Newt's Smackdown of John King: Calculated?; Santorum is the Only Genuine Conservative; Obama's Likeability Tanking; The Fate of the Last Haditha Marine; New Tuskeegee Airmen Movie; Republicans Beat Out Jersey Shore; Film Exploits 9/11 To Many

President Obama was in Disney World yesterday...He was joined by Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse but not Goofy. He had to stay behind to tend to his vice presidential duties.---Leno

• I purposely waited to write anything about Newt's smackdown of CNN's John King in the debate last night for a reason. I wanted to listen to what many of the pundits had to say today (I normally don't listen to most because I prefer my opinions to be my own).  I was surprised that all of them fell for this calculated smackdown by Gingrich. Let me say this first. Anytime anyone can take the bias media to task, I find it refreshing. Newt does it better than most (certainly better than Romney). But folks, Newt knew the question was coming (perhaps not as the first question, but he knew). He was ready for it. He had been asked the same question on the Today Show and PBS earlier in the day and didn't react the way he did at the debate. The fact is John King did Newt a favor. If you don't believe me just look at the current polling. In many polls, Newt is now a point or two AHEAD of Romney. He was as much as 13-15 points behind just a week ago. Gallup reported today that Romney's lead is "collapsing." The fact is Newt's response to that question benefited him and CNN and completely overshadowed ABC's interview with Newt's ex-wife. Whats-her-name?
• Breaking News: Walker, Texas Ranger, Chuck Norris, endorsed Newt. In 2008, he supported Huckabee.
• In terms of the conspicuous bias in the media toward Republicans and conservatives, does anyone really believe that John King  would have asked Bill Clinton about the state of his marriage at a debate? I think honest observers know what the answer is to that question. In fact, if you recall, Bubba's team slammed all of the women as nuts and sluts. And not even feminist organizations came to the defense of Paula Jones, Juanita Broaddrick and several others. There was that 60 Minutes interview of Bubba and Hillary with 60 Minutes tossing both softballs. (In fact, the reason Drudge came into prominence was his breaking of the Monica story. The lame-stream media at the time did not want to touch it including Elenore Glift of Newsweek even though she found nothing distateful about ABC airing Newt's ex-wife's story this week.). A timely political cartoon that appeared in the NY Post today shows Bill Clinton in bed with a woman whose face is blocked by a book she's reading.  He has the TV on and the bubble over his head reads: "How can anyone trust Gingrich to be president if his own wife can't even trust him." And the woman responds, "What does Hillary think about him?"
• News Break for the Occupy Crowd:  Newt's taxes were released. He paid almost $1 million in taxes on $3.1 million in income. He gave gave charity about $80 grand and some change. As reported earlier this week on this blog, Romney's given over $5 million to his church in the last 5 years.
• I have a question that's been pestering me for weeks now. If Republicans are looking for the "true" conservative, why is Santorum not doing better? Of all the candidates running now, only Santorum has real conservative credentials.
• I've written on several occasions that the Iowa Caucus was way overrated. I also wrote that the battle will begin in South Carolina. It now appears I was right on both counts. But I didn't realize how right I was about Iowa. Not only was the caucus overrated, but now it was reported they can't even count. It now appears Santorum took that caucus not Romney.

• It's been no secret that Pres. Obama's poll numbers have not been good (and the positive numbers he's receiving comes largely from Democrats). But something changed in recent weeks. We've always heard that his job performance numbers were low, but, hey, most Americans still like him. Well, if the current NY Times/CBS Polls are accurate, even that has changed and not for the better. His favorability among all voters is at a pathetic 38%. But among swing voters and independents it's 31%. And regarding his job performance, this poll shows only 37% of swing voters think he's doing a good job. The poll also found that more than five in ten independent voters do not have a clear idea of what the president wants to accomplish during a second term of presidency. Why should that be surprise? He hasn't known what to do for the last 3 years. Why would anyone expect him to know what he plans on doing if he's re-elected. The fact is most presidents who had second terms had horrible second terms. Nixon had Watergate. Reagan had the issue with the Contras. Clinton had Monicagate. Bush 2 had to deal with the economy tanking at the end of his second term. Second terms have not been good for many presidents.
• More facts for the misfits in the Occupy movement. The IRS reported that the 1.4 million households that make up the 1% (those making about $350 grand a year) payed 37% of the country's income tax. And the top 1% contributed about 30% of all charitable donations.
• Romney is being pressured to release his taxes. Did you know that Hillary did not release her taxes until April of 2008? Obama did not release his returns until late March of that year. And those returns (covering years 2000-2006) showed the Obama gave very little to charity. In fact, they gave less than 1% of their income (for that period their combined income ranges from about $240 grand to $1.7 million).  For the same period, the Clintons gave over $10 million to charity on a joint income of $109 million. They paid almost $34 million in taxes. (Sources: CNN and TaxProf).

