Crawford's Take

Of course, you have to ignore that fact that Medic...

2010-03-17T22:54:06.455-05:00

Of course, you have to ignore that fact that Medicare is going bankrupt.

http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/TRSUM/index.html

thank u........................................

2010-03-05T04:04:46.009-06:00

thank u........................................

Since it is the early worm that gets eaten by the ...

2010-02-09T19:20:47.459-06:00

Since it is the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.............................................

My goodness, an old-fashioned free speech liberal....

2010-01-23T16:20:38.584-06:00

My goodness, an old-fashioned free speech liberal. I didn't think they existed anymore. (And that's meant as a compliment. Really. If the liberals hadn't abandoned free speech starting in the '80s, I might have remained one.)

More speech, including electioneering speech, is n...

2010-01-23T08:20:27.588-06:00

More speech, including electioneering speech, is not always better. And you agree:

Can you threaten a woman on free speech grounds? No.

Yell "fire"? No.

Libel you as a serial murderer? No.

A UW-Madison law prof once told me he could name two situations where I would agree speech should not be free for every one that I could name where it should be free. He's right.

As Justice Stevens writes in dissent:

"The real issue in this case concerns how, not if, the appellant may finance its electioneering. ..."

Neither Citizens United’s nor any other corporation’s speech has been 'banned,' ... . All that the parties dispute is whether Citizens United had a right to use the funds in its general treasury to pay for broadcasts during the 30-day period. The notion that the First Amendment dictates an affirmative answer to that question is, in my judgment, profoundly misguided. Even more misguided is the notion that the Court must rewrite the law relating to campaign expenditures. ..."

I can't find anywhere I bashed the troops in this ...

2010-01-23T01:31:25.937-06:00

I can't find anywhere I bashed the troops in this post... That doesn't surprise me since except for the "incidents" in the prisons, I don't remember ever bashing out troops on the ground.

I hope you stop back and read my replies! I'd love to know exactly what made you think I was going after our soldiers on the ground...

BTW, Obama did NOT state that the mission was to cut the opium crop production by introducing a plan to switch the crops to something more useful to society. He DID decide to do a speech on nation building that sounded eerily like a Bush speech (even Rove liked it...).

"Teach a man to fish..."

2010-01-23T01:20:24.072-06:00

"Teach a man to fish..."

Here's the thing... With the money we are spendin...

2010-01-23T01:17:37.247-06:00

Here's the thing... With the money we are spending on a war, we could give the farmers the seeds and equipment they would need to plant enough food to feed Africa AND pay them premium dollars (competitive to the opium prices they get) for those crops and STILL come out of it in the green.

The farmers would have money. They would be able to hire more of their neighbors. We could feed people in their country and in Africa and people would stop thinking about how they can blow each other up more effectively and start thinking about what they can plant to make their lives better...

I guess I just expected a more comprehensive approach from a more thoughtful man like Obama then "let's go blow them up some more and force the natives to be civilized..."

I'm sure very few of our troops would have a problem with installing irrigation systems instead of blowing up fields...

Brendan, Here's the thing. Either I've miscommuni...

2010-01-23T01:12:32.280-06:00

Brendan, Here's the thing. Either I've miscommunicated my point, or you've misread me!

I'm NOT bashing the good work of the soldiers on the ground. I have enormous respect for them and the work they are doing! Most of my family served and as someone who applied to and got into West Point (Congressional recommendation and all, although I chose to go to Cornell University), I personally have a deep affection and respect for you, our troops and the great work they are doing.

My criticism isn't with the work of the troops.

My criticism is with the goals and objectives of the previous administration and the stated ones of THIS US administration.

I have always advocated for us to return to Afghanistan, not for nation building, but for the eradication of the opium trade.

I will be posting another Opium and the Dow report possibly even tonight. It's the US government's refusal to stop the outrageously high opium production in Afghanistan and allow it to flourish to a level that has not only destroyed our ability to keep money out of the hands of the terrorists, but also allowed for a heroin epidemic in the US that has killed and affected many of our young people now reaching deep into the suburbs as the oversupply leads to a need to find new markets.

I apologize if my comments were not clear. I heard Obama say that he wanted to nation build and that's what ticked me off, not the great work that our soldiers do day in and day out.

Thank you for your service! I'm really honored to know that a fellow alum is a JA!

As a Army Judge Advocate, Iraq Veteran, Shorewood ...

