The Hollywood Liberal

View: No-Tax Stand Unsupported by Facts
Bloomberg: You would think that abysmal growth and jobs data, the first-ever downgrade of U.S. debt and heart-stopping gyrations in the financial markets would impel political leaders to at least take a second look at some of their assumptions about restoring confidence in the U.S. economy. Sadly, you would be mistaken. President Barack Obama called again this week for a deficit-reduction plan that includes both new revenue and spending cuts, a solution that he said would require “common sense and compromise.” Alas, we have seen little of either quality from Speaker John Boehner and the House majority leader, Eric Cantor. The Republican leaders reiterated their determination to oppose any solution to the U.S. fiscal mess that involves revenue increases.

Late Late Night FDL: Swan Lake
The Chinese State Circus — Swan Lake.

The Chinese State Circus — Swan Lake.

What’s on your mind?

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Must lack mirrors in his house
American still demands not to care about Reince Priebus — your vowel orders may differ.

Reince Priebus, the blander than bland head of the RNC occasionally comes out with some belligerent talking point in lieu of a personality. It’s like he thinks he’s head of the DNC.

In the wake of Democrats taking two of the six available Republican senate seats in Wisconsin Priebus played his predictable part as to the election verdict being anti-Democrat:

“We Need To Have A Country Of Makers, And Not A Country Of Takers.”

Which is rather humorous since Reince has been on the Republican Party dole his whole life except for a limited time in charge of grabbing as much stimulus money as his law firm’s clients could engorge. The humor, of course, is unintentional as this is Reince Priebus we’re talking about. The man knows takers, he lives inside the skin of one.

And Priebus is partly right, the Nation does collectively shrug ambivalently about Democrats, a one-handed clap at best. Of course, it views Republicans like it views “the clap”.

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Wisconsin: Conservatives Win, Liberals Gain
There will be no magic potion, no instant formula for Democrats and progressives struggling to come back from their disastrous 2010 election losses. By E.J. Dionne, Jr.

There will be no magic potion, no instant formula for Democrats and progressives struggling to come back from their disastrous 2010 election losses.

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Right-Wing Fringe Suggests Obama Admin. Caused Deaths Of SEALs In Afghanistan

Right-wing bloggers and radio host Michael Savage have baselessly suggested that the Obama administration, including the president, took actions that caused the deaths of 30 American troops killed when the Taliban shot down their helicopter in Afghanistan on August 6.

Geller: Obama “Ensured A US Sacrifice Of Incalculable Proportion”

Geller: “Why Did The Obama Administration Leak And Name This Seal Team? Was It Payback?” From Pamela Geller’s blog Atlas Shrugs:

Back in May, Defense Secretary Gates said that releasing information about the OBL raid threatened the safety of Navy SEALs and their families, making them targets for terrorists.

Why did the Obama administration leak and name this Seal Team? Was it payback?

Who is taking revenge? The ISI? The Taliban claimed that they downed the helicopter with rocket fire while it was taking part in a raid on a house where insurgents were gathered in the province of Wardak late Friday. Who tipped them off? And who supplied the Taliban with state-of-the-art surface-to-air armaments?

These are the questions that must be asked and answered by the Obama administration. But do not expect the press, whose job it is to do, to do it. They are an activist propaganda machine actively working against the American people. The enemy’s number one arsenal on its war on America. [Atlas Shrugs, 8/7/11]

• Geller Linked To Her Previous Post Suggesting The Military “Overruled” Obama To Kill Bin Laden. [Media Matters, 5/3/11]

Geller: Obama Was “So Obsessed” With “Taking Credit For Something That He Didn’t Have The Stomach For (And Didn’t Want), He Ensured A US Sacrifice Of Incalculable Proportion.” From Atlas Shrugs:

I blame the President.

I believe the loose lips of this reckless, incompetent fraud cost this group of elite Navy Seals their lives. So obsessed was this mental patient with taking credit for something that he didn’t have the stomach for (and didn’t want), he ensured a US sacrifice of incalculable proportion. And I said so here.

The Navy SEALs from the unit that killed Osama bin Laden were among those lost in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. Back in May, Defense Secretary Gates said that releasing information about the OBL raid threatened the safety of Navy SEALs and their families, making them targets for terrorists. [Atlas Shrugs, 8/9/11]

Geller’s Post Included Image Of WWII Poster Showing Dead Soldier. From Atlas Shrugs:

[Atlas Shrugs, 8/9/11]

Savage: “Did Somebody In The Defense Department Tip Off The Taliban That It Was SEAL Team 6 In That Helicopter?”

