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POPS Advance To The Rear!
(Well, in fairness, even if the president did declare back in 2008 this war was a vital national security interest, and he did signal last spring he was on board with counterinsurgency, and even if he did appoint Gen. Stanley McChrystal to get the job done in May, the general’s recommendations only arrived in August, and the president didn’t look at them until, what, late September, and he’s been really busy this whole time letting Congress bollix his health-care initiative, throwing Eastern Europe under the bus and flying to Copenhagen, that kind of thing, so he’s only been able to squeeze in seven high-level national security meetings, or is it eight? Is it so unreasonable to ask for new options on top of the new options that he asked for on top of the new options that McChrystal gave him? Meanwhile, China’s ass wants kissing and then we’re into the holidays … ) OK, I get that the political piece is vitally important, and for Eikenberry, up to his armpits in scheming
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POPSAnime Japan’s Manga Hentai Wonder Festival Wonder Festival was first held in 1985. Japanese animation was still very much a niche interest even in its home country, and the major kit manufacturers were only interested in major TV franchises. It seems, even organizers do not foreknow, who and how many figures will decide to parade. Heroines numerous anime, video games, comics, manga,hentai with own hand created characters. Practically any figure has an erotic hentai orientation.
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POPSFraud Could Undermine Housing Tax Credit as Troubling Report Emerges The Government Accountability Office reports that $10 billion had been spent on 1.4 million credits as of late August. As the economy hit trouble in 2008, Congress passed a $7,500 tax credit for first-time homebuyers as a no-interest, long-term loan to stimulate the housing market. The credit was expanded under the economic recovery act passed in February to $8,000, not as a loan, but a fully refundable credit. Economists worry that the tax break is going to those who would have purchased homes anyway, and filling homes by vacating others " as renters become buyers " without benefit to the economy as a whole. Estimates are that more than three-quarters of the expected 1.5 million taxpayers who will have tapped the program would have bought homes even without the tax credit, putting the price to the government at about $43,000 per homebuyer who would not have bought a house without the credit. The Government Accountability Office reports that 59 percent of those claiming . .
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POPSFilms today, books tomorrow? by Mariam Mokhtar "But the scariest thing is how the Puteri Umno motion was passed without debate. An important call such as this should have warranted a little more scrutiny. If the Government were to accede to their request, then it is all Malaysians, who will suffer. Not just Muslims. Movies like the Harry Potter films will not be screened. Lord of the Rings, and even The Wizard of Oz will have to be banned. And what about science fiction films? Alien, Predator and others, may be full of horror, or lack unexplained traditional elements, and thus, will not fit in any religious teaching." In short - ban fucking everything. Would that make 'em happy?
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POPSUrge World Leaders: Vote No to Biased Goldstone Report I'm here at the emergency session of the U.N. Human Rights Council, facing a draft resolution by the Arab and Islamic blocs that seeks to endorse the biased Goldstone Report"a 500-page document that falsely accuses Israel of “deliberate attacks” against civilians during its defensive war against Hamas rocket attacks last January. (For details, see www.unwatch.org/goldstone.) Adoption of this dangerous text will trigger proceedings toward the indictment and prosecution of Israeli leaders and officers in the International Criminal Court. What’s at stake is the very survival of democratic societies under the assault of terrorists"enemies of human rights who cynically invoke its protective cover. The debate began yesterday and reaches its climax today. UN Watch will be there to address the assembled delegates. Representing us will be none other than Col. Richard Kemp, former commander of the British forces in Afghanistan,
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POPS Historic Suckupness, Poor Judgment That Nick the Turk is one astute observer. I got whacked with something and spent yesterday on the couch, nose in Robert Harvey’s The War of Wars: The Epic Struggle Between Britain and France: 1789-1815* when not dozing. Fascinating reading with not a few lessons regarding war and politics in general. Now, Obama’s no Bonaparte. They are no matched historical set. But as you examine the totality of Obama’s career to date, there are some curious parallels. Not so much the part about being an outsider shouldering his way in … Napoleon of course was a Corsican with an Italian accent, which made him a foreigner and a provincial bumpkin though integrated into French society through political connections and education. Obama, of Kenyan and white American descent, raised in part overseas, after all was welcomed and acclaimed exactly for reasons of his minority status, due to the nation’s and his political party’s interest in recognizing and elevating
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POPSMoney, Banks, Finances Here are some tips and ideas on how to spend money wisely, fight the crisis and how to get insured by the insurance companies.
