Morning Update

Here are some excerpts of stuff I found interesting as I did my morning recon of the internet. If would you like to learn more, please follow the links to the complete post. There just aren't enough hours in the day for me to comment on all the stuff that I would like to...

The 20th Century's central struggle was between the ideological systems that advocated governmental control of the economy and those that relied on market control. The market-based systems won. Why? In short, market-based systems made better investments, over the long term, than government managed systems. The lesson: systems with large numbers of decision makers, each with capital to invest, make better decisions.

As is often the case, the emerging victory of the market-based system created yet another problem/struggle. Specifically: is it better to trust that individuals empowered with growing salaries/wages will make the best investments for future economic success -- or -- is it better to grow corporate profits (at the expense of wages/salaries) and let capital markets invest the excess?

Between WW2 and 1974, while still engaged in a bitter struggle with Communism, the US hedged its bets on that question. Both individuals and the capital markets received an equal share of the benefits of productivity growth. Incomes rose mightily and we became broadly wealthy, mirrored by generous growth in the capital markets, relative to the start of the century. As a result of this shared decision-making system, smart investments in infrastructure, industry, education, and much more made America the economic powerhouse of the world. In short, we prospered.

Source: AMERICA'S ECONOMY AND OPEN DECISION MAKING

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17 September 2008: A disturbing communication posted in a high level Arabic language forum suggests that some type of terrorist operation is currently underway, targeting sites within the United States and Europe. According to information developed within the last 24 hours by a deep-cover intelligence operative, Islamic terrorists have been dispatched to the U.S. and Europe and may be in place, preparing to execute unspecified terrorist attacks within the U.S. and Europe.

Neither the targets nor the types of attacks were able to be identified from an analysis of the communications, although it appears possible that the European and American operations could be conducted in tandem. Also unclear is the timetable of potential attacks, although the wording pertaining to the "anticipated celebration" of the success of such attacks suggests that they will be carried out within the next few days.

Source: http://www.homelandsecurityus.com/20081917Arch

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI – At times Wednesday night, John McCain and Sarah Palin worked the room like two old pros–seemingly capable of completing the other’s sentences–but the evening began with a subtle hint from the newbie.

“John, John. Can I add something? I want to add something to that,” Palin asked innocently, after McCain had completed his first response to a voter question about how to deal with radical Islam and began to entertain another question.

“Always,” McCain responded with an embarrassed grin as the audience for their first ever joint-town hall erupted in applause.

Source: McPalin: A town hall tag team

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The world is voting with their money on America, while the Hoovercrats want to take money from Americans while denying them their own oil on the hope for a wind driven alchemy even Merlin the Magician couldn’t conjure.

President Bush twice tried to get Congress to limit Fannie and Freddie. Pelosi refused.

John McCain tried to do the same. John McCain wants to drill offshore. Obama does not. McCain wants you and the businesses you work for and shop at to keep more of the fruits of their labor. Obama wants to raise taxes.

One day, the USA will fall. Greece and Rome fell. Eventually we will fall, and eventually I will die. But I’m not throwing my body in front of a semi to hasten the day.

For the world, we are too big to fail, but for Obama, despite the role of non-accountability in the current crisis, wants to sell the idea that the government should ensure no one can fall. The last great such experiment ended with a wall falling near where his campaign began its descent in Berlin. For Pelosi and Obama, the government is still too small to satisfy their gargantuan egos. But they are blind to America’s greatness, greatness too big to indulge their historical ignorance.

Source: Paulson Panic Prevention for a U.S. Too Big to Fail

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Ever since John McCain selected Sarah Palin to be his running mate, she has been the focus of the campaign -- whether it's been igniting the GOP base or inviting parodies on Saturday Night Live (where Tina Fey, a real doppelgänger for the Alaska governor, kicked off the show's season debut with a much-discussed impression this past weekend). Unfortunately, if you're a Barack Obama partisan, this attention has played right into the Republicans' hands, by taking focus off of both McCain and Obama. By and large, voters will judge Palin to be qualified for the vice-presidency because historically they find almost anyone to be qualified for the vice-presidency. Like politicians, they don't think much of the office. (James Nance Garner, Franklin Delano Roosevelt's vice-president from 1933 to 1941, once compared the post to a "pitcher of warm piss.") And, apart from standards for the office, Palin's persona is the type that appeals to a large number of Americans.

Source: Why Palin Passes the Test

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Apparently inspired by the success of their Maoist comrades in Nepal, New Zealand's own "peoples liberation army", the Workers Party are attempting to storm the Victoria University Wellington Students Association.

Current Maoist president Joel Cosgrove is finishing his term as Great Helmsman, but four sturdy comrades stand ready to run the Peoples Republic of Kelburn.