Savage: “Who Authorized All Of These Seals To Fly Into This Mission In One Helicopter?” From The Savage Nation:

SAVAGE: Now, 30 SEALs died this weekend. The largest number of Navy SEALs to ever die in a single incident. The commander-in-chief is Barack Hussein Obama. The Defense Department chief is a man who ran a small college in Monterey, then they made him the CIA head, and now they made him the Defense Department head. And we have questions to ask as the American people. And here are the questions.

Number one: Who authorized all of these SEALs to fly into this mission in one helicopter? Was it Barack Obama in the middle of the barbeque? Did Leon come up to him over a hot dog and say, “Hey, listen, we’re going into Afghanistan. Can we use three helicopters?” “No, no, no, we’ve got to save money. Cut it down to one, put ’em all in one. Save on gas.” Is that a scenario?

Question number two: I read that it was an Army helicopter pilot flying the SEALs. Very unusual. Very atypical, so far as I know. Why was there not a SEAL pilot on that helicopter? You and I both know the SEALS are the best of the best. Which is not to denigrate Army nor Army Rangers. But the SEALs are a couple of rungs better than everybody. Usually SEALs are flown in by a SEAL team pilot. In this case, there was an Army pilot. Why was there an Army pilot?

As I asked on MichaelSavage.com on the weekend, did somebody in the Defense Department tip off the Taliban that it was SEAL Team 6 in that helicopter? Not exactly the same men who killed Osama bin Laden, but their brothers in arms. Who tipped off the Taliban?

The Taliban are boasting that they have infiltrated the Afghan military. If they’ve infiltrated the Afghan military, it means they’ve infiltrated the U.S. Defense Department. Which means that somebody’s head ought to roll, and it shouldn’t be mine for asking the question.

I want to know why the American people are not marching in the street demanding that either Panetta be fired, or Obama quit. [Talk Radio Network, The Savage Nation, 8/8/11]

Savage Conceded One Of His “Question[s]” Had Been Answered, Played Up Others. From The Savage Nation:

SAVAGE: I accept that the first question of mine has been answered. Why not a SEAL pilot? The answer is because basically it’s always a Ranger or an Army pilot. The next question is who decided to put all of our eggs — all the eggs in one basket? We still don’t have an answer to that question. And number three: Why a Chinook as opposed to a fast-flying attack helicopter?

CALLER: In — for Army aircraft, believe it or not, Chinook is actually the fastest helicopter. The Apache, the Blackhawk, and the Chinook are all the primary means of transportation, an Apache, a gun platform, and it can only handle two pilots. There’s nowhere to carry any people. A Blackhawk —

SAVAGE: So it couldn’t be an Apache. It couldn’t have been any other helicopter but a Chinook?

CALLER: The Chinook’s the fastest helicopter. It’s just a large, troop-carrying — but it has the max power. It’s just a large helicopter. That’s what —

SAVAGE: But the bottom line is, it was shot down. So the thinking was faulty at some point. So given that it’s the only one for the job, why didn’t they use three of them?

CALLER: I can’t answer that question, but I will say that anything is —  you know, can get shot down.

SAVAGE: Does it strike you as odd that they were all members of SEAL Team 6, the very unit that killed Osama bin Laden?

CALLER: Well, you know, what cracks me up is that the media, every time you see anything on any news station, the first thing out of the mouth after they say that unfortunately 22 SEALs got killed, is that this was the same unit that killed Osama bin Laden. And you know, these guys are professionals, and I guarantee you that they — having worked with them and knowing a few of them, that they are very, very close-knit, and that they take their reputation seriously, and they don’t want —

SAVAGE: Wait, again, I’m a layman, so correct me if I’m mistaken, but it was the same SEAL team unit, not the same men —

CALLER: It’s irrelevant. It’s irrelevant —

SAVAGE: Wait, wait, wait. You’re saying it’s irrelevant. Why is it irrelevant?

CALLER: Because they’re going to go do their job no matter where it is, and that’s —

SAVAGE: Well, of course they’re going to do their job. But wouldn’t you think that they’d be a juicier target for the Taliban who wanted vengeance — or revenge, rather?

