Open Thread

By NB Staff (Bio | Archive)
October 19, 2009 - 08:59 ET

For general discussion and debate. Possible talking point: how should the GOP handle serial tax-evader Charles Rangel?

Convinced that Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) is on the ropes because of a tangle of ethical issues, House GOP leaders are debating whether to aggressively press for his removal as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee or try to drag out the controversy as long as possible for maximum political advantage.

Should Boehner move in for the kill, or drag out the controversy?

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Rangel

October 19, 2009 - 09:01 ET by Blonde

Rep. Boehner should call for his immediate removal from the chairmanship of W&M. Then leave it alone while the Dems. drag their feet.

Lather, rinse, repeat about every two weeks.

I hope he fails, too.

"how should the GOP handle

October 19, 2009 - 09:35 ET by notonmywatch

"how should the GOP handle serial tax-evader Charles Rangel?"

outrage, shock, and repeat.

I know we're not shocked by dem corruption, but we have to fake it. Reach down to that inner Butters, that inner innocent man who doesn't accept that democrats are as corrupt as sin, and show outrage, shock, and repeat.

___________________________________________________________
Graphical conservative commentary - animations & pictures for posting on forums: http://ubama.org/chu...

→ Excellent angle

October 19, 2009 - 09:39 ET by Cool Arrow

Madam Speaker, you will be pleased to know America is not shocked by the corruption within the ranks of your party.

Give me immortality, or give me death - firesign

Mark Foley

October 19, 2009 - 09:42 ET by allanf

Here is Pelosi on Mark Foley:

"For nearly a year, Republican leaders have known of the egregious behavior of Congressman Mark Foley, yet were prepared to adjourn tonight without an ethics committee investigation.."

Where is her outrage today?

I agree that it should be

October 19, 2009 - 11:10 ET by Gat New York

I agree that it should be dragged out for another year allow it to become one of a plethora of ethics issues for the 2010 election.

Political Liability

October 19, 2009 - 13:49 ET by JDW

The charges are serious and they continue to be added. If the libs continue to ignore Rangel's charges they will suffer seriously in 2010. Chances are they want to pass the legislature more than they want the control in the next election.

JDW

DAILY WAVE

I didn't know ACORN was getting a lot of money

Why, Allan, I'm surprised

October 19, 2009 - 13:30 ET by MikeB

Why, Allan, I'm surprised at you! Ms. Pelosi, who promised the "most ethical Congress, evah!" has had an Ethics committee investigation on Congressman Rangle for quite some time. And, no one wants a rush to judgement, so in the interests of thoroughness and fairness, that investigation will continue without let up until Rangel dies... unless there is a Republican take over of the House, with enough seats to be able to enforce the rules and laws.

"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan

Call me Patrick Swazye

October 19, 2009 - 11:24 ET by tim413

Ditto.

Stop federal judges from foisting their notions of "fairness" on the States. Amend the 14th Amendment! - tim413

I agree, B....seasoned with

October 19, 2009 - 11:28 ET by motherbelt

I agree, B....seasoned with replays of Her Speakerness badgering Republicans about Foley.

I agree. This needs to be

October 19, 2009 - 11:29 ET by Scuba Dude

I agree.

This needs to be brought to the attention of everyone every few weeks. This should be dragged out so it is NEVER forgotten. We need to be able to use it for the 2010 elections.

The Obama Administration: THE most fiscally irresponsible Administration EVER

SHE DUNN IT

October 19, 2009 - 17:37 ET by reelman46

LYING LEFTY DUNN IT

Imagine
any national political figure saying that Mao was “one of their two
favorite philosophers and one of the two they turned to most”…my God,
what evidence democrat Anita Dunn is a kook secular socialist. Why not
say Hitler, same thing without the WW2? Mao was THE biggest mass
murderer EVER. Tens of millions died by his orders. Her high school
audience did not know that? Maybe not these days.

Of course, being a sneaky slimy lying secular socialist…she (are you
ready for this?)…says she got it from something she read that a
Republican said!!! Like Lee Atwater was her philosophic guide! What a
diaper full. You, being a dufus, are expected to realize this was said
in
humor and from someone else.

Always remember the arrogant modern national democrat has no moral or ethical boundaries. Now it all makes sense.
Will CNN fact check her? You find that quote from Atwater yet? What
does that tell you? Its that “no boundaries” thing again. Its what they
do.

http://conservablogs...

Doug Schexnayder, Ph.D. (theconservativecrawfish)

Rangel Riddle---Remove? Remonstrate? Relocate to Raratonga?

October 19, 2009 - 22:28 ET by matthewdean

What to do with Charles Rangel?

Good thread.

Great posts.

If you are pressed for time, here it is in a nutshell:

So far, we have: Rangel, Anita Dunn, Adam Clayton Powell, Imus, Lou Dobbs, Cindy Sheehan and Alices' Restaurant, Cadillacs, Mercedes and Chappaquiddick, football, and somehow, teabagging snuck in there. Or maybe someone was having tea at Alices' Restaurant and I misread it.

Short and sweet suggestions: lather-rinse-repeat, outrage-shock-repeat, do the right thing, take him out (metaphorically), drag it out & rub it in the Dems faces, don't drag it out cuz he'll commit more mischief & you would be dependent on the liberal media to air it so its' a no-brainer-get him asap.

Probably my favorite: Remove his sorry ass.

I do like Mike B.'s - "Justice is diminished when its not applied."

And Cool Arrows' - "Drag it out, but always refer back to Pelosis' penchant for lying."

Scuba Dude may have nailed it with - "He will never be voted out of office. He will either die in there or be arrested. Preferably the latter."

Either Scoobs' final option listed or the Final Option preceding it works for me.

