With all eyes on #Kiev, let's not forget Miss #Venezuela died today with bullet in her head protesting for freedom. pic.twitter.com/UWVpO47HPU
— YA CUBA TWITEA (@YACUBATWITEA) February 22, 2014
Frantic day. Met a woman whose fiancé killed by Kiev snipers. Told me "I want to live in a country where you don't die for freedom" #Ukraine
— Mark Lowen (@marklowen) February 21, 2014
I’ll be honest and admit I don’t know what is going on in Ukraine and Venezuela. I am really vague about who’s who and what they are fighting about. At least half of the information we are getting has to be wrong because it disagrees with the others half. Which half is right? Could both sides be wrong? It’s confusing.
I do know one thing, and that is that freedom isn’t free. It’s not cheap either. Our Founding Fathers pledged ” . . . our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” Then they fought a war against what was then the most powerful nation on Earth. They were not the first to die for freedom, nor were they the last.
Our ancestors fought to win their freedom, then they fought to keep it. Over the centuries they fought to protect freedom, to extend freedom to the entire nation, then to extend freedom to the world.
The United States has been so successful at fighting for freedom that we now have several generations of Americans who either don’t know or have forgotten that freedom isn’t free. You don’t win freedom by signing online petitions or attending a catered sleepover in a public park.
I submit that any people who are not willing to risk their lives for freedom do not deserve it and any nation that isn’t willing to defend itself does not deserve to exist.
“What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated.” – Thomas Paine
Some people don’t want freedom. If you give them freedom they will waste it by slaughtering their neighbors or by surrendering it to the first dictator who comes along.
The paradox of freedom is that to win it and keep it you have to sacrifice it. Anarchists and radical libertarians dream of a world where every individual is a sovereign nation unto him or herself. But that crap don’t work in the real world.
Luckily for us, our Founding Fathers were political philosophers too:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
The Crawdad Hole 
From what I can see the United States is pretty much powerless to do anything in either country. Obama can make speeches and draw lines, but other than imposing some sanctions there isn’t anything we can threaten them with.
I don’t think the US is powerless. I think this administration is. They have continuously showed themselves to be clueless and malicious liars and dishonest actors. No one cares what President Joe Izuzu (or his flunkies) says or thinks. When has any country not taken the calls of the US Sec of Defense for days? The Ukraine wouldn’t answer Hagel’s calls. Not even a knowledgeable general would speak to him apparently. Next I guess the WH will be told to go fuck themselves. It is “them” of this administration rather than us (the citizens) that are being ignored. And the US media is being thrown out of various trouble spots because they are considered part of this administration because they are.
Weakly Standard:
Obama and his minions are introverts and think they can just not engage with the world. It won’t work because the extrovert nations will run amok if they aren’t contained. Even if we don’t engage with some nations we need to be aware of them and act to limit them from. But we don’t have any credibility as we won’t even enforce our national boundaries.
Obama administration is claiming they had a huge impact on the Ukrainian “compromise.”
Papers all over the world are reporting that the foreign ministers of Poland, France, and Germany were present at the signing of the “compromise;” American reps were nowhere to be found.
Expect more of this bullsh*t from the White House.
But he and his minions will turn on you, the people, with whatever weapons they can use, at every chance. He’s already started. And too many on the left either won’t or can’t see it. Or they want him to, because they’re itching to destroy everyone who won’t agree with them. They’re trying it now, by using social media to try and ruin everyone who speaks against him and them.
Timing was all off! If only Ukrainians had revolted at a more convenient hour, but he had a tee time “to die for”, so some did.
If it fund raising, it’s golfing. It’s always something……….other than being a leader.
While Michelle was being cutesy with Jimmy Fallon, a lot have taken issue with her calling our youth knuckleheads. Here’s a sample ….
http://www.nukingpolitics.com/2014/02/no-michelle-theyre-not-knuckleheads.html#more
youth = Obama voters = knuckleheads
Anyone who voted for Obama once or twice is a knucklehead or bonehead.
True – the one and only time I can agree with Mooch
I think douchebag is a better description of an Obama voter.
