument. It’s simply intellectually dishonest.
More than any time I can recall, I have a deep sense of foreboding for the direction that this country is going in. It is not so much a case of disliking the president as a person. I don’t personally know him. But there are two things that he has done that disturb me greatly that you cannot explain away.
First, that he has committed fraud on the American people by convincing them that he was eligible to become President. His father was a Kenyan and British subject, meaning by birth, so is he. He is not, and never has been eligible to hold the office he is in now because he does not meet the Constitutional requirements set down in Art. II, Sect. 1, Para 5, the “Natural Born Citizen” clause. Even his own Fight the Smears website says “native” born.
Second, and more grievously in my view, is the number of people who he has placed in positions of power in his administration who clearly, by their own admission, dislike and even despise America. Many, if not all of them, are on record either lauding America’s traditional enemies, or maligning this great nation. They are now making policy that supports those beliefs. These are the people that he approved of, and surrounded himself with.
For those two reasons, if nothing else, he could be considered a traitor to this country. By his own actions, and his alone. His disdain for the Constitution is clear. He has to know, if we believe him to be a constitutional law teacher, that he knows he is not eligible. On his side is the fact that it has never been clarified by the Supreme Court. I would bet money he is counting on it to remain that way. Why else would he seal his past?
Bottom line is this: this is no normal president and it is no normal administration. When looking at balances and percentages, we have never had a federal government so radical or extreme. We have never had a federal government that was so anti-capitalist, with the smallest number of staff members that have business experience in history. That can’t bode well for our way of life.
And finally, we have never had an American president who has tried so hard to convince us that the State of Islam is our friend, not our enemy. Shar’ia law is not American law. It has no place within our borders. It is anathema to what we hold to be sacred and true. Those that follow Shar’ia law do so in violation of the tenets of our own Constitution. You cannot deny this passing-by, if you consider yourself to be a true American.
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» on 09.06.10 @ 10:11 PM
@ socaljay on 09.06.10 @ 02:15 PM
Not more birther nonsense; “pls refudiate.”
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» on 09.07.10 @ 12:10 AM
» ggomez on 09.06.10 @ 10:11 PM
Not more birther nonsense; “pls refudiate.”
@ ggomez,
Yes, that’s pretty typical. Calling someone a birther has become much like calling someone a racist. When you don’t want to discuss an issue, just start calling names.
For your information, the issue has nothing to do with where he was born. I have no doubt that he is “also” an American citizen. But what many fail to recognize is that it is an issue of allegiance. Art. II, Sect. 1, Para. 5 of the Constitution was written to ensure that our president was not legally bound to another country, whether a citizen or not.
The president has publicly stated that his father was Kenyan. Under natural law, which our Founding Fathers used to write the Constitution, that means that citizenship passes from father to son. At birth, he was automatically a Kenyan and British subject. He also qualified statutorily as an American citizen by virtue of his mother. I don’t even want to pursue a discussion about whether or not he was adopted by his stepfather in Indonesia. The water is already murky enough as it is.
Aside from that, you completely ignored my comments about who he has surrounded himself with. Doesn’t it disturb you at all? And if it doesn’t, why not?
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» on 09.07.10 @ 09:42 AM
Obama was born in Hawaii. He is an American citizen, unless you do not believe that Hawaii is a State.
His father was a foreigner, which is irrelevant, per the prior two sentences.
Get over it.
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» on 09.07.10 @ 10:29 AM
This has nothing to this great event. Stick to the theme of the article.
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» on 09.07.10 @ 10:36 AM
» David Pritchett on 09.07.10 @ 09:42 AM
Obama was born in Hawaii. He is an American citizen, unless you do not believe that Hawaii is a State.
His father was a foreigner, which is irrelevant, per the prior two sentences.
Get over it.
@Pritchett,
As I previously stated, he is indeed a American citizen, by statute. For those, like you, who are slow to comprehend, that means that it required statutory guidance to establish that fact.
As for your second comment, it doesn’t surprise me. You have already shown your penchant for ignoring facts. What could be more glaring than to declare the U.S. Constitution irrelevant? I’ve got a good paper for you to read, just in case you want more information about the subject. It was written years before the president ever came on the scene and is completely relevant to this discussion:
It has nothing to do with his citizenship. Why don’t you get over it?
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» on 09.07.10 @ 11:04 AM
Forget it Socaljay, you are now officially labeled which means no self respecting liberal will ever engage in facts with you. These people do not believe in sovereign nations and in fact believe sovereignty is the cause of all the world’s problems (you know, we want a world without borders). Of course this is completely contrary to their insistence on people maintaining their own culture within a nation state rather than assimilating into a previously existing culture. Just shows the delightful but dangerous mind of the liberal, always about what feels good, never about what actually works and man forget that what they want has already been tried, fought over and relinquished to the ash heap of history, they just think no one was smart enough to make it work before but boy they sure are, right!
