Media Bias

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Jobs - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

And Now Senator Schumer is Lying about Job Loss

October 5, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

You know, our job loses are bad enough without President Obama and now Senator Chuck Schumer lying about it all and making it sound even worse than it is. But this particular lie is a very particular lie, one that is aimed to make the presidency of George W. Bush the bad guy.

Job loses occurred during Bush’s last year in office, of course. But both the president and now Schumer are blatantly lying about the extent of that loss. Just last week President Obama used this lie, as he did in mid September.

Here is what the president keeps saying:

“When I came into office, we were losing 700,000 jobs per month. Credit was frozen so that small businesses and large businesses alike couldn’t borrow. You couldn’t get an auto loan even if you had good credit. People were losing their homes at an extraordinary pace.”

Of course, the truth is that he did not inherit any loss of 700,000 jobs a month.
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And Now Senator Schumer is Lying about Job Loss”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Education - History - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Patriotism - Socialism - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

The Dangerous Left-Wing Hatemongering from Media Matters

October 5, 2009 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

Eric Boehlert of Media Matters is the worst kind of American. In fact, it’s hard to count him as an American at all except by accident of birth. It is plain that this Boehlert fellow is against many aspects of the American tradition chief of which is freedom of political speech. Well, perhaps, he’s not entirely against that freedom. Instead he’s against that freedom for anyone that isn’t in wholesale agreement with him and his left-wing cronies.

One of his September postings on the extremist, anti-American website AlterNet.org stands as exhibit “A” in the proof of his anti-Americanism, his utter lack of historical knowledge, his uncivil attitude, and his desire to shut down those that disagree with him. It all goes to prove that Eric Boehlert seems to be little else than a fascist.

The left’s newest meme against anyone that disagrees with it is to say that all conservatives are “dangerous” to the county. It is said in leftist circles that anyone with a conservative viewpoint is only a hairsbreadth away from committing violence against the U.S.A., its government, and citizens. Because of this, the left claims, conservatives have somehow become dangerous.
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The Dangerous Left-Wing Hatemongering from Media Matters”

Anti-Americanism - Business - Capitalism - Communism - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Socialism - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Milton Friedman on Why Capitalism Works

October 5, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Back in the 70s, free-trade economist Milton Friedman appeared on Phil Donahue’s show, Phil well-known for being an anti-American lover of communism, and schooled him on why capitalism was the best, the only, system for mankind’s betterment.

After the communist Donahue hectored Friedman on how rotten capitalism is, Friedman correctly said that, “the only cases in which the masses have escaped from the kind of grinding poverty you’re talking about, the only cases in recorded history are where they’ve had capitalism and largely free trade.”

If you want a short, concise explanation on why capitalism works. Watch this video.


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Milton Friedman on Why Capitalism Works”

Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - History - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Newsweek’s Lack of Knowledge of American History

October 5, 2009 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

History is not an easy subject. It takes decades, sometimes hundreds of them, for historians to come to a full understanding of what happened in any particular era. Sometimes, in fact, the truth is lost forever and only conjecture is left for the living to ponder. Still, it takes long, hard study and painstaking detective work to ferret out what really happened in the past, even the recent past.

Consequently, history isn’t something that your average journalist should attempt. This maxim couldn’t be proved out better than by a recent effort by Eve Conant of Newsweek. Conant so badly garbled the facts in her piece about America’s “anti-census sentiment” that one wished she’d take up writing cook books instead of articles based on historical facts. She didn’t even get current sentiment right, much less that of history.

Conant begins her discussion of historical American anti-census sentiment by confusing the suspicion of census workers with that of the revenue agents that plagued backwoods moonshiners of the 1940s and 50s. She assumed in her piece that census agents were hated simply because they were from the government. Of course, it was Treasury Dept. Agents that were hated, not census workers. People may mistrust the government, but no one is up in arms about the census itself.
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Newsweek’s Lack of Knowledge of American History”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Children - Democrats/Leftists - Freedom - Gay Marriage - Marriage - Media Bias - Morals/Sex - President - Selwyn Duke - Society/Culture

Death of the West: Our Sexual Identity Crisis

October 3, 2009 by

-By Selwyn Duke

Perhaps you’ve heard the tragic story of David Reimer. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in 1966, David was the victim of a botched circumcision that left his penis charred beyond surgical repair. His parents Ron and Janet, no doubt beside themselves, were confused about the best way to proceed. Then, one day, they saw a man named Dr. John Money on television.