I kind of agree with her, My twenty something believes he is the picture of health and won’t get sick so doesn’t need health care. This is true he likely won’t get sick. But he skis like a person with no brains in the back country nearly every weekend. He has already had hip surgery and had a very expensive foot surgery because of accidents. Yes, he does need health insurance and he is a drag on every one else who is in his insurance pool. So the young women with their “excessive” health care requirements are subsidizing him.
It’s kind of like the national debt. The less we’re willing to fight for liberty now, the more we have to pay for it later.
That was so nice !
I got that from my SIL, Hoosier Daddy.
Thanks.
Cool!
CNN:
This is one of the reasons that CNN’s ratings are in the toilet.
Who ya gonna believe? CNN or your lyin eyes?
I have read that the people in Alaska, Arctic Canada, Greenland, etc. believe their lyin eyes.
The people in Alaska and Arctic Canada probably do believe their eyes what with the recent increases in the ice cap. I don’t know about Greenland, interesting name though don’t you think.
No consent or contrary opinions allowed means channel block to me. I can’t even accidentally land on them.
TV/Internet provider is starting to be serious about options on coverage. Apparently, others are giving them grief about skipping certain channels. We may be approaching interesting times.
You all know the technology whiz, US, is way behind Europe in TV and cellphone speed and coverage, right? Who knew that limiting competition would make companies fat, slow and complacent?
No debate allowed because science!
They would have a point if it were only wild-eyed preachers objecting. But it’s other scientists. Not the majority, no, but that makes zero difference in real science.
Science isn’t a democracy. It’s “DO you have good data? Can you support your thesis? Can you show your work?” You don’t fucking VOTE on science.
Interesting article here about a scientist that doesn’t agree with the warmist.
http://www.thenewamerican.com/tech/environment/item/17685-climate-scientist-global-warming-nazis-threaten-humanity
This is why I feel like George Washington was not just our Greatest President, but probably one of (if not the) greatest World Leaders Ever. He gave up power so that another leader could be elected by the people. It set a precedent that no free people will ever give up. It put pressure on every other country and leader to do the same. It started a domino effect that still exists (although Putin et al seem to put a ‘pause’ on that to some degree from time to time).
He understood what he was doing, and how it would change other countries – the entire world.
What other leader in history (not just modern history) has given up power without being forced? Now every President and most world leaders are expected to give it up within a defined period of time. What would the US and the world look like had Washington decided to just remain President until his death?
He literally changed World History for centuries to come.
… and then, we get a US leader whose time is spent (whether intentional or not) squandering that example.
No worries, in the grand scheme of history, Obama will be but a blip compared to other Presidents, and not even mentioned in the same sentence, paragraph or chapter as Washington.
I may not be here to see it, but I am comforted by this knowledge.
Thank goodness Obama only has 8 years. Could you ever imagine he would ‘pull a Washington’ and give up power?
yeah, me neither.
I could imagine it. I imagine Obama would much rather leave after 8 years so he can collect the multi-million$ payoffs he is expecting from his managers and patrons.
It’s far easier to stay and pillage at our trough – to set up shell companies, family members, friends with the Billions he could direct (see also, Putin, Vladimer).
… All the while being called King Obama with crown jewels being commissioned for his Queen.
I could never see him giving any of that up.
HONK x 1000
Another good thing GW did was decide that he should be addressed merely as “Mr. President” rather than “Your Highness” or “Excellency.”
I didn’t know that… but it is so fitting of this man.
I wonder how Obama would want us to address him if this were not historical protocol now?
The slave owing thing is a bit of a downer, though. It’s hard to see him as a man with a very robust commitment to liberty as we understand the term.
I have never understood how Christians could be infected with slave- owning considering that Christianity started as a religion primarily of enslaved and conquered people.
Slaves were property and they were inherited so you don’t know how various founding fathers acquired their slaves. They weren’t educated so to responsibly free them a program to help them adapt was necessary, where would they go, what would they wear, what would they eat, how would they stay warm, how could they make a living. In many places slaves out numbered owners by a lot and owners lived in fear of a revolt. So there were laws against freeing slaves. Also slavery is not an American institution it has been around in the world for ever and there are still slaves held in America and in other countries. Slavery is a sad fact of human existence. Sure we can battle against it but it is a huge battle that needs to be taken on by an entire society. And don’t forget the indentured servants who were sold for longer than their life expectancy. That too is slavery.
