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Czars Fell on Alabama, and Alaska, and...

Posted by CUBFAN on Thursday, August 20, 2009 12:38:36 AM

Kids, let's face it: President Obama is running a rogue administration just beyond the reach of the Congress, yet within the grasp of the Supreme Court. Question is: Who is gonna call him on it?! Just like his birth certificate ("oh, you're one of those people"), his BOGUS cabinet is running the show in a parallel universe while Barry struts around the country telepromptering us to death about health care insurance. So, you didn't get in on the Cash-for-Clunkers craze?! Well, then just scroll down the screen for a glimpse at his latest scheme: Czars-for-Zealots!!
 

List of President Obama's Czars 

(Courtesy of The Glenn Beck Program. See Obama's Czars for additional background information on each individual listed.)

NOTE: Positions that also existed under previous administrations are indicated with an *.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Afghanistan Czar - Richard Holbrooke

Title: Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Appointed: January 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: State

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. AIDS Czar * - Jeffrey Crowley

Title: Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy
Salary: $102,000
Reports to: President Obama (as part of the Executive Office of the President’s Domestic Policy Council)
Appointed: February 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Health and Human Services

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Auto Recovery Czar - Ed Montgomery

Title: Director of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Larry Summers, the president's top economic adviser, and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis
Appointed: March 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Labor

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Border Czar * - Alan Bersin

Title: Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and Special Representative for Border Affairs
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano
Appointed: April 2009
Agencies that might have handled similar issues: Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. California Water Czar - David J. Hayes

Title: Deputy Interior Secretary
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Interior Secretary Ken Salazar
Appointed: June 2009
Confirmed by Senate (as Deputy Interior Security): May 20, 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Interior

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6. Car Czar - Ron Bloom

NOTE: on July 13, 2009, Bloom took over as head of the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry, replacing Steven Rattner

Title: Counselor to the Secretary of the Treasury
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and National Economic Council head Larry Summers
Appointed: July 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Treasury

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7. Central Region Czar - Dennis Ross

Title: Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for the Central Region (encompasses the Middle East, the Gulf, Afghanistan, Pakistan and South Asia)
Salary: unknown
Reports to: National Security Adviser Gen. James L. Jones
Appointed: June 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: State

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8. Climate Czar - Todd Stern

Title: Special Envoy for Climate Change
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Appointed: January 2009
Agency or department that might have handled similar issues: Environmental Protection Agency; State

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9. Domestic Violence Czar - Lynn Rosenthal

Title: White House adviser on Violence Against Women
Salary: unknown
Reports to: President Obama and Vice President Biden
Appointed: June 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Health and Human Services

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10. Drug Czar * - Gil Kerlikowske

Title: Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy
Salary: unknown
Reports to: President Obama
Appointed: March 2009
Confirmed by Senate: May 7, 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Justice

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

11. Economic Czar * - Paul Volcker

Title: Chairman of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board
Salary: Volcker reportedly isn't paid for his advice.
Reports to: President Obama
Appointed: January 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Treasury

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

12. Energy and Environment Czar - Carol Browner

Title: Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change
Salary: $172,200
Reports to: President Obama
Appointed: January 2009
Agency that might have handled similar issues: EPA

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

13. Faith-Based Czar * - Joshua DuBois

Title: Director of the Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
Salary: $98,000
Reports to: President Obama
Appointed: February 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Health and Human Services

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

14. Government Performance Czar - Jeffrey Zients

Title: Chief Performance Officer
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orzag
Appointed: April 2009
Confirmed by the Senate (as deputy director for management for the OMB): June 19, 2009
Agency that might have handled similar issues: OMB

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

15. Great Lakes Czar - Cameron Davis

Title: Special advisor to the U.S. EPA overseeing its Great Lakes restoration plan
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson
Appointed: June 2009
Agency that might have handled similar issues: Environmental Protection Agency

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

16. Green Jobs Czar - Van Jones

Title: Special Adviser for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation at the White House Council on Environmental Quality
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Head of Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley
Appointed: March 2009
Agency or department that might have handled similar issues: Environmental Protection Agency; Labor

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

17. Guantanamo Closure Czar - Daniel Fried

Title: Special envoy to oversee the closure of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
Appointed: March 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Justice; State

