Obama's hypocrisy on Syria continuuuuuuues.

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You've got to wonder at the rank Cowardice of our Empty Suit in Chief.

Seems to me that the situation in Syria has easily exceeded that of the situation in Libya; a situation that, had the president not undergone an early courage vasectomy, would have been solved months... and hundreds of millions of dollars ago.

When you and your administration are based on situational ethics and an institutional double standard, this is the outcome you know we're going to get.

The clown running Syria is slaughtering his own people.  And what is the US doing about it?

Nothing.

The clown running Libya isn't doing anything different, and his opposition can at least fire something, no matter how small, back.

No... in Syria, if you cry "freedom!" you're going to be slaughtered like sheep.

And Obama won't do a damned thing about it.

That is not to say that he should, either, which the reader might find just a bit confusing at this point.

We should never have gotten involved in Libya, period.  But if we ARE going to utilize an interventionist foreign policy, the CRITERIA for such an absurd philosophy should apply EVERYWHERE.

What we have now is a "lottery" foreign policy.  In country "A," you can rape, kill, pillage and burn, and we'll do something about it, no matter how stupid, incompetent or inane.

In county "B," in the same region, you can do the precise same thing, and we'll give.... speeches.

It just makes me all warm and fuzzy that our country is lead by such clueless idiots.
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Welcoming Temple Lentz to the club.

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As a charter member, I hereby welcome Temple Lentz to the club.

We have a select membership, you understand... There was me; Peter Van Nortwick, Brent Boger (An associate member) and now, Temple Lentz.

To gain admission, you have to become a target for one Lou Brancaccio, who uses his bully pulpit to beat the hell out of you if he doesn't "like" you, or to cover your ass (See his deliberate efforts to cover for Jim Jacks over his misconduct in the legislature for an example) if he does.

So, on Saturday, he was psychotic enough to believe his column of libel was so "must read" that he postponed putting it up.  You know, so a few unfortunate souls might actually buy the waste of woodpulp to read it, as if what he said was worth paying money for?  Like that?

Brancaccio, who's reputation as a bully is cemented in local political circles, doesn't hesitate to play smash mouth politics... when those he's smashing can't smash back.  And what's that if it isn't the nature of a bully?

His latest target?  Why, it's one Temple Lentz. former campaign manager and former friend to Tim "The Liar" Leavitt, who threw her under one of those light rail cars he fantasizes about by providing Brancaccio with a well thought out and well stated analysis by Lentz over responding to a question from Brancaccio concerning the lie that was Leavitt's campaign.

She hadn’t been top-of-mind until I received a phone call this week. I was asked if I’d be interested in seeing an email that involved me.

Though why Brancaccio didn't say the call was from Leavitt is of some interest.

I said of course.

It turns out it had to do with an email I had sent to Leavitt about a year ago. Back then, Leavitt had recently reversed course on his no-tolls stand and now was in favor of tolling to get the new bridge built. So I asked him about it:

“Looking back on this entire toll issue, in retrospect, would you have done anything differently in your campaign for mayor? In other words, would you have not been such a staunch advocate for ‘no tolls?’” Leavitt sent me a pretty standard response saying he “wouldn’t change a thing” and making the distinction that he “promised the voters I would fight against tolls and fight for equity.”

Of course, that Leavitt was lying through his teeth by doing neither is of no consequence to Brancaccio now; now Leavitt carries their water like Gunga Din and that's really all that's necessary... right, Lou?

Sort of what I expected.

What I didn’t know was that before he sent me his response (dramatic pause required here), he asked his trusted political adviser — Lentz — for advice:

“Response? Thoughts...”

OK, if I had to guess what advice she would have given him, it would not have been what she dished out:

“Dear Lou, Go F* yourself.”

Imagine how much better off our community would be if EVERYONE this whack job contacted responded the same way?

(I cleaned this up for our readers.)

So this is why well-paid advisers get a paycheck. I did wonder what Leavitt thought about it all.

So I asked.

“Oh boy! That’s not how I responded to you, was it?”

I told him he had not. And in fact, Lentz eventually critiqued his note.

Then Leavitt went on to give Lentz some cover.

“Everybody has their own perspective, personality and attitudes.”

True. Some a bit saltier than others, but …

Unless it's me, of course.  Brancaccio doesn't extend that particular right to me.

And frankly, Leavitt said, he’s had an urge to say that to me, “but it’s absolutely not the best response.”

And once again, Leavitt is dead wrong.

In fact, it's the perfect response to Brancaccio, or, as far as that goes, anyone working for him.

