Sotomayor Revealed Pt 1: Judicial Activist?

There's another code word in the liberal lexicon: "empathy." As described in the WSJ,

"Empathy" is the latest code word for liberal activism, for treating the Constitution as malleable clay to be kneaded and molded in whatever form justices want. It represents an expansive view of the judiciary in which courts create policy that couldn't pass the legislative branch or, if it did, would generate voter backlash.

In the same way "deficit reductions" means higher taxes, "assault weapons" was coined for gun control and "Choice" only applies to abortion, the liberals have debauched another discourse. So in the liberal mind it's just fine to subvert the separation of powers defined in the U.S Constitution as long as your doing so out of "empathy" (though empathy becomes a slippery term that is relative to the world view of the liberal).

Judge Sonia Sotomayor, Barack Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court, has become their poster child for "empathy." In their world, "personal experience and cultural identity are the better part of judicial wisdom." Instead of justice being blind, you have to become blind to justice and focus on your life experiences and how they make you feel. Woe be to the dairy industry of Sotomayor is lactose intolerant.

Obama's speech introducing Sotomoyar revealed his agenda:
"Experience being tested by obstacles and barriers, by hardship and misfortune; experience insisting, persisting, and ultimately overcoming those barriers . . . it is experience that can give a person a common touch of compassion; an understanding of how the world works and how ordinary people live. And that is why it is a necessary ingredient in the kind of Justice we need on the Supreme Court."

It's important to note that Obama is not saying that experience in and of itself it a necessary ingredient for justice. He is pointing to a certain kind of experience being necessary in the "kind of justice we need." So much for diversity. So much for equality in a blind justice system. Obama is looking for a "kind of justice" not as defined by the Constitution, but by his perception of the world.

Sotomayor's comments at Duke University on why students should clerk at the appellate court level reveals her agenda:

The saw is that if you’re going into academia, you’re going to teach, or as Judge Lucero just said, public interest law, all of the legal defense funds out there, they’re looking for people with court of appeals experience, because it is — court of appeals is where policy is made. And I know — and I know this is on tape and I should never say that because we don’t make law, I know. OK, I know.

Oh, yes, I know, I know, I know those of you who get your talking points from The Huffington Post or Media Matters will prattle that the comment was taken out of context. That she later said that she was not advocating that . . . and you (like your sense-free sources) ignore that she said she did not promote it with a chuckle and wink. So as a service to you, I am dropping the YouTube video of her comments below and you make the call.

Well, since this is my site I'm going to make the call first. Sotamayor concocts an interesting explanation of her comments concerning higher courts when she contrives that one is no longer looking at "the facts of the case" but how the law is developing along with the ramifications your decision will have over the next step of the law's development. In other words, a justice is no longer supposed to be judging the case based on its individual merits, the current law or constitutional framing, but instead should judge it on how they believe the law will develop (founded on their personal "experience" and belief system, of course), and the judge needs to predetermine the precedent they want to establish for future related decisions.

That, my friends, is the very definition of judicial activism . . . or as the left puts it, "empathy."

The Hot Michelle Obama

I still can't get over it so I just have to say something. I don't mean to be cruel or shallow. Really, I don't. But can somebody please explain to me how Michelle Obama could make Maxim's list of the 100 hottest women in the world? I admit, she's not bad for a first lady, but that's like saying Stephen Hawking can really ice skate for a crippled scientist. Obama landed at #93, so somebody is trying to drop straight-faced on us that there are only 92 women in the world hotter than Michelle Obama. Listen, I'm no prize but I'd need a sack of Viagra and a blindfold to tap that.

The only possible explanation is that the people at Maxim have a troubling Worf fetish.

Obama's Self-Serving Transparency Is . . . Transparent

According to the AP, Barack Obama "ordered a review of how the nation keeps and classifies its secrets and instructed his top administration officials to lean toward disclosure when they can."

That's right, according to The One, there is a greater need for transparency when it comes to what had previously been considered state secrets.