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POPSTwitter Talks Data With Microsoft, Google — All Things Digital All this without tarnishing the noisy service as a shill, because it lets you listen to only what you want. The deals would be nonexclusive and may not happen, All Things Digital reports " which only feeds the casual cred Twitter has been cultivating, taking its time about coming up with a business model that produces operating revenue, while it rakes in VC money at a level that values the three-year-old private company at about $1 billion. The “Let them do it” philosophy works like a charm for Twitter, whose content comes from the general public and whose best interfaces come from third-party developers making full use of the company’s freely available API. Along with the recently announced “lists” initiative, Twitter seems to be carefully setting the table so that partners can leverage its data " and the way it is organized " to enter new markets, while it sits back and maintains a server farm.
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POPSLamar Smith Sent a Letter to Attorney General Eric Holder: Investigate Allegations of Criminal Conduct Against ACORN “Because the President’s political ties to ACORN may discourage senior Justice Department officials from authorizing an investigation, I have called on the Attorney General to appoint a special counsel who is independent of the administration and free from any undue political influence. “Political favoritism has no place at the Justice Department. We’ve already seen this administration dismiss one case against a political ally"the New Black Panther Party"for no apparent reason. I remain concerned that politicization at the Justice Department once again may result in the administration’s political friends getting a free pass. Only an independent investigation can ensure that justice is served in this case.” Last month, Ranking Member Smith sent letters to Justice Department Inspector General Glenn Fine and FBI Director Robert Mueller calling for investigations into ACORN’s use of federal funds and possible criminal violations.
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POPSBarack Obama, College Admininstrator FTA: " The president tells the nation that his wonderful programs are met with distortion and right-wing lies,..". Hanson has it pegged. This is how it looks from *our side*.
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POPSMERICAS ELECTIONS WILL BE CORPORATE Perhaps already at the next election cycle, will the American Public be bombarded with DIRECT CORPORATE FUNDING OF ELECTORAL CANDIDATES. Democracy for the Corporations, not the People
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POPS The Fall Guy True, the president showed up at the CIA a few days later to reassure Mr. Panetta's demoralized troops. Don't "be discouraged" that you've "made mistakes," the president said, smiling, as Mr. Panetta stood grimly by. "That's how we learn." Mr. Obama vowed to be "vigorous in protecting" the organization. Later, at the White House, he announced plans to release photos showing detainee abuse"at the demand of the ACLU. Then came House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's full-frontal assault, claiming the agency had lied to her about waterboarding. This would have been an excellent time for some "vigorous" protection of the CIA, since agency documents flatly contradict the speaker. But with his domestic agenda in the hands of Congress, the White House was mum. It showed equal interest in defending Mr. Panetta against the threat of congressional investigations. This week the White House visited on the CIA director what ranking Senate Intelligence Committee member Kit Bond declared a "hat trick"
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POPS Letter Details Kennedy Offer To USSR to the General Secretary of the Center Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Y. Andropov. Kennedy believes that, given the current state of affairs, and in the interest of peace, it would be prudent and timely to undertake the following steps to counter the militaristic politics of Reagan and his campaign to psychologically burden the American people. In this regard, he offers the following proposals to the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Y.V. Andropov: 1. Kennedy asks Y.V. Andropov to consider inviting the senator to Moscow for a personal meeting in July of this year. The main purpose of the meeting, according to the senator, would be to arm Soviet officials with explanations regarding problems of nuclear disarmament so they may be better prepared and more convincing during appearances in the USA. He would also like to inform you that he has planned a trip through Western Europe, . . .
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POPSReports Signal White House Interest in Expanded Detention Powers Obama May Seek Authority Outlined by AG Mukasey In attempting to answer that question a year ago today, Michael Mukasey, in a speech delivered to the American Enterprise Institute, said that Congress should: acknowledge again and explicitly that this Nation remains engaged in an armed conflict with al Qaeda, the Taliban, and associated organizations, who have already proclaimed themselves at war with us and who are dedicated to the slaughter of Americans"soldiers and civilians alike. In order for us to prevail in that conflict, Congress should reaffirm that for the duration of the conflict the United States may detain as enemy combatants those who have engaged in hostilities or purposefully supported al Qaeda, the Taliban, and associated organizations. Today, Obama " or at least members of his administration " appear to want something very similar.