Money was talking about his theory of “gender neutrality,” which states that “gender identity” is learned rather than innate. The idea was that the sexes were the same except for the superficial physical differences; this implies that if a child were altered so as to superficially resemble the opposite sex and was raised as one of its members, he would be happy with that sexual identity. Hearing this, the Reimers hoped they had found their salvation.

They took their boy to Money, who told them that their son’s penis could not be restored and that he stood a much better chance of living a happy life if “sex-reassignment surgery” (in reality, reassigning sex is about as possible as reassigning species) were performed and he was raised as a girl. The Reimers agreed, and the surgery was performed when the boy, who would be named “Brenda,” was 22 months old.
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Death of the West: Our Sexual Identity Crisis”

Congress - Cook County - Elections - House of Representatives - Illinois - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Republicans - Society/Culture - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Grudge Match Between Republicans Lauzen and Oberweis Over 14th District Primary?

October 1, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Hill is reporting that the upcoming 14th District GOP primary is shaping up as a grudge match between two Republicans that aren’t even in the race. According the The Hill this is a grudge match between State Senator Chris Lauzen and wannabe anything Jim Oberweis, both candidates that vied for that seat in the 2008 special election that sent Democrat Bill Foster to Washington.

The 14th District Congressional seat was the one that Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert held until he resigned in 2008. Hastert’s son Ethan Hastert is now running for the GOP nomination for his father’s old seat.

This “grudge match” meme pushed by The Hill is a result of the formal entry into the primary race of State Senator Randy Hultgren who threw his hat in the ring earlier in the week. Hultgren was elected to the State Senate in 2006 and served in the Illinois House for eight years previous to that. (1999-2007).
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Grudge Match Between Republicans Lauzen and Oberweis Over 14th District Primary?”

Ann "Babe" Huggett - Barack Obama - Britain - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Humor - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Socialism - Society/Culture

Drugged Out Of One’s Gourd

October 1, 2009 by

-By Ann “Babe” Huggett

Poor Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown of the UK has been the subject of some scurrilous web rumors lately that he is “self-medicating” by popping pills in order to “get himself through” his high pressure/low respect days. Who could blame Brown, if he took to at least the bottle after not only being snubbed five times in a row to get a bilateral conference with US President Barack Obama but ended up disgracing himself and his country over the Lockerbie bomber release-for-oil fiasco earlier on? Brown strikes me as a scotch and soda sort of fellow, who drinks in private but that old adage about never drinking alone because, if discovered, it will only arouse pity comes to mind here.

Normally, web rumors are just that and usually go no further especially in a country where the media works hand-in-hand with the government. The pro-Labour BBC is solidly leftist these days so Brown was not expecting the sucker punch live interview question on BBC TV by UK political presenter, Andrew Marr, when Andrew asked point blank, “…something everybody has been talking about in the Westminster village… A lot of people in this country use prescription painkillers and pills to help them get through. Are you one of them?”

Brown, of course, reacted in outrage because the insinuation carries behind it the acknowledgment that Labour has lost the approval of the media. Earlier in the week the UK’s political Rasputin of the Left, Business Secretary, Lord Mandelson, commented that he could easily work with the Tories should have let everyone know that Labour’s days in power are numbered.

Andrew Marr’s question is also interesting on a different level because, quite frankly, it needs to be asked of all the world’s current leaders. Drugs, booze, decadent excess, jet lag and plain old mental instability would go a long way in explaining why we’re all in this hand basket and where we are all going.
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Drugged Out Of One’s Gourd”

Anti-Americanism - Blogging - Conservatives - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Inernet - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Military - Republicans - Society/Culture - Technology - Warner Todd Huston

Lefty Outrage at ‘Conservative’ Article Misses Key Fact, Writer Isn’t Conservative

September 30, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The left is in an uproar today. They got their panties in a bunch over a piece that ran on the conservative newsblog NewsMax.com where it was suggested that Obama’s irresponsible actions as president could result in a military coup that would “restore” the Constitution.

Not completely without reason, many lefty blogs have lost their tiny little minds over this article. The piece was written by NewsMax blog contributor John L. Perry and talked of a “bloodless coup” where “Skilled, military-trained, nation-builders would replace accountability-challenged, radical-left commissars.” Perry wondered if some “patriotic general” might confront the president (or a president of the future) and demand that he allow the military a shared power in government or face a military overthrow.

It was all speculation and phrased as a question, not asserted as fact or presented as imminent, of course. But this sort of over-the-top foolishness really does not add to the national debate, I have to agree. So, the lefty sites that railed against this NewsMax.com piece were right on that base level.

