Nob Hill Observer

Halloween, 2011

2011-10-31T21:32:00.003-06:00

Etowah County Detention Center, another black eye coming to Alabama

2011-10-09T10:37:00.003-06:00

Just a heads up - another black eye is headed Alabama's way. It seems that Alabama's only ICE detention center is excess prison space ICE rent's from Etowah County, Alabama. From an article titled:Immigrant Detainees Languish in Notorious Etowah County Detention Center.Here's how it starts:The Etowah County Detention Center in Gadsden, Alabama, houses immigration detainees along with county

The sin of inhospitality & Alabama's new anti-immigrant law.

2011-10-03T09:26:00.006-06:00

When I grew up in Alabama I was taught about the sin of inhospitality and remember discussing Matthew 25, this section seems especially relevant: 31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth

All I wanted to hear from Obama tonight

2011-09-08T22:45:00.008-06:00

LBJ knew the game was up - sad that Obama can't see it too -Save the part at the end about North Vietnam Obama could make exactly the same speech today.What glorious words:"I shall not seek and I will not accept the nomination of my party for another term as your President"Now if Obama would just say them! Finally Obama would bring hope to the masses!

OFA Watch - A page out of their training manual at ThePeoplesView.Net

2011-08-22T23:08:00.015-06:00

Ever since Obama For America's (OFA's) New Mexico Director Ray Sandoval email bomblet hit the press I have been curious about the blog where he got the explosive material that fueled the explosion. Its name is "The Peoples's View". My first impressions of that blog convinced me it would make folks at Daily Kos blush. There is NO admission or even suggestion that Obama was anything other than

Proud member of the Firebagger Lefty Blogosphere!

2011-08-19T22:17:00.008-06:00

Thanks to Ray Sandoval, Organizing for America's New Mexico director for heading off the deep end and finally giving us a label we can wear proudly. Things have gotten fairly amusing since his email hit Huffington Post last Wednesday containing some quips from The Peoples View. There is no need to recap the tedious series of events or even the content of his email - it can be found in the Huff Po

Cenk gets it while Fareed does not

2011-08-16T07:52:00.005-06:00

I often watch Fareed Zakaria and his show Global Public Square on CNN. Usually he is the essence of reason. a man of good sense. However he has a blind spot about Obama and in the clip below Cenk from The Young Turks calls him out on it. Please Fareed don't blow your brand over Obama, he simply ain't worth it. Don't trust DC logic on this issue. Once you leave the Beltway's mindset you

The Progressive Caucus of California's Democratic Party is now in limbo - tribalism in action

2011-08-14T01:33:00.011-06:00

For the crime of treason against the establishment California's Democratic Party Progressive Caucus charter has been tabled and the fate of the Caucus is now in limbo. You see they had the nerve to challenge the establishment by passing the following resolution that asks for a primary challenger to Barack Obama:RESOLUTION in SUPPORT of a POSSIBLE 2012 DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY CHALLENGE

Martin Heinrich votes for Corporate Interests to pass bad debt ceiling deal

2011-08-01T22:14:00.011-06:00

Just got an email from Martin Heinrich explaining why he sold out the base of the Democratic Party and its core values and voted for this horrid debt ceiling deal. Here it is:Dear Michael,Today I voted for a bill to raise the debt ceiling. This was a tough choice between a flawed bill that increases the debt ceiling or plunging America’s economy back into recession.It's clear that Tea Party

Even Peggy Noonan of Murdoch's WSJ gets it!

