"Ron Paul has some surprising news for the Tea Party: ou’re being taken for a ride. At least this is what many libertarians like Ron Paul believe when they see someone like Glenn Beck or Sarah Palin trying to lead the Tea Party at the “restoring honor” rally this weekend."
The debate over the Park51 mosque in Gotham is heating up on Michael Conniff's "Con Games" Facebook thread. "It is made quite clear in the article that the Muslim religion accepts no compromise position whatsoever," comments Patricia Hill. "You are either a Muslim or you are 'The Enemy.' It is therefore any Muslim's 'duty' to bring Jihad against all Non-Muslims because they are 'Slaves of Allah' and they must enforce 'Allah's Will' which is to either convert or to destroy anyone and anything that opposes them....." Doug Tucker: "Onward Christian soldiers! I don't see anything in the first amendment about moderation. I never heard any of you saying the Klan doesn't have the right to speak. The Republicans are waging a wedge issue war and the fools are falling for it. First the Hispanics then the Muslims. Any brown people will do."
"The fact remains that all of the competing systems--including Communism and Sharia Law--are woefully repressive and not even close to our American standards. It's not that the Chinese are good or bad, or that Muslims don't have hearts of gold, but that whatever good exists is nonetheless trapped within the unfriendly confines of hopelessly repressive systems. There's not an American alive--or at least no one this side of your neighborhood mosque--who would trade places so as to be in societies where thought is repressed and/or women are eggregiously suppressed."
Posts filed under 'Politics'
Con Games Facebook thread:
Michael Conniff Don't be fooled by the "moderate" Muslims you read about in The New York Times. The Investigative Project on Terrorism has checked into their past--and they believe in jihad. Don't take my word or it: see for yourself.
The New York Times' Grand Deception :: The Investigative Project on Terrorism
www.investigativeproject.org
If Mel Gibson issued a statement saying he had nothing but love for humanity, regardless of gender or ethnicity, would you believe him? Probably not. For no matter how sincere he may sound, he's on record repeatedly bashing women, blacks, Jews and others
Doug Tucker
Religious bigotry is un-American!
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to ass...emble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
What part of that don't you understand?
See More
Scott Bolitho don't know where religious bigotry fits in here. The facts speak for themselves. The people referenced in this article say one thing and do another. Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Michael.
Doug Tucker
Turning all Muslims into our enemy is bigotry. Painting all 5 million US citizens who believe in the Koran as terrorists is bigoted. Denying US citizens their first amendment right to to free speech, no matter how much we disagree with t...hat speech, is un-American.
I never thought New Yorkers would turn into such whiny, scared, intolerant, twits.See More
Roberta McGowan This is not a religious issue - it's about specific evidence of support and advocate terrorism - Our Constitution is self-evident - but don't let the terrorists twist it for their own purposes.
Michael Conniff Let's be even more specific: let's focus on the nine Islamic leaders in the YouTube video--and no one else. It's not bigotry, it's asking a fundamental question about their credibility when it comes to "moderation." I say, based on the evidence, they have none.
Patricia A. Hill It is made quite clear in the article that the Muslim religion accepts no compromise position whatsoever: You are either a Muslim or you are "The Enemy". It is therefore any Muslim's "duty" to bring Jihad against all Non-Muslims because they are "Slaves of Allah" and they must enforce "Allah's Will" which is to either convert or to destroy anyone and anything that opposes them.....
Doug Tucker Onward Christian soldiers! I don't see anything in the first amendment about moderation. I never heard any of you saying the Klan doesn't have the right to speak. The Republicans are waging a wedge issue war and the fools are falling for it. First the Hispanics then the Muslims. Any brown people will do.
Michael Conniff Everyone has a right to worship anyway they want. And we have the right of Free Speech to expose them.
Patricia A. Hill Anyone who is not a WASP or even a non-Republican will do in that "wedge issue war", frankly...There is definitely a widespread hate campaign going on in this country, but that does not change the fact that Muslim religious leaders have declared Jihad, which is an actual war, on our entire Western culture; I don't believe that the Klan or any other ethnic or religious group has done THAT so far!
Scott Bolitho Wow, Doug, quite the generalization of Republicans. I am Republican, and my thoughts are that any Hispanic here illegally is breaking the law, pure and simple. Any Muslim who states that the USA is their enemy and advocates destruction of this country should be considered an enemy. And finally, don't generalize about "Any brown people will do". That is insulting to me personally and is totally ignorant.
