The Obama Administration thread

[Drew]

We all know B.O. doesn't give a damn about police officers. Now, we see he also doesn't give a damn about the First Amendment either!

White House moves to restrict criticism of stimulus projects

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/TapscottsCopyDesk/White-House-moves-to-restrict-criticism-of-stimulus-projects--46540777.html

[freedom78]

We all know B.O. doesn't give a damn about police officers. Now, we see he also doesn't give a damn about the First Amendment either!

White House moves to restrict criticism of stimulus projects

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/TapscottsCopyDesk/White-House-moves-to-restrict-criticism-of-stimulus-projects--46540777.html

If you read the actual blog, instead of the misleading "summary" (and I use that term very loosely), you'll see that this isn't "restricting criticism" but ensuring that all lobbying is done in writing. 

Anyway, for those interested in NON-fiction:

*****************************************

Update on Recovery Act Lobbying Rules: New Limits on Special Interest Influence
Posted by Jesse Lee
Another update from Norm Eisen, special counsel to the president for ethics and government reform, in the spirit of transparency as always:

I am writing with an update on the President?s March 20, 2009 Memorandum on Ensuring Responsible Spending of Recovery Act Funds. Section 3 of the Memorandum required all oral communications between federally registered lobbyists and government officials concerning Recovery Act policy to be disclosed on the Internet; barred registered lobbyists from having oral communications with government officials about specific Recovery Act projects or applications and instead required those communications to be in writing; and also required those written communications to be posted on the Internet.  That Memorandum instructed the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to review the initial 60 days of implementation of the stimulus lobbying restrictions, to evaluate the data, and to recommend modifications.

Following OMB?s review, the Administration has decided to make a number of changes to the rules that we think make them even tougher on special interests and more focused on merits-based decision making.

First, we will expand the restriction on oral communications to cover all persons, not just federally registered lobbyists.  For the first time, we will reach contacts not only by registered lobbyists but also by unregistered ones, as well as anyone else exerting influence on the process.  We concluded this was necessary under the unique circumstances of the stimulus program.

Second, we will focus the restriction on oral communications to target the scenario where concerns about merit-based decision-making are greatest ?after competitive grant applications are submitted and before awards are made.  Once such applications are on file, the competition should be strictly on the merits.  To that end, comments (unless initiated by an agency official) must be in writing and will be posted on the Internet for every American to see.

Third, we will continue to require immediate internet disclosure of all other communications with registered lobbyists.  If registered lobbyists have conversations or meetings before an application is filed, a form must be completed and posted to each agency?s website documenting the contact.

OMB will be consulting with agencies, outside experts and others about these principles and will publish detailed guidance, but we wanted to update interested parties on the outcome of the initial review.  We consulted very broadly both within and outside of government (including as reflected in previous posts on the White House blog) and we are grateful to all those who participated in the process.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Update-on-Recovery-Act-Lobbying-Rules-New-Limits-on-Special-Interest-Influence/

[Axl4Prez2004]

Ouch Drew...Freedom got ya good.   

[Bodhi]

2.) While we're on the topic of cognitive dissonance, I wouldn't mind seeing the thoughts of those who slammed the idea of right wing terror/violence comment on the recent murder of an abortion doctor (w/ mad props to Jim Bob for pointing out this obvious fact).

 I do not condone what this shooter did.  As a matter of fact it completely contradicts the point he was trying to make doesn't it?  Taking a life to protest the taking of lives...really makes no sense.  Now this "Dr" Tiller was a horrible human being.  This guy was completely disturbed.  Anyone who would rip an 8 month old fetus out of the womb for NO reason whatsoever other than money is a terrible person.  If the mothers life was in jeopardy that is one thing, but he was doing it without a reason and making 5,000 dollars a shot at it.  He killed over 60,000 human beings.  He was a piece of shit.  What he was doing was murder, I dont care how you want to spin it.  When you get into the area of "late term" abortion it is a very disturbing thing.  But gunning him down does not solve anything.  In fact it lowers this shooter down to Tillers level, and anyone who condones this behavior or calls this douchebag an "American Hero" for what he did, as I have read some have, is just as much a low life as Tiller was.  If you dont like the law, you lobby to get the law changed.  You don't take part in the very same activity you are supposedly fighting against.  This shooter did nothing but hurt his own cause.

[Drew]

If you read the actual blog, instead of the misleading "summary" (and I use that term very loosely), you'll see that this isn't "restricting criticism" but ensuring that all lobbying is done in writing. 

If the government in any way restricts oral communication be with lobbying or anything else, that is a violation of the First Amendment. Telling someone how they can communicate is not what I would called freedom of speech.

