Protest Snob

Classy. Every movement has their crazies. Every protest has the extremes. Every Rally has the pot stirrers. Every party has a pooper. After attending the 2009 Oklahoma Tax Day Tea Party, and following the hundreds to follow and now the Occupy Wall Street movement, I've decided I'm a protest snob. It is so last season. Actually, 2009. Occupy Wall Streeters: get out of your sleeping bags, clean up the sanitation disaster you've made in Zuccotti Park, take a shower, use your tweeting powers to network to get a job, and stop blaming the rich (or 1% as you say) for your problems.

To see the real comparisons of the Occupy Wall Street movement with the Tea Party, see it in pictures.

Occupy Wall Street advertisement

Tea Party advertisement

Occupy Wall Street March

Tea Party March

Occupy Wall Street Arrests: NYC 700+

Tea Party Arrest

Occupy Wall Street Costumes

Tea Party Costumes


Occupy Wall Street

Tea Party

Occupy Wall Street Trash

Tea Party Trash

Occupy Wall Street Youth

Tea Party Baby Boomers

Occupy Wall Street Revolution

Tea Party Revolution

Occupy Wall Street Economic Beliefs

Tea Party Economic Beliefs

Occupy Wall Street Hitler Reference

Tea Party Hitler Reference

Thank you, John Stewart for this gem!

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Source of All Truth

In a repeated effort to bring everyone to the same omniscient level as President Obama, the Obama Administration and Obama for America has reinstated a Big Brother-esque reporting website to help you "Get the facts...and Fight the smears". You may have short term memory loss, and the "Facts are Stubborn Things" video has slipped your mind, or the Reality Check on Health Insurance Reform web page, OR the email address where you could "help the White House keep track of fishy information". I wrote about it on this blog, August 14, 2009.

Apparently the non-confrontational approach wasn't working. The revamped concept can now be found at http://www.attackwatch.com/. What a mild title! New slogan: "Get the facts. Fight the smears." The main page has several headers that can take you to a variety of locations:

News Feed: Gives you not only featured news stories that are labeled "twists the facts" or "flawed understanding" and even "massive jobs lie". Who are the repeat offenders, or in their terms "Attackers"? Glenn Beck, Mitt Romney, and Rick Perry.

Attack Files: This is what you would normally see on Presidential candidate's website labeled, "Rick Perry on the Issues" or "Mitt Romney: The Issues" or even more creative and productive "Newt Gingrich: Solutions". What a novel idea! Solutions? Have we tried that before? But, I digress. Obama for America decided on something a little more understated, "Attack Files". Not the X-Files, or Watch Dog. Attack Files. Are the American people being Punked? Sometimes I wonder.

Report an Attack: If you haven't felt like you've stepped into George Orwell's "1984" yet, venture over to "Report an Attack". Big Brother hasn't progressed to Thought Police, but they are waging a full fledged "attack", becoming "Speech Police". Which seems to be very contradictory to the most quoted freedom from the 1st Amendment.... Freedom of Speech. Do we need to amend that amendment to include "freedom of thought" before its too late?? Out of curiosity, I might report my own blog. Why not? I'm opposed to the majority of what President Obama has done in office, so that is the only qualifier, right? Being opposed to his way of thinking? Having a "flawed understanding"? I guess he hasn't talked enough about the health care reform, or the stimulus, or Stimulus 2.0 (aka the Jobs Bill) for me to gain a better "understanding". What I haven't been able to uncover (which is why I might go "undercover") is what happens to the flagged websites. Is there punishment for disagreeing?

Join Attack Wire: Sign up for this more-annoying-than-spam email alert system (I already did) to not only be notified, but "armed with the facts". Only less than a year ago he delivered a fantastic speech at the Tuscon Arizona Shooting Memorial, where he said "make sure that we're talking with each other in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds." Armed? Attack? Fight? Is that rhetoric that "heals" or "wounds"? By your own standard, you are failing to "usher in a more civil and honest public discourse".

Support the Truth: And now, the bottom line. Money. Donations can be made by credit card (of course, the new US Currency) ranging from the affordable $10 to the $500 (or other) peak. There are even options for recurring monthly payments and Americans abroad. I'm wondering how far the bottomless pit of funding the Obama for America campaign has raised. How is this not a scare tactic to raise money?