Of course, the President does not want to take this measure too far. "Transparency" may work when it comes to enlightening our enemies about America's national security, but we should not presume that it will apply to:

• Public disclosure of his university records and papers
• His sealed birth certificate
• An audit of the campaign contributions that exceeded legal limits
• An audit of campaign contributions that came in odd denominations, indicating they were conversions from foreign currency (making them illegal)
• Violations of his “sunlight before signing” pledge to post legislation for comment on the White House website five days before he signs them
• Disclosure of the full tax problems and/or conflicts of interest in his many appointments

When you think about it, Obama seems to enjoy "transparency" when it damages the reputation or security of America . . . but when it comes to the truth about himself or his minions, well, I guess he'll continue to keep that on the down-low.

Sotomayor's 60% Reversal Rate

It seems the blogs are on fire debating whether or not Supreme Court Justice nominee Sonia Sotomayor is a racist based on the comments she made during a lecture at the University of California-Berkeley.

Referring to former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's saying that "a wise old man and wise old woman will reach the same conclusion in deciding cases," Sotomayor said, "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life."

I'll be honest, I don't think this overtly problematic world view matters. America elected a President who, after spending 20 years under a racist pastor, referred to his own grandmother during the campaign as a "typical white person." So let's just admit that when you're a Democrat displaying racial sensitivity is about as important as actually paying your taxes. Debate over because it's never going to matter.

And while we're at it, let's forget that Sotomayor endorsed judicial activism by telling Duke students to consider clerkships on the appeals courts because "the Court of Appeals is where policy is made. And I know - I know this is on tape, and I should never say that because we don't make law. I know." Forget about that because in liberal eyes the judicial branch makes the law relevant so it is within their scope to ignore the separation of powers. It's never going to matter.

What bothers me is the fact that 60% of Sotomayor's decisions have been overturned by a higher court. Yowza. Placing a 40% success rate on the highest court in the land is like dusting off the Betamax because you're sure people are making a mistake with all this new media jibber jabber.

But ask yourself how you feel about a judge who has 60% of her decisions overturned being placed in a position of power where nobody can check her balance. Is this the kind of legal mind we want deciding the country's most important issues?

SIDENOTE: I wonder if Sotomayor has paid all of he back taxes. If so, why is Obama even considering her?

Michael Jordan Demonstrates What's Wrong With Sports

In a show of hometown support, Michael Jordan tossed on a Chicago Blackhawks jersey for the NHL team's playoff game against the Detroit Red Wings . . . or did he? It seems that Jordan's hometown pride was altered by his life sponsor: Nike.

Jordan did show up at the game to bestow a royal wave on those in attendance and he did put on a Blackhawks sweater for the event, but would only do so after the Reebok logo was covered over by a red patch. Wait, hasn't he done this before? Well, who could forget that poignant moment when Jordon took the podium in the 1992 Olympics draped with an American flag -- not out of rabid patriotism, but rather because Reebok was the official sponsor and Jordon had to cover up their logo out of loyalty to his brand. Then there was 2007, when he used a white piece of tape to cover an Adidas logo.

Now, I'm sure Jordan's handlers are going to play the ol' "Nike won't let him wear any other gear" card, but are we still buying that crap? Even if it were true, wouldn't the fiasco at the '92 Olympics teach him that people care more about their team than his silly little swoosh? Apparently not when it comes to his airness. Brand above country. Sponsor above city. Nike ueber alles.

Memorial Day 2009

One Man's Terrorist Is Another Man's Majority

It's hard to forget the Obama administration's 9-page report identifying the real American Terrorists as, among others, "Military Vets, Americans who are Pro-Life, Conservatives and Tea Party participants" -- bizarrely equating people who've served in the U.S. armed forces, practice free speech and want to stop partial birth abortions with the butchers who beheaded Nick Berg.

