This has to be among the best call center comeback phone calls ever…
Too funny for words… We thought it was worth sharing with you considering all the insanity that surrounds us lately.
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If this don’t beat all. Here is an editorial in the Opinionator section of the New York Times from Eric Etheridge who maintains fundamentally that the present Congress leans too far to the Right and is TOO conservative!! Should anyone be surprised considering the source?
The Blue Dogs have been hogging the health care spotlight for the last week. Now they’re having to share with it with the Senate Finance Committee chairman, Max Baucus, and the rest of his small troupe.
The Gang of Six — Baucus and five committee colleagues — got their picture in The Times today, a snappily annotated photograph of a recent meeting. The six senators gather twice daily, according to the accompanying article, in hopes of hammering out a “bipartisan deal” on health care reform.
Though their efforts are ongoing, significant details of of their emerging agreement are now circulating. So far, says Brien Beutler at TPMDC, the gang’s plan seems to be one that the U. S. Chamber of Commerce can support. In a recent letter, the Chamber reminded the negotiators that it opposes any “new government-run insurance plan” as well an “any mandate” on employers to provide insurance to workers or pay a tax. “That’s basically the plan Max Baucus’ Senate Finance Committee is set to propose,” writes Beutler.
The synchronicity between the Chamber and Gang plans should not be surprising, says Ezra Klein at The Washington Post. All you have to do is look at the Gang’s group portrait in The Times.
Look at this picture. Study it. This is who is in the room helping Baucus put together his bill. Olympia Snowe, Mike Enzi, Chuck Grassley, Jeff Bingaman and Kent Conrad. In a Senate of 60 Democrats and 40 Republicans, the health care reform bill is being written by three centrist Democrats, one centrist Republican, and two conservative Republicans. And until last week, Orrin Hatch was in the room, too.
For Matt Yglesias, this lineup represents a structural problem that he is wont to harp on, the shortage of direct democracy in our current system… Read More — NYT
It seems clear that main stream media outlets like the New York Times are growing impatient with the Congressional leadership. The mutual agenda of driving out of America all vestiges of moderation and conservativism is not being driven fast enough by the “Browshirts” of the new left. The very people who espouse freedom of speech, and first amendment rights are the first to seek the elimination of those rights from anoyone who does not agree with their point of view. I hate to break it to this author, but all business on the hill is conducted in sub committes. The idea of bipartian subcommittee should be welcomed in a free democracy not vilified ! The entier body of the House and Senate get to cast their vote on a bill. Hopefull they all read it, but that is doubtful. (See post about “Page 425 of the House Healthcare Bill“)
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Author, speaker and Washington Examiner columnist Scott Ott had this to say about Obama’s track record so far. He is a candidate for County Executive in Eastern PA. It will be interesting following that campaign over the next year. Scott is also contributing author of The New Media Frontier, is a writer, public speaker and creator of the world’s leading family-friendly news satire source, ScrappleFace.com. His columns at Townhall.com are not satirical.
EXCERPT FROM PRES. OBAMA SPEECH: Critics “say we are trying to do too much, that we are moving too quickly, and that we all ought to just take a deep breath and scale back our goals,” he said. “These naysayers have short memories. We did not get here by doing what was easy. That is not how a cluster of 13 colonies became the United States of America.” — Obama Says American ‘Spirit’ Can Confront, Resolve Challenges, Bloomberg News.
Mr. President, critics don’t say that. Your supporter Colin Powell says that.
Critics say, not that you’re doing “too much”, but that you’re doing the wrong things. Critics say that you’re …
– interfering in free markets in a way that jeopardizes shareholder value, usurps individual rights and compromises the structural integrity of capitalism.Critics say that you’re …
– spending money we don’t have in amounts we can never repay, thereby
– devaluing the currency and setting up a swirling downward vortex from which there is no known economic model for escape.Critics say that you’re …
– pushing a government-run, taxpayer-funded, single-payer health insurance program under the guise of merely offering a public option (another scheme for which there is no known successful analog).Critics say that you’re …
– devastating the petroleum-based economy that has fostered the most prosperous nation in history,
– ignoring atomic energy despite its limitless capacity to offer clean power, and
– forcing taxpayers to gamble on so-called ‘green’ technologies which, despite years of research and billions of dollars of investment, still consume more energy than they generate.Critics say that you’re …
– compromising our national security by snuggling up to evil people who are committed to our destruction, and
– apologizing for our history each time you step onto a foreign shore.Critics say that you’re …
– blaming all negatives on your predecessor while claiming credit for positives that have yet to happen, and
– slamming anyone who disagrees with you as a narrow-minded naysayer with a short memory.Finally, Mr. President, the 13 colonies did not become free and independent states by confiscating wealth from the productive sector of society and doling it out to the unproductive sector in a way that guarantees the perpetual enslavement of both.