Doug Tucker
Pat- you haven't been listening to the Klan and Skinhead rhetoric have you? They advocate the overthrow of the government and setting up a white power state. I defend their right to say it but not to act. But it's not your people they wa...nt to kill so it doesn't matter to you.
Scott- what can I say? You are the problem. I'm glad you feel insulted. See More
Tony Vagneur Freedom of religion is one thing, but it doesn't mean you can build a church or mosque any place you feel like it. First thing to do is check the local building codes and zoning laws before you get sweaty about it. I haven't seen anything written about that.
Doug Tucker They own the property and there is no zoning restriction. The Mayor of NYC and the zoning board spoke to that.
Tony Vagneur It just seems a little bit too tidy. They'd never get it built in Aspen or Pitkin County without years of meetings and hearings.
Michael Conniff Repeat: they have a right to do it but that doesn't make it right. Can you imagine a 9/11 family member walking by Park51? A horrible thought.
Doug Tucker Again, Islam didn't knock down the WTC. 19 criminal freaks with box cutters did that. There already is a Mosque in that neighborhood. It's been there for years. I used to go to school 8 or 9 blocks away from the WTC. There are all types of Americans in that area. Muslims died in the 9/11 attack. Maybe some of their families will want to pray after they visit the site. Your religious bigotry is un-American!
Michael Conniff In both airliners and mosques, they shouted: Allah Akhbar, God is Great! That speaks for itself.
Doug Tucker So are you admitting you are a bigot?
Tony Vagneur Come on! We've been a nation of religious bigots since we gained religious freedom. If you think we're above that, you haven't been paying attention. And it's legal.
Edward Troy Corruptors of religion (in this case Islam) declare holy wars and jihads. People of faith would never do this, only those who claim to be religious. People claiming to be Jews and Christians are not exempt either. Wisdom would suggest recognizing a lot of furious ignorant types will not like this, and building elsewhere. The KKK bombed churches, I have little doubt that some er umm affiliated types will engage in some violence towards this Mosque, if it is built.
Roberta McGowan will be interesting to see, if it's built, what will go on there. It's supposed to be also a "Community Center" -
Michael Conniff @Doug I'm saying if Catholics spouting the One True God had smashed the planes into the Twin Towers would we be building a Basilica one-tenth of a mile from Ground Zero. I think not.
Doug Tucker How many Christian churches are there in Oklahoma City? How many baptists didn't blow up abortion clinics? Face it, you are bigoted against Muslims. Don't try to front.
Doug Tucker PS- religious bigotry is un-American.
Nick Kertz Doug, you still haven't addressed the claims of the article (not surprising considering there is nothing of substance to stand on). You've just been calling everyone a bigot. Although being anti-Christian is both politically and socially acceptable in the US, the most bigoted (intolerant) statements in this thread have come from you. You need to look up the definition of "bigotry", and while you're at it look up "irony" as well. Then perhaps read the article in question...
Michael Conniff Hey, Nick, how does it feel to agree with me? Try it you'll like it.
Nick Kertz That's how ya know Doug is skating on thin ice. Real thin ice. Are you ever gonna buy me my steak dinner? I see yer friends with the Cantina. How about carne asada?
Michael Conniff Sing for your supper: how long before Obama got the troops out and what was the bet anyway?
August 17th, 2010
The Republican pretenders to the political throne in Colorado remind both wag and wonk of Abbott and Costello, one of the greatest tag teams in American comedic history.
Unfortunately for nominees Ken Buck for Governor and Dick Maes for Senator, politics as per usual is no joke in the Rockies, though the pair has long been an embarrassment to regular old Republicans. I know this from Right here in Pitkin County because Righty party types have been bemoaning B&M from the moment it looked as though they might squeegee the Tea leaves hard enough to win their party’s nominations. The word “crazy” has been summoned up by local Republicans more than once—albeit before Buck and Maes won their amazin’ primary victories.
Continue Reading August 13th, 2010
The anchors on Fox News—both male and blonde—are quite happy to bloviate non-stop when they beat the “left-wing” competition in the ratings hands-down.
Now we know how they do it: by all but eliminating blacks from its viewing audience, Fox has been able to deliver a white demographic not seen on television since the last NASCAR race. Advertisers haven’t been this happy since “Mad Men” did an Emmy double-dip.
