Shocking Video Unearthed that caused our Economic Crisis

Pass it on ...

Burning Down The House: What Caused Our Economic Crisis? (Censored once by YouTube)

This video explanation is fast paced and powerful.

Share it with all your friends

Liberal Brain Chart

Click to enlarge

Tingle, tinkle wittle star

MSNBC host Chris Mathews on hearing Barack Obama speak:

 

"I had a tingle run up my leg."

 

MSNBC host Chris Mathews on hearing Sara Palin speak:

 

"I had a tinkle run down my leg."

Spanking McCain Ad

Embarrassing Medical Moments

Thought you might get a chuckle out of these ditties ... Big Rattler
 
-------------------------------------
 
1. A man comes into the ER and yells, 'My wife's going to have her baby in the cab!' I grabbed my stuff, rushed out to the cab, Lifted the lady's dress, and began to take off her underwear. Suddenly I noticed that there were several cabs ---and I was in the wrong one.
 Submitted by Dr. Mark MacDonald, San Francisco

 
 2. At the beginning of my shift I placed a stethoscope on an elderly and slightly deaf female patient's anterior chest wall. 'Big breaths,' I instructed. 'Yes, they used to be,' replied the patient.
 Submitted by Dr. Richard Byrnes, Seattle , WA
 

 3. One day I had to be the bearer of bad news when I told a wife that her husband had died of a massive myocardial infarct. Not more than five minutes later, I heard her reporting to the rest of the family that he had died of a 'massive internal fart.'
 Submitted by Dr. Susan Steinberg, NYC, NY
 

 4. During a patient's two week follow-up appointment with his cardiologist, he informed me, his doctor, that he was having trouble with one of his medications. 'Which one'? I asked. 'The patch, the Nurse told me to put on a new one every six hours and now I'm running out of places to put it!' I had him quickly undress and discovered what I hoped I wouldn't see. Yes, the man had over fifty patches on his body! Now, the instructions include removal of the old patch before applying a new one.
 Submitted by Dr. Rebecca St. Clair, Norfolk , VA
 

 5. While acquainting myself with a new elderly patient, I asked, 'How long have you been bedridden?' After a look of complete confusion she answered, "Why, not for about twenty years - when my husband was alive."
 Submitted by Dr. Steven Swanson- Corvallis , OR
 

 6. I was performing rounds at the hospital one morning and while checking up on a woman I asked, 'So how's your breakfast this morning?' 'It's very good, except for the Kentucky Jelly. I can't seem to get used to the taste' the patient replied. I then asked to see the jelly and the woman produced a foil packet labeled 'KY Jelly.'
 Submitted by Dr. Leonard Kransdorf, Detroit , MI
 

 7. A nurse was on duty in the Emergency Room when a young woman entered with purple hair styled into a punk rocker Mohawk, sporting a variety of tattoos, and wearing strange clothing.  It was quickly determined that the patient had acute appendicitis, so she was scheduled for immediate surgery. When she was completely disrobed on the operating table, the staff noticed that her pubic hair had been dyed green, and above it there was a tattoo that read, 'Keep off the grass.' Once the surgery was completed, the surgeon wrote a short note on the patient's dressing, which said, 'Sorry, had to mow the lawn.'
 Submitted by RN no name
 
 AND FINALLY!!!................

 8. As a new, young MD doing his residency in OB , I was quite embarrassed when performing female pelvic exams. To cover my embarrassment, I had unconsciously formed a habit of whistling softly. The middle-aged lady upon whom I was performing this exam suddenly burst out laughing and further embarrassing me. I looked up from my work and sheepishly said, 'I'm sorry. Was I tickling you?' She replied, 'No doctor, but the song you were whistling was, 'I wish I was an Oscar Meyer Wiener'.
 Dr. wouldn't submit his name

The Art of Aggressive Listening -- by Ralph Smeed

Many folks seem to view the act or art of listening in much the same manner as some ancient religions or cults look upon the act of having their photograph taken, i.e., with trepidation if not extreme alarm.  It is as if a portion of their (intellectual) soul is thereby being siphoned away, to be lost forever to some mystical, competitive or even hostile force. 

In actual fact however, the genuine act of listening is not only not a loss of soul, it is not even passive.  Listening can be seen as an overt act of seizing an opportunity together with another human consciousness to share a coped for awareness along a certain direction, or search for truth, with the goal in mind of welding TWO consciousnesses into one larger, more perfect consciousness or awareness.  Thus light instead of heat, which is the only way possible to effect a new awareness. 