This new nation, conceived in liberty, was brought forth by people who said ‘Enough’ to a tyrant who capriciously ruled from afar — people who were willing to risk their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor that succeeding generations might live the freedom they bought with blood.
Mr. President when you compare your socialized insurance program, your speculative wealth confiscation program or your Niagara Falls of spending with the endeavors of those bold patriots, you trivialize their sacrifice while you crown yourself with the Styrofoam diadem of a clown. — [Hat Tip: Townhall.Com]
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LONDON (Reuters) – Boy wizard Harry Potter is back in cinemas later this month with the sixth installment of the movie franchise, and another box office bonanza looks assured for the Warner Bros. studio.
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” hits screens on July 15, promising high-speed action, dark and dangerous battles with the forces of evil, budding romance at Hogwarts school for wizards and the expected death of a prominent character.
The wait has been a long one for Potter fans around the world who have followed the fate of Harry and his friends through the seven best-selling books by British author J.K. Rowling.
Warner Bros. pushed the release date of Half-Blood Prince back from 2008, leaving a two-year gap since the fifth movie “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” and the final novel “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”.
The release of Potter books and films are major events for the entertainment industry, both because of the passion fans share for the stories, dubbed “Pottermania” in the media, and the amount of money they generate.
The seven Harry Potter books, which began in 1997, have sold more than 400 million copies worldwide and turned Rowling into a multi-millionaire publishing phenomenon… [so says Reuters]
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Our picks for the Top 5 Iranian Election Cartoons of the Month…
We would love to hear your thoughts !!
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During a harsh government crackdown following the disputed Iranian elections, the Twitter social network has become something of a lifeline for the people of Iran. The Iranian government may have blocked or shut down various communication mediums – like phone lines, the Facebook social network, YouTube videos and even text messaging – but people are still sending photos and information from Iran in short 140-character bursts.
“Social media is empowering the masses to connect, share and organize in ways of incredible scale and speed that are much harder, if not impossible, to control,” said Dangson. “The situation in Iran is illustrating this phenomenon where government and media outlets are no longer the gatekeepers to news. The man on the street is now the reporter in the field covering the situation in Iran thanks to the penetration of connected devices and availability of social messaging applications.”
Before gadget geeks around the world get too excited, one should take this all with a grain of salt. The twittering door swings in both directions. Free openly blasted annonymous content can also be used to spread mis-information by cleaver evil anti freedom factions as well. Once has to take all their twitters with a grain of salt. Nonetheless, this is awesome. Its been said “Life will always find a way — Jurrasic Park “…. so to freedom and liberty.
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So why is the President and the Secretary of State so silent on this issue?? Where is Washington’s support for the brave Iranians who have dared to defy the current Islamic fundamentalist regime? Just a soft toned voice saying they are “disturbed”. Now we are hearing reports of the silencing of the opposition voices that are questioning the outcome of this shame of an “election”? Where is the outrage from the left in America who should be recalling images of Kent State back in the ’70’s where protesters were gunned down for doing the very same thing? Where is the American support for the Iranian people to challenge what THEY see as corrupt authority and incumbent power? How soon we forget our history! Obama… do you still plan to sit down with Ahmadinejad without pre-conditions after these still unfolding events? Please tell us!
Iranian DemonstrationsIran’s pro-reform leader Mir Hossein Mousavi addressed tens of thousands of supporters in the Iranian capital Tehran Mondduring a huge rally to protest the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. There were reports by eyewitnesses that a demonstrator was killed by gunfire from a building used by a pro-government militia.
The protest defied a government ban on demonstrations, but security forces watched quietly.
Mousavi addressed the cheering crowd, waving green flags and banners and shouting slogans against the government.