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

18. Health Czar * - Nancy-Ann DeParle

Title: Counselor to the President and Director of the White House Office of Health Reform
Salary: $158,500
Reports to: President Obama
Appointed: March 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Health and Human Services (HHS)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

19. Information Czar - Vivek Kundra

Title: Federal Chief Information Officer
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Director of the Office of Management and Budget Peter Orszag
Appointed: March 2009
Agencies that might have handled similar issues: other federal agency CIOs

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

20. Intelligence Czar * - Dennis Blair

Title: Director of National Intelligence
Salary: $197,700
Reports to: President Obama
Appointed: January 2009
Confirmed by Senate: January 28, 2009
Agency that might have handled similar issues: CIA

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

21. Mideast Peace Czar - George Mitchell

Title: Special Envoy for Middle East Peace
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
Appointed: January 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: State

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

22. Pay Czar - Kenneth R. Feinberg

Title: Special Master on executive pay
Salary: reportedly receiving no compensation for his work.
Reports to: Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner
Appointed: June 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Treasury

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

23. Regulatory Czar * - Cass R. Sunstein

Title: Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Office of Management and Budget head Peter Orszag
Appointed: January 2009
Nomination was sent to Senate on April 20, 2009 - no action yet taken
Agency that might have handled similar issues: OMB

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

24. Science Czar - John Holdren

Title: Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Co-Chair of the President’s Council of Advisers on Science and Technology
Salary: unknown
Reports to: President Obama
Appointed: December 2008
Confirmed by Senate: March 19, 2009
Agency or department that might have handled similar issues: Energy

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

25. Stimulus Accountability Czar - Earl Devaney

Title: Chair of the Recovery Act Transparency and Accountability Board
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Vice President Biden
Appointed: February 2009
Agency that might have handled similar issues: OMB

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

26. Sudan Czar - J. Scott Gration

Title: Special Envoy to Sudan
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Appointed: March 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: State

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

27. TARP Czar - Herb Allison

Title: Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Stability
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner
Appointed: June 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Treasury

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

28. Technology Czar - Aneesh Chopra

Title: Chief Technology Officer
Salary: unknown
Reports to: President Obama
Appointed: April 2009
Confirmed by Senate: May 21, 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Commerce

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

29. Terrorism Czar - John Brennan

Title: Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism
Salary: $172,200
Reports to: National Security Adviser James L. Jones
Appointed: January 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Homeland Security

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

30. Urban Affairs Czar - Adolfo Carrion Jr.

Title: White House Director of Urban Affairs
Salary: $158,500
Reports to: President Obama
Appointed: February 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Housing and Urban Development

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

31. Weapons Czar - Ashton Carter

Title: Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics
Salary: unknown
Reports to: Defense Secretary Robert Gates
Appointed: April 2009
Confirmed by Senate: April 23, 2009
Department that might have handled similar issues: Defense

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

32. WMD Policy Czar - Gary Samore

Title: White House Coordinator for Weapons of Mass Destruction, Security and Arms Control
Salary: unknown
Reports to: National Security Advisor Gen. James L. Jones
Appointed: January 2009
Department or agency that might have handled similar issues: NSC; Defense; State

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Rumor has it that three more czar positions are under consideration (seriously), and with his recent success in North Korea, President Bill Clinton is destined to become the "Hostage Czar" and report to the actual Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton (not seriously). Finally, why isn't Al Gore the "Inconvenient Truth Czar"?? For that matter, where is the "Man Behind the Curtain Czar"... George Soros??
 
Sorry... too much czar-gazing!!
 
Tags: CZARS   obama  
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Upthedownstreamofconsciousness... 10

Posted by CUBFAN on Sunday, August 16, 2009 4:20:33 AM
1. Which legislation is more important to the liberals in Congress: Health care reform (1,018 pages) or cap-and-trade (almost 1,500 pages)??
 
2. Is Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D) actually from Houston's 18th District or a castaway from District 9??
 
3. Why haven't the Republicans challenged Obama's handpicked "czars" (32 and counting) on constitutional grounds??
 
4. Since his inauguration over 200 days ago, has there been a single day without President Obama's orchestrated presence in the media??
 