2011-07-31T09:09:00.008-06:00

In today's New York Times there is an article by Jackie Calmes titled Rightward Tilt Leaves Obama With Party Rift. While it begins by addressing the discontent the Democratic base has with Obama it ends with this "reassuring" paragraph: Mark Mellman, a Democratic pollster, said polling data showed that at this point in his term, Mr. Obama, compared with past Democratic presidents, was doing as

Penguinistas' tools of the trade - copying a web site

2011-07-31T00:14:00.016-06:00

Sometimes its handy to copy a website before it gets changed -For example a group like Third Way might decide that something they posted is a bit embarrassing and want to make a few quick changes to limit future damage. Sadly if you haven't preserved a copy for future reference you are out of luck.Any Penguinista knows this is an easy chore on the command line with "wget". Now wget will not

Third Way - the power behind the throne in DC

2011-07-29T23:39:00.010-06:00

Thanks to Lambert for his post "Schrodinger's Banksters" on correntewire.com. It references a posting by Yves Smith titled "Third Way Document Proves Democratic Party Supports Institutionalized Looting by Banks" on the blog naked capitalism.I had always seen the Third Way as the evil spawn of the DLC and New Democrats. Boy was I wrong. It is way more important and much more dangerous than I ever

Where are the Greens in the 2012 Presidential Election?

2011-07-24T16:11:00.008-06:00

On another blog someone asked:"Any word on what's up with the Greens for the 2012 presidential election?"Sadly from what I can see they are nowhere to be found!The question came about because of a post discussing the possibility of Senator Bernie Sanders running against the Big O in the upcoming Democratic Primary. While I agree with some of what the author said and like Bernie a lot I know he

More on JPM’s financial rape of Jefferson County Alabama

2011-07-20T07:52:00.007-06:00

Folks this is a classic example of what happens when a bunch of Banksters and crooked local politicians get together and run amuck. Just replace the criminal good old boys in Jefferson County Alabama with a bunch of larcenous politicians in some small South or Central American Country and it explains most of the financial disasters we have seen in Central and South America.It's a must see - the

Quelle Horreur! I'm banned from posting on the Daily Kos!

2011-07-07T23:03:00.018-06:00

Dropped by the Daily Kos a few minutes ago and found this (see contents of red box, to enlarge click on image):Wow! So what caused this? Well, here is the posting that apparently gave them a wedgie:Obama has been telling us that he will happily gut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid for years starting with the filthy creeps he appointed to his Deficit Commission. He is a coward that

Georgia enacts Arizona's anti-immigrant law

2011-05-29T09:18:00.005-06:00

Just posted this at the site "Atlanta's Progressive News":I'm sorry to point this out to you but this is racism and this is hate and it occurred in Georgia. The fact that those two issues are such a large part of that state should shock no one. As the old line goes - "Atlanta, not bad for Georgia" but it is still part of Georgia and racism comes with the territory.One thing to note though - for

Social Security, the beginning of the end.

2010-12-17T07:51:00.004-07:00

Through the cowardice of the Democrats in the House and Senate and the cowardice and indifference of the President the destruction of Social Security has finally begun.I would like to publicly apologize for voting for Barach Obama, the Democratic President that helped to destroy Social Security by defunding it! This has long been the Republican's preferred mechanism to destroy Social Security.

What a hoot!

2010-12-05T23:38:00.002-07:00

This really falls into the "If it wasn't so sad it would be funny" category! From a blog caled "p m carpenter's commentary".Welcome to 1948Here we go again, and here we'll remain, I suppose, until President Obama's friendly detractors and nasty allies see the White House's white-flag strategy unfurled in radiant, fighting colors -- the here, this morning, once again surging in Frank Rich's

Halloween, 2010 on Tulane Dr.

2010-11-01T08:42:00.003-06:00

This years pumpkins!

Fire Valerie Jarrett now!