NewsMax.com has since removed the article and issued a statement that Perry is an unpaid member of NewsMax.

But there is one tiny, little, bitty fact about this story and its author that every single one of these lefty sites that are railing about this story have left out.

The fact of the matter is that John L. Perry is not a conservative. In fact his bio page says that he’s worked for Jimmy Carter, a Democrat governor of Florida and other Democrat Party institutions.
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Lefty Outrage at ‘Conservative’ Article Misses Key Fact, Writer Isn’t Conservative”

Barack Obama - Campaign Finance - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - President - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Reuters Leaves Out That Accused Swindler Was Big Democrat Fundraiser, Lobbyist

September 29, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Reuters newswire service recently published a story reporting that accused swindler Allen Stanford has been moved to a federal lockup facility in downtown Houston in order “to be closer to his attorneys.” In fact in a fairly long story as wire copy goes, Reuters reports all sorts of details of Stanford’s alleged financial crimes and current status. There is only one little detail that Reuters seems to have forgotten to report. Allen Stanford was a major fundraiser and lobbyists for some of the biggest Democrats in the country.

There isn’t a single mention, for instance, that Stanford lobbied Congress for expanded tax rules spending over $5 million in lobbying fees. There was also no mention that he donated $28,300 to Charlie Rangel’s campaign (D, NY), that he donated heavily to Democratic New York Representative Gregory Meeks, and that he sponsored multiple trips to the Caribbean for Democrat members of Congress. (Details can be found at the Wall Street Journal)

The Antigua Sun newspaper even published a 2008 photo of a beaming Barack Obama standing next to Mr. Stanford.
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Reuters Leaves Out That Accused Swindler Was Big Democrat Fundraiser, Lobbyist”

Barack Obama - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Health - Judges - Liberals - Media Bias - President - Republicans - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

NBC’s Gregory Assumes Liberal Argument for Healthcare, Raises ‘Right Wing Conspiracy’

September 29, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

In a Meet the Press interview with Bill Clinton on September 27, NBC’s David Gregory seemed to assume as accepted fact that the only way to fix healthcare was for Americans to “pay higher taxes.” He also asked the former chief executive if the “vast right wing conspiracy” that his wife bemoaned in 1998 was now in high gear attacking President Obama.

During the interview, Gregory brought up the “big challenges” that Obama was facing, particularly with the healthcare issue. In his question, though, Gregory did not phrase his healthcare question by using qualifiers like “Obama says,” or “Democrats claim.” He seemed to simply take the president’s position as accepted fact without qualifiers.

On healthcare, Gregory asked Clinton if Obama was doing a good job. “And on health care, as this debate rolls through,” Gregory asked, ” do you think the President has leveled with the American people on this fact, that Americans are going to have to pay higher taxes if they want health care reform?”

Notice that Gregory asked Clinton if Obama had done a good job leveling with the American people on “this fact” and that we are “going to have to pay higher taxes” to get that reform? Gregory didn’t say, for instance, that Obama “feels” that the only way to reform healthcare is to pay higher taxes. In essence, Gregory asked his question assuming that Obama’s position is essentially true.
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NBC’s Gregory Assumes Liberal Argument for Healthcare, Raises ‘Right Wing Conspiracy’”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Business - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Freedom - Inernet - Journalism - Media Bias - President - Selwyn Duke - Socialism - Society/Culture - Technology - YouTube

YouTube Caught Red-handed Cooking Stats for Obama

September 28, 2009 by

-By Selwyn Duke

News aggregator DrudgeReport.com is currently linking to a YouTube video of a government schoolteacher instructing young students to praise Obama in song. While this is shocking, there is an even bigger story here. Consider this: the video’s “views” counter listed only 363 views as of 1:04 p.m. EST on Sept. 24.

But at the same time it had 2,279 comments.

What’s wrong with this picture?

Obviously, those figures should in the least be reversed. After all, since the number of comments on high-traffic YouTube videos generally represents only one-half of one percent to three percent of the total views, we can estimate that the Obama worship video had in excess of 200,000 hits at the time. But what accounts for this? Is it a technical glitch? I doubt it.

But why would YouTube cook the statistical books?
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YouTube Caught Red-handed Cooking Stats for Obama”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Health - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - President - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

FireDogLake Stands Against Free Speech to Sell Obamacare

September 27, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

As long as Obamacare passes, the good folks at the extremely leftist site FireDogLake.com don’t seem to mind too terribly if that old saw of “free speech” is violated. At least it is easy to come to that conclusion after reading a posting on the FDL main page by a fellow aptly calling himself “Scarecrow.”