Philadelphia: As Deadly As Iraq? Would Benjamin Franklin Vote for Obama?; Obama's Oil Pipeline Decision; John Kerry, A Friggin Cheapskate Too; Slo Joe Biden Puts His Foot in His Mouth Yet Again; O.J.'s House in Foreclosure; U2, Taylor Swift, Chesney, Lady Ga Ga and Bon Jovi Made Millions

President Obama is going to Disney World where he will unveil his new plan to create jobs. And what better place for the president to talk about his jobs plan than Fantasy Land?---Leno

• Initially, one might find it absurd to ask the question: Is Philadelphia as deadly as Iraq? The fact is: it has been. Yesterday I reported on a murder that took place less than one block from Independence Hall. This morning's Philadelphia Inquirer had a very disturbing piece on homicides in Philadelphia.  From March 21, 2003 to Dec. 15, 2011, there were 3,517 Americans killed in combat in Iraq. During that same period, when you include Camden, NJ, into the data, there were 3,474 homicides in Philadelphia (361 in Camden). As the Philadelphia Inquirer reported, young black males, although only 4% of the population of the city, made up almost half of the homicide victims in 2011. Whites, in the same age range, made up 3.8% of the homicides and Asians 0.3%. (People do not account for Hispanic origin when determining a victim's race, according to this Inquirer report). Benjamin might be rolling over in his grave right now (which is located about 3 blocks from Independence Hall right behind the Holiday Inn. Yes, I know the city like the back of my hand).  On the other hand, Ben would be proud of Chicago, they just reported no murders in a 24-hour period---the first time in a year.
• Speaking of Benjamin Franklin, he's often co-opted by progressives. But I heard something today on the radio that moved me to challenge that assumption. This is what he wrote in 1766: "I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. In my youth I travelled much, and I observed ...that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and, of course, became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer...Are our poor modest, humble, and thankful; and do they use their best endeavors to maintain themselves, and lighten our shoulders of this burden? On the contrary, I affirm that there is no country in the world which the poor are more idle, dissolute, drunken and insolent." (On The Price of Corn and Management of the Poor).  After having read this, I doubt Benny, if alive today, would vote for a liberal.
• One would have to wonder if Franklin would have approved of Pres. Obama's decision to killing the Keystone XL pipeline. But I'd have to defer---not to the Republicans on why the decision was "crude"---but  to the media. USA Today's editorial was actually critical of the president's decision. In their editorial, "Obama's Pipeline Decision Set Back Energy Security," I believe their correctly point out it was wrong and purely political. In fact, they took an even harsher posture than I would have ever expected when they wrote, "...(it) exemplifies the continuing fecklessness of U.S. energy policy." They go on to show that election-year politics trumps sound policy.  They also pointed out that the criticism by many critics (most environmentalists) of the pipeline going through Nebraska is bogus. Nebraska already has some 2,000 pipelines crisscrossing the state. In addition, the administration had over 3 years to look at alternative routes. The editors also slammed the Republicans for refusing to allow more time for a full review (but they contradict themselves later when they pointed out it's been under review for 3 years already) Of course, unions are not too happy considering the president just wiped out the potential of creating many thousands of jobs (some projections were up to 20,000).
• Trivia Break: fuel prices at the pump doubled since Obama took office.
• The media, especially the hypocrites like Chris Mathews, were taking Romney to task for the money he's made in speaking fees. Romney himself admitted he made just under $400k. But none of these bozos ever mentioned Bill Clinton's enormous take in speaking fees. He has to be close to $80 million since he left office because in 2009, CNN reported he had already made $65 million. I didn't hear Chris Mathews or the Huffington Post.
• In addition, the Left---including some Republicans---took Romney to task (and will continue) for paying an average income tax rate of 15% (all legal on investment income). But, guess who else they failed to mention?  None other that that fake, phony and back-stabbing fraud, John F. Kerry. In the 2004 election, it was revealed that Kerry---one of the richest politicians in America---paid an average income tax rate of 12%. Gee, how come this lowly blogger---moi---can find this out and the big boys and girls in the media can't or won't? (Source: Fair Tax.org)
• Moreover, Romney's charitable giving puts the others to shame (he gave over 4 mil to his Church in just the last 5 years).  As reported here yesterday, Slo Joe's giving amounted to about $360 a year for 10 years. And what about John F. Kerry?  In 1995, he gave zero, zilch, nothing, nada to charity (but he did spend about $500k on a Dutch painting that year). In fact, according to The Florida Times Union, this fake, phony and back-stabbing fraud, never gave more than $2,100 to charity throughout the 1990's even though his combined income with his wife was in the $760 million range. In the 2004 campaign, after the media discovered he was a friggin cheapskate, he gave a whopping $43,000 and change to charity.
• Anyone reading my blog knows, I'm no big fan of Newt. But ABC News airing an interview with his ex-wife is beyond the pale for journalism. From all early reports, she plans on trashing Newt. But for how many years did we hear from the media: it's his or her personal life and it's out-of-bounds. Well, it's only out-of-bounds when it comes to Democrats and liberals, not conservatives or Republicans.