[Axl4Prez2004]

2.) While we're on the topic of cognitive dissonance, I wouldn't mind seeing the thoughts of those who slammed the idea of right wing terror/violence comment on the recent murder of an abortion doctor (w/ mad props to Jim Bob for pointing out this obvious fact).

 I do not condone what this shooter did.  As a matter of fact it completely contradicts the point he was trying to make doesn't it?  Taking a life to protest the taking of lives...really makes no sense.  Now this "Dr" Tiller was a horrible human being.  This guy was completely disturbed.  Anyone who would rip an 8 month old fetus out of the womb for NO reason whatsoever other than money is a terrible person.  If the mothers life was in jeopardy that is one thing, but he was doing it without a reason and making 5,000 dollars a shot at it.  He killed over 60,000 human beings.  He was a piece of shit.  What he was doing was murder, I dont care how you want to spin it.  When you get into the area of "late term" abortion it is a very disturbing thing.  But gunning him down does not solve anything.  In fact it lowers this shooter down to Tillers level, and anyone who condones this behavior or calls this douchebag an "American Hero" for what he did, as I have read some have, is just as much a low life as Tiller was.  If you dont like the law, you lobby to get the law changed.  You don't take part in the very same activity you are supposedly fighting against.  This shooter did nothing but hurt his own cause.

How many women's lives did that Dr. save Bodhi?  I sure the fuck hope you are never in a position where your wife and/or girlfriend could die as a result of carrying a dangerous pregnancy.  btw, where did you get the 60,000 number?  Just curious. 

...and like I said earlier.  Go adopt some babies Bodhi.  I hear the black and hispanic babies aren't as popular, perhaps you could adopt a couple of them.  Just an idea.

[Bodhi]

How many women's lives did that Dr. save Bodhi?  I sure the fuck hope you are never in a position where your wife and/or girlfriend could die as a result of carrying a dangerous pregnancy.  btw, where did you get the 60,000 number?  Just curious. 

...and like I said earlier.  Go adopt some babies Bodhi.  I hear the black and hispanic babies aren't as popular, perhaps you could adopt a couple of them.  Just an idea.

Do you know how to fucking read?  Or did you just skip over the part where I said I have no problem with late term abortion if  THE MOTHERS LIFE IS IN JEOPARDY.  Any lives this "Dr." saved is a good thing.  Go read what I wrote again, or better yet have someone else read it  and then draw it out in pictures with crayons for you.
 

[GeorgeSteele]

Changing Obama's Military Mindset:

http://www.alternet.org/democracy/140035/howard_zinn%3A_changing_obama%27s_military_mindset/?page=entire

[Axl4Prez2004]

How many women's lives did that Dr. save Bodhi?  I sure the fuck hope you are never in a position where your wife and/or girlfriend could die as a result of carrying a dangerous pregnancy.  btw, where did you get the 60,000 number?  Just curious. 

...and like I said earlier.  Go adopt some babies Bodhi.  I hear the black and hispanic babies aren't as popular, perhaps you could adopt a couple of them.  Just an idea.

Do you know how to fucking read?  Or did you just skip over the part where I said I have no problem with late term abortion if  THE MOTHERS LIFE IS IN JEOPARDY.  Any lives this "Dr." saved is a good thing.  Go read what I wrote again, or better yet have someone else read it  and then draw it out in pictures with crayons for you.
 

Bodhi, I apologize for not catching that the 1st time...not only was I grumpy yesterday due to having a bad day, I didn't catch that part of your post, my bad!

Seriously though, where did the 60,000 number come from?  and btw, why do you think late-term abortions are performed?  I'd be willing to bet my left testicle the overwhelming majority of them are done for the right reasons.  Conditions in which the kid is going to suffer and die at an early age, severely profound deformities like anoncephaly...would you prefer they allow these women to give birth to babies who don't have skulls covering their brains?  When you are talking about people who don't have access to pre-natal care it fucks everything up...but we can't just PAY for these poor people can we?  That's socialism!  Jesus Christ never would have wanted us to feed the hungry and house the homeless!  He!...oh wait a minute, I guess he would have.     So, this shit can be picked up early so late-term abortions don't have to occur...but this isn't a perfect world...so it isn't picked up.

From what I've read, about 1,000 of these procedures take place in a year.  I heard it's less than one half of onehalf % of all abortions.  Yes, it's sad so many abortions have to take place, and it's primarily irresponsibility (but not always - rape, incest, etc.) that causes it.  Why give the irresponsible more babies?  Don't you think irresponsible people make for less than ideal parents???

