Larwyn's list: Obama set to disarm US military

Reading and updates from Larwyn: Read 'em and pass 'em around. Did GATES take THE PLEDGE!!.... From Faustas: Coming, and going March 17th, 2009 At Memeorandum At Memeorandum: Coming: Russia announces rearmament plan [No surprise here; how much weakness does Obama have to show. But wait, he is a Marxist or misguided Socialist so his role could be to disarm the United States. Right?] From Faustas: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said Moscow will begin a comprehensive military rearmament from 2011. Mr Medvedev said the primary task would be to “increase the combat readiness of [Russia's] forces, first of all our strategic nuclear forces“. Going: And right on time: Gates readies big cuts in weapons Now, as the only Bush Cabinet member to remain under President Obama, Gates is preparing the most far-reaching changes in the Pentagon’s weapons portfolio since the end of the Cold War, according to aides. Two defense officials who were not authorized to speak publicly said Gates will announce up to a half-dozen major weapons cancellations later this month. Candidates include a new Navy destroyer, the Air Force’s F-22 fighter jet, and Army ground-combat vehicles, the officials said. More cuts are planned for later this year after a review that could lead to reductions in programs such as aircraft carriers and nuclear arms, the officials said. No further comment… for now. ~~~~~ And there's more: From Dave in Texas: Defense Sec. Gates Ready to Announce Weapons Cuts Because Lord knows here , we wouldn't want to create or save any jobs in an industry that actually employs Americans, what with this whole recession thingy going on. Thank goodness Secretary Gates is marshalling all his credibility, getting ready to take on the apparently very difficult job of helping Obama overcome criticism. As a former CIA director with strong Republican credentials, Gates is prepared to use his credibility to help Obama overcome the expected outcry from conservatives. And after a lifetime in the national security arena, working in eight administrations, the 65-year-old Gates is also ready to counter the defense companies and throngs of retired generals and other lobbyists who are gearing up to protect their pet projects. Tough job for a tough guy. For a palate cleanser, how about a little war porn, for old times sake? I don't even know what the hell this is. But I want one. Pic courtesy of Kevlarchick, who, knowing this is a very smart military blog, sent a few links to more here, here , and here . I've seen some of em, not all of em. posted by Dave In Texas at 08:10 PM |  ~~~~~ "Islam is the LIGHT"WORKER making the world safe for ISLAMISTS... Geert Wilders and Bat Ye'or at Tundra Tabloids A must-read post at Tundra Tabloids about Geert Wilders: Bat Ye'or defends Geert Wilders: "Does Defending Western Values Constitute 'Inciting Hatred'.....?" here No, in a word, and we better start defending the West PDQ and as Najistani suggests with mocking humor. In the states, I've wanted all Christian women to dress in black burqas when they go out of the house every day for a month including to church on Sundays - not as a joke but to demonstrate the slavery under which many Muslim women live. But I digress... The Organization of Islamic Congerence focuses among other things on "global blasphemy" designed to end free speech and even the most innocuous discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of Islam as an ideology much like the discussions many of us had when we took Comparative Literature or Comparative Religion classes. In these classes we studied about the tenets of various "religions" and openly discussed the strengths, weaknesses, differences, and similarities. I am struck, for example, that Catholics, Jews, and Muslims ALL use some form of beads during some religious ritualistic aspects of their "worship." Is that a criticism or an observation? Our recent presidents have pointed out time and again that our beef is not with the Muslim people or with Islam but with the Islamic terrorists. We need to come to terms that their beef is with us, with our freedoms, and with our very existence - no apologies. ~~~~~ The Knock at the Door - from The American Thinker - So these are to be Obama's Brown Shirts? Go to the OFFCIAL WEBSITE: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/pledgeproject Take the pledge??? Here's the CREEPY PLEDGE: I support President Obama's bold approach for renewing America's economy I will ask friends, family, and neighbors to pledge their support for this plan First name: * Last name: * Email: * Zip: * (Video will continue to play.) Optional: Enter your full address so that we can accurately track support in your area: Address: Have you recently worked