2010-10-14T07:32:00.011-06:00

Would somebody please tell Obama and his idiot adviser Valerie Jarrett that homosexuality isn't a "lifestyle choice"! Who would of thought that one of Jessie Helm's protoge's could get a Senior Advisor job in the Obama White House. We are so screwed! To see one of Obama's advisor's actually and really use this phrase in context go to the 4:15 mark in the video - the actual words "lifestyle

Arianna misses the point

2010-08-18T21:38:00.006-06:00

Arianna's latest post has some good lines but sadly she makes a fundamental mistake - she assumes that Obama cares what we think even when there is no evidence he does.While I whole heartedly agree with the following statements:Progressives, for your own good, it's my duty to point something out to you: the president's just not that into you......I get that the progressives, and the activists,

MUST SEE – D Trip-C’s head won’t say no to Social Security cuts

2010-08-17T21:37:00.012-06:00

This is a must see folks.Cenk Uygur puts the Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), Representative Chris Van Hollen, in the “corner” on cuts to Social Security and the guy will not say he opposes cranking up the retirement age to 70. Cenk did a great job pushing him on this but he would not say he would oppose raising the retirement age to 70. All Van Hollen could mumble

Lawrence Lessig on the rage of Gibbs

2010-08-16T21:27:00.002-06:00

Once again Lawrence Lessig explains some hard truths. This time he explains why the Left has issues with the Obama Administration and why the White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs can just go stuff himself.From the Huffington Post:On the Rage of GibbsWhite House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs has been slapped around silly by commentator after commentator, decrying his anti-Lefty rage. But as I

Joe Campos has his 20%

2010-03-14T23:05:00.005-06:00

Good news - I'm hearing that Joe Campos has got 20% of the votes in yesterday's Democratic Party Pre-Primary Convention and will be on the ballot for the LT' Gov's position June 1st. He made it by the barest of margins but he made it! Now the question is what else is going on and why haven't the election results been released? Also, still unanswered is what will Jerry Ortiz y Pino and Linda

House Ethics Committee has no ethics

2010-02-28T00:30:00.002-07:00

This really has to fall under the "unbelievable" category. Clearing seven member of the House from ethics charges the US House of Representatives Ethics Committee says its not a problem for a member of the House to "arrange" for an earmark for a company after the folks behind the company give a boatload of cash to that House member. Its stunning! I guess a notarized contract is required for

In Search of The Democrats by Ted Rall

2010-02-19T22:46:00.001-07:00

Sadly, Oh so true!

An open letter to fellow Democrats by Eric Griego

2010-02-18T21:49:00.008-07:00

From nmpolitics.net a letter to fellow Democrats by Senator Eric Griego:Dear New Mexico Democrat:Last year’s election was a momentous occasion. Not only did we elect a Democratic president and an entire Democratic congressional delegation, but we picked up several Democratic seats in the state House and Senate. With a Democratic majority in both houses of the Legislature (27 Democrats to 15

Shame on Bingaman and Udall

2010-01-27T07:48:00.009-07:00

Below are the 39 cowardly Democrats in the Senate that should be ashamed of themselves for voting for the ill-advised Conrad/Gregg Budget Commission. The Republicans have been trying to destroy Social Security and Medicare for years. This budget commission was the perfect tool to get the Democrats to do it for them. It just shows how soulless, stupid and incompetent the Democrats in the US

Yes we have two parties but they ain't what you think!

2010-01-24T22:49:00.004-07:00

Sometimes things just hit me - I now realize that yes we do have two parties - problem is that they ain't Republican and Democrat or even Demopublican and Republocrat but rather they are Corporate and ????.Once you take this view the recent Health Care squabble is really an argument between the hard line Corporatists (the Republicans) and more moderate Corporatists (a good chunk of the Democrats{

This is about leadership and in Washington there ain't any!

2010-01-19T23:58:00.008-07:00

Brown is an idiot and the folks of Mass will tire of him quickly – he just tried to pawn off one of his daughters from the stage during his acceptance speech. He thought it was cute but the rest of the folks are going to see him for the clown he is. Expect him to provide more comic entertainment in the Senate until his term is up –This isn’t about Brown or the boring plain vanilla Corporate

Obama's Presidency is over!