I'll stick with my earlier proclamation which you ducked.  Go adopt some black or hispanic babies if you're so gung-ho about the pro-life movement.  That usually shuts me up good. 

[freedom78]

How many women's lives did that Dr. save Bodhi?  I sure the fuck hope you are never in a position where your wife and/or girlfriend could die as a result of carrying a dangerous pregnancy.  btw, where did you get the 60,000 number?  Just curious. 

...and like I said earlier.  Go adopt some babies Bodhi.  I hear the black and hispanic babies aren't as popular, perhaps you could adopt a couple of them.  Just an idea.

Do you know how to fucking read?  Or did you just skip over the part where I said I have no problem with late term abortion if  THE MOTHERS LIFE IS IN JEOPARDY.  Any lives this "Dr." saved is a good thing.  Go read what I wrote again, or better yet have someone else read it  and then draw it out in pictures with crayons for you.
 

Bodhi, I apologize for not catching that the 1st time...not only was I grumpy yesterday due to having a bad day, I didn't catch that part of your post, my bad!

Seriously though, where did the 60,000 number come from?  and btw, why do you think late-term abortions are performed?  I'd be willing to bet my left testicle the overwhelming majority of them are done for the right reasons.  Conditions in which the kid is going to suffer and die at an early age, severely profound deformities like anoncephaly...would you prefer they allow these women to give birth to babies who don't have skulls covering their brains?  When you are talking about people who don't have access to pre-natal care it fucks everything up...but we can't just PAY for these poor people can we?  That's socialism!  Jesus Christ never would have wanted us to feed the hungry and house the homeless!  He!...oh wait a minute, I guess he would have.     So, this shit can be picked up early so late-term abortions don't have to occur...but this isn't a perfect world...so it isn't picked up.

From what I've read, about 1,000 of these procedures take place in a year.  I heard it's less than one half of onehalf % of all abortions.  Yes, it's sad so many abortions have to take place, and it's primarily irresponsibility (but not always - rape, incest, etc.) that causes it.  Why give the irresponsible more babies?  Don't you think irresponsible people make for less than ideal parents???

I'll stick with my earlier proclamation which you ducked.  Go adopt some black or hispanic babies if you're so gung-ho about the pro-life movement.  That usually shuts me up good. 

NO way dude.  Angelina and Madonna have all of 'em, and they're charging a FORTUNE these days!

[Bodhi]

I'll stick with my earlier proclamation which you ducked.  Go adopt some black or hispanic babies if you're so gung-ho about the pro-life movement.  That usually shuts me up good. 

I got a better idea..how about people stop being so fucking dumb by getting knocked up?  How about that?  It is pretty hard to get pregnant these days IF you are NOT a retard about it...

The problem with Tiller was he was killing babies for NO reason a lot of the time.  Anything that had to do with deformity, mothers health etc..I have no problem with.  I have a problem with the number of mothers just killing the kids because they dont feel like raising them...That is a decision that should be made in the 1st trimester, not 7 or 8 months in.  If you are too stupid to realize youre pregnant after 3 months that is your problem..

Once again the problem with Tiller is he did not need a reason to kill an 8 month old fetus...just 5,000 dollars.  If he were doing this only if there was a good reason (mothers health, blah blah) that would be a different story.  He was a contract killer, and people are surprised he ended up pumped full of lead.

The 60,000 number is floating around there...some group estimated thats the amount he did in 30 years.

[Smoking Guns]

I'll stick with my earlier proclamation which you ducked.  Go adopt some black or hispanic babies if you're so gung-ho about the pro-life movement.  That usually shuts me up good. 

I got a better idea..how about people stop being so fucking dumb by getting knocked up?  How about that?  It is pretty hard to get pregnant these days IF you are NOT a retard about it...

The problem with Tiller was he was killing babies for NO reason a lot of the time.  Anything that had to do with deformity, mothers health etc..I have no problem with.  I have a problem with the number of mothers just killing the kids because they dont feel like raising them...That is a decision that should be made in the 1st trimester, not 7 or 8 months in.  If you are too stupid to realize youre pregnant after 3 months that is your problem..

Once again the problem with Tiller is he did not need a reason to kill an 8 month old fetus...just 5,000 dollars.  If he were doing this only if there was a good reason (mothers health, blah blah) that would be a different story.  He was a contract killer, and people are surprised he ended up pumped full of lead.

The 60,000 number is floating around there...some group estimated thats the amount he did in 30 years.

Good point, people need to be accountable.  I have atleast 4 friends that have adopted children.  Lots of people can't have kids...

