California Conservative

I just viewed a video of Gretchen Carlson’s interview of Ingrid Campbell and her daughter Mercedes. To say that it’s heartbreaking is understatement. Here’s the video of the interview:

Gretchen Carlson refers to President Obama’s quote that he’ll do “whatever helps kids.” After making that promise, though, he signed into law the omnibus bill funding the federal government for the rest of FY2009. Included in the bill was David Obey’s gift to the NEA: the dismantling of the DC scholarship program.

I said in this post that Chairman Obey’s dismantling of the DC scholarship program was proof of the liberal elitists’ soft bigotry. While thinking things through further, I’ve asked myself this question: What proof do I have that says President Obama doesn’t put unions’ interests ahead of other considerations? We know that he said that he’s for “whatever works for kids.” Still, there’s no proof that he won’t put the NEA’s interests ahead of these underprivileged children’s interests. (more…)

The end is coming quickly for Roland Burris. The Wednesday edition of the Chicago Tribune is asking for Sen. Burris’ resignation:

The benefit of the doubt had already been stretched thin and taut by the time Roland Burris offered his third version of the events leading to his appointment to the U.S. Senate. It finally snapped like a rubber band, popping him on that long Pinocchio nose of his, when he came out with version four.

Let’s see if we have it right: Burris had zero contact with any of Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s cronies about his interest in the Senate seat being vacated by President Barack Obama— unless you count that conversation with former chief of staff Lon Monk, and, on further reflection, the ones with insiders John Harris, Doug Scofield and John Wyma and, oh yeah, the governor’s brother and fund-raising chief, Robert Blagojevich. But Burris didn’t raise a single dollar for the now ex-governor as a result of those contacts because that could be construed as a quid pro quo and besides, everyone he asked refused to donate.

The story gets worse with every telling.

Enough. Roland Burris must resign.

(more…)

The day Harry Reid said that they wouldn’t seat Rolad Burris to replace President-Elect Obama in the Senate, I predicted that the political fallout would be so high that they couldn’t carry it out very long without paying a steep political price for it. Charles Babington says it best in this AP article:

WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Democrats who thought they could push away Roland Burris misjudged the racial fallout, underestimated public reaction and wound up on shaky legal ground.

The blunders began when the Democrats, including President-elect Barack Obama, insisted they would not seat Burris as the Senate’s only black member because the appointment came from a governor accused of trying to sell Obama’ former seat. On Wednesday, they all but admitted being outflanked by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, praising Burris and suggesting he soon will be a senator.

This outcome was predictable from the instant that Bobby Rush stood up at Gov. Blagojevich’s press conference where Gov. Blagojevich announced Burris as Obama’s replacement. In fact, I said at the time that it was a brilliant political move on Blagojevich’s part. (more…)

When the Lady Logician talks about the Blagojevich scandal, it’s a give that she’ll talk about the “popcorn factor” involved. I suspect she’s thinking in terms of grabbing a bowl of popcorn, then sitting down and watching the food fight. The popcorn factor just intensified.

The Chicago Sun-Times’s reporting indicates that Harry Reid opposed Gov. Blagojevich appointing Jesse Jackson, Jr., Danny Davis and Emil Jones. This opposition came after teh election but before Gov. Blagojevich’s arrest. Here’s what the Sun-Times is reporting:

Days before Gov. Blagojevich was charged with trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate seat to the highest bidder, top Senate Democrat Harry Reid made it clear who he didn’t want in the post: Jesse Jackson, Jr., Danny Davis or Emil Jones.

Rather, Reid called Blagojevich to argue he appoint either state Veterans Affairs chief Tammy Duckworth or Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, sources told the Chicago Sun-Times. (more…)

Democrats like portraying themselves as the African-American community’s best friend. That image will take a hit next Tuesday when Roland Burris will attempt to be sworn in as senator. The Democrats’ image will take a hit because Democrats won’t permit Burris to enter the Senate chamber:

Senate Democratic leaders think Roland Burris, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s pick to fill President-elect Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat, will likely show up on Capitol Hill Tuesday for the opening day of Congress, according to a Democratic aide familiar with Senate Democratic leaders’ plans.

They have prepared a contingency plan in case he does, the aide added. Burris will not be allowed on the Senate floor, according to this aide and a Senate Democratic leadership aide.

The aide familiar with Senate Democratic leaders’ plans said if Burris tries to enter the Senate chamber, the Senate doorkeeper will stop Burris. If Burris were to persist, either trying to force his way onto the Senate floor or refusing to leave and causing a scene, U.S. Capitol Police would stop him, said the aide. “They (police) probably won’t arrest him” but they would call the sergeant-at-arms,” the aide said.