In a piece ridiculously headline, “Defeated: Kyl’s Amendment to Let Insurers Frighten Medicare Enrollees,” this “Scarecrow” fellow celebrates the fact that the iron boot heel of government was slammed down on the neck of folks opposing a government policy. Yes, that old useless idea from the Founders, those long-dead white guys, of free political speech is apparently all stuff and nonsense.

What provoked “Scarecrow’s” ire was an email message that Humana healthcare insurance group sent out to its members warning that if passed, Obamacare will reduce Medicare benefits.
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FireDogLake Stands Against Free Speech to Sell Obamacare”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Communism - Congress - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Education - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - President - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Obama’s Newest School Czar, a Drugged Out Sexual Deviate that Hates Religion?

September 27, 2009 by 5 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Just wondering, has Obama appointed anyone that is an upstanding American for one of his so-called czar positions? We’ve had tax cheaters, 9/11 truthers, and all sorts of crazed anti-Americans appointed to these czar positions by this radically leftist president. Well, now we have another example of an extremist lurking around the halls of power in the person of Kevin Jennings, the purported “safe schools czar.”

So what’s wrong with Jennings? Well, he’s former school teacher that is an admitted drug user, a pusher of the homosexual agenda and a hater of religion. Not only that, but he once found out that a teenage boy was having sexual relations with an adult male and he did not report the incident.

Obama has appointed to a position in our federal government a man that wants to impose the homosexual agenda on our children. Obama has put in place a man that has celebrated abusing drugs. Obama wants to expose our children to a man that smiles when a child tells him that he’s being molested by an adult. This is the sort of man that Obama wants to lead our children.
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Obama’s Newest School Czar, a Drugged Out Sexual Deviate that Hates Religion?”

Capitalism - Crime - Dan Scott - Economy/Finances - Elections - Free Speech - Free Trade - Freedom - Iran - Islam - Islamofascism - Media Bias - Patriotism - Religion - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

We Support Freedom for Iran!

September 27, 2009 by

Here at Publius Forum, we support the people of Iran in their quest to shake off the oppression of the religious Mullahs and their iron-fisted control of the Iranian government.

Dan Scott will be posting updates here about the developing situation in Iran as time goes on.

Iran’s Mousavi calls for new opposition demo – – 02/27/10

IRAN: Opposition leader Mir-Hossein Mousavi calls 22 Bahman celebrations ‘engineered’ – – 02/27/10

Iran’s fight for press freedom – – 02/26/10

The truth about Iran’s campus attack – – 02/23/10

IRAN: Opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi challenges hard-line authorities to a duel of rallies – – 02/22/10

VIDEO: In Esfahan Iran Protestors Yell ‘Death to the Dictator’ The Green movement to oppose Iran’s dictators grows. – – 02/11/10

Heavy clashes continue in West of Tehran – – 02/11/10

Freedom Blog – – 02/11/10

Iran protests: live blog – – 02/11/10

Iran Arrests Activists Before 2/11 Rallies – – 02/10/10

Video Update: Lar residents clash with anti-riot police – – 02/05/10

Iran puts 16 protesters on trial – – 01/30/10

Infernal Iran; The Death Spiral Accelerates – – 01/28/10

Divisions in Iranian Police Forces Could Spell Trouble for Government – – 01/21/10

Majid Tavakoli sentenced to eight years imprisonment – – 01/21/10

Iran Leader Warns Opposition Ahead Of Revolution Day – – 01/20/10

Iran arrests 4 suspects over prosecutor’s killing – – 01/19/10

Iran’s top prosecutor wants action against opposition – – 01/11/10

Iran Supreme Leader urges firm action over riots – – 01/09/10

Five Iranians facing trial belong to exile group: report – – 01/08/10

Iran renews execution threat against protesters – – 01/05/10

High-ranking clerics undermining Iran government – – 01/04/10

Judiciary Says Speedy Punishment Awaits Iran Rioters – – 01/04/10

Spotlight on Iran Update – – 01/03/10

Iran cleric demands “force” against rioters – – 01/02/10

Opposition head Mousavi: Iran in “serious crisis” – – 01/01/10

Iran:Protesters chanting “Down with Khamenei” in Esfahan and Shiraz – – 12/31/09

Iranian authorities hold bodies to dampen riots  – – 12/31/09

Students, militia clash on Tehran university campus – – 12/30/09

Iran opposition leader’s nephew buried after riots – – 12/30/09

Iran police still holding 300 over Sunday protests – – 12/30/09

Beginning of the end? – – 12/30/09

Ahmadinejad blames US, Israel for Iran protests – – 12/29/09

Iran arrests pro-reform opposition figures – – 12/29/09

Iran protests turn violent as demonstrators confront police – – 12/28/09

Iran unrest isn’t a riot, it’s an earthquake – – 12/28/09

Dubai TV journalist missing in Tehran riots – – 12/28/09

Amazing video of Iranian Protesters beating up a cop to free prisoners – – 12/27/09

