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William Ayers

2012-03-08T15:35:46Z

MarkThePatriot: grammar

[[Image:Features_ayers1.jpg|thumb|William Ayers as he appeared in ''Chicago Magazine''.]] '''William Charles "Bill" Ayers''' (born December 26, 1944 in Oak Park, Illinois) is currently a professor at the [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign|University of Illinois]] at [[Chicago]] and former Chicago community organizer. He is best known as a founder of the internationally supported [[terrorist]] [[Weather Underground|Weather Underground Organization]] (WUO), and as a good friend of U.S President [[Barack Obama]]. The WUO has often mistakenly been labeled as a Vietnam era protest organization, however many of the organizations activities continued well past the end of American involvement in [[Vietnam]],<ref>''Ambush:The Brinks Robbery of 1981'', [http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/terrorists_spies/terrorists/brinks/2.html truTV - Crime Library: Terrorists, The Weather Underground & Black Liberation Army]</ref> the fall of [[South Vietnam]], and the victory of the [[Communist]] regime of [[North Vietnam]], which was the groups oft stated goals.

Ayers is the husband of terrorist [[Bernardine Dohrn]].
 
==Early Life and Upbringing==
Ayers grew up in a wealthy home as the son of Thomas G. Ayers, former Chairman and CEO of Commonwealth Edison. <ref>Northwestern University, Obituary: Thomas Ayers Served as Board Chair from 1975 to 1986[http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2007/06/ayers.html]</ref> He lived in Glen Ellyn, a suburb of Chicago. Ayers attended public schools and received a bachelor of Arts degree from the [[University of Michigan]] in 1968. At age 21, Ayers became director of the Children's Community, a small school in a basement that did not have grades, report cards, and had children address teachers by their first names. It was part of a "free school movement."

== Internationally sponsored terrorism ==
[[Image:Ayers.jpg|left|thumb|Bill Ayers in August 1968.]]
In 1968, Ayers became leader of the [[Students for a Democratic Society]], and then a prominent leader of the violent "Weatherman group." The group was associated with other international communist guerrilla and terrorist groups, including the [[Vietcong]]. Its objective was the furtherance of [[Soviet]] foreign policy and the defeat of the U.S. in Vientam. In May 1970, the organization issued a Declaration of War<ref>FBI file, [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Weather_Underground_Declaration_of_a_State_of_War Weather Underground Declaration of a State of War]</ref> against the United States authored by Bernardine Dohrn who was later to become Ayers wife but not until other members of the group, including Ayers girlfriend at the time, blew themselves up in a bomb making factory in [[Greenwich Village]] [[New York]].
[[File:Bring the War Home2.JPG|right|thumb|SDS leaflet organizing the Chicago Days of Rage, October 11, 1969. [http://www.archive.org/stream/TheWayTheWindBlewAHistoryOfTheWeatherUnderground/waythewindblew#page/n27/mode/2up] ]]
The WUO was responsible for roughly 72 bombings in all, including the [[United States Capitol]] (March 1 1971), [[The Pentagon]] (May 19 1972), the United States [[Department of State]] (January 28 1975)<ref> [http://foia.fbi.gov/weather/weath1c.pdf FBI file Weather Underground] pgs. 67-71 pdf</ref> and numerous other targets. In 1969, the Weather Underground planted a bomb at a statue dedicated to [[police]] casualties in the 1886 [[Haymarket Riot]]. The statue was blown into pieces, but was rebuilt in 1970. It was blown up again by the Weather Underground, five months later.

Ayers stated, "I'm not so much against the war as I am for a Vietnamese victory," and "I'm not so much for peace as for a U.S. defeat."

In 1970, Ayers explained what the Weather Underground was all about: "Kill all the rich people. Break up their cars and apartments. Bring the revolution home, kill your parents, that's where it's really at."<ref>http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=76714</ref>

==The San Francisco Police Department bombing==

In sworn testimony before the U.S. [[Senate Internal Security Subcommittee]] on October 18 1974,<ref>Senate Internal Security Subcommittee, October 18, 1974 quoted in [http://www.usasurvival.org/docs/chicago-obama.pdf''Communism in Chicago and the Obama Connection''], USA Survival, Inc.</ref> an [[FBI]] informant declared,
{{cquote|"When he [Bill Ayers] returned, we had another meeting at which time -- and this is the only time that any Weathermen told me about something that someone else had done -- and Bill started off telling us about the need to raise the level of the struggle and for stronger leadership inside the Weathermen 'focals' [i.e., cells] and inside the Weatherman organization as a whole. And he cited as one of the real problems was that someone like Bernardine Dohrn had to plan, develop and carry out the bombing of the police station in San Francisco, and he specifically named her as the person that committed that act."}}

The informant added that Ayers said "the bomb was placed on the window ledge and described the kind of bomb that was used to the extent of saying what kind of shrapnel was used in it." He was asked, "Did he say who placed the bomb on the window ledge?" He replied, "Bernardine Dohrn."<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=78130 Did Ayers' wife kill policeman? FBI report said Dohrn named as bomb builder, planter], ''WorldNetDaily.com, October 16, 2008.</ref>

The ''San Francisco Chronicle'' reported on March 12 2009, in a highly unusual move, the San Francisco Police Officers Association have accused Ayers and his wife of taking part in the bombing. The Association claims,
{{cquote|There are irrefutable and compelling reasons to believe that Bill Ayers and his wife Bernardine Dohrn ... are largely responsible for the bombing of Park Police Station,}} and a cold case investigation is being called for.<ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/12/BATK16DHA4.DTL&hw=ayers&sn=001&sc=1000 S.F. police union accuses Ayers in 1970 bombing], Demian Bulwa, ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' March 12, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://marklevin.ning.com/forum/topics/ayers-dohrn-murder-case Ayers, Dohrn Murder Case Reopened] marklevin.ning.com</ref>

==Prairie Fire Organizing Committee and Maoist thought==
:''Main article : '''[[Prairie Fire Organizing Committee]]'''''

[[Image:Prairie Fire.jpg|thumb|left|150px]]

In 1974, William Ayers, Bernardine Dohrn, [[Jeff Jones]] and other members formed the [[Prairie Fire Organizing Committee]], the publishing arm of the Weather Underground Organization. The name was inspired by [[mass murder]]er [[Mao Zedong]] who said, "a single spark can set a prairie fire." Its first book was ''Prairie Fire: The Politics of Revolutionary Anti-imperialism.'' In this book, William Ayers admits that he is a communist,

:"We are a guerrilla organization. We are communist women and men, underground in the United States for more than four years."

[[Image:Dedicated to Sirhan Sirhan.jpg|thumb|right|Prairie Fire is dedicated to Sirhan Sirhan, Robert F. Kennedy's assassin.]]
Interestingly, the book lists [[Sirhan Sirhan]], [[Robert F. Kennedy]]'s assassin, among many other now-obscure '60s-era radicals, criminals and revolutionaries on the dedication page.

Ayers and his fellow co-authors brag about their numerous acts of domestic terrorism, and provide a handy list detailing not only each crime but in most cases the justification for each crime as well.
[[Image:Weather Underground bombings.jpg|thumb|right|Ayers and his fellow co-authors brag about their numerous acts of domestic terrorism.]]

Among the bombings by Ayers' group listed in the book:

*Haymarket police statue, Chicago
*Chicago police cars
*New York City police headquarters
*Marin County Courthouse
*Long Island City Courthouse
*Department of Corrections, San Francisco
*Office of California Prisons, Sacramento
*Department of Corrections, Albany NY
*103rd Precinct of New York City police
*Harvard Center for International Affairs
*[[U.S. Capitol]]
*MIT research center
*[[The Pentagon]]
*Draft and recruiting centers
*ROTC buildings
*ITT Latin America Headquarters
*National Guard Headquarters, Washington D.C.
*Presidio Army Base and MP Station, San Francisco
*Federal Offices of Health, Education and Welfare, San Francisco <ref>[http://www.zombietime.com/prairie_fire/ William Ayers' forgotten communist manifesto: Prairie Fire], zombietime.com, October 22, 2008</ref> <ref>[http://www.dakotavoice.com/2008/10/forgotten-terrorist-manifesto-prairie.html Forgotten Terrorist Manifesto: Prairie Fire], Bob Ellis, Dakota Voice, October 24, 2008</ref> <ref>[http://michellemalkin.com/2008/10/23/reading-bill-ayers/ Reading Bill Ayers], Michelle Malkin, MichelleMalkin.com, October 23, 2008</ref>

== "Guilty as hell, free as a bird" ==

Bill Ayers, his wife Bernardine Dohrn and other WUO figures were not prosecuted because of alleged [[FBI]] misconduct while investigating the foreign influence in domestic terrorism. In fact, FBI officials [[W. Mark Felt]]<ref>[http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB156/ Nixon and the FBI: The White House Tapes], National Security Archive, The George Washington Universtiy, Washington, D.C.</ref> and Edward S. Miller were indicted and convicted in November 1980 of conspiring to violate the civil rights of relatives of the Weather Underground, including Jennifer Dohrn,<ref>http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=jennifer%20dohrn</ref> sister of Bernardine, whose homes had been burglarized.

However, on April 15, 1981, President [[Ronald Reagan]] in his first 100 days granted full and unconditional pardons, saying, in part:
{{Cquote| Messrs. Felt and Miller followed procedures they believed essential to keep the Director of the FBI, the [[Attorney General]], and the [[President of the United States]] advised of the activities of hostile foreign powers and their collaborators in this country.<ref>[http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1981/41581d.htm Statement on Granting Pardons to W. Mark Felt and Edward S. Miller], April 15, 1981.</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/01/us/two-top-fbi-officials-cleared.html Two Top F.B.I. Officials Cleared], [[New York Times]], December 1, 1983.</ref>}}

At the end of Ayers ''Fugitive Days'' he writes that he is "Guilty as hell, free as a bird—it’s a great country." Historian [[Ronald Radosh]] reviewing ''Fugitive Days'' in the [[Weekly Standard]] notes, "As for those who might believe without irony that America is a great country, Ayers has one reaction: 'It makes me want to puke.'"<ref>[http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000%5C000%5C000%5C267rdlhy.asp ''Don't Need a Weatherman : The clouded mind of Bill Ayers''.] by Ronald Radosh, The Weekly Standard, 10/08/2001, Volume 007, Issue 04.</ref>

==Fugitive Days==

Today, Ayers and his wife -- fellow former Weather Underground fugitive [[Bernardine Dohrn]] -- live in Hyde Park, where they moved after surrendering in 1980.

In a 2001 interview with the [[New York Times]], an unrepentant Ayers said, "I don't regret setting bombs" and "I feel we didn't do enough." Ayers later claimed that he was quoted out of context, and that he meant that he felt that he had not done enough to oppose the war in Vietnam, which he defined as ''"[an] illegal, murderous, imperial war."'' <ref>Bill Ayers' blog, Episodic Notoriety–Fact and Fantasy, by Bill Ayers, 4/06/2008[http://billayers.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/episodic-notoriety-fact-and-fantasy/]</ref>

Ayers has claimed that his actions were not terrorist acts.<ref>Bill Ayers' blog, Episodic Notoriety–Fact and Fantasy, by Bill Ayers, 4/06/2008[http://billayers.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/episodic-notoriety-fact-and-fantasy/]</ref> He has stated that according to the official definition of both the U.S. and the U.N., terrorism consists of violent acts intended to intimidate or coerce a populace into a political end, and that his actions were intended to draw attention to and combat the state terrorism of the U.S. in the Vietnam War. In his autobiography, Fugitive Days, Ayers claimed that his bombing of the [[Pentagon]] prevented aerial bombardments in Vietnam for several days, which he defined as terrorism. In this regard, Ayers has implied that he ''prevented'' terrorism rather than caused it.

Asked if he would do it all again, Ayers stated, ''I don't want to discount the possibility.''

Ayers rebellion against authority also extended to sexual morality. He stated that that the Weathermen tried to ''smash monogamy,'' and engaged in fornication, including for Ayers, homosexual relations with his best male friend. <ref>''No Regrets for a Love Of Explosives,'' N.Y. Times, September 11, 2001</ref>

==Obama, the Annenberg Challenge, ACORN and the Woods Fund ==

Ayers and [[Barack Obama]] worked together at the Chicago Annenberg Challenge (CAC), from 1995-1999, an [[organisation]] that funneled money to [[ACORN]]. On his curriculum vitae, Ayers identifies himself as the co-founder and grant writer of the Annenberg Challenge Grant of $49,200,000 and the one who obtained this and other grants for "the support of the Small Schools Workshop and/or the Chicago forum for School Change at the University of Illinois at Chicago..."

Obama joined Ayers again in a paid nine-member board of the Woods Fund of Chicago. Ayers also says that he obtained grants from the Chicago-based MacArthur foundation, the Joyce Foundation, and the Woods Fund, on whose board he sat with [[Barack Obama]] from 1999 to 2002.

The announcement of Obama's candidacy for higher office was made in the home of Bill Ayers and his wife, Bernardine Dohrn in 1995.

In 2001, Ayers supported and contributed $200 to Obama's state Senate campaign<ref>[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/contributor.phtml?d=330121189]</ref>.

Obama was asked about the relationship in an April 2008 Presidential debate by moderator [[George Stephanopoulos]]:

:''"Can you explain that relationship for the voters, and explain to Democrats why it won't be a problem?"''

To which Obama replied,

:''"This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood, who's a professor of [[English]] in Chicago who I know and who I have not received some official endorsement from. He's not somebody who I exchange ideas from on a regular basis. And the notion that somehow as a consequence of me knowing somebody who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago, when I was eight years old, somehow reflects on me and my values doesn't make much sense, George"''

In February of 2008, Obama Chief Strategist David Axelrod said:

:''"Bill Ayers lives in his neighborhood. Their kids attend the same school … They’re certainly friendly, they know each other, as anyone whose kids go to school together."'' He called Ayers current defense of his 1960s bombings ''"objectionable, and I think Barack would also say that was objectionable. I don't think he's ever had an in-depth discussion [with Ayers] about them."''<ref>Politico, ''Ax on Ayers'', by Ben Smith, February 26, 2008 [http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0208/Ax_on_Ayers.html]</ref>

In an October 2008 article in ''American Thinker'', Jack Cashill presented evidence that Ayers ghostwrote Obama's first book, "Dreams From My Father". He based his assertion on a comparison of the writing styles of Bill Ayers' 2001 memoir, ''Fugitive Days'', and Barack Obama's earlier 1995 book, ''Dreams From My Father'', and came to the conclusion that Ayres had ghostwritten ''Dreams''. <ref>American Thinker, October 26, 2008, ''Who Wrote Dreams From My Father?'', by Jack Cashill, October 09, 2008 [http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/10/who_wrote_dreams_from_my_fathe_1.html]</ref>

==See Also==
*[[Mystery:Who Ghostwrote Obama's Books?]]

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://www.usasurvival.org/docs/bombing.case.pdf The Park Police Station Bombing Case], usasurvival.org

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ayers, William}}

[[Category:Terrorists]]
[[Category:Liberals]]
[[Category:Criminals]]
[[Category:Weather Underground]]

Occupy Wall Street

2011-11-16T03:40:45Z

MarkThePatriot:

Leftist protest '''Occupy Wall Street''' is an ongoing anti-capitalism rally and rapists' playground, with beginnings as an [[astroturfing]] campaign funded by a [[George Soros]] group called ''Adbusters''; invoked by [[Bill Ayers]] "Days of Rage," the first Occupy protest was staged on September 17, 2011 in [[New York City]] after months of planning by co-founder of [[SEIU]] Stephen Lerner.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=345861 Protesters begin 'Day of Rage' against capitalism], ''[[WND]]'', September 17, 2011.</ref><ref name=SorosMoney>[http://www.theblaze.com/stories/video-exposing-occupy-wall-street-was-organized-from-day-one-by-seiu-acorn-front-the-working-family-party-and-how-they-all-tie-to-the-obama-administration-dnc-democratic-socialists-of-america/ Video Exposing How 'Occupy Wall Street' Was Organized From Day One By SEIU/ACORN Fromt – The Working Family Party, And How They All Tie To The Obama Administration, DNC, Democratic Socialists of America Tides And George Soros], ''[[The Blaze]]'', October 7, 2011.</ref><ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/whos-behind-wall-st-protests-110834998.html Who's behind the Wall Street protests?], ''Reuters'' (news.yahoo.com), October 13, 2011.</ref> Occupy Wall Street protesters consist of radicals, anarchists, [[Nihilism|nihilists]], college students, hippies, special interest groups, [[labor unions]] and vendors. They dislike [[capitalism]], blame [[greed]], [[Wall Street]] and the [[banks]] for economic hardship, and have been seen spitting on U.S. Military personnel.<ref>[http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/local/occupy-boston-protesters-spit-on-coast-guard-member-20111013 Occupy Boston Protesters Spit On Coast Guard Member], myfoxboston.com, October 13, 2011.</ref> Similar 'Occupy' demonstrations have spread to a dozen cities, and has caused thousands of arrests across the [[United States]].

The Occupy Wall Street movement was inspired by the Arab Spring protests in Cairo that were organized by the [[Muslim Brotherhood]].<ref>[http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/40397 “Day of Rage” Obama re-election team in disguise?], ''Canada Free Press'', September 2011 (Accessed October 16, 2011.</ref><ref>http://biggovernment.com/taylorking/2011/01/29/did-muslim-brotherhood-learn-day-of-rage-egypt-protest-tactics-from-obama-allies-bill-ayers-and-code-pink/</ref> Egyptians camped out in Tahir Square until [[Hosni Mubarak]] resigned.

==Historical roots==
[[File:Protesters of Occupy Knoxville oct 2011.jpg|thumb|250px|Protesters in Knoxville, Oct 2011.]]
Inspired by the Arab Spring protests in Cairo that were organized by the [[Muslim Brotherhood]], the Occupy Wall Street protesters dubbed the September 17 rally a "Day of Rage," which finds its origin in "Days of Rage," a violent set of riots waged in Chicago in 1969 by the [[Weather Underground]] [[terrorist]]s Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn. Staged by [[ACORN]] and SEIU affiliates, the September 17 US Day of Rage’s mission statement is “To help facilitate state and city level organization, and to organize the federal protest at the U.S. Capitol.”<ref name=SEIUstephenlerner>http://www.theblaze.com/stories/seius-stephen-lerner-invokes-bill-ayers-days-of-rage-to-take-down-wall-street-this-september/</ref>

During an interview with ''Chicago Mag'', Ayers, who was featured on a magazine cover while standing on the American flag, with no regrets, summed up his riot’s intended purpose, stating,
{{Cquote|Kill all the rich people. Break up their cars and apartments. Bring the revolution home, kill your parents—that‘s where it’s really at.<ref>http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/August-2001/No-Regrets/</ref><ref name=SEIUstephenlerner/><ref>http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/August-2001/No-Regrets/index.php?cparticle=2&siarticle=1#artanc</ref>}}

* In a display of anti-American hatred, 'Occupy Portland' protesters rallied behind a sort of theme song, called "F*ck the USA."<ref>''Warning: Explicit Language used in linked Video recorded at an 'Occupy' rally in Portland, OR.'' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKzGbgSe8lg&sns=em Occupy Portland Protesters Sing "F*ck the USA"], Recorded and Uploaded to [[YouTube]] on October 15, 2011.</ref>
* An Occupy Seattle protester was arrested on October 18 for exposing himself at least five times to children at Westlake Park.<ref>http://www.komonews.com/news/local/132064518.html</ref>
* An “Occupy Cleveland” protester reported to the police that she was raped in her tent over the weekend on October 15 or 16.<ref>http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/girl-raped-at-occupy-cleveland-protest/</ref>
* A leftist radical at the Occupy Dayton protest declared, “F*** the military, f*** your flag, f*** the police.”<ref>[http://www.theblaze.com/stories/occupy-dayton-protester-f-the-military-f-your-flag-f-the-police/ Occupy Dayton Protester: ‘F*** The Military, F*** Your Flag, F*** The Police'], ''The Blaze'', October 23, 2011.</ref>

Occupy Wall Street is a protest attempting to counter the influence of the real grassroots movement, the [[Tea Party Movement]]. The protest proclaims that thousands of cities in [[America]] will join their cause and that it will spread internationally to hundreds of cities. Many misinformed people see the protests as a worthy cause, with some falsely relating it to the Tea Party.

