marioblog2

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Larwyn's Linx: After Big Win, Romney Faces Tough Opponents in a Long War

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QOTD: "Let's never forget: Millions of Americans who work hard and play by the rules every day deserve a government and a financial system that do the same. It's time to apply the same rules from top to bottom. No bailouts, no handouts, and no copouts."--President Obama, State of the Union Address, Jan. 24

"On the day I took office, . . . the American auto industry was on the verge of collapse. And some politicians were willing to let it just die. We said no. We believe in the workers of this state."--Obama, remarks to students in Ann Arbor, Mich., Jan. 27 (via James Taranto)

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Liberal Genius: Mark Levin's Ameritopia Is a #1 Bestseller Because Koch Brothers Are Buying Up Books In Bulk

Some progressive kook named "Ramona" (if that is her real name) has a novel theory regarding the rise of Mark Levin's Ameritopia to the top of all of the bestseller lists (The New York Times hardest hit). The Koch Brothers are buying up conservative books like Ameritopia to drive incredible sales volume.

Mark R. Levin, a Right Wing radio personality and "the #1 bestselling author of Liberty and Tyranny and regular Fox News contributor" is on January's cover [of the Books-a-Million catalog]. (Last month it was Glenn Beck). Levin has a new book out called, "Ameritopia, The Unmaking of America". Before I saw that cover, I confess I had never heard of Mark R. Levin. (Go ahead and strip me of my Rotten Persons Investigator badge--I know now that his new book, "Ameritopia" is at the top, the very tip-top, of this week's New York Times non-fiction bestseller list! )

So I took a look at the new book by this guy who--my god! NYT Best Seller!--I really should have heard of by now. I turned page after page and, okay, as a new Mark R. Levin reader who is also a liberal, I'm as biased as biased can be. But even I am shocked at how badly this book stinks!

...So here's what I'm thinking: What's to stop [Books-a-Million] from manipulating the market? (They also own a book distribution company.) What's to stop Threshold? What's to stop any of the Right Wing top guns--the Koch Brothers, say-- the people with all the money? What's to stop them from buying up tens or even hundreds of thousands of these books and sitting on them? ... And what's to stop 800+ stooges from churning out magnificent reviews for a book that nobody in their right mind would actually read through to the end?

I truly hope this isn't what passes for informed commentary on the Left.

Eh, Junior: Levin has roughly 10 million listeners for his radio show not because the Koch brothers paid them to listen, but because he explains -- in great detail -- the philosophical, moral, legal and ethical underpinnings of this country.

In other words, conservatism is winning in the marketplace of ideas. And, furthermore, the book's not for dummies. i.e., not for you.

Levin outlines the lessons of Smith, Locke, Montesquieu and others who influenced this nation's founders; the rationale for the form of government they created; and the thousands of years of human experience they leveraged to try to prevent the rise of a corrupt, massive, authoritarian central government. i.e., the Democrat Party.

So tune in to Levin on your local station, schmuck, and try learning something for a change.

Because your philosophy -- the philosophy of Utopianism -- has failed every time it's been tried in human history. Which is, as Levin has also explains, why liberalism is the philosophy of the stupid.

Photos: Massive Food Shortage Unfolding in Mexico -- Is a Refugee Crisis Imminent?

I predict an influx of undocumented Democrats.

The Rarámuri indigenous community in northern Mexico faces severe food and water shortages after the region's worst drought in more than 70 years...

The people are getting angry:

• Thousands Demand Food, Jobs in Mexico City - The shortage of basic foods and the spike in prices are devastating the urban dwellers who consume these goods daily,” National Peasants Confederation, or CNC, president Gerardo Sanchez said.

