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"Big Hollywood" review: not "quite" there yet
Drudge link target and co-starter of the Huffington Post Andrew Breitbart has started a new subsite called "Big Hollywood" (link). Go ahead and click the link, he probably needs the traffic more than I do.
First, there's the design. As you can see, I'm horrible at design so I don't even bother trying. But, I know there are people who are good at that. And, Breitbart doesn't seem to have hired one of them but instead has something that's incrementally better than what I'd do. There's also the information design, and he doesn't have anything that most blogs don't have already and he doesn't have some things that sites like this have, like cute in-page popup windows and the like.
But, that's minor compared to the content, which at present consists of a humor piece from Greg Gutfeld and some other stuff that's not really of interest to me, including something from the sleazy James Kirchik. As for the others, I have absolutely no idea who John Nolte is, and I'm not interested in finding out.
As for Orson Bean, I had no idea what he does when I saw him on that other TV quiz show many years ago, and I still have no idea what he does besides be Orson Bean. There's also Ben Shapiro. Even him being occasionally smeared by a scumbag like Duncan Black isn't enough to make me interested in reading what he writes.
Plus, I've been boycotting movies for a decade and a half and the site is too inside baseball rather than from the perspective of those who want to raze the ballpark.
If he wants a happenin' site, let me offer two pairs of suggestions: link, and link.
Hispanic Caucus wants Latino at Commerce to influence the Census
Guillermo Garcia of the San Antonio Express News offers "Latinos push Obama on vacant post" (link). The Congressional Hispanic Caucus is going to work with other, unnamed groups to push for a Latino to be named Secretary of the Department of Congress. They settled on one candidate, who a source says was Xavier Becerra; however, he's since indicated he's not interested.In any case, not only are they explicit about their support for a racial quota system, but they also reveal why: in order to influence the Census. Note that in 2007, the Census Bureau called for a halt to immigration raids during the 2010 census (link). Earlier this year, John Trasvina of MALDEF said he wanted the next president to appoint a DHS chief who'd halt raids during the census. Excerpt from the article below.
"Dear Rod": form letter from Obama to Blagojevich
Judicial Watch has obtained two letters sent to Rod Blagojevich; one from Barack Obama himself, the other from his transition team. PDFs at that link.
Unfortunately, both appear to be form letters sent out after the National Governors Association on December 2, 2008 in Philadelphia. The one from Obama pawns off all contact on Nick Rathod. The other letter is from Valerie Jarrett, John Podesta, and Pete Rouse, and likewise pawns off contact on others in case Blago wanted to "share thoughts". Whether similar letters were sent to other governors isn't known.
The only three things that seem like they might hold promise are:
1. The fact that JW's FOIA request was not complied with in full; Erin Knowles from Blago's office says in the reply to their FOIA request:
This office has no independent knowledge of all individuals who are currently "representatives of the Office of the President-Elect", "representatives of the Obama-Biden Transition Project", or "representatives of the Service Employees International Union". Therefore, if you would specify the names of individuals from who you seek correspondence, we would be happy to conduct a search to determine whether there are any responsive documents.
2. The fact that Obama's meeting with Blago was not in the supposed investigation of his team's contacts:
The President-Elect had no contact or communication with Governor Blagojevich or members of his staff about the Senate seat.
However, the fact that Obama was at the governor's meeting was already known, including with pictures. Perhaps their investigation might have looked better if they had listed all of Obama's contacts with Blago rather than putting it in the legalistic terms above.
3. The fact that Obama's letter starts with the salutation, "Dear Rod". If this was a form letter sent to other governors, did he call them with their first names as well?
Right after election, Harry Reid called McCain and they pledged to work for amnesty
On Sunday, Harry Reid appeared on Meet the Press and revealed that a "day or two" after the election, Reid called John McCain and they pledged to work together on comprehensive immigration reform, aka amnesty. Reid doesn't know whether McCain has contacted Barack Obama with a similar pledge or not. The transcript is here, excerpt and video below. Note that David Gregory lets the provisions of "reform" pass right by him without noting how deceptive they are.Henry Kissinger: Obama can create a "New World Order"
Henry Kissinger appeared on yesterday's Morning Call with Mark Haines on CNBC and was asked "What do you think the most important thing is for Barack Obama?" The response:
"....His task will be to develop an overall strategy for America in this period, when really a "New World Order" can be created . It's a great opportunity. It isn't such a crisis."