I say that because when I first saw Charles Rangel he seemed to come across, to me anyway, as an oily dude. Then I found out he had received the Bronze Star for an action in Korea and thought a little attitude adjustment might be necessary on my part. Time has shown my initial reaction to the man to have been correct.

KJ_sez @ 11:29 - Sez it all (every word right outta my head).

mattm @ 11:00 wrote what to me will likely end up representing the answer we will get. It is not necessarily the answer I would like.

mattm said, "Reps are wimps."

And there you have it.

The Dems lie, cheat, steal, call names and point fingers, and the only Reps not immediately vacating the area are the ones busy bending over and grabbing their ankles.

Arrghhhh, it just makes me so proud.

"I may not agree with what your bumper sticker says, but I will defend to the death your right to stick it." (Unknown)

This is a debate?

October 19, 2009 - 09:08 ET by Saint Zero

What would the democrats/media do if it were a republican? Seriously, call for his head. Every day if you have to.

Ala Alice's Restaurant

October 19, 2009 - 09:11 ET by legacyrepublican

Ala Alice's Restaurant ... "I want to kill, kill, kill!"

"You can do anything you want at Alice's Restaurant" -- except dump Congressional garbage before 2010.

→ Definitely drag it out

October 19, 2009 - 09:10 ET by Cool Arrow

But keep going back to "the most ethical Congress in History"

That Pelosi quote should be referenced in every GOP speech on the floor, not as a direct assault on Rangel, but as a reminder of Pelosi's penchant for lying.

Eventually somebody's got to pick up the story that GOP keeps going back to Pelosi's quote.

Give me immortality, or give me death - firesign

Are you kidding?

October 19, 2009 - 09:10 ET by KC Mulville

If you drag it out, you'll give Rangel more time to commit mischief. Worse, if you allow him, he'll dispense favors to keep himself in power.

On the other hand, if you try to drag it out for the sake of political embarrassment, you'll be depending on the liberal media to publicize the accusations.

No brainer. Get him asap.

Personally, I think there's

October 19, 2009 - 09:16 ET by BKeyser

Personally, I think there's two reasons for the Dems continual feet-dragging on this issue. First, they really don't see tax evasion by Dem-Elites as a wrongdoing and just don't want to be bothered to investigate it. Second, they know they don't need any perceived bad press at this time.

If you've got the company commander of the enemy who's lobbing mortars at you (he did write one of the 5 health care bills) in your sights, you take him out. Metaphorically speaking of course- I wouldn't want some Kos-kid thinking I'm advocating violence.

History question: Who preceded Rangel in his district?

October 19, 2009 - 09:20 ET by CO2Maker

Answer: Adam Clayton Powell

The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree.

But in fairness, he won the Bronze Star with Valor in the Korean War.

Adam Clayton Powell

October 19, 2009 - 09:24 ET by Blonde

Wow, talk about a blast from the past.

When I was a little kid, my parents took me to Bimini. We were walking out of the Big Game Club, and Powell was coming in. You'd have thought my parents were the King and Queen with the way he greeted us (they'd never met him). Any fellow American in a storm, I guess.

My mom still laughs about it.

I hope he fails, too.

and the challenger is

October 19, 2009 - 09:27 ET by larry on LI

adam clayton powell IV

Tow his abandoned '79 Caddy from the House Garage.

October 19, 2009 - 09:29 ET by SickofLibs

That'll teach him a lesson he won't soon forget.

→ SOL

October 19, 2009 - 09:32 ET by Cool Arrow

It was a Mercedes. (wouldn't expect a Democrat to buy American, would you?)

And it got towed last year after this abuse was brought out.

Give me immortality, or give me death - firesign

Cool: I misstyped that

October 19, 2009 - 15:04 ET by SickofLibs

I was referring to the dead 79 yr old golf caddie they found under the tarp in his parking spot.

→ Thanks, SOL

October 19, 2009 - 15:09 ET by Cool Arrow

Yeah, turns out the Mercedes wouldn't make it all the way to Chappaquiddick

Give me immortality, or give me death - firesign

SickofLibs

October 19, 2009 - 09:40 ET by BondPlainBond

Excellent!

Proving To Be the Source of Obama's Rapid Downfall and Decline

October 19, 2009 - 09:40 ET by BondPlainBond

Use their own words against them. Every hour of every day. Relentlessly.

What's good for the goose... is REALLY good for the jackasses.

Remove his

October 19, 2009 - 09:40 ET by jessieH

Remove his sorry ass. The people will vote most of them out, soon, but the man is still corrupt. Get him out, now.

The republicans have shown little propensity to go after the...

October 19, 2009 - 09:44 ET by R D Helm

...dems on much of anything, and I don't expect they will have much to say about Rangel, either.

They appear locked in a state of fear and paralysis when it comes to all things related to Obama and the dems.

-Dave

The paralysis is caused by a fear

October 19, 2009 - 18:11 ET by Willis_Leon_Johnson

of winning control and being in a LEADERSHIP position.

It's a strange role for them and they can't handle the load.

'member back a few years when jumpin' jim bailed on the republicans and tied the senate?

The democrats claimed they had the right to take control and replace all the republican chaircritters, and the republicans, in unison, replied "SURE!!! just don't make us lead".

http://gjresult.com

The You Report We Decide Not To Watch Networks.

October 19, 2009 - 09:45 ET by laree

The Cable News Wars, will be televised just not on any network anyone watches:)

This morning Lou Dobbs canceled on Imus In The Morning, because CNN
would not let him appear. The Reporter Boycott of Fox News Networks.
Video FBN below.

