Every. Single. One.

From Drew Griffiths, apparently the only reporter at CNN capable of doing a negative story on Obama and his stooges.

Stay with it to the end: He grills an ACORN spokesman. Sadly, not Scott Levenson.

He blames the government for some reason. more...

Posted by: Ace at 03:47 PM | Comments (232)
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For violating the Hatch Act, for supposedly using his position as sheriff to influence an election.

I sort of don't think that's what the law is supposed to cover -- just speaking at an event, as opposed to using one's power as sheriff to influence an election -- or else can someone explain to me why I always see sheriffs huddling around Democrats as the police unions endorse the Democratic candidate?

As they do in most elections?

Are all those guys to be investigated?

This is creepy. Obama's goon patrol of prosecutors promised speedy action against those who spoke "lies" about The One, and here we are.

Thanks to Twersky.

Hatch Act Violation? [Gabe] I don't see it based on what's reported in the link. To answer some questions:

(1) Yes, the Hatch Act applies to executive branch state and local employees who work in federally-funded programs. That includes county sheriffs whose departments take federal funds. The Lee County Sheriff Department does.

(2) The Hatch Act applies to covered state and local executive branch employees by prohibiting them from engaging in some political activities. They may not be candidates for public office in a partisan election; use official authority or influence to interfere with or affect the results of an election; or directly or indirectly coerce contributions from subordinates in support of a political party or candidate.

(3) On the other hand, there are several activities that are okay, including actively campaigning for candidates for public office in partisan and nonpartisan elections and contributing money to political organizations and attending political fundraising.

So what's going on here? I don't know. Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott introduced Governor Palin at a rally last week and said "On Nov. 4, letÂ’s leave Barack Hussein Obama wondering what happened." That apparently led to some Obamaton's getting the vapors and complaining to the OSC (which, among other things, investigates potential Hatch Act violations).

To me, that activity appears to fit squarely within the permitted activities for a state or local employee covered by the Act. To the extent that individuals at the OSC are using their position to harass McCain supporters (if that's what they are doing), they are themselves in violation of the Hatch Act.

Posted by: Ace at 03:37 PM | Comments (55)
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Neat.

Posted by: Ace at 03:21 PM | Comments (36)
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Okay, now I've put the Mystery Post back up with the text that used to be here, just so people's comments would be saved.

I'll call this an open thread.

Or rag on me for getting the earlier RICO story mostly wrong.

Posted by: Ace at 02:09 PM | Comments (151)
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It could have been a joke, but it seems like a scary reality. I for one welcome our new oblivion overlords. more...

Posted by: Purple Avenger at 01:54 PM | Comments (72)
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I guess I was too opaque or too teasing.

Having had to walk back today's big story, I'm a bit reluctant to lean very far forward. I thought I'd come up with a cute compromise. I guess not.

I took down the Mystery Post. I'll see if I can work up the fortitude to do a proper post, otherwise I'll just chill.

The intent wasn't really to tease.

I feel stupid posting a tip given what happened earlier. I really don't want to put myself out on a limb again; I don't even really do "tips" and "scoops" here. This is just a weird thing where I've been tipped three big stories in two days... one of which seems to have not panned out much. And now I'm worried that suddenly I'm doing Drudge-type stuff and going to get burned on it.

So since I teased: My information, a phrasing that now fills me with dread, is that the Obama galpal story is advancing.

I guess I can also say, um, based on a tip, which I formerly trusted but am shy about now (different source, just wondering what I'm doing being a tip blogger):

A guy who claims to have knowledge of one liaison has talked, and is willing to talk to media, and in fact has been put in touch with media.

It's always possible he'll get cold feet.

I should say: He does not have direct or hearsay evidence, just direct observation of circumstantial evidence.

It could be they were just at the George to work or somethin'.

Again, what I'm told. I'm finding this game much less fun than I did yesterday.

Posted by: Ace at 01:49 PM | Comments (101)
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Jonathan Martin is pleased as punch he has the pic of these awful signs:

Osama bin Lyin'. Oooh. Feel the hatred.

This should be a sign for Republicans to avoid anything even in questionable taste-- we have assholes like this, who are, incidentally, covering for Obama and Ayers (did I mention that?) looking for anything they can call "hate."

Hey, Jonathan -- you missed this hot story. A McCain supporter just called Obama a murderer at a rally.

More hate!

Oh, Correction: An Obama supporter called McCain a murderer at a rally.

Forget it then-- obviously not "hate." Just some spirited political discourse.

Posted by: Ace at 12:47 PM | Comments (95)
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"Economic justice," I think they call it in the radical consciousness-raising schools he funded.

How does he intend to spread the wealth? By increasing the size of federal programs?

Well, that's a start. But I'm afraid he's going to spread it around more directly -- by taking money away from people who pay taxes to directly give it to those who don't pay taxes in the form of a "tax cut."

A tax cut? For people who already don't pay taxes? That's not a tax cut, is it? That's more like a... well, a government handout. It's a welfare check.

Not so.

Obama prefers to call it "refundables." Even though you're not being "refunded" anything, you're just being sent a thousand or two dollars from someone else's tax payments.

more...

Posted by: Ace at 12:41 PM | Comments (176)
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I'll post the cowbell stuff I just deleted from that other post. That one.

Surge on news of bank aid.

Wall Street stormed back from last week's devastating losses after major governments announced further steps to support the global banking system, including plans by the U.S. Treasury to buy stocks of some banks. All the major indexes rose about 10 percent, and the Dow Jones industrials rose more than 800 points.

The hope on Wall Street was that the market was finding a bottom after eight sessions of losses that sent the Dow down nearly 2,400 points. But while a rebound had been expected at some point, investors can expect to see back-and-forth trading in the coming days and weeks as investors work through their concerns about the banking sector, the stagnant credit markets and the overall economy.

The Golden Cowbell...
So it's not just a myth!

Half-hearted repost of Mixed Media Cowbell Extravaganza. Half-hearted, because while this is good news (except for the radical government intervention part, I guess), obviously I'm deflated.

Larry suggested posting this a few days ago: a blogger's belief that 7000 was the natural hard bottom of the market.

more...

Posted by: Ace at 12:11 PM | Comments (32)
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Digging:

Men Admit ACORN Pushed Them To Submit Multiple Voter Registration Cards

Advocacy Group Accused Of Using Aggressive Tactics To Persuade Potential

Cuyahoga County, OH - 19 Action News has learned of breaking developments in possibly hundreds of questionable or duplicate voter-registration forms submitted by an advocacy group that has been accused of election fraud.

In sworn testimony before the Cuyahoga County BOE Monday morning, Freddie Johnson and Christopher Barkley admitted they submitted multiple voter registration cards and were encouraged to do so by ACORN.

The men say they were out on Public Square when they were approached repeatedly by ACORN group workers who told them they would be fired if they didn't meet a quota of registrations for the day.

Johnson says he signed 73 cards while Barkley claims he signed 13 fraudulent registration forms. The cases will now go to the County Prosecutor, the Sheriff's Office and the FBI.

Up until this point, ACORN has steadfastly denied any intent of fraud. The group says it has signed up 1.3M poor, hard working-class voters in a mass registration drive in 18 states this year.

Thanks to WilliamA.

Posted by: Ace at 11:43 AM | Comments (29)
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