 

So rather than a "giving up" or "yielding the floor" the act itself, of listening, is actually a gain.  It is not merely a necessary requirement of communication with others in the only true sense of communication.  It is the stance of learning itself.  It should not be confused with the act of talking which our egos, being too eager, often mistake for communication.  Unfortunately, for what might be termed radio-like broadcast communicating to be matched with one's "receiver" one must "tune in" with the other person on an oft-times difficult wave-length.  One must be, or appear to be, genuinely eager to listen to or learn from the other person, if (repeat, if) that person is to be communicated with in the highest and best sense of the word.

 

This seems to me to be a necessary correlation one must make if one is to understand what Leonard Read has been trying to express (teach?) for so many years, that "the problem of restoring the American dream of freedom is not a teaching problem, as generally perceived by most all of us, but rather a learning problem."  (Now then, that may well be the most radical suggestion you have ever hear, and an ever so true one when seen in this light.  Agreed) 

 

To use one of Leonard's phrases a step further:  "Finding words for common sense" --- learning, in this sense, is not so very common, nor is it so easy as just running off super-enthusiastic verbalizing, however swiftly, voluminously and, or intensely sincere.

 

If the above makes an sense at all the act of listing perhaps should be defined as "learning", in which case, if this be true, listening may well be the most effectively overt: heretofore seeming to be that comforting or satisfying sensation accompanying only the talking-half of communicating or aggressive part of the act or the art of communicating.

 

It should not be seen as merely half of a two-way act.  In fact, it may very well be the most important half, so to speak, of a one-way act.  

 

All of which is not to say that those well-meaning, if misguided souls whose zeal, sincere and intense as they very well may be, have anything to do with the art of listening ─ in the above sense.  All of us have experienced those missionaries from everywhere whose divine revelations on every subject in contention from alpha to omega motivates them to hesitate their torrent  of words only to catch their breath for a mere hesitation in yours, so to begin their flood again.  It is often as if the qualitative theory of inquiry in discourse had no beginning and the quantitative one no end…  As frustrating and futile as such verbal exchanges always must be the act of listening can be looked upon as another dimension entirely, although even here it can sometimes actually offer the best response, if indeed one be indicated.  This is because if such a desire is sought at all it need only be sought by one party --- if necessary.

 

Certainly, it is far better if both parties to the exchange be so inclined, but it is not necessary.  (Perhaps the Lord also had in mind something akin to this when he offered his well known, if little understood: "turn the other cheek."  One's ear isn't far from one's cheek, is it?)  And anyway sometimes it is not convenient just to walk off.  So what better way to devastate one's opponent, adversary or over-zealous discussant, than to listen him (or her) into submission?

 

An then, too, there's Leonard's ever so propitious allusion to listening:  (if everything else fails this always works):  "I make it policy not to talk to anyone unless he is trying to learn something from me, or I from him.  You'd be surprised how much unnecessary, even unpleasant conversation such a policy cures."

 

 Still, if listening be looked upon as an aggressive act it can be a truly great way to win a battle sometimes even the war in the competition of words ─ the place the violent wars usually begin.  And as Leonard has pointed out "it's the man who strikes the SECOND blow who starts the fight."  This is ever so true when one responds to a ridiculous assertion.  Of course, one can always respond to a ridiculous assertion.  Of course one can always respond by asking a question, but sometimes this seems to imply your seeming to be ignorant, it shouldn't, but if it does ─ try listening aggressively.  Who knows, you might even learn something.

 

 And if you do it with some real patience ─ and a smile ─ or maybe a grin, it may catch your opponent off guard, where upon, if you've done your homework, you can even defend your learning, which you probably got by listening ─ aggressively.

 

Signed  -- Ralph Smeed

 

P.S.  [By the way, if a sub-title were to be used on this main essay we might also use another one of Leonard's ever so apt phrases, namely "intelligent curiosity".]

 

P.P.S.  I wonder, my friend, so long as gov't is perceived as a "religion" more or less, doesn't it follow that it is futile (more or less) to "offer" or plead for less gov't., (i.e.,  as if asking God to do less)?  Think about it --- and how to make the point, or even to speak openly about it, if we are perceived as in a kind of blasphemy.

 

"One of the best ways to persuade others is with your ears --- by listening with them." -- Dean Rusk              

 

Idaho GOP’s new leaf turned

The uber alles (read: above all) liberal media, as usual, tried to bespeckle their dwindling audience before, during and now after the 2008 Idaho Republican Convention.

 

Norm Semanko defeated power-elitist incumbent J. Kirk Sullivan for the party chairmanship.