2010-01-19T21:52:00.004-07:00

January 20, 1999 - January 19, 2010Today Obama's Presidency is officially over.It lasted just a short time but died of self-inflicted wounds brought on by cowardice and beltway-based stupidity.RIP

Thanks Taylor!

2010-01-09T23:44:00.008-07:00

I've become a fan of Taylor Marsh. She is one of those rare upper level bloggers that just doesn't seem to care what the elites of the Democratic Party think of her.I reached a new level of appreciation for her when she responded to this comment by a reader called Don:What do politicians do when a vote is called, and they realize that voting either way is a loss for them?They abstain. They

Even the Huffington Post lets a good one through -

2010-01-03T23:13:00.005-07:00

Not sure what's happening but the Dem elites definitely were asleep when they let this one through at HuffPo.Ms. Williamson really caught the spirit of things in the Democratic Party. But while she speaks truth here I also found the comments sadly interesting. The level of denial exhibited by the Obamanistas while they complain about this post is really amazing. They have drunk the kool-aid

Sad wisdom over at Open Left

2010-01-03T22:58:00.005-07:00

Its a shocker but over at Open Left somehow they let a real post pass through. It contains none of the pointless lists or why or why not progressives should do this or that and why kowtowing to the power structure/elites always makes good sense. All the stuff that Open Left is known for.Enjoy and cry - its all too true. Why Democrats Are Trying to Commit Electoral Suicideby: Ian WelshMon Jan 04

Why the mainstream Press is so useless

2009-12-30T14:39:00.004-07:00

Wonder why the mainstream press is so messed up - find out here -Thanks Laura Flanders at GRITtv and guest Jeremy Scahill and Glenn Greenwald.

More nonsense over at OpenLeft

2009-12-22T12:39:00.003-07:00

In response to this posting by Chris Bowers where he continues his endless argument that the good little progressives need to fall in line with the Mighty Obama I responded with the comment below:Chris -Time to get over it - you're not convincing anyone with these lists of talking points. Isn't it just possible we need to kill the bill because it is a bad bill and a political disaster for the

The Democratic Party - The End

2009-12-19T23:47:00.006-07:00

Something I've been thinking for a while now has nicely been stated over at Democratic Underground in a post by Yavin4.Turns out that the Health Care Reform (HCR) act is more than just a gift to the Insurance Industry. Its actually setting the Democratic Party up to be a fall guy for all that the Insurance Companies do in the future. As Yavin4 so nicely puts it:This HCR amounts to a merger

madfloridian explains today's Democratic Party

2009-12-19T10:37:00.008-07:00

This post at Democratic Underground explains a great deal about today's Democratic Party. As you will see it certainly isn't the Party we think it is - referring to the Democratic Party madfloridian says: Now it is about far more than health care. Party's true face has been shown.... this week since Howard Dean took head in hand and dared to suggest the bill was not all it should be. A true face

A good rant!

2009-12-15T22:56:00.005-07:00

Personally I always wondered if Joe Lieberman was doing what Obama wanted all along. Found this over at Democratic Underground. It seems reasonable to me -by: debbierlusYou know why the democrats don't take away Joe's chair?It isn't complicated.The democrats are USING Joe as a scapegoat for their wholesale sell-out to the health care industry.They NEED Joe.He is playing bad cop to their 'good

Democratic Senators who have sold out to Big Pharma

2009-12-15T20:29:00.004-07:00

Here's the list of Democratic Senators or those that slum with them that have sold us out to Big Pharma by voting against North Dakota Democrat Byron Dorgan Amdt. No. 2793 to the disaster know as the Health Care Reform bill.Akaka (D-HI), NayBaucus (D-MT), NayBayh (D-IN), NayBurris (D-IL), NayCantwell (D-WA), NayCardin (D-MD), NayCarper (D-DE), NayCasey (D-PA), NayDodd (D-CT), NayDurbin (D-IL),

2009-12-14T23:13:00.001-07:00

Not much else to say but if Obama wasn't such a coward and a liar this whole thing would have turned out very differently.