But what will this administration do now that the people they identify as radical enemies of the state are in reality plurality? According to last week's Gallop Poll, most Americans now identify themselves as pro-life. Looks like Obama's tagged radical fringe has become the moderate majority. And while the main stream media is covering this latest poll with the same vigor that Perez Hilton would cover a willing coed, the political implications are hard to miss. And no matter where you fall within the abortion debate, the ideological sanctity of life is making a comeback.

The Latest From 'Zo

And now he's with PJ Media . . . but still has that great Macho Sauce Productions bite!

Freed Terrorists Return To Terror

According to the New York Times:

An unreleased Pentagon report provides new details concluding that one in seven of the 534 prisoners already transferred abroad from the detention centre in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has returned to terrorism or militant activity, according to administration officials.

This is the one time I feel horrible about being right. Well, I also felt horrible when I suspected that Julie girl was a dude, but that's another story.

How many times did we try explaining to our more naive American brethren that Gitmo was not filled with gardeners and gym teachers. Or if they were gardeners and gym teachers they did so with an eye toward grenading for god. And now we find that, as we suspected, many of those we release go back to their lives of hatred and murder.

But the Times story gets even worse:

The Pentagon promised in January that the latest report would be released soon, but Bryan Whitman, a Pentagon spokesman, said that the findings were still “under review." Two administration officials said the report was being held up by Defence Department employees fearful of upsetting the White House.

What? The Pentagon is afraid to release information concerning the security of our nation because they're "fearful of upsetting the White House"?? The White House that promised transparency? The White House that claimed the Bush administration never allowed anyone to disagree? The White House the promised to close Gitmo?

Alec Baldwin: "Pull the plug" on Detroit

Alec Baldwin has taken some time away from verbally abusing family members to fire his barbs at the American auto industry. His background in the industry is nearly as impressive as his parenting skills. As he put it, "I was the voice of Chevy Tahoe TV spots for five years in the early 90's. I drove a Tahoe then and loved it. Now, I drive a Prius." I know what you're thinking, just because he picked up a check (and a complimentary Tahoe) for reading a few lines for a 30 second TV spot, it hardly makes him an expert. But when you think about it, that brief brush with the industry equates to more automotive experience then Barack Obama's appointment for Car Czar.

So recently Alec Baldwin used his vast automotive knowledge in a Huffington Post editorial to spew what may be the most ignorant assessment of American automotive products since . . . since Obama said, "I'm not an auto engineer. I don't know how to create an affordable, well designed plug-in hybrid, but I know if the Japanese can design an affordable, well designed plug-in hybrid then, doggone it, the American people should be able to do the same."

Alec Baldwin decided to reach beyond simple stupidity and, like a host of good liberals, turned to a plagiarized potpourri of poppycock to deliver this misinformed indictment:

"I've owned Mercs, Chevys, Fords and Jeeps. I'm in the market for a new car now. I'll probably get a hybrid from a Japanese company . . . I'd like to buy an American car, but I'd feel like a fool doing that now. The leadership of the biggest automakers made sure of that.

"There can be only one legitimate response to this crisis. Let energy conservation and fuel efficiency rule the day. Let the carmakers go under. In the same way we have subsidized Big Oil by destabilizing the governments of petroleum rich countries, or outright invading them, we have subsidized Detroit long enough. Just as every barrel of oil is undervalued because we do not factor in that portion of the defense budget that helped bring that oil to market, so we have undervalued our government's, and therefore our, complicity in producing cars that not only were inferior, but drove Detroit itself right off a cliff.

"From the ashes of such great innovation, hard work, beautiful design and extraordinary branding-as-myth-making, let's have better cars.

"From the ashes of arrogance, greed and corporate cowardice, let's have better cars.

"Until then, pull the plug."

Oh, I could talk about Baldwin's tired left-wing cliche that the "problems" with the American industry falls on the shoulders of those greedy corporate leaders. And I could dissect his absurd contrivance to work in the Iraq war as being a ploy to destabilize the area for the sake of big oil (because we all know how stable the area was with Saddam running amok, what with his invasions of Iran and Kuwait, gassing of the Kurds and firing missiles into Saudi Arabia and Israel). But what annoys me today about Alec's drunken rant (at least I hope he has alcohol to blame for this nonsense) is his unstudied belief that the Japanese are making superior cars to what rolls out of Detroit today.