or volunteered in any of the following fields? Energy, environment, or transportation Health care Education How are you willing to build support for the President's economic blueprint? Calling potential supporters from your own home Attending and making calls at a phonebank Hosting a phonebank Going door-to-door in your neighborhood Organizing a door-to-door canvass in your neighborhood Hosting a house meeting Attending an Organizing for America training Writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper Optional: Include your phone number so we can contact you about getting involved in your area: Phone: Optional: Tell us in your own words why you support the President's blueprint: * = required field. Your first name, city/state, and optional personal message will appear publicly in a powerful display of support for our agenda. Pledge isn't even to support A president or one's country, it's to SUPPORT THE WON!!  So all should be concerned about..... The Knock on the Door by Lona Manning A sitting President of the United States is "organizing a political organization loyal to him, bound by a pledge, outside the government and existing party apparatus. The historical precedents are ominous." What is so ominous about an organization? Americans, Alexis de Tocqueville famously observed ,"constantly form associations.... If it is proposed to inculcate some truth or to foster some feeling by the encouragement of a great example, they form a society." Certainly, thousands of organizations seek to influence the political debate. There's Newt Gingrich's American Solutions or the left-wing People for the American Way , for instance. Political parties are another example of an association, of course. Before, during and after political campaigns, the Democrats and Republicans promote their agendas. As legal entities, they have their own constitutions, their rules of business, their chairmen and officers. They have to be accountable to both the government and their members. But there is a new organization on the political scene -- Organizing for American announced by President Barack Obama in late January but officially unfurled last weekend. Obama describes OFA as a "grass-roots movement" but OFA is a "project" of the Democratic Party of America. [And it sounds to Beach Girl as more of Obama the community agitator agitating Americans and set upon destroying our free market capitalist system.] As Politico reported here, OFA will take the 10 million person database built up by the Obama campaign "to mobilize support for the president's legislative agenda." A visit to the OFA website reveals that supporters are not simply asked to sign up, they are asked to take a pledge. A pledge to support -- not the flag, not the constitution, not the country, not even the Democratic party, but Obama and his "bold plan." OFA does not use the Democratic Party logo but the "O"-shaped logo of the Obama campaign in which the red white and blue of the flag are abstracted to soft pastel colors. (Celebrities like Ashton Kuchner and Demi Moore did not wait until the official launch to "pledge to be of service here " to Barack Obama, of course.) You will not find any mention of OFA`s governing structure, their budget, their bylaws, or their officers at the OFA website. Donations to the website go to the DNC, but OFA is managed out of the White House. If you click on the comments button, you are taken to a link to the White House email. Those who take the pledge are asked to "talk with people about the President's plan" and to "ask them to sign their names to the pledge" in support of Obama's policies. So we have a Movement -- this is their term, not mine -- organized by, and loyal to, a sitting President. Pledge canvassers, armed with your name, will ask you to pledge loyalty to the President too. A president whose term has already become a permanent campaign, here, is signing up ground forces in a mass organization pledged to personal loyalty to their Leader. Does anyone know of any historical precedents for this in the United States? Did Mitch Stewart, youthful director of OFA, who asks Obama's acolytes to organize "neighborhood by neighborhood" study anything at school about Mao's "Red Guards? How about Fidel Castro's "widespread system of neighborhood informers? Or Hugo Chavez's use of "neighborhood committees"? Did Stewart learn anything about democracy at all? Do any of Obama's pledged servants understand why a sitting president has no business creating and deploying his own supporters to help organize their neighbors?  