5. When bloggers exposed fraudulent memos (GWB, circa 1972) being peddled by Dan Rather in 2004, the mainstream media reluctantly followed up to inform the public... where's the media follow up to  alleged fraudulent birth certificates (BHO, circa 1961) circulating on the blogosphere??
 
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Upthedownstreamofconsciousness... Health Scare

Posted by CUBFAN on Friday, August 14, 2009 2:33:53 AM
Michael Barone said it best in his recent piece: "When a politician tries to stop debate, it's a sign he's losing the argument." Face it, Democrats, you're losing it. Not just the debate, but the American people. You have relinquished the high ground (truth) in favor of the gutter (smears, obfuscation, and name calling).
 
Your Madame (Speaker, that is) claims those opposed to health care reform are "Astroturf" supporters manufactured by right wing groups. Oh, and they bring swastikas with them to their local town hall meetings. Funny, I never saw any of these symbols until she mentioned it--perhaps your genuine "grass root" supporters needed some encouragement to produce them anonymously to discredit those who wished to actually debate you and your sycophants.
 
Your Elder Sycophant (Dingell From Up Yonder) was aghast at the response he received in his town hall soirees. Never in his 53 years (not a misprint) has he been so put upon--sort of reminded him of the Ku Klux Klan, but enough about the honorable Sen. Byrd--by protestors who dared to attend his rallies with provocative signs like this:
 
NewsBusters.org | Media Research Center
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wait a second... that was no protestor--that gentleman was a Dingell supporter!! And that five-foot tall poster was not produced by those wascally wepublicans--it was produced by that perennial presidential candidate, Lyndon LaRouche!! Seems ol' Lyndie is getting an early start on Campaign #8 (2012) by trying to discredit Obama's socialist cred!! Apparently he's not convinced that Green is the new Red.
 
Your Secretary to the Press (Robert Glibb) says town hall protests are "not completely indicative of what's going on in America." Guess again--your boss is not aware of what's going on in America!! Let's turn this briefing around, shall we?! America is "not completely aware of what's going on in this administration." Witness: Thirty-two (at last count) czars appointed by the president without congressional oversight and answerable only to him. Hmm.
 
CZAR (n.) 1. emperor; specifically : the ruler of Russia until the 1917 revolution; 2. one having great power or authority <a banking czar>. (Source: Merriam-Webster online)
 
Now, if CARS is the acronym for Car Allowance Rebate System (affectionately referred to as "Cash for Clunkers") then what is the inane inspiration for CZAR?? Forget the acronym angle, I'm looking firmly at the pre-revolution Russian ruler portion of our definition and proposing that the president is being manipulated by the most powerful liberal in America (George Soros). Perhaps Soros is playing the role of Rasputin and has ensnared the president in a reverse time warp or has transported him back in time in a Prius (sorry, a Delorean just won't cut it today) on some wild space-time continuum ride. The bottom line is this: the president's/Soros's CZAR program can be affectionately referred to as "Opiates for Obama"!! The One is flush with unconstitutional power in the form of a parallel government that answers only to him. How sinister is that?! Back to reality...
 
Your Secretary of State (no, not Bill Clinton) ranted it best in 2003 when she chastised the Bushies for criticizing those who dared to challenge the legality of the Patriot Act. Hypocrisy is a stubborn thing!!
 
Finally, your President (okay he's ours, too) has asked us to simply be quiet and let him get on with the business at hand. I'm reminded of the son in Sleepless in Seattle: "Shut up?! Shut up?! Mom never told me to shut up?!" The other portion of that insignificant scene contains an appropriate piece of dialogue that sums up our current predicament: The father (Tom Hanks) says he was scared witless by the movie Fatal Attraction. Hey, America, wake up... sound familiar?! Are you watching this president?! You should because the majority of you voted for him!!
 
Speaking of fatal attraction, how about the latest from cartoonist Eric Allie:
 
Political Cartoons by Eric Allie
 
With the latest White House invitation for fellow Americans to snitch on each other, Mr. Obama could be looking at his fatal reflection before too long....
 