• Even Mexico’s Drug Cartels Are Affected By Worst Drought In Years - Mexico is currently experiencing its most intense drought in 71 years... More than 2 million people in the country have been affected by the water shortage... Government officials warn that the drought could last for at least another five months, with freezing temperature in some states now threatening to endanger lives and crops... Nearly 7 percent of the country’s agricultural land, mostly in the north and centre, has suffered complete losses

• Drought Threatens Food Supply of 2.5 Million Mexicans - Some 2.5 million people are at risk of going hungry due to the severe drought plaguing more than half of Mexico’s 32 states, a leading expert said Thursday... The shortage of rain has already led to the loss of 3.2 million tons of maize, 600,000 tons of beans and 60,000 head of cattle, he noted. ...Without measures to counteract the agricultural losses, “this population runs the risk of suffering hunger,” Romero said, calling it “paradoxical” that the government delayed so long in tapping some of Mexico’s $147 billion in international reserves to address the problems caused by the drought.

You can donate to Mexican food relief here.

Hat tip: Doctor M.

Gallup approval numbers show potentially 'huge Obama loss'

From their lips to God's ear:

Gallup released their annual state-by-state presidential approval numbers yesterday, and the results should have 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue very worried. If President Obama carries only those states where he had a net positive approval rating in 2011 (e.g. Michigan where he is up 48 percent to 44 percent), Obama would lose the 2012 election to the Republican nominee 323 electoral votes to 215.

Gallup adds:

Overall, Obama averaged 44% job approval in his third year in office, down from 47% in his second year. His approval rating declined from 2010 to 2011 in most states, with Wyoming, Connecticut, and Maine showing a marginal increase, and Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New Jersey, Arizona, West Virginia, Michigan, and Georgia showing declines of less than a full percentage point. The greatest declines were in Hawaii, South Dakota, Nebraska, and New Mexico.

Take nothing for granted. It will take every bit of energy; every friend, colleague and family member we can convince; and every bit of divine providence we can muster to save this republic.

Hat tip: BadBlue.com.

Constitutional Showdown: DOJ Threatens to Defy Congressional Demands for Fast and Furious Documents

Yesterday the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform issued yet another demand for documents, this time going to the unprecedented step of threatening Attorney General Eric Holder with Contempt charges should he again defy Congress (PDF). The highlights of the Committee's demands revolve around the Justice Department's fabrications, delays and denials, many of which appear to involve false testimony. In short, Holder has until 4 February 2012 to avoid a Contempt of Congress charge.

CNN reports this evening that the DOJ is ignoring those threats and claiming it can't produce any documents in time (this, after literally years of requests).

...the Justice Department late Wednesday sent a sharp letter to Issa rejecting his demands from a day earlier for documents by a next-week deadline... Issa is threatening the attorney general with contempt of Congress if DOJ fails to deliver.

The exchange of stinging letters the past two days caps weeks of maneuvering by both sides in advance of the anticipated Holder appearance Thursday before Issa's House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

The Justice Department [claimed] Issa's letter showed "significant misunderstanding both of the documents we recently produced and of the Department's position on the issues you raise."

The Justice Department response Wednesday rejected Issa's February 9, 2012, deadline to produce all demanded documents. Cole called the deadline "impossible" to meet because of the broad scope of the request... He did not directly refer to the threat of a contempt charge by Issa.

The political battle has been raging for more than a year, following the discovery that two of the "fast and furious" weapons that had gone missing in Mexico in the botched sting were discovered at the scene of the killing of U.S. Border Patrol agent Brian Terry in Arizona.

This, my friends, could precipitate a true Constitutional crisis. The DOJ's lawless behavior is unacceptable no matter which political party is in power.

Liberals who ignore this flagrant criminality do so at their own peril. Because Democrats will not always control the Executive Branch.

President Obama really should NOT be called "The Foodstamp President"

Not because it's "racist", or because it's inaccurate.

But because he prefers the term "The Unemployment President". At least, that's what I hear.

The most critical question facing us in November is whether enough American people have become slaves to government. That is: willing to vote for more entitlements, more wealth redistribution, more lawful plunder, more centralized government, and -- ultimately -- a European form of socialism, dependency and economic misery.