[Jim Bob]

you two listen to Bill O'Reilly too much.   

Show me some facts where Tiller was "killing babies for no reason at all".   Some fucking EVIDENCE while you clowns are spitting on the grave of a dead man who served women.

Go adopt some fucking babies and worry about yourself.   Stop worrying about what other people do with their bodies and in the doctors office.  Aren't you fucking republicans all about the government staying out of peoples lives?   Lets actually see it.

[oldgunsfan]

I think it has been established that Bush was probably the worst president ever.

Even more worse than Roosevelt, who reported in his diary, that he knew that the japs were gonna destroy Pearl Harbor? I think it is already established that the ignorance in this board is beyond ridiculous. Might as well not chat about politics right now.

gotta agree with you that a GnR board isn't the right place for a enlightened discussion about politics

but I disagree with you about roosevelt being the worst president - pearl harbor was a tradgedy but to soley blame roosevelt for it just goes to show how a GNR board is no place for politics.

[Mal Brossard]

60,000 in 30 years?

That's 2,000 a year.

That's 5.5 a day, IF he works 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.

If he takes weekends off, but no other vacation and works every holiday for those 30 years, it's still almost 8 per day.

I don't buy that "60,000" number for a minute.

[Jim Bob]

60,000 in 30 years?

That's 2,000 a year.

That's 5.5 a day, IF he works 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.

If he takes weekends off, but no other vacation and works every holiday for those 30 years, it's still almost 8 per day.

I don't buy that "60,000" number for a minute.

that th

its right-wing bullshit propoganda

anyone who does their research away from fox news and "pro-life(hahahaha)" groups will find out the truth about Dr. Tiller.  He was a good man.

[freedom78]

I saw some dude driving around downtown Indy today with a pick up truck that had been converted into one of those double sided, roaming billboards.  It had all this "Tiller the Killer" stuff on it...nutty shit.

[Smoking Guns]

Jim Bob, a lot of democrats are pro life as well.  These were not all "medical" situations just like they were not all "murders".  Also if the mother was going to die, what is wrong with a C section then put the baby in an incubator if possible?  Cause its sounds like the intent is death from the get go.  Many people believe the baby has a right to live more than the mother has the right to end the baby's life.

[TheWalkinDude]

Here are some things I'd enjoy seeing in this thread over the coming days:

1.) I'd like to see an explanation of how the swine flu, which has caused 17 deaths (compared to the normal flu, which kills tens of thousands each year), fits into earlier complaints that the Obama Admin and, particularly, Napolitano are being too "passive" in their dealing with this illness.  I  haven't heard anything in a while, and the cognitive dissonance is just killing me!

2.) While we're on the topic of cognitive dissonance, I wouldn't mind seeing the thoughts of those who slammed the idea of right wing terror/violence comment on the recent murder of an abortion doctor (w/ mad props to Jim Bob for pointing out this obvious fact).

I'd like to hear the thoughts of those who completely ignore that a Islamic terrorist shot two American Soldiers outside a recuiting station in Arkansas, killing one.  Much more vile in my opinion than murdering a man who sucked the brains out of viable offspring.  I certainly don't condone the murder of said Doctor, but the silence and lack of outrage against a leftist, muslim terrorist seems kind of funny to me.

[freedom78]

Here are some things I'd enjoy seeing in this thread over the coming days:

1.) I'd like to see an explanation of how the swine flu, which has caused 17 deaths (compared to the normal flu, which kills tens of thousands each year), fits into earlier complaints that the Obama Admin and, particularly, Napolitano are being too "passive" in their dealing with this illness.  I  haven't heard anything in a while, and the cognitive dissonance is just killing me!

2.) While we're on the topic of cognitive dissonance, I wouldn't mind seeing the thoughts of those who slammed the idea of right wing terror/violence comment on the recent murder of an abortion doctor (w/ mad props to Jim Bob for pointing out this obvious fact).

I'd like to hear the thoughts of those who completely ignore that a Islamic terrorist shot two American Soldiers outside a recuiting station in Arkansas, killing one.  Much more vile in my opinion than murdering a man who sucked the brains out of viable offspring.  I certainly don't condone the murder of said Doctor, but the silence and lack of outrage against a leftist, muslim terrorist seems kind of funny to me.

Of course it's to be condemned, as is any murder...though I fail to see the connection between a "muslim terrorist" and the left.  Perhaps he's both Muslim and a left-winger, but almost by definition, if the source of his crime was a desire for the sort of religious domination or oppression that other terror groups advocate, then he isn't a "leftist terrorist".  Left wing religious terror?  Does that even exist?