Occupy Wall Street is not and never will be worthy of legitimate comparison to the Tea Party Movement. The two movements, as OWS protestors so easily demonstrate with their offensive and criminal behavior, share absolutely nothing in common. As Barack Obama reaffirms his commitment to supporting the movement, the president has attempted to discredit the Tea Party by claiming it's related.<ref>[http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/obama-occupy-wall-street-we-are-their-side_598251.html Obama on Occupy Wall Street: 'We Are on Their Side'], ''[[Weekly Standard]]'', October 18, 2011.</ref> The Tea Party movement is a collection of concerned citizens that care for future generations, fighting for austerity and an honest national government. Wall Street protesters are selfish, make silly demands, and have misguided rage toward job creators. Over 700 Occupy Wall Street protesters have been arrested during its first month; after more than two years, zero arrests have been made in the Tea Party movement.

Unlike the Tea Party, [[Obama]] was quick to acknowledge Occupy Wall Street, offering it credibility and a share of frustration and support. <ref>[http://www.businessinsider.com/white-house-draws-closer-to-occupy-wall-street-says-obama-is-fighting-for-interests-of-the-99-2011-10 White House Draws Closer To Occupy Wall Street, Says Obama Is Fighting For The Interests Of The 99%, Business Insiders, October 16, 2011]</ref> In fact, one chant you will not find at these any of these protests is anger directed at Barack Obama. Nancy Pelosi cried upon learning about the Tea Party; she offered her blessings to Occupy Wall Street. [[Rush Limbaugh]] argued that this protest was organized by the [[White House]] and Obama. [[Bill O'Reilly]] says the "Occupy Wall Street" protesters are "far-left loons" and "anarchists."<ref>[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brad-wilmouth/2011/10/09/wapos-wemple-really-disgraceful-oreilly-called-protesters-far-left-lo WaPo's Wemple: 'Really Disgraceful' That O'Reilly Called Protesters 'Far-Left Loons' and 'Anarchists'], ''[[Newsbusters]]'', October 8, 2011.</ref>.

Other reports indicate that sanitation is becoming a concern for Occupy Wall Street as the park where the protesters camp hasn't been cleaned since September 16 and [[Michael Bloomberg | Mayor Bloomberg]] indicates that the protests are costing NYC tourism dollars.

===Media Collaboration===

The [[Lamestream media | Democrat Media Complex]] is willfully covering up the violence, [[vandalism]], and anti-Semitism that truly does define the occupy movement. [[Conservative media]] has documented more than 100 incidents of their outrageous and appalling behavior. [http://biggovernment.com/jjmnolte/2011/10/28/occupywallstreet-the-rap-sheet-so-far/ See the *UPDATED* #OccupyWallStreet: The Rap Sheet, So Far]

[[Andrew Breitbart]]'s BigJournalism website shows emails from well-known media members trying to facilitate a message for the protesters, insisting on demands so as to further report on the movement. <ref>[http://bigjournalism.com/dloesch/2011/10/16/journolist-2-0-occupydc-emails-show-msm-dylan-ratigan-working-with-protesters-to-craft-message/ Journolist 2.0: Occupy Wall Street Emails Show MSM, Dylan Ratigan, Working With Protesters To Craft Message, BigJournalism, October 16, 2011]</ref> Rush Limbaugh says the numbers of people involved in the protest are unusually small, troubling the MSM. <ref>[http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2011/10/17/journalists_are_advising_protesters Journalists are Advising Protesters, Rush Limbaugh.com, October 17, 2011]</ref>

[[The Daily Caller]] is reporting that a host for government-funded [[NPR]], Lisa Simeone has emerged as spokeswoman for the “Occupy D.C.” movement
<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/10/19/radio-host-with-ties-to-npr-becomes-spokeswoman-for-occupy-dc/?test=latestnews#ixzz1bI7VedDL Host of NPR Show Also Serves as Spokeswoman for 'Occupy D.C.', Fox News, October 19, 2011]</ref>

[[New York Times]] reporter Natasha Lennard is not merely covering the protests, but is also taking part in planning and executing them. <ref>[http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2011/10/24/nyt_reporter_outed_as_protester_occupy_wall_street_caught_putting_its_money_in_an_evil_corporate_bank NYT Reporter Outed as Protester; Occupy Wall Street Caught Putting Its Money in an Evil, Corporate Bank, Rush Limbaugh.com, October 24, 2011]</ref>

The [[Washington Post]] and the New York Times have generated a total of 224 stories and opinion pieces praising the protest movement. <ref>[http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/dan-gainor/2011/10/28/postnyt-182000-words-occupy-wall-street-and-counting Post/NYT: 182,000 Words on Occupy Wall Street and Counting, Newsbusters.org, October 27, 2011]</ref>

109 clips, or 87 percent of the coverage by ABC, CBS, & NBC have produced positive protest stories. In addition, they ran 33 stories or segments about "Occupy" within the first 11 days and only 13 stories for the first year of the Tea Party movement. <ref>[http://weaselzippers.us/2011/10/28/study-big-three-tv-networks-have-devoted-more-than-double-the-coverage-to-occupy-wall-street-than-the-tea-party-87-has-been-positive/ Study: Big Three TV Networks Have Devoted More Than Double The Coverage To Occupy Wall Street, Weasel Zippers, October 27, 2011]</ref>

===Astroturfing===
Reports show that Wall Street protesters are being paid to march. Manufactured, professional designed protest signs indicate [[liberal]] money is influencing the protests.<ref>[http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/9269-big-soros-money-linked-to-occupy-wall-street Big Soros Money Linked to “Occupy Wall Street”], ''New American'', October 5, 2011.</ref> A re-branded [[ACORN]] is involved with the 'Occupy' protests.<ref name=SorosMoney/>

===Lack of Direction===
[[Conservative]]s mock the movement as Occupy Sesame Street, for its childishness. Conservatives know that it's the government devaluing our currency, weakening our economy and plundering money from the next generation -- Wall Street and the banks aren't to blame. Republicans [[Mitt Romney]] and [[Herman Cain]] have denounced the protests as [[class warfare]]. <ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2011/10/06/congressional-dems-rally-in-support-of-occupy-wall-street/#ixzz1aIny1Ke7 Congressional Dems rally in support of ‘Occupy Wall Street’], Daily Caller, October 6, 2011.</ref>

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee sent out a fundraising email asking supporters to sign a petition in support of the protesters. President Obama said that the movement reflected "broad-based frustration about how our financial system works." <ref>[http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/186499-poll-finds-more-than-half-of-all-americans-aware-of-occupy-wall-street-protests?utm_campaign=briefingroom&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitterfeed Poll finds majority of Americans aware of Occupy Wall Street protests], ''The Hill'', October 10, 2011.</ref>

==The 99% Declaration==
As part of Occupy Wall Street, a [[progressive]]-[[socialist]] organization called the 99 Percent Declaration Working Group issued the following "Declaration" on October 7, 2011.<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/the99percentdeclaration/ The99PercentDeclaration]</ref>

{{Cquote|WHEREAS THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION PROVIDES:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

WE, THE NINETY-NINE PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in order to form a more perfect Union, by, for and of the PEOPLE, shall elect and convene a NATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY beginning on July 4, 2012 in the City Of Philadelphia.

I. Election of Delegates:

The People, consisting of all United States citizens who have reached the age of 18, regardless of party affiliation and voter registration status, shall elect Two Delegates, one male and one female, by direct vote, from each of the existing 435 Congressional Districts to represent the People at the NATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY in Philadelphia. Said Assembly shall convene on July 4, 2012 in the city of Philadelphia.

The office of Delegate shall be open to all United States citizens who have reached the age of 18. Election Committees, elected by local General Assemblies from all over the United States, shall coordinate with the 99 Percent Declaration Working Group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/the99declaration/) to organize, coordinate and fund this national election by direct democratic voting. The Election Committees shall operate like the original Committees of Correspondence did '''before''' the first American Revolution.

II. Meeting of the National General Assembly and Deliberation:

At the NATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY, the 870 Delegates shall set forth, consider and vote upon a PETITION OF GRIEVANCES to be submitted to all members of Congress, The Supreme Court and President and each of the political candidates running in the nationwide Congressional and Presidential election in November 2012. The Delegates of the National General Assembly shall vote upon and implement their own agenda, propagate their own rules and elect or appoint committee members as the Delegates see fit to accomplish their goal of presenting a PETITION OF GRIEVANCES from the 99% of Americans before the 2012 elections.

III. Proposed Petition for the Redress of Grievances:

The PETITION OF GRIEVANCES shall be non-partisan and address the critical issues now confronting the People of the United States. The Delegates shall deliberate and vote upon proposals for the PETITION OF GRIEVANCES in consultation with the People as the delegates to the first two Continental Congresses did. Below is a suggested list of grievances respectfully submitted by the OWS Working Group on the 99% Declaration. The final version of the PETITION OF GRIEVANCES voted upon by the Delegates of the National General Assembly MAY or MAY NOT include the following suggested issues:

1. Implementing an immediate ban on all private contributions of money and gifts, to all politicians in federal office, from Individuals, Corporations, Political Action Committees, Super Political Action Committees, Lobbyists, Unions and all other private sources of money to be '''replaced by''' the fair and equal '''public financing''' of all federal political campaigns. We categorically REJECT the concept that money is equal to free speech because if that were so, then only the wealthiest would have a voice. These actions must be taken because it has become clear that '''politicians''' in the United States cannot regulate themselves and '''have become the exclusive''' [[Seventeenth Amendment|representatives of corporations, unions]] and the very wealthy who spend vast sums of money on political campaigns to influence the candidates’ decisions and ensure their reelection year after year.

2. The immediate reversal, even if it requires a Constitutional Amendment, of the outrageous and anti-democratic holding in the "Citizens United" case by the Supreme Court, which equates the payment of money by corporations, wealthy individuals and unions to politicians with free speech. We, the People, demand that institutional bribery and corruption not be deemed protected speech.

3. Prohibiting all federal public officials and their immediate family members, whether elected or appointed, from EVER being employed by any corporation they regulate while in office and/or holding any stock or shares in any corporation they regulate while in office until a full 5 years after their term is completed.

4. A complete lifetime ban on accepting all gifts, services, money, directly or indirectly, to any elected or appointed federal officials or their immediate family members, from any person, corporation, union or other entity that the public official was charged to regulate while in office.

5. A complete reformation of the United States Tax Code to require ALL citizens to '''pay''' a fair share of a [[progressive]], graduated [[income tax]] by '''eliminating''' loopholes, unfair '''tax breaks''', exemptions and deductions, subsidies (e.g. oil, gas and farm) and ending all other methods of evading taxes. The current system of taxation favors the wealthiest Americans, many of whom, pay fewer taxes to the United States Treasury than citizens who earn much less and pay a much higher percentage of income in taxes to the United States Treasury. We, like [[Warren Buffett]], find this income tax disparity to be fundamentally unjust.

6. Medicare for all American citizens or another [[socialized medicine|single-payer healthcare system]], adjusted by a means test (i.e. citizens who can afford it may opt-out and pay their own health insurance or opt-in and pay a means tested premium). The Medicaid program, fraught with [[corruption]] and [[fraud]], will be eliminated '''except for the purpose of providing''' emergency room care to [[illegal aliens|indigent non-citizens]] who will not be covered by the '''single-payer program'''.

7. New comprehensive regulations to '''give''' the [[Environmental Protection Agency]] '''expanded powers''' to shut down corporations, businesses or any entities that intentionally or recklessly damage the environment and/or criminally prosecute individuals who intentionally damage the environment. We also demand the immediate adoption of the most recent '''international protocols''', including the "Washington Declaration" to [[Cap and Trade|cap carbon emissions]] and implement new and existing programs to transition away from fossil fuels to reusable or carbon neutral sources of power.

8. Adoption of an immediate plan to reduce the national debt to a sustainable percentage of GDP by 2020. Reduction of the national debt to be achieved by BOTH a cut in spending to corporations engaged in perpetual war for profit, the "healthcare" industry, the pharmaceutical industry and all other sectors that use the federal budget as their income stream AND a truly '''progressive income tax code''' that does not allow the wealthy and corporations to evade taxes through excessive deductions, subsidies and loopholes. We agree that spending cuts are necessary but those cuts must be made to facilitate what is best for the People of the United States of America, not multinational and domestic corporations.

9. '''Passage of''' a comprehensive job and job-training act like the [[Stimulus bill|American Jobs Act]] to employ our citizens in jobs that are available with specialized training and by putting People to work now by repairing America's crumbling infrastructure. We also recommend the '''establishment of an online international job exchange''' to match employers with skilled workers or employers willing to train workers in 21st century skills.

10. Student loan debt relief. Our young People and students are more than $830 billion in debt from education loans alone. Payment and interest on these debts should be deferred for periods of unemployment and the principal on these loans reduced '''using a corporate tax surcharge.'''

11. Immediate passage of the [[Dream Act]] and comprehensive immigration and border security reform including offering visas, lawful permanent resident status and citizenship to the world’s brightest People to stay and work in our industries and schools after they obtain their education and training in the United States.

12. Recalling all military personnel at all non-essential bases and refocusing national defense goals to address threats posed by the geopolitics of the 21st century, including terrorism and limiting the large scale deployment of military forces to instances where Congressional approval has been granted to counter the Military Industrial Complex's goal of perpetual war for profit.

13. '''Mandating new educational goals''' to train the American public to perform jobs in a 21st Century economy, '''particularly''' in the areas of technology and '''green energy''', taking into consideration the redundancy caused by technology and the inexpensive cost of labor in China, India and other countries and paying our teachers a competitive salary commensurate with the salaries of employees in the private sector with similar skills.

14. Subject to the elimination of corporate tax loopholes and exploited exemptions and deductions stated above, offering tax incentives to businesses to remain in the United States and hire its citizens rather than outsource jobs and reconstruct the manufacturing capacity of the United States. In conjunction with a new jobs act, '''reinstitution''' of the Works Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps '''or a similar emergency governmental agency tasked with creating new public works projects''' to provide jobs to the 46 million People living in poverty, the 9.1% unemployed and 10% underemployed.

15. Implementing of immediate legislation to encourage China and our other trading partners to end currency manipulation and reduce the trade deficit.

16. Immediate reenactment of the Glass-Steagall Act and '''increased regulation of Wall Street and the financial industry''' by the SEC, FINRA and the other financial regulators, and the commencement of a Justice Department criminal investigations into the Securities and Banking industries practices that led to the collapse of markets, $700 billion bail-out, and financial firm failures in 2007-2008.

17. Adoption of a plan similar to President Clinton’s proposal to end the mortgage crisis and instead of the Federal Reserve continuing to lower interest rates for loans to banks who are refusing to loan to small businesses and consumers, '''the Federal Reserve shall buy all underwater or foreclosed mortgages and refinance these debts at 1% or less to be managed by the newly established Consumer Financial Protection Bureau''' (and foreclosure task force described below) because 1% or less is the interest rate the Federal Reserve loans to the banks directly who hoard the cash rather than loan it to the People and small businesses.

18. An immediate one year freeze on '''all foreclosures to be reviewed by an independent foreclosure task force appointed by Congress and the Executive Branch''' to (in conjunction with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ) determine, on a case by case basis, whether foreclosure proceedings should continue based on the circumstances of each homeowner and propriety of the financial institution's conduct.

19. Subject to the above ban on all private money and gifts in politics, to enact '''additional campaign finance reform requiring''' free air time and '''public campaign finances''' to all candidates who obtain sufficient petition signatures and/or votes to participate in the primaries and/or electoral process, to shorten the campaign season and to allow voting on weekends and holidays.

20. An immediate withdrawal of all troops from Iraq and Afghanistan and a substantial increase in the amount of funding needed for veteran job placement and the treatment of the physical and emotional injuries sustained by veterans in these wars. Our veterans are committing suicide at an unprecedented rate and we must help now.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that IF the PETITION OF GRIEVANCES approved by the 870 Delegates of the NATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY in consultation with the PEOPLE, is not acted upon by Congress, the President, and Supreme Court, to the satisfaction of the Delegates of the NATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY, said Delegates shall organize a THIRD, COMPLETELY NON-PARTISAN, INDEPENDENT POLITICAL PARTY to run candidates for every available Congressional seat in the mid-term election of 2014 and again in 2016 until all vestiges of the existing corrupt corporatocracy have been removed by the ballot box.}}

==13 demands==
The content below is listed on the Occupy Wall Street website by an affiliated protester. OWS has made their intentions known that it is an unofficial post and they do not have an official list of demands. Per their website,

{{cquote|Demand one: Restoration of the living wage. This demand can only be met by ending “Freetrade” by re-imposing trade tariffs on all imported goods entering the American market to level the playing field for domestic family farming and domestic manufacturing as most nations that are dumping cheap products onto the American market have radical wage and environmental regulation advantages. Another policy that must be instituted is raise the minimum wage to twenty dollars an hr.

Demand two: Institute a universal single payer healthcare system. To do this all private insurers must be banned from the healthcare market as their only effect on the health of patients is to take money away from doctors, nurses and hospitals preventing them from doing their jobs and hand that money to wall st. investors.

Demand three: Guaranteed living wage income regardless of employment.

Demand four: Free college education.

Demand five: Begin a fast track process to bring the fossil fuel economy to an end while at the same bringing the alternative energy economy up to energy demand.

Demand six: One trillion dollars in infrastructure (Water, Sewer, Rail, Roads and Bridges and Electrical Grid) spending now.

Demand seven: One trillion dollars in ecological restoration planting forests, reestablishing wetlands and the natural flow of river systems and decommissioning of all of America’s nuclear power plants.

Demand eight: Racial and gender equal rights amendment.

Demand nine: Open borders migration. anyone can travel anywhere to work and live.

Demand ten: Bring American elections up to international standards of a paper ballot precinct counted and recounted in front of an independent and party observers system.

Demand eleven: Immediate across the board debt forgiveness for all. Debt forgiveness of sovereign debt, commercial loans, home mortgages, home equity loans, credit card debt, student loans and personal loans now! All debt must be stricken from the “Books.” World Bank Loans to all Nations, Bank to Bank Debt and all Bonds and Margin Call Debt in the stock market including all Derivatives or Credit Default Swaps, all 65 trillion dollars of them must also be stricken from the “Books.” And I don’t mean debt that is in default, I mean all debt on the entire planet period.

Demand twelve: Outlaw all credit reporting agencies.

