C-SPAN: ‘James McCord Testimony – 1973 U.S. Senate Watergate Committee

Source:C-SPAN- 1972 Watergate burglar James McCord.

Source:The FreeState

“Program Airs May 18, 2013 7:30pm ET:C-SPAN" 

From C-SPAN

This was extremely important the Senate Watergate Committee hearings in 1973. Because it gave Americans an inside look through their TV’s at how their Congress operates. At least on the Senate side of the U.S. Capitol. No cable TV back in 73 and no C-SPAN which came around in 1979. TV cameras weren’t allowed in Congress at all until the U.S. House passed a bill in 1979 to allow networks to film the House of Representatives, the House floor and committee hearings. The Senate did that in 1986. And this just happened to be one of the most important Congressional committee hearings of all-time in the Watergate Committee.

As far as James McCord, how someone with his professional background in the CIA as an electronics expert and the intelligence and education that he must of had, ever get involved in a third-rate burglary where they were caught the night of the failed operation by Washington Police, I may never know. You would have to think someone with his intelligence and education and hopefully character to work for the CIA the way he did must have known better. But that unfortunately can be said about most of the people involved in the Watergate burglary. Good, productive, educated, people, who did something really stupid.

James McCord being one of the failed rookie burglars in this operation. You would think that someone who would order a break in like this would hire people who actually have experience doing operations like this. And not just as spies oversees, but perhaps hiring professional burglars. People who aren’t killers, but people who have long track records of successfully pulling off operations like this to steal things of value. But instead the person who ordered this operation, who I believe was Attorney General John Mitchell, who just happened to be the Chief Law Enforce Officer in the United States, turns to people without any experience in this line of work.

Frank Klassen: 'Joseph Welch Versus U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy'

Source:Frank Klassen- U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy: R, Wisconsin: Chairman of the Army-McCarthy Committee (1953-54)

Source:The Daily Post

"The Army-McCarthy hearings. The beginning of the downfall of Joseph McCarthy."

From Frank Klassen

Joe McCarthy’s, whole strategy in these hearings was based around guilt by association. “If you know a Communist, or we're in the same room of a Communist, or part of the same group as a Communist, you are automatically a Communist. Which of course is a bad thing that must be called out.” As if you are an American traitor, or something. Rather than having hearings based on whether or not there are Communist spies in the United States Government.

In this video, you hear Chairman McCarthy, question the American allegiance of Joe Welch. Who just happened to be the Chief Counsel of the U.S. Army. Which just goes to the lack of depth and knowledge and perhaps honesty that Joe McCarthy and his staff had about the people they were investigating.

You don’t become Chief Counsel of the U.S. Army if you’re Un-American. I mean seriously, what is the main function of the U.S. Army, but to defend the United States. I mean, the stupidity, or just plain dishonesty and political games that Joe McCarthy would play to do what? Scare Americans about communism? Set up a presidential run for 1960? They had almost nothing on most of the people they were supposedly investigating in these hearings. As this hearing shows.

Guilt by Association, could’ve been and perhaps should’ve been the title of these hearings. “If you associate with a Communist, or perhaps just met one at one point, that much mean you’re a Communist as well.” Which was basically the thinking, (if you want to call it that) of Joe McCarthy and his staff at these hearings.

It’s almost as if Joe McCarthy and his staff didn’t know they were on national TV. Perhaps not even aware that TV had been invented yet and close if not universal yet. And that everything that they said and did during these hearings and supposedly reported, would be seen at some point by the entire country.

And that all of their paper-thin evidence would be seen and shown to the country as well. And made to look like it actually is. Which is paper-thin, with no there, there and not just Ed Murrow and his See it Now show over at CBS News. But the other news shows and radio and national papers as well. That they didn’t have what they needed, or even close to having what they needed to make Joe Welch and others look like Communists and anti-American.

Guy John: U.S. Senator Robert Taft- On Meet The Press (1952)

Source:Guy John- U.S. Senator Robert Taft (Republican, Ohio) on NBC News's Meet The Press, in 1952.