Ezzyme, go take yer meds for crying out loud. No one hates you least of all me. I don’t like your stupid ideology, that is not the equivalent of hatred of you. Take it easy and go ask mom for some cookies and milk.
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» on 09.07.10 @ 11:24 AM
» Kris on 09.07.10 @ 10:29 AM
This has nothing to this great event. Stick to the theme of the article.
@Kris,
You are correct. Guilty as charged. Though I find it difficult to let certain statements stand on their own without contest.
I wish I could have gone to the event. Ms. Jesle’s description is mirrored by the numerous stories coming out of the event.
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» on 09.07.10 @ 11:53 AM
Thanks for the article. I felt great about it. And it was very telling the vitriol that came in response. Rush Limbaugh reports, wisely, that “our enemies will tell us who they fear.” And the angst that the liberals responded with was a forceful confirmation of your straight forward commentary. Thanks.
Mark King
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» on 09.07.10 @ 12:01 PM
I have been seriously reading these posts only for the past few weeks and there is a common denominator. The far left posters viciously attack anyone that disagrees with them, they then attempt to deflect the conversation from a topic they don’t like and go off on very scripted tangents. Not to say that the conservative posters don’t have similar traits but I find that the conservatives definitely try to keep the posts relevant. It’s a matter of degree with the cibservative posters far more fact based rather revisionist.
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» on 09.07.10 @ 12:24 PM
Thanks Kris, for your responsible and intelligent remarks.
Mark King
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» on 09.07.10 @ 05:17 PM
@ socaljay on 09.07.10 @ 12:10 AM
“Calling someone a birther has become much like calling someone a racist. When you don’t want to discuss an issue, just start calling names.”
I think all this birther nonsense is racist. It would not be an issue if he were white. You know it and I know it.
I don’t find the people he surrounds himself scary at all. In fact they seem a bit too mild for my taste. I find the following list of people much more dangerous to Americans, to their freedom, and to the lives and limbs of the third world poor: Henry Kissinger, James Baker, Elliot Abrams, Colin Powell, Paul Wolfowitz, John Poindexter, John Negroponte, Donald Rumsfeld, Richard Nixon, Dick Cheney, and yes, even that great communicator Ronald Reagan, to name a few.
Blah, blah, blah…
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» on 09.07.10 @ 05:28 PM
Yep, I’m one of those Mark, Kris, off on a tangent and delighting in belligerent conversation. However, I have to agree with Socaljay, that some statements just can’t (won’t) be left on the table. As much as the left loves to deflect, what I find interesting is they just manage to get themselves in deeper trouble no matter what direction they turn the conversation to. Socaljay, you illustrated that beautifully.
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» on 09.07.10 @ 06:24 PM
This is totally off the original topic, but responding to ggomez… you are so very wrong in your statement, “I think all this birther nonsense is racist. It would not be an issue if he were white. You know it and I know it.”
I am no color, meaning I don’t give two hoots what color I am because it’s so completely irrelevant.. but I would have the same “birther” issue if it were Arnold trying to take the candidacy for president.
If you are a “birther,” its a compliment. It means you are paying attention the rule of law regarding the original qualifications to the highest office in the most powerful country in the world. If we could have a president like David Palmer in 24 (minus his devious wife)I would totally dig it. Like many “white folk” I know, I really wanted to like Obama… But his actions, his lies and his qualifications speak louder than any media hype can cover up. And, I’ve been a teleprompting operator for some great talents. I know what the talking head can hide and what they can’t hide. When Obama is off-script, he speaks like a man with a chip on his shoulder and vision of change that does not have anything to do with the greatness the founding fathers created. It has to do with the celebration and empowerment of the lowest common denominator, and the enhancement of the power of government.
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» on 09.07.10 @ 07:41 PM
@ InTheMiddle on 09.07.10 @ 06:24 PM
“I am no color, meaning I don’t give two hoots what color…” Only a white person could say that. Hilarious! I don’t know if you sound more like Stephen Colbert or Rush Limbaugh. I guess you really are “InTheMiddle”. Is your first name Malcolm?
“If you are a “birther,” its a compliment….” Yeah, yeah. I know you are a patriot, so I am sure you really got out there and made some noise about Bush: “his actions, his lies and his qualifications [that spoke] louder than any media hype [could]cover up.” Oh, that was me. I must be a patriot that loves America. Imagine a liberal being like that. Can you imagine that? Try InTheMiddle, try.
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