Demand thirteen: Allow all workers to sign a ballot at any time during a union organizing campaign or at any time that represents their yeah or nay to having a union represent them in collective bargaining or to form a union.}}

===Other Demands===
On September 21, 2011, an unofficial list of 11 demands (each labeled "our one demand") was posted on the Occupy Wall Street website from "the fifth communiqué."<ref>[http://occupywallst.org/article/a-message-from-occupied-wall-street-day-five/ A Message From Occupy Wall Street]</ref> The group claimed the following demands.
{{Cquote|On September 21st, 2011, Troy Davis, an innocent man, was murdered by the state of Georgia. Troy Davis was one of the 99 percent.

Ending capital punishment is our one demand.

On September 21st, 2011, the richest 400 Americans owned more wealth than half of the country's population.

Ending wealth inequality is our one demand.

On September 21st, 2011, four of our members were arrested on baseless charges.

Ending police intimidation is our one demand.

On September 21st, 2011, we determined that Yahoo lied about occupywallst.org being in spam filters.

Ending corporate censorship is our one demand.

On September 21st, 2011, roughly eighty percent of Americans thought the country was on the wrong track.

Ending the modern gilded age is our one demand.

On September 21st, 2011, roughly 15% of Americans approved of the job Congress was doing.

Ending political corruption is our one demand.

On September 21st, 2011, roughly one sixth of Americans did not have work.

Ending joblessness is our one demand.

On September 21st, 2011, roughly one sixth of America lived in poverty.

Ending poverty is our one demand.

On September 21st, 2011, roughly fifty million Americans were without health insurance.

Ending health-profiteering is our one demand.

On September 21st, 2011, America had military bases in around one hundred and thirty out of one hundred and sixty-five countries.

Ending American imperialism is our one demand.

On September 21st, 2011, America was at war with the world.

Ending war is our one demand.}}

== Occupy Wall Street and anti-semitism ==

Several anti-Semitic incidents have been reported during "Occupy Wall Street" demonstrations in New York as Jews were blamed for the turmoil in America's financial markets. In addition, anti-Israel signs were raised against "Israel's occupation of Gaza". <ref>[http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2011/10/11/occupy-wall-street-has-an-anti-semitism-problem/ Occupy Wall Street Has an Anti-Semitism Problem, Commentary.com, October 11, 2011]</ref> Anti-Semitic sign bearers and speakers who have latched onto the Occupy demonstrations have Jewish leaders in Chicago concerned. <ref>[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4135361,00.html Anti-Semitism tainting Occupy Wall Street protests, Ynet News, October 16, 2011]</ref>

Occupy Boston protest camp marched to the building that houses the Israeli consulate and held a brief sit-in in the building’s lobby. <ref>[http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2011/11/stunner-jew-bashing-obama-endorsed-occupy-boston-loons-hold-sit-in-protest-at-israeli-consulate-video/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+gatewaypundit2+%28Gateway+Pundit%29 Stunner… Jew-Bashing Obama-Endorsed Occupy Boston Loons Hold Sit-in Protest at Israeli Consulate, Gateway Pundit, November 5, 2011]</ref>

== Occupy Wall Street and bestiality chant ==

''See also:'' [[Occupy Wall Street and bestiality chant]] and [[Liberalism and bestiality]]

[[Bestiality]] is the act of engaging in sexual relations with an animal. A crowd at Occupy Wall Street was led to repeat various chants which included a chant involving bestiality and the incident was videotaped.<ref>[http://rightwingnews.com/john-hawkins/the-10-greatest-moments-from-the-occupy-wall-street-protests-so-far/ The 10 Greatest Moments From The Occupy Wall Street Protests So Far]</ref>

Below is an excerpt of the chant:
{{cquote|Everything seems to be possible. [Crowd Parrot Chant] You can travel to the moon. [CPC] You can become immortal [CPC] by biogenetics. You can have sex with animals, or whatever. [CPC].<ref>[http://rightwingnews.com/john-hawkins/the-10-greatest-moments-from-the-occupy-wall-street-protests-so-far/ The 10 Greatest Moments From The Occupy Wall Street Protests So Far]</ref>}}

==Supporters, sponsors, and sympathizers that endorse Occupy Wall Street==
Official list of Occupy Wall Street’s supporters, sponsors and sympathizers <ref>[http://pjmedia.com/zombie/2011/10/31/the-99-official-list-of-ows/ The 99%: Official list of Occupy Wall Street’s supporters, sponsors and sympathizers, Pajamas media, October 31, 2011]</ref>

* [[Charlie Rangel]]
* [[Nancy Pelosi]]<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/pelosi-supports-occupy-wall-street-movement/story?id=14696893#.Trf44HL4JJE Pelosi Supports Occupy Wall Street Movement - ABC News]</ref>
* [[Barack Obama]]<ref>[http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-10-11/politics/30265829_1_wall-street-middle-class-republicans It's Official: Obama Has Embraced Occupy Wall Street], bussinessinsider.com, October 10, 2011.</ref>
* [[Debbie Wasserman Schultz]]<ref>[http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/10/11/debbie_wasserman_schultz_fully_embraces_occupy_movement.html Debbie Wasserman Schultz Fully Embraces "Occupy" Movement - Real Clear Politics]</ref>
* [[Michael Moore]]
* [[Communist Party USA]]<ref>http://www.theblaze.com/stories/the-next-big-step-occupy-chicago-gives-rousing-welcome-to-communist-party-u-s-a/</ref>
* [[American Nazi Party]] <ref>[http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2011/10/figures-nazi-party-throws-support-behind-occupy-wall-street-movement/ Nazis and Communists Throw Their Support Behind Occupy Wall Street Movements, Gateway Pundit, October 15, 2011]</ref>
* [[Al Gore]]<ref>[http://www.theblaze.com/stories/al-gore-says-hes-cheering-on-the-occupy-wall-street-movement/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews Al Gore Says He's Cheering On The Occupy Wall Street Movement], ''The Blaze'', October 2011.</ref>
* [[Barney Frank]]<ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/66412.html</ref>
* [[Russel Simmons]]
* [[CNN]]
* [[MSNBC]]
* [[New York Times]]
* [[Washington Post]]
* [[New Black Panthers]]
* [[Van Jones]]
* [[SEIU]]
* [[George Soros]]
* [[Bill Ayers]]
* [[ACORN]]
* [[Bernie Sanders]]<ref>[http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/10/18/bernie_sanders_we_need_to_address_the_issue_of_the_rich_getting_richer.html Bernie Sanders: "We Need To Address Issue Of The Rich Getting Richer" - Real Clear Politics]</ref>
* [[Russ Feingold]]<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/russ-feingold-endorses-occupy-wall-street-this-will-make-the-tea-party-look-like--a-tea-party/2011/03/03/gIQANucZNL_blog.html Russ Feingold endorses Occupy Wall Street: “This will make the Tea Party look like ... a tea party.” - Washington Post]</ref>
* [[Rosanne Barr]]
* [[Susan Sarandon]]
* [[Kanye West]]
* [[Cornel West]]
* [[Noam Chomsky]]
* [[Alec Baldwin]]
* [[John Lewis]]
* [[Arianna Huffington]]
* [[Hugo Chavez]]
* [[Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream]]
* [[Barbara Lee]]
* [[Raúl Grijalva]]
* [[Keith Ellison]]
* [[Louise Slaughter]]
* [[Dennis Kucinich]]<ref>[http://www.examiner.com/human-rights-in-national/dennis-kucinich-others-occupy-congress-keep-occupying-wall-street Dennis Kucinich, others Occupy Congress: 'Keep Occupying Wall Street' - examianer.com]</ref>
* [[Peter DeFazio]]
* [[John Larson]]
* [[Christiane Amanpour]]
* [[Daily Kos]]
* [[MoveOn.org]]
* [[Fred Karger]]<ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2011/10/18/karger-praises-occupy-wall-street-proposes-jobs-plan/ Karger praises Occupy Wall Street, proposes jobs plan - Daily Caller]</ref>
* [[Cindy Sheehan]]<ref>[http://www.kcra.com/news/29494989/detail.html 'Occupy Wall Street' Going Global - KCRA]</ref>
* [[Mumia Abu-Jamal]]<ref>[http://www.therightscoop.com/occupy-wall-street-snags-coveted-mumia-abu-jamal-endorsement/ Occupy Wall Street snags coveted Mumia Abu-Jamal endorsement - The Right Scoop]</ref>
* [[Bill Clinton]]<ref>[http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2011/10/late-night-bill-clinton-occupy-wall-street-is-a-positive-thing.html Late Night: Bill Clinton: Occupy Wall Street is 'a positive thing' - LA Times]</ref>
* [[Lincoln Chafee]]<ref>[http://www.630wpro.com/Article.asp?id=2323467&spid=38785 Chafee: "Occupy" protestors on the right track - WPRO]</ref>
* [[Ralph Nader]]<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/consumer-advocate-ralph-nader-encourages-occupy-wall-street-222413233.html Consumer Advocate Ralph Nader Encourages "Occupy Wall Street" Protesters to Challenge Wall Street Abuses - PR Newswire]</ref>
* [[Janeane Garofalo]]<ref>[http://dailycaller.com/2011/09/29/garofalo-gop-using-herman-cain-to-keep-the-racism-very-covert/ Garofalo: GOP using Herman Cain ‘to keep the racism very covert’ - The Daily Caller]</ref>
* Ayatollah [[Ali Khamenei]], Supreme Leader of [[Iran]]<ref>[http://frontpagemag.com/2011/10/14/khamenei-cheers-on-occupy-wall-street/ Khamenei Cheers On Occupy Wall Street - FrontPage Magazine]</ref>
* [[Louis Farrakhan]]<ref>[http://www.examiner.com/generation-y-politics-in-national/occupy-wall-street-protestors-nazis Occupy Wall Street protestors Nazis, maybe socialists? - The Examiner]</ref>
* [[Pete Seeger]]<ref>[http://gawker.com/5852365/pete-seeger-joins-occupy-wall-street-with-this-little-light Pete Seeger Joins Occupy Wall Street With ‘This Little Light’ - Gawker]</ref>
* [[Patrick Leahy]]<ref>[http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/92394/ Leahy Hopes Occupy Movement Plays Role In 2012 Elections - Vermont Public Radio]</ref>
* [[Meghan McCain]]<ref>[http://powerwall.msnbc.msn.com/politics/my-day-at-occupy-wall-street-1705384.story - The Daily Beast]</ref>
* [[Jesse Jackson]]<ref>[http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/10/jesse_jackson_literally_links.html Jesse Jackson Literally Links Arms With Occupy Wall Street Protesters to Protect Medical Tent - New York Magazine]</ref>
* Former [[Louisiana]] Governor [[Buddy Roemer]]<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20118163-503544.html GOP candidate Buddy Roemer backs "Occupy Wall Street" - CBS]</ref>

==See also==
* [[One Nation]]
* [[Restore Sanity rally]]
* [[Save the American Dream rally]]
* [[Arab Spring]]

==References==
<references/>

{{liberalism}}

==External links==
* [http://occupywallst.org/ OccupyWallSt.org]
* [http://twitter.com/#!/OccupyArrests Occupy arrests tracker on Twitter]
* [http://www.breitbart.tv/sick-of-media-comparing-occupy-wall-street-to-tea-party-watch-this/ What is Occupy Wall Street? Fox News]
* [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2049137/Occupy-Wall-Street-Violence-erupts-police-clash-protesters.html Occupy Wall Street Violence Erupts]
* [http://www.maggiesnotebook.com/2011/09/us-day-of-rage-occupy-wall-street-acorn-seiu-robin-hood-tax-new-constitution/ Us Day of Rage, Occupy Wall Street: ACORN, SEIU, Robin Hood Tax, New Constitution]
* [http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/40397 “Day of Rage” Obama re-election team in disguise?]
* [http://www.theblaze.com/stories/seius-stephen-lerner-invokes-bill-ayers-days-of-rage-to-take-down-wall-street-this-september/ SEIU's Stephen Lerner Invokes Bill Ayers 'Days of Rage' To Take Down Wall Street This September]
* [http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/11/04/giuliani-obama-owns-occupy-wall-street Giuliani: "Obama Owns Occupy Wall Street"]

[[Category:Liberalism]]
[[Category:Obama Presidency]]
[[Category:Activists]]
[[Category:Liberal Organizations]]
[[Category: Anti-American]]
[[Category:Anarchists]]

Muslim Brotherhood

2011-11-16T03:23:10Z

MarkThePatriot:

'''The Muslim Brotherhood''' is the longest running radical [[Islam]]ic group in the [[Middle East]], supports [[Hamas]],<ref>[http://townhall.com/columnists/calthomas/2011/02/01/egypt_aflame/page/2 Egypt Aflame]</ref> and has advocated [[Jihad]] as well as the spread of [[Sharia Law]]<ref name="bos">http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/03/25/hear_out_muslim_brotherhood/</ref>. The organization which grew to encompass over 70 countries<ref name="ummah">http://www.ummah.net/ikhwan/</ref> including [[Syria]], [[Sudan]], and other Arab countries, was founded in [[Egypt]] by Hasan al-Banna in 1928 and has been joined by many high-profile [[Islamic terrorist]] including the founder of modern day [[jihad]]; [[Sayyid Qutb]], [[Al-Qaeda]] leader; [[Osama Bin Laden]], and Egyptian terrorist mastermind and second in command of Al-Qaeda; [[Ayman Al-Zawahiri]]<ref> The Looming Tower, al-Qaeda and the road to 9/11 (book), by Lawrence Wright</ref>.

Although the Brotherhood was disbanded in 1954{{fact}} after a botched attempt to assassinate Egyptian President [[Gamal Abdel Nasser|Abdul Nasser]], it remains operating, although less militantly. It has given rise to new more violent militias including [[Hamas]], Gama’a al-Islamiya, and Islamic Jihad<ref name="bos" />.

Despite being illegal under Egyptian law, the Muslim Brotherhood has gained success in Egypt’s parliamentary elections, winning 20 percent of the assembly's seats in 2005<ref name="bos" />.

==Goals==
The Muslim Brotherhoods’ original goal was to found a total Islamic state which was not influenced by [[Western World|Western countries]] and would fellow strictly the teachings of the [[Koran]]. The organization has also been a leader indicting [[terrorism]] and [[propaganda]] against [[Israel]] and [[Jew]]s. The Muslim Brotherhood's theme is:
<blockquote>
[[Allah]] is our objective.
"The messenger is our leader.
Quran is our law.
Jihad is our way.
Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope.<ref name="ummah" />"
</blockquote>

In 2004, the [[FBI]] seized documents relating to the plan to overthrow America titled, “An Explanatory Memorandum: On the General Strategic Goal for the Group.” <ref>[http://bigpeace.com/teamb/2010/10/26/fbi-captured-muslim-brotherhoods-strategic-plan/ FBI Captured Muslim Brotherhood’s Strategic Plan, BigPeace.com, October 26, 2010]</ref>

{{cquote|The Ikhwan must understand that their work in [[America]] is a kind of grand jihad in eliminating and destroying the [[Western civilization]] from within...}}

==Controversy within Obama Administration==

* {{clapper-muslim}}
* {{mueller-muslim}}

==References==
<references/>
[[Category: Middle East Politics]]
[[Category: Terrorism]]
[[Category: Islam]]

Sarah Palin

2011-09-28T12:31:15Z

MarkThePatriot: /* Media Disdain */

{{Officeholder
|name=Sarah Palin
|image=Sarah Palin.jpg
|party=[[Republican]]
|spouse=[[Todd Palin]]
|religion=Christian
|offices=
{{Officeholder/governor
|number=11th
|state=Alaska
|terms=December 4, 2006 - July 26, 2009
|preceded=[[Frank Murkowski]]
|former=y
|succeeded=[[Sean Parnell]]
}}
{{Officeholder/mayor
|number=
|city=Wasilla, Alaska
|terms=1996–2002
|preceded=John Stein
|former=y
|succeeded=Diane Keller
}}
}}

'''Sarah Louise Heath Palin''' (pronounced pay'-lynn) (born February 11, 1964) is a [[conservative]] [[Republican Party|Republican]] who served as the 11th [[governor]] of [[Alaska]] from 2006 through 2009. She is both the first woman and the youngest person to hold this office in the state's history. On July 3, 2009 Palin announced that she would resign as governor of Alaska.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/03/AR2009070301738.html Sarah Palin to Resign as Alaska Governor, Citing Probes and Family Needs] Rucker, Philip and Eli Saslow, July 4, 2009, washingtonpost.com, retrieved August 20, 2011</ref> Executive power was transferred to [[Lieutenant Governor]] [[Sean Parnell]].

Palin came to the nation's attention as Senator [[John McCain]]'s vice presidential running mate in the [[2008 Presidential Election]].<ref>[http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/08/palins_vp_selection_speech.html Acceptance Speech by Palin] realclearpolitics.com, August 29, 2008</ref> She is the first woman to appear on a Republican presidential ticket. In an appearance on August 30, 2008 in Washington, Pennsylvania, she was greeted by a surprisingly large crowd as she promoted the new McCain-Palin ticket. She brought a [[populism|populist]] image and a record of cutting wasteful spending and reforming government to McCain's ticket. In the summer of 2007, she was the most popular governor in America, having cut 13% of [[Alaska]]'s budget.<ref>[http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/851orcjq.asp The Most Popular Governor] Barnes, Fred, Jul 16, 2007, weeklystandard.com</ref>

She is strongly [[pro-life]], and a prominent spokesperson for [[special needs]] children. She favors more competition in health care, and pushed for abolishing the [[certificate of need]] regulations that interfere with opening new medical clinics.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/04/AR2008090403253.html?referrer=emailarticle Palin's Efforts to Reform Health Care Are Complicated] Mosk, Matthew, September 5, 2008, washingtonpost.com</ref>

Her memoir ''[[Going Rogue]]'' was published in November 2009, with Palin drawing large crowds to book signings around the country. She comments regularly on public affairs via her [[Facebook]] page, having criticized the "death panels" of the health care reform program, and praised President Obama's pro-war speech upon his receiving the [[Nobel]] Peace prize in December 2009. She appears regularly on [[Fox News Channel]].<ref>[http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/11/sarah-palin-to-contribute-to-fox-news/?scp=2&sq=Palin&st=cse Sarah Palin to contribute to Fox News] Rutenberg, Jim, January 11, 2011, Media Decoder blog, nytimes.com</ref>

Since her rise to prominence in 2008, Palin has been the subject of demonization by the left-wing mainstream media, including insults to her intellect and various sexist comments.

==Personal Background==
[[Image:Sarah Palin Todd Trig.jpg|thumb|right|250px|In this April 23, 2008 file photo, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, left, and her husband, Todd Palin, hold their baby boy Trig in Anchorage, Alaska. 
''Photo courtesy of Newsmax.com'']]

Palin was born in Sandpoint, [[Idaho]]. Her family moved to Alaska in 1964, when her parents came to teach school in Skagway. Palin attended Wasilla High School where her extracurricular activities included captaining the basketball team which went on to win the state championship.<ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122108935141721343.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Obama Can't Win Against Palin] Rove, Karl, The ''Wall Street Journal'', September 11, 2008</ref> She has lived in Skagway, Eagle River and Wasilla in Alaska.

After graduating in 1982, she went on to college, attending several institutions before earning a bachelor of science degree in communications-journalism from the [[University of Idaho]] in 1987. To earn money for college, Palin entered beauty pageants.