Source: Maoists Attack VUWSA Stronghold

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In my judgment we’re now at a point where fear and uncertainty are worse than they were during the depths of the Bear Stearns scare last March.

The combination of investment bank failures, the nationalization of America’s largest insurer, and most especially the disruption of money markets have brought us to a very delicate moment.

Which shoe will drop next? There are at least two possibilities. That’s one question. Another question is: how many bullets does the Fed have left in its gun?

Read this through to the end, because that’s where the good news is.

Source: Wall Street Hits A Rough Patch

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I gotta admit, Senator Obama - or, more accurately, whoever came up with this for you - this was a pretty slick trap that you set. You go out and create an anti-McCain ad that's a: exceptionally dishonest; b: insulting to both him and Rush Limbaugh; c: has the potential to remind the rest of the GOP about it's internal immigration dispute; and d: - this is the best part, for a given value of "best" - it's in Spanish. I'm betting that the person that thought that bit hugged himself when he thought up that last bit, secure in the knowledge that surely us racist Republicans would be absolutely outraged at it. And, more importantly, that it'd be enough to get Rush to flip out (we'll table for the moment the question of whether it would).

But hark! I suddenly have a precognitive flash! It's about tomorrow's Rush broadcast! He's on the air! He's angry! So very, very angry. His fury tangibly crackles out from the very radio speakers itself, and he is practically shouting:

*Was this latest`cyber-attack on Governor Palin orchestrated by the Obama campaign?*

Don't you just love the Internet and all its inhabitants, Senator Obama? Particularly the way that they walk into the shot just as you're trying to line it up. Sure, maybe Rush will get into it later - but right now he's got something better to be angry about, and by the time this dies down any chance for a blowup will be gone, gone, gone. You'll get... grumbling, I guess. Grumbling towards you, not McCain. Likewise, McCain will be more than happy to not get into this, either. In short: man, but the timing on this sucked for you.

So, just how much money did you spend on that suddenly-useless poison pill? - because I hope that you saved the receipts.

Source: Well, Senator Obama, at least you don't have to blame *yourself* for the bad timing.

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This is what I was mentioning yesterday in my post about Lynn Forester De Rothschild and her decision to vote for McCain/Palin. I saw this when it happened and am so glad it is at YouTube. hahahahaha

LOL Andrea Mitchell said these women were “uneducated.” . I don't agree with Rothschild on abortion but it is soooooo marvelous to see her take Wollf down several notches. hahahaha

More and more women are beginning to understand how the democratic party keep them in line with the abortion issue. This lady was articulate and clearly knows what she wants and will take her money with her and her influence on the campaign trail. The Obamanators must be panicking to see this plus the whole PUMA phenomenon.

Source: Lady Rothschild takes down Wolf Blitz! A MUST SEE

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The Democrats pulled another fast one. Last night's energy bill was yet another insult to our intelligence. Under the guise of a drill bill, the Democrats, serving their enviro-industrial masters, passed an "energy" bill that bans offshore drilling within 50 miles of the coastline - in other words, where the oil is.

The whole bill stinks.

The House, on a 236-189 vote, on Tuesday approved a bill to allow oil drilling off the nation's Atlantic and Pacific coasts if states agree — but only 50 or more miles out. Republicans called the bill a ruse, saying that's well beyond where most of the estimated 18 billion barrels of oil is located.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the measure marked "a new direction in energy policy" because of its emphasis on alternative energy.Pelosiassad_2

The White House threatened a veto, saying the bill doesn't go far enough to generate new domestic supplies of oil and natural gas. The bill's prospects in the Senate are unclear.

Source: DEMOCRAT POLITICAL DRILL STUNT: FIDDLING WHILE AMERICANS BURN

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"Open source" intelligence – material taken from newspapers, Internet postings, and TV shows – is starting to play a major role in the nation's spy agencies. But it's still got a ton of problems, says one contractor working in the "OSINT" field. He offers his thoughts on how Open Source can be upgraded:

* One of the problems with Open Source research is that most of it is farmed out to contractor [companies], who are just using it as unclassified work for people who are in the process of getting their clearance. This is one of the reasons contractors will NEVER contribute to the field of Open Source. Their analysts pick up some skills but then are ripped out of there to serve on a higher-paying contract, once they get cleared. This brain drain is a huge problem.

* Another problem with Open Source research is that the Open Source Center does not have access to sensitive data. This is a problem, because if I have three "Joseph Franks", the OSC or some Open Source contractor has no choice but to spend... hours collecting information on...each Joseph Frank.

Source: Open Source Spy Looks for Upgrade