Frankly, the Democrats’ strategy sounds eerily similar to when Gov. George Wallace stood in the doorway at the University of Alabama in a symbolic attempt to block two black students from enrolling at the school. The world has changed but the Democrats’ racist tendencies still exist. In fact, it doesn’t sound like their strategies have changed since June, 1963. (more…)

Don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“The empire is in decline, the culture is in decay, the democracy is in trouble, financial markets near collapse. It’s almost Biblical. And you can imagine what the black brothers and sisters in the barbershops and beauty salons say: ‘Right when the thing is about to go under, they hand it over to the black man.’” — Princeton professor Cornel West*

Classic. This poignant quote from a recent “report” by the Associated Press, entitled: “Cautious joy as blacks imagine Obama win” So much for a color-blind society. Evidently, because da bruthas and sistas in da barbashops don’t really care whether or not Barack Hussein Obama has the qualifications or experience to lead America, they just want a black man in the White House. Or so the article suggests.

And if you don’t agree, watch out. Should Obama not win, one may interpret veiled threats of civil unrest, increased crime and disobedience in the black community. LA riots, nationwide?

“If Obama wins, and I know he’s going to win, it will pull this country together in terms of race relations,” said Paul Durr, who owns a cemetery monument company and is mayor of Guys, Tennessee.

“He has to win,” Durr said. “If he doesn’t, I think you’ll see this country — I’m afraid to say what I think would happen the next day. I don’t even want to think that way.”
. . .

In this Oct. 28, 2008 file photo, a supporter holds a sign for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., at a rally in Chester, Pa. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

“I’m not sure people have considered, in the euphoria and jubilation and excitement, the fishbowl Obama will be in,” said talk show host Travis Smiley. “How everything he does for black people, he runs the risk of being accused of being tribal.”

That sentiment is not lost on Leomia Dyches, a sometimes-employed hospital worker and single mother from Philadelphia with one son at home, an older son locked up, and several grandchildren to help look after.

“I think it’s great, but I’m not looking for no miracle anytime soon,” she said. “Hopes are really raised too high now because [black people] are looking for a quick fix, and that’s not going to happen.”

AP also warns: With even some Republicans using the word “miracle” to characterize the prospect of a victory by GOP candidate John McCain, given his lagging poll numbers, the shock of an Obama loss would be almost incalculable for many blacks. So people are protecting themselves.

Let’s face it: If Obama weren’t (half) black, he surely wouldn’t be atop the Democratic ticket today. He’d be viewed no differently than the Breck-boy John Edwards: a photogenic political lightweight with personal baggage, a charismatic liberal insider with a silver-tongue. No more, no less.

With the presidential election only two days away, just remember: We live by rule of law, not obedience to (or fear of) political correctness. Not voting for Obama does not make you a racist. Repeat. “Change” is a meaningless concept, unless you know the cost. One man’s change may be another man’s redistribution of income.

Consider the issues and each candidate’s position. Read. Check your sources. Be informed and, only then, be obliged to do what’s right — for you, your family and the future of our country.

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Everyone’s heard about the vulgar anti-Palin t-shirts. Monday afternoon, Martha McCallum interviewed Tammy Bruce about those t-shirts. Here’s the videostream of the interview:

Here’s a partial transcript of the interview:

Martha McCallum: Well, McCain supporters have been accused of stirring up hate but what about Barack Obama’s supporters against Gov. Sarah Palin? She’s been pounded with protests in Pennsylvania this past weekend but the most dramatic is very offensive, frankly, no matter who you support.

An anti-Palin t-shirt that is so vulgar that we can’t even show it to you on cable TV. Are these protesters crossing the line? Joining me now is Fox News Analyst and syndicated radio talk show host Tammy Bruce. Tammy I think we have a photograph with part of this sort of blurred out to show what these people had on their t-shirts. But first of all, why haven’t we heard more about this? (more…)

Gives a new meaning to political race.

AP reports: “A black delegate for Hillary Rodham Clinton says she was called an ‘Uncle Tom’ by Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, one of Barack Obama’s political mentors.” You don’t make this stuff up.

Chicago political consultant Delmarie Cobb says Jones made the remarks Saturday night while discussing her support for Clinton. She called the remark “fighting words” and unacceptable.

Can’t we just all get along?

Last June, I posted this report about US hospitals and how many rely on fraud, preventable injuries and infections to patients to compensate for losses due to our government’s insistence that private hospitals treat and care for uninsured and underinsured citizens, indigents, and illegal aliens.