Protests erupt at Montazeri funeral in Iran – – 12/21/09

Iranian Leaders Issues Stern Warning To Opposition – – 12/13/09

Iran: Student Day Demonstrations on Youtube – – 12/07/09

Iran Demonstrations Students – – 12/07/09

The Latest Round Of Iran Demonstrations – – 12/07/09

More Harsh Sentences in Iran Protests – – 12/01/09

Iran Tehran, five death sentences for anti-government riots – – 11/18/09

University Demonstrations – – 11/17/09

Dissidents Mass in Tehran to Subvert an Anti-U.S. Rally — 11/04/09

Suicide bomber kills 30 in attack on Iran’s Guards — 10/18/09

Iran will execute 2 for election protests — 10/11/09

Obama Cuts Off Funding for Iranian Human-Rights Documentation — 10/06/09

Iran Human Rights Documentation Center

Death to dictator; chanted demonstrators in Tehran — 10/02/09

Student Protests Against Ahmadinejad Continue In Tehran– 09/29/09

Website Cites Antigovernment Protest By Iran Students — 09/28/09

Iran’s nuclear stand-off reaches new heights — 09/28/09

Jews turn out for anti-Iran demonstrations in N.Y., D.C. — 09/24/09

Iranian Rally Leads to Violence — 09/22/09

The Death Spiral of the Islamic Republic — 09/21/09

Iran detains about 35 people over Quds Day protests — 09/20/09

Qods Day security forces. Tehran — 09/18/09

IRAN: Riots in Tehran and Other Cities — 09/18/09

YOUTUBE: Iran Tehran Protestors chanting Death to dictator in metro 18 september 2009 Ghods Protest Part 75

YOUTUBE: ran protest , CNN report 1, sept 18 2009, 27 shahrivar

Mirdammad street Tehran Iran protest

YOUTUBE: News from Iran, Protest in Tehran Sep 18 part1

YOUTUBE: Iran Tehran Karimkhan St 18 Sep 09 Quds Protest

Iranian Opposition Protests Resurface During Anti-Israel Rallies — 9/18/09

Clashes erupt on day of dueling demonstrations — 9/18/09

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Democrats/Leftists - Education - Family - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

FireDogLake’s Weak Reply to Obama as Jesus School Song Video

September 26, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

**Update** below from children’s book author Charisse Carney-Nunes

As school kids in New Jersey are being indoctrinated to think that Barack Hussein Obama is a suitable replacement for Jesus of Nazareth, the extremist leftist website FireDogLake rose to defend the propaganda. But even the left-wingers over at FDL must realize how indefensible their support of this indoctrination effort in Jersey is because a recent post they made to defend the incident is weak tea, indeed.

At the B. Bernice Young Elementary School in Burlington, New Jersey, the author of the book “I Am Barack Obama,” a children’s book propagandizing kids about the president, was allowed the opportunity to teach kids a couple of cult-like songs about The One. The author, one Charisse Carney-Nunes, claims to have been a Harvard classmate of President Obama.

Carney-Nunes wrote an absurdly hortatory series of songs for Black History day for the grade schoolers to sing at the Jersey elementary school one of which appropriated a stanza of the ages old Christian standard, “Jesus Loves the Little Children” — suitably altered to make Barack Obama the focus instead of Jesus Christ, of course.
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FireDogLake’s Weak Reply to Obama as Jesus School Song Video”

Capitalism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - Health - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Socialism - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Michigan to Tax Doctors to Pay Doctors

September 25, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Once again, welcome to fascism Friday. We’ve given story one about Canadian fascism, and now the first one from the U.S.A. And like the one that will follow, this one is from Michigan, the Wolverine State. This time we see Michigan authorities creating fatuous taxes..

Who said that government ever made any logical sense? The State of Michigan has lighted upon a brilliant plan. It has been suggested that the state tax doctors so that it can pay doctors more via its Medicaid expenditures. Yes, the Wolverine State wants to tax doctors so it can pay doctors better. No logic need apply.

This sounds like to sort of scam that normal people would get arrested for!