When I spoke to Lentz — who currently is working in communications for a labor union in Portland — she was very straightforward.

“I didn’t feel it was a productive question so it didn’t deserve a productive answer.”

Asking the mayor about his “no tolls” stance wasn’t productive? Huh?

Since you've failed to condemn him... repeatedly... like you condemn so many others?

That is correct.  Amazing you figured it out.

Because I’m a pretty nice guy (see top of this column if you’ve already forgotten), I asked if I could buy her a cup of coffee.

You're a grade A asshole, Lou.  And we all know it.

But please … be gentle with me.

And this column... once again.... proves it.

As for Temple, she's got a fairly thick skin.  And while she shares the same far left spectrum as Brancaccio, she has put herself at risk of this kind of thing because of her lack of slavish devotion to the Propaganda Minister's agenda.

This column was the kind of garbage he cranks out that he believes is oh, so, clever.  After all, it's fairly clear he's a legend in his own mind.

So, welcome to the club, Temple.  Unfortunately, Lou's column just reinforces what a lying scumbag you worked so hard to get elected just so he could throw you under the nearest C-Trans bus... And given the lie that was his campaign, of course he wouldn't change a thing... because changing it would have kept him from getting elected.  And if you're a scumbag and you have to lie to get elected, well, that's just the price of doing business.

Just ask Steve "The Liar" Stuart.
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John McCain on the idiotic debt ceiling rip off: "The markets will approve."

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Which must explain perfectly why the market's off 150 or so, so far today.

And that's why I didn't vote for McCain or anyone else for President.

DOW JUMPS, THEN PLUNGES

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Congressman Hinton would be a "no."

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With the GOP's betrayal of the people of the United States with this con job that fixes NOTHING in our budget, I've got to say this in words even Ridgefield Barbie can understand:

Congressman Hinton would be a "no."

I get that she's all aflitter about avoiding "default."  But this is where I remind Babs that when it comes to cowardice, a hero only dies once.

Barbie's political cowardice?

In viewing all of this, Congressman Hinton has only one question: does this legislation SOLVE THE PROBLEM?

Of course not.

It's so far from "solving" anything that I am... again... ashamed of the party I have worked so hard and sacrificed so much for over the years.

NOW is the time to address the issue.  People like Barbie lack the courage to confront the issues NOW, either not knowing or caring that as time goes on, this problem will get worse... and worse.  Ultimately, the trouble surrounding our impending bankruptcy, which is still confronting this Nation, will make this controversy look like a fender-bender.

This scam has no cuts.  This scam changes nothing.  This scam makes no changes while forking over ANOTHER $2.4 trillion for Obama to waste, making the GOP WILLING participants in our fiscal rape... just as guilty as the fringe leftists that have put us in this position in the first place.

And Babs doesn't have the guts to fight for what's right.

This whole thing is a crock, and it's a crock that's going to be jammed down our throats not unlike that horrific health care scam the leftists rammed in and broke off.  There's no time to read all of this and analyze the true impacts and discover the horrifically false premises used to put this crap pile together before it's voted on, and we're going to have to "pass the bill before we find out what's in it."

This is a dark day for America.  And our congresscritter's cowardice will make it darker... as will the cowardice of the GOP who are aiding and abetting this crime.

Cross posted at Jaime Herrera Watch.
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Today's quiz question: how is it that Milwaukie, Oregon can build a ballpark by itself, without raising ANY taxes... and Vancouver can't?

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Odd, isn't it?

The City of Milwaukie is going after Class A ball, and they want to build a ballpark for the privilege.

We all know the idiocy of the deal on our table: The Yakima Millionaires pay 30 cents on the dollar and everyone else alive in Clark County pays the rest, a non-starter for anyone not riding a baseball bat... while those actually going to ball games in the new cess poll pay practically nothing for the privilege.

Well, here's how Milwaukie plans on doing it:

City officials estimate the total cost of the project at $20 million to $30 million, which they say would be raised from a mix of public and private sources without raising local taxes.

Here's the critical; element:

which they say would be raised from a mix of public and private sources without raising local taxes

Did you see that?  "... without raising local taxes."

Why is it that elected slime shilling this crap pile around here are so backward they can't figure this out, while those in Milwaukie have a handle on a way to build this that doesn't require extortion of every citizen in Clackamas County the way the Yakima Millionaires plan does.

Now... why is that?  Is the city council and leadership of Milwaukie THAT much smarter than The Liar Stuart and The Liar Leavitt?

Sure seems to be, doesn't it?

And as for the Millionaires and their "alternatives," they should feel free to take Milwaukie up on their offer.

Please.
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