I learned how hospitals destroy good physicians and how predatory hospital chains like Tenet, Kaiser Permanente, and Adventist pressure local physicians already in successful private practice to join their groups. Those who refuse are targeted for sham peer review by corporate administrators and MDs who accuse non-compliant physicians as dangerous, incompetent, or disruptive. While a few tenacious victims expend their life savings to preserve their clinical privileges, others aren’t so lucky. Faced with the malicious and devastating loss of their medical careers, many take their own lives; which is what the health care corporations prefer anyway. To them, it’s only business – nothing personal.

I was never impressed by concerns about “the evils of big pharma.” I assumed that drugs are expensive because of the R & D that goes into finding cures for disease. Until now, I never imagined that some of those same drug companies would support junk science to fund researchers who would then produce expensive drugs that cause illness and disease around the world; or support junk legislation that would force healthy mothers and their children to take drugs that kill (under the threatened loss of child custody), and then use their subsequent sickness and mortality as evidence that a non-existent disease actually exists.

Such a scheme would have made Machiavelli weep with joy.

A New Investigation

I was not concerned about “big pharma” until my visit to Washington DC last May. I was there to meet with members of Semmelweis Society International (SSI). This is an impressive group of medical professionals – physicians, nurses, surgeons, medical and law school professors, and former CEOs of health care corporations. Because of my own experience with retaliation and my ongoing interest in US healthcare and sham peer review, I was interested to hear their stories directly from them.

I accompanied Gil Mileikowsky, MD, the OB/GYN who first explained sham peer to me in 2006. I spent five days with the members – all dedicated men and women who care deeply about the political corruption of healthcare and who risked their own careers to report fraud or abuse within the healthcare system. I recorded and edited their testimony, and posted this video after members testified before the US Congress and Senate. I was also honored to testify regarding my experience as an LAPD whistleblower.

Two recipients of the Semmelweis “Clean Hands Award” were reporter Celia Farber and molecular biologist Peter Duesberg, PhD. I had not heard of them before and knew nothing of their relationship to a little known controversy about HIV and AIDS.

After 28 years as an investigator, I consider myself pretty skeptical about things until I see proof. Most of my work today is pro bono, so I can pick and choose who I assist. Witnesses are expected to lie, but if I discover that a client has misrepresented facts or lied to me, I will usually drop the case. I’m fortunate to have the time, energy, and resources to help good people get out of undeservedly bad predicaments. Not all lawyers are like Mike Nifong or David Sotelo, and not all private investigators work like Anthony Pellicano. Without unbiased credibility, investigators are nothing more than a liability to their clients.

As various members interacted with Farber and Duesberg, I learned that the HIV/AIDS issue had not been entirely resolved. Like Dr. Mileikowsky’s story about sham peer review, this sounded equally unbelievable.

When I returned to Los Angeles, several former members began to question the wisdom of presenting the awards to Farber and Duesberg. In response, SSI President (and neurosurgeon) Roland Chalifoux issued this press release to explain the rationale of the awards. But when two dissenters persisted, Dr. Chalifoux asked me to conduct an independent investigation of Ms. Farber and Prof. Duesberg, citing my investigative experience, independence, and almost complete lack of knowledge about HIV and AIDS.

I accepted the case.

Although I didn’t expect it at first, I was warned that I should expect attacks from the “other side.” I wasn’t sure what they meant but kept it in the back of my mind. It didn’t take me long to find out for myself. (more…)

According to Peter Brown, the director of Quinippiac’s polling, history shows that Democrats have long had trouble with white voters. He makes his case in this WSJ op-ed.

For those voters, especially ones without college degrees, the fact that Sen. Obama is black may not be as much a disqualifier as his background as a Democrat from the Frost Belt with no national security or executive experience and a voting record judged by the nonpartisan National Journal as the Senate’s most liberal during 2007.

Yet, the focus on Sen. Obama’s relative weakness among the white working class has become the hot topic among many who say racial bias explains it. Of course it would be naive to believe that race is not a factor in America today. But that doesn’t necessarily mean Mr. Obama’s relative weakness among white voters is solely, or even mainly, due to the fact that he is black and that three quarters of voters this year will be white.

Why would anyone think that policies matter? Obama’s troubles with white working class voters has far more to do with the fact that he’s the most underqualified major party candidate in my voting lifetime. OLet’s not forget that white working class voters haven’t forgotten (or forgiven) Obama for his SF fundraising speech, either. (more…)