Source:The Daily Post 

"Meet The Press. January 20, 1952. NBC-TV net, WNBT-TV, New York City audio aircheck. Sponsored by: Revere Copper and Brass. The first question is, "You're enemies say that in spite of all your disclaimers, you're an isolationist at heart. Are you?" Robert Taft (Senator, Ohio), James Reston (The New York Times), Lawrence Spivak (Mercury Publications), Marshall McNeil (Scripps-Howard Newspapers), Ned Brooks (NBC commentator), Martha Rountree (moderator). 28:30. Audio condition: Excellent. Incomplete." 

From Guy John

Senator Taft not sounding like an isolationist at least in this interview, but more like a Barry Goldwater Conservative Republican, but from the 1940s and 50s. 

A good way to look at Robert Taft at least when it came to foreign policy would be to look at Senator Barry Goldwater. Both men were strong anti-Communists and anti-authoritarians in general and wanted a strong American military and American economy. But to use those resources to defend America and our national interests. Not to try to police the world at least by ourselves. That our allies especially Europe needed to do their part as well.

What they were talking is here is how should the United States respond if the Soviet Union were to invade Europe. What is now the European Union. If they were to attack Germany, or some other country. 

I believe what Senator Taft is saying here if that were to happen that the Europeans need to step up and defend themselves and not expect America to fight their war for them. Europe if it were a country, we would be talking about the second or third largest economy in the world even back then. As well as a wealthy developed country. So they should have done their part to defend themselves especially since they did border Russia.

I don’t believe what Senator Taft was saying here is that if Russia invaded Europe that America should say,:“Oh well, too bad and good luck to you.” And that we shouldn’t do anything and let the Russian take over Europe and expand their communist empire.

What Senator Taft was saying that we should help Europe and give them resources and perhaps even send them troops. But that Europe had to do their part as well. And not expect America to fight their wars and spend our money for them while Europe does nothing to defend themselves. Which I believe is a very mainstream position today and even back then.

Astro Art: Sophia Loren- Mambo Italiano

Source:Astro Art- Sophia Loren's Mambo Italiano.

Source:The Daily Post 

“Sophia Loren Mambo Italiano.”

From Astro Art 

This photo is from another video and performance of Mambo Italiano that The Italian Goddess Sophia Loren gave. But the video that this photo is from is not currently available online right now. 

Source:Claudia 101- Mambo Italiano

I do not know of a better looking or sounding Italian woman American or otherwise than Sophia Loren. An absolute goddess a hot sexy baby-face cutie with serious sex appeal. As well as an incredible talent with a great voice, moves, body and ability to make people laugh. One of the best looking and sounding woman of any ethnicity of all-time. 

You know, except for all of those things or mambo, otherwise just another ordinary woman. If you were able to forget about all of Sophia’s qualities. Like you were, I don’t know, blind and death at the same time. Sophia said that sex appeal is fifty-percent of what you have and fifty-percent of what people think you have. She might be right, but in her case it’s obvious what she has.

When you think of goddess’s and not just physically incredibly attractive woman, as Sophia obvious is, but I think to be a goddess you have to be more than physical. And be able to show you’re more than that and better yet be able to communicate and move what you have to show everyone. Which is obviously what Sophia has with the great face, voice and body.

Documentary Fan: 1952 Republican National Convention: U.S. Senator Everett Dirksen Defends Robert Taft

Source:Documentary Fan- U.S. Senator Everett Dirksen (Republican, Illinois) speaking in favor of Senator Robert Taft (Republican, Ohio) at the 1952 Republican National Convention, in Chicago, Illinois.

Source:The FreeState

“Republican National Convention 1952 Chicago, ILSen. Everett M. Dirksen gives his speech in support or Sen. Robert Taft for President against Dwight D. Eisenhower.”

From Documentary Fan 

The political wave or tide that Senator Everett Dirksen is talking about in this speech is the 1952 Republican sweep. Other than holding Congress from 1947-48, they were completely shutout of power in Washington and the Federal Government, at least as far as being in charge of anything from 1933-53.