Here is the thing if CNN and MSNBC folks don’t show up on Fox
Networks, I won’t be watching them at all. So how is this helping those
network’s ratings? Oh I guess I will watch inferior DNC propaganda
channel/sarc. The reason people are not watching now is because they
know that CNN, and MSNBC are nothing more than Democrat Party Arms. I
already don’t watch MSNBC ,the only thing I WAS watching was Lou Dobbs
on CNN.

Imus has already beat CNBC’s in the ratings, and FBN is on half the
carriage. MSNBC and CNN are worried about Imus’s ratings on FBN but it
wasn’t their on air talent that drives his ratings….gonna miss you Lou
but this is what happens when you work for the
CommunistCollectiveNetwork.

Video from FBN

How's this: do the right

October 19, 2009 - 09:49 ET by Ruths husband Ben

How's this: do the right thing.

How to judge it? Do exactly what you would do (or have done) when it is (was) a Republican. Nothing more, nothing less. (if that is different than "the right thing" you have some work to do.)

Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho

Justice Should Not Be Used as a Political Tactic

October 19, 2009 - 09:59 ET by Mitch NJ

It diminishes both justice and the party using it.

Justice is also diminished

October 19, 2009 - 13:38 ET by MikeB

Justice is also diminished when it is not applied. Sanctions for corruption only against Republicans is not justice. If an action would get a Republican run out of the House, that same action committed by a Democrat should get that Democrat run out also. It is not that difficult a concept ... except to Democrats. Just as blacks cannot be racist even when they are calling whites "cracker" and calling for the killing of whites, a Democrat cannot be corrupt, even when soliciting or accepting bribes, cheating on taxes, running a homosexual brothel out of his appartment, etc.

"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan

Why should they have to do

October 19, 2009 - 10:00 ET by mattm

Why should they have to do anything? The IRS should prosecute this guy...and any other government official who is committing this crime.

The GOP should just expose it - remind people that the Dems coined the phrase "culture of corruption" - they obviously have much experience in that area....

But they won't do anything. They're wimps. This is why they (we) are in the f-ed up mess we're in.

Audit Them All

October 19, 2009 - 10:14 ET by slickwillie2001

In 2010 and 2012, part of the Republicans' platform should be a call for a law that requires everyone in Congress, including staff, and the administration to be tax-audited by an independent accounting firm with the results made public. We also need a law that demands government officials be treated no differently than ordinary citizens with respect to penalties for non-payment.

On the Saturday repeat of

October 19, 2009 - 10:26 ET by Chris Norman

On the Saturday repeat of Red Eye (why is Fox so uneven in airing Red Eye on weekends? Sometimes they have it on both Saturday and Sunday, last night they had a repeat of Hannity instead of RE, sometimes they don't air it at all), anyway, Mike Huckabee got off a good retort at some shrill WSJ reporterette, Kelly Somethingorother, when she sneeringly asked, "What controversial liberal is trying to buy a professional sports team?". Huckabee replied "Ted Turner. Oh, yeah - he already owns one."

The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.

Random Thought

October 19, 2009 - 10:25 ET by Chris Norman

Has anyone ever seen Anita Dunn and Cindy Sheehan in the same place at the same time?

The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.

George and 'Teabagging'

October 19, 2009 - 10:28 ET by slickwillie2001

Gag Alert; Another lesson on 'teabagging', this one from little Georgie on 'This Week':

'This Week's' Stephanopoulis & Guest Discuss the 'Teabagging' Movement: http://townhall.com

→ Slick

October 19, 2009 - 10:35 ET by Cool Arrow

I don't guess there's any bottom to the depths of Liberal imagination.

I certainly wouldn't couple the terms "tea bagging" and "movement".

But George did work for Bill Clinton, didn't he.

Give me immortality, or give me death - firesign

Mara Liasson and Donovan McNabb

October 19, 2009 - 10:28 ET by KC Mulville

On the talk shows over the weekend, Mara Liasson argued that Rush Limbaugh's criticism was factually wrong, and that Donovan McNabb was a pretty good quarterback. Embarrassed, she admitted that she didn't know anything about professional football (but she felt qualified to offer her opinion?). She then admitted that she formed her opinion on what she'd read.

Exactly, Mara - that's what Limbaugh was talking about.

As a Philadelphia Eagles fan, let me explain the criticism against McNabb. Yesterday, the Eagles played the horrendous Oakland Raiders, and lost. Why? Because the Eagles chose to rely entirely on McNabb in the second half.

Now, the Eagles offensive line played terribly, and didn't give McNabb a lot of time.

But wait a minute. What does a professional football team do when their offensive line can't protect the quarterback?
In the West Coast offense (which the Eagles follow), the answer is easy: you throw short, quick passes that makes a pass rush useless.
So why don't the Eagles throw short, quick passes? Because those passes demand tremendous accuracy. McNabb isn't that accurate.
Why don't the Eagles throw slants? Because they can't. McNabb isn't accurate enough.
Kurt Warner, when his hand isn't injured, is the most accurate quarterback in the league. He throws slants all the time. He hits his receivers, in stride (they don't have to alter their running to catch the ball) and he's extremely successful. McNabb? He can't throw slants.

Sure, if he has time, he can throw the ball downfield with success. But when you don't have time, you have to adjust. Adjustments require accuracy. McNabb isn't accurate. That's why the Eagles lost to the Oakland Raiders. They couldn't adjust. They kept calling the same deep-drop, five or seven step pass routes ... because McNabb can't throw anything else.

And yet, in the Philly papers and ESPN analysis, all they can say is that the offensive line didn't protect him. They can't bring themselves to criticize McNabb.

→ KC hits a Home Run

October 19, 2009 - 10:46 ET by Cool Arrow

Seriously, KC. If you ever think it's worth your time, you should apply as a contributor in a more esteemed capacity.