She worked in the media and the utility industry before beginning her career in public service in 1992.

Sarah married [[Todd Palin]], a part Yupik [[Eskimo]] and lifelong Alaskan, on August 29, 1988. Todd formerly worked at a non-management union job in the oil industry, and also as a commercial salmon fisherman. He is a four-time champion of the Iron Dog, the world's longest snowmobile race. Todd was a member of the United Steelworkers Union, and their eldest son Track served in [[Iraq]] while in the [[United States Army]]. The Palins have five children: Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper, and Trig.

Sarah Palin is a [[Labor union|union]] member, a [[moose]] hunter and holds a [[NRA]] Benefactor Life membership.<ref>[http://www.nrablog.com/post/2009/08/02/Phil-Schreier-reports-from-Alaska.aspx Phil Schreier reports from Alaska] Sturgis, Danielle, August 2, 2009, nrablog.com</ref> She stays active as a marathon runner, sports team mom, hockey manager and school volunteer. Palin enjoys hunting, fishing and Alaskan history.

Palin has been widely praised among conservatives for acting on her [[pro-life]] beliefs in the case of her youngest son, Trig, who was diagnosed with [[Down syndrome]] in the fourth month of her pregnancy. After researching the condition, she and her husband agreed to continue to pregnancy. "[My husband Todd said,] we shouldn't be asking 'Why us?' We should be saying 'Well, why not us?' We've both been very vocal about being pro life. We understand that every innocent life has wonderful potential. I'm looking at him right now, and I see perfection. Yeah, he has an extra chromosome. I keep thinking, in our world, what is normal and what is perfect?"<ref>[http://www.celebrity-babies.com/2008/05/gov-sarah-palin.html Gov. Sarah Palin discusses son Trig's Down syndrome diagnosis] ''People'' magazine, celebrity baby blog, May 3, 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=29242 Canadian Doctors 'Fear' Sarah Palin's Choice May Start a Trend] Baklinski, Thaddeus M., September 11, 2008, Catholic Online</ref>

Trig was born on April 18, 2008, four months before his mother was announced as the vice-presidential candidate. Palin wrote:
:"This new person in your life can help everyone put things in perspective and bind us together, and get everyone focused on what really matters ... Those who love him will think less about self and focus less on what the world tells [us] is 'normal' or 'perfect.'"<ref>[http://motherjones.com/files/birth_of_trig.pdf Birth of Trig] original PDF, motherjones.com, retrieved August 20, 2011</ref>

:"It's a sign of the times to be able to do this," she said. "I can think of so many male candidates who watched a families grow while they were in office. There is no reason to believe a woman can't do it with a growing family. My baby will not be at all or in any sense neglected."<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-05-10-4082128881_x.htm Alaska governor balances newborn's needs, official duties] Quinn, Steve, May 5, 2008, ''USAToday''</ref>

In September of 2008, Palin announced that her daughter Bristol was five months pregnant.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/09/01/us-usa-politics-palin-idUSN2944356420080901 Palin rebuts rumors, says daughter pregnant] Holland, Steve, September 1, 2008, reuters.com, retrieved August 20, 2011</ref> After having been given the choice, Bristol bravely chose to keep the child. Palin stated "We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents."<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-502163_162-4404184-502163.html Palin's Daughter Pregnant] Ververs, Vaughn, September 1, 2008, cbsnews.com</ref> Bristol has since gone on to promote abstinence as a realistic choice for teenagers, stating, "[A]bstinence is the only way you can effectively, 100% foolproof way you can prevent pregnancy."<ref>[http://www.lifenews.com/nat5025.html Sarah Palin’s Husband Todd, Daughter Bristol Promote Abstinence For Teenagers] Ertelt, Steven, May 6, 2009, lifenews.com</ref>

==Early political career==
===City Councilwoman===
Palin served two two-year terms on the Wasilla City Council, being first elected in 1992 when she was 28 years old.

===Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska===
In 1996, Palin ran for mayor of Wasilla against 9-year incumbent John Stien in a non-partisan race. She won the race 58% to 42%.<ref name="mayor">[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008163431_palin070.html Sarah Palin had turbulent first year as mayor of Alaska town] Armstrong, Ken and Hal Bernton, September 7, 2008, The ''Seattle Times'', retrieved on August 20, 2011.</ref> Her first months as mayor were rocky, and there was even talk of a recall, but things eventually smoothed out and she was re-elected in 1999. Palin said later of the experience, "I grew tremendously in my early months as mayor."<ref name="mayor"/>

During her time as mayor, Palin hired a Washington lobbying firm to help secure $8 million in congressionally directed spending projects, otherwise known as earmarks.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-08-31-palin-bridge_N.htm Palin backed 'bridge to nowhere' in 2006] Dilanian, Ken, September 1, 2008, USAToday.com</ref> Ms. Palin's leadership qualities were recognized when she was elected as president of the Alaska Conference of Mayors.

===Other political experience===

In 2002, she ran for Lieutenant Governor, but came in second in a four-way race. Later that year, when [[Frank Murkowski]] resigned his [[Senate]] seat to become [[governor]], she interviewed for the opening. Instead, Murkowski appointed his daughter [[Lisa Murkowski]] to the seat.

In 2003, Governor Mukowski appointed Palin to serve as Panel Ethics Commissioner of Alaska's Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, which regulates Alaska's non-renewable resources of [[oil]] and [[gasoline|gas]]. She resigned in 2004 as a protest over the "lack of ethics" of fellow panelists who had ignored her complaints of legal violations and conflicts of interest. Palin took a great political risk by revealing that Randy Reudrich, chairman of the state Republican Party, was doing political business on state time, fulfilling a [[conflict of interest]] statement that required her to report such things. This action endeared her to the people of Alaska.

To help cultivate influence and political clout in the state, Palin served from 2003 until June 2005 as one of three directors of the Ted Stevens Excellence in Public Service, Inc., a 527 group that raised funds from corporate donors.<ref>[http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/01/palin_was_a_director_of_embatt.html#more Palin Was a Director of Embattled Sen. Ted Stevens's 527 Group] Mosk, Matthew, September 1, 2008, The Trail Blog, washingtonpost.com</ref> The stated purpose of the group is, "To increase the number of Republican women in elected offices and in appointed governmental and political positions, including advisory and regulatory commissions through training and education."<ref>[http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/527/ted_stevens_excellence_in_public_service_inc.asp Ted Stevens Excellence in Public Service, Inc.] CampaignMoney.com</ref>

She has also served on the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. She was named one of Alaska's "Top 40 Under 40", Alaska's Public Works "Person of the Year", and was inducted into the Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society at Alaska Pacific University. Palin has served on numerous boards and commissions throughout the state.

==Governor of Alaska==

Palin ran for governor in 2006 on a clean government platform, and accomplished a political rarity in defeating the incumbent Governor [[Frank Murkowski]] in the Republican primary. Palin went on to defeat former Governor [[Tony Knowles]] in the general election. Some of the highlights of her governorship include: cutting expenses of Alaska's government, freezing government hiring, reducing earmarks by 86%, and championing the private sector.

===Energy and Oil===

Palin spoke a great deal about harnessing [[oil]] and natural [[gas]] resources, and in March 2007, presented the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act (AGIA), a bill promoting the construction of a gas pipeline.<ref>[http://www.petroleumnews.com/pntruncate/0001000.shtml Governor gets AGIA] Nelson, Kristen, week of May 20, 2007, petroleumnews.com, retrieved August 20, 2011</ref> The bill received bipartisan support, and was signed into law by Governor Palin in June. In August of 2008 she signed legislation giving state authority to award TransCanada Corp a license to build and operate a multibillion-dollar pipeline to ship natural gas from the North Slope.<ref>[http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=2e84b1e8-9a4a-4558-ad05-21b517c50fae Alaska governor signs natgas pipeline license bill] Reuters, August 28, 2008, canada.com</ref> Intended to improve Alaska's economy, it instead became a vehicle to pay $37 million to Transcanada, with potential liabilities for the state of up to half a billion dollars.<ref>[http://www.adn.com/2011/01/20/1659129/lawmakers-express-frustration.html Lawmakers express frustration over gas pipeline subsidies] Cockerham, Sam, January 21, 2011, adn.com</ref> The pipeline will not be profitable for 20 years based on natural gas forecasts.<ref>[http://www.adn.com/2010/12/22/1616472/report-leaves-pipeline-out-of.html Gas pipeline to be pushed back, federal agency predicts] Bohner, Becky, December 23rd, 2010, adn.com</ref> As of February 2011, Alaska's lawmakers were looking for exit strategies from the plan.<ref>[http://www.adn.com/2011/02/04/1684449/alaska-lawmakers-propose-ditching.html Alaska lawmakers propose ditching Palin gas line program] Bohner, Becky, February 4, 2011, adn.com</ref>

As governor, Palin created a new subcabinet that develops policies to reduce greenhouse gases and help the state adapt to [[climate change]]. She supports oil production in ANWR, connecting it with national security.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GE11URmmnc Youtube.com interview with Palin posted August 28, 2008]</ref>

Alaska was not significantly affected by the 2007 [[housing bubble]] crash, however, the dollar did soften, which raised the price of oil in the global market without raising the costs of production. This led to windfall profits for Alaska. Despite oil companies' objections, Palin worked with the [[Democrats]] in the Alaska state legislature to approve a major increase in taxes on the oil industry.<ref>[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008103325_alaskatax07.html Windfall tax lets Alaska rake in billions from Big Oil] Gonzalez, Angel and Hal Bernton, August 10, 2008, The ''Seattle Times''</ref> This bill, known as "Alaska's Clear and Equitable Share" (ACES), was lampooned by the conservative talk radio media as Alaskans Clearly Entering Socialism.<ref>Rick Rydell Radio Program, 650KENI.com, 2/8/2011, 8:43 AM Alaska Standard Time</ref>.) The state sent Alaskans a $1200 check to help pay for increased gas prices, using the increased revenues from the tax.<ref>[http://hotair.com/archives/2008/08/11/palin-backed-alaskan-windfall-profits-tax/ Palin backed Alaskan windfalls-profit tax]</ref> Palin's successor, Governor Sean Parnell, and Republican Alaska legislatures have criticized ACES, stating the taxes have prevented further oil and gas development in the state.<ref>[http://www.adn.com/2011/06/04/v-printer/1899655/palin-flaunts-alaska-alaskans.html Palin flaunts Alaska; Alaskans unsure about her] Cockerham, Sean, June 4, 2011, adn.com, retrieved August 20, 2011</ref>

Palin also announced on May 21, 2008 that the state would challenge a recent listing of [[polar bears]] as a threatened species as she and other Alaska elected officials feared such a listing would cripple oil and gas development in prime polar bear habitat off the state's northern and northwestern coasts. Palin's belief is that there is not enough evidence to support a listing, asserting that polar bears are well-managed and their population has dramatically increased over 30 years as a result of conservation.

As governor of Alaska in Jan. 2009, Palin announced support for [[Alternative energy]] programs as she proposed a statewide energy plan that called for 50% of Alaska's power to be generated by renewable resources by 2025.<ref> Dan Joling, "Palin unveils state energy goals," [http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/657216.html ''Anchorage Daily News'' Jan. 16, 2009]</ref>

Palin has pointed out how environmentalists are responsible for locking up safer drilling areas on dry land, effectively forcing offshore drilling to become the preferred mode of acquiring oil, and inviting crises like the [[Gulf of Mexico oil spill]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nysun.com/editorials/sarah-palins-way-of-thinking/86988/|work=[[The New York Sun]]|format=HTML|title=Sarah Palin’s Way of Thinking|date=June 5th 2010|language=English|quote=Governor Palin’s point will, we predict, become only more logical in the face of the disaster of the Deepwater Horizon. And she will increasingly come to be seen as having a clear way of thinking. She thinks like an economist. She understands that policies have consequences. If one wants, as the environmentalists have been doing for a decade, to restrict onshore drilling, it is going to incent offshore drilling.}}</ref>

===State Economy===
[[Image:Govp_2008stos_large.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Gov. Sarah Palin delivering her 2008 State of the State address]] At first, Palin supported the Gravina Island Bridge Project, otherwise known as the "Bridge to Nowhere". In September 2006, during a stop in [[Ketchikan]] as part of her gubernatorial campaign, Palin stated, "OK, you've got Valley trash standing here in the middle of nowhere," Palin said, according to an account in the Ketchikan Daily News. "I think we're going to make a good team as we progress that bridge project."<ref>[http://www.adn.com/sarahpalin/story/511471.html Palin touts stance on 'Bridge to Nowhere']</ref> The $398 million bridge would have connected Ketchikan, on Revillagigedo Island in southern southeast Alaska, to its airport on nearby Gravina island. The Anchorage Daily News also quoted her in an October, 2006 article as saying yes, she would continue state funding for the bridge because she wanted swift action on infrastructure projects. "The window is now while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist," she said.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080831/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_bridge_to_nowhere;_ylt=Am.NkRx1mLWk9A34FLhn8IADW7oF Critics: Palin used 'Bridge to Nowhere' for gain]</ref> Palin announced her opposition to the project in a 2007 press release.

She has stated her opposition arose because of the excessive amount of pork-barrel spending in the project, and that she would not fund the $329 million that was short for the budget.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/22/alaska.bridge.ap/</ref> This reversal cost her the support of prominent Alaskan Republicans like Former state House Speaker Gail Phillips, who said, "You don't tell a group of Alaskans you support something and then go to someplace else and say you oppose it". Palin instead said that the best option would be to upgrade the ferry system. However, the money that was retained from the earmark was not used for the ferry system, but was spent building a road on Gravina Island that links to the site of the canceled bridge.<ref name="bridge">http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN3125537020080901 Palin "bridge to nowhere" line angers many Alaskans</ref>

Prominent Alaskan politicians criticized Palin for not "giving back" money earmarked for the project. These critics included her Republican campaign coordinator in Ketchikan, who stated that "She said 'thanks but no thanks,' but they kept the money".<ref name="bridge" /> However, state governments do not "give back" money in the manner proposed.

Three times during Palin's time as mayor, earmark funding for projects in Wasilla were noted in [[John McCain]]'s list of "objectionable" spending in 2001 and 2002. McCain's list of spending approved without normal budget scrutiny identified a $500,000 earmark for a public transportation project in the city and a $1 million earmark for an emergency communications center while $450,000 was set aside for an agricultural processing facility.<ref>[http://www.latimes.com/news/la-na-earmarks3-2008sep03,0,6145252.story McCain had criticized earmarks from Palin]</ref> Palin, of course, as mayor of a small town had no ability to put these items in a Congressional bill, but her town did benefit from earmarked spending given to Alaska.

=== Foreign Policy ===
[[Image:Ftwainwright_govp_05s.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Governor Sarah Palin visits Strykers at Fort Wainwright, where she is briefed on how the troops are trained and what the training grounds provide.]]
Palin served as Commander in Chief of the Alaska Army [[National Guard]]. In 2007 she visited troops in [[Germany]] and [[Kuwait]]. According to Major General Craig E. Campbell, the adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard who commands the roughly 3,800 state militia members, the Alaskan governor is not in the site's chain of command and has no authority over its operations. He told the Associated Press on August 31st that he and Palin play no role in national defense activities, even when they involve the Alaska National Guard. He went on to state that the entire operation is under federal control.<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/31/ap/politics/main4401854.shtml GOP Cites Palin's Skill, But How Relevant Is It?]</ref>

During her first major interview, with ABC's [[Charlie Gibson]], Gibson asked Palin if she agreed with the "[[Bush Doctrine]]". Palin responded, "In what respect, Charlie?" Gibson followed, "What do you interpret it to be?" Palin answered with another question, "His world view?" Gibson still refused to answer directly but instead stated it was the doctrine Bush had proposed in September of 2002, before the Iraq war. Palin gave a response concerning Bush's attempt to eradicate Islamic extremism. Gibson then explained that the Bush doctrine refers to the right of anticipatory defense, a right to a [[Preemptive war|preemptive]] strike against any country that we think is going to attack us. What Gibson did not point out is that he himself once gave a definition of the "Bush doctrine" (a concept made up by the press that has no clear definition) that was similar to Palin's answer. Indeed it has been pointed out since that there are actually four different versions of what the Bush doctrine is and the term and meaning changes over time and place.<ref>http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/09/12/palins-definition-of-bush-doctrine-hits-the-gibson-mark/</ref>

===Legislature Investigation===
On July 11th Palin's chief of Staff fired Commissioner of Public Safety Walt Monegan, she was heavily criticized for the action on the 12th in the state newspapers and on the 14th in the conservative talk radio media <ref>Rick Rydell, Mike Porcaro, and Eddy Burke, as well as Shannyn Moore the liberal</ref>, and on the Blog of prominent Alaskan Republican Andrew Halcro on the 17th, because Walt Monegan was a very popular administrator. The outrage was 1.5 months before she was announced for VP. On the 11th of August of 2008, the [[Alaska]] state legislature began an investigation of Palin and her staff for potential abuse of power in regards to a firing of Monegan, The vote to begin this action was held on July 28th, two weeks and two days after the firing. Legally, Palin could dismiss Monegan at any time as he serves at the pleasure of the governor. Monegan was dismissed from his position in July of 2008, which Palin's political opponents claim was due to Monegan's refusal to fire trooper Mike Wooten, Palin's former brother-in-law who had a history of complaints including tasering his 10 year old stepson.<ref name="pc">http://www.postchronicle.com/news/original/article_212168861.shtml</ref> Palin says she released Monegan due to differences on budgeting. In an interview Monegan said that he was never told specifically by Sarah Palin to fire the state trooper Mike Wooten.<ref name="pc" />

Palin has denied the charges and, as is customary, the State of Alaska has hired a lawyer to represent her office in the investigation. August 25th, the Legislative Council voted 12-0 to hire Democratic state senator Hollis French as the investigator.<ref>[http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=59d_1220063478 Investigation into Governor Sarah Palin's abuse of powers] CBS 11, August 30, 2008</ref> The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 3-2 and the House Judiciary Committee voted 7-0. The State's attorney released this statement:<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/cvn_palin_troopergate Palin hires attorney for Troopergate investigation]</ref>

:The governor of every state gets legal counsel and this attorney is part of a weeks-old effort to provide this governor defense in a series of outlandish politically motivated charges. This legal defense is neither new nor uncommon nor at all political. It is a matter of her job and is not recent and it is not related to her selection on the McCain-Palin ticket.