Naomi Klein explains much -

2009-11-29T22:26:00.007-07:00

While Global Warming is an interesting topic it was Naomi's aside at the end of an interview with Amy Goodman that explains why I and so many others are jaded with Obama, the new Big O -To hear this part of the interview go to the 53 minute mark in the show and listen to the end. Ultimately it comes down to this - Obama is a super brand and as Namoi says "We think we hear the message we want to

Glenn Greenwald on Rachel Maddow discusses Democratic crooks Lieberman and Bayh

2009-10-28T21:47:00.007-06:00

Glenn Greenwald on Rachel Maddow explains why Senators Evan Bayh and Joe Lieberman are ready to destroy health care reform for their own personal gain. Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the EconomyPlease note the system described by Greenwald where Senatorial families rake is large dollars by selling influence to the highest bidder is widespread. Essentially hubby

Finally a Progressive group calls Obama out on Health Care Reform

2009-10-25T17:09:00.003-06:00

Its been clear to me for quite some time that Obama was the Public Option's real enemy in the Democratic Party. Finally other folks are starting to see this - thanks to the Progressive Change Campaign Committee for calling Obama out on this.

Thank God - she done gone and said it-

2009-09-13T20:54:00.006-06:00

Finally, someone in the mainstream press has put in print what has been obvious to me, a Southern Expatriate, for quite a few months. Racism is alive and well in the United States and the proof is easy to see. It ranges from the Birthers, to the Deathers, to the screams and shouts over Obama's address to school children last Tuesday reaching a crescendo with Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst last

Insurance Companies love mandates

2009-09-12T22:59:00.002-06:00

Simple logic - wish Obama understood it!

2009-09-12T22:23:00.003-06:00

Another YouTube goodie found via Jesus General

Mandates are a disaster

2009-09-12T08:56:00.003-06:00

The DailyKos, normally blind to actions and real intent of the Obama Administration, is starting to get a clue. They seem to now understand that the individual mandates in the Baucus Health Reform bill that would force people to pay a monthly tribute to the Health Insurance Deities are a disaster for the Democratic Party. Since the insurance they will be forced to buy will most certainly be

UnitedHealth lobbyist does fundraiser for Pelosi

2009-09-11T23:29:00.007-06:00

Frankly I never liked her anyway - I always though she was incompetent but now it appears she's just another Congressional Criminal on top of that. What bigger signal do we need that the public option is dead?Go to David Sirota's article on OpenLeft for the sickening details.

Mr Abelson - obviously not from this time/space dimension

2009-09-11T21:41:00.005-06:00

This morning while I was wolfing down an incredible breakfast burrito at Bee's #1 I just about gagged when I encountered Reed Abelson's article on page A16 of today's NY Times. Its really hard to know where to begin. The title alone is enough to cause any sane person to upchuck - "President’s Speech Allays Some Fears in the Health Insurance Industry". It only got worse from there. The

Obama's speech -

2009-09-10T07:52:00.002-06:00

Hmmmmmm -------Re: Obama's speech - well nothing that will change the dynamics of Health Care Reform debate much. A few folks that weren't listening for the last several months may have gotten some facts but besides the outburst of Rep. Joe Wilson not much news. The only thing that got a response out of me was Obama's promise to "call out lies". Well that's nice - it would have been really

2009-09-08T23:19:00.004-06:00

A great post on Baucus' Health Care proposal (disaster) at consumerwatchdog.org:A 'framework' made in health insurer's workshopPosted by Judy DuganThe latest proposal in the Washington health reform debate protects a lot of groups. Employers get protection from cost, paying very little if they don't offer insurance. Insurers get millions of new customers and protection from effective competition.