2010-01-23T00:36:31.041-06:00

As a Army Judge Advocate, Iraq Veteran, Shorewood High School alum, and Obama supporter, I'm appalled by your lack of understanding of the conflicts. While I disagree with the original reasons to enter into Iraq, I have first hand knowledge of the great work our Soldiers are doing. As a Soldier whose friends are serving (and putting their lives in danger) in Afghanistan, I realize that sending more troops to Afghanistan will end the conflict sooner. As a Judge Advocate I've worked detainee operations and know what the media does not report. Being a fellow SHS alum, I'm saddened by your lack of an open mind and healthy questioning of what the media reports

Both Iraq and Afghanistan are justifiable conflict...

2010-01-03T20:46:44.401-06:00

Both Iraq and Afghanistan are justifiable conflicts.

I would add that Obama should also follow up on his pledge to listen to the advice of his generals.

If you must commit to something like this, then fully commit. Half ass will only put our soldiers in a worse situation.

As for the brother of the Afghan Pres, this accusation MAY prove to be strictly political and untrue. I reserve judgment.

This is typical rhetoric from a liberal, liberals ...

2009-12-25T13:14:25.441-06:00

This is typical rhetoric from a liberal, liberals are the most arrogant,self-centered people i had the displeasure to meet.
I have noticed that liberals are also the most segregationists people, there was no reason to mention race or what color someone is but that was the mention right from the start.

www.anti-liberal-revolution.blogspot.com

Renee, do you know about the illegal cure for hero...

2009-12-01T02:41:05.909-06:00

Renee, do you know about the illegal cure for heroin addiction? http://ibogaine.org

Not a substitute like methadone, a single Ibogaine dose rests the brain's chemical switches to a pre-addictive state.

Before deciding that socialized medicine is the wa...

2009-10-03T02:03:07.911-05:00

Before deciding that socialized medicine is the way to go you should watch this story by John Stossel of ABC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9GMKK_fWKg

Socialism does not take into account the Human behavior factor. Our medical system does have problems, True. However, there ARE better solutions.

Health System expert Nina Owcharenko dissects "five major faults with the health care bills" being pushed in the House and Senate.

1. The public "option." Both proposals would create a government-run insurance plan which proponents claim would foster honest competition among private insurers. But how can there be fair competition when one of the players -- Washington -- is both writing the rules and playing the game? What's more, this scheme could lead millions of Americans to lose their private health insurance.

2. Centralized regulation. Both the House and Senate bills would result in sweeping and complex federal regulation of health insurance. This would take oversight away from states and concentrate it in Washington -- and this oversight is best left at the state level.

3. Greater dependency on government. Both bills would expand existing government health care program and introduce massive new taxpayer-funded subsidies to buy health insurance. This would leave millions of Americans dependent on government for their health care.

4. Employer mandate. The plans would force employers to provide coverage for all employees or face a massive tax. These "play-or-pay" mandates will raise prices, stifle economic growth and particularly hurt low-wage earners.

5. Individual mandate. Both bills require that all Americans purchase health insurance. Those without coverage or whose plans don't meet the new federal standards would face tax penalties. Special interests are sure to "lobby intensively to expand the legally mandated health benefits, medical treatments and procedures, and drugs that all Americans must buy under penalty of law."

Taken together or individually, these flaws would inflict serious damage on an industry that represents one-sixth of our nation's economy.

SO, WHAT DO WE DO?

The conservative alternative to socialized medicine is to enact serious reforms in current tax and insurance law that would expand personal ownership and control of health insurance and transfer the control of health care dollars to individuals and families. These reforms would move today's bureaucracy-driven, heavily regulated third-party payment system to a new patient-centered system of consumer choice and real free-market competition.

Competition is a REAL factor in lowering health care cost. One big way to do this would be to allow insurance companies to sell across state lines. Even liberal reporter Wolf Blitzer has brought up this point.

All I'm saying is let's not jump in without weighing the options and considering the possible problems. Once programs are enacted, it is near to impossible to go back.

Think first, then act.

TCL, T.E.A. is an acronym for Taxed Enough Alread...

2009-09-28T16:51:15.365-05:00

TCL,
T.E.A. is an acronym for Taxed Enough Already. TEA Parties are gatherings of individuals to protest the egregious amount of spending that this administration and Congress have already approved as well as opposing any proposed additional spending.

There are a number of issues that can be addressed under the umbrella of protesting egregious government spending and you would be likely to see more than one of them represented at such a gathering.

From your headline; What is a "Tea Pary"?

2009-09-28T16:04:34.353-05:00

From your headline; What is a "Tea Pary"?

http://deekaman.blogspot.com/2009/09/milwaukee-tea...

