Liar? Liar!............... (Part Deux)

I'm sitting here, having written this entry and realized, I need to re-write it....... sigh.

This originally started out as the third installment (Part Trois for continuity sake) in the lurid tale of what has become know as: Fannie, Freddie & Frank. This saga seems to have as many parts as those of George Lucas' epic tale of good vs. evil in space. And, like that great epic, it also has it's cast of questionable characters. However, given my druthers I would gladly take a Capitol building filled with Jawa's, Ugnaughts, Ewoks and the occasional Gungan, over the current occupants.

So what has your humble scribe so riled up now ? Let us begin anew............

By the end of my research it became abundantly clear to me that, while Mr. Frank's lies and tall tale's are quite entertaining, it is the media that has become the hand maiden to this rogues gallery we call our representatives. While the original Liar ? Liar ! called into question Mr. Dodd (D-Ct), this article is about the so called Fourth Estate. Sir Edmund Burke is attributed with saying that there were Three Estates in Parliament; but, in the Reporters' Gallery yonder, there sat a Fourth Estate more important far than they all. Unfortunately it seems that, rather than be the unbiased watchdog for the people, the media has become the fourth branch of government.

Appearing on Neil Cavuto's show on Fox Business the House Financial Services Chairman, Rep Barney Frank (D-Ma), now feels that Fannie and Freddie should be abolished ! Not only that, but he states that it has been his position that not everyone should own a home and contends that this housing crisis was the past administrations fault (with a little add on blame to the Clinton Admin.).

I am not sure how to handle this. I mean, my head is spinning as I write this. I would like to believe that he has finally come to his senses, but I just don't feel it. I think this is just your typical political back peddling, interspersed with the prerequisite finger pointing once again to the prior administration. So listen for yourself.



Am I missing something ? This is so outlandish, so incredible that it is almost breath taking in it's scope of political audacity. Not only is he trying to reinvent his position, but he is claiming that it was actually the republicans who were the reckless ones.

Now, it would be wrong of me to present only one side. These comments were made Aug 2010. Truth be told, this is only the latest rendition of this tale. His "renters" not "home owners" tour dates back to 2009 at least.

Now, if I limited this only to Fox News those on the left would be feigning outrage and indignation. So let's go back to January 2010 and the Larry King show. Larry actually tries to call him on it but Barney once again claims "renters" not "home owners". Sadly, there is a pesky little c-span video from 2005 that claims otherwise.



Now, lets go back to May 2010 and see what CNBC had to say about this:



And here is what troubles me most. One reporter comments at the end justifying why Mr. Frank was not called out on his lie. "It's not really good to say a Congressman's a liar.....that would be wrong."

What ?!?!?! Whoa, did he just say that ? If anyone viewing this has every had any question about the leanings of the "main stream" media, this should dispel any doubt. He also tries to claim that they were caught off guard by it and that contributed to not following up. However, as the Larry King video shows, this is not a new position and any reporter worth his salt should have been prepared.

This is the problem we are facing in this country. Elected officials who refuse to admit fault, lie to cover-up their involvement or incompetence and blame the other party to deflect the fact that they have no plan to correct or improve the situation are only one aspect of the problem. A media who believe their allegiance is to a party or an agenda can no longer be counted on to provide the truth and should be viewed with skepticism until the veracity of a story can be established.

America, stop voting by party lines and media talking points. Begin voting by principal. In this country we do not agree on all things, but we need to vote for the person we as individuals believe represent us, and not who the political parties tell us to vote for. As the above videos show, the news outlets also can no longer be counted on to provide the "unvarnished" truth. Watch accordingly.

Remember, you cannot elect, or re-elect, a thief and or liar and expect them to do good. If you are unhappy with the latest gallery of thieves, liars and charlatans, then vote them out in 2010.

Or in the immortal words of our favorite Gungan, Jar Jar Binks, "But wait! Mesa gave you complete control of the senate. Yousa have ultimate power now because of mesa. " (Sith Apprentice, 2005)

Shameless SW reference just for you Joe !!!

I Agree With Who ?!?!?!?

OK, everyone get their red pens out and begin marking their calenders. The day that I thought would never come,....... I Agree with Robert Gibbs !! I Know, my brain is all a twitter even as I write this.

In all honesty, I have seen this coming for some time now. Even within the administration the cracks in the facade are beginning to appear. Truth be told, it was never going to last. From the onset way to many promises were made. While this is something that is quiet easy to promise on the campaign stump, it is quite another thing to actual deliver on when in office. Not to say that they haven't tried. Just check out the most recent spending spree for evidence of that.

But now, a year and a half into the Hope and Change Presidency, the shine is beginning to wear thin. When these fractures appear, sometimes truth manages to slip out. Which brings me to the heart of this entry which is a quote that has generated quite a bit of political heat for Mr. Gibbs: "Gibbs had harsh words for what he called "the professional left"" saying, "They will be satisfied when we have Canadian health care and we've eliminated the Pentagon. That's not reality."

Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to run out and start a local chapter of the Robert Gibbs fan club. Personally, I think he is pompous, arrogant and just a tad bit condescending. But in the immortal words of anonymous ".....even a broken clock is right twice a day."

The truth is, there is a "professional" left that are quite angry with what they see as the failings of the Obama presidency. Ironically, it is those very same people who are quite happy with vilifying anyone who they deem to be on the "radical" right. Which I believe is anyone just right of Nancy Pelosi. Which leads you to wonder, what Change did they exactly Hope for ?

This is at the core of the problems we are facing in this country. There are certainly extremes in every party, and yet when it comes down to it, you vote (generally) one of two ways: Democrat or Republican. But what you want, and what the person standing next to you wants, are generally two different things. We need to begin to rethink this two party system.

The other day I was speaking to a friend who is a self described lifelong Democrat. In his own words he said that come November he will be voting against his party. His reason was that they no longer represented his values. As we talked further it became abundantly clear that our "values" were quite similar. Which made me start thinking why we seem to be forced to choose between two parties, and why the parties seem to be so scared of anything that begins to gain public support (i.e. the Tea Party). In the end, it comes down to $$$ & power.

In my opinion Robert Gibbs was right, the Professional Left will not be happy till we have a Canadian style health care system and a complete reduction of the military. They don't like it, they never have. But what about the rest of the Democratic party ? How does one party embrace so many different view points, yet work for the same ends ? The answer, it doesn't. That's why their is so much disillusionment. It's time to begin to embrace change.

I have been a lifelong Republican, but I can say with all honesty that I have been left with my own sense of disillusionment with the politics of my Party. Come November I will cast my vote based on my opinions, not what I am being spoon fed. I will use my vote to put into office the people I feel will represent me. If they fail to live up to their obligation I will vote them out in the next election. My vote is for what is in the best interests of my Country, not my party.

So for today, Robert Gibbs and I stand arm in arm. Take the pic quickly, something tells me it won't last long.