This wealth of knowledge and plan of action is disturbingly displayed in a startling color scheme of black, white and red. I have avoided the extreme right band wagon of "President Obama is a communist!" or "The Democrats are National Socialists (Nazi's)" like the plague. But quite honestly, when I first pulled up this website, my "judge the content by the homepage" reaction was, how does this not look like communist or nazi propaganda. The three most common colors used in nazi or communist propaganda are black, white and red. Again, I feel like we're being punked! They couldn't look more Big Brother if they tried. I typically try to be able to argue the other side, understand their thought process; but in this case, I am at a loss.

Your thoughts?

(Beware. They are watching you!)

9.11.01

Pearl Harbor.

D-Day.

JFK Assassination.

Berlin Wall coming down.

Columbine Shooting.

9.11.01

These are all infamous dates. Tragic dates. Evidence that there is evil in the world. Those who were alive for those events remember exactly what they were doing that day. Who they were with. How they felt. Even the following days. What they did. How different they felt towards their country. How they felt towards their fellowman. How they felt towards their own life. Vowing to never look at the world differently. Do we still have the same appreciation for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Maybe once a year, on the anniversary of 9.11.01 we will remember.

At least 2,966 victims died in the September 11th attacks, including:

There were 266 people on the four planes:

American Airlines Flight 11: 87

United Airlines Flight 175: 60

American Airlines Flight 77: 59

United Flight 93: 40

In and Surrounding World Trade Centers: 2,595, including:

343 NYFD Firefighters and Paramedics

23 NYPD Police Officers

37 Port Authority Police Officers

125 Civilians and Military personnel at the Pentagon

1609 People lost a spouse or a partner

More than 3,054 children lost parents

Never Forget.

Remember This?

Well Hello, Mr. Rubio (wink, wink)

Senator Marco Rubio spoke at a forum at the Ronald Reagan Library's Centennial Celebration. I will need to listen to this speech again...because I'm having a hard time finding fault with it. Which is typically impossible from any politician, from any party. He is an excellent, and natural, orator. Before his prepared remarks, he escorted Mrs. Nancy Reagan in. And thank goodness he did, although his pace may have been to blame, because he caught her before she hit the ground. After his speech, he did an excellent question and answer, dodging questions about being a possible Vice President selection. Please enjoy this pitch perfect discourse on conservative values, including remarks on our Creator (gasp!), without being preachy and demagogic!

President Obama First Tea Bagger

Who knew that President Obama ran as a fiscal conservative??? Possibly those who remember are those who voted for him hoping he would change Washington (remember, that "transformational" change) instead of expand Washington. Too bad he has one upped President Bush by not adding $4 trillion to the debt in 8 years, he did it in 2.5 YEARS! How patriotic can you get? And racist. This rhetoric must have inspired the Tea Party into formation.

My name is Sarah. I love politics, historical novels, and sushi. And I'm weird.

Nothing new here. A Mormon being labeled "weird". This time by the Obama Administration leaders. It could be an accurate depiction if using an online dictionary's definition of: 1) Suggestive of the preternatural or supernatural and 2) Strikingly odd or unusual character. Yes, we believe in a supernatural being... God. And being strikingly odd from the rest of society is a great thing! Isn't being odd celebrated by new icons in the media, i.e. Lady Gaga, Glee, etc. I guess this is last month's news (and an old post that I forgot to post a couple weeks ago!) because there is a new preacher, and target in town. Pastor Rick Perry.

BREAKING NEWS

S&P CONNECTED TO TEA PARTY TERRORIST CELL

With some minimal research, as is the traditional standard in most journalistic endeavors, I uncovered a shocking network connecting Standard & Poors with the Tea Party. It became extremely apparent with the US credit rating downgrade issued by Standard and Poor's, only a few days after the "compromise" struck on the debt ceiling debacle. Many brilliant politicians, such as Vice President Joe Biden, Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Mike Doyle, and administration officials such as David Axelrod, have also been hot on the trail of S&P and their connections to the terrorist network, the Tea Party. David Axelrod connected all the dots with his statement that S&P's downgrade of the United States credit rating from AAA status to AA+ was really a "Tea Party downgrade".

Standard and Poors released their statement regarding their decision to downgrade the US credit rating, Friday August 5. In the statement, S&P used inflammatory rhetoric, such as, "containing the growth in public spending, especially on entitlements" or "stabilize the general government debt burden" and even "containment of Medicare and other entitlements are key to long-term fiscal sustainability". What racists! These incendiary, racially motivated comments, are obvious talking points prepared by the Tea Party organizations. The Tea Party has found a way to infiltrate S&P, and to aid them in their suicide mission of "blowing up the US economy". With this initial domino falling over, the Tea Party is using its expansive political power to push Moody's and Fitch into the same downgrade direction.