Slave ship captains didn’t exactly kidnap Africans on their own. They often paid locals to either give up their own slaves or capture people for the ship.
Frankly, I wonder about people who are high and mighty about the moral pitfalls of slavery but people all over the world are becoming slaves of their own governments, even the democracies.
As a history buff, the entire tendency today to judge ALL of the past by today’s standards makes me batty. Stop. Just stop.
Well – I hate to say it, but one act is more important then the other. If he accepts and holds power as King for life, slavery never ends in our Democracy…. in fact, it never ends in any Democracy – because there are none without Washington.
I know this is not really happening because if it were the US press would be all over it. Ergo, it can’t be real! NA-NA-NA-NA-NA! Look! Squirrel!!!!!
Now that I’m set up for internet TV programming, I’m looking to get an antennae (which includes HD quality picture!) for the local channels and do away with satellite / cable TV all together. My sister’s entire family has done just that and are very happy with this set up. (Also, did you know that if you have [streaming] Netflix you can claim another address anywhere and get Netflix for free there? This means you can find a relative or friend to share Netflix and the cost between the two of you.)
In my current package, I only tune in to about a dozen channels (half of that regularly) at any given time. The rest are just a complete waste. The provider raised my rates this month anyway, so it’s time to say adios. Whatever your yearly costs calculate that figure by ten years and you’ll see just how much it amounts to over time. These companies are nothing but vampires, sucking up your hard earned dollars every month.
This applies to phone companies too. If you hardly use your cell phone, T-Mobile has a yearly pre-paid “Gold Account” which allows you to renew your account for as little as $10 dollars per year, including rolling over any unused minutes. (The initial fee for this type of account is $100.) Now, even smart phones can be use with this type of account, so that gadget is next on my wish list.
Somewhere I read that inflation is actually at 9%, so saving here and there helps off set some of that.
Be sure to look at some of the digital “Smart TV’s”. More ways to save.
Netflix streaming only lets you have 2 simultaneous users at a time. If you split with a friend and they have 2 users online you could be SOL.
I think they might have a cheaper monthly plan now that only lets one user stream – might be a better option.
WOW!!!!!! The numbers are there in the streets.
Gotta be at least 80,000.
MSNBC would report that as a crowd of around 50 people if it were in DC
More. That looks like much more than a football stadium full to me.
Me, too, but trying to avoid hyperbole………which, when I think about it, it probably what got us in this mess, isn’t it?
Her Twitter acct is protected so I cant see the tweet you’re replying to.
She wants to send missionaries and tell them about Jesus. /facepalm
Maybe she means Obama.
On a more serious note, Catholic and it’s variants such as Greek/Eastern/Russian Orthodox are often not considered Christian faiths. Reading the twitter account holder’s short bio, she may indeed follow this line of reasoning. Or she has no understanding of history/world culture.
Well, us Catholics & Orthodox don’t consider Protestants as having valid priesthoods and therefor no valid Eucharists, so there! Phhhbbt!
LOL
I always find that hilarious, and I’m not Catholic or Orthodox. But yeah, you have to be nutso to think that the Church that has existed for 2000 years has zero claim on Christianity, but thousands of various splinter sects off of it, which disagree even among themselves on so much, have the “real truth”. Huh? Kookoopants.
“Venezuela protests: demonstrators tell us why they’re taking part”
Excellent link, Klown! One gets the eerie feeling that the US is headed in this direction — skyrocketing inflation, lack of goods, growing violence, entrenched government corruption, etc. To some extent or another, Latin America has always been an experimental arena for the rich and powerful. Besides the grand colonial project in that part of the world, take Argentina, for example, and how that country’s wealth in the late 90s was stolen by the banks. (Not to mention the Argentine fascist experiment during the1940s to the late 80s.) The US seems to be heading in that direction too. Also, consider how stolen elections were perfected throughout Latin America during the last century. Unfortunately, we too have experienced election fraud on a national scale and can expect more in the future. In essence, this country is being Third-Worldized before our very eyes.