What Michelle Obama's "court ordered inactive status" as a lawyer means
If you go to the website run by the Attorney Registration and Displinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois and search for the record belonging to Michelle Obama (link, earlier screengrab here), you'll find that her Illinois Registration Status is listed as "Voluntarily inactive and not authorized to practice law - Last Registered Year: 1993" and her Malpractice Insurance status is listed as "No malpractice report required as attorney is on court ordered inactive status" (bolding added).
The last bit has caused quite a stir, however a paralegal with Illinois ARDC has just clarified for me that this is not an indication of wrongdoing. Rather, prior to 2000, attorneys who wanted to become inactive had to seek the permission of the IL Supreme Court, and that's the court order being referred to. Since 2000, no such court order is necessary, but prior to 2000 it was. Further, I'm informed that if there were any sort of disciplinary action taken against her it would be listed on that page.
Note that in the record her maiden name is given (Michelle Lavaughn Robinson) and Barack Obama's record is here, including his full name. His status is listed as "Voluntarily inactive and not authorized to practice law - Last Registered Year: 2008".
While there doesn't seem to be anything to this story, don't worry: there's plenty more to discuss about Barry and Michelle.
"California Taxpayer Protection Act" (futile effort to end birthright citizenship in CA)
A group called Taxpayer Revolution are pushing a June 2010 California ballot initiative called "California Taxpayer Protection Act" which would, among other things, attempt to end birthright citizenship, and do so in California (link).
Can you hear the screams yet? If not, here's the first of three goals:
Create a second type of California birth certificate for children born to illegal aliens and others who are not permanent residents. The current certificate would be limited to children with at least one parent who submits an affidavit stating that he or she is a citizen or a permanent legal resident (Social Security Number verified).
"Liberals" across the U.S., the U.N., the Mexican government, newspapers from the LAT to the NYT, the ACLU, and on and on and on would, to be kind, massacre this initiative and its supporters: "second class citizens... three-fifths of a human..." would be the least they'd say. Even if it passed, it would be "overturned" by the courts a la proposition 187.
Despite almost assuredly knowing that it would end in failure, it's been endorsed by Brian Bilbray, Dana Rohrabacher, Ward Connerly. Peter Nunez, and the California American Legion. NumbersUSA is at least promoting it.
Something like this might work one day, but a lot of groundwork has to be done first. Namely, many of those who would oppose the initiative would have to be discredited, such as by asking their representives tough questions on video and uploading their answers to video sharing sites. Without doing that first, supporters of the initiative would have absolutely no chance of receiving even a slightly fair hearing.
In brief, given the current environment, it's little more than a braindead vanity effort.
"Housing Push for Hispanics Spawns Wave of Foreclosures" (Joe Baca, Hispanic Caucus)
From this, much more at the link:California Rep. Joe Baca has long pushed legislation he said would "open the doors to the American Dream" for first-time home buyers in his largely Hispanic district. For many of them, those doors have slammed shut, quickly and painfully.Others involved: the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Countrywide Financial Corp, New Century Financial Corp, Ameriquest Mortgage Corp. The program started by the CHC was called "Hogar", and:
Mortgage lenders flooded Mr. Baca's San Bernardino, Calif., district with loans that often didn't require down payments, solid credit ratings or documentation of employment. Now, many of the Hispanics who became homeowners find themselves mired in the national housing mess. Nearly 9,200 families in his district have lost their homes to foreclosure.
For years, immigrants to the U.S. have viewed buying a home as the ultimate benchmark of success. Between 2000 and 2007, as the Hispanic population increased, Hispanic homeownership grew even faster, increasing by 47%, to 6.1 million from 4.1 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Over that same period, homeownership nationally grew by 8%. In 2005 alone, mortgages to Hispanics jumped by 29%, with expensive nonprime mortgages soaring 169%, according to the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council.
An examination of that borrowing spree by The Wall Street Journal reveals that it wasn't simply the mortgage market at work. It was fueled by a campaign by low-income housing groups, Hispanic lawmakers, a congressional Hispanic housing initiative, mortgage lenders and brokers, who all were pushing to increase homeownership among Latinos...