Back to McNabb. I remember an aging Doug Williams and a lackluster Mark Rypien, both receiving Super Bowl MVP awards for having the luxury of a HOGS offensive line.

McNabb's appearance in a Super Bowl resulted in 3 interceptions. He's a good QB, but he's not even a Randal Cunningham.

Give me immortality, or give me death - firesign

KC?

October 19, 2009 - 11:03 ET by BKeyser

What's the morning take on DeMarcus Russell? He's another one that the media seemed to offer excuse after excuse for. I know some have been souring on him recently, but have you seen if he's now the second coming, or something this morning? Hey, maybe just being on the field with a great role model like Donovan has allowed him to suddenly mature into the great quarterback they all knew he could be.

Personally, I always though McNabb was average at best. He's certainly a choke artest, and my Ravens sure made him look awful last year. He has taken some big hits and is seemingly oft-injured but I really put him in the same book as Steve McNair- decent, not overly smart for an NFL QB, and lacking at least one of the essential physical skills that might have otherwise put him in a higher class; the aforementioned (by you) accuracy problem.

→ Got that right, Keyser

October 19, 2009 - 11:08 ET by Cool Arrow

But don't say nuthin' 'bout Warren Moon. As a Quarterback, he was awesome.

Give me immortality, or give me death - firesign

Agreed CA~~

October 19, 2009 - 11:11 ET by BKeyser

He just lost so much time playing in the (what was it?) USFL. He probably would be the NFL record-holder in all things QB if not for that.

→ Keyser

October 19, 2009 - 11:18 ET by Cool Arrow

He was Rose Bowl MVP at Washington but the NFL would not draft him at QB so he went to the Canadian League where he won an insane 6 Grey Cups, I think and participated in a couple more.

If you want to talk about a black QB with an honest-to-goodness axe to grind with the NFL, look no further.

Give me immortality, or give me death - firesign

CA~~

October 19, 2009 - 11:22 ET by BKeyser

Canadian league, that's right. We had one of those here in B-More after (our still favorite) Jim Irsay talked his old man into slinking away in the dead of night. Stallions, I believe we were called, and we won a Grey Cup one of those years.

But yeah, add 6 or so years of Moon's average NFL stats to his eventual total and I'm pretty sure he surpasses Marino is just about every category. Vikes were a pass-happy bunch during his years there.

→ Tru dat BK

October 19, 2009 - 11:25 ET by Cool Arrow

But his ability to read & execute at Houston was pure poetry.

Give me immortality, or give me death - firesign

Russell

October 19, 2009 - 12:14 ET by KC Mulville

Well, I honestly don't think race plays as much of a role anymore. Russell was hyped because of the type of quarterback he is. He's a quarterback who "adds a new dimension" (i.e., he can run as well as pass). Every few years, the NFL goes crazy about new quarterbacks who add a "new dimension" to the position. It's some kind of mass psychosis, because they've been creating new dimensions for years, but the QBs who win the Super Bowl are always the same: stay in pocket, make the right throw.

Years ago, that was code for "black quarterback," but that wasn't really fair. In the early 1970s, the Steelers had a black quarterback named Jersey Joe Gilliam, but Gilliam wasn't a big runner. The Steelers' "running" quarterback was Terry Bradshaw. And, history shows, Bradshaw became Bradshaw when he stopped running.
Sorry, Blonde, the same goes for Tim Tebow. He can run as well as pass, but that won't matter in the NFL. If he can throw the full variety of NFL passes, he'll do fine, whether he runs or not. But if he can't make the throws, his feet won't matter. The "new" dimension Tebow brings won't matter unless he proves he can master the "old" dimensions.

I just think that experience shows that you pay a quarterback to throw the ball. His running doesn't matter. Russell can run the ball, who cares? His feet aren't going to beat you. McNabb's feet aren't going to beat you.

What makes an NFL quarterback great? It's how he can adjust. If you take away his deep throws, can he beat you short? And if you play close to prevent short throws, can he turn around and beat you long? If you blitz him, can he throw quickly? It's the variety of his skills that beat you, not having skill in any one area.

Russell doesn't have that variety. McNabb has more, but not enough. Tebow? We won't know until he gets to the NFL.

I agree about Tebow

October 19, 2009 - 12:30 ET by general company

But not Russel. Russel can move a little, but he is more like Aikman. He throws the ball very well, if you can protect him. When he moves, he is a less effective passer, plus he was always to big to make a living running. What Russel should had done was stay in school, and avoid the Raiders. Best QB's on the move were Steve Young and Roger Staubach, in my humble opine.

My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful

"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg

→ GC

October 19, 2009 - 12:32 ET by Cool Arrow

Fran Tarkenton, maybe?

Randall Cunningham?

Give me immortality, or give me death - firesign

Yea sure,

October 19, 2009 - 12:52 ET by general company

Both of these guys, are certainly on the list, but no championships? You could throw in Thiesman, Kilmer, Culpepper and A.Manning also.

Also while were on the subject

My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful

"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg

yeah sure? ...sorry...

October 19, 2009 - 13:03 ET by BKeyser

yeah sure?

...sorry...

KC~~

October 19, 2009 - 12:36 ET by BKeyser

Could be. I thought the "quality" behind JaMarcus (I misspelled his name in my earlier post) Russell was his huge size and strength. Regardless, he surely hasn't panned out.

I'm not entirely sure his race doesn't play a role though. Tavaris Jackson is another highly touted young black quarterback that continually was lauded by the press- especially during the Favre, is he or isn't he saga. Michael Vick- another runner.