Rather than actually look at what Detroit is producing, the Democrats and their lackeys continue to beat the drum of their own calculated world view that the Americans cannot compete with Japanese technology. And their ignorance is perpetuated in the current anti-American TV media. Readers note: I did not say that the TV media lacks patriotism, but I have no choice but to call someone anti-American when they persist in claiming that a foreign product is superior to and American version despite evidence to the contrary. Well, come to think of it, I did have a choice. I could refer to them as "jackholes."

Unlike Baldwin, actual industry experts have compared his precious Prius to an American entry into the hybrid arena, the Ford Fusion. The verdict: the Ford Fusion is the preferred car. According to USA Today: "The Ford is much more pleasurable to drive." U.S. News and World Reports says, "OK, let's just get it out there: The 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid is the best gasoline-electric hybrid yet." And these publications aren't even looking at the fact that the Fusion scored a 5-star crash test rating while the Prius crash testers were seeing stars of another kind. And Fusion offers Sync, the most sophisticated in-car communications and entertainment system available in the automotive world.

But none of this matters to the likes Alec Baldwin. Now I'm asking myself why he matters at all. I guess it's his charm.

Business 101, By Barack Obama

As Bill Clinton once taught our children that oral sex isn't really sex, thus redefining "1st base" for a new generation, Barack Obama has decided to redefine business strategies for all future would be CEOs. The president's model: the American auto industry.

According to the president, if an industry is in trouble simply follow these steps and before you know it . . .

1. Make sure the industry is already functioning under a number of Federally mandated restrictions so they will be continually retooling rather than following what the market demands.


2. Give the companies bailout money right before they claim bankruptcy. Oh, and make sure there are lots of strings attached to the money so you can seize control when you get the chance.


3. Remove some scapegoat leaders and replace them with your own people to ensure you spread Washington style efficiency and fiscal responsibility to the industry.


4. Make sure the new people you have placed in positions of power have absolutely no previous experience in that particular industry.


5. Grease the wheels so your people quickly drive the business into bankruptcy. Speed is always of the essence.


6. Make sure a couple thousand small businesses (like, say, franchised dealerships) are forced to shut down over the course of a few short weeks just to shake things up and grow those fun-filled unemployment lines.


7. Then, just when they think things couldn't get worse . . . slap them with a bunch of new regulations to ensure they stagger about for a few more years, absorbing massive costs that can be passed on to future customers
   

The approach is inspired genius.

Hey, speaking of those new auto regulations: I know Obama is trying to ride the global warming fear wagon on this one, but doesn't he realize that volcanic eruptions create more "greenhouse gases" than automobiles? When is he going to step up and slap some regs on nature and its selfishly nasty polluting ways? Oh wait . .

.

The Secret To Happiness

Yet another poll provides the true secret to happiness: Become a Republican.

Four unbroken decades of "the partisan happiness gap" sure says something about the inherit joy of gun toting, tax paying, Bible reading, bootstrap pulling, clear thinking, handout scoffing self reliance

Notre Dame Honors Wrong Messiah

Notre Dame is honoring "The Messiah," but not the one who raised the dead. Instead they chose to drop an honorary degree on the guy who raised the debt. In fact, if you look closely at "Touchdown Jesus" he now seems to be saying, "WTF?"

I honestly don't think Jesus is miffed because Notre Dame has invited Barack Obama to speak at their commencement ceremony. The University is one of the country's finest institutions and has a long history of prestigious commencement speakers, including several U.S. Presidents. What I expect riled the Lord and Savior is the fact that Notre Dame chose to give an honorary degree to this man who stands against one of the most important and fundamental teachings of the Catholic faith: the sanctity of life validated through their abhorrence of abortion.