 

The media repeatedly illustrated the coalition which defeated the elite party apparatus as pot bong with a pro-life sticker on it.  So much for the media's love affair with the political "process" especially when it comes to individuals who have come to a point in their walk-of-life where they actually understand the personal meaning of "freedom" and "liberty;" and, not the trite moral-less definitions propagandized in print and broadcast, like the freedom to "Larry Craig" and the freedom to dismember individual womb babies.

 

The political process, in this instance, has been completely ignored.  The focus is on marijuana, not the historic fact that an individual fought and won at the Idaho Supreme Court – without the representation of a government licensed lawyer – for the individual constitutional right to "petition for redress" in the state of Idaho using the citizens' initiative, which had been illegally thwarted by local government commissars in Blaine County.  The issue happened to relate to marijuana.  Insert your pet issue here and see what is more important, pot or the process of protecting your right to fight for your beliefs.

 

Two headlines you could write:  1. Pothead Promoter Supports Semanko;  2.  Individual Rights Advocate Backs Semanko.  Now, substitute Obama for Semanko and guess which headline gets printed along side the Norman Rockwell masterpiece of the rugged American standing up at a town hall meeting.

 

Then add into the mixture the behind the scenes delegate manipulations exposed in part at the Ada County GOP Central Committee meeting where delegates were "pre-selected" before being overruled by the Grassroots GOP.

 

A full court press for Sullivan was deployed by fellow power-elitist like C.L. "Butch" Otter who reportedly said "He'd quit if Semanko was elected."  It was a "joke" but would Idaho actually miss him as governor if voters gave him a pink slip?

 

Locally, statewide and nationally, the Republican brand no longer represents lower taxes, more individual freedom, family values and smaller government.  It is liberal-lite with all the trappings of creeping socialism, like the trillion dollars National Prescription Drug Subsidy (Pill Bill) that Otter voted for.

 

Why would the Idaho GOP conventioneers vote to abolish the Federal Reserve to the hoorays of "Freedom!"?  Those who understand personal freedom know that honest money is something that protects their freedom.  Or, to put it another way, Nobel Laureate Milton Freidman asked, "If I stamp the word 'cheese' on a piece of paper, does it make it cheese?"  So, what makes our printed money, money?  Yet, we live, work, and struggle just to get a full shrink-wrapped pallet of printed paper that we can store in the bank.

 

Now, add ten more government monster buildings with a thousand more printing presses grinding out billions and billions of printed dollars everyday.  How much will your pallet be worth?  Ask your teenage grandkids if they have any idea how inflation happens.  Surely the government schools taught them that prices go up because of greedy capitalists.

 

The power elitists don't actively care about the citizens' initiative process or the Federal Reserve, rather they care about pallets of money and using the power of government as a competitive advantage to possess more pallets believing that fulfills their "American Dream."

 

It is most important that Idaho Republicans re-engage the battle for the principles that made them strong in the first place.  Electing Semanko is a first step.  The convention delegate manipulations narrowed the media perception that Republicans want to self-sabotage their battle for principles by allowing Democrats to help them select their candidates for the general election, i.e., open vs. closed primaries.

 

Rush Limbaugh developed "Operation Chaos" in open primary states between Obama and Clinton urging Republicans to vote for Clinton thus extending their primary process.  In Idaho and nationally, they are called RINO's meaning Republicans In Name Only.  Democrats to a lesser extent label their crossovers as DINO's.  In Arizona's past they labeled primary crossover Republicans as "Pintos."

 

Should the opposing team be able to select your team's quarterback?  That is just silly.  And for the independents who don't know if they are punched or bored, you get your chance in the general election to select your government representation.

 

Huge credit goes to former Senate Majority Leader Rod Beck for shepherding this most important principle through the power-elite's gauntlet-of-hell.  Without his leadership, Semanko wouldn't have had a chance.  Beck and his allies shaped the battlefield for Semanko; and any principled Republican who doesn't see this needs to recalibrate their political compass.

 

The power-elites know who beat them for the chairmanship … Rod Beck.  You should hear the backroom gossip of the wanna-be elite gadflies.  There are not into party unity, they are into power and the pallets of money and could care less about the Republican principles.  They drove the Republican brand into Brand X.  Their track record is soon to be complete after losing the US Senate, the House and now staring at the future President of the United States of America, Barak Obama.

 

The Idaho GOP has turned over a new leaf.  It's morning in Idaho, again.  Restore the Republican brand to its rightful principles by actually enacting into law legislation that reflects these timeless principles.

 

For too long, the Idaho Republican politicians have controlled the grassroots of the party and destroyed the brand.  Now is the chance for the grassroots to again control the politicians.  Isn't that the concept of "We the People," who simply loan a portion of our right to the politicians?  Hence, restore the long-forgotten understanding that elected politicians are "public servants."