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Person of the Year: TOTUS

Posted by CUBFAN on Sunday, August 09, 2009 5:21:14 AM
TIME magazine will be unveiling its annual "Person of the Year" for 2009 at the end of this year, but they have been showing us their preference all along--it's the President of the United States, Barack Obama. Of course, in Washington-speak his position is referred to in shorthand as "POTUS." With the recent Judge Sotomayor empathy sweepstakes, we've become familiar with SCOTUS--Supreme Court of the United States. And for the first time in our adult lives let's not leave out FLOTUS--First Lady of the United States. I digress.
 
Anyway, I believe the editors at TIME have been unduly smitten by the aura of The One--witness their use of Obama's supernatural image on their magazine cover a record 8 times since the November 2008 election (nine for "Team Obama" if you include the FLOTUS cover):
 
 
"Paging Dr. Obama"? Obama as FDR rolling out "The New New Deal"? TIME's journalistic objectivity is in serious jeopardy with their incessant cheerleading for BHO. Perhaps the editors should have paid homage to Charles Schulz and placed the "good doctor" behind the makeshift stand that Lucy usually occupies with the familiar THE DOCTOR IS [IN] image--this would have been more in keeping with the cartoon antics of the congressional Democrats and his press secretary in their zeal to bum rush us with so-called health care reform amid the onslaught of the partisan "mob"! Unfortunately for Obama and his acolytes, the current congressional recess came at a most inopportune time as the nodding Democrats were sent home to face the seething mob (i.e., the voters) with their false promises of "health-care-reform-on-the-cheap."
 
Perhaps Dr. Obama wishes he could turn back the clock one hundred days to when everyone really liked him and his agenda:
 
Cartoons by Michael Ramirez
 
Alas, we may never return to those thrilling days of yesteryear anytime soon. (How bad was that line?!)
 
Oops, still digressing. Placing tasteless politics aside in favor of tasteful publishing: It's time to reveal my early choice for TIME's "Person of the Year" for 2009. It's TOTUS!! That's Teleprompter of the United States to the uninformed. This trustworthy companion has been there for every major speech and press conference and town hall meeting and overseas apology and Tonight Show appearance--not even FLOTUS has earned that distinction! Not since Ronald Reagan, the avowed Great Communicator, has the Oval Office been adorned with such a gift for orchestrated gab--surely, every "i" is dotted and every "t" is crossed when President Obama takes the podium with his electronic confidant:
 
Cartoons By Michael Ramirez

Hopefully, the editors at TIME are scouring the blogs for an alternative to President Obama for its Person of the Year 2009 in light of his recent slippage in the popularity polls. I'm certain they would rather adorn their most anticipated magazine cover with a celebrity above reproach and one with a proven performance record. (Hey, it works everytime it's plugged in--it can't help it if some White House flunky loads the wrong speech or forgets to scroll down!) Besides, Doctor Strangelove already won the honor for 2008 as "Candidate Obama." Which, come to think of it, he's still in "campaign mode" to this day, and surely they don't want to be accused of becoming too repetitive in their coverage too repetitive in their coverage. (Sigh!)
 
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Thank you, Lucia Whalen!

Posted by CUBFAN on Thursday, July 30, 2009 2:34:15 AM
Lucia Whalen. Few of us will remember her name a year from now. She did not confront Candidate Obama last year with a question about her earnings and whether he would raise her taxes. That distinction belonged to "Joe the Plumber" and few Americans listened to the response. The candidate said he would not raise taxes but would instead redistribute the wealth to assist those behind Joe.
 
Lucia Whalen. Not many were aware of her name two weeks ago. She did not confront the two men attempting to force their way into the home at 17 Ware Street in Cambridge, MA. That task belonged to Sgt. James Crowley of the local police department and the gentleman he found in the house upon his arrival--Henry Louis Gates, Jr.--did not appreciate the police officer's presence on his doorstep.
 
Lucia Whalen. She was not invited to the White House for a beer. President Obama did not have all the facts when he weighed in on the arrest of Mr. Gates (his friend "Skip") by Sgt. Crowley (saying he acted "stupidly"). The president was defending his friend to the media (and America) by pointing out that his friend was in his home and the only thing he did wrong was being black. Unfortunately, the president blundered by staging this question at the conclusion of a press conference on health care reform (and failed to heed the wisdom of "don't ask, don't tell").
 