HONK! HONK! And sooner than we imagine if the bankers committing suicide around the world portend what we think it does.
HONK!
I was thinking the other day why I still bother to vote. Because honestly, I think the eventual collapse of the USA in its current form is already baked in and inevitable. It’s top-heavy, moribund, laced with immovable bureaucracies and power blocs, and too far down the debt rabbit hole to get out. The current setup, both R and D, is simply untenable and unsustainable, quite literally, on every level.
So why vote? Why not just say “let it burn” or even hasten it? I vote because of short-term advantages. Because while the system may be doomed long term, it still matters what garbage my grandbaby gets taught in school 3 years from now. It still matters whether my young nephew could find a job on a producing oilfield in the next decade. It matters whether a border town gets some relief, or gets overrun. It matters whether all the guns in my family get outlawed. It matters whether some manufacturing makes a comeback, and thus some job relief, even if a drop in the bucket. Will my voting make a huge difference on a 50 or 100 year time scale? Probably not. We’re going to pay the piper eventually. But it matters in practical short-term ways to people I love and care about today.
Yep.
It matters if we survive the crash that is coming. We may not be able to stop the inevitible but we can prepare for it.
I hear you. I’ll be 59 this year and I’ve *never* missed an election – not one – since I registered at age 18. It’s getting harder and harder to persuade myself that it really matters on the Federal level. Perhaps I was just really naive when I was younger, but the culture of corruption seems more institutionalized on the national level than I can ever recall.
I’m paying a lot more attention on the local/state level than I used to. Also the judiciary. When the big federal edifice crumbles (and I think it will, slowly), whoever is in charge locally is going to be important.
Vote the local ballot, that does make a difference. We need competent leaders for when we split the country in half (or thirds if the south doesn’t want to stick it out with the north).
I feel the same way like we’re peering into a crystal ball.
does it seem to anyone else the today’s US government is at war with many US citizens?
anyone that does not walk in lockstep or dares to question, or speaks out in opposition is now considered an enemy. some one said on tv that this is an Alinski tactic. I know it is not the American way. It is a very ugly time in this country.
I can remember robust debates on politics and issues. both sides listened and learned. Now not too many really understand the issues and that is very dangerous.
Now politicians have no problem demonizing citizens that disagree with them. divide and conquer is the idea of the day
I blame the rise of the professional political consultants for a lot of this. The Roves and Axelrods have poisoned political discourse in this country, making it all about “winning” over the “enemy” at the expense of honest policy debate. Think about it: who is on television during election season? People who know something about healthcare, defense policy, etc.? Nope. It’s Paul Begala, Donna Brazile, and a host of other political hacks. Are they talking about issues and policy or about what the real tradeoffs are in the proposals (such as they are) of candidates? Hell, no – they’re handicapping a horse race. It’s all about the money for those guys and they really don’t care how much damage is done to (small-d) democratic institutions in the process. Compared to a modern K-street consultant, Alinsky was Mother Teresa. At least he actually *believed* in something besides the thickness of his own wallet.
The Ukranian leader who just got ousted? Guess who managed his campaign? John McCain’s team. Obama’s team has managed some elections in Africa.
The political consultant class are fucking parasites, worldwide.
Yep
http://www.ijreview.com/2014/02/117030-ukrainian-protesters-tear-statues-socialist-leader-lenin-nation/
they are celebrating freedom
Livefeed from Kiev – speeches from oppo leaders
http://weaselzippers.us/175794-russia-threatens-independent-ukraine-insists-feb-21-agreement-be-honored/
do not think Kiev is over
Russia has vital strategic bases and ports in Ukraine. They *will* keep them, no matter what it takes.
Y’all go read Black Republican’s timeline. She’s on a roll with quotes from Zora Neale Hurston. So many black scholars existed who saw the future dangers to black people themselves of making everything “black” all about their relation to the white man. But you never hear about those. Even Malcolm X, who is still somewhat studied, warned about a black society that was all about being beholden. But there were lots of others. You just never hear about them.