Hogar's ties to the subprime industry were substantial. A Washington Mutual vice president served as chairman of its advisory committee. Companies that donated $150,000 a year got the right to place a research fellow who would conduct Hogar's studies, which were used by industry lobbyists. For donations of $100,000 a year, Hogar offered to provide news releases from the Hispanic Caucus promoting a lender's commercial products for the Latino market, according to the group's literature.There's also a possibly questionable donation from AmeriDream Inc to the foundation started by Baca and run by his son, Joe Baca Jr.
Joel Kotkin /Mark Schill promote a "North American Energy Community" (how the EU started)
Joel Kotkin and Mark Schill offer "Go north young man", a globalist screed calling for the creation of a "North American Energy Community" (link):...A U.S.-Canada energy consortium - with the eventual involvement of Mexico - provides us out from our fundamental geopolitical dilemma: how to grow our economy while reducing our dependence on imported energy and, over time, carbon-emitting fuels. This could take the form of something like a North American Energy Community, which would help coordinate research, development and environmental resources across the continent...It goes on. I left the following comment, although more could be said:
What these two are proposing is obviously intended to go beyond simply an "energy consortium" and would involve some form of governmental structure of some kind. Bear in mind that the EU started out simply as an "energy consortium". Their "North American Energy Community" would eventually - over a period of decades - grow into some form of "North American Union", with the U.S. Constitution subjugated to a trilaterial agreement.If anyone has information regarding that last, please leave a comment. Kotkin is affiliated with Chapman University, the New America Foundation, and the Center for an Urban Future. Walter Russell Mead of the Council on Foreign Relations and other worthies serve on the board of the NAF, but where exactly they get their money from isn't clear.
Obama's fans might want to note that he's already signaled which side he's on: almost a year ago, Obama came out in support of Bush's spp.gov. The SPP is a highly secretive scheme - conducted without Congressional oversight or with much of any media interest - that seeks to "harmonize" regulations between the three countries.
Perhaps Kotkin could come back with a more detailed disclaimer, this time indicating who's behind the various organizations with which he's associated.
Note also that their piece was linked to by Insty (pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/65240/), who says: "Read the whole thing. Especially if you’re Barack Obama." Obviously, Insty doesn't know where BHO stands, or is just misleading his readers.
Orlando Sentinel: help U.S. workers by letting former illegal aliens compete for their jobs
The Orlando Sentinel offers a stock editorial called "We think: U.S. needs to deal with illegal immigration crisis beyond borders". As with other similar efforts, it calls for Barack Obama to push comprehensive immigration reform and thinks of his pick of Janet Napolitano is a good start. And, to show just how smart they aren't, they say:
Most of the 11.9 [sic] people who are here illegally aren't criminals. Offering enticements to come forward -- not amnesty -- will help not only them but U.S. workers because they will all be able to compete for jobs on a level playing field. Comprehensive immigration takes the option of being an illegal immigrant off the table. If you don't come forward, you will be deported. Simple as that.
1. Oddly, they don't explain exactly how those who don't come forward would be deported. Would there be mass deportations? Huge sweeps? If so, exactly how would those be carried out considering that the amnesty would give even more power to groups like the National Council of La Raza, who would then use their increased power to effectively block such enforcement?
2. And, it's great that they're thinking of the U.S. worker, but why not just help out the U.S. worker by reducing their competition from current or former illegal aliens over time, such as by enforcing our laws?
In fact, if the Orlando Sentinel really cared about the U.S. worker - and wasn't just interested in obtaining a lower-wage workforce combined with increased power for their friends and associates - they'd push to decrease the numbers of current illegal aliens over time, rather than forcing those they pretend to care about to compete with them under whatever conditions.
Tim Kaine: new chairman of the Democratic National Committee
Per this, Barack Obama has selected Virginia governor Tim Kaine to be the new chairman of the Democratic National Committee, replacing Howard Dean. Since Kaine is still in office, he'll be working part-time until January 2010. In early November, when the possibility of him being named was raised by Obama, Kaine said this:
"That's not something I'm going to do... I don't view that, frankly, as consistent with being governor, so I'm going to be governor... I would view it as taking my eye too much off the ball about things that need to happen here."