The Tea Party isn't just acting locally, they are thinking and networking globally. The Tea Party has spent an inconceivable amount of money, acquired by cashing in their gold bought through GoldLine, placing Tea Party agents undercover throughout China's multiple provinces. "Internet savvy Chinese are using social networking to share their complaints about extravagant government spending". Ring any alarm bells? It won't be long that we will see "Don't Tread on Me" flags waving in Tiananmen Square. And how will this affect the US? China owns $1.159 trillions of treasury securities, which funds much of our debt. What would happen if Chinese tea partiers start rallies and disturb town hall meetings all over Guangdong and Hunan and Beijing provinces? Their unrest will be our unrest.

How is it that these racist, xenophobic, exorbitantly rich, neanderthals who label themselves Tea Baggers can accomplish the corrupting of S&P, the downgrading of the US credit status, hold the US economy hostage, and infiltrate into China to deter our biggest creditor of more lending? All of that Bible thumping. Their God and their guns can sway many greedy hearts.

Pictures say more than a thousand words

After my last post, I found the White House's flickr page, with photos taken during the entire strike against Osama bin Laden. As someone who thoroughly enjoys history, I am fascinated at watching history unfold in real time. We have access to images, video's, words instantaneously, as history is being made. The pictures of the President and his advisors say it all.

In the Situation Room.

On the phone with President Clinton and President Bush.

Editing his remarks.

The press conference.

Shaking hands with Mike McMullen after the press conference, with Sect. Clinton and Leon Panetta. Job well done.

Hail to the Chief

If I were to be honest, I can't think of a time I have been prouder of President Obama than right now. Obviously, he didn't have my vote in 2008. And I am almost one hundred percent positive (unless the Republicans really screw up the nomination) he won't have my vote in 2012. But, as of 10:30pm last night, he has my respect as Commander in Chief.



From everything I've read, President Obama took carefully calculated and decisive action. He didn't try to negotiate, or involve the UN, or even seek permission from Pakistan. He saw an opportunity to take out a mass-murderer, and did it. He used the intelligence we've received from Guantanamo detainees, coordinated with our amazing Navy SEALS, monitored the coordinated attack in the Situation Room (no, not with Wolf Blitzer!). Within 12 hours of the mission, Osama bin Laden's body was buried in the North Arabian Sea.

Last night, President Obama addressed the nation on this amazing news. Although I felt like celebrating, and was almost hoping for a "Yes, we can!" speech, I finally decided his remarks were appropriate, yet subtly envigorating. He laid the facts out there, recognized our amazing men and women in uniform, and honored those killed by Osama bin Laden's terrorist attacks. Initially, I was furious that bin Laden received a "respectful burial according to the Muslim traditions". But practically, it is probably the safest route to take.


This has been an amazing story to follow as it develops, and I have read so much already. I'm going to post some links to articles that have been great reads.

About the SEAL team

Inside the Situation Room during attack

How they found bin Laden

Quotes from Leaders about Osama bin Laden's death

And hopefully I'll add the link with the video/picture proof of his death HERE!

BREAKING NEWS!!!

Osama Bin Laden is DEAD!

Bring you details as they come in!

Birth Certificate

Oh. My. Goodness.

Someone a part of the "mainstream media", Mr. Donald Trump, proudly exclaimed he wants President Obama to provide his birth certificate while visiting the ladies at The View. He received some shrill responses from the co-hosts. A question regarding a President Obama's birth certificate is frequently asked of most conservative or Republican political figures while visiting news media shows. Why is this? Who cares? Does it matter?

I will put my opinion out there into the internet void of the blogosphere!

Is President Obama a citizen of the United States? Yes! I believe he most definitely is.

Does it matter? It absolutely matters that he is a citizen, because it is one of the very few criteria that is constitutionally set forth for the President of the United States.