A warning from Josh Marshall

2009-09-08T22:29:00.002-06:00

Words of caution that I don't think anybody is hearing from Josh Marshall on Talking Points Memo:Where's This Going?Josh Marshall | September 7, 2009, 10:31AMAm I the only one who thinks that if the Dems pass a bill with mandates and subsidies for poor and moderate income people to purchase it but no public option or competition with the insurers, that it will be pretty much a catastrophe for the

The dangers of caving

2009-09-08T22:19:00.004-06:00

Something else from OpenLeft that needs to be seen -Ultimately the take home lesson is that if we cave there is nothing to prevent the worst of the worst health care bills from becoming law.

A good rant by David Sirota

2009-09-08T21:47:00.002-06:00

Earlier today David Sirota threw a good rant on the state of things at Open Left. After discussing a Wall Street Journal article that contains the memorable and unfortunately true line: "How bitter it must be to discover that the Fox News Channel's Glenn Beck, who drove the debate about Mr. Jones, counts for more at this White House than Mr. Sirota." Sirota goes on to say:"Progressives don't

Just love those fundamentalist -

2009-09-01T22:13:00.012-06:00

They really can be a laugh a minute. For example I was howling earlier today when I read this:Kristin Maguire, South Carolina's Board of Education Chairwoman, resigned on August 31 siting "family matters", but the real reason might be her secret hobby as an erotica writer under the pen name Bridget Keeney. Kristin Maguire, a professed Christian, was one of South Carolina's most respected social

H.P. Lovecraft on Republicans

2009-09-01T21:41:00.002-06:00

A friend just sent me this excerpt from one of SciFi writer H. P. Lovecraft letters. While it was written in 1936 it's still a wonderfully perceptive and clear view of what Republicans are today. Read and be amazed:“As for the Republicans—how can one regard seriously a frightened, greedy, nostalgic huddle of tradesmen and lucky idlers who shut their eyes to history and science, steel their

Texas please just go -

2009-08-31T21:58:00.004-06:00

The sooner the better! To bad time travel ain't possible - yesterday would be lots better than today.Take your stupidity and racism and just go -

Even the New Republic is pissed!

2009-08-30T22:47:00.005-06:00

Wow! Glory Glory Hallelujah!!! Even the New Republic is pissed with the Blue Dogs and Corporate Democrats and their attempts to destroy Health Care reform.The magazine I usually refer to as The New Republican has for years been the supporter of the corporate wing of the Democratic Party. Finally they have started to see the light. Last Thursday Glenn Greenwald showed the beginning of the New

Baucus speaks to Montana!

2009-08-23T21:36:00.003-06:00

From the Montana blog Montana Maven's Opinions Worth Ropin' it looks like the nice folks of Montana have finally put some heat under Senator Baucus - good for them!This is the press release from the Coalition of Montana Democratic Central Committees:FOLLOWING RANCOR AMONG THE RANKS, BAUCUS ASSURES MONTANA CONSTITUENTS:"I WANT A PUBLIC OPTION TOO"U.S. Senator Max Baucus has finally broken his

Is Bingaman Obama's man in the Gang of Six?

2009-08-23T18:43:00.005-06:00

One other statement came out of the last 3rd Thursday Meeting - this time if was from Bingaman's representative at the meeting. During his defense of Bingaman's involvement with the Gang he justified this treachery by informing us that Senator Bingaman was Obama's man in the Gang of Six. I assume he thought it might calm the crowd - trust me it didn't.Wonder if Obama knows this?

Baucus must go -

2009-08-23T18:08:00.002-06:00

Please go to Credo Action and sign the petition to tell Senate Dems to get rid of Max Baucus - the Insurance Industry's best friend in the Senate.

Another meaningless Heath Haussamen poll

2009-08-23T10:43:00.005-06:00

Up today at his Republican leaning blog is another of Heath H's unscientific polls. This one's title is "In the health-care reform debate, which of these ideas do you support?". Please have at it!In the health-care reform debate, which of these ideas do you support?A public optionNon-profit co-opsNeitherI don’t know Free polls from Pollhost.com