The Democrat Strategy Is Taking Shape; Occupy Wall Streeters Spending Like The Obama Administration; New OMB Director Has Bain Roots; And Who Really Is The Most Charitable?; If We're Not Safe Here, Where Are We Safe?

Headline in the "People" section of The Onion this week: "Study Finds Hearing Loved One's Voice Induces Excruciating Pain In Coma Patients."

• It appears the democrat strategy for the 2012 campaign is starting to take shape, and all with the help of Republicans. Don't be surprised when the class warfare card will be raised throughout the campaign. We will hear a lot about "inequality." And do not be surprised if the Obama administration and the DNC use the misfits from the Occupy movement---like the one pictured above--- to try to get this message across. They did last year when the movement began; they will use Occupy as surrogates as soon as spring sets in. Quite frankly, I hope they do.
• Speaking of the Occupy knuckleheads, they had a demonstration on the West Lawn of the Capitol yesterday. AP reported they got a permit anticipating a crowd of about 10,000. According to most reports, a few hundred showed up. More people use the escalator at Penn Station in less than 1 minute that showed up for this demonstration.
• And if Occupy Wall Street is as good with their money as they are with demonstrating, they are in a world of sh!t. The Wall Street Journal reported OWS raised about $700k and they only have about $170k left. A rep from OWS said, "If we keep spending at the rate at which we have been doing, we will probably go broke in a month." It looks like they are taking orders from the Obama administration.
• Throughout the last two weeks, Romney's been hammered from the Right and the Left  because of his former association with Bain and Company, a venture capitalist firm (or as Newt said, "Vulture" capitalist firm). But guess what happened this week? Pres. Obama himself appointed Jeff Zients as the acting director of OMB (The Office of Management and Budget). What's the big deal about Zients?  He, like Romney, also worked for Bain. If I've said this once, I'll say it again: all of these politicians are pulling the wool over our eyes. They play chess; we play checkers. They are so far ahead of the pundits and the regular guy on the street with  what they plan on doing We have no idea.
• And while we're on Romney, he's being pressured to release his tax returns (he's under no obligation to do so). Even he admitted, he paid only a 15% tax rate (that's because his income is largely from investments. It's all legal. All above board). But I also want him to release his tax forms. Because like ABC News found out, Romney has given millions to the Mormon Church (I believe Mormons are required to tithe at least 10% to the Church). Romney, according to the news report, gave the Church about $4 million in the last 5 years. By the way, Al Gore, in 1997, gave a whopping $353 to charity (CNN). His income that year was about $200k. And during the 2008 campaign, USA Today reported that Slo Joe Biden gave a whopping $369 to charity on average during the previous 10 years. And how can we forget when the Clinton's tax return showed he donated his underwear to charity. I believe he received a $2 credit for his skivvies.

Reagan Is Watching; Numbers Not Good For Obama; The Yo-Yo's in the Press; If You Like What You See, Then Vote for Obama; How Obama Can Win; The Media Exploiting Our Troops Again; New Cruise Ship Motto: Women & Chldren Last!; What Would You Do For McNuggets?