Lucia Whalen. She simply did the right thing by calling the police to report a suspicious activity and that should have been the end of it. She only mentioned the possibility of one of the men being "kind of Hispanic" when she was pressed by the dispatcher--otherwise she never pointed out their race or ethnicity. She was performing her civic duty in an attempt to protect a neighbor's property.
 
Henry Louis Gates, Jr., is a black professor of African American Studies at Harvard University. Sgt. James Crowley is a white police officer for the Cambridge, MA, Police Department. Barack Obama is the first black President of the United States. Lucia Whalen is a first generation American of Portuguese descent. Only one of these individuals acted within reason during this incident and in the two media-feeding-frenzy-weeks since. This is the same person who does not like beer and will not be in attendance at the White House later today striking a pose for race relations in America.
 
Lucia Whalen. She's the real hero in this unfortunate reality show because she had the courage to state the truth and exit the scene. She did not overreact (Gates), did not overhype (Crowley), and did not overstate (Obama) the facts of the matter. She would prefer to be known simply as "the 911 caller" in this no-act play but has been forced to come out of hiding due to the thoughtless actions of the media and those who profess to be "tolerant." If anyone is to be owed an apology it is her, and it should come first from the White House because the First Occupant had no business calling out a local police matter and transforming it into a national debate on police/race relations.
 
Lucia Whalen. Thank you for your courage.
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Education: A New American Crisis?

Posted by CUBFAN on Friday, July 17, 2009 9:28:00 PM
In his speech yesterday at the annual NAACP convention in New York City, President Obama proclaimed that young black Americans can have the same opportunities to succeed in America as he did as long as there are suppportive parents in the home and communities paying attention to their local schools. 
 
He touted education as an essential element in improving the lives of all children and that the state of schools is an American problem, not just an African-American one. 
 
Obama stated that "there is no stronger weapon against inequality and no better path to opportunity than an education that can unlock a child's God-given potential."
 
Obama's reference to generic "schools" and "education" may be troubling to his largest support base (lobby) in the Democratic Party: the National Education Association (NEA).
 
The NEA website boasts "3.2 million members ensuring great public schools for every student." Obama told the NAACP gathering that "if you live in a poor neighborhood, you will face challenges that someone in a wealthy suburb does not." I am assuming that these "poor neighborhoods" do not, for the most part, include "great public schools."
 
Last month, President Obama passed on an opportunity to speak in person at the NEA annual meeting in San Diego. Instead, the White House sent a short video in which he praised the economic stimulus for saving jobs in education (not enough to prevent the unemployment rate's rise from 7.6% to 9.5%), called education the "civil rights issue of our generation," and promised federal reforms necessary to improve public schools. Also, he promised to pass reforms while working with teachers (presumably, NEA-members) and not simply pushing reforms onto teachers (the majority of us, non-NEA members).
 
If there is one trusim about this president (and administration) it's this: Don't listen to what they say... watch what they do. Is this innocent, policy-proclaiming speech the beginning of the next big agenda: universal public education assurance? Does every student have a "right" to government-funded and socially-mandated public education?
 
I am a teacher (thankfully, NOT a member of the NEA) and I teach at a public school, but I believe the prospect of more federal mandates and "reforms" is a troubling one. 
 
Funny, I did not hear President Obama blame the previous administration for the current state of public education in our country, where we are being outperformed by numerous countries that later outcompete us in the international markets. But it's very early in this now-too-familiar process, and the Bush-bashing will surely accompany any 1,000-page legislation crafted exclusively by the Democrats (most likely liberals) and voted on during the mourning period (media feeding frenzy) for the next cultural icon's demise.
 
But I'm putting the pushcart before the donkey, allowing my rhetoric to outrun reality. Let's keep in mind a few important points which need to be considered before we begin to gird ourselves for another onslaught from Obamascare.
 
First, if a "pro-choice" option were to be welcomed in any debate, it's this one. I believe the most effective weapon in improving education is giving parents vouchers, allowing them to choose the best available school in their community (public, private, or home-schooling). I believe a quality education begins at home and gains more significance with the active support of parents. Limited voucher programs have worked while high-profile education reforms have not. It's time to expand voucher programs to give parents the freedom and flexibility to pursue a quality education wherever it is offered.
 