Describing Obama as "pro-choice" is like describing Hitler as "pro-cleansing." If ever there were a leader who casts aside the pro-choice mantle to embrace a pro-abortion agenda, it's Barack Hussein Obama. Not only did he sign an executive order to fund foreign abortions while the U.S. economy sinks further into debt, but as an Illinois legislator he argued against medical assistance to infants who survived abortions. The NRLC rates him 0%. It's one thing to be pro-choice, but this guy is a radical abortion supporter.

And this is the man a Catholic institution decides to honor with a degree from their school? Who's next. Will Notre Dame roll a scroll to Noam Chomsky?

Pelosi Lied And Terrorists Weren't Dry

The Speaker of the House barely flinches when she accuses the CIA, an organization with the primary purpose of protecting Americans, of being a bunch of lying liars. Of course, given all the injections I'm not entirely sure that Nancy Pelosi is physically capable of flinching.

Pelosi's accuasations have put CIA Director Leon Panetta in a bit of a quandary. On the one hand, he was appointed by Obama to the position, despite having intelligence experience on par with the President's executive leadership experience, to make sure there was a democratic lap dog ruining . . . er, running the agency. On the other hand, word is that CIA officials don't trust Panetta so he needs to step up and defend them or lose control. Pannetta's response: a midling letter to his underlings that tries to turn down the conversation to avoid embarrassing certain dishonest congressional folk while at the same time subtly pointing out that, well, Pelosi is lying.

"There is a long tradition in Washington of making political hay out of our business. It predates my service with this great institution, and it will be around long after I'm gone. But the political debates about interrogation reached a new decibel level yesterday when the CIA was accused of misleading Congress . . .

My advice -- indeed, my direction -- to you is straightforward: ignore the noise and stay focused on your mission. We have too much work to do to be distracted from our job of protecting this country. We are an agency of high integrity, professionalism, and dedication. Our task is to tell it like it is-even if that's not what people always want to hear. Keep it up. Our national security depends on it . . ."

Penetta explained, "our contemporaneous records from September 2002 indicate that CIA officers briefed truthfully on the interrogation of Abu Zubaydah, describing 'the enhanced techniques that had been employed.' Ultimately, it is up to Congress to evaluate all the evidence and reach its own conclusions about what happened."

All that's left is the release of those "contemporaneous records." And since the President already violated national security by releasing the initial documents, there should be no argument concerning the release of these supplemental memos. Let's find out who knew what and sort out the liars from those who've had the courage to stand by what they believe was right.

Follow The Bouncing Pelosi

Looks like the Republicans have caught the Democrats in their own tangled web.

When Obama decided to release those top secret documents concerning interrogation of terrorists his intent was as obvious as a Hannah Montana punchline: he ran for president against George Bush and he wanted to keep his bogus train running. Don't ask him why he's doing nothing about the fact that Iran is creeping closer to nukes or that North Korea is missile testing again . . . he wants you to think about George Bush and dampened devils.

But this time it's backfiring. The Republicans are not lying down and taking Obama's radical release of confidential national security memos. They're standing up to say, "You wanna release those, baby? Well, you've already compromised national security so let's release them all." Total, what's the word, transparency.

Nancy Pelosi claimed she knew nothing about waterboarding, then the CIA dropped memos demonstrating that she and other Democratic leaders had been briefed. Now the botoxed one claims that she never actually realised that there was going to be real honest-to-goodness wetting of bad guys.

Really? Let's see how deep the deception goes. As Glenn Beck suggests, let's get the minutes of those briefings and examine every word that was said. The truth is out there, Nancy.





UPDATE: Here's a nice little article in The Washington Times that may help you to follow the Bouncing Pelosi: CURL: The Speaker misspeaks

Obama's Flawed Auto Logic

Manny Lopez of The Detroit News has written a wonderful editorial that succintly shines a light on Washington's latest antics concerning the auto industry.