You've probably heard by now that  cash-strapped Detroit is ending 24-hour police station access. Yes, Detroit police stations will be closed to the public for 16 hours each day. How did The Onion report on this news? They gave the city some suggestions on how they can save even more money. They recommended changing 911 secretly to 912 to lighten the call load for dispatchers. They also recommended the city leave its trash outside Cleveland for pickup. And they suggested that the 11 remaining functioning streetlights on the east side be replaced with fluorescent bulbs.

• I have a tip for the Republican candidates. I've heard from very reliable sources that Ronald Reagan is watching this campaign closely from the  big Oval Office in the sky. Right now, those same sources have told me he's not that impressed. He wants me to remind you what he said of Jimmy Carter when he was running against him. "Recession is when your neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours. And recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his. I'd have to say The Gipper's message is very clear.
• We've been hearing many reports about the poll numbers for the Republican candidates, but reporting on Pres. Obama's numbers have not been widely reported (the Left leaning media uses these tactics to redirect the bad news about their candidate to something else). There's a reason for that: right now, at this point in the campaign, his numbers are not good. According to Gallup, Obama is tracking at 44%. Most presidents do not get re-elected with lower numbers than 50%. But the year is young. Bill Clinton's numbers were lower than Obama's at this time of the year. And Bubba still beat the odds.
• Little piece of political trivia. Did you know Mitt Romney's father, George, stormed out of the 1964 Republican Convention in protest of their foot-dragging on civil rights? But did you know that Al Gore's father, a democrat, voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964? Oh, my, such an inconvenient truth, isn't it?
• If critics of Pres. Obama want any idea how the media feels about them, they just have to look at the cover of Newsweek this week. Obama is on it (yet again---how many covers is that now?) with the caption, "Why Are Obama Critics So Dumb.?" These yo-yo's in the press actually believe a majority of Americans like high employment? Then they should vote for Obama. Do they believe the incompetence of the Justice Department under Eric Holder should continue? Then vote for Obama. Do they believe Americans will forget about all the apologies including the most recent to the Taliban (re: the Marine incident)? Then vote for Obama. Do they believe they will forget ObamaCare and its disastrous impact on health care costs? Then they should vote for Obama. (including giving waivers from ObamaCare to his biggest fundraisers,---public unions?). Do they believe Americans will forget he and Eric Holder sided with Mexico over Arizona's illegal immigration laws? Then they should vote for Obama.  Do they believe big and small business trust this administration? Then vote for Obama. Do they think Americans like the fact that almost 50 million in America on food stamps is good? Then vote for Obama. Do African-Americans think that the official unemployment rate of 16% among that demographic is good (with it approaching almost 50% among black young people) is good. Then vote for Obama, Do they think Americans will forget that fuel was under $2.00 a gallon when he took office and is now approaching $4.00 a gallon? Then vote for Obama.  Do they believe Americans think this president united the country or divided the country with all of the focus on class warfare and race? Then vote for Obama.  Do they believe most Americans think the "Change" he wrought in the last 3 years is good for America? Then they should vote for Obama.

West And Perry Get It Right About Marines; We Actually Apologized To Our Enemy; Carter Embarrasses Himself Again; Occupy Wall Street's Home Invasion; How Does The Obama Administration Celebrate MLK Today?

"The Globes are what Kim Kardashian is to Kate Midddleton: trashier, louder, drunker and can be bought."---Ricky Gervais at the Golden Globe Awards last night. By the way, what other profession in the world gives itself so many awards anyway for some really lousy work?