There certainly may have been a number of white QB's over the last decade that have played poorly but given a pass by the press- I just can't think of any. Kyle Boller was constantly berrated, Chad Pennington, Joey Harrington, and even everybody's favorite celeb Tony Romo, all get blasted by the press. My point here being that I think in every respect, Rush was right that the press treats some players differently than others and for quarterbacks, race has a lot to do with it. Doesn't mean it's sinister, there have been far fewer successful black QB's than any other posisition so it may be a natural rooting for success, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

You're right about Russell

October 19, 2009 - 12:54 ET by KC Mulville

You're right (and I fumbled the point) about Russell. My intended point was they were trying to make him a newer, better version of Ben Roethlisberger -- that he was a QB with an "added" dimension. It's tough to tackle him. But I think Russell proves my larger point. If you don't master the old dimensions, the new dimension doesn't mean much. Roethlisberger makes the throws. Russell doens't.

→ Tom Jackson on McNabb

October 19, 2009 - 21:21 ET by Cool Arrow

Just heard Tom Jackson say Donovan had a game where he was a little bit (sic) unaccurate.

A little bit? You'd a' thunk they'd quit paddy-cakin' this guy by now.

LYDSEXICS UNTIE!

I switched to the MLB

October 19, 2009 - 21:27 ET by BKeyser

during halftime. Special teams nightmare in San Diego tonight.

The way Ben

October 19, 2009 - 21:39 ET by general company

the Manning boys and say Marino move in the pocket is way underrated. I dont think any of these guys can outrun my dear Grandmother, well maybe by a little. It's difficult for Russel to learn this,,,while being chased by Defensive Ends?

My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful

"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg

No need to apologize, KC

October 19, 2009 - 14:42 ET by Blonde

I think Tebow will play in the NFL, but unless he can change how he plays, he won't start.

He's not a pocket passer, he makes his first read, sometimes a second, and if nothing is there, he runs. He takes all snaps from the shotgun, run or throw, which last year with good option players like Harvin and Murphy, worked like a charm. Also, our line is suspect this year (hmmm...anybody see Saturday's game?). As you can see, without the stellar receiving corps and the good pass blocking that Murphy & Harvin provided, Florida has had to change its strategy this year, hence all that dive up the middle nonsense.

As part of Tebow's decision to stay for his senior year, came the hiring of an NFL quarterback coach (Scott Loeffler). He's working with Tebow (and Brantley) to work on his mechanics, fast release, and reading his secondary and tertiary receivers (although with the crop we have, not so great), as well as working directly under center. Too bad our line isn't good enough to let him practice it all in a real life situation. We may see it against FIU and Carolina if we get a decent lead in those games.

I think Tebow'll master it all, knowing his drive and determination. Whether he'll ever be a pure passer, I doubt. I expect to see him run a bit in the NFL, but I can't imagine them using Tebow like Urban did during the 2006 season on short yardage (rotating with Chris Leak). What starting quarterback would put up with that situation? So as much as he is touted as a unique college quarterback (he is)....I just don't see it translating to the NFL.

And before anyone asks, no, I don't see him playing any other position than quarterback.

I hope he fails, too.

More worrisome than the

October 19, 2009 - 10:29 ET by KJ_sez

More worrisome than the lack of attention to removing yet another Dim from power due to the abuse thereof is the rate at which the Executive is dictating which laws should or should not be enforced. This, the orders from DHS not to seek out illegal immigrants for deportation, the lack of prosectuion for denying citizens entry to polling places, its dictating the taking over and looting of vital U.S. industries - all of these point to a Chief Executive that is acting far outside the bondaries of his office as enumerated in the Constitution.

We don't have a President in this country any longer -we have a third-world, Marxist-mentality dictator running the country. The President is telling the Justice department which laws to enforce, and which to disregard? We are no longer a nation governed by laws, but by men - greedy, power-hungry, corrupt to the core, men.

And if we had a Congress that had ever read the U.S. Constitution - and, better yet, understood it - this person occupying the White House would have been impeached, convicted, and run out of town less than three months into his presidency for his high crimes, blatant disregard for the law and the Bill of Rights, and for usurping powers not delegated to the Executive branch of government.

I hope the imbeciles that voted for this bastard find their chains comfortable.

OBAMA = One Big Ass Mistake, America!

making political hay while the sun shines?

October 19, 2009 - 10:55 ET by katainkent

if anyone has noticed... its been an economic monsoon season for the America and dragging out something like this costs the people of this country. Quit trying to use it for your career, sir. Get the job done.

____________________________________________
The Emperor, he has no clothes

We are beginning to see the

October 19, 2009 - 11:07 ET by dscott

We are beginning to see the plans being laid for the wholesale decimation of the senior population under the guise of the H1N1 epidemic. While seniors for the most part are a group least affected by this new flu, they will be the one group targeted to bear the brunt of any epidemic by reason of denial of basic medical treatment. There are 3 levels of an epidemic according to the criteria.

http://www.propublic...

The list of conditions that disqualify hospital admission would be
applied to most people only in the two most severe levels of a
pandemic. However, they would be applied in the first level of a
pandemic for people transferred to hospitals from “other institutional
facilities” such as nursing homes and mental-health centers.

What this means is a person who has a DNR who could normally be saved with minimal medical intervention would be left to die by medical neglect. Yes, the eugenics based thinking is alive and well. What this really means is a clever way to thin the ranks of those using Medicare under the guise of an uptick in Flu cases. If you are a cancer patient where one doctor diagnoses you as terminal, you get denied treatment. A cancer is not terminial until it is deemed non responsive to medical treatment, even the most aggressive cancers have a chance (albeit small chance) of cure. If you had a 5% chance, who's choice should it be to make? See page 5 of the proposed exclusion criteria in case of an epidemic: Florida Department of Health draft guidelines

The patient is excluded from hospital admission or transfer to critical care if ANY of the following is present:

1) Known “Do Not Resuscitate” (DNR) status per 64J-2.018, Florida Administrative Code

2) Severe and irreversible chronic neurologic condition with persistent coma or vegetative state.