The Democratic Party, won five straight presidential elections during this period. And again except for 1947-48, held both the House and Senate in Congress during this whole period as well. That changed in 1952 thanks to Dwight Eisenhower as he won the presidency and Congressional Republicans won back the House and Senate in 1952.

Senator Dirksen, initially supported Mr. Conservative (at least during his time) Senator Robert Taft for president in 1952. They were both strong Conservative Republicans, from the Midwest, who served in Congress together for twelve-years. They knew each other and the other’s politics and character very well.

Dwight Eisenhower, hadn’t announced he was a Republican until he decided to run for president in 1952. He could he being a career U.S. Army officer. So it wasn’t very clear really until General Eisenhower became President of the United States where the General was politically and ideologically.

The Republican Party in 1952 whether they nominated General Dwight Eisenhower or Senator Robert Taft for president, felt this year was definitely their time. Of course they felt that way in 1948 when they barely lost that election as well with Tom Dewey. But 1952 was different for them because they had a great nominee and perhaps the most popular person in America at the time in Ike Eisenhower.

Democrats held the White House for twenty-years at this point and held both chambers of Congress for most of that time as well. President Harry Truman, had been president for eight years at this point and he and his administration were unpopular. So Republicans had a lot to feel good about in 1952.

ABC News: ‘Everett Dirksen’s Washington (1968)’

Source:C-SPAN- ABC News anchor Howard K. Smith, interviewing U.S. Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen, in 1968.

Source:The Daily Post

“Everett Dirksen’s Washington

January 2, 1968

A tour of the U.S. Capitol with Illinois Senator Everett Dirksen and ABC’s Howard K. Smith.”

From Documentary Fan 

When was the last time that a Congressional leader was loved and respected by both parties? That is how much Congress has changed since Everett Dirksen was there because he was loved and respected by both parties when he was in Congress and when he was the Senate Republican Leader. But now Republicans and Democrats in Congress tend to look at each other as enemies and not colleagues or even opponents.

Not many people being more familiar with how Congress worked than Everett Dirksen, who served a total of thirty-four years in Congress. Both in the House of Representatives and Senate. House from 1933-49 and the Senate from 1951-69. And was also Senate Minority Leader from 1959-69.

You might be able to say that Minority Leader Dirksen had all the power in the Republican Party in Washington in the 1960s. Excluding 1960 with President Dwight Eisenhower and 1969 with President Richard Nixon. You might be able to say that from 1961-69 Minority Leader Dirksen was the Washington power structure for the GOP. Because Democrats held the White House and both chambers of Congress from 1961-69 in this period. Huge majorities in both the House and Senate from 1961-67. Which meant for Congressional Republicans to get anything done in this period or to stop legislation that the Congressional Democratic Leadership was pushing, they needed both Leader Dirksen and the Southern Caucus of right-wing Democrats in Congress.

The 1960s was also a much different time as far as Washington politics and Congressional politics. Not all Democrats were liberal or progressive. (At least in the classic sense) The Democratic Party had the right-wing Southern Caucus in the House and Senate. The Democratic Party leaned Left, but had a large right-wing faction.

In the 1960s, not all Congressional Republicans were conservative, but certainly leaned right. And they had a progressive faction in the Northeast. Which meant for either President Jack Kennedy or President Lyndon Johnson to get things done in Congress, especially in the Senate, they needed Minority Leader Dirksen’s help to cutoff filibusters from Conservative Republicans and right-wing Democrats. And to bring along some of his Progressive Senators.

Similar to Senator Robert Byrd and Everett Dirksen was sort of the Bob Byrd of him time, but if neither one of them weren’t in Congress for so long, they could’ve both been Congressional historians. And of course a lot of the knowledge they picked up about Congress had to do how long that they were in Congress. Both serving in the House and Senate, but also because they both served in the Congressional Leadership.

So when you hear Everett Dirksen talk about Congress, you know you’re hearing from someone who actually knew what they were talking about. Someone who was not just respected, but loved by both Republicans and Democrats and someone who represents the best of our Congress and its two chambers.

