Friday, June 4, 2010

Open Thread

There is a lot going on in the world today. Since the Democrats took over Congress and Obama became president the world has become more volatile. Everything they do is making things more volatile not less. Feel free to bring up anything you want. Today the comments are the posts. Why is this video not being shown in the media? It clearly proves that Israel was defending herself. As well as the video of the Jihadist on the ship.The Obama administration finds itself in the middle of its first genuine Washington scandal. And the White House’s ham-fisted effort to sweep the budding scandal under the rug—failing to heed the lesson of Watergate—is largely to blame.White House Counsel Robert Bauer’s memo detailing the White House’s version of events in the case of Pennsylvania Democratic Senate nominee Joe Sestak raises far more questions than it answers. Released last Friday, at the beginning of both a three-day holiday weekend and a weeklong Congressional recess, the memo was intended to be the Obama administration’s last word on the matter. But the memo’s self-serving explanation and lack of detail have turned a minor annoyance for the administration into a full fledged Washington scandal, virtually guaranteeing that there will be much more written and said about Sestak, the administration’s interference in the Pennsylvania Senate primary, and what looks to be a politically motivated cover up.In February, Rep. Joe Sestak was asked a seemingly innocuous question by local Philadelphia television host Larry Kane: “Were you ever offered a job to get out of this race?” Sestak’s answer, and the unflinching manner in which he delivered it, are now infamous. “Yes,” he said, swift and surely. Kane pressed. “So you were offered a job by someone in the White House?” “Yes,” the answer came again. What Sestak was describing is a felony—18 USC 600 makes it a crime for anyone to offer a federal job, position, or appointment in exchange for a political act.Bauer’s memo admits that a conversation took place between Sestak and former president Bill Clinton at the behest of the administration; and admits that Clinton and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel had discussed the possibility of finding a place for Sestak on a presidential advisory board in return for his agreement not to challenge Sen. Arlen Specter in the Democratic primary. But the memo excuses the offer as legal because the advisory role the administration envisioned for the congressman would have been uncompensated. The law makes no such distinction, and the memo’s reliance on this erroneous interpretation only heightens the contradictions between what Sestak has been saying for months, and what the Obama administration has refused to discuss until now.Since the original interview, Sestak has been asked on numerous occasions about his claim that the White House essentially tried to buy him out of the primary. He has never challenged the characterization that he was offered a job to bow out. Beyond that, Sestak has refused to reveal any details about what he was offered or with whom he spoke. Sestak never endeavored to correct the record and explain that he was offered a relatively low-ranking spot on a voluntary advisory board. He was apparently comfortable with the perception that the administration was so afraid of either losing him as a congressman, or losing Specter as the nominee, that it would offer Sestak a high-level administration position. On Friday, Sestak dutifully recounted the conversation described in the White House memo, saying that he spoke with President Clinton just once last July about keeping out of the primary, and only for 30-60 seconds.The Watergate scandal was famously framed by a question from Republican Senator Howard Baker: “What did the President know and when did he know it?” The White House memo in Offer-gate makes that question more relevant today, not less. Did President Obama know of Emanuel’s outreach to Clinton? Did he approve it? Did Obama authorize a role for Sestak in the administration if he agreed to stay out of the primary? So far the White House isn’t saying. And what of the reports that Colorado Senate candidate Andrew Romanoff was similarly offered an administration post in return for declining to challenge incumbent Sen. Michael Bennet in the primary? The White House is attempting to spin its way out of the Romanoff allegations now.Despite the White House effort to close the book on the Sestak affair, the Obama administration has given the next Woodward and Bernstein plenty of answers to chase. Perhaps somewhere in the administration, there is a Deep Throat with a story to tell. Like Watergate, Offer-gate will likely compound itself now growing bigger with each passing day that the administration refuses to provide answers to the questions its explanation has raised. And for the administration, there can be no assurance that it will not bust.

21 comments:

  1. So now everything bad that happens in the world is Obama's fault? Amazing, Chris, just amazing that you can find a way to blame everything on Obama.