3) Acute severe neurologic event with minimal chance of functional neurologic recovery (physician judgment.) This includes traumatic brain injury, severe hemorrhagic stroke, hypoxic ischemic brain injury, and intracranial hemorrhage.

4) Severe acute trauma with a Revised Trauma Score < 2. (See Appendix 2)) GCS: _______ SBP: _______ RR: _______ RTS: _______

5) Severe burns with < 50% anticipated survival (patients identified as “Low” or worse on the Triage Decision Table for Burn Victims (Appendix 4) . Burns not requiring critical care resources may be cared for at the local facility (e.g. burns that might have been transferred to a burn center under normal circumstances). Score: ________

6) Cardiac arrest not responsive to ACLS interventions within 20-30 minutes.

7) Advanced untreatable neuromuscular disease (such as amotrophic lateral sclerosis, end stage multiple sclerosis, or spinal muscular atrophy) requiring assistance with activities of daily living or requiring chronic ventilator support.

8) Known chromosomal or untreatable disorders that are uniformly fatal in the first 2 years of life.

9) Incurable metastatic malignant disease.

10) End-stage organ failure meeting the following criteria:

Lung: (any of the following)
- COPD with Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) < 25% predicted baseline, Pa02 < 55 mm Hg, or severe secondary pulmonary hypertension.
- Cystic fibrosis with post-bronchodilator FEV1 < 30% or baseline Pa02 < 55 mm Hg.
- Pulmonary fibrosis with VC or TLC < 60% predicted, baseline Pa02 < 55 mm Hg, or severe secondary pulmonary hypertension.
- Primary pulmonary hypertension with NYHA class III or IV heart failure, right atrial pressure > 10 mm Hg, or mean pulmonary arterial pressure > 50 mm Hg.
Liver: Pugh score > 7, when available (Appendix 5). Includes bili, albumin, INR, ascites, encephalopathy. Total score: ______

11) Those patients who meet “low priority” criteria (MSOFA score= 0) as defined in Table 1.

In order to not be excluded you must:

Patient must have NO EXCLUSION CRITERIA AND at least one of the following INCLUSION CRITERIA:

1) Requirement for invasive ventilator support (reasonable expectation of short-term use)
- Refractory hypoxemia (Sp02 < 90% on non-re-breather mask or FIO2 > 0.85)
- Respiratory acidosis (pH < 7.2)
- Clinical evidence of impending respiratory failure

2) Hypotension* with clinical evidence of shock* refractory to volume resuscitation, and requiring vasopressor or inotrope support that cannot be managed in a ward setting.

*Hypotension = Systolic BP, <90 mm Hg for patients > 10 years old, or < 70 + (2 x age in years) for patients ages 1 – 10, or relative hypotension;
Clinical evidence of shock = altered level of consciousness, decreased urine output, or other evidence of end-organ failure.

Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.

Yes, that hits home doesn't it?

October 19, 2009 - 11:32 ET by Blonde

Here's the swine flu map of Florida....nice huh?

All the major population centers.

How long until Sarah's "death panels" are disparaged again?

I hope he fails, too.

our list is our list

October 19, 2009 - 11:37 ET by katainkent

"I don't like to tell you this," he said he told her, "it feels unfair, but our list is our list is our list."

well doesn't that just make you just shudder.

____________________________________________
The Emperor, he has no clothes

→ That's triage

October 19, 2009 - 11:39 ET by Cool Arrow

Emergencies tend to bring out the practical.

The opinion expressed above isn't a new concept. It just reminds us that the liberals need only create a crisis to trigger the behavior.

Maybe we'll see triage with H1N1, but I think we'll definitely see it with Obamacare.

Give me immortality, or give me death - firesign

'just one of those things'

October 19, 2009 - 11:48 ET by katainkent

how long until it is 'just one of those things' even after the crisis has passed.

several things the left screamed about, that Bush put into play, that are still in force today come to mind.

Depressing Poll

October 19, 2009 - 11:39 ET by R D Helm

I posted this over at my blog, but decided I would share:

Okay, I realize the 2012 elections are forever and ten days away (or so
it sometimes seems) and any polling going on now for same is grossly
premature, but there is a trend turning up in them that I am finding
difficult to ignore, and that is the presence of two RINOs at the top
of the republican presidential ticket-Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney.

Now, don't get me wrong, I like both of them personally - Huck for his work promoting the FairTax, and Romney for his business smarts, but as for presidential material, they fall a little short in the for-real conservative department.

We are not yet a full year removed from an election where the republicans sent up a media-selected RINO
(John McCain) who was soundly beaten by a former community organizer
that three years before no one had even heard of,with questionable
personal associations, and who is currently working to transform the America we all know and love into something decidedly hideous (Cuba).

Many
true conservatives stayed home last November out of pure disgust, and
in some ways, I cannot blame them. I held my nose tightly when I hit
the touch screen for McCain, and had to keep telling myself I was
actually voting for Gov. Palin just so I could go through with it. I
mean, John McCain is even to the left of George W. Bush, who I consider
to be a socialist himself.

The party must to do two things it failed to do for the election of 2008:

1. Do not allow the liberal-dominated media to select their candidate for them.
2. Run the RINOs out of the party, and that includes McCain and his meddlesome spawn.

Failure
to do either could very well mean the re-election of Barack Hussein
Obama, and in the immortal words of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, that
is just too bitter to contemplate.

NOTE-Sorry for the screwy formatting. I cleaned it up as best I could. It was originally posted here.

-Dave

R.D., do not despair. We

October 19, 2009 - 19:01 ET by Gary P Jackson

R.D., do not despair.