The McCain campaign came out with a picture that includes three lead state Democratic legislators investigating the Branchflower probe, known as ‘Troopergate'. The photo shows the three of them at [[Obama]] headquarters in Anchorage, Alaska in July. The photo did not include any of the Republicans also calling for investigation. The McCain campaign said the whole investigation is politically tainted and compromised. Republican Rep. John Coghill of North Pole called on managing investigator, legislator French to step down from the probe, saying he no longer had confidence in his objectivity. "These statements cause me to think that the report is already written even though the investigation is only just begun and the most important witnesses have not even been interviewed,” Coghill wrote in a letter calling for French’s replacement. “The investigation appears to be lacking in fairness, neutrality and due process.”<ref>[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2078644/posts McCain Camp has pictures of "troopergate" investigators at Obama Headquarters] FreeRepublic.com, September 9, 2008</ref> Democratic State Senator Kim Elton, head of the legislative council overseeing the investigation, said the decisions made by Sen. Hollis French "have been appropriate, bipartisan ... and unchallenged" and that French has called the comments he made last week "regrettable".<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/08/palin.investigation/ Head of Palin trooper probe will stay, lawmaker says]</ref> Lawyer Thomas Van Flein called the investigation "unlawful and unconstitutional" and said the man hired to run it, former prosecutor Stephen Branchflower, has a conflict of interest because he is a friend of the fired commissioner.<ref>[http://www.adn.com/troopergate/story/522488.html Palin's attorney calls investigator biased] Ap, September 11, 2008</ref>

The investigation issued its report for the Alaska State Legislative Council on October 10, 2008, concluding that Monegan's refusal to fire the trooper was not the sole reason he was dismissed, but was likely a contributing factor. The author of the report, Stephen Branchflower, focused on two questions of the inquiry: did Palin fire Walt Monegan improperly, and was the firing solely because of his refusal to fire her ex brother-in-law. "Governor Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda, to wit: to get Trooper Michael Wooten fired," Branchflower wrote.<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE4998X420081011</ref> Based on this, Branchflower claims that "I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act."<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/DOWNLOAD.pdf Page 8</ref>

In accordance with the second question the report focused on, Branchflower wrote, "I find that, although Walt Monegan's refusal to fire Trooper Michael Wooten was not the sole reason he was fired by Governor Sarah Palin, it was likely a contributing factor to his termination as Commissioner of Public Safety," Branchflower wrote. The second finding of the report reads: "In spite of that, Governor Palin's firing of Commissioner Monegan was a proper and lawful exercise of her constitutional and statutory authority to hire and fire executive branch department heads." Branchflower also dismissed the Palins' assertions that they were afraid of Wooten because of threats they said he made. "Such claims of fear were not bona fide and were offered to provide cover for the Palins' real motivation: to get Trooper Wooten fired for personal family related reasons," he wrote.<ref>http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10692757?source=most_viewed</ref>

A preemptive response to this report was issued by the McCain/Palin campaign on October 9th, in which the campaign's own investigation concluded that Palin "acted within her proper and lawful authority in the reassignment of Walt Monegan".<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE4998X420081011</ref>

In the end the "October Surprise" predicted by the head of the commission came to pass. Although the commission was asked not to release its findings until after the election to avoid political posturing, they refused to do so. Apart from tarring and feathering Palin, the report made no recommendations for any further inquiries or punishment, as it was understood that there was no case to do so. No direct reports of Sarah Palin abusing her power were ever produced or asking for the official to be fired were ever produced, but that didn't stop the report from drawing its conclusions based upon conjecture without evidence. Indeed, after the hoopla over the report subsided, the state personnel board released its finding that exonerated her of any wrongdoing.<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081104/ap_on_el_pr/palin_troopergate</ref>

===Resignation===
In July of 2009, Governor Palin held a national press conference to announce that she would resign her office effective July 26, 2009. She explained:
{{Cquote|My choice is to take a stand and effect change – not hit our heads against the wall and watch valuable state time and money, millions of your dollars, go down the drain in this new environment. Rather, we know we can effect positive change outside government at this moment in time, on another scale, and actually make a difference for our priorities – and so we will, for Alaskans and for Americans.<ref>[http://www.gov.state.ak.us/exec-column.php Executive Column: Palin's resignation announcement]</ref>}}

That decision was based on the Democrat strategy of filing frivolous court grievances against the governor, more than 13 since November 2008, costing Alaska taxpayers over $1 million. She would be triumphant in all those legal battles not losing once. The [[liberal]] criticism strategy shifted to call her a quitter over her decision not to complete her term of office and for pursuing media and financial opportunities.

==Vice Presidential Candidate==
[[Image:Palin Family..jpg|thumb|right|Palin family members at the announcement of Palin's vice presidential selection, August 29, 2008. From left: Todd, Piper, Willow, Bristol, and Trig.]]
On August 29, 2008, Republican John McCain announced the selection of Sarah Palin for his vice presidential running mate.<ref>http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/sarah_palin_vp/2008/08/29/126138.html</ref> The selection was a surprise, as those in the media were expecting [[Minnesota]] Governor [[Tim Pawlenty]] or former [[Massachusetts]]'s Governor [[Mitt Romney]]. Palin added youth and executive experience to the ticket. She is the first female vice presidential candidate on a Republican ticket, and only the second one from a major political party in U.S. history. [[Democrat]] [[Geraldine Ferraro]] was the first, as [[Walter Mondale]]'s running mate in 1984.

Palin's speech before the Republican convention on Wednesday, September 3rd was watched by over 40 million people. As many people watched her as watched Obama's acceptance speech on the final day of the Democratic convention.
===Democrat Responses===
In a possible problem for the Democratic ticket, a majority of people believed that the press was trying to hurt Palin<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/story/rasmussen/20080904/pl_rasmussen/palinmedia20080904;_ylt=AqErk__wZIKdoVvqUXdr44Nh24cA</ref> and that type of unwarranted attack could have backfired into more support for the McCain/Palin ticket especially with unaffiliated voters believing the press is purposely attacking Palin by a 49% to 32% margin.

Many Democrats had advised the Obama campaign to ignore Palin, fearing that emphasis on her inexperience will backfire against Obama himself.<ref>[http://www.portfolio.com/views/blogs/capital/2008/09/05/tips-for-obama-ignore-palin-dis-mccain Matt Coopoer, "Tips for Obama: Ignore Palin, Dis McCain," Sept. 5, 2008, ''Conde-Nast Portfoloio.com'']</ref> She participated in a debate with the Democratic VP candidate Joe Biden on October 2, 2008, ending up being declared the winner by most credible news sources that are not influenced by liberal bias. Palin "kept Joe Biden on the defensive" and "ended up dominating [the debate]".<ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14234.html</ref>

During a campaign event in [[Virginia]], Barack Obama said of the McCain/Palin ticket's similar policies, "...You can put lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig."<ref>http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94481288</ref> Given the fact that she's stated "The difference between a hockey mom and a pitbull (is) lipstick" and the fact that only a female candidate would wear lipstick, the McCain camp released a web ad implying that the comment was targeting Governor Palin. The ad featured video clips of Gov. Palin convention speech, Obama's remarks at the campaign event, and a clip of Katie Couric commenting on pervasive sexism in the campaign. After extensive discussion in the news media, the ad was removed from McCain's website and other video sites following a copyright claim by CBS news.<ref>[http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0908/CBS_takes_down_McCain_webad_suggests_its_misleading.html?showall]</ref>

In what prosecutors described as an attempt to derail the campaign, Palin's private email account was hacked by a liberal activist and son of a Democratic lawmaker who was charged with four felonies carrying a maximum of 50 years for criminal privacy rights violations.<ref>http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/09/18/palin_email_investigation_continues/</ref> The offender, a self described Obama supporter, was convicted and sentenced to one year.

Palin is a lightning rod to the established [[liberal]] women's movement. She, like many high profile conservative females, has taken much abuse from the left. Palin has been forced to set up a legal defense fund to help pay for fees related to an onslaught of ethic complaints, which are always frivolous.<ref>[http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/18738 Palin blasts Obama administration: Government wants to "control the people"] CNN</ref> Because she is retiring from being governor of Alaska, the anti-American liberals pat themselves on the back in glee. Liberals still fail to understand that she is ''the'' typical conservative that the majority of Americans identify with. Her principles and her outlook on Americanism is a model for all future leaders.

Palin said of the people who have filed the complaints:
{{cquote| '''Those are the folks who want to tell me, they want to tell you, to sit down and shut up. We will not do that. I just can't, because I love my state. I love my country.''' }}

===Impact on Ticket===

In the run-up to the Vice-Presidential debate on October 2, 2008, a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center attempted to measure the degree to which Palin impacted the GOP ticket positively or negatively in September.<ref>http://people-press.org/report/456/obama-regains-lead</ref> The survey compared the answers to two identical questions about her qualifications and overall favorable/unfavorable rating between polls taken in early and late September. The results show that public opinion of Palin has fallen significantly since the Republican convention, particularly in the public's opinion of her qualification to be Vice President. Faced with a barrage of negative press attacks after her nomination, some prominent Republicans like [[Mitt Romney]] believe that the isolation of Palin from the media in September was a mistake, and are calling for an increase in unscripted encounters with the press and public to counter that perception. According to Romney, "Holding Sarah Palin to just three interviews and microscopically focusing on each interview I think has been a mistake. I think they’d be a lot wiser to let Sarah Palin be Sarah Palin. Let her talk to the media, let her talk to people."<ref>http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2008/09/30/doubts-about-palin-grow-even-among-conservatives/</ref> Exit polling from the election itself had the final say on the matter of her impact on the ticket. For those who considered her nomination on the ticket to be unimportant, 57% voted for Obama. For those who considered her nomination to be important, 53% voted for Obama, thereby showing a positive overall impact on the ticket. Considering that exit polling tilts Democratic, the actual impact may have been greater.

When asked during an interview with liberal media pundit Katie Couric what newspapers and magazines Palin read (a classic [[Liberal trap]]), Palin fumbled and was unable to name any particular news source because of the side-swipe. This added fuel to charges that she was not qualified to run for Vice President, when in fact she was clearly qualified by her service as governor. Palin charges back at Couric and other liberal media attacks in her book [[Going Rogue]].

==Palin in 2012==
Palin has the support of a large, enthusiastic base on the right that is ready to work for her in Republican primaries. She has been coy about announcing plans for 2012, but she is well positioned for a presidential run. Given her personal charisma, dedication to American values, and Reagan-esque connection with average, conservative Americans, she may be able to pull off a resounding victory.<ref>[http://www.capitalcityweekly.com/stories/120308/new_363163237.shtml Sarah Palin hits Republican talking points while stumping in Georgia]</ref>

===Relaunching of Media Attacks===

Palin's is under global attack from left wing media. In June 2011 Palin expressed a desire to meet with Margaret Thatcher, one of Ronald Reagan's staunchest international allies. There was a false report by the UK Guardian Newspaper that a Thatcher aid had belittled Palin calling her nuts: [http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/wintour-and-watt/2011/jun/07/margaretthatcher-sarahpalin]. However this was later proven to be false, as Margaret Thatcher's staff denied that any such words came from her office.<ref>http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/nilegardiner/100092054/margaret-thatcher-did-not-‘snub’-sarah-palin-the-truth-about-the-iron-lady-and-the-former-governor-of-alaska/</ref>

A former Thatcher Aid who checked with her office confirmed

'''''"There was never any snub of Sarah Palin by Lady Thatcher’s office. However, there has been a great deal of mischief-making and unpleasantness from sections of the liberal press in a vain and futile attempt to use Margaret Thatcher’s name to smear a major US politician."'''''

The Guardian has a dedicated section to Sarah Palin, and participated with staff going to Alaska for the release of her emails and the enlisting of its readership to try and find any dirt. The Guardian starts most articles with simple errors such as "Ex Governor of the state with the smallest population ", a basic check would show that there are a number of states with smaller populations than Alaska including Vermont the source of 2 presidents. This is a small sample of the false information in all Guardian articles on Sarah Palin.

==SarahPAC==

On January 27, 2009 Palin formed the political action committee (PAC) SarahPAC. The organization supports "energy independence and reform" and will endorse candidates who "share Governor Palin’s ideas and goals."<ref>http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=azCCxotgdG1E&refer=home</ref>

==Beliefs==
[[Image:Palin.JPG|right|150px]]
Palin believes in [[Real America]] and has referred to it often in her speeches.

Palin filled out a policy questionnaire for the Eagle Forum Alaska during her 2006 gubernatorial race. One question asked, "Will you support funding for abstinence-until-marriage education instead of for explicit sex-education programs, school-based clinics, and the distribution of contraceptives in schools?" Palin responded, "Yes, the explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support." Yet [[public schools]] still resist teaching abstinence and instead promote sexual behavior by teenagers.

Another question asked, "Are you offended by the phrase 'Under God' in the [[Pledge of Allegiance]]? Why or why not?" Palin replied, "Not on your life. '''If it was good enough for the Founding Fathers''', it's good enough for me and I'll fight in defense of our Pledge of Allegiance."

Many liberals ignorant of the history of "under God" have tried to ridicule Palin's remark, even calling her an "idiot" for it.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/michaeltomasky/2008/sep/01/week</ref><ref>The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892, and George Washington's phrase "under God" was added to it in June 1954.</ref> In fact, the origin of the phrase "under God" is the General Orders of [[George Washington]] on July 2 and 9, 1776: "The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army" (July 2); "the peace and safety of the Country now depends, under God, solely on the success of our arms" (July 9).<ref>http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/264xqezm.asp?pg=2</ref> George Washington was indeed a [[Founding Father]], and the Founding Fathers made no secret of their Christian faith and unfailing belief in God in the [[Declaration of Independence]] and later writings.

Palin also believes that students need to learn of the controversy surrounding the [[Theory of evolution|Theory of evolution]], and that discussing Creationism should not be banned from schools. During the 2006 campaign for the Alaskan Governorship, Palin was answering a question from the moderator near the conclusion of Wednesday night's televised debate on KAKM Channel 7 when she said, "Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so important, and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both."<ref>http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/elections/story/8347904p-8243554c.html</ref> She later clarified her position by stating "I don't think there should be a prohibition against debate if it comes up in class. It doesn't have to be part of the curriculum." She added that, if elected, she would not push the state Board of Education to add such creation-based alternatives to the state's required curriculum. As of September 2008 she has kept that pledge.

In an example of liberal mockery, the [[Huffington Post]] attempted to make light of Sarah Palin's creationist beliefs, highlighting the creationism belief that [[dinosaur|dinosaurs]] and man coexisted.<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/28/palin-claimed-dinosaurs-a_n_130012.html</ref> [[Saturday Night Live]] likewise did a skit in which they had her refer to the Museum of Natural History as "that evolution museum".

==Church Life==

Sarah Palin was baptized as a [[Roman Catholic]] and, at age 12, she was rebaptized in the Wasilla Assembly of God church.<ref>{{cite web
|accessdate=2008-08-30
|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-mccainveepbio30-2008aug30,0,2159346.story
|title=Palin has risen quickly from PTA to VP pick
|author=Decker, Cathleen and Michael Finnegan,
|work=Los Angeles Times
|date=August 30, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
| last = Gorsk| first = Eric
| url = http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g4-w_DCWffagBaQb8Il9a0R2hkPAD92SL7E00
| title = Evangelicals energized by McCain-Palin ticket
| publisher =Associated Press
| date = 2008-08-30
| accessdate = 2008-08-30}}</ref>

Palin attends the Wasilla Bible Church<ref>{{cite web |first=David |last=Pepper |title=Regarding Governor Palin: A Letter from Pastor David Pepper |url=http://churchontherockak.org/Regarding-Sarah-Palin.html |publisher=Church on the Rock |accessdate=2008-09-04}}</ref>, an independent congregation,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wasillabible.org/faq.htm |title=Wasilla Bible Church FAQ |accessdate=2008-09-05 |work= |publisher= |date= }}</ref><ref name="miller">Lisa Miller and Amanda Coyne. "[http://www.newsweek.com/id/156679 A Visit to Palin's Church: Scripture and discretion on the program in Wasilla]." ''Newsweek''. Sept. 2, 2008.</ref> when at home and attended the Juneau Christian Center when in Juneau as governor.<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement Concerning Sarah Palin |url=http://www.jccalaska.com/images/10000/3000/582JU/user/palin.htm |publisher=Juneau Christian Center |date=2008-09-03 |accessdate=2008-09-04}}</ref>

In December of 2008, Palin's church was severely damaged by arson. Damage to the Wasilla Bible Church was estimated at $1 million, authorities said. No one was injured in the fire, which was set Friday night while a handful of people, including two children, were inside. <ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/13/AR2008121302503.html Palin's Church Severely Damaged by Arson, WaPo, December 14, 2008]</ref> It is widely believed that leftist Palin-haters were responsible.

==Popularity==
Palin earned the highest TV ratings at the Republican convention when she spoke, even surpassing McCain's acceptance speech, and nearly matched Obama's acceptance speech<ref>http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/media_entertainment/palin-triggers-rnc-ratings-spike/</ref>, gaining unprecedented attention. Likewise her Vice Presidential debate with [[Joe Biden]] had more viewers than any of the three debates between McCain and Obama.<ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14201.html</ref> Also, her brief appearance on Saturday Night Live in October 2008 gave the show its highest ratings in 14 years, and was actually the third highest ranked show for the week based on the number of people who tuned in originally to watch her, 17 million, even though it ran at midnight in the East Coast Market.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/oct/20/ustelevision-tvratings</ref>
'''Sarah Palin's Alaska''' her reality show on The Learning Channel (TLC) drew about 2.5 million viewers on premier Sunday night, dominating its time slot<ref>http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/12/25/sunday-1219-cable-ratings-sarah-palins-alaska-top-gear-ax-men-leverage-kendra-real-housewives-more/76555</ref> and breaking TLC records with 5 million viewers having tuned in to watch the first episode.<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/15/sarah-palins-alaska-ratings-tlc_n_783740.html</ref>

==Media Disdain==
Since day one of her nomination as vice president, the [[mainstream media | liberal media]] has sought to demonize Palin. <ref>[http://www.newsrealblog.com/2010/07/23/crucify-her-crucify-her-journalists-targeted-sarah-palin-in-non-official-campaign/ Crucify Her! Crucify Her! Journalists Targeted Sarah Palin in Non-Official campaign, Newsrealblog, July 23, 2010]</ref> Former CBS anchor Katie Couric won a journalism award for her involvement in embarrassing Palin with questions related to sources she reads. This is the same media that passes on Obama's gaffes such as Obama's uncle liberated Auschwitz, a tornado in [[Kansas]] killed 10,000 people, his visit to the 57 states of America. Not much has changed in 3-years since becoming the VP nominee. Palin toured the country by bus and [[liberal]]s became infuriated while trying to cover her every move. They went as far as accusing her of causing a "rolling menace" in traffic. <ref>[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tim-graham/2011/06/05/politico-warns-palin-bus-tour-rolling-menace-traffic Politico Warns Palin Bus Tour Is a 'Rolling Menace' in Traffic, Newsbusters.org, June 5, 2011]</ref> Mainstream journalists have been repeating the lie by calling former Alaska governor Sarah Palin an idiot. Ailes marveled at the frenzy surrounding her tour of historic sites: “She’s so smart she’s got the press corps running up the whole East Coast behind her bus.”