Keep in mind that these acolytes have renounced any thought of questioning the actual policies of the maximum leader. Whatever he says, they are for it. They have given their word. And they are coming to have a talk with you. As Thomas Lifson wrote here: "This is not the way a democracy is supposed to operate." EXPERIENCED DOOR KNOCKERS..... Posted by JammieWearingFool @ 6:47 PM Great Idea! Let's Involve ACORN in the Census here The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now signed on as a national partner with the U.S. Census Bureau in February 2009 to assist with the recruitment of the 1.4 million temporary workers needed to go door-to-door to count every person in the United States -- currently believed to be more than 306 million people. A U.S. Census "sell sheet," an advertisement used to recruit national partners, says partnerships with groups like ACORN "play an important role in making the 2010 Census successful," including by "help[ing] recruit census workers." The bureau is currently employing help from more than 250 national partners, including TARGET and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), to assist in the hiring effort. But ACORN's partnership with the 2010 Census is worrisome to lawmakers who say past allegations of fraud should raise concerns about the organization. "It's a concern, especially when you look at all the different charges of voter fraud. And it's not just the lawmakers' concern. It should be the concern of every citizen in the country," Rep. Lynn A. Westmoreland, R-Ga., vice ranking member of the subcommittee for the U.S. Census, told FOXNews.com. "We want an enumeration. We don't want to have any false numbers." ACORN, which claims to be a non-partisan grassroots community organization of low- and moderate-income people, came under fire in 2007 when Washington State filed felony charges against several paid ACORN employees and supervisors for more than 1,700 fraudulent voter registrations. In March 2008, an ACORN worker in Pennsylvania was sentenced for making 29 phony voter registration forms. The group's activities were frequently questioned in the 2008 presidential election. Labels: 2010 census, ACORN, fraud, Lynn A. Westmoreland Surprise! Chicago City Council fully behind Card Check by Jeff Harrigan I live in the 49th ward of Chicago, and Alderman Joe Moore sends out update e-mails on city council activities(delayed updates).  No surprise on the City of Chicago's thoughts on the Employee Free Choice Act.  In fact, they took the time to vote on a non-binding resolution.  The following is and excerpt from the March 13th newsletter: ...two resolutions of note passed on February 11th.  One supported the proposed Employee Free Choice Act, which would allow the certification of a union when a majority of employees voluntarily sign authorization cards.  I strongly support this legislation and spoke out at the Council meeting, emphasizing that our middle class was the strongest when unions were the strongest, and therefore how we all will be the beneficiaries of the proposed law.  I know, of course, that it will be difficult to pass in Congress. However, here in Chicago, the City Council approved the resolution unanimously.... CARRYING THE THUGS WATER...... The Uninvited Posted Tuesday, March 17, 2009 5:52 PM by Mickey Kaus here Brad DeLong objects: The juice box mafia to the hed--"Inside the echo chamber"--on Michael Calderone's piece discussing the underknown leftish email cabal organized by Ezra Klein: It's not an echo chamber. I have never seen a less echo chamber-like space in my life. The headline is simply wrong. Fair enough. But I think the headline-writers' worry was that an "echo chamber" is what the outside world tends to get from members of JournoList once they've vigorously hashed out their disagreements in secret. "Inside the Echo Factory" would be a headline more accurately reflecting that concern. It's noisy in a factory but the product is often standardized.... AIG Exec Digs Che Guevara? AIG Exec Digs Che Guevara? by Humberto Fontova Tim "Turbo Tax" Geithner Says AIG Will Cover The Bonus Money [Remember, AIG and CITIGROUP are international financial institution where Sharia Finance/Islamic Finance is implemented. In effect, our US tax dollars are going to shore up financial institutions that do business with Islamic Republics that support Islamist terrorists who are busily working to kill us. We can PRAY JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED..... Guilty as Hell, Free as a Bird (for now) Guilty as Hell, Free as a Bird by James Simpson Bill Ayers' famous quip may come back to haunt him. There is no statute of limitations on murder charges. FINALLY SERVED IN THIS HOAX..... Haditha update Clarice Feldman Another decision bringing an end to another part this tragic hoax of a case was just rendered. Mark Walker writes in the North County Times Haditha Update ~~~~~~ Bashing Jews is almost as popular as BASHING BUSH.... Scapegoating the 'Israel Lobby' by David Gerstman