Second, the Constitution does not mention education as a federal mandate. Therefore, let's return the education of our children to the local level. I believe state governments can act responsibly in an oversight capacity to ensure the quality of education programs, funding, and curriculum. Even this arrangement needs scrutiny if the power is to remain with the people best equipped to monitor the process--adminstrators, teachers, and the parents. As for the federal Department of Education, the more it interjects itself into the picture, the murkier the results. Perhaps it's time to wipe the slate clean (eliminate it altogether) and return the savings to the taxpayers. 
 
Third, if Obama is serious about unlocking a child's "God-given potential" then let's allow God back into public schools. Is it mere coincidence that the performance of public schools has diminished since the Supreme Court removed both prayer (1962) and the Bible (1963) from their daily routines? The ongoing moral decay in our students has not been stemmed by the subsequent rise in secularism in the intervening years.
 
Finally, do we need to proclaim this another crisis in need of the restorative powers of Team Obama? Not unless we want to impose another unconstitutional "education czar" in an ever-increasing parallel government which operates beyond the oversight of Congress (our representatives in the real governing of these United States). Thus far, we have 32 such individuals at the behest of the president.
 
Perhaps the "crisis" that needs immediate attention is the education of the people (as in "We the People") with regards to the hijacking of our Constitution by this administration. Again, watch what they do...
 
 
Cartoons by Michael Ramirez
 
 
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Screwed?

Posted by CUBFAN on Thursday, July 16, 2009 1:56:48 AM

One year ago tomorrow (17 July 2008)
I posted the following graphic/caption:
 
 
A Vote for Obama
 
 
 
To quote Glenn Beck:
"How do you like him so far?!"
 
 
Tags: obama  
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Upthedownstreamofconsciousness... Returns

Posted by CUBFAN on Thursday, July 16, 2009 1:17:50 AM
 
Cartoons by Michael Ramirez

It's about time...
It's about time we all realized the truth about Barack Obama: He IS God.
Hey, there is NO birth certificate. Get over it. God doesn't have one either.
When Barack speaks, people listen (and the media proselytizes). Even He isn't that lucky.
Being God means never having to apologize for mistakes. It's His will and that's that.
Being POTUS means simply blaming Bush for all of your mistakes. Still works.
Global warming becomes climate change in the blink of an eye.
Universal health care becomes an unalienable right alongside the pursuit of happiness--
crowding out liberty and the right to life.
Abortion? It's the new "don't ask, don't tell."
Gay marriage? It no longer means "fun wedding."
Economic crisis? Financial bailouts? Government-owned business?
If Vladimir Putin can redefine democracy then Barack Obama can redefine socialism.
The "new" socialism: Government buys everything for everyone, leaving nothing for no one.
(It's not that complicated if you remember: everyone = the state // no one = the individual)
Need more convincing? Obama will deliver The Speech #58 in prime time tonight to explain.
His overworked teleprompter is vying for TIME's Person of the Year honors...
God? I didn't forget about Him: He'll be watching.
 
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News Alert: Obama Votes For New "Surge"

Posted by CUBFAN on Saturday, September 06, 2008 2:10:00 PM
With the rousing success of John McCain's nascent running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin, comes word of Barack Obama's call for a new "surge" in his ongoing "War on Error"--the Politcal Struggle Against Bush III.

The Community Organizer in Chief has mobilized the Mainstream Media and Democratic Women to take action against this "second front" maliciously launched without provocation by McCain in the wake of Obama's post-convention bounce. 
 
While Obama said nothing about the smear campaign concocted by MoveOn.org against the original surge in Iraq ("General Betray Us"), he's complaining loudly about the despicable tactics perpetrated by the new standard bearer in the McCain camp--Palin--with cries of "How dare she portray us!"
 
Finally, I give you a vivid contrast about the "change" being sought by Obama and McCain in two words: "Biden" and "Palin."
 
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Saddleback Mountain

Posted by CUBFAN on Monday, August 18, 2008 9:50:00 PM
 
If he truly were honest with himself and the American people,
and in an unguarded, teleprompter-less moment,
Barack Obama would say to John McCain: "I can't beat you!"
 