==''The Undefeated'' movie==
A nearly two-hour long film titled ''The Undefeated'' portrays Palin's time as Alaska's governor was released in July 2011. Conservative filmmaker Stephen K. Bannon created the film. Palin had no editorial role in the film. She reportedly saw a rough cut of the film and was blown away.<ref>[http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-presidential-primary/164781-palin-on-the-big-screen Palin on the big screen, The Hill, June 5, 2011]</ref>

==Publications==
[[File:Palin Book2.jpg|right|125px]]
* '''''[[Going Rogue: An American Life]]''''', [[Memoir]], published by Harper-Collins:(November 2009) <ref>[http://www.audacityofhypocrisy.com/2009/10/01/amazing-palin%E2%80%99s-book-number-one-on-both-amazon-and-barnes-unprecedented/ Amazing: Palin’s book number one on both Amazon and Barnes & Noble bestseller list, Audacity of Hypocrisy, October 1, 2009]</ref><ref>Rush Limbaugh. [http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_111709/content/01125120.guest.html Rush Interviews Governor Sarah Palin], ''RushLimbaugh.com'', November 17, 2009.</ref><ref>Robert Shaffer. [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/11/17/ap-turns-heads-devoting-reporters-palin-book-fact-check/ AP Turns Heads for Devoting 11 Reporters to Palin Book 'Fact Check'], ''FOXNews.com'', November 17, 2009.</ref> was a record-breaking bestseller. It was the #1 bestseller in its first week<ref>http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/25/going-rogue-goes-to-top-of-book-sales-chart/</ref> and a million copies had sold by the end of the second week.<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/01/print/main5851137.shtml</ref> Sales for the year topped two and a half million.<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/12/01/print/main5851137.shtml</ref> Palin pledged to donate royalties from books sold during the day she visited Ft. Hood to families of victims of the Nov. 6, 2009 massacre, estimated to be about $10,000.<ref>http://www.kxxv.com/story/11625002/palins-fort-hood-visit-fun-for-troops?redirected=true</ref> ''"I'm joining the efforts of many others by donating my royalties from the book sales during our stop at Fort Hood to the families of the victims whose lives have been forever changed by the tragic events."''<ref>http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2390058/posts</ref>

* '''''"America by Heart; Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag"''''', Harper-Collins, November 2010. "Palin delivers an intimate and personal look at the woman behind the public servant. In her #1 New York Times bestselling memoir Going Rogue—the bestselling nonfiction book of 2009—Palin gave readers a look at her upbringing, her dynamic career, and her candidacy next to John McCain for the Vice Presidency of the United States. In this inspirational follow-up, her reflections on faith, family, and patriotism will read like a bible of American virtues for anyone hoping to understand the truths that lie at the heart of the nation." <ref>[http://www.harpercollins.com/books/America-Heart-Sarah-Palin/?isbn=9780062010964?AA=index_authorIntro_36341 America by Heart; Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag - Harper Collins Website]</ref>

==References==

{{reflist|2}}
{{conservatism}}
==External Links==
*[http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=27200 Project Vote Smart - Governor Sarah H. Palin]
*[http://www.ontheissues.org/Sarah_Palin.htm Sarah Palin On the issues]
*[http://parentingfreedom.com/2008/09/03/sarah-palin-mother-and-first-female-vice-president-pictures-children-parenting/ Sarah Palin: Mother and First Female Vice President], ''Parenting Freedom'', September 03, 2008
*[http://churchformen.blogspot.com/2008/09/people-around-world-are-asking-who-is.html Sarah Palin, a friend of mine]
*[http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NDE3MmE5MDVmMGM1YjQ2NmVhMjJkN2I2ZTcxMzhlNjU=&w=MA== I Still Hate You, Sarah Palin] National Review Online
*[http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/256099/i-hate-you-bristol-palin-david-kahane?page=1 I Hate You, Bristol Palin] National Review Online
*[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2011/05/28/tantaros-schultz-ingraham-affair-hatred-towards-conservative-women-la Hatred Towards Conservative Women is Last Acceptable Misogyny in U.S.]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Palin, Sarah}}
[[Category:Alaska]]
[[Category:United States Mayors]]
[[Category:Alaska Governors]]
[[Category:Republican Party]]
[[Category:Republican Governors]]
[[Category:Women]]
[[Category:Tea Party Movement]]
[[Category:Featured articles]]
[[Category: Conservatives]]
[[Category:The 100 Americans The Left Hates Most]]

William Ayers

2011-09-24T15:09:33Z

MarkThePatriot:

[[Image:Features_ayers1.jpg|thumb|William Ayers as he appeared in ''Chicago Magazine''.]] '''William Charles "Bill" Ayers''' (born December 26, 1944 in Oak Park, Illinois) is currently a professor at the [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign|University of Illinois]] at [[Chicago]] and former Chicago community organizer. He is best known as a founder of the internationally supported [[terrorist]] [[Weather Underground|Weather Underground Organization]] (WUO), and good friend of U.S President [[Barack Obama]]. The WUO has often mistakenly been labeled as a Vietnam era protest organization, however many of the organizations activities continued well past the end of American involvement in [[Vietnam]],<ref>''Ambush:The Brinks Robbery of 1981'', [http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/terrorists_spies/terrorists/brinks/2.html truTV - Crime Library: Terrorists, The Weather Underground & Black Liberation Army]</ref> the fall of [[South Vietnam]], and the victory of the [[Communist]] regime of [[North Vietnam]], which was the groups oft stated goals.

Ayers is the husband of terrorist [[Bernardine Dohrn]].
 
==Early Life and Upbringing==
Ayers grew up in a wealthy home as the son of Thomas G. Ayers, former Chairman and CEO of Commonwealth Edison. <ref>Northwestern University, Obituary: Thomas Ayers Served as Board Chair from 1975 to 1986[http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2007/06/ayers.html]</ref> He lived in Glen Ellyn, a suburb of Chicago. Ayers attended public schools and received a bachelor of Arts degree from the [[University of Michigan]] in 1968. At age 21, Ayers became director of the Children's Community, a small school in a basement that did not have grades, report cards, and had children address teachers by their first names. It was part of a "free school movement."

== Internationally sponsored terrorism ==
[[Image:Ayers.jpg|left|thumb|Bill Ayers in August 1968.]]
In 1968, Ayers became leader of the [[Students for a Democratic Society]], and then a prominent leader of the violent "Weatherman group." The group was associated with other international communist guerrilla and terrorist groups, including the [[Vietcong]]. Its objective was the furtherance of [[Soviet]] foreign policy and the defeat of the U.S. in Vientam. In May 1970, the organization issued a Declaration of War<ref>FBI file, [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Weather_Underground_Declaration_of_a_State_of_War Weather Underground Declaration of a State of War]</ref> against the United States authored by Bernardine Dohrn who was later to become Ayers wife but not until other members of the group, including Ayers girlfriend at the time, blew themselves up in a bomb making factory in [[Greenwich Village]] [[New York]].
[[File:Bring the War Home2.JPG|right|thumb|SDS leaflet organizing the Chicago Days of Rage, October 11, 1969. [http://www.archive.org/stream/TheWayTheWindBlewAHistoryOfTheWeatherUnderground/waythewindblew#page/n27/mode/2up] ]]
The WUO was responsible for roughly 72 bombings in all, including the [[United States Capitol]] (March 1 1971), [[The Pentagon]] (May 19 1972), the United States [[Department of State]] (January 28 1975)<ref> [http://foia.fbi.gov/weather/weath1c.pdf FBI file Weather Underground] pgs. 67-71 pdf</ref> and numerous other targets. In 1969, the Weather Underground planted a bomb at a statue dedicated to [[police]] casualties in the 1886 [[Haymarket Riot]]. The statue was blown into pieces, but was rebuilt in 1970. It was blown up again by the Weather Underground, five months later.

Ayers stated, "I'm not so much against the war as I am for a Vietnamese victory," and "I'm not so much for peace as for a U.S. defeat."

In 1970, Ayers explained what the Weather Underground was all about: "Kill all the rich people. Break up their cars and apartments. Bring the revolution home, kill your parents, that's where it's really at."<ref>http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=76714</ref>

==The San Francisco Police Department bombing==

In sworn testimony before the U.S. [[Senate Internal Security Subcommittee]] on October 18 1974,<ref>Senate Internal Security Subcommittee, October 18, 1974 quoted in [http://www.usasurvival.org/docs/chicago-obama.pdf''Communism in Chicago and the Obama Connection''], USA Survival, Inc.</ref> an [[FBI]] informant declared,
{{cquote|"When he [Bill Ayers] returned, we had another meeting at which time -- and this is the only time that any Weathermen told me about something that someone else had done -- and Bill started off telling us about the need to raise the level of the struggle and for stronger leadership inside the Weathermen 'focals' [i.e., cells] and inside the Weatherman organization as a whole. And he cited as one of the real problems was that someone like Bernardine Dohrn had to plan, develop and carry out the bombing of the police station in San Francisco, and he specifically named her as the person that committed that act."}}

The informant added that Ayers said "the bomb was placed on the window ledge and described the kind of bomb that was used to the extent of saying what kind of shrapnel was used in it." He was asked, "Did he say who placed the bomb on the window ledge?" He replied, "Bernardine Dohrn."<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=78130 Did Ayers' wife kill policeman? FBI report said Dohrn named as bomb builder, planter], ''WorldNetDaily.com, October 16, 2008.</ref>

The ''San Francisco Chronicle'' reported on March 12 2009, in a highly unusual move, the San Francisco Police Officers Association have accused Ayers and his wife of taking part in the bombing. The Association claims,
{{cquote|There are irrefutable and compelling reasons to believe that Bill Ayers and his wife Bernardine Dohrn ... are largely responsible for the bombing of Park Police Station,}} and a cold case investigation is being called for.<ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/12/BATK16DHA4.DTL&hw=ayers&sn=001&sc=1000 S.F. police union accuses Ayers in 1970 bombing], Demian Bulwa, ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' March 12, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://marklevin.ning.com/forum/topics/ayers-dohrn-murder-case Ayers, Dohrn Murder Case Reopened] marklevin.ning.com</ref>

==Prairie Fire Organizing Committee and Maoist thought==
:''Main article : '''[[Prairie Fire Organizing Committee]]'''''

[[Image:Prairie Fire.jpg|thumb|left|150px]]

In 1974, William Ayers, Bernardine Dohrn, [[Jeff Jones]] and other members formed the [[Prairie Fire Organizing Committee]], the publishing arm of the Weather Underground Organization. The name was inspired by [[mass murder]]er [[Mao Zedong]] who said, "a single spark can set a prairie fire." Its first book was ''Prairie Fire: The Politics of Revolutionary Anti-imperialism.'' In this book, William Ayers admits that he is a communist,

:"We are a guerrilla organization. We are communist women and men, underground in the United States for more than four years."

[[Image:Dedicated to Sirhan Sirhan.jpg|thumb|right|Prairie Fire is dedicated to Sirhan Sirhan, Robert F. Kennedy's assassin.]]
Interestingly, the book lists [[Sirhan Sirhan]], [[Robert F. Kennedy]]'s assassin, among many other now-obscure '60s-era radicals, criminals and revolutionaries on the dedication page.

Ayers and his fellow co-authors brag about their numerous acts of domestic terrorism, and provide a handy list detailing not only each crime but in most cases the justification for each crime as well.
[[Image:Weather Underground bombings.jpg|thumb|right|Ayers and his fellow co-authors brag about their numerous acts of domestic terrorism.]]

Among the bombings by Ayers' group listed in the book:

*Haymarket police statue, Chicago
*Chicago police cars
*New York City police headquarters
*Marin County Courthouse
*Long Island City Courthouse
*Department of Corrections, San Francisco
*Office of California Prisons, Sacramento
*Department of Corrections, Albany NY
*103rd Precinct of New York City police
*Harvard Center for International Affairs
*[[U.S. Capitol]]
*MIT research center
*[[The Pentagon]]
*Draft and recruiting centers
*ROTC buildings
*ITT Latin America Headquarters
*National Guard Headquarters, Washington D.C.
*Presidio Army Base and MP Station, San Francisco
*Federal Offices of Health, Education and Welfare, San Francisco <ref>[http://www.zombietime.com/prairie_fire/ William Ayers' forgotten communist manifesto: Prairie Fire], zombietime.com, October 22, 2008</ref> <ref>[http://www.dakotavoice.com/2008/10/forgotten-terrorist-manifesto-prairie.html Forgotten Terrorist Manifesto: Prairie Fire], Bob Ellis, Dakota Voice, October 24, 2008</ref> <ref>[http://michellemalkin.com/2008/10/23/reading-bill-ayers/ Reading Bill Ayers], Michelle Malkin, MichelleMalkin.com, October 23, 2008</ref>

== "Guilty as hell, free as a bird" ==

Bill Ayers, his wife Bernardine Dohrn and other WUO figures were not prosecuted because of alleged [[FBI]] misconduct while investigating the foreign influence in domestic terrorism. In fact, FBI officials [[W. Mark Felt]]<ref>[http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB156/ Nixon and the FBI: The White House Tapes], National Security Archive, The George Washington Universtiy, Washington, D.C.</ref> and Edward S. Miller were indicted and convicted in November 1980 of conspiring to violate the civil rights of relatives of the Weather Underground, including Jennifer Dohrn,<ref>http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=jennifer%20dohrn</ref> sister of Bernardine, whose homes had been burglarized.

However, on April 15, 1981, President [[Ronald Reagan]] in his first 100 days granted full and unconditional pardons, saying, in part:
{{Cquote| Messrs. Felt and Miller followed procedures they believed essential to keep the Director of the FBI, the [[Attorney General]], and the [[President of the United States]] advised of the activities of hostile foreign powers and their collaborators in this country.<ref>[http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1981/41581d.htm Statement on Granting Pardons to W. Mark Felt and Edward S. Miller], April 15, 1981.</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/1983/12/01/us/two-top-fbi-officials-cleared.html Two Top F.B.I. Officials Cleared], [[New York Times]], December 1, 1983.</ref>}}

At the end of Ayers ''Fugitive Days'' he writes that he is "Guilty as hell, free as a bird—it’s a great country." Historian [[Ronald Radosh]] reviewing ''Fugitive Days'' in the [[Weekly Standard]] notes, "As for those who might believe without irony that America is a great country, Ayers has one reaction: 'It makes me want to puke.'"<ref>[http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000%5C000%5C000%5C267rdlhy.asp ''Don't Need a Weatherman : The clouded mind of Bill Ayers''.] by Ronald Radosh, The Weekly Standard, 10/08/2001, Volume 007, Issue 04.</ref>

==Fugitive Days==

Today, Ayers and his wife -- fellow former Weather Underground fugitive [[Bernardine Dohrn]] -- live in Hyde Park, where they moved after surrendering in 1980.

In a 2001 interview with the [[New York Times]], an unrepentant Ayers said, "I don't regret setting bombs" and "I feel we didn't do enough." Ayers later claimed that he was quoted out of context, and that he meant that he felt that he had not done enough to oppose the war in Vietnam, which he defined as ''"[an] illegal, murderous, imperial war."'' <ref>Bill Ayers' blog, Episodic Notoriety–Fact and Fantasy, by Bill Ayers, 4/06/2008[http://billayers.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/episodic-notoriety-fact-and-fantasy/]</ref>

Ayers has claimed that his actions were not terrorist acts.<ref>Bill Ayers' blog, Episodic Notoriety–Fact and Fantasy, by Bill Ayers, 4/06/2008[http://billayers.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/episodic-notoriety-fact-and-fantasy/]</ref> He has stated that according to the official definition of both the U.S. and the U.N., terrorism consists of violent acts intended to intimidate or coerce a populace into a political end, and that his actions were intended to draw attention to and combat the state terrorism of the U.S. in the Vietnam War. In his autobiography, Fugitive Days, Ayers claimed that his bombing of the [[Pentagon]] prevented aerial bombardments in Vietnam for several days, which he defined as terrorism. In this regard, Ayers has implied that he ''prevented'' terrorism rather than caused it.

Asked if he would do it all again, Ayers stated, ''I don't want to discount the possibility.''

Ayers rebellion against authority also extended to sexual morality. He stated that that the Weathermen tried to ''smash monogamy,'' and engaged in fornication, including for Ayers, homosexual relations with his best male friend. <ref>''No Regrets for a Love Of Explosives,'' N.Y. Times, September 11, 2001</ref>

==Obama, the Annenberg Challenge, ACORN and the Woods Fund ==

Ayers and [[Barack Obama]] worked together at the Chicago Annenberg Challenge (CAC), from 1995-1999, an [[organisation]] that funneled money to [[ACORN]]. On his curriculum vitae, Ayers identifies himself as the co-founder and grant writer of the Annenberg Challenge Grant of $49,200,000 and the one who obtained this and other grants for "the support of the Small Schools Workshop and/or the Chicago forum for School Change at the University of Illinois at Chicago..."

Obama joined Ayers again in a paid nine-member board of the Woods Fund of Chicago. Ayers also says that he obtained grants from the Chicago-based MacArthur foundation, the Joyce Foundation, and the Woods Fund, on whose board he sat with [[Barack Obama]] from 1999 to 2002.

The announcement of Obama's candidacy for higher office was made in the home of Bill Ayers and his wife, Bernardine Dohrn in 1995.

In 2001, Ayers supported and contributed $200 to Obama's state Senate campaign<ref>[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/contributor.phtml?d=330121189]</ref>.

Obama was asked about the relationship in an April 2008 Presidential debate by moderator [[George Stephanopoulos]]:

:''"Can you explain that relationship for the voters, and explain to Democrats why it won't be a problem?"''

To which Obama replied,

:''"This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood, who's a professor of [[English]] in Chicago who I know and who I have not received some official endorsement from. He's not somebody who I exchange ideas from on a regular basis. And the notion that somehow as a consequence of me knowing somebody who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago, when I was eight years old, somehow reflects on me and my values doesn't make much sense, George"''

In February of 2008, Obama Chief Strategist David Axelrod said:

:''"Bill Ayers lives in his neighborhood. Their kids attend the same school … They’re certainly friendly, they know each other, as anyone whose kids go to school together."'' He called Ayers current defense of his 1960s bombings ''"objectionable, and I think Barack would also say that was objectionable. I don't think he's ever had an in-depth discussion [with Ayers] about them."''<ref>Politico, ''Ax on Ayers'', by Ben Smith, February 26, 2008 [http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0208/Ax_on_Ayers.html]</ref>

In an October 2008 article in ''American Thinker'', Jack Cashill presented evidence that Ayers [[ghostewrite|ghostwrote]] Obama's first book, "Dreams From My Father". He based his assertion on a comparison of the writing styles of Bill Ayers' 2001 memoir, ''Fugitive Days'', and Barack Obama's earlier 1995 book, ''Dreams From My Father'', and came to the conclusion that Ayres had ghostwritten ''Dreams''. <ref>American Thinker, October 26, 2008, ''Who Wrote Dreams From My Father?'', by Jack Cashill, October 09, 2008 [http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/10/who_wrote_dreams_from_my_fathe_1.html]</ref>

==See Also==
*[[Mystery:Who Ghostwrote Obama's Books?]]

