Salon/Media Spin Doctors-The Ususal Suspects

It is always disheartening to watch the devolution of any publication I once respected. As a writer and researcher, I always go into a project with an open mind and a blank slate. However, once I have seen the fact pattern and deduced an opinion, I am bound to represent what I believe to be true on the basis not of what I WANT to be true, but what the FACTS INDICATE to be true.

And so it goes in the instant case. For months now I have been reading, writing and researching and what I have learned is a highly unpleasant reality: Barack Obama, the DNC and his handlers have perpetrated without a doubt THE SLICKEST, MOST DISHONEST MARKETING CAMPAIGN IN AMERICAN HISTORY, and in doing so, shamelessly duped half of America. I say half because, in spite of the constant stream of Obamapologists from main stream media, a signficant portion of Americans have still resisted drinking the virulent kool aid that transmits the Obama virus.

I have personally witnessed the intimidation tactics used by Obama camp followers on delegates at the Denver DNC convention; I have interviewed activists and bloggers who have been theatened and traumatized Texas caucus workers who witnessed firsthand the thuggery employed in the attempt to steal a caucus win from Hillary Clinton, who BEAT Obama in that day's primary only to "loose" in the caucuses???!

I have researched the pasts, track records, writings and associations of John McCain, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin and Joe Biden extensively, and what I have found is a remarkable dissimilarity between the four candidates: without question, we know as much about John McCain and what he has done with his life in the last 30 years as we DON'T know about the QUESTIONABLE pass times of Barack Obama over the last 30 years.

And yet: despite all of the facts available, main stream media continues to gloss over Obama's murky past, giving him pass after pass on such crucial issues as American citizenship, associations with known terrorists and criminals, and the absence of any real work product or writing, save his fictionalized autobiographies, which contain almost no facts at all.

Doesn't it ever occur to anyone that if media did their job, adhered to their own standards of professional ethics and actually--novel idea--REPORTED ALL THE FACTS FROM BOTH SIDES, the candidates themselves would not have to do not only their OWN job of running for office, but that of the media as well?

Until media, including but not limited to Kamiya, Conason, Traister etal. restores itself to at least a modicum of objectivity in reporting, their sleazy attacks on anyone who reports an unpleasant fact mean less than nothing to the average American who, despite media's endless attempts to fool them, remain a lot smarter than both MSM and Obama would like to believe.

Denver Disaster: Coerced Unity is the Worst

If ever there was a reason not to vote Democrat this year, this would be it:

Reading Marc Rubin's interview, "Denver After Action Report," http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/09/21/holding-the-dnc%E2%80%99s-feet-to-the-fire-an-interview-with-marc-rubin-of-the-denver-group/ [co- founder with Heidi Li Feldman of Denver Group and Democrats for Principle Before Party http://tdg.typepad.com/democrats_for_principle_b/ ] brought it all back to me, and should remind us all how vital it is that we not forget the truth about this heartbreaking Denver Debacle. At the risk of sounding hackneyed, I would implore everyone to remember George Santayana's admonition that those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it--and never was it more applicable than in this election year. Just Say No Deal's soon to be released "Delegate Terror" compelled me to share my experience in Denver as it related to Obama fear and intimidation tactics, and, further, to dedicate today's entry to Denver and all those brave citizens who came and spoke out against them.

Some of my notes from the logs I kept about The Denver Disgrace while I was there:

I spoke with various delegates, primarily women from 'swing states' who reported countless incidents of attempts by Obama Team individuals, state chairs and, worst of all, even other delegates to strong arm, intimidate, threaten and bully them into supporting Obama instead of their pledged delegate, Hillary Clinton. Several of them were crying as they recounted their experiences and the fear they felt as a result. Wall Street Journal Reporter, James Taranto witnessed and recounted just one of the many verbally brutal attempts by Obama supporters, this one a delegate, which took place in the streets of Denver on August 26, 2008. http://s.wsj.net/article/SB121972716996172197.html

Among delegates who were the victims of intimidation tactics, only Cynthia Schwartz of Washington State was willing to be interviewed. As a blogger and media consultant in Denver, I kept an incident report log after repeated occurrences of fear and intimidation tactics were brought to my attention from both delegates and attendees, and some of the victims' statements were filmed by Brad Mays, our filmmaker in residence at PUMA HQ on Delaware Avenue.

Since neither Obama nor Clinton had the requisite number of votes [270] to secure nomination, and there were 160 undeclared, it appears clear that Clinton would have been the distinct winner had the convention been allowed to progress honestly, according to DNC rules and tradition, without rule breaking and bully tactics. Indeed, she won 13 of the largest electoral states by a landslide as well as by the largest popular vote in history. Therefore, the only logical conclusion is that Obama and the DNC colluded to game and cheat the DNC's own rules in order to ensure his selection as the Democratic nominee, contrary to the will of their own electorate. This being the case, it is only further logical to follow the advice of Tom In Paine, one of our most knowledgeable and prolific bloggers, and work as hard as we possibly can to insure an Obama defeat in November.

HOW A MASSIVE OBAMA DEFEAT BECOMES A MASSIVE DEMOCRATIC VICTORY.

The best thing that can happen for the country and the Democratic Party this November is a massive defeat of Barack Obama.

http://tominpaine.blogspot.com/2008/09/how-massive-obama-defeat-becomes.html

If, for some reason, the facts above have failed to move our readers, note below extensive data on just one of the Obama smear campaign tactics, gathered and reported by Rusty Shackleford of the Jawa Report
http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/194057.php and http://www.theminorityreportblog.com/story/simpson316/2008/09/22/jawa_report_uncovers_obama_ties_to_smear_campaign

As always, the caveat remains: ignore Main Stream Media and do your own DD!