This may not seem relevant, but 2 nights ago I was riding the el home from work and we were literally packed into the cars. There was a young black man who was taking up 2 seats that are reserved for seniors and disabled riders. I asked to sit and he most begrudgingly slid over a few inches. I crammed myself down and saw he was studying. I usually don’t pay attention to what people read as I usually am reading myself. The hostility coming from this guy was palpable as he continually pushed me into the wall as I sat there. I looked and noticed the topic in his text was “Will Whites Ever Vote Black?” WTF. How do people think bronco got elected???
This stuff is being taught in college courses. It feels like hate and viciousness has become a college major in the Chicago City Colleges. And some are working on their Master level degrees here.
The idiots in charge are deliberately creating a racial powder keg for short-term political gain. They do it because they falsely think that it will never really go off, and in the meantime it’s handy leverage.
History says otherwise. Morons. Ignorant, mal-educated, deliberately obtuse morons.
Quick! We need another line! Somebody call the line drawer! He needs to spring into action, just like during Benghazi! Only he can save the day! /sx2
Aaaand this is how badly you embarrass yourself when you go after Scott Walker without the slightest clue how campaigns work, nor their terminology.
http://www.rightwisconsin.com/dailytakes/is-this-the-most-hilarious-john-doe-email-story-ever-246688141.html
Bwahahaha. Idiots.
http://news.yahoo.com/california-farmers-won-39-t-federal-water-182640605.html
gee and California is a backtrack state
I had to post this
We were very lucky in our revolution. A lesser man than Washington might have made himself King or “President for Life”. People who can refuse the temptation of absolute power, like Washington or Cincinnatus before him, are incredibly rare. Guys like Sulla, Lenin, or Robespierre are a lot more common.
FTFY
http://www.principia-scientific.org/michael-mann-faces-bankruptcy-as-his-courtroom-climate-capers-collapse.html
does not look like that climate change is working out too well for him
“Under law, Mann’s prevarications, all his countless fudging and evasiveness in the matter, establishes compelling evidence that his motive was not to prove Ball had defamed him, but more likely a cynical attempt to silence fair and honest public criticism on a pressing and contentious government policy issue.”
It is all about the “shut up”. Without it they can’t do squat. And it is central to everything Vile Progs do.
“Shut up” is how they do business. I argue all the damn time with everything from rightists, Christianists, libertarians, conservatives, monarchists, anarchists, neo-feudalists, techno-futurists, distributists, whatever, the whole gamut of political thought. Not everyone in those groups will have an argument, they have their idiots. But lots will, and even enjoy hashing things out back and forth.
You know who rarely, rarely, EVER is willing to have an actual argument? Progs. They just want to label you “BAD PERSON!!!!!!” and make you go away.
Progs are the least freedom-loving, most opposed-to-exchange-of-ideas fuckers you ever will meet.
I’m sorry, but you guys are way off-base here. Michael’s probably one of the most universally-respected weather and climate scientists in the world. He’s the co-developer of two of the most accurate and most successful weather models in history, MM5 and its successor WRF. Those models have saved countless lives and prevented literally billions of dollars of property damage over the last couple of decades. And, while I can’t comment on exactly *how* I know this, I know for a fact they’ve saved the lives of more than a few US personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan (and Antarctica, for that matter). Yes, he’s spoken publicly about the state of climate science as he sees it. As a result, he’s made himself the target for a lot of shady organizations funded by very deep-pocketed corporate interests that have no qualms about destroying an acknowledged expert who simply speaks his mind. He’s had his mail stolen, his livelihood imperiled, and his life threatened. He’s had to defend himself, multiple times, from frivolous and false charges (and yes, he’s always been cleared) at great expense to both himself and his employers.
He’s not the one playing “shut up” here. He’s been the victim of “death by litigation” for years now. The war on Michael Mann is the biggest travesty since the persecution of Robert Oppenheimer in the 1950s.
Who is suing who? I thought Mann was the plaintiff in these cases?
He may well be a good guy who did some good things. But he did lie. He did admit in emails to politically pressuring the peer review process, which is utterly unethical. And he has refused to release his source data (the post-1980 proxy data) for others to check.