Power-elitist wanna-be's like Brad Hoaglun, big-time patronage government employee and Ada delegate, just won't let go.  He's quoted post-convention in the Nampa paper saying, "People are fervent about their causes. It may be unmanageable at first, but it will become more so, over time."

 

So, over time we will be managed?  Brad is clueless in his quest for elitism.  We don't need to be managed, we just need a clear process to select representatives who share our principles without having to go through the GOP's elitist's gauntlet-of-hell every time we pursue principles.  It is hard enough fighting off the universal health care of socialism without being slapped around by the bullies, like Sen. Bart Davis, within the GOP's big fat bloated government loving tent. 

 

Davis tore up a copy of the GOP rules in front of the convention to show that he was "in control" of the show.  More "management" from the elitists.

 

So this is party unity.  The elitists lost and now they will punish the victors.  Just you watch and see.  Sabotage from the elitist will be relentless, after all, there are many pallets at stake here.

 

Good luck Norm Semanko.  You will be successful if you put the grassroots first, and the politicians as public servants.  

 

Finally, Norm … watch your back and don't chicken out under pressure.  They can't beat you on principle.

The Daily Show -- Marines in Bezerkley

Liberals in "thoughtful, reasoned" debate ... Egad!
(Viewers Note: Correspondent Rob Riggle is a former active duty Marine)



Hat tip to NewsBusters.org

Free Health Care -- Brain Surgery

2008 Idaho primaries “officially” closed for GOP

The Republican Party’s governing body on Jan. 12th exercised its First Amendment Rights placing the Idaho Legislature in its proper role of public servants, not masters.

Big Rattler has been tracking the legal and political events surrounding the closed primary issue.

On Jan. 12, 2008 the Idaho Republican Central Committee (its governing body) with a 70% vote insisted on closing the primary to non-registered Republicans and further authorized party members to sue for closure should the legislature and party officials fail to act. This was accomplished by officially granting the party members legal “standing.”

But one has to read Judge Williams’ Nov. 17, 2007 decision on the Beck vs. Ysursa case, especially page 14:

The court explained that the First Amendment associational rights at issue “belong solely to the association ... the Republican Party, not to any individual candidate or voter.”

The court also noted that even if the state’s election laws violated the associational rules of the party, the party had the ability to define its own remedy.

For example, if the party had adopted a closed party primary rule while the state permitted a blanket primary, the party could voluntarily choose to participate in the blanket primary and adopt the results, or adopt rules deciding who the party’s nominees were following a blanket primary by counting only the votes of registered party members.

The plaintiffs (the Republican Party members who did not have standing to pursue the case) nevertheless were told by Judge Williams that the party’s First Amendment Rights belong “solely” to the party. That does not mean the Idaho Legislature has superiority to the party’s First Amendment Rights.

The Republican Party’s governing body on Jan. 12th exercised its First Amendment Rights placing the Idaho Legislature in its proper role of public servants, not masters.

Judge Williams went on to say if the Legislature, via the election laws, violated the party’s First Amendment Rights, “the party had the ability to define its own remedy.”

Thus, the 2008 Republican Primary is closed. Should a GOP Legislative District organization choose to not abide by the results of a “blanket” (read, open) primary, then they could meet and possibly choose another candidate to represent them in the general election.

Granted, this is somewhat uncharted legal territory, but the fact remains the Legislature is subservient to the constitutionally protected rights of the party. This is the legal end-game, no matter how much some high-headed legislators like Sen. Dean Cameron wish it was otherwise.

Cameron told the Times-News (1/22/08) he prefers an open system where non-Republicans can influence the outcome of party primaries, but if forced to, he prefers the so-called “modified open primary.”

With all due respect to the good Senator Cameron, nobody gives a plug-nickel on what he prefers. He takes an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution and that means he is to protect the Republican Party’s and the Democratic Party’s and others’ First Amendment Rights to free association. End of story.

The Idaho GOP has clearly and specifically outlined how it wants to associate via a closed primary. The Idaho Democrats choose an open system to select their general election nominees. Cameron doesn’t need to think about it, or add his input; he was elected to insure these rights are protected.

The state’s job, and his, is to enact a proper process whereby these rights are protected. In other words, his job is to SERVE, not DICTATE. Geeeeeze! They have been in power so long, they forget the basics.

The Idaho Republican Party has exercised its First Amendment Rights. It’s time the legislators climbed down off their high-horses and fulfilled their obligation as duly elected officials. Failure to set aside their supersized Mc-Egos and politicize this issue is dereliction of duty.