Hubris v. Honor Redux...and STILL No Questions from the Press

Just when it seemed like things couldn't GET either any more surreal or less credible, we start the week by learning that while Russia invades Georgia, Hillary delegates are being purged, and the news of Obama's close ties with an anti Christian, pro Taliban Kenyan leader named Odinga continues to be suppressed, http://truthisgold.blogspot.com/2008/08/obama-and-jeopardization-of-national.html we find that Mr. Obama has flown the coop for the sunny isle of Hawaii, leaving Hillary home to do his pre-convention campaigning and the DNC to do his dirty work.

So...What is Wrong With This Picture?

Well, first of all, it speaks to Hubris [his] and Honor [hers]. Apparently deciding he can't take the heat, political or otherwise, he's off to "vacation" [at least that's what he SAID] while SHE, the candidate with the hugest popular vote in primary history, is off to work, keeping her word [as usual] to campaign for him.

It speaks to the Hubris of a Democratic party who is apparently so terrified that the fast waning popularity of their selectee will result in his failure to be nominated that they have gone into panic mode, hunkered down in their bunker, purging, McCarthy style, delegate after delegate that might be so much as even rumored to support Hillary. The latest in this string of casualties [preceded by Wisconsin's Debra Bartoshevich] is Sarah Millstone of Boulder Colorado, who, after PRIVATELY acknowledging to a fellow delegate in an email that she was upset at the Obama campaign's tactics of dismissal and intimidation of Hillary delegates and was not sure that she could vote for Obama at the Convention, received a letter from Pat Waak, chair of the Colorado Democratic Party, threatening her with the loss of her delegate seat.

"I think that one of the reasons I got this...was to intimidate me," said Millstone. "It sounded... totalitarian [and]...undemocratic and I was completely shocked. Having had conversations on the pros and cons of those candidates, I don't think this is an unusual thing at all in the Democratic Party."

About Millstone, Waak stated, [giving new meaning to the phrase, 'Waak Job',]

"From our point, it's over with. She's chosen not to come in and talk with us...so, we're two weeks...from the convention and we'll continue to work with the delegates who want to be worked with."

Fear Tactics, Intimidation & Threats: Our Party at Work??

Millstone firmly believes the letter was a clear message to Clinton delegates nationwide to refrain from any comment, even those made privately, that could be construed as even slightly critical of Obama if they wish to attend the convention. "I think that it was calculated to have an impact on other delegates...this kind of communication...has a very chilling impact on other delegates because people become afraid to speak up. They become afraid to say what they think."Millstone added, "You can't get unity by telling people to shut up." http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/17163668/detail.html
Unlike those who, like Gerry Ferraro, [rare birds in a forest of parrots], have tremendous courage, conviction and power, most delegates are ordinary folk, desirous of doing their patriotic duty unhampered by threats, intimidation and fear tactics. Like the lone suffragette in the famous picture, standing alone on a sidewalk crowded with men, holding her simple sign, Gerry Ferraro stood up to the DNC Machine yesterday and stood her ground, speaking her piece in support of Hillary Clinton, the lone voice of reason.

Res ipsa loquitur, or...the thing speaks for itself...and it echoes the multitudinous pattern of threats from not only the Obama camp, but DNC and Democratic Party elected officials as well, to wit: one among many received by an Election Watch writer from none other than Donna Brazile:

"Do not send me...this crap and I promise not to send your email address to anyone.
Soon, I will have to kick some truth into the lies.
Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile. Please excuse any typos or grammatical errors."

None But the Brave
Not to be outdone, the direct approach from Montana's Senator Jon Tester:
"Your message has been forwarded to the U.S. Capitol Police Force for investigation. Do not send any further messages to this address."
And, although certainly neither the last nor the least, this from http://freemenow.wordpress.com/

"Democratic Party Collapses Into Stiff Arm Politics"
TO: All Clinton Delegates
FROM: Mary Isenhour, Executive Director
DATE: August 11, 2008
RE: Nomination
If anyone approaches you about signing a petition to place Senator Clinton’s name in nomination at the Democratic National Convention, the Governor has asked me to ask you to refrain from signing such a petition until we know what Senator Clinton and Senator Obama have worked out.
As always, please feel free to let me know if you have any questions.
Rachel A. Moore, Office Director,Pennsylvania Democratic Party
300 North 2nd Street, 8th Floor,Harrisburg, PA 17101
ofc. 717.920.8470 / fax 717.901.7829

Feel the love. ClintonDems.com states:

"With the convention just around the corner, it is imperative that all Democrats everywhere understand that whether or not Hillary is nominated, we are in this for the long haul. This primary has revealed DNC "leadership" to be corrupt, mean-spirited, and devoid of respect for basic democratic principles. They have completely and effectively ceded the moral high ground to Republicans at this point." http://hillaryclintonnews.blogspot.com/2008/08/action-item.html

Brave New World

In the meantime, life goes on: we are informed that Mr. Obama, still on vacation in Hawaii, far from the madding crowd and its pesky, inquisitive reporters, will take HIS brave stand and announce his vice president via text message, thus eliminating the need for a press conference and those burdonsome concepts of Hubris, Honor, and Courage of Conviction can be dispensed with and replaced with Newspeak until further notice...by text message, of course.