    I truly don't understand how your little pea brain works.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bruce didn't everything that went bad in the world get blamed on Bush? It even got blamed on Bush when the Democrats held Congress. And Bruce I will put my pea brain to yours any day of the week. Why is nothing the presidents fault now Bruce? It was Obama and the Democrats that said they would bring the world together and issue in a new world of peace and happiness wasn't it? Sorry things aren't working the way you said they would. It truely sucks to be a Democrat or Progressive. Don't worry Bruce you on the left will be back to blaming Congressonce the Republicans gain the majority. That should make you libs happy being able to blame the Republicans again.HAHAHA you are just too funny Bruce. Bruce are you Jay-Ney by chance? Do you know her in your circle of brainiac liberals?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Chris, believe me, the things that President Obama should be held accountable, liberals hold him accountable for.

    The Sestak thing is something that goes on all the time in politics. Bush did it, Reagan did it, it's just normal horsetrading.

    Actually, a lot of things are going right, since President Obama was inaugurated. Many of the things he's having to deal with are the direct result of Bush/Republican policies.

    You need to hold President Obama and the Democrats accountable for what they really are accountable for, but also give them credit for the things they've done right, which there are many.

    You probably haven't noticed, but the economy is turning around. We are creating jobs again, after losing almost 800,000 a month at the end of the Bush era.

    I know that amazes you, but the stimulus actually is working, but I'm sure you wouldn't know that, what with Fox being your only news source.

    I'm not Jay-Ney by any chance at all. She is more vulgar than I care to deal with.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Regarding The Oil Spill. I Am Almost Sure The First Couple Weeks Regime Did Nothing And Let BP Handle Situation Which Is All They Could Do. However There Should Have Been More Done Regarding Getting Nations Coast Ready For Spill Coming On Shore By This Regime And All Its Brilliant Minds. Regime Should Of Been More Hands On Regarding The Shore Damage That Has Occurred. Could Much Have Been Done In Those Weeks Ahead Of Spill Coming On Shore. We Will Never Know Regime Did Nothing. One Government Function Is To Keep Us Secure And Safe And In The First Couple Of Weeks After This Massive Leak They Failed. They Claim Now To Have Been In Charge Since Spill Began If So That Is Worse. Blaming Bush and Cheney Is Getting Quite Old With Citizens.

    Regarding Off Shore Drilling. For Every Wind Mill We Put Up Lets Put A Ol Well Next To It. Just Seems Safer Than Pushing Oli Rigs Into Mile Deep Water. Repairing Leaks On Shore Seems So Much Easier With Less Eco Damage.

    Bruce Regarding Blaming Regime For Everything: Its Blaming Bush Thingy In Reverse. Time Will Tell Regarding Regimes Actions When The Chickens Come Home To Roost! Its Called November Elections.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow, i see how the Sestack issue made the wolr a much more dangerous place. Wait, no i don't.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Politics As Usual Is What This Regime PROMISED To Correct. You Know That Hope, Change And Transparentsy Promise. Oh, According To Pelosi Campaign Promises Are Not Really Promises Just Campaign Talk. So In Reality The Hope, Change And Transparentsy Promise Was Just Politics As Usual.

    The Danger In The World Must Not Be Lying Politicans Cause " They All Do It" And I Do Agree. The Danger With Our Politcians Is The Lying On All Issues Has Made Us Weaker In Not Only World Eyes But Even Citizens Eyes And Thats Where That Hope, Change And Transpaerentsy Thingy Will Come Home To Alot Of Those Lyers Come November!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Bruce what do you think the Obama admin has done wrong? And why still blame Bush and Republicans when the Democrats controled Congress over the past few years now? You can't have your cake and eat it too.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Bruce why is Blagovich being arragned for doing what "Reagan and Bush did"? It's illegal and always has been so where is the proof of your aligations? What you are saying doesn't make sense. Who is in jail for those crimes?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Bruce where is your proof that we were loosing 800,000 jobs a month? And if you haven't notice even though Obama and Congress threw trillions of our $ to stimulat the economy we are still loosing jobs. About 400,000 a month on average. The private sector has lost more jobs then ever and the only growth sector is government. Wall Street is as volatile as ever and an we keep falling below 10,000 in the Dow. Where is that recovery you are talking about Bruce? The recovery should be here but thanks to what Obama and the Democrats in Congress have done we are still in a deep recession. Gold is at over $1,200 an oz as well as other comodaties and you somehow think the economy is getting better? I just gave you some of the factors that say you are wrong. What are you judging your theory on?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Joe first came Blago then came Sestak and now we have Rominoff. Not part of the Russian royal family. It's still against the law isn';t it Joe? Would you and Bruce like to forget that laws are broken just because a Democrat did it? We are a country of laws and no one should be above these laws.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Bruce the liar has returned eh? LOL

    Name one thing dumbocrats have held this loser president accountable for. Even the black caucus (all hypocrats of course) of the House is trying to make ethics investigations less transparent, ROFLMAO

    Now we have the President and his administration breaking federal law by trying to keep states from choosing their representatives. And Bruce says it's fine because supposedly Bush and Reagan did it. Bruce, more lies that you give no source other than your lying mouth, LOL.