Lopez begins:

President Barack Obama insists he doesn't want to run the domestic auto industry -- and we should all be thankful for that.

But his actions speak differently -- and we should all be worried.

"... I rejected the original restructuring plan" that Chrysler LLC submitted for government loans, he said April 30 in announcing his decision to force Chrysler into bankruptcy. "... And the standard I set was high -- I challenged them to design a plan ..."

That's a lot of self promotion and involvement from a guy who doesn't want to control the companies.

The article then goes on to expose how hedge funds were vilified, the ignorance concerning the industry in Washington, and the agenda of those involved.

If you want a quick, easy and accurate assessment of the situation than Manny comes through (and he does it without steroid enhancement like his Californian namesake).

This is a must read:

Obama's flawed auto logic

Oklahoma Is OK With HCR 1028

In fact, Oklahoma may just be the anti-Minnesota (which is to say, not inhabited by under-rock dwellers). Just 10 days ago Democratic Governor Brad Henry vetoed "House Joint Resolution 1003," a bill passed by the state legislation that criticised the Obama administration for violating states rights and the 10th Amendment of the Constitution. But these folk aren't Minnesotans, rather than crumble with the veto and put their faith in a professional wrestler or rape joke foisting "comedian," they decided to find another way to wrangle the feds.

Enter HCR 1028

According to the resolution's author, Rep. Charles Key, R-Oklahoma City:

"We’re going to get it done one way or the other. I think our governor is out of step.” Key said HCR 1028, which, if passed, would be sent to Democratic President Barack Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress, would not jeopardize federal funds but would tell Congress to "get back into their proper constitutional role.” The resolution states the federal government should "cease and desist” mandates that are beyond the scope of its powers. Key said many federal laws violate the 10th Amendment, which says powers not delegated to the U.S. government "are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.” The Constitution lists about 20 duties required of the U.S. government, he
said.

Oh, no he didn't! Tell me that Key did not just use the C-word in front of Obama?

I would give one word of caution to Rep. Keys: while this resolution should not jeopardize federal funds, I wouldn't put anything past this administration. Barack Obama is proving that he is not the brightest guy in the world, but when it comes to vindictive attacks on those who oppose him, this guy is honor roll material.

Congratulations, Mayor Bing

Michigan is in economic turmoil and Detroit's leadership has never been needed more.

Khaki prayers tonight for wisdom and guidance.

Congratulations, Mayor Bing.

And to former mayor Mayor Kenneth Cockrel Jr.:
Thank you for taking on the difficult task of transitioning a post-Kwame disaster. And thank you in advance for taking your sane approach back to the city council where you can psych-smack that psycho Monica Conyers.

Chrysler's Woes And The Fed Solution

I just don't feel the bubbly tingles over this Fiat / Chrysler deal that President Obama was so happy to shove through a 30-day window. It was only four years ago the Fiat was on the verge of their own financial collapse, and while they have forged some stability they still have virtually no cash and a vehicle lineup that includes, what, one platform and two engines. We're not exactly talking Mercedes here and we know how that "merger" ended up (a Euro rape and pillage expedition through the Chrysler vaults).

No only that, this whole deal reeks of politics -- the ever-putrid odor of cash passing hands covered with bullsh . . . can you smell what the Prez is cooking? The administration turned over 55% of the company to their UAW backers, then asked the banks to take a loss, which the banks seemed happy to do as the proud new recipients of government tarp funds complete with federal yokes. In fact, the only people who cried foul were those pesky hedge fund sources. That's right, those people Obama vilified because after they went out to find investors to carry Chrysler's debt they didn't want to accept Obama's offer of 20 cents on the dollar and facing their own bankruptcy.

As reported by the The Detroit News:

Those objecting creditors hold 10 percent of Chrysler's $6.9 billion in secured debt. The other debtors, led by four major banks, have agreed to swap the debt for $2 billion in cash.

"The proposed sale is structured to achieve political, not economic, goals," wrote Gerald Uzzi, a lawyer for the dissident creditors. Chrysler "would require bids (amounting in the billions of dollars) to be made without the protection of any due diligence, financing contingencies, or other bid protections."