That’s not real science. Science has no problem showing its work. Sorry, but if you prevent others from using the SAME data you used to check your models, then that’s not science. It’s an agenda.
if all you say is true, and you are passionate on this issue, why is Mann the plaintiff on these
“frivolous” suits? He’s the one making wildish claims and then not following through, Illogical.
I think I missed the argument by “feelings” and “but he’s a good guy” in my debate class.
Quite often I find myself disagreeing with people I like and occasionally agreeing with someone I despise.
Facts and principles are supposed to be constants, not variables.
BTW, Mann may well be completely sincere. He may genuinely think that AGW is a big enough threat that distorting the science and the dialogue “for the cause” is justified and necessary.
But that’s not science. He stepped outside of science when he made those choices.
My experience with Progs is that they don’t know HOW to argue.
Exactly. Hell, they may even be right on a few things. But they have no idea of how to tell you WHY. Nor does it bother them to completely reverse the thing they were right on at a later date. Because it was never about truth and reality, anyway.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2565697/House-fit-tyrant-Protestors-storm-sprawling-luxury-estate-Ukraines-fugitive-president-private-zoo-golf-course-half-size-Monaco.html
backtrack and meeeschelle’s dream house?
Not opulent enough!
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/22/venezuelans-streets-protest-leader
Venezuelan’s streets
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26248275
Kiev timeline
Turkey anti-government protests
4h
Report: Turkish riot police fire tear gas to disperse several thousand anti-government demonstrators in central Istanbul protesting against a new law tightening control of the Internet – @Reuters
does not look to quiet in Turkey either
and for most of these, this is winter! Good thing the weather’s not any nicer of the UN would be totally confused. Oh, that’s right. They are already.
I’ve been trying to figure out what I like/dislike about certain people, politically. I think it’s that I really like people who will engage you on issues/theory. That usually holds whether I agree or not.
I mostly like people here, because you guys will engage. It’s not just ALL cheering and/or outrage. Yeah, we cheer or outrage at times. But not to the exclusion of actually talking and breaking stuff down. Yay crawdadders!
The blogs/bloggers I despise are the ones like Spoony who won’t allow any dissent.
Dissent =/= trolling.
(I despise Spoony for a couple other reasons as well)
I hate people who say anyone with a different view is evil. I can listen to anyone who allows that there are legitimate differences of opinion and everyone involved is still a good person.
I am reminded of when Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop went off the White House reservation on AIDS, condoms, sex education, abortion and tobacco. The Reagan administration wanted him to be a “team” player on those issues but he said screw that, I’m a doctor.
Koop was the best SG in my lifetime, IMO. He was logical.
The one thing the gay community did wrong in the very beginning of the outbreak, though, was to pressure against closing the bath houses. I understand why, and I understand that the idea of that could have been used politically. But DAMN, so many lives could have been saved. Same thing with the idiots at the Red Cross who refused to start testing blood supplies. You don’t fuck around with a deadly epidemic, you fucking CONTAIN IT, fast as you can, and screw anyone who doesn’t like the political fallout.
The Reagan administration failed the country on that one. As did various political players on the other side. Bigtime.
What the gay community still refuses to acknowledge was a widespread culture of very promiscuous unsafe sex. That is not what caused AIDS, but it is what helped make it an epidemic.
The new Brady survey went out.
We have all the laws we need that deal with the 98% of gun deaths and injuries. They’re called laws against criminal violence and murder.
Well this was fun, not. Made a snarky comment on a twit feed, then got asked harder questions than Obama gets at a WH Press Conference. I’m such a wuss… “Why does the World Hate Us” ? to my “stop sending money to the world and let them hate us for free” “ew” comment.
I didn’t know you were racist?
I’m everything-ist, depending on who you ask and the phase of the moon. I am alternately a nationalist jingoist or hate America, depending on who’s yelling at me.
Frightening abuse by Soros and his highly funded ass-o-ciates. I guess the press-i-tudes don’t realize that restrictions / punishments can also be applied to them. Stalin had no problem using people then turning on them by execution or gulags which is really a slow death sentence.
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Journalism/2014/02/22/media-silence-explained-soros-fingerprints-on-fcc-newsroom-probe
New thread up.