CALLER: No. Because they don’t know that. There’s no way that they knew that that was —

SAVAGE: Well, now, you’re dead wrong. Even though you’re a former pilot, it doesn’t mean you know everything. The fact of the matter is, the Taliban is boasting that they penetrated the Afghan military and they had inside information. So, I mean, just because you say it doesn’t mean it’s not so. And also, I’m quite concerned, by the way, at the cavalier attitude you’re taking as a former pilot, that this is sort of business as usual.

CALLER: I gotta tell you man, you’ve never — obviously you’re a layman and have never been in — anybody can get shot down at any given time. And —

SAVAGE: Well, I understand that, but when have you seen this many SEALs die in one incident? Ever?

CALLER: Probably World War II.

SAVAGE: OK, but we’re not in World War II. The issue is today. The issue is an incompetent command structure. The issue is an incompetent commander-in-chief. The issue is a Defense Department chairman who hasn’t even said one word about the death of so many members of a SEAL unit. And the American people are asking the question, not so much because it’s a media question, but because common sense dictates asking why were they all in one helicopter. And two, is it simply coincidental that they were members of the same unit that took down Osama bin Laden? Even the Taliban are saying it isn’t coincidental, that they penetrated the Afghan military, they knew they were there. So, therefore, there may be more to this than meets the eye. I’ll be right back. [Talk Radio Network, The Savage Nation, 8/8/11]

Patterico: “Did Biden’s Loose Lips Sink A Team 6 Airship?”

Patterico: “It’s Not Just Comedy Relief To Have Cynical Glory-Seekers And Complete Buffoons At The Highest Levels Of Government.” From a post on Patterico’s Pontifications headlined “Did Biden’s Loose Lips Sink A Team 6 Airship?”:

After Bin Laden was killed, Robert Gates was insistent that nothing be revealed about the unit that accomplished the deed. But one man could not keep his mouth shut: Joe Biden, who credited the SEALs in a speech:

Let me briefly acknowledge tonight’s distinguished honorees.  Admiral James Stavridis is a, is the real deal.  He can tell you more about and understands the incredible, the phenomenal, the just almost unbelievable capacity of his Navy SEALs and what they did last Sunday.

Further irresponsible leaks from the Obama administration revealed the unit involved, causing the unit members to fear for their safety and that of their families:

The Department of Defense is looking into ways to “pump up the security” for the team of Navy SEALs who helped kill Osama bin Laden after the commandos expressed concern for their safety and the safety of their families, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday.

Gates made the comment in response to a question at a town hall meeting at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. A Marine asked what measures were being taken to protect “the identities and the lives” of the SEALs involved in the takedown of bin Laden in Pakistan a week ago, as well as other troops deployed in the region, from the threat of retaliation.

“We are very concerned about the security of our families — of your families and our troops, and also these elite units that are engaged in things like that. And without getting into any details … I would tell you that when I met with the team last Thursday, they expressed a concern about that, and particularly with respect to their families,” Gates told the audience.

“Frankly, a week ago Sunday, in the Situation Room, we all agreed that we would not release any operational details from the effort to take out bin Laden. That all fell apart on Monday, the next day.”

Gates specifically talked about the fear of potential retaliation:

Gates acknowledged the threat of retaliation against Team 6 and troops deployed in the region.

“There is an awareness that the threat of retaliation is increased because of the attacks — because of the action against bin Laden,” he said.

Today, that retaliation may have come to pass, as a Taliban RPG killed at least 20 members of Team 6, in “the single deadliest incident for U.S. soldiers by far” in the Afghanistan war. The members apparently were not part of the group involved in the raid, we are told (why are we told this? Won’t it keep the jihadis hunting?), and there is no way to know whether this was an orchestrated ambush targeting Team 6. But it is an important reminder why it’s not just comedy relief to have cynical glory-seekers and complete buffoons at the highest levels of government. [Patterico’s Pontifications, 8/6/11]

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But Romney had an advantage that Obama sorely wanted but could not get from Congress: tax increases and the closing of tax “loopholes.”

Documents show the Romney administration’s pitch to S&P in late 2004 included the boast that “The Commonwealth acted decisively to address the fiscal crisis” that ensued after the terrorist attacks of 2001. Bulleted PowerPoint slides laid out the actions taken, including legislation in July 2002 to increase tax revenue by $1.1 billion to $1.2 billion in fiscal 2003 and $1.5 billion to $1.6 billion in fiscal 2004; tax “loophole” legislation that added $269 million in “additional recurring revenue,” and tax amnesty legislation that added $174 million. The final bullet: “FY04 budget increased fees to raise $271 million yearly.”

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