Malcolm X Network: James Baldwin On Malcolm X (1963)

Source:JD Productions LLC- Nation of Islam Minister Malcolm X & I believe Bayard Rustin.

Source:The Daily Post 

"Malcolm X Debate with James Baldwin September 5, 1963" 

From JD Productions LLC 

Nation of Islam Minister Malcolm X's message here, is that integration by itself, should never be the goal of the African-American community. The goal should be freedom, whether they're living and working, as well as socializing, shopping, with European-Americans, or not. 

Minister X believed that Africans have the exact same amount of freedom and responsibility under law and under the Constitution, as European-Americans and that those rights and freedom should be enforced now. And that Africans shouldn't wait for Europeans to give them their rights and freedom, since they already have them under law and the Constitution.

Governor Mike Pence: 'Delivers Weekly GOP Address On How Obamacare Hurts Jobs'

Source:GOP Weekly Address- Governor Mike Pence (Republican, Indiana)

Source:The FreeState

"In the Weekly Republican Address, Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana discusses how Obamacare is "costing jobs, discouraging investment, and making the future bleak for too many families" nationwide.  Unlike the Washington-knows-best mandates in Obamacare, Gov. Pence explains how his state has "lowered costs and improved outcomes" by "letting freedom and personal responsibility work together" through "a nationally--recognized program called the Healthy Indiana Plan."

From GOP Weekly Address

Again with ObamaCare, because that is all Republicans have to talk about. As well as some guy named Barack Obama. (Whoever the hell he is. I heard he’s the President of some country)

When you don’t have an agenda and policies of your own, at least an agenda you’re proud enough to talk about, you go on the negative to make the other side look worst than you are. “Hey, I know you don’t like us. But the other guy is worst, so you should dislike them more.” 

Governor Mike Pence, which is a good thing for Washington and Congress that he is no longer a U.S. Representative, is the perfect example of this. All the guy has in this short video is, “ObamaCare is bad” and his GOP talking points about cutting spending and regulations, taxes and everything else. Without being able to lay out what he’s actually done. How he’s cut spending, waste, and taxes.

National Review: Ana Navarro to U.S. Representative Steve King: ‘Get Therapy’

Source:National Review- Republican political strategist Ana Navarro on NBC News Meet The Press.

Source:The FreeState

“Republican strategist Ana Navarro had harsh words for controversial Iowa congressman Steve King on Sunday, telling the GOP lawmaker to “get some therapy for his melon fixation.”

King made headlines last month when he said of the children known as DREAMers — kids brought to the United States illegally — that “for every one who’s a valedictorian, there’s another 100 out there that — they weigh 130 pounds and they’ve got calves the size of cantaloupes because they’re hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert.”

Navarro continued her assault, arguing that King is “a mediocre congressman with no legislative record” and “the only time he makes national press is when he comes out and says something offensive about the undocumented or Hispanics.”

King returned the hostility, telling NBC’s David Gregory that his remarks applied only to drug smugglers, not to Hispanics at large. “If Ana understands the language, she should know that.” Navarro, who is Hispanic and served as the national Hispanic co-chair of the McCain campaign in 2008 and of Jon Huntsman’s campaign in 2012, retorted, “I’m not undocumented. I vote, congressman.”

From the National Review

The more Representative Steve King talks about immigration, the worst off Tea Party Nationalist Republicans and people with mental issues look in America. And perhaps people who smoke too much pot or drink too much and are struggling to keep a strong base with reality.

By trying to make Latino immigrants look like invaders or something that are Un-American and do not deserve to be in America and, the Steve King’s of the world look like very hateful, escaped mental patients. And as a result the better the chances for immigration reform in America because of how loony these Tea Party Nats look.

The more Republicans who are interested in immigration reform listen to people about it who are not on the Far-Right in the modern Republican Party or the rest of the country, the better the chances of immigration reform in America.

What you see in this video with Ana Navarro who is a Republican political strategist, who works for Republicans, (naturally) and Representative Steve King, who if he wasn’t in the U.S. House, would probably be a mental patient somewhere, what you see is Ana Navarro in touch with immigration and what needs to be done. With Representative King doing nothing, but repeating Far-Right talking points.