We are THREE YEARS AWAY from the contest.

Might I remind you of this polling:

In a Gallop poll dated 2/15/79.

Front runners for the Republican
party to face incumbent Jimmy Carter.

Dole 29%

George HW Bush 27%

former Pres
Ford 22%

former Calf.Gov.Reagan 9%

undecided 10%

no opinion 3%.

We all know how
Bob Dole ran a strong campaign and went on to beat Carter in a landslide.Yup, happened just like that!!

Also, Rudy Giuliani was all but inevitable in 2007 and early 2008, and Hillary Clinton was absolutely inevitable! Wasn't that election between Rudy and Hillary a real nail biter?

Sarah Palin is following the Ronald Reagan blueprint to the letter. Sarah has laid low, written a book, and is issuing solid policy statements, like this:

http://www.facebook....

and this:

http://www.facebook....

and this one, which has been covered worldwide:

http://www.facebook....

Reagan used the radio, Sarah uses Facebook.

Like Reagan, she is preparing to make hundreds of speeches between now and the foreseeable future, and has over a 100 candidates who want her to come help them.

Three years is an eternity in politics. Way too many things can happen. Polling now is like polling who is going to win the 2012 Super Bowl.

I tell you though, if you need some cheering up, check out this I found on Sarah. It about sums it up:

http://talibanrising...

Right on !

October 19, 2009 - 19:03 ET by Free Stinker

Right on !

Anita Dunn Steps In It Again

October 19, 2009 - 11:42 ET by celator

Here we go again. (h/t Drudge) Headline from WND, quoting Dunn:

"White House boasts: We 'control' news media
Communications chief offers shocking confession to foreign government"

From the article, quoting Dunn again:

"President Obama's presidential campaign focused on "making" the news media cover certain issues while rarely communicating anything to the press unless it was "controlled," White House Communications Director Anita Dunn disclosed to the Dominican government at a videotaped conference."

These people are truly despicable.

http://www.wnd.com/i...

No citizen's right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, or property is safe as long as Obama is President of the United States.

H1N1 or bust?

October 19, 2009 - 11:53 ET by BKeyser

Since dscott brought up the swine flu- I have a few questions about this.

First, just on a general note, how many people here are giving this extra consideration, say, over and above that of the typical seasonal flu?

And second, I just looked at the updated statistics for the swine flu, along with some general knowledge about seasonal flu. I'm not a doctor, nor a pathologist, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night and browsed the internet.

Apparently, about 36,000 deaths are related to the seasonal flu each year in the US. Wiki says 500,000 die each year worldwide during both flu seasons, one in each hemisphere. I am assuming that since the first cases, as I remember, were reported in the spring in Mexico, they were the southern hemisphere's version (even though Mexico is not below the equator) since to date the majority of deaths have occured in South American countries and Austrailia. Additionally, they kept warning us all summer that this thing would be coming back, probably stronger, for our normal flu season.

According to flucount.org, there have been 1000 deaths in the US, and 5558 worldwide attributed to H1N1. Since the CDC says that flu season generally peaks in the US in January, but could begin as early as October, I'm going to assume a 5-month average flu season for calculations.

Normal seasonal flu:

at 36,000 US deaths, that would be 7200 per month average.
at 500,000 deaths worldwide, that would be 100,000 per month average.

H1N1:

(assuming the southern hemisphere season has ended and the northern hemisphere has just begun) 5558 worldwide deaths would be 1111 per month average.
(assuming 1 month thus far for the US figures) 1000 US deaths would be 1000 per month average.

Of course, I can't independently verify this, or even realistically quantify the projected averages -evidently this thing could explode drastically and really skew the averages- but that didn't seem to happen in the southern hemisphere, and to my knowledge, there wasn't even a vaccine available until just recently.

So my question again is, is anyone overly concerned about this flu strain, or is it being overblown by the CDC and others? And if it's being overblown, is it out of caution, or some other purpose? I'm not assigning a conspiracy to the CDC, but they are a government entity and wouldn't it be helpful if the government managed to stave off this virulent, deadly virus just as they're pushing for greater control over health care?

I'm curious how you all feel about this...

I'm not calling it a

October 19, 2009 - 12:33 ET by dscott

I'm not calling it a conspiracy yet either, however, it's just a little too convenient to call an uptick in flu deaths an epidemic for someone to concoct and exploit a crisis. Remember, H1N1 has already been declared as a pandemic. Given that seniors have already been blamed by Obama for using up half the health care dollars, it smacks as too targeted to deny seniors medical treatment even though they as a group are the least affected by H1N1. Given that ObamaCare would cut $400 billion or more from Medicare what better way to do so than cull the targeted group without accepting responsibility. I would call it a bank shot to get at seniors.

Rahm Emanuel said a crisis shouldn't be wasted, other Democrats repeated this unacceptable exploitation for political gain as though it was something to be done as a matter of course. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck - it's a duck.

Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.

X

October 19, 2009 - 12:53 ET by serfer62

Forget it

With the DC GOP they will probably send him campagein money...

X

October 19, 2009 - 12:53 ET by serfer62

Forget it

With the DC GOP they will probably send him campagein money...

Cue up the Harry Belafonte song...

October 19, 2009 - 12:55 ET by R D Helm

...I mean, there was only one, right?

Judd Gregg says we are headed for 'banana republic' status.

I'm not sure we will even be able to afford bananas.

-Dave

Maroon Boy -- head up ass or in clouds?

October 19, 2009 - 13:20 ET by Jack Bauer

So Balloon Boy is a hoax...

Meanwhile... over in the White House, the second biggest hoax in history continues as...

MAROON BOY pretends to be President!

The only difference being that this guy really is 8 miles high -- look at his weed decision today. MAAAN.