And talk about an unfair tax. Doctors already pay personal income tax and taxes through their businesses. And now, if the State legislature in Lansing has its way, doctors will be taxed just because they are doctors.
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Michigan to Tax Doctors to Pay Doctors”

Anti-Americanism - Budget - Capitalism - Children - Democrats/Leftists - Education - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Society/Culture - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Union Rules: Teachers Paid Not to Teach

September 23, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Here is yet another story where union members undergoing disciplinary procedures can sometimes spend years being paid their full salary to sit home and watch TV, doing nothing, working not a minute of their day. In this case it is costing a local school system at least $2.25 million to pay teachers that aren’t teaching.

This story focuses on teachers in Buffalo, New York but it is a story repeated in unions of all sorts all across the country.

The problem is that unions are allowed to become so meddlesome in member’s disciplinary procedures, the unions are allowed to block them so easily, that disciplinary procedures take an inordinate amount of time. All too often boards of review and other provisions to determine the culpability of bad teachers and arrive at a suitable punishment are opposed tooth and nail by unions. Unions especially fight the ultimate punishment: firings.

To be sure, no one thinks that unions should be so powerless that teachers can be fired on a whim. There certainly must be fairness for both parties, teachers and school administrations (the employer) alike.
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Union Rules: Teachers Paid Not to Teach”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Speech - Free Trade - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Warner Todd Huston

More on Obama’s Lies in Pittsburgh…

September 22, 2009 by 5 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Yesterday for RedCounty.com I wrote a piece on Obama’s hint that he might be open to newspaper bailouts. I noted that he hinted at the possibility that he wanted to regulate the blogosphere and said they never “fact check” anything they post.

But, Maggie Thurber of Thurber’s Thoughts found a few things in that same Gazette interview with The One that adds even more to his latest series of lies.

Thurber points out that Obama claimed that when he came into office “we were losing 700,000 jobs per month.” Turns out this is a bald-faced lie Thurber discovered.
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More on Obama’s Lies in Pittsburgh…”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Capitalism - Censorship - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - President - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Obama is ‘Concerned’ About Blogosphere

September 22, 2009 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Hill is reporting that Obama is now “open” to a newspaper bailout. Well, welcome to the state run media.

Not long ago Senator Ben Cardin (D- Md.) introduced S. 673, the Newspaper Revitalization Act. It is supposed to give news media tax breaks if they restructure as a non-profit corporation. So far, though, the bill has little support among his colleagues.

The Hill reminds us that in May Obama’s spokesman down played the possibility of government assistance to the media.

But in a recent appearance with the editors of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Obama seemed to say he’s open to the idea saying, “I haven’t seen detailed proposals yet, but I’ll be happy to look at them.”
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Obama is ‘Concerned’ About Blogosphere”

Anti-Americanism - Children - Democrats/Leftists - Education - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

McClatchy: School Reformers are Against Teachers

September 22, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

For the McClatchy news chain, Rob Hotakainen chose an interesting way to spin a discussion on the seeming failure of late of teachers unions to push their agenda. Instead of writing that it is teachers unions that are “feeling squeezed from all sides,” Hotakainen writes that it is the “teachers” themselves feeling this squeeze. In other words, Hotakainen tried to make it seem as if reform forces are against teachers, not the unions that represent them.

The truth is, of course, that no reform minded government official or non-governmental organization is against teachers. They are against the fraud and waste of union practices and are against union intransigence that fights against the best interests of our children’s educations.

Hotakainen points out that both the California NAACP and local Hispanic groups — groups that are traditionally on the side of unions — have supported recent moves to increase state funding for privately operated schools and instituting merit pay for teachers. He then claims that this is causing “teachers” to feel beset by all sides, left and right.
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McClatchy: School Reformers are Against Teachers”

ACORN - Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Dan Scott - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Society/Culture - Taxes

Your House Is On Fire, Oh, I Didn’t Notice

September 22, 2009 by

-By Dan Scott

Liberals, their plans, veracity and activities have been under a lot of public scrutiny lately. They seem to be very uncomfortable with the light of public gaze upon them, even to the point of walking on eggshells. When they can’t find what they believe is an non revealing answer which they know will anger the public to some very straightforward questions they pretend to be obtuse on the issue at hand. Feigning obtuseness seems to be the best they can do to not come clean on the issues. The point of feigning obtuseness is to avoid the really uncomfortable questions of why they failed to respond to something, which so obviously is inappropriate. It’s the old, “what did you know” and “when did you know it” quagmire. The failure to respond appropriately is a very telling disconnect of “affect” which calls into question one’s competence, motives or agenda.