He says our people are seeking respect and and seeking to defend their votes and their rights.
Mr. Ahmadinejad has faced demonstrations and riots since Saturday, after officials announced his landslide victory. (See slideshow of eyewitness accounts of Tehran protests)
Many in the crowd chanted slogans to decry President Ahmedinejad.
One Mousavi supporter at Monday’s rally complained that the election was ’stolen’ and the vote was rigged.
He says that he and others are demonstrating to say “no” to Mr. Ahmedinejad. He says we have already said “yes” to Mir Hossein Mousavi, Friday night, but because of corruption, they corrupted our election.
Mr. Ahmadinejad has dismissed the protesters’ claims, saying the election was free and fair. Defeated candidate Mousavi has continued to urge calm in a message on his Internet Web site.
But an Associated Press photographer reported as the rally was ending he saw one person shot and killed and several others who appeared to be seriously wounded in Enghelab Square. Eyewitnesses say the gunfire came from a compound for the Basij religious militia, which is linked to Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard
The country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered an examination into Mousavi’s claims of vote rigging.
Despite restrictions placed on journalists and the blocking of internet web sites and cell phone text messaging in Iran, thousands of Mousavi supporters continue to find ways post hundreds of messages to a support group on the Facebook website.
Dozens of pictures of police brutality were posted, including a young man drenched in blood, and a black-clad riot policeman pounding demonstrators who had fallen to the ground.”
“This is the start of a brand new revolution,” wrote one young man who identified himself as Reza on the Mousavi Web site. “It is not going to stop.” — AP
It would be great to see some support, even if it is only verbal, coming from not only the U.S. but all countries that aspire to a civilized society to get behind the NEW revolution that is taking hold in Iran. Perhaps it might inspire other parts of the Middle East to reject overly radicalized factions like Hamas, Hezboulah and the far right fanatics in the Israeli Lukud party as well. Where is the courage in Washington to help move this along??
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Bling for ‘ Bing ‘: Microsoft to spend $100m branding new search engine !! — National Business Review
Microsoft is in the final stages of deciding between two names for its search engine – Bing being the front runner. The winner will be backed by a $US100 million brand campaign. From leaked memos and employee blog posts, it seems Microsoft is now trialling a new-and-improved version of its search engine, Live. While little known in these parts, or anywhere, Live is central to Microsoft’s plan to chase down Google’s huge lead in search, and search ads. The company’s ex-pat CFO, Chris Liddell is one who agrees that “Live” isn’t working, telling the Seattle Tech Report: “We have to think about things like a new brand, and marketing that.” Now, Advertising Age says Microsoft will spend $US80 million to $100 million advertising its re-launched search engine… — NBR
Tech Jackal explains the sometimes muddled and confused Microsoft search engine strategy. gOOgle has really turned on the advertising push and is full throttle on leveraging the latest social networking and Web2.0 technologies in case you haven’t noticed. Perhaps it’s the new opportunities in the on-line advertising market that has giant Mr. Softee stirring once again awakening from its sleep…
OUR FAVORITE gOOgle ad…It’s no secret that Google has a 64% market share in the search engine market. Yahoo has captured a little over 20% and Microsoft is bouncing along at under 9% market share. Microsoft is planning to change those statistics by pouring 80 to 100 million dollars into a new advertising campaign, which will promote a new improved search engine model. This model will provide groupings of search results that are better organized, so the user can find the information needed in less time. Microsoft is also creating a Yahoo partnership, which would focus on selling ads for each other and that could eat into some of Google’s action.
Online advertising as Google has repeatedly demonstrated can produce results. The company reported a 6% increase in revenues over last year, thanks to a focused online advertising campaign. Microsoft is on the verge of introducing their new advertising rich search engine business model, as well as the brand name of the service any day. The outcome of this heavyweight advertising match will not be apparent for quite some time, but Microsoft is dedicated to improving search results as well as improving their bottom line, so they have a mission.
Google has created a search engine that is an automatic response for some casual users and their loyalty will continue to keep the company on top, but there are other users who want to get information quickly because of business needs. The Microsoft name can have an impact on that group, if the advertising dollars are spent to attract those users. — [Hat Tip: Tech Jackal]
You have to give the marketing folks at gOOgle some credit for having eyes that are bigger than their … well…. you know…
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