Not only will Kaine's opponents in Virginia use that and related issues against him, but he should also serve to be useful to the Republican Party on the national level due to the fact that he isn't too very bright; see his name's link above.
Bill Richardson withdraws as Commerce Secretary
MSNBC and the Associated Press are reporting that Bill Richardson is withdrawing his nomination to be secretary of the Department of Commerce (link). The reason is an on-going investigation into his links to a company that did business with New Mexico:
"Let me say unequivocally that I and my Administration have acted properly in all matters and that this investigation will bear out that fact... But I have concluded that the ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process... I appreciate the confidence President-elect Obama has shown in me, and value our friendship and working partnership. I told him that I am eager to serve in the future in any way he deems useful. And like all Americans, I pray for his success and the success of our beloved country."
Barack Obama, wiping away what were most likely tears, said:
"we must move quickly to fill the void left by Governor Richardson's decision."
Apparently Blagogate filling the news cycles was bad enough and they decided it was better to dump him now. If Richardson had been confirmed, he would have helped make the Obama administration look bad, but at the same time he would also at least partly have represented the interests of the Mexican government. Overall this is for the best.
Andrew Revkin/NYT: 11 weak science questions for Obama (dot Earth)
Andrew Revkin writes the "dot Earth" blog for the New York Times, and he offers "11 Questions for Obama’s Science Team" (link). As one might expect, all of the questions are to one degree or another variations on, "Comrade Lysenko, tell us of the wonders of your system." About the only slightly tough question concerns ethanol. None of the questions challenge fundamental assumptions or expose flaws in the reasoning of Obama or his science selections. Rivkin probably isn't going to have much trouble getting answers from the Obama team; he might even get a pat on the head for providing them with such puffballs.
Note also that the questions were selected in this thread, and were done so based on the number of recommendations. Even non-boffins should be able to recognize the flaws in such an approach; see the popular voting systems summary for more.
The questions were also linked by Insty, which shouldn't be much of a surprise since he's never shown much of an interest in asking politicians tough questions: pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/65087/
Bill Ayers goes from terrorist to Huffington Post blogger
Via HotAir comes the news that largely unrepentant terrorist Bill Ayers is now blogging over at the Huffington Post: link The subject is not, "How to make a nail-bomb designed to kill" but the more prosaic "Obama and Education Reform":Of course I would have loved to have seen Linda Darling-Hammond become Secretary of Education in an Obama administration... [what she supposedly stands for offers] a neat contrast with the four failed urban school superintendents--Michelle Rhee, Joel Klein, Paul Vallas, and Arne Duncan -- who were for weeks rumored to be her chief competition.
These four, like George W. Bush's Secretary of Education, Rod Paige of the fraudulent Texas-miracle, have little to show in terms of school improvement beyond a deeply dishonest public relations narrative. Teacher accountability, relentless standardized testing, school closings, and privatization -- this is what the dogmatists and true-believers of the right call "reform."
...[If I were president] I would have picked Noam Chomsky for state, Naomi Klein for defense, Bernardine Dohrn for Attorney General, Bill Fletcher for commerce, James Thindwa for labor, Barbara Ransby for human services, Paul Krugman for treasury, and Amy Goodman for press secretary
Mary Katherine Ham makes cute video about Obama not answering questions
Mary Katherine Ham put together a cute video called "Obama: Don't Ask Me No Questions", about Barack Obama's general unwillingness to be asked questions (link). She calls it a "brief year in review of Obama's legendary new openness and transparency with the press corps" (link).
Unfortunately, a presidential candidate not willing to answer too many questions isn't cute at all. Another thing that isn't cute at all is the fact that I'm one of the few people who was trying to urge people to go to Obama's public appearances and ask him questions. In fact, I attended an event and tried to ask him a question almost two years ago, and in October I offered this plan and sent it to major bloggers who ignored it. If enough people had tried to ask him tough questions at rope lines or during photo ops, someone might have been able to ask something that would have shown he isn't qualified.
Was Mary Katherine Ham urging people to go ask questions designed to discredit Obama? No, she was doing things like this instead of doing things that would actually achieve her supposed goals.