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://www.usasurvival.org/docs/bombing.case.pdf The Park Police Station Bombing Case], usasurvival.org

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ayers, William}}

[[Category:Terrorists]]
[[Category:Liberals]]
[[Category:Criminals]]
[[Category:Weather Underground]]

Barack Hussein Obama

2011-09-24T15:07:30Z

MarkThePatriot:

{{Officeholder
|name=Barack Hussein Obama
|image=President Barack Obama.jpg
|party=[[Democrat]]
|spouse=[[Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama]]
|religion=Claims to be Christian
|offices=
{{Officeholder/president
|country=the United States
|number=44th
|terms=January 20, 2009-Present
|vp=[[Joe Biden]]
|preceded=[[George W. Bush]]
|former=n
|succeeded=
}}
{{Officeholder/senator
|state=Illinois
|terms=January 3, 2005 – November 16, 2008
|preceded=Peter Fitzgerald
|former=y
|succeeded=[[Roland Burris]]
}}
}}

'''Barack Hussein Obama II''' (born August 4, 1961) is the 44th President of the [[United States]] and the controversial recipient of the 2009 [[Nobel Prize|Nobel Peace Prize]]. Overcoming a short political career, Obama defeated [[Republican]] nominee [[John McCain]] for the presidency in 2008, campaigning on promises of "hope" and "change". In effect, that change has been an embrace of [[socialism]], [[Marxism]], and [[liberal]] policies. Barack Obama has been widely criticized by the American [[business]] community and others for his anti-business policies that are killing American jobs during a period of high unemployment.<ref>
*[http://www.usnews.com/opinion/mzuckerman/articles/2010/07/16/obamas-anti-business-policies-are-our-economic-katrina Obama's Anti-business Policies are our Economic Katrina]
*[http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/016/619dvjlm.asp An Anti-Business President]
*[http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2010/08/small-businesses-are-not-hiring-why.html Small Businesses are not hiring. Why should they?]
*[http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/02/dear_mr_president_why_we_are_n.html Dear Mr. President: Why we are not hiring]
</ref> Trend forecaster [[Gerald Celente]] indicates that [[Obama administration]]'s response to the the failed American economy is more war and the creation of misleading [[economics|economic]] statistics.<ref>[http://www.opednews.com/articles/Washington-s-Response-to-a-by-paul-craig-roberts-110728-724.html Washington's response to the failed economy: More war]</ref>

Under President Obama's management of the economy, the United States Government's credit rating has, for the first time in it's history, been downgraded from AAA to AA+, and [[poverty]]<ref>http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/data/incpovhlth/2009/pov09fig04.pdf</ref> has increased markedly. By and large his policies to combat the recession, unemployment, slow growth, the deficit, and expanding [[national debt]], have failed.<ref>"The vast majority (73%) of respondents reported the fiscal stimulus enacted in February 2009 has had no impact on employment to date. While 68% also believe a jobs bill, such as the one recently enacted into law, will have no impact on payrolls, 30% do believe it will boost payrolls moderately". ''Industry Survey'', National Association for Business Economics, April 2010, [http://www.nabe.com/press/ind1004.pdf p. 2 pdf].</ref> Also on the domestic front, Obama passed an expensive [[health care]] bill in 2009 with no [[bipartisan]] support and 34 Democrats dissenting. In foreign policy Obama has escalated the [[Afghanistan War]] and, against his own Defense Secretary's advice, [[Libyan uprising 2011|attacked Libya]] - a possible violation of the [[War Powers Act]]. After he announced the killing of [[September 11th]] mastermind and terrorist [[Osama bin Laden]], the [[U.S. State Department]] warned of the increased risk to the lives and safety of Americans around the world.<ref>http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/national_world&id=8273909</ref> Bin Laden's death had negligible impact on Obama's approval ratings.

==Early life==
:''Main article : [[Early life and career of Barack Hussein Obama]]''
:''See also : [[Barack Obama's Muslim Heritage]]''
Obama was born in Hawaii to Stanley Ann Dunham and [[Barack Obama Sr.]] - who had married just six months prior - on August 4, 1961 in [[Honolulu, Hawaii]]. The couple divorced in 1964. Barack Obama Sr. was not a [[Natural born citizen|citizen of the United States]]. Dunham remarried Lolo Soetoro, an [[Indonesia]]n student. When Obama was six, Soetoro returned to Indonesia, and Dunham and Obama followed.<ref name="db mother">{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-05-03/a-singular-woman-by-janny-scott-review-by-stacy-schiff/#|work=The Daily Beast|format=HTML|language=English|title=Dreams of His Mother|author=Stacy Schiff}}</ref> He spent four years in Indonesia before returning to Hawaii to be raised by his grandparents, Madelyn and WW2 veteran Stanley Armour Dunham. He would later attend Occidental College, [[Columbia University]] and then [[Harvard University]] for law school, where he would become the first black president of the Harvard Law Review. It is disputed whether Obama was actually born in the United States, many people believing him to have been born in Kenya.

==Illinois State Senate career==
[[File:O-2002-antiwar-rally-davidson.jpg|right|thumb|250px| Obama speaking at the October 2002 rally in Chicago organized by [[Carl Davidson]].<ref>Davidson is a longtime [[Mao]]ist and champion of the ''Thought of Mao Tse Tung.'' Davidson's anti-Trotskyite polemic, [http://www.wengewang.org/read.php?tid=10925 ''Left in Form, Right in Essence''] defends Maoist doctrine. Retrieved from 对当代托洛茨基主义的批判：英文论集百花齐放 - 中国文革研究网, March 15, 2010.</ref> ''"[H]e is a brutal man who butchers his own people,"'' nevertheless Obama opposed ''"dumb wars".'']]

In 1995 Obama openly sought and obtained the endorsement of the [[Marxist]] [[New Party]] in his quest to be elected to the Illinois State Senate.<ref>[http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=7434 NEW PARTY (NP)], discoverthenetwork.org.</ref><ref>Rick Moran. [http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008/06/obamas_alliance_with_marxists.html Obama's Alliance with Marxists], ''American Thinker'', June 03, 2008.</ref> He became the [[Democrat]] nominee and ran unopposed to win the election. Obama entered the Illinois Senate promising change to a corrupt system. He mixed often radical votes with more pragmatic agreements. Possibly one of his most radical votes was against requiring medical care for aborted children who survive [[abortion|the procedure]] - in fact the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council ascribed him a 100% rating for his consistently pro-choice votes.<ref name="cbs illinois">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/17/politics/main2369157.shtml|title=Obama Record May Be Gold Mine For Critics|work=CBS|format=HTML|language=English|last=Clark|first=Amy S.|date=Jan. 17, 2007}}</ref> He was criticized for using the statehouse as a stepping stone for a more illustrious career: Steven J. Rauschenberger, a [[Republican]], said prior to Obama's election as president: “He is a very bright but very ambitious person who has always had his eyes on the prize, and it wasn’t Springfield. If he deserves to be president, it is not because he was a great legislator.”<ref name="nyt illinois">{{cite web|work=The New York Times|title=In Illinois, Obama Proved Pragmatic and Shrewd|last=Scott|first=Janny|format=HTML|language=English|date=July 30, 2007|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/us/politics/30obama.html}}</ref>

The statehouse was majority Republican, so the Senator was sometimes forced to compromise. He formed allegiances across party lines to pass [[campaign finance]] reform that banned most gifts by lobbyists, prohibited spending campaign money for legislators’ personal use and required electronic filing of campaign disclosure reports.<ref name="nyt illinois"/> Obama also helped pass a so-called “driving-while-black bill”, which required the police to collect data on the race of drivers they stopped as a way to monitor [[racial profiling]].<ref name="nyt illinois"/>

Obama established himself as a chief spokesperson in opposition to the [[War on Terror]] during an October 2002 rally at Federal Plaza in Chicago<ref>The rally was organized by Chicagoans Against War in Iraq (CAWI) later renamed Chicagoans Against War and Injustice. [http://www.noiraqwar-chicago.org/?page_id=2 About CAWI] by Carl Davidson, Nov 02 2006. Retrieved from Chicagoans Against War and Injustice, March 15, 2010.</ref> [[community organizing|organized]] by veteran [[Mao]]ist and webmaster of [[Progressives for Obama]],<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/in/carldavidson Carl Davidson,] LinkedIn.com, retrieved March 13, 2010.</ref> [[Carl Davidson]].

===Radical foundation and connection to William Ayers===
{{main article|Radical roots of Barack Hussein Obama}}
In 1995 a cadre of like minded individuals gathered in the home of [[Weather Underground]] (WUO) [[terrorist]]s [[Bernardine Dohrn]] and [[William Ayers|William "Bill" Ayers]]. Dohrn,<ref>Georgie Anne Geyer and Keyes Beach "Cuba: School for U.S. Radicals", ''Chicago Daily News/Chicago Sun-Times'' five part series October 1970, excerpted in [http://foia.fbi.gov/filelink.html?file=/weather/weath1c.pdf FBI file Weather Underground Organization (Weatherman),] Part 1c pp. 5-7 pdf (113-115 in original). [http://therealbarackobama.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/clandestine-agents-of-the-cuban-government-ayers-dohrn-myers/]</ref> along with Carl Davidson, are veterans of [[guerrilla warfare]] training in [[Cuba]] prior 1968 Democratic National Convention riots. Ayers and Dohrn have taken credit for, and never denied, bombing the [[U.S. Capitol]], the [[Pentagon]] and the [[State Department]].

Ayers and Dohrn used their celebrity status among [[leftist]]s to launch Obama's career. Ayers, Dohrn and [[Jeff Jones]]<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=106653 ''Obama's 'green jobs czar' worked with terror founder] Van Jones served on board of activist group where ex-Weatherman serves as top director'', By Aaron Klein, [[WorldNetDaily]], August 13, 2009.</ref> are authors of ''[[Bill_Ayers#Prairie_Fire_Organizing_Committee_and_Maoist_thought|Prairie Fire: The Politics of Revolutionary Anti-imperialism]],'' the title taken from ''The Sayings of Mao Zedong.''<ref>[http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/works/red-book/]</ref> The book declares "we are [[communist]] men and women."<ref>Harvey Klehr, ''Far Left of Center: The American Radical Left Today'' (Transaction Books, New Brunswick, 1988), 109.</ref> Ayers later jokingly, publicly admitted to ghostwriting Obama's book, ''Dreams From My Father''<ref>http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/03/ayers_affirms_he_wrote_dreams.html</ref> and Obama was to appoint several openly avowed Maoists to prominent White House and Executive Branch positions.<ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704597704574487431322664964.html</ref>

==U.S. Senate career==
:''See also: [[Early_life_and_career_of_Barack_Hussein_Obama#U.S._Senate_.282004-2008.29|Barack Obama:U.S. Senate (2004-2008)]]''
[[Image:obama.jpg|thumb|left|Senator Barack Obama]]

Following a failed campaign for the U. S. House of Representatives, Obama ran for the open Senate seat from Illinois in 2004 against Republican candidate Jack Ryan. He won the seat after Chicago media outlets The Chicago Tribune newspaper and Chicago ABC affiliate WLS-TV; together with candidate Jack Ryan's Republican Primary opponents, sought and obtained the release of the confidential and personally embarrassing records in his California divorce from actress Jeri Ryan, forcing him to end his campaign. Ryan was replaced by the out-of-state candidate [[Alan Keyes]]. Obama won over Keyes 70% to 27% in the general election. Obama spent very little time in the Senate - "frustrated by his lack of influence and what he called the 'glacial pace' ... [he began] running for president even as he was still getting lost in the Capitol’s corridors."<ref name="nyt senate">{{cite web|work=The New York Times|publisher=The New York Times, Inc.|format=HTML|language=English|title=Obama in Senate: Star Power, Minor Role|author=Kate Zernike and Jeff Zelleny|date=March 9, 2008|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/us/politics/09obama.html}}</ref>

Obama frequently used the [[filibuster]] to obstruct the operations of government,<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/03/AR2010020303801_pf.html</ref> voted against the [[minimum wage]]<ref>[http://uspolitics.about.com/od/legislatio1/a/HR2206.htm HR 2206 - Emergency Appropriations], Kathy Gill, Your Guide to U.S. Politics: Current Events. May 26 2007.</ref><ref>[http://more.gov.mtopgroup.com/2007/05/votes-hr-2206-iraq-supplemental.html Votes - H.R. 2206: Iraq Supplemental], May 28, 2007. Retrieved from Deeper Inside the Mountain, June 4, 2007.</ref> and debt ceiling increases,<ref>http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/04/obama-once-opposed-debt-ceiling-hike/237129/</ref> and recieved more than $126,000 in campaign contributions from [[Fannie Mae]]. The ''[[National Journal]]'' ranked him the most liberal senator in 2007.<ref name="ranked">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-502163_162-3775451-502163.html|title=National Journal: Obama Most Liberal Senator In 2007|author=Brian Montopoli|date=January 31, 2008|work=CBS}}</ref>

==Presidential Election==
{{main article|Barack Hussein Obama 2008 Presidential campaign}}
Democrats began calling for an Obama candidacy after liberals lauded his 2004 [[Democratic National Convention]] speech.
===Campaign to be the Democratic nominee===
The race for the Democratic ticket originally seemed [[Hillary Clinton]]'s to lose, but was ultimately a close race between Clinton and Obama. Clinton would take a slim advantage in the popular vote, while Obama would carry significantly more states and territories. Obama's advantage with super-delegates over Clinton was about 2-to-1.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Superdelegate endorsements for Friday 6/6|work=Democratic Convention Watch|url=http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/06/superdelegate-endorsements-for-friday.html}}</ref> Obama was able to attract the support of [[liberals]] by pointing out that he had come out against the [[Iraq War]] "from the beginning" whereas Clinton had voted in favor of the war in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-01-31-democrats-debate_N.htm|title=Obama, Clinton stress differences on Iraq, issues|author=David Jackson|work=USA Today|format=HTML|language=English}}</ref>
===Campaign for the Presidency===
Obama campaigned against Senator [[John McCain]] in the general election. To the chagrin of Clinton supporters, he selected Senator [[Joe Biden]] to be his running mate, whereas McCain selected [[Governor]] of [[Alaska]] [[Sarah Palin]]. The Obama and Biden ticket would win the election, and Obama would become the nation's first [[African American]] president.

====Jeremiah Wright====
:''See also: [[Barack Obama and Liberation Theology]]''
One major dilemma that arose for Obama during his campaign was his connection to his preacher [[Jeremiah Wright]]. Obama and his wife (raised a Baptist) were members of the Trinity [[United Church of Christ]]<ref>http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1776246/posts</ref> in Chicago, a chruch that embraced [[black liberation theology]] and its emphasis on empowering so-called "oppressed groups" against "establishment forces". This denomination was the first in America to ordain gays as ministers.<ref>http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/31079.html, Obama's church pushes controversial doctrines, March 20, 2008</ref> Church pastor Jeremiah Wright had been making inflammatory comments and posting his sermons online for sale. These include the statement "G-d damn America," and in describing the September 11th attacks, "We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America's chickens are coming home to roost."<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Story?id=4443788 Obama's Pastor: G-d Damn America, U.S. to Blame for 9/11]</ref> In addition, Rev. Wright blamed America saying "We supported Zionism shamelessly while ignoring the Palestinians and branding anybody who spoke out against it as being [[anti-Semitic]]."

In April 2008, after 20 years in the church, candidate Obama made public statements poised to set him at odds with the man who conducted his wedding and baptized his children. With the negative publicity persisting, a month later Obama ended the friendship, left Wright's church, and blamed the media.<ref>[http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/05/31/obama-resigns-church-membership-in-chicago/], Obama Drops Church Membership in Chicago, May 31, 2008</ref> Obama claimed “It’s not fair to the other members of the church who seek to worship in peace...", and distanced himself from Wright's sermons as "a bunch of rants that aren't grounded in the truth."<ref>USA TODAY, ''Obama breaks with former pastor, Candidate cites rants on U.S. role in terror, AIDS'', by Kathy Kiely and David Jackson [http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20080430/1a_offlede30_dom.art.htm]</ref><ref>''Obama Says He Is Outraged By Wright's "Rants"''[http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bulletin/bulletin_080430.htm]</ref>

==Presidential career==
{{main article|Obama administration}}
[[File:Obama and George H. W. Bush.jpg|thumb|right|300px|President Barack Obama meets with former President George H. W. Bush in the Oval Office, Feb. 15, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza).]]
Under Obama's stewardship the United States has suffered the largest [[Federal budget deficit|deficit]]s<ref>http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/107xx/doc10708/11-06-mbr.htm</ref><ref>http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/118xx/doc11873/NovemberMBR.pdf</ref> in history and a credit downgrade from the rating agency Standard & Poor.<ref>http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2011/04/18/the-sp-outlook-and-obama/</ref> When his [[economic stimulus]] program was adopted unemployment rose and stagnated in the 10% range, <ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704476104575439172480870774.html?mod=googlenews_wsj</ref> leaving tens of millions without [[hope]] of finding a job.<ref>[http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?data_tool=latest_numbers&series_id=LNS11300000&years_option=specific_years&include_graphs=true&to_month=1&from_month=2 United States Department of Labor], Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data extracted on: July 19, 2010 (4:31:11 PM).</ref>

Patrick H. Caddell and Douglas E. Schoen, writing in the [[Wall Street Journal]], noted, "Rather than being a unifier, Mr. Obama has divided America on the basis of race, class and partisanship." The commentators also note Obama's approach to governance has encouraged radical leftists to pursue a similar strategy on his behalf. Mary Frances Berry, former head of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, acknowledged that the [[Obama administration]] has taken to polarizing America around the issue of race as a means of diverting attention from other issues, saying, "Having one's opponent [[race card|rebut charges of racism]] is far better than discussing [[Unemployment|joblessness]]."<ref>http://www.politico.com/arena/perm/Mary_Frances_Berry_91E3D9D5-C40D-440C-9D48-1C50CBC60C87.html</ref> Caddell and Schoen, who worked for President Carter and Clinton, respectively, further stated, "Mr. Obama has also cynically [[class warfare|divided the country on class lines]]. He has taken to playing the populist card time and time again. He bashes Wall Street and insurance companies whenever convenient to advance his programs, yet he has been eager to accept campaign contributions and negotiate with these very same banks and [[corporation]]s behind closed doors in order to advance his political agenda... President Obama's divisive approach to governance has weakened us as a people and paralyzed our political culture."<ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/NA_WSJ_PUB:SB10001424052748703700904575391553798363586.html</ref>

===Domestic policy===
====Popular bills====
Obama's first act of office was to sign the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act - effectively nullifying the [[Supreme Court]] case ''Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'', which ruled that Ledbetter had to have filed a pay [[discrimination]] suit within 180 days of the first time Ledbetter was payed less than her male peers;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/30/us/politics/30ledbetter-web.html|work=The New York Times|format=HTML|language=English|title=Obama Signs Equal-Pay Legislation|author=Sheryl Gay Stolberg|date=January 29, 2009}}</ref> the law made corporations subject to suit within 180 days of each time the employee was unfairly paid.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://writ.news.findlaw.com/grossman/20090213.html?=features|work=FindLaw|author=Joanna L. Grossman|date=Feb. 13, 2009|format=HTML|language=English|title=The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009}}</ref>

On January 2, 2011, Obama signed the James Zadroga [[9/11]] Healthcare and Compensation Act.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wnyc.org/articles/wnyc-news/2011/jan/02/obama-signs-zadroga-act-law/|publisher=New York Public Radio|title=Obama Signs Zadroga Act into Law|author=Fred Mogul|date=January 02, 2011|work=wNYC|format=HTML|language=English}}</ref> The act, which afforded 9/11 first responders who were sickened by the dust from the collapse of the [[World Trade Center]] health care and compensation, passed [[Congress]] after its sponsored agreed to scale down the pricing from 7.4 to 4.2 billion dollars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wnyc.org/articles/wnyc-news/2010/dec/22/zadroga-911-bill-passes-senate/|publisher=New York Public Radio|work=wNYC|format=HTML|language=English|title=Congress Approves 9/11 Health Bill|date=December 22, 2010}}</ref>