WHY hasn't an original or long form Hawaii birth certificate for President Obama been released and circulated? It is a political ploy on both sides. The liberal side continually asks conservative politicians whether or not they believe the President is a citizen to distract from credible issues. The conservative side could use this as a fiery motive to unite the base. But to the important question, WHY hasn't the original been released? I would like to politically hypothesize that the Obama camp is holding on to this until the 2012 Presidential Campaign. And in the middle of the campaign cycle and mud slinging, the original or long form that does exist, will surface. Then the fact that the birthers were wrong, will be used to make an argument against every claim that the Republican candidates will make. I can see the stump speeches now, "They were wrong about me being a citizen of this great nation. They were wrong about my heritage. What else are they wrong about???" Who else is with me? Brilliant political strategery right? Until then, we will just have to continue to suffer through the constant questioning of Republicans and annoying birthers claims.

"Group Therapy"

First, my apologies for my absence during a very politically turbulent time. When I think I've got a grasp of a current event or situation, it morphs into something much larger and deeper than I could have expected. (i.e. Wisconsin, Egypt, well the entire Middle East, constitutionality of the Health Care reform bill, to name a few). Now, don't get me wrong, I could give you my knee jerk reactions to all of them: Everyone's getting cutbacks - so put down the picket signs and get back to work, Mubarak was bad - a democracy movement pushed by Islamic extremists very bad, and mandates are UNconstitutional - start over with REAL legislation. However, that is not what I'm posting about.

Instead, I'm posting about a 10 minute segment I heard on our local popular FM radio station called "Group Therapy". A listener with a specific problem calls in, asking for solutions from the DJ's and the audience. Earlier this week, a mother of an almost 16 year old girl called in with a dilemma. Her daughter has had a boyfriend for two years, and they are "in love". They haven't had sex yet, but are very interested and are heading that direction quickly. The daughter asked the mom if they could "do it" in THEIR HOME, where she was "safe" and "felt comfortable"! [Jaw hit the floor!] And the mother was debating on whether or not she should. My jaw remained on the floor during the entire discussion, and callers voicing their opinions. The most common sentence was: "Well, you know they're going to do it anyway..."

"They're going to do it anyway" could be applied to almost everything wrong in our society. This mom was having a personal crisis because she had no expectations of her daughter's morality, therefore the daughter acted accordingly. And she is considering aiding her in doing so! As that phrase "they're going to do it anyway" rang through my head, I applied it to politics, religion, the economy, the work place, etc. On election day, majority of Americans voice their choice of a government representative at all levels with mediocre expectations of the outcome. We "hope" they will not fall prey to the lobbyists, special interests, lining their pockets... but they're going to do it anyway. "We the People", the sovereign, have little or no expectations of productive and efficient solutions from our representatives, so they act accordingly. The lack of expectations and accountability are a means to soften disappointment and responsibility of the steward. It was a wake up call for me, as a mom, that this is the society my young kids will be facing. Lowered expectations, minimal morals, zero accountability or punishment, no concept of right and wrong,

It can be a depressing outlook, until I discussed this with friends, family, neighbors, and realized, I'm not the only one! Us moms have a grave responsibility to continue to fortify our homes as a refuge from the refuse, to instill values, build confidence, and prepare them for the reality of what they are going to face. I would love some input on this!

MC Baier

I rummage through a variety of websites, including Media Matters. A few days ago I stumbled on FoxNews host of Special Report, Bret Baier performing the 1979 hip hop classic, "Rapper's Delight". He was one of the 52nd Bob Hope Classic charity golf tournament in California. He did Sugarhill Gang proud! Enjoy!

Pomp and Pageantry

Confession: I didn't watch the State of the Union, or Rep. Paul Ryan's Republican response. I know, I know. Here's why: I have been stuck at home with a house full of Influenza A ridden kids for 5 days straight. I had a birthday dinner to go to, and I jumped at the chance. I planned on watching and reading both this morning, but I can't force myself to do it. I've started BOTH videos, and I felt like I was ready to vomit along with my kids, for different reasons obviously. I typically love the time honored traditions of our political process.

But the politically inflated words are falling on deaf and cynical ears. Both parties are desperately trying to repair their image. Republicans made a grandiose gesture of reading the most recent version of the US Constitution at the opening of this congressional session. Nice gesture. We're not fooled. It was a political stunt playing to the cries from the conservatives to return to the correct form of the federal government: limited. (Which is specified in the constitution.) I'll believe it when I see it. Democrats suggested playing musical chairs, removing the dividing aisle between the two quarreling parties. Integrating the party seating. Nice gesture. I'm not buying it either. Especially when you are interviewed on the talking head news shows bad mouthing your political counterparts.