In case you missed the latest breaking bulletin from the culture wars—ka-ching!—Fox attributes its success to blacks who constitute just 2 percent of its viewing audience not counting Shirley Sherrod, their latest African-American scalp—but including Michael Steele, the foot-in-mouth chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC).
Continue Reading July 30th, 2010
Maybe you’ve heard of this Facebook thing, and maybe you’ve seen the Facebook user profile that asks everyone to fill in the blanks when it comes to their political views.
People say all sorts of things. (One favorite: “Don’t get me started….”) But by the hundreds, and presumably by the thousands and millions, one Facebooker after another is describing themselves as “liberals.”
Not once have I seen anyone say they are “progressive.”
All I can say is shut my mouth.
Continue Reading July 16th, 2010
You know who you are. You believe in this country so badly sometimes your eyeballs pop out. You bleed red-white-and-blue, and what really steams you is when people criticize our wars in any way, shape, or form. Jesus Christ completes the picture and believes America is just as special as you do.
Here’s a shout-out to you true Americans on the birthday of our country, but it comes with a smack upside the head to your national nativist narrative. You wear the flag like you own it but you don’t—not even close. And here’s the bad news: in your basic misunderstanding of patriotism you soil the flag that wraps you up like a tortilla.
Your narrative on the Right is a story of conformity and exclusion—an America of closed doors and privilege hidden by the rhetoric of self-reliance and reverential loathing of government. You draw the distinction between “government” and “country” and see government in present-day America dedicated to the extinction of liberty, freedom, and chastity.
Continue Reading July 4th, 2010
The goal of the Tea Party Movement is to radically restructure the corrupt regime that, in league with bankers and the military-corporate complex, is devastating our economy and imposing tyranny. Well and good, except this patriotic grass roots uprising has been usurped by the very villains they are trying to defeat. The battle is not right-wing radicals against the current administration, it is the people against an out of control federal government.
It has taken decades to convey America to the very brink of disaster. For decades the federal government, both Democratic and Republican, have ignored laws, broken laws and subverted our Constitution. The Tea Partiers realize this and their anger and organization has changed the political discourse.
The Tea Party Movement can do far more than simply alter the discourse. It is within their power to easily restructure the federal government. They need only do what the original Tea Party did centuries ago. Which was to refuse to pay an unjust tax. We can do the same today, simply by obeying the law.
The mighty machine has a crack in its armor. It can be very easily proven, beyond doubt, that there is no law that requires a citizen to withhold income tax from his/her paycheck. Income tax is a house of cards built without a foundation, maintained by oppression, prejudice and vested interest. Remove any card and they all fall, along with a government whose time has passed.
Here is the card that can set us free. Only withholding agents are authorized to withhold tax from a paycheck. The Internal Revenue Code defines a withholding agent at IRC 7701(a)(16) which states, “The term ‘withholding agent’ means any person required to deduct and withhold any tax under the provisions of Sections 1441, 1442, 1443 and 1461.” The first three sections apply to nonresident aliens and foreign corporations, while 1461 simply makes the agent responsible for monies collected. The IRS website adds the following; “You may be a withholding agent even if there is no requirement to withhold from a payment,” (i.e. if an employee volunteers to have money withheld.)
There is the law, straightforward and not subject to interpretation. An employer is required to withhold tax from a paycheck only if the employee is a nonresident alien or foreign corporation. Members of the Tea Party need only to obey this law, refuse to have income tax withheld and watch a corrupt regime crumble.
July 3rd, 2010
ASPEN, COLORADO – Before 9/11 Commissioner Richard Ben-Veniste talked about the “menu of horrible possibilities” at the Aspen Security Forum, I had already met the guy in the stained suit running for President since he was 12 years old and the guy asking a client on the phone if he could bill him for printing something out.
National security is now a bonafide made-in-America industry with crackpots included, and that means the dreaded public-private partnership is well underway and holding sway. The national security industry, resident here for a handful of days, is the only industry in the civilized world that will boom during the promised doom soon to come. Believe it or not, this is also an industry that tells you something unspeakable is going to happen—and soon—and then asks you to pony up so as to prevent it.