Cartoons By Michael Ramirez
 
Tags: obama   mccain  
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A Memo to Keith Olbermann

Posted by CUBFAN on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 10:00:00 PM

SHUT UP!!
 -------------------------------
 

-------------------------------
Hey, Keith, it's "free" speech, not FREAK speech!!
-------------------------------
STOP: the disrespectful name calling!!
STOP: the outright, baseless lies!!
STOP: the smarmy attitude!!
STOP: believing your own hype!!
-------------------------------
But, then again, this is America and you are free
to keep making a FOOL of yourself!!
-------------------------------
Therefore, pay no attention to me,
and we will do likewise!!
-------------------------------
 
Tags: Olbermann  
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Upthedownstreamofconsciousness... 7

Posted by CUBFAN on Monday, August 11, 2008 11:30:00 PM
Upthedownstreamofconsciousness... 7 
 
The Speech II: It's now time for Barack Obama to address the other 800-pound gorilla in the room: His Cult of Personality. Obama's first "most important political speech" of the campaign (dubbed "The Speech" by his adoring fans in the mainstream media) was deemed an unqualified success, proclaiming that he had "transcended race" to become the "post-racial candidate." Like you, I have no idea what that blathering meant. However, isn't it ironic that this milestone has since been ignored by the candidate who "does not look like the other presidents." This time, Obama needs to publicly proclaim that he is, in fact, NOT the Messiah, the Chosen One, the Anointed One, the Dalai Bama, and any other False Prophet status symbols that have been lavished upon him by the same fawning members of the press corps. I sense the hypocrisy has been lost on both Obama (who attended a church for over 20 years while its pastor spewed anti-American, anti-white hatred while his "disciple" sat there numb to the message of Black Liberation Theology--all the while, Obama was gaining "street cred" for being a "member") and the media (who projected his message of "hope" and "change" with such super-human qualities of perfection and grace that the only items missing from his presentations were the loaves and fishes). What is this hypocrisy, you ask? Obama is a CINO--a Christian In Name Only. His words speak for his actions, and his talk is cheap. (See Hype Speech)
 
Afghanistan Redux: (Or: Invade Like Its 1980) The Russians are coming! The Russians are coming! And right now the media does not have Georgia on its mind as it tries to explain how it missed (or is that "dissed") the John Edwards Affair. This, my friends, is the War Over Oil that Iraq is not. The Russians are making a play for the oil pipeline that runs through Georgia to eliminate the competition for its petrodollars. Unfortunately, the United States may have contributed to the debacle with our insistence this past spring that Georgia was not quite ready for NATO, but unknowingly primed for a Russian invasion. And the timing of this military excursion is interesting: Begun on the day of the Opening Ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics, it obviously brings to mind Afghanistan and 1980. That Rootin' Tootin' Putin is a wascally wabbit, isn't he? Where's Jimmy Carter when you need him?
 
Postpartum Blues: John Edwards' insistence on "Two Americas" was played out in his "Two Families" soap opera (or is it "Three Families" if you include his aide's--Andrew Young--family?). Unfortunately, both the theory and the reality are not playing well in Peoria... or North Carolina... or California. What a shame.
 
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Obama's "Excellent Adventure" in 3,000 words...

Posted by CUBFAN on Thursday, July 31, 2008 12:30:00 PM
 
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Cartoons By Michael Ramirez
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Cartoons By Michael Ramirez
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Cartoons By Michael Ramirez
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Michael Ramirez sums up Barack Obama's recent "excellent adventure" 
in three succinct images... each worth a thousand words (or more!).
Check out the Pulitzer Prize winner's portfolio at:
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Barack's Excellent Adventure

Posted by CUBFAN on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 12:30:00 AM
 
I went on a trip around the world and all I got...
 
 
...was this photograph of myself in front of No. 10 Downing Street...
 
 
...and a backstage pass to this huge outdoor concert in Berlin...
 
 
...and a chance to schmooze with the leader of France...
 
Senator Barack Obama and U.S. General Petraeus take an aerial tour of Baghdad.
 
...and a neat helicopter ride with an Army general.
 
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Some of the things I did not do on my around the world trip...
 