Chrysler also would "require bidders to agree to certain collective bargaining agreements, without any showing that such agreements benefit the estates or are critical to maximizing value for the estates."

They label the auction "an illegal sale" and say provisions such as requiring a 10 percent good faith cash deposit are onerous and designed to ensure that only the government can win the auction.

What's that? The government may be "fixing" the bids? This whole fiat deal may have political skulduggery behind it? You betcha. The last time any government spent money sans political motive was . . . um . . . well, . . .

Cinco de Cuatro?

Barack Obama met with Mexico's Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan in the East Room of the White House today to celebrate Cinco de Mayo a day early, or as the President called it, "Cinco de Cuatro." Whoa, wait a minute. I'm not Ricky Ricardo, but doesn't that mean something like "the 5th of the 4th"? Just imagine if the Ambassador of Pig Latina was there a couple of days ago and he had to work his way through "ay may ay day."

More Charges Filed Against ACORN

Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto and Secretary of State Ross Miller announced Monday that voter registration fraud charges have been filed against [ACORN]. The complaint includes 26 counts of voter fraud and 13 counts for
compensating those registering voters, both felonies.

The Las Vegas Sun

How refreshing that this is the group Barack Obama has tagged to help administer the 2010 U.S. Census. Now all we're lacking is a tax cheat in charge of the IRS and an Attorney General who confuses military vets with terrorists . . . damn it, Obama beat me to the punchline again.

Biden Speaks Publicly Again: Promotes Panic

Joe Biden is on the road again and every time he's answers a question on camera I'm amazed that this guy is the VP from a party that claimed to be afraid of having Sarah Palin one step away from the White House.

In his latest misadventure, Biden was asked on NBC's Today Show about travel to Mexico with all this talk about H1N1 and answered,

"I would tell members of my family -- and I have -- I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places now. It's not that it's going to Mexico in a confined aircraft where one person sneezes, that goes all the way through the aircraft."

Way to provide calm leadership in a time of concern, Joe. The fact is that according to the Center For Disease Control 30,000 - 40,000 people die from the regular flu every year. Given that and the so-called "Swine Flu's" current statistics, we are far from pandemic proportions (though it has provided the Egyptians a wonderful excuse to kill all the pigs being raised by those pesky pork-loving Christians in their country). While we should all be vigilant, we should not be in panic mode.

But this is not the first time the current administration has provoke hysteria. After all, how much do you think our country's consumer confidence has been crippled by President Obama's consistent deception that we are in the worst economy since the great depression?

Michelle's Ruby Slippers

Like all Americans engaged in volunteer work, Michelle Obama laced up her favorite go to work shoes for a recent volunteer photo op. Unlike most Americans, Michelle Obama's slips on $540 French sneakers when she's gettin' busy for charity. This has me wondering if Chrysler could have been saved by an Obama yard sale.

To be honest I'm not bothered by the first lady's choice in Freedom footware. It's her money, she can spend it as she pleases. The real story here is the hypocricy and double standard practiced by the left. As Michelle Malkin muses:

Obama's supporters at the liberal Huffington Post website devoted an entire slideshow to John McCain's $520 Ferragamo loafers. CNN piled on with a feature on McCain's "well-heeled campaign." The "report" contrasted McCain's Italian footwear with Obama's "average guy" shoes.

Will they show the same indignation toward the first lady?

NewsBusted: Interrogation, Newspaper Bailouts . . .

. . . Ah yes . . .

Gov. Jennifer Granholm To The Supreme Court?

It appears as though Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm is on Barack Obama's short bus of supreme court justice candidates to succeed the retiring David Souter. Now I understand that he has decided that he will not replace Souter with a white male, but I didn't know that being a business-busting governor was also a resume plus.

Jennifer Granholm decimated the Michigan economy before decimated economies were in style, so why not let her have a go at the Constitution?