House Republicans: Weekly Republican Address 8/17/13- U.S. Representative Shelley Moore Capito

Source:House GOP- U.S. Representative Shelly M, Capito: R, West Virginia.

Source:The FreeState

"In this week's address, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) urges the President and Senate Democrats to support the bipartisan, House-passed delay of the individual mandate in the president's health care law. You and your family deserve the same relief the President recently gave to big businesses by delaying their employer mandate - it's only fair."

From House GOP

House Republicans, clearly know what they are against when it comes to healthcare reform. But haven’t figured out what they are for. Which will be a big problem for them as they consider shutting down government over defunding the Affordable Care Act. Or run against it next year when they are questioned about what they would do instead. Where’s the so-called party of ideas when it comes to health care reform?

Or maybe the House GOP loves the old health care system with how expensive it was more than the current system. And are just saying: “ObamaCare is bad and let's just go back to the old system. Where people can lose their health insurance simply because they need it.” But people don’t sign up for health insurance, simply in order to pay insurance companies. That they actually expected to be able to take out what they paid into once they actually needed it. Which is what insurance is about: putting money down, so you can have it and use it when you actually need it. Regardless for whatever it is that you are insuring.

Hoover Institution: George P. Schultz: 'Drugs, The War With No Winner'

Source:Hoover Institution- with a look at the so-called War On Drugs.

Source:The FreeState

"Former Nixon and Reagan cabinet member George Shultz offers compelling analyses on the topics of governance, the economy, energy, drugs, diplomacy, and nuclear security. In this how-to guide, Shultz charts a path to a better future for the United States and the rest of the world.

In Part 6 of an 8 part series, George Shultz points out that forty years of the failed war on drugs should be enough to stimulate debate on alternate approaches to this serious problem.

For more information visit:Hoover Institution." 

From the Hoover Institution

It’s good to hear a Republican and a Conservative, who worked for both President Richard Nixon, when the War on Drugs was declared and President Ronald Reagan, when the Drug War was escalated in the 1980s, like George Schultz, talk about the failures of the so-called War On Drugs. 

Listen to what Secretary Schultz says here. “We have forty years of experience and we know that the War on Drugs doesn’t work. That it’s a failure, that we have more people who use illegal narcotics than other developed countries and have higher rates of illegal drugs use than our competitors.” 

Now, George Schultz, was Secretary of Treasury for President Nixon and then Secretary of State for President Reagan. And even though he might be the best Secretary of State the United States has ever had, he’s not directly responsible for the War On Drugs.

But Schultz, was a very trusted member of both President Nixon’s and President Reagan’s cabinet and knew about the War on Drugs and saw reports about them. And is someone who is very interested in current affairs, especially as they relate to America. And has thought and researched a lot about issues other than economic and foreign policy. He knows about our high incarceration rate and how many of those people in prison are there for something relating t the War On Drugs. And that a lot of those people are there for simple usage, or possession. He knows what our narcotics issue was pre-War on Drugs and where we are forty years later.

So to hear someone with the depth of knowledge, intelligence, and experience as a George Schultz, who was a cabinet officer in both Richard Nixon’s and Ronald Reagan’s administration’s, who also happens to be a Conservative Republican, say the War On Drugs has failed and he was part of two administration’s where the War on Drugs was pushed real hard, is very refreshing. 

It is also very refreshing to hear someone of the background of a George Schultz, say we can do better. There are better ways and policies in how we deal with narcotics in America. That we shouldn’t be promoting narcotics usage, but at the same time we shouldn’t be holding people criminally responsible and sending them to prison as convicted felons, simply for using narcotics.

Cuiro Phile: ‘Unknown Biker Babe- in Head to Toe Leather’

Source:Cuiro Phile- the unknown biker chick.

Source:The Daily Post 

“Unknown babe in top to toe biker leather”

From Cuiro Phile 

I have no idea what show this is and it does look like a show and not a movie. But base on the accents I have to say this is German TV. 