The disconnect of affect was raised to the ridiculous with the growing scandals involving ACORN. Charles Gibson, an ABC news anchor was asked why the media wasn’t covering the cut off of funds by Congress to ACORN. Gibson claimed he didn’t know anything about it. How likely was his answer? Let’s add some background context to answer that question. A person working for the media doesn’t know anything (to the point of cluelessness) about an organization squandering public funds engaging in clearly unethical activity caught on video tape, the story gone viral on the internet, talked about on the radio waves and reported on by at least one media outlet and one print outlet. Furthermore, the standard procedure for all media organizations is to monitor their competitors so they aren’t scooped which would cause a loss of ratings share. A loss of ratings share means a LOSS of advertising revenue, and that’s their lifeblood. Is it likely Charles Gibson didn’t know about the ACORN story? NOT LIKELY. Why did Gibson give such a lame response? To not answer the question what did you know, when did you know about it and what was your reason to not report on it? You notice Gibson never answered the question why he wasn’t reporting on it. It makes one wonder what else the media hasn’t covered and what were their reasons.
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Your House Is On Fire, Oh, I Didn’t Notice”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Podcasting - President - Publius' Forum - Socialism - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Was Insurance At Fault for Young Man’s Heart Disease Death?

September 21, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Here is the latest Publius podcast about the New York Times article on the sad story of Mr. Eric De La cruz who died at 31 from heart disease. He was denied government healthcare from Social Security and Medicare and he died as a result. Yet the New York Times blames the insurance industry?

Democrats/Leftists - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Warner Todd Huston

Palin Enemy Denied Propaganda Effort

September 20, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Oopsie. Palin smear artist Joe McGinnis was denied his chance to make a mockery of the Palin diner auction when the good Guv nixed his ebay bid last week, sources say.

The New York Daily News reports that smear writer McGinnis, who is writing an unauthorized “biography” attacking Governor Palin, tried to top the winning $60,101.01 ebay bid for the dinner with Palin but the bid was voided by Palin herself.

Palin reserved the right to refuse bidders who failed to meet “standards of suitability, professionalism, background and other factors.”

Good for her. This yellow journalist was denied a chance to put himself in the news by snagging this dinner with Palin. McGinnis was denied his attempt at propaganda and self aggrandizement.

There is another reason why this denial of the smear writer is a good thing. His taking dinner with the governor would have overshadowed the charity for which the dinner was planned. Certainly the news would have focussed on McGinnis’ blather and the clash between he and Palin and the great charity that the dinner was to benefit would have been forgotten.

That charity, by the way, is Ride2Recovery, a great charity that helps our wounded military veterans recover their health and dignity.
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Palin Enemy Denied Propaganda Effort”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Congress - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Health - John Armor - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Security/Safety - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Tea Party

A Million People Prove NPR Doesn’t Count

September 19, 2009 by

-By John Armor

How many people still listen to NPR (National “People’s” Radio) and take it seriously? Apparently that list doesn’t include the editors and reporters for NPR. Two cases in point, both having to do with numbers.

As I was driving up to D.C. for the Rally on the Mall on Saturday, I heard NPR gushing over (excuse me, reporting on) the President Obama’s speech to a Joint Meeting of Congress. In that speech, the President said that “there are 30 million uninsured Americans.” Notice that the number dropped from 45 million because that part of the uninsured are not Americans. They are mostly citizens of Mexico.

The polling of the American people on health care reform has made it crystal clear they do not want American tax dollars paying premiums for foreign citizens. Remember that Cong. Joe Wilson called out, “You lie,” when President Obama was claiming that health care “reform” did not include the illegal aliens. Joe should certainly apologize for interrupting the President, with a true statement.
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A Million People Prove NPR Doesn’t Count”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Britain - Business - Capitalism - Christianity - Congress - Conservatives - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Education - Europe - Free Trade - Freedom - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Military - President - Race - Religion - Republicans - Security/Safety - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Terrorism - Warner Todd Huston

Brit Hasn’t a Clue About U.S. Politics

September 18, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Many elitist American leftists like to go about claiming that it is only Americans that are dunces on foreign matters. There is some truth to the accusation that Americans are not knowledgeable about the rest of the world but if a column in the UK Telegraph is any indication it isn’t much better for Britain’s understanding of American politics. Worse, it is plain that even a British journalist hasn’t a clue what he’s on about when attempting to discuss the differences between a Democrat and Republican in today’s climate.

At issue is the incredibly garbled take on American Democrats and Republicans as posted by U.K. Telegraph writer David Lindsay, who claims himself to be a “freelance writer and tutor at Durham University.” One wonders why he doesn’t get a real job.