2009-09-24T18:12:55.350-05:00

http://deekaman.blogspot.com/2009/09/milwaukee-tea-party_1440.html

Aerial photos of the tea party. I'd say a little bit more than 300-500 people.

Hukt on fonic werkt fer mee, and sew did hukt on arithmatec!

Seriously, you can't post crap like that and not expect people to blaze you for it.

Hey Jason... Nice. Very nice. It is the respon...

2009-09-24T16:57:29.857-05:00

Hey Jason...

Nice. Very nice.

It is the responsibility of the patriot to protect his country from its government.

-Thomas Paine

Renee, since you're calling the protesters anti-go...

2009-09-24T14:00:46.156-05:00

Renee, since you're calling the protesters anti-government I'd like to share this link with every one here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJxmpTMGhU0

There’s no way Renee Crawford saw or heard what she claims to. There is VIDEO of what she did claim to see. That video can be found here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Dg4m-AzuKc
If you read Renee’s account and watch the video I posted you’ll see the differences. I could be wrong here, but there are only three reasons I can think of for this
A) Renee wasn’t actually there and is writing this from hearsay
B) She’s…embellishing (read: Lying) to make a more juicy story
C) For some reason she’s experiencing reality differently than the rest of us
D) She was at a different rally
…anti-gov’t/anti-healthcare rally with about 300-500 people at Veteran’s Park.
Ok, 300 to 500, I don’t think that estimate can even remotely be put into the realm of ‘wrong’ this is a deliberate lie, or she was at a different rally
The crowd was growing (eventually to about 30 people) and the man clearly scared and angry and being grabbed, pushed and surrounded to impede his attempts to escape, I believed was in imminent danger. He was shouting back at them and attempting to defend himself from the crowd
The video shows that aside from someone putting a hand on his shoulder to turn him towards the exit no one was touching him when he walked past the fence/barrier there was no one behind him “impeding his path”. Further the video shows LE had converged in the area just to make sure no one got out of hand.
– As an aside you can see in the video that he’s not bloody as he’s leaving the event
– Also ‘about 30 people’ would have been 6-10 percent of the Renee’s entire crowd
Renee actually does mention the young woman in her post as well
l…there was something about a broken camera…
There was a girl who said something about someone in that crowd punching her
The problem is that she is reporting AS FACT things that are clearly contradicted in the video. I looked at her profile and given the level of involvement in the community, what she posted cannot be described as anything other than irresponsible.
According to her post even the police received different information.
The sheriffs said to me, “Well, that’s a different story than the other people just told us.”
In the section I provided she is not offering an opinion, she is presenting a scary situation to her readers. What would the purpose of that be other than to present a very different impression of what was otherwise a peaceful event?
If not for the people who filmed the even the reality wouldn’t have come out At least not in a form where the reality of the situation could be seen – we’d just be yelling back and forth about who’s eyewitness account is believable. In her posts she even tries to have it both ways: on the one hand she’s offering an eyewitness account, and on the other she “ran to get the sheriffs” Which is it? How can she be giving a statement of what went on while she was running to get the sheriffs? I’ve read some of the posts from her readers. Some of them are acting like she just came back from a war zone

Now maybe Renee doesn’t think that someone striking a woman should result in the police attempting to intercede and place the person in custody. Personally I have to agree with the crowd, that is a great use of law enforcement and our tax dollars

Joe, I think she was referring to my comment on h...

2009-09-23T13:57:34.114-05:00

Joe,
I think she was referring to my comment on her other post on this matter. I remarked that Ms. McKenna's comments were not intended as humor but were paralleling (perhaps unintentionally), Christ's remarks on how His disciples should count it as proof of their effectiveness in spreading the gospel when people cursed them for His sake.

It was not my intent to say Ms. McKenna's message was Christ -like, nor to equate it with Jesus' turn the other cheeck message, I was merely using that as a commonly understood reference to clarify Ms McKenna's intent.

Perhaps the misinterpretation of what I said was merely a function of my lack of clarity in posting, or perhaps it is an indicator that Ms Crawford's and/or my own biases continue to prevent us from communicating effectively.

I should add, on the Left and the RIGHT.

2009-09-23T09:11:08.676-05:00

I should add, on the Left and the RIGHT.

Joe, good pts. on the ANTI-GOVERNMENT comments. I ...

2009-09-23T09:07:00.136-05:00

Joe,
good pts. on the ANTI-GOVERNMENT comments. I was thinking the same. Renee made sure that's the title of her blog entry. If she had lableled it ANTI BIG-GOVERNMENT I could and would respect that.
But, according to her we have to MAKE HER RESPECT US...so, what happened to EARNING RESPECT?