• Rep. Allen West and Gov. Rick Perry were on target regarding the criticism of the Marines urinating on dead Taliban murdering thugs. West: "..."I do not recall any self righteous indignation when our Delta snipers Shugart and Gordon had their bodies dragged through Mogadishu...All these over-emotional pundits and armchair quarterbacks need to chill. Does anyone remember the two soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division who were beheaded and gutted in Iraq...The Marines were wrong. Give them punishment under field-grade level Article 15 (non-judicial punishment). Place a General Officer level letter of reprimand in the personnel file...As for everyone else, unless you've been shot at by the Taliban, shut your mouth. War is hell."
• Gov. Perry on the same topic: "What was really disturbing to me is just kind of over-the-top rhetoric from this administration and their disdain for the military," he said of the Pentagon's threat to prosecute the suspected Marines.
• Rep. Allen West is a veteran. He served in the U.S. Army for 22 years and retired as a Lt. Colonel. Gov. Perry is also a veteran. He served as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force for five years. He left the Air Force as a Captain.
• To add insult to injury, Hillary Clinton and others in our government actually apologized for the actions of our Marines. In other words, they apologized to our enemy.  As one commentator said recently, maybe the Left is worried the Taliban won't like us anymore. You can't make this stuff up.
• Jimmy Carter managed to embarrass himself again. As I listened to NPR, I believe (Yes, I do listen to NPR on occasion. Some of their reports are actually good especially world affairs),  Carter actually said he does not have a problem with Islamists taking over Egypt. This should not surprise anyone. This is the same man who regularly bashes Israel and hugged Hamas terrorists.
• Political satirist, Frank Fleming wrote of the hits Romney is taking for his association with Bain Capital, a private equity firm: "If we allowed Romney to bring his business sense to office, it would be horrific. He's start slashing the government until it was lean and efficient...what a cold and heartless way to look at government."
• When Newt hammered Romney for his ties to Bain Capital he said, "Those of us who believe in free markets...would find it pretty hard to justify rich people figuring out clever legal ways to look a company leaving behind 1,700 people without a job. Rudy Giuliani replied, "What the hell are you doing Newt? I expect this from Saul Alinky." By the way, even USA Today had to admit Romney was "no vulture" in their editorial today. They point out that critics like Newt fail to point out that Romney saved Staples thereby saving 2,000 store locations and almost 90,000 employees. And how much money did private equity firms invest in American companies in 2010? How does $150 billion sound?
• I think Peggy Noonan said it best when it comes to Romney. She wrote, "People don't embrace Romney, they circle back to him.

Martin Luther King, Jr: Would He Be Proud of America Today?

I usually start my blog with some joke or some humor. I'm also not going to start with any of Dr. King's quotes. There are many, but everyone is doing that today. It's a lazy way in my opinion to begin a piece on a great man and a great American. Instead I want to ask a simple question. It's this: Would Martin Luther King, Jr. be proud of America today?

I'm asking this question because as I listen to the media and read the newspapers on this important day, most still focus on what is wrong with America since his assassination in 1968. I contend he would be proud as well as disappointed if he were alive today.

He would certainly be proud that America elected a Black president. In fact, if Pres. Obama had only received the Black vote, he would have lost in a landslide. He won, because he won a majority of the white vote. During Dr. King's lifetime the outpouring of support for a black political candidate (and there were conspicuous by their absence) by white voters would have been unheard of.

He would be proud that many African-Americans have done so well in realizing the American Dream he himself put forth with better paying jobs, integrated schools, more opportunities in higher education and achieving the American Dream of home ownership. In fact many of the richest people on earth today are Black as evidenced by many in the entertainment and sports industry, politics and the business community. With few exceptions, that too was unheard of during his lifetime. How surprised do you think Dr. King would be if he knew the richest woman on the planet was black?

And, yes, he would also be disappointed and saddened. He wouldn't be happy with the state of many of the public schools in America where many children are underachieving and surrounded daily by violence and mayhem. He would certainly be disappointed with the high rate of unemployment in the black community largely due to the current state of the economy (although black unemployment has historically always been higher than that of the white population). He would most certainly be disappointed at the high rates of black on black crime in most of America's urban areas, especially murder. I'm also certain the breakdown of the black family would shock Dr. King.  And as Allen West himself said recently, "If Dr. King were to come back and see what has become of the black community, he would be appalled..." (West cites some of the very things I've cited above).

Yes, I believe Dr. King would be more proud of America than the America he experienced during his lifetime. He would also be disappointed. But I don't believe he would be disappointed as much with America as he would be with the lack of sincere and committed leaders in the black community of today. The current leadership, in my opinion, are just a bunch of whiners, complainers and enablers. I am certain Dr. King would not have tolerated many of these fake, phonies and frauds. He said himself, "A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus." When you read much of his writings, King himself wrote a lot about self-reliance in addition to tolerance, civil rights and the lack of opportunities for black Americans at the time.

Returning to my question: Would Dr. King be proud of America today? Absolutely he would. But he'd also remind all of us, including the black community, we still have to do more. And it's not because America is a bad place. In fact, it's just the opposite. Unlike most other countries in the world, America faces its problems head on and tries to solve them. We most also keep a very important fact in mind: No country on earth---in history---has made greater strides in human dignity than America has---not one. And that, I'm sure, would put a smile on Dr. King's face.

Allow me to leave you with one of my favorite Dr. King's quotes: "Never succomb to the temptation of bitterness."