In “Why real American conservatives should register as Democrats,” Lindsay’s main point seems to be that Republicans really support what the Democratic Party supports and so GOP voters should resign from their party and join the left side of the aisle. But Lindsay’s reasons prove that he doesn’t know a thing about what he’s talking about.
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Brit Hasn’t a Clue About U.S. Politics”

Conservatives - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Paper Editor: Conservative Writers Resort to ‘Cheap Personal Attacks on Obama’

September 18, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

I guess we know what the editor of the Montana Standard of southwestern Montana thinks about conservative members of the media; he doesn’t think much of them.

In the Standard’s announcement of the addition of columnist Byron York for a-once a-week column, Editor Gerry O’Brien was excited to tell his readers about their newest conservative columnist with some lovely praise of York’s style. York, O’Brien says, is wonderful because he doesn’t resort to “cheap personal attacks on President Obama” like all those other conservative columnists.

York, a staunch conservative, presents his arguments in a thoughtful, measured fashion, rather than resorting to cheap personal attacks on President Obama and others in the Democratic Party that seem to be the hallmark of the GOP these days, said Standard Editor Gerry O’Brien.

Well, there you have it. I guess we should be glad that Byron isn’t like his conservative brethren, eh?

It is also interesting to note that Editor O’Brien doesn’t seem all too concerned that folks can so easily come to understand that he is a partisan sort of fellow himself. So much for a newspaper that is non-partisan and only interested in the news.
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Paper Editor: Conservative Writers Resort to ‘Cheap Personal Attacks on Obama’”

Anti-Americanism - Democrats/Leftists - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Warner Todd Huston

Macleans: Those Racist, Mean ‘Palin Republicans’

September 17, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

You know, those Palin Republicans are all such racist, fearmongers, right? Well if you didn’t know it, Macleans of Canada wants to make sure you do with a piece headlined “The Palin Republicans.”

For Macleans, writer John Parisella thinks he’s discovered why the GOP can’t capitalize on the distrust that more and more Americans are feeling for the Obama administration and his Social-Democratic Party. It’s because Sarah Palin is a big ol’ meanie that told a lie about death panels.

And what could save the GOP according to this loony leftist? Why capitulating to socialist healthcare, of course. Oh, and getting rid of Palin would help, he thinks.
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Macleans: Those Racist, Mean ‘Palin Republicans’”

Barack Obama - Business - Capitalism - Communism - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - Health - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - President - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Health Insurance is Not Like Auto Insurance

September 17, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

During his healthcare speech last week, President Obama tried to compare his idea of compulsory health insurance to the practice of mandatory auto insurance now in effect in most of the States of the Union.

But as a recent Fox News piece by Judson Berger proves, car insurance is nothing like forced healthcare insurance. The main reason the two do not compare well is that mandatory auto insurance covers other people, not the driver. But forced healthcare insurance covers the individual, not any indemnity against the individual’s actions against others.

Additionally, there isn’t anything truly compulsory about mandatory auto insurance. After all, it isn’t mandatory that one drive. If you don’t want to pay for the insurance, don’t drive. Additionally, there is no compulsion to pay for insurance that covers yourself or your car.

On the other hand, compulsory health insurance is far more intrusive than mandatory car insurance. It cannot be avoided without penalty of law, it is not a safety measure to cover others for your own negligence, it can’t be avoided even by moving to another state and it most certainly is un-Constitutional.
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Health Insurance is Not Like Auto Insurance”

Anti-Americanism - Business - Communism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Journalism - Liberals - Media Bias - Race - Socialism - Society/Culture - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Is Union Favored Legislation ‘Racist’?

September 17, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Professor Harry G. Hutchison of George Mason University recently took a look at the union favored Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) and made a startling conclusion. He believes it will harm minorities.

Saying that the EFCA is “arguably the most transformative piece of labor legislation” since 1935, Hutchinson warns that it will seriously harm the rights of workers and the status of minorities alike.

To start, Hutchinson summed up the provisions of the bill.

One of the newest attempts to transform labor relations is the EFCA. The first to disappear under the EFCA would be a system of union democracy whereby unions could only obtain the rights of exclusive representation for firms if they could prevail in a secret-ballot election. Second, the EFCA would eliminate the necessity of a freely negotiated collective bargaining agreement between management and labor and instead substitute compulsory arbitration.

The results of these provisions, though, would prove disastrous as far as Hutchinson is concerned.
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Is Union Favored Legislation ‘Racist’?”