...visit the Kremlin...
 
 
...or make new friends in Iran...
 
 
...or clap with the North Koreans...
 
 
("If you're voting for Obama clap your hands...")
 
...or meet with our new friend in South America...
 
 
...well, maybe next time!!
 
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Hype Speech

Posted by CUBFAN on Monday, July 28, 2008 10:50:00 PM
 
Which is more dangerous: hate speech or hype speech?
 
Hate speech is in your face, profanity and epithet laden, prompted by rage and ignorance, shocking to the senses, protected by the First Amendment (sometimes), and wrong.
 
Hype speech is inspiring, eloquent and uplifting, promoting unity and change, pleasing to the senses, protected by the First Amendment (always), and feels so right. But, it's still wrong.
 
Hate speech is negative. Hype speech is positive.
Hate speech is a full frontal assault. Hype speech is a sneak attack.
Hate speech is LOUD and %#&@ crude! Hype speech is soft and melodious.
Hate speech: bad. Hype speech: just as bad, but who's going to notice.
 
Barack Obama went to the other side of the world last week to find facts (in the Middle East, paid for by the taxpayers) and to generate publicity (in Europe, paid for by the believers). All of the media reports are in and mission accomplished! He has transcended the "presumptive nominee" of the Democratic Party to become the "presumptive president."
 
While in Germany, the Chosen One spoke before more than 200,000 young, adoring Germans gathered at the Victory Column in Berlin for a free outdoor rock concert--a little-known fact conveniently overlooked by the attendant media--with Obama on the dance card. Thus, this event was transformed into an Obamapalooza, with the centerpiece being a performance by the Upbeat Poet known as Barack the Magic Politician. In his soliloquy, he tore down figurative walls (a la Reagan), he proclaimed himself a citizen of the world (with apologies to Kennedy and James Cagney, although he was too modest to state that he was "on top of the world, grandma!"), he apologized for America's arrogance and mistakes (echoing John "reporting for duty" Kerry), and he waxed eloquently about nothing in particular--in short, it was a typical Obama stump speech without the faintings.
 
Whoa, I kinda got lost in my own rhetoric in that paragraph--just like our Uberhero, Obama the Magnificent! I wanted to touch on hype speech in this passage and its alluring danger. Not for the individual listener, but for the country. And this is why his form of hype speech is wrong, wrong, wrong...
 
Let me be crystal clear: I fear Barack Obama. Not the man, but the mantra. Perhaps "fear" is not the correct term, so let me clarify my position by stating that I question his motives. What's behind Barack Obama and his quest for president?
 
His mantra of "change" is vacuous. He does not represent change for the better, just a precarious move to the far left to socialist implementation of income redistribution--standardized wealthcare, not to mention healthcare. Add to these the prospects of increased taxes on income, business, profits, services, etc.
 
His mantra of "hope" is inane. Hope comes from within, not without. What are we supposed to be hoping for? Another four years of hopelessness from Democratic legislative and executive branches, and the dismal prospect of a left-leaning Supreme Court with two fresh Obama appointees (to supplant Stevens and Ginsburg).
 
His mantra of "yes, we can" is trite. What can we do with him that cannot be done without him? He insinuates that we are helpless (as well as hopeless) without his leading us to the promised land. True leadership is based on authenticity, love, and understanding. In other words, a true leader leads by example, not hyperbole.
 
Barack Obama the man is a likable guy; however, Obama's mantra is hype speech, pure and simple. I do not know what lies beneath the surface, and this fear of the unknown is unsettling. Even scarier are the throngs of followers blindly trailing his musings into oblivion chanting "Obama! Obama!" Forgive me, but the comparison to a B-movie ("Invasion of the Body Snatchers") is too obvious. What is not forgiveable is the thought of a political machine manipulating the masses with an attractive neophyte as bait.
 
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Finally, a group known as Citizens United Productions has produced a movie--HYPE: The Obama Effect--that examines Obama and his message (HypeMovie). As long as we're discussing "image is everything" and "style over substance," why not take a few mintutes to consider the Obama Effect (watch HYPE trailer)? You may think that five minutes does not define a person, but has five months defined this candidate? I say that that question is still open to debate.
 
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