My point: When I feel like I can waste an hour and a half listening to speeches written by someone other than the orator, then I might give my two cents. But as of right now, my two cents is, WHATS THE POINT?!?! Words given at the State of the Union address are just that, words. President, let's see what you actually do to improve the economy instead of throwing hundreds of billions at it. Congress, let's see if you can actually work together to cut spending at all levels, in all sectors, and incentivize business to keep business in the US.

Here is the SOTU address.

Here is Rep. Ryan's response.

Cute and Cuddly STD's

A friend of mine had to make a visit at the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, and stumbled upon a very informative booth informing the public about Oklahoma's most common STD's.

"You don't look like you have anything. Get tested for everything."

Sure, there is nothing out of the realm of possibility.... but a Priest? Really? I don't think that a man of the cloth is your target audience. Hopefully STD's don't get passed around in the confessional!

Alas, it gets even better! In order to help people understand sexually transmitted diseases even better, they hired a cartoonist to give a fun twist to Oklahoma's most popular STD's. Lets check them out!

Syphilis. Apparently with a nose like that, Syphilis reminds me of Tigger. You know: "Their bottoms made out of a spring, They're bouncy, bouncy, bouncy, bouncy; Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun!"

Human Papilloma Virus: This gumball gone wrong, still seems to be content in his STD state of being. Watch out kids, this isn't candy!

HIV: This kid friendly caricature seems more inviting than frightening! Like one of those warm fuzzies that your teachers would give you in the 1st grade.

Herpes: Now this cartoon is a little more sinister looking. It might have been a little more frightening if the graphics were a little better!

Gonorrhea: This STD looks like an elderly, overly tanned, surrounded by cigarette smoke granny in a track suit playing the slots at a Casino in Las Vegas. Well, probably more like Reno.

Although this is quite hilarious, I find it slightly disturbing. Either the DHS offices in Oklahoma are targeting kids with cartoon caricatures of STD's, OR (and possibly more likely) they assume their target audience is so intellectually challenged that they had to dumb the truth down. I'm praying that it isn't the first, because the way this disfunctional STD cartoon family has been assembled, coloring pages and puppets aren't much further down the road! In all seriousness, I'm a huge proponent of knowledge and uncomfortable truth. These cuddly STD's are more inviting than a huge crotch shot of an infected genital, but which would be a better deterrant?

So Much for Civility

And this is one reason I love Anderson Cooper...and maybe why I find him somewhat attractive! I typically try not to comment on other people's comments, and instead blog my opinion on current events or political issues. But I thought this was too good, and just shows that there are some reporters who still ask the hard questions to BOTH sides. Anderson Cooper interviews democrat Rep. Steve Cohen from Tennessee, regarding his comments comparing Republican's or any who oppose President Obama's Health Care Reform bill to Goebbel's Nazi propaganda machine. It is a great discussion between the two.

A Mormon Perspective

This article was posted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Newsroom website in 2009, that is the "Official resource for news media, opinion leaders, and the public". I found it an absolutely essential read for everyone, not just the members of our Church. As typical with their timing, they are largely ahead of the game, and their words are more needed today than 2009. Without further adieu:

The Mormon Ethic of Civility

What a Miracle!

When I saw this ABC News World Report, I got chills. It is heartbreaking to watch the families of the victims bury their family member or close friend. Yet, it is also an amazing story of survival and strength. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and astronaut husband Mark Kelly the prayers of a country are with you and the other survivors!

Click HERE to watch the report.

Sociopath

Sociopath: A person with an anti-social personality disorder, manifested in aggressive, perverted, criminal, or amoral behavior without empathy or remorse. See also Timothy McVeigh, John Allen Muhammad or "DC Sniper", Charles Manson and recently Jared Loughner.

Good News Wednesday

President Obama spoke at the Memorial Service today for the victims of the assassination attempt on Rep. Gabriella Giffords. A memorial service is not typically good news, but I thought the tributes he gave of the deceased was eloquent and personal. It was encouraging to hear the heroic acts that everyday citizens performed. I won't dissect his speech tonight, not sure if I will. I will only leave it as his words, my future critiques will be in what legislation is proposed to "enable more civil and honest" debate. Or should I say "Fair". However and most importantly, my heart goes out to the families who will have to continue to grieve and cope long after the media circus leaves town.

TEXT here and VIDEO here.