IMO, it's going out the same door that earning anything anymore is going. Just wait long enough and it will be given to you, it seems.
Spend beyond your means, whether personal or national, and it's OK. Pass the cost of your bad decisions (and laws?) on to someone else.
I agree that there are a lot of injustices in this world and in this country, but it seems to me we are getting carried away with the current train of thought on how to address these injustices.
Geitner said it best, Never Let A Good Crisis Go To Waste.
If the left wanted to deal with the issues and not push their agenda, I could RESPECT that.

Fine. Maybe you were there. I'm still not convin...

2009-09-23T08:37:25.078-05:00

Fine. Maybe you were there. I'm still not convinced, but I'm a skeptic and can admit it. It still seems odd as you are the only "bystander" I've heard that has admonishes the man who was arrested. LOOK at the videos. He is CLEARLY being aggressive when he gets in someone's face.

And again, let me reiterate... police don't arrest someone, especially with that use of force, unless the arresting officers (who ARE in the video) witnessed him doing something that warranted such an arrest.

Please show me where I referenced Christianity, or "threw my Bible" in your face? Where did I say anything that was self-righteous?

Fact of the matter is, you accused a coservative talk show host of using "violent" speech, when in actuality she was repeating words that had been used by prominent Democrats in the same manner over previous months (see my previous posts for links).

If you listen to her show at all, or posted the entire content of her speech, you would know why she said to say "thank you" when you are called a bigot, or to laugh when called a nazi. If I oppose Obama's policies and legislation and give you multiple reasons why I think they will fail and/or are detrimental to this country, and your first instict is to pull the race card with no other valid response... it means I'm winning the debate, and thank you for helping to prove my point.

You chastise her for standing behind the beliefs of the founding fathers.

This wasn't an anti-government rally. It wasn't even attempting to mask itself as an anti-health care rally. It was an anti-tax rally. Boston Tea Party... American colonists dump tea into Boston Harbor to protest England's unfair tea taxes. This was a "Tea Party." Just because a lot of the people there were "anti-government" doesn't mean it was that type of rally.

And again with the assassination references... What's up with your movement and it's sudden fascination with presidential assassinations???

Obviously you didn't look at any of the links I posted, but it was YOUR party's illustrious Speaker of the House that brought up the matter of assassinations. You asked if we thought these matters were funny? Was anyone laughing? Was Vicki laughing when she said them? I didn't realize she had been brought to the stage as the comic relief, but that maybe she had something valid to say.

Yes, I will laugh if someone calls me a racist or a nazi. I will laugh because the person saying such things is ignorant. I don't care that Obama black. Give me Michael Steele or Condy Rice in 2012, they've got my vote. For prominent Liberals to say that opposition to Obama is racially motivated and not genuine is SO IGNORANT I don't know where to begin.

And finally...

"A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have." -Thomas Jefferson

wow...sad, but "wow" none the less.

2009-09-22T22:20:48.944-05:00

wow...sad, but "wow" none the less.

We had no agenda walking in there or we would have...

2009-09-22T21:58:09.036-05:00

We had no agenda walking in there or we would have stopped at the south parking lot and hung out with the pro-health care people. No, the last conservative rally I attended was when I was 16 for Ronald Reagan. I was honestly curious about what would be said (after watch the rest of the speeches that day on video this weekend, they are pretty boring...) and went as a spectator. You have to remember I'm a libertarian as well. A democratic libertarian, but a hard core libertarian none-the-less, I've been interested in these messages, but have only gotten bits and pieces, so wanted to see the crowd, experience it and understand what's happening. You have to remember two of my favorite bloggers and good friends are Capper and Widgy... We rarely agree, but sometimes do, what I like about them is the sanity of their arguments. Make me respect you, don't disgust or belittle me and we can talk.

So let me get this straight though, you are saying I wasn't there, but instead watching video of it at home... where? (that didn't surface for HOURS after I posted) somehow tweeting the events AS THEY HAPPENED, but I was really on the south side of the event not the north side as I stated where the incident happened, and somehow I had a SPY who WAS there texting updates to me comfortably at home which I then didn't retweet, but instead, plagiarized to fake that I was somehow getting the scoop... Honestly? Really? That's your debunking of my story? You can't do any better than that? LOL! Akem's Razor dude...

I'm in a black chick in a black and white dress with spaghetti straps in case anyone did catch a shot of me... Nice though that you acknowledged that the diversity of the angry crowd was non-existent ;) By the way, the only person who looked me in the eye the ENTIRE event as I was smiling and walking around before I got so scared, was another black woman who mistakenly thought I was a rebel like her...