    And Joe say it's just fine and dandy because nobody got killed. Hey Joe, when a woman gets raped she doesn't necessarily get killed but I do believe it's against the law. Embezzlers like Madoff don't kill anyone, but likewise it's against the law. Your arguments have gone about as far out in la la land as they can get.

    What a dirty POS this (to use Al's words which are always spot on) REGIME is. The only thing transparent about this President is how obviously dirty and corrupt he is. Two months to get a response from the regime, sounds like a major cover-up to me. This is the best president money could buy! ROFLMAO

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow, look at that fake recovery. 431,000 new jobs but only 41,000 that create wealth (private-sector) versus ones that destroy it (public-sector, and temporary Census jobs a majority of those). It really is just like if my 10-year old nephew was running this country. Libtards never grow beyond 10 years old mentally, that's a proven fact. Time for Obummer to have another Jobs conference so someone can once again explain to him where jobs come from. Oh, I know I know he's doing his part keeping golf caddies employed and keeping golf courses open. But you know, if more of us could now afford to golf once in a while it might ease poor B.O.'s load. He's trying to keep the golf industry going all by himself poor guy!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Our Economy/Jobs Is Like Playing Golf With This Regime. If Your The Score Keeper(Regime) You Can Make Both Look Good But The Citizens(Caddies) KNOW The Truth! In Novemeber This Regime By The Caddies Will Be Put " Out Of Bounds" And That Is The Penalty! Welcome Back John.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Good to have John back. Bruce not so much.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Screw you Bruce. I was one of your two followers to you blog. I know that Conyers wont do your blog thanks to your radical views. You and I are no different,but you look down on me. Fuck you!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Any Body Out There Here Of FTC New Propasals To "Reinvent" Journalism. Have Not Seen Propasals Yet But News Papers Are So Bad Financially Most Are On Brink Of Bankruptsy. Hows This For Reinventing Journalism,Journalist Report BOTH Sides Of Issues And Let Citizens Deside. Its The Norm Now For All News Agencies To Report Their Views On Issues. Citizens DONT Care What Media Thinks. Print Facts Citizens Will Decide. Its UNIQUE To State Run Medias. Also NPR Gets About 400 Million A Year To Be Mouth Peice For Regime. Wonder What We Could Do For Poor Citizens With That 400 Million? Free Market Decides Failure And Success, Not Government As This Regime Is Trying To Do.

    Another Note Wall Street Seems To Have Rejected Regimes Employment Figures Stocks Down Over 300 Points. Imagine Private Sector Not Believing Regime,I Am Stunned!

    ReplyDelete
  17. What does "Reinvent Journalism" mean? Are they going to take over media now or just the journalist?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Al, the only ones who a report news news now a days are the bloggers.
    Prime example is the lack of reporting about the IHH past dealings with funneling weapons and other military support contraband using these flotillas.
    Serious lack of journalism going on in this nation.

    ReplyDelete
  19. FTC Propasals Are Probablly Part Of Revisiting "Fairness Doctrine" From New Angle. Progressives Do Not Control Conservative Media And Their Own Liberal Media" Air America" Cannot Compete With Truth. All That The Left Can Do Is Attempt To Shut Down Conservative Media Which Is Keeping Citizens Much TOO Informed On Regime And Its Agenda. Control Of Media In Any Socialist Regime Is Essential And The Progressives Aint Going To Let The Truth Go Unchallenged.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Jay-ney isn't real. Its a righty trying their best to portray a angry liberal.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hey Joe We Dont Have To Try Portraying A Angry Liberal. You Do A Great Job All By Yourself!

    ReplyDelete

Please keep it clean and nice. Thank you for taking the time to post you thought. It means a lot to me that you do this.