Hey seniors! Ready for Terri Schaivo healthcare? Perfected in the UK. Exported to the US. To die for.

Oh come on, REALLY????

October 19, 2009 - 13:14 ET by jon_torlin

Looks like UK's Brown really stepped into the brown.(use your imagination) Bad enough we had Algore saying we had ten years to fix global warming for the last 20 years, but now this???

http://news.bbc.co.u...

First line in the article: Brown said negotiators had 50 days to save the world from global warming and break the "impasse".

*sigh* Give me a break.

-Jon

That's a Tuesday -- Dec 8,

October 19, 2009 - 13:19 ET by Jack Bauer

That's a Tuesday -- Dec 8, 2009.

Hey seniors! Ready for Terri Schaivo healthcare? Perfected in the UK. Exported the US. To die for.

Which, I think, is right

October 19, 2009 - 16:08 ET by ckc1227

Which, I think, is right about the time they will be signing the Copenhagen Treaty that, in effect, creates a world government that every nation will have to answer to.

too much to hope for

October 19, 2009 - 18:43 ET by jon_torlin

I thought after his getting dissed by Soetoro not once, not twice, but plenty of times, both in person and by actions that That One did, Brown would have wised up and gotten smart about a few things. Apparently not.

The end of the world won't be 2012, it'll be sooner. The End of the World as we know it. Ugh.

-Jon

Countdown to NPI

October 19, 2009 - 13:55 ET by CobraMan

After reading another artical here, one that mentions National Public Radio, I am wondering how long it will take Congress to create National Public Internet.

Just like with radio, Congress first supported the development of the early internet through federal funding of private enterprise and military research grants, like they did with early radio.

Once the Internet took shape and became popular, Congress begins writing legislation to regulate access and content (Net Neutrality is just the start), just like they did with radio once it became very popular (broadcast licensees and Fairness Doctrine).

Now Congress is worried about the "high" and "inequitable" costs of internet access and is considering subsidizing "low income" citizens for internet access. This, of course, won't work very well, so Congress will have to create a special, government funded internet access portal, similar to NPR, were anyone can gain access without the worry of inappropriate content, access fees, "unfair" balance of opinions,and the like.

I wouldn't doubt that this will be called Nation Public Internet. I also have no doubt that it will occur. The question is: how long will it take?

The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution

Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court

cobra

October 19, 2009 - 22:02 ET by cajun2

Keep a close watch on the white house this week. They are having a conference this Thursday on this same subject. Also on the agenda is possible bailouts to failing newspapers. This may explain why the NYTimes has changed its mind to sell the Boston Globe.

NJ news 12

October 19, 2009 - 14:23 ET by billb

If you ever watched this obscure network, you are already aware of the slanted political coverage. It should be apparent to them soon that it takes more than sleeping with Corzine to become another CNN

Christie's the man!

rangel

October 19, 2009 - 14:28 ET by charlietexas

let him sweat. Keep the fire going and when we get the house back, run him out. Are his constituents for him or agin him?

He will never be voted out

October 19, 2009 - 14:45 ET by Scuba Dude

He will never be voted out of office. He will either die in office or get arrested. I am hoping for the latter.

The Obama Administration: THE most fiscally irresponsible Administration EVER

scoobs

October 19, 2009 - 22:18 ET by MrShy

That guy is absolutely pathetic and an embarrassment. The Democrat party today is awash in the creepiest of characters. Makes you really wonder if liberalism is indeed a heinous disease.

Scoob, Shy

October 19, 2009 - 22:37 ET by Free Stinker

Scoob, Shy,

Tea Party. Morristown. October 31. (Saturday)

No excuses! ;-)

Good chance I can make

October 19, 2009 - 22:43 ET by Scuba Dude

Good chance I can make it. But I REFUSE to wear any sort of costume. : ) And I can bring my new handy dandy HD vid-cam.

The Obama Administration: THE most fiscally irresponsible Administration EVER

Alrighty then!

October 19, 2009 - 22:50 ET by Free Stinker

Alrighty then! :-)

Still, I could see you going as Ben Franklin. Chicks dig Ben Franklin!

rangel

October 19, 2009 - 14:28 ET by charlietexas

let him sweat. Keep the fire going and when we get the house back, run him out. Are his constituents for him or agin him?

→ Cash 4 Golf Carts

October 19, 2009 - 17:11 ET by Cool Arrow

Kid you not.

Any duffers out there? Obama wants to buy you an electric vehicle. Guess what qualifies?

Give me immortality, or give me death - firesign

Did O'Bama run this plan by

October 19, 2009 - 17:14 ET by CO2Maker

Hugo the Boss Chavez? He's not giving out cash for carts in Caracas. He's getting rid of the damned golf courses!

→ My wish for you

October 19, 2009 - 17:43 ET by Cool Arrow

"May you live in interesting times and come to the attention of important people."

Blessing or curse?

It appears there is NOT a finite supply of taxpayer dollars?

October 19, 2009 - 17:57 ET by MightyMouth

Which is kinda funny cause there IS a finite supply of Taxpayers!

"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"

but not a finite printing press

October 19, 2009 - 18:48 ET by jon_torlin

It's the fed reserve that's printing the dollars, they need to be shut down from printing an infinite amount of dollars, which they are doing. That's a big part of what's killing this country.

-Jon

True! How do we stop the presses jon?

October 19, 2009 - 18:51 ET by MightyMouth

"The bureaucracy is growing to meet the needs of the growing bureaucracy"

stop the gov't.

October 19, 2009 - 18:54 ET by jon_torlin

The gov't has to be stopped and the US Constitution outlines exactly how to do just that. Too bad there aren't people in Congress with enough spine to do it.

The Founders were very wise men.

-Jon