Which is a shame and not that it is perhaps German TV, but that it is unknown and that the actress, the biker chick on this show and in this video is unknown. Because she plays a great looking biker chick head to toe in biker leathers.

The black leather jacket, the black leather jeans all laced up. A very sexy biker chick leathered up in biker leathers with the jacket, jeans and boots. Would’ve been nice to see her on her bike and riding the bike. As well as getting off her bike in her leathers. 

But still a very sexy leather biker babe. And just one example why I lover biker women, because they wear and love leather jeans and biker women tend to be very healthy and sexy. And look great in leather jeans and boots.

Jewish News One: ‘Hollywood Star Karen Black Dies at The Age of 74: Iconic Actress Starred in Easy Rider & Nashville’

Source:Jewish One News- Hollywood Goddess Karen Black.

Source:The Daily Post 

“Karen Black, a prolific actress who starred in such counterculture favourites as Easy Rider and Nashville, has died.” 

From Jewish One News

I wish Karen Black had another ten-years. But when you have cancer, unless it is found quickly and dealt with properly and the patient has the resources to deal with it correctly, it’s almost a death sentence.

I wish Karen Black had at another ten years, because she was one of the best actress’s of her generation and era. Which was the 1960s and seventies and took big chances and made them payoff big time. Like with Easy Rider, Airport 1975, one of my favorite movies and I believe her best movie and role. And Nashville, which came out a year earlier than Airport 75.

Karen Black took risks on movies that not a lot of other actress’s would have when she didn’t have to do it and where the movies could’ve bombed on her and made it difficult for her to get big roles and big movies later on. And she would not only take the big risks, but they would pay off for her big time. And would be movies that would be remembered very well thirty or forty years later. And would do such a great job in these movies. Like in Airport 75, where she plays a head stewardess who has to take control of the plane during a mid-air collision with all three pilots no longer being able to fly the plane. And she ends flying the plane herself with the help of the runway tower and the pilot on the plane still being able to speak.

Karen Black played these risky roles very well and will be missed. And then throw in how adorable and beautiful she was. And versatile she way with the ability to play tough characters. Like going from prostitutes with drug issues, in both Easy Rider and then later Nashville in the mid 1970s. To going to have to play a head stewardess in Airport 75 that at one point is actually flying the plane. And that is after she has to get ahold of the runway tower to let them know what is going on. Someone whose never flied a plane before and has no experience at all in doing that. Having to fly this plane over in the Mountain West and climbing mountains. And playing the terrified, little adorable woman, who doesn’t know if she’s going to survive this experience. And yet has to pull it all together for the sake of herself and the people on the plane that she’s responsible for. And she did these role beautifully.

Real Time With Bill Maher: ‘Ronald Reagan On Important Issues’

Source:Real Time With Bill Maher- making fun of Ronald W. Reagan.

Source:The FreeState 

“Ronald Reagan spoke against socialized medicine, seatbelts, color TV and more…

From Cheetah Two 

The first comment about Ronald Reagan, was from a speech that he gave in support of Senator Barry Goldwater’s 1964 presidential campaign. Everything there is probably pretty accurate as far as what Reagan thought not just about government health care and health insurance, but what he thought about socialism in general. In the mid 1960s, there was a real fear amongst Conservatives in America, because of President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society agenda, that America was moving to becoming a socialist state. That actually never happened and it’s not happening today. The rest of the comments that Reagan supposedly have about seat belts and color TV, I think that’s just Funny Time With Bill Maher.

Newsmax: Steve Salzberg Show: U.S. Representative Paul Broun

Source:Newsmax- U.S. Representative Paul Broun (Republican, Gerogia) on The Steve Salzberg Show.

Source:The FreeState

"Congressman Paul Broun, M.D. (GA-10), joined Steve to discuss House Resolution 326, which states that any immigration reform adopted by Congress should not offer amnesty or any legal status condoning the unlawful entry into the United States, saying "no amnesty for anybody. We have to be a nation ruled by law, not by man." 