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POPSTime for Congress to Start Issuing Subpoenas Pulling the TARP over taxpayers' eyes By: Michael Barone Last fall, former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson told shocked Americans that the $700 billion TARP had to be passed immediately but not to worry because taxpayers would eventually make money on the investments as banks and other institutions getting bailout money paid it back. To the contrary, Barofsky said, not only are banks hoarding TARP funds, it is "very unlikely" that most of the TARP money will ever be repaid, let alone turn a profit. The hastily passed bill included minimal reporting requirements, so a third of all TARP recipients admit they used the money to repay loans, merge with other banks, and even purchase more mortgage-backed securities from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac - the two institutions at the heart of the housing market collapse. Some companies are even using TARP to pay off other government loans in what auditors call "bailout arbitrage." And it's all perfectly legal.
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POPSCongressman Kucinich Asks ‘Is the Fed Paying Banks NOT to Loan Money?’ Domestic Policy Subcommittee Chair Announces New Probe of TARP If these reports are true, this raises significant questions about who the Fed is working for. There is record unemployment and businesses and consumers across American are starved for capital, if the Fed is paying higher interest rates on term deposits in order to induce banks to keep money at the Fed rather than lend, it would be an outrage,” Kucinich said. Kucinich recounted for Barofsky the policy path which TARP followed when it was first presented to Congress: “First Congress was told that TARP was for the purchase of toxic assets, to help keep people in their homes. Then the Bush Administration switched the program. “Next Congress was told that the TARP funds were instead needed to bail out the banks, in the form of a direct capital infusion, to keep credit markets alive. “If TARP isn’t about keeping people in their homes or providing credit to businesses, what is it for?
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POPSKeynesian Foolishness I don't care how prominent, credentialed, or "accomplished" an economist is. If he says that burying cash in the ground can be a boon to society, then he should be immediately dismissed from public and academic discourse.
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POPSHate Crime Legislation: A Shocking Disregard for Federalism This claim ignores the fact that 45 states have their own hate crime laws and that violence against others is universally unlawful and routinely prosecuted. It also disregards the fact that general police powers belong to the states, not to the federal government. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) then makes a brief appearance (89 minute mark) to slander opponents of the legislation - how could anyone oppose legislation with such a noble goal? He claims that this is tantamount to saying that it is acceptable to harm people because you do not like who they are. Don’t expect the application of this legislation to be the rare and exceptional prosecution that Attorney General Holder promises in his testimony. Janet Cohen testified that her upbringing in a racially divided America decades ago justifies passage of this law. She also proposes that prosecutions with the new law will be “wise” on account of Holder’s “brilliance and integrity.”
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POPSChinese Premier Wen Jiabao Is Worried About US Debt? As North Korea shakes the nuclear sabre, Iran threatens Israel's existence and the modern world cowers before medieval Islamists, what leverage do we have to gain China's cooperation? None, of course. Instead, China has all the leverage to make us bend to their will. What other choice do we have but to obey our new master? Thousands of years ago, a wise man wrote that "the borrower is the slave of the lender." Anyone who has racked up debts understands this concept all too well. When your money belongs to someone else, they get to tell you what to do. When Treasury Secretary/Tax Cheat Tim Geithner reassured a Chinese audience that their "investments" in America were safe, they laughed in his face. Before long, our new master will notice the whip he's been handed and the laughter will stop. The world is about to get a lot more dangerous.
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POPS The Debunking Of Obama's Statement ABC 6 reported earlier today that Barney Frank flipped the President the bird -- metaphorically, that is -- by micro-managing GM's corporate activities. ..."The UAW is very appreciative of Congressman Frank's assistance," said Bob Madore, Director of UAW Region 9A. "The workers in Norton now have some time to show how important their plant is to GM's overall operations. Representative Frank is a congressman who doesn't just talk the talk for workers - he walks with us and we walk with him". A whole 80 employees qualifies as a "fundamental corporate decision"? Well, that debunking of Obama's statement didn't take long. Usually it's a full week before his public statements are exposed as pure fiction.
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