Continue Reading June 30th, 2010
Last year, as one part of the mission of Common Sense Alliance, I prepared a report to the Colorado Transportation Legislation Review Committee, a group made up of state legislators charged with overseeing state transportation projects. The general perspective of the report was that the state needed to take action to protect its citizens from the complete collapse of federal oversight of transportation funding. Despite that rather gloomy assessment the report also noted that "efforts to secure remediation of this problem at the federal level will continue", and we are now back to work on that approach.
Problems with the way the Department of Transportation (DOT) is doing its job can be reported to their Office of Inspector General (OIG). Beyond that, the federal government has now set up an Integrity Committee, to whom complaints can be addressed regarding problems with the way the OIG is doing its job.
Last week, I sent the letter below to the Integrity Committee, along with a complaint* regarding both the DOT and the OIG.
Any federal elected official or candidate might find the link below to be especially interesting, as it recounts the practical and real world methods used by federal employees to avoid taking responsibility to fix problems brought to their attention. I have not attempted to contact any elected officials or candidates, as I do not have any particular connection to any of them that might cause them to take notice. If you do have the ear of a federal elected official or candidate, please feel free to pass this email along.
* http://www.entrancesolution.com/Integrity%20Complaint.htm
Dear Integrity Committee,
The enclosed complaint is being sent to you at the suggestion of Valerie T. Blyther, Investigative Research Analyst for FraudNET at the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
A central aspect of the problem being reported is the manner in which it was handled by staff of the Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, and that appears to be your specific area of responsibility.
However, the full authority of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity & Efficiency would be better suited to respond to the broad scope of deficiencies in the oversight of federal transportation funding which is detailed in this complaint. The mission and purpose of the Council to “address integrity, economy, and effectiveness issues that transcend individual Government agencies”, and “continually identify, review, and discuss areas of weakness and vulnerability in Federal programs and operations with respect to fraud, waste, and abuse” could have been written in reaction to the situation I am reporting.
The inevitable buck passing that occurs as a result of the bureaucratic compartmentalization of responsibility and authority has been a major problem that formation of the Council is clearly intended to overcome. The more pernicious failure of accountability that I encountered has been the consistent practice by nearly every federal official contacted to avoid acknowledging or discussing any of the information with which they are presented – apparently in order to evade any responsibility to act on that information.
If the intent of the architects of your agency was to make the Integrity Committee the enforcer of personal accountability by federal employees, the power to do so will need to be extended far beyond the various IG offices.
It is somewhat surprising that your intake method does not start with the Council, who then makes a determination regarding whether to pass the information on to the Integrity Committee. Regardless, I trust the Integrity Committee is perfectly capable of forwarding this request to the full Council for action that will “transcend individual Government agencies”.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Jeffrey Evans
June 29th, 2010
Michael Conniff Meeting with Obama at the White House today, BP really is trying to move "Beyond Petroleum" or just beyond hope.
Jeffrey Wertz
"Hope" and "Change" are rather elusive concepts. Maybe the agenda should be limited to subjects such as #1 "what needs to be done to stop the leak" and #2 "how best to accomplish #1" If they have some extra time before they let the photographers in, maybe they could discuss how BP is prepared to pay the massive costs of the clean-up and the ... See Morerestoration of the status quo. Of course, this is too much to ask because THAT meeting should have taken place weeks ago. I thought the President was a sharper politician than recent inaction demonstrates. It would have been easy to meet face to face with BP last month and avoid being criticized for not diong so. That did not occur, criticism followed and now this meeting roughly 60 days after the crisis bagan will probably be dismissed as mere window dressing and posturing unless Pres. Obama seizes the opportunity to finally fulfill his duties as the nations chief executive and commander in chief.
Continue Reading June 17th, 2010
President Barack Obama may be President of the United States of America but he looks for all the world like the stereotype we have of aliens from movies. Most of them are long and wiry with outsized heads and beautiful skin. They have longs arms and long legs and long fingers and a thin torso.
Aliens, like Obama, are invariably tall, remote, distant, and very smart. Like the President, they seem to spend an ungodly amount of time thinking things through. How weird is that?
The President of the United States of America, according to Dorothy Rabinovitz of the Wall Street Journal in a piece about terrorism, is “The Alien” because of his “ideological core.”
Now Rabinovitz is one of my top-five journalists of all time, so what follows does not emanate from anything but admiration for her. She is thoughtful, precise, peace-loving, thought-provoking—and dead wrong because she mis-reads “ideological core” as the root cause of Obamanation’s Alienation.
Continue Reading June 13th, 2010
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