From Newsmax

I endorse as a Maryland Liberal Democrat, U.S. Representative Paul Broun to win the Georgia Tea Party nomination for U.S. Senate. Because he would put that race in play for Democrats against former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn’s daughter Michelle Nunn. 

Georgia is still a very red Bible Belt state at least outside of the Atlanta metroplex. But they have been moving left as more Americans outside of Georgia have moved into Georgia. And Representative Broun is probably as far to the right as any member of Congress. (House or Senate) And would be running against Sam Nunn’s daughter Michelle Nunn, a very Centrist-Democrat who knows Georgia very well. 

This race would still favor Senate Republicans, but with Paul Broun Democrats would have a competitive shot at it.

Jack Hunter: 'Downgrading Liberalism?'

Source:The Atlantic- the self-described Southern Avenger blogger, Jack Hunter.

Source:The FreeState 

"I’ve been mulling over Dan McCarthy’s rich meditation on intellectual splits in the right, evoked by the Jack Hunter controversy. Salon editor Joan Walsh was right to observe that the attack on Hunter was really an attack on Rand Paul for his father’s skepticism about imperial wars and American obeisance to the Israel, a skepticism assumed to have been at least partially transmitted to his more mainstream son. The writers who have gone to town in attacking Hunter—Alana Goodman,Jamie Kirchik, Jennifer Rubin—are all well-entrenched in right-wing Zionist advocacy journalism. Though photographs of a top Senate aide in a Confederate mask do make for entertaining imagery on the local news, no one else seems to care very much.

Walsh notes that in the modern GOP there are leaders “correct on the righteousness” of the Civil War or the Iraq War, “but rarely both.” If, as she and I assume, the smart positions are pro-Lincoln and anti-George W. Bush, the simple explanation is that northern moderates are now rare in the Republican Party. Five of the seven GOP members of Congress who voted against the Iraq war resolution were moderates from non-Confederate states, unlikely to have Stonewall Jackson memorabilia in their dens. Add to them Rhode Island’s Lincoln Chaffee, the sole GOP senator to speak out against the Iraq War, and you have a fairly representative slice of the vanishing brand of moderate Republicanism, absent perhaps its Rockefeller-Jacob Javits pro-Israel wing." 

You can read the rest of this article at The American Conservative

"Jack Hunter: Downgrading Conservatism?" 

Source:Jack Hunter- on the future of American conservatism.

From Jack Hunter

I blame the Bush Administration and the Republican Congress’s of the early 2000s with their two-trillion in tax cuts, that weren’t paid for and their two unpaid for wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and their Medicare expansion, and their constant borrow and spending that stayed with President Bush throughout his administration. 

I also blame President Obama with his Democratic Congress in his first two years for failing to reverse the Bush neoconservative  policies. Leaving in the borrow and spending to deal with the Great Recession. And of course the Great Recession, as well as the Democratic and Republican leaderships for their inability to take on their fringes when it comes to the debt doing things they view as completely unacceptable, for the downgrade of 2011.

But Jack Hunter is dead wrong to blame what he views as liberalism, a warped view at that, for the American downgrade. Since it is really the Great Recession that has had a lot to do with the current debt situation. Along with two unpaid for wars that are now in the trillions of dollars and both Democrats and Republicans increasing the role of government. As they’ve both decreased the revenue sources to pay for that government expansion.

If you really want to blame the downgrade on anyone, blame it on the policies and people who put those policies in place for the downgrade. I know that sounds like a warped concept, but commonsense tends to sound warped in Washington to begin with. 

President Bush, comes in with a four-trillion debt and leaves with an eleven-trillion debt and the Great Recession. Which didn’t happen by accident. Again, the two unpaid for wars that are still not over. Three-trillion in tax cuts, that weren’t paid for, that didn’t have much if any positive effect in the economy. The seven-hundred-billion dollar Medicare expansion from President Bush that wasn’t paid for. Most of the spending in the Obama Administration, has been to deal with the Great Recession. Not to create new Federal programs. If you want to downgrade anything, downgrade Bush/Cheney neoconservatism.