The honorable course is to fully enact a state election process that protects the various parties’ constitutional rights. This issue is not up for political maneuverings. Either one does his DUTY as a PUBLIC SERVANT and UPHOLD THE OATH OF OFFICE, or one should resign.

The choice is clear for every Idaho Legislator ... Honor or Dishonor the First Amendment.

That's gonna leave a mark (-)

Hat tip to Boise Guardian for letting us know about a new blog that reveals the "innerd" workings of the Idaho Statesman, a.k.a. the "Idaho Mistakesman," "the Idaho Statistman," or "The Ultra-Liberal Echo Chamber of Idaho."

The blog is called WorkingPressToo (wp2, for shorts) and is clickable at: http://workingpresstoo.wordpress.com/

Apparently, insider info is flowing: angst about McClatchy, Popkey's proclivities and other gooey gossip can be found at the wp2 site.

The Idaho daily fish-wrap seems to be suffering like many other liberal rags across the nation, and it couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of crap-slappers.

How "Do-Gooder" Legislators actually Do-Bad ... Attn: Gov. Otter

The Idaho Legislature is back in session with another wrong-headed, do-good, agenda.
How's about leaving us alone and repealing some do-good legislation.

"The nanny state of Idaho wants to hug you. Their tyranny teeth are exposed when you don't want to be hugged." Leave us alone -- Attention Governor Otter!

How Markets Really Work -- Short Video

ABC's John Stossel on Health Care in America

This enlightening program by John Stossel aired on Sept. 14, 2007 on ABC's 20/20.

Keep clicking to the next segment i.e., 1 of 6, then 2 of 6, etc.

Actually, if you click this link, it takes you to the site and the segments are listed on the right side. They are not particularly in order, but you can find them by scrolling.

It is worth the watch if you missed it.

Two interesting stories: Hillary and Hugo

Hillary Clinton on her health care proposal:

"I have been fighting for universal health care for a long time, and I've got to tell you I will never give up on the very fundamental right that Americans should have, to have access to quality, affordable health care, no matter who they are," said Mrs. Clinton, New York Democrat. "Health care is a right, not a privilege."

Venezuela's dictator Hugo Chavez on the state control of private schools:

Education based on capitalist ideology has corrupted children's values, he [Chavez] said. "We want to create our own ideology collectively, creative, diverse." Chavez said Venezuelans --not Cubans as opponents suggest -- have been drawing up the new curriculum, but added that Venezuela could always accept Cuban help in the future.

Hillary on Hillarycare: "If it's free, it's from me!"

TANSTAAFL = There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.

Is this a pick up line or what?

Having already downed a few power drinks, she turned around, faced him, looked him straight in the eye and said, "Listen up, Buddy. I screw anybody, any time, anywhere, your place, my place, in the car, front door, back door, on the ground, standing up, sitting down, naked or with clothes on, dirty, clean . . . it doesn't matter to me. I've been doing it ever since I got out of college and I just love it."

Eyes now wide with interest, he responded, "'No kidding. I'm a lawyer, too. What firm are you with?

Should we put on our tin foil hats, or not?

Interesting theory re: Craig from Little Country Lost ...

Excerpts:

Arlen Specter is pissed about the NSA spying program, which allows a wide range of phone calls to be tapped by the Bush administration with no oversight. Another person who has been openly against this program, it turns out, is Larry Craig (go figure that bathroom boy wants to keep his personal life private). Specter wants to challenge the Bush administration on the spying program and is going to need all the votes that he can get, especially from the Republicans. [...]

There is also the revelation that George W. Bush has referred to Larry Craig as "a God damned traitor" and that Bush had instructed the National Republican Senatorial Committee as early as December 2005 to look for someone to run against Larry Craig in 2008. [...]

Why I need a small radio-type production studio

Proposed Ad:

 

Music:  The Old Spice commercial music

 

Do you like whales ... Do you like high-caliber machine guns ...

 

Do you love to partake in cultural events ....

 

Well come on down to Neah Bay, Washington for the cultural experience of a lifetime.

 

Captian Mac the Makah will take you and you family out into the beautiful bay in his luxurious charter boat

 

You and the kiddies can strafe the living hell out of mother natures most beloved gray whale.

 

There the bow mounted 50 caliber for Dad ... a wide assortment of M-16 and AKs for Mom and the teenagers.

 

Captain Mac even has some good old .22's for the youngsters.

 

Daring ... Captain Mac will set you up with a native Makah Tribe harpoon, blessed by the local medicine man.

 

What could be better.

 

See you at Neah Bay and ask for Captain Mac.

 

You will have one whale of a cultural time!

 

Here is the story:  http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1893456/posts