Larwyn's Linx: Romney wins Florida GOP primary

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GOP Primary

Romney wins Florida GOP primary: RSM
Newt Battles Mush From the Wimps: Lord
GOP Establishment Only Wants Conservatives on Election Day: Rush

The State Of The GOP Horserace Post-Florida: Hawkins
Romney: 87 Down, Only 1,057 to Go: AmSpec
Mitt Romney Wins Florida: AmSpec

No, there isn't a Romney Conspiracy against Allen West: Sunshine
Rick Santorum: Newt Gingrich blew it: Politico
Rep. Allen West Is Conservative Slam Dunk For Veep: IBD

Nation

The Inconvenient Constitution: Sen. Mike Lee
Obamacare’s Great Gift: Clarification: Anchoress
Obama: above the fray or above the law?: DC

First, They Came for the Catholics: Malkin
Obama's Racial Politics: Williams
How Presidential Elections Really Get Decided: Ace

Economy

Congressional Dems Promise Class Warfare: S&L
Budget Outlook Getting Worse, CBO Report Shows: Foundry
Visualize: the European Superhighway of Debt: ZH

How Obama created 22 million jobs: AT
Occupiers Dump Condoms on Catholic School Girls: Fox
Three Things to Know About the CBO Budget Report: ATR

Planned Parenthood: Komen Stopped $ Because Pro-Lifers Hate Women: LifeNews
Obamanomics Has Gov't Workers Happy, Others Miserable: IBD

Scandal Central

Issa threatens Holder with Contempt Unless He Complies With Subpoena For Documents: Nice Deb
DOJ: No Comment On Whether Eric Stedman Holder Was Told of Fast & Furious Murder on Day It Occurred: Ace
Congress Warns Holder Over Acorn Payola: IBD

Climate & Energy

The Coming of the New Ice Age: End of the Global Warming Era?: Zombie
Bad Dreams In The Night: NoisyRm
Hope, Change, & Lies About Green Energy Jobs: Wolf Howling

Media

For No Reason Except To Punish Cultures He Abhors, Obama Mandates Catholics Pay for Abortions: Ace
Media Act As Though Only Republicans Misbehave: IBD
Barack Schettino Obama: Ace

Wag the Finger: Media’s Selective Memory: Loesch
New York Times: Regulations Good Unless It’s About Abortion: LifeNews
Allen West Defends Forceful Comments to Dems to “Get the Hell Out”; He Fires Back at Bob Beckel: FN Insider

On MSNBC, Politico Punk Refers to Florida Panhandle as ‘Cracker Counties’: BigJ
Chris Matthews Inadvertently Exposes Why Elitists Fear the Tea Party, Support #OWS: AllAm
74% favor eliminating mandatory union dues: Rasmussen

World

Iran prepared to attack US, intelligence says: Post
U.S. Special Forces Will Be Weakened by Defense Budget Cuts: Foundry
Intel chief: Al Qaeda hurting, Iran 'more willing' to launch attacks in U.S.: Fox

Mossad chief holds secret U.S. meetings on Iran nuclear threat, Senate panel reveals: Haaretz
Nine year old British girls forced to marry under sharia: Creeping
Report Finds Terrorism 'Hot Spots'; and Historical Trends in Terror Types: Blaze

Qaradawi: No Chopping Off of Hands Now…But Later is OK: IPT
U.S. military says Taliban set to retake power: report: Reuters
UK: Doctors rebut claim most favour health reforms: Telegraph

Sci-Tech

Yahoo's 1,100 patents could pose a problem for Facebook: Insider
Facebook to file for $5 billion IPO Wednesday: report: Townhall
Microsoft: The Web is better without plug-ins: CNet

Cornucopia

Leading urban kids on nature hikes: C&S
Peyton Manning likely will never play football again, sources say: LAT
Newt Gingrich Judges You

Image: The Looking Spoon
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: Rick Santorum for President

QOTD: "This is the chief character flaw of the leftist movement -- their inability to respect anyone at all but their own. A very provincial and solipisitically childish way to view the world, of course, which leads to a vicious arrogance in attempting to pound, pound, pound square pegs into the round holes the state has cut for them.

The left would just be wrong, and not dangerous, if it weren't so arrogant about disposing of people's freedom with a single thoughtless line of legislation.

It is that, the arrogance and the profound disrespect of anyone who does not wear the feathers and warpaint of their tribe, that makes them not just wrong but sinister." --Ace