====Economic plan====
[[File:Keynes.jpg|thumbnail|right|190px|[[Barack Obama]] advocates the use of [[Keynesian economics|Keynesian economic concepts]] despite the fact that [[John Maynard Keynes]] was incompetent and a fraud.<ref>
*[http://centurean2.wordpress.com/2011/03/20/fabian-john-maynard-keynes-the-stealthy-enemy-of-human-freedom/ John Maynard Keynes the stealthy enemy of human freedom]
*[http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-02-22/deathbed-of-keynesian-economics-will-be-in-u-k-matthew-lynn.html Deathbed of Keynesian Economics will be in the UK]
*[http://www.iwf.org/inkwell/show/23102.html Will the G8 Repudiate the Philosophy of Living Beyond Our Means?]
*[http://www.keynesatharvard.org/book/KeynesatHarvard-ch09.html KEYNES AT HARVARD Economic Deception as a Political Credo BY ZYGMUND DOBBS]
</ref> ]]
{{see also|Obamunism|American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009}}
Critics of the Obama administration have coined the word "[[Obamunism]]" to describe Barack Obama's [[socialism|socialistic]] and "[[fascism]] light" [[economic planning]] policies ([[Benito Mussolini]] defined fascism as the wedding of state and corporate powers. Accordingly, trend forecaster [[Gerald Celente]] labels [[Obama administration corporate bailouts|Obama's corporate bailouts]] as being "fascism light" in nature).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebigmoney.com/articles/daily-intel/2009/07/20/obamunism-inc|work=The Big Money|publisher=WashingtonPost.Newsweek Interactive Co. LLC|format=HTML|language=English|title=Obamunism, Inc.|author=David Sessions|date=July 20, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smallbusinessadvocate.com/small-business-interviews/gerald-celente-6944|author=Jim Blasingame|title=Is the government creating a bailout bubble?}}</ref> Obamunism can also refer to Obama's [[Obama administration fiscal policy|ruinous fiscal policies]] and [[Obama administration monetary policy|reckless monetary policies]].<ref name="gerard">{{cite web|url=http://seekingalpha.com/article/120883-monetary-policynot-obama-s-stimulusis-what-needs-watching|title=Monetary Policy-Not Obama's Stimulus-Is What Needs Watching|author=Gerard Jackson|date=February 16, 2009|work=Seeking Alpha}}</ref><ref name="bam">{{cite web|work=New York Post|date=May 17, 2009|url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/05172009/postopinion/editorials/bams_wise_words_169731.htm|title=BAM'S WISE WORDS}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.heritage.org/2009/03/24/bush-deficit-vs-obama-deficit-in-pictures/|title=Bush Deficit vs. Obama Deficit in Pictures|work=The Foundry|publisher=The Heritage Foundation|author=Conn Carroll|date=March 24th, 2009}}</ref>

[[Wall Street]] firms and banks that were bailed out were among Obama's biggest campaign supporters.<ref>http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00009638</ref> Therefore, the Obama administration bailouts of corrupt, unproductive, and reckless Wall Street firms was hardly surprising, although it certainly was not helpful in making the United States economy more productive and prosperous. A 2005 study found that government corporate bailouts are often done for mere political considerations and the economic resources allocated exhibit significantly worse economic performance than resources allocated using purely business considerations.<ref>http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=676905</ref> Proponents of [[free market]] capitalism said Bernanke should not have bailed out failing firms and instead should have allowed free market capitalism to quickly recover as it did in the depression of 1920 without government intervention (free market capitalists assert that government intervention drags out economic recessions and depressions).<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czcUmnsprQI</ref>

Top trend forecaster [[Gerald Celente]] predicts that the corrupt economic policies of the Obama administration will lead to a second [[Great Depression|great depression]] (Celente predicted the 1987 US stock market crash, the dot.com crash, the US 2008/2009 recession, and the collapse of the USSR in the early 1990s) and may lead to a "second [[American Revolution]]" (Celente predicted the [[Tea Party Movement|tax protests]] that are now occurring in America).<ref name="celente1">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MMX3SKzrfU&feature=channel_page</ref><ref name="celente2">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy9bfw1ebgw&feature=response_watch</ref> Celente also asserts that the costly and inefficient temporary short term methods that the Obama administration is using to alleviate economic problems in the short term (which is causing massive increases in [[Obama administration deficit spending]]) is only making matters worse and will not prevent the worse economic depression in United States history from occurring.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C8K7rWkGGw</ref><ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LBffdIW0XA&feature=response_watch</ref>

The Obama administration has been sharply criticized for [[Obama administration deficit spending|its massive deficit spending]] and [[Obama administration monetary policy|its reckless monetary policy]] via vast increases in the [[money supply]].<ref name="gerard"/><ref name="bam"/><ref>http://blog.heritage.org/2009/03/24/bush-deficit-vs-obama-deficit-in-pictures/</ref> Celente predicts that if a "second American Revolution" occurs in a peaceful and productive manner, it may include a [[Third Party System|third party movement]] of governance that will advocate a more [[free market]] [[capitalism]] approach to the American economy and a more strict interpretation of the [[United States Constitution|United States constitution]] as far as the authors' [[original intent]].<ref name="celente1"/><ref name="celente2"/>

During what the [[White House]] billed as [[Recovery Summer]], one half million workers per week continued losing their jobs. His signature legislative achievement, [[ObamaCare]], the federal courts have found to be [[unconstitutional]]<ref>http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-13/u-s-health-care-law-requirement-thrown-out-by-judge.html</ref> and is credited as a major cause of uncertainty, high [[unemployment]],<ref>http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=33220</ref> lagging job creation,<ref>http://blog.heritage.org/2010/08/05/it%E2%80%99s-official-medicare%E2%80%99s-finances-shadowed-by-uncertainty/</ref> and risk of a credit default crisis.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/28/AR2010032802353.html</ref><ref>http://www.thestreet.com/story/10703361/cramer-obamacare-will-topple-the-market.html</ref>

His 2012 Budget plan has been roundly criticized in the mainsream and liberal press as not a serious effort to deal with the nation's economic crisis.<ref>[http://republican.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=blogs.view&blog_id=1551d6f5-2ac9-4b8d-97ab-74def354024e Newspapers Call Out White House: ‘What Would That Path Be, Mr. President?’]</ref>

=====Healthcare=====
{{main article|Obamacare}}
On March 23, 2010, Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The act had originated in the House of Representatives and passed September 17, 2009. The act was amended and passed the Senate prior to [[Democrat]] [[Ted Kennedy]]'s passing along party lines - just a filibuster-proof majority at 60-39. In a de facto rejection of the bill, [[Massachusetts]] voters elected a [[Republican]] candidate, [[Scott Brown]], who promised to vote against the bill,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/senate/scott-brown-wins-massachusetts-senate-race.html|work=The Washington Post|author=Chris Cillizza|date=January 19, 2010|title=Scott Brown wins Massachusetts Senate special election race|language=English|format=HTML}}</ref> but another Senate vote would not occur. After Obama made a promise to issue an [[executive order]] that would ultimately prohibit the use of taxpayer subsidies to pay for [[abortion]] services,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/22/nation/la-na-healthcare-passage22-2010mar22/3|work=The Los Angeles Times|format=HTML|language=English|title=House passes historic healthcare overhaul|date=March 22, 2010|author=Noam N. Levey and Janet Hook}}</ref> the [[House of Representatives]] would pass the bill as it left the Senate 219-212, with 34 Democrats and all other parties dissenting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.cnn.com/2010-03-21/politics/health.care.main_1_health-care-entire-house-democratic-caucus-pre-existing-conditions?_s=PM:POLITICS|date=March 21, 2010|author=Alan Silverleib|work=CNN|format=HTML|language=English|title=House passes health care bill on 219-212 vote}}</ref>

Amongst other things, the act mandates that the population purchase health care coverage or face punitive tax measures, and on this basis has been constitutionally challenged in the federal courts, with mixed results (three courts have upheld the act, two have declared it unconstitutional); thus, the Act is likely destined for [[Supreme Court]] reviewal.

====Gulf oil spill====
{{main article|Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster}}
President Obama authorized offshore oil drilling in the [[Gulf of Mexico]]<ref>[http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0430/Gulf-of-Mexico-oil-spill-imperils-Obama-s-offshore-drilling-plan Gulf of Mexico oil spill imperils Obama's offshore drilling plan,] By Mark Clayton, ''Christian Science Monitor'', April 30, 2010.</ref> stating, "oil rigs today generally don’t cause spills"<ref>White House Press Release, [http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-a-discussion-jobs-and-economy-charlotte-north-carolina Remarks by the President in a Discussion on Jobs and the Economy in Charlotte, North Carolina,] Office of the Press Secretary, April 02, 2010. Retrieved from whitehouse.gov 3 May 2010.</ref> and was widely criticized for his mishandling of the "[[Gulf oil spill disaster|worst environmental disaster]] in US history."<ref>[http://www.examiner.com/x-33986-Political-Spin-Examiner~y2010m4d29-Worst-environmental-disaster-in-US-history-Oil-slick-in-Gulf-of-Mexico-is-set-on-fire Worst environmental disaster in US history,] Maryann Tobin, ''Examiner'', April 29, 2010.</ref><ref>[http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/30/the-oil-spill-is-obamas-fault/?src=twt&twt=NytimesKrugman Conscience of a Liberal: The Oil Spill Is Obama’s Fault,] Paul Krugman, ''New York Times'', April 30, 2010.</ref>

====Don't Ask Don't Tell====
{{main article|Don't Ask Don't Tell}}
Candidate Obama promised to repeal a policy that originated in the Clinton era that prohibited inquiries into military personnel's [[sexual orientation]] while also barring "out" [[homosexuals]] from serving in the military. [[Liberals]] expressed anger when time passed and no effort to repeal the law was seen;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/21/obama-to-delay-repeal-of-dont-ask-dont-tell/|work=The Washington Times|format=HTML|title=Obama to delay ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ repeal|language=English|author=Rowan Scarborough|date=November 21, 2008}}</ref> in fact, Obama's [[justice department]], as part of their duty to defend all laws passed by any administration, filed a brief arguing against the [[Supreme Court]] granting a [[writ of certiorari]] to a gay soldier challenging the law (the writ was not granted). In response, the soldier, James Pietrangelo II, a former Army infantryman and lawyer, said, “[Obama's] a coward, a bigot and a pathological liar. This is a guy who spent more time picking out his dog, Bo, and playing with him on the White House lawn than he has working for equality for gay people."<ref>{{cite web|work=Time Magazine|publisher=Time Inc.|format=HTML|url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1903545,00.html?imw=Y|title=Dismay Over Obama's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Turnabout|author=Mark Thompson|date=Jun. 09, 2009}}</ref>

On December 15th, 2010, a bill was introduced in the [[House of Representatives]] to repeal the law - it passed a day later by a vote of 250-175;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll638.xml|title=FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 638|format=HTML|work=Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives}}</ref> it passed the Senate three days later 65-31.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=2&vote=00281|work=The U.S. Senate|title=U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 111th Congress - 2nd Session|format=HTML|language=English}}</ref> Obama signed the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 on December 22nd.<ref name="g dadt">{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/22/obama-repeals-dont-ask-dont-tell|work=The Guardian|format=HTML|language=English|title='Don't ask, don't tell' repealed as Obama signs landmark law|date=22 December 2010}}</ref>

The [[Pentagon]] itself could not immediately implement the repeal and questioned whether it would hurt combat readiness.<ref name="g dadt"/> Senator [[John McCain]], the senior Republican on the Armed Services Committee, opposed the bill, saying "It may be premature to make such a change at this time and in this manner, without further consideration of this report and further study of the issue by Congress – for of all the people we serve, one of our highest responsibilities is to the men and women of our armed services, especially those risking their lives in combat.”<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/02/mccain-on-dont-ask-dont-tell-dont-rush/|title=McCain on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’: Don’t Rush|date=December 2nd, 2010|format=HTML|author=David M. Herszenhorn|language=English|work=The New York Times}}</ref>

===Foreign policy===
[[File:Western Wall Obama.jpg|thumb|left|320px|At [[Western Wall]], Jerusalem, 2008.]]
As Senator, Obama was highly critical of President Bush and promised change. As President, Obama has tripled down in Afghanistan, widened the war into Pakistan, multiplied drone attacks, bombed Yemen and Somalia, and started an undeclared NATO war in Libya. On presidential war powers, surveillance questions, Guantanamo, detention policy and habeas corpus, Obama has similarly stayed the course, or expanded Bush's precedents. In a speech on May 19, 2011 Obama fully embraced the [[Bush Doctrine]] of preventative war.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-news-in-obamas-speech/2011/05/19/AF4dFN7G_story.html</ref>

<blockquote>
The New America Foundation, which tracks the strikes, has listed 23 raids since the beginning of April, 2011, all but one in Pakistan’s tribal regions of North and South Waziristan. A June 20 attack was reported in Kurram, an area north of North Waziristan along the Afghanistan border.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
The drone program has become increasingly controversial as the Obama administration has expanded its use beyond the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Lethal missiles have been launched from unmanned aircraft in at least five countries in addition to Pakistan: Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, and, most recently, Somalia. The military’s Joint Special Operations Command used a drone last June to attack what officials said were two senior members of the Al Shabab militant group on the Somali coast. [http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2011/07/04/cia_halts_drone_launches_from_pakistan_base/]
</blockquote>

====Commander-in-chief====
By Obama's second year as Commander-in-Chief, 559 American troops died in Iraq and Afghanistan - significantly more than the 469 who died during Presisdent [[George W. Bush]]'s final year in office. And growing numbers of civilian contractors also have fallen. In the first half of 2010, 250 contractors reportedly died in Iraq and Afghanistan - more than the 235 military personnel who fell during the same period.<ref>http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/05/24/114662/what-price-war.html#ixzz1Nz07pg5O</ref>

=====Afghanistan=====
{{main article|Afghanistan War}}
Obama escalated troop strength<ref name="pbs">{{cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/obamaswar/themes/strategy.html#ixzz1LhWNImZp|title=Obama's New Strategy (March '09)|author=George Packer, Seth Jones, David Kilcullen, Rory Stewart, Andrew Exum, Col. Andrew Bacevich (Ret.)|work=PBS|language=English|format=HTML}}</ref> and defense costs in Afghanistan from $43.5 billion in George Bush's last year to $113.7 billion for 2011.<ref>Congressional Research Service, quoted in Gregory Anthony, ''What price war?''</ref> Adviser to General [[Stanley McChrystal]] David Kilcullen wrote, "One of the big strategic shifts is the use of language now which talks about Pakistan and Afghanistan as the same theater. Now we talked about Af-Pak long before the Obama administration came about, but the public use of that term, and the description of it as the Afghanistan-Pakistan campaign, sends a new message to people about how the administration is going to think about Afghanistan and Pakistan."<ref name="pbs"/> This became evident when, under the orders of Obama, a military SEALs team killed September 11th mastermind [[Osama bin Laden]] in Abottabad, Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/2011/05/05/commander-in-chief.html|title=Commander in Chief|author=Daniel Romano and Daniel Klaidman|date=May 05, 2011|work=Newsweek|publisher=The Newsweek/Daily Beast Company LLC|language=English|format=HTML}}</ref>

=====Iraq=====
{{main article|Operation Iraqi Freedom}}
Obama campaigned on a promise to end the War in Iraq, however 50,000 U.S. troops remain in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.cnn.com/2010-08-31/politics/obama.oval.office.address_1_iraq-requests-united-states-and-iraq-troop-surge?_s=PM:POLITICS|work=CNN|title=Obama: 'Time to turn the page' as Iraq combat mission ends|date=August 31, 2010|language=English|format=HTML}}</ref>

=====Guantanamo Bay=====
{{main article|Guantanamo Bay}}
One of Obama's campaign promises was that he would close the American detention center at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba - detainees would be flown to other countries while the ones awaiting trial would enter the American court system. Two days after taking office he signed an order directing the military to do so.<ref name="salon">{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/04/25/obama_guantanamo_rhetoric|work=Salon|title=The Obama/Gitmo timeline|author=Natasha Lennard|format=HTML|language=English}}</ref> But, in November 2009 Obama admitted that his self imposed deadline of January 2010 would be missed, and in March 2011 the president went back on his campaign promise, signing an executive order to create a formal system of indefinite detention for the prisoners.<ref name="salon"/>

=====Libya=====
{{main article|Libyan uprising 2011}}
In February 2011, the political unrest that had spread through the Arab world showed up as protests in Libya. Colonel Muammar el-Qaddafi - dictator of Libya for 41 years - responded to the activism with a wave of violence.<ref name="nyt libya">{{cite web|url=http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/libya/index.html|work=The New York Times|publisher=The New York Times Inc.|format=HTML|language=English|title=Libya — Protests and Revolt (2011)}}</ref> The [[United Nations Security Council]] voted unanimously to impose [[sanctions]], and later authorized all members to take action to protect civilians. Obama, acting without approval from Congress and at the beckoning of the [[United Nations]], directed American forces to take out Libya's air defense system.<ref name="nyt libya"/> Obama later said, "[I]f we waited one more day Benghazi, a city nearly the size of Charlotte, could suffer a massacre that would have reverberated across the region and stained the conscience of the world."<ref>{{cite web|author=Barack Obama|url=http://www.npr.org/2011/03/28/134935452/obamas-speech-on-libya-a-responsibility-to-act|title=Obama's Speech On Libya: 'A Responsibility To Act'|date=March 28, 2011|publisher=National Public Radio ([[NPR]])|language=English|format=HTML}}</ref> [[Alan J. Kuperman]] - writing an editorial for the ''[[Boston Globe]]'' - suggested this statement was false, writing, "[I]ntervention did not prevent genocide, because no such bloodbath was in the offing. To the contrary, by emboldening rebellion, US interference has prolonged Libya’s civil war and the resultant suffering of innocents."<ref name="kuperman">{{cite web|author=Alan J. Kuperman|work=The Boston Globe|url=http://articles.boston.com/2011-04-14/bostonglobe/29418371_1_rebel-stronghold-civilians-rebel-positions|title=False pretense for war in Libya?|date=April 14, 2011}}</ref> Kuperman, a professor of public affairs at the University of Texas who authored a book called ''The Limits of Humanitarian Intervention'', further stated that the rebels had tricked the world into thinking a bloodbath was at hand and that Obama had lied to the American people in order to act on this theory.<ref name="kuperman"/>
<blockquote>
Gaddafi [never] threaten civilian massacre in Benghazi, as Obama alleged. The “no mercy’’ warning, of March 17, targeted rebels only, as reported by The New York Times, which noted that Libya’s leader promised amnesty for those “who throw their weapons away.’’ Khadafy even offered the rebels an escape route and open border to Egypt, to avoid a fight “to the bitter end.’’ <ref> [http://politicalcartel.org/2011/04/17/libya-and-the-obama-doctrine/ Libya and the “Obama Doctrine”.] </ref>
</blockquote>

However Gaddafi wrote to Obama:

<blockquote>
Gaddafi said he bore no ill will toward Obama. "We have been hurt more morally than physically because of what had happened against us in both deeds and words by you," he wrote. "Despite all this you will always remain our son whatever happened. We still pray that you continue to be president of the USA. We endeavour and hope that you will gain victory in the new election campaign." The letter, dated 5 April 2011 in Tripoli, is signed "Mu'aumer Qaddaffi, Leader of the Revolution".<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/06/gaddafi-obama-nato-libya?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487]</ref>
</blockquote>

Critics point out the only thing worse than starting a "stupid, unnecessary war" against a madman is losing it.<ref>http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/271847/war-libya-dumb-and-dumber-victor-davis-hanson</ref>

==See also==

*[[Political positions of Barack Obama]]
*[[Barack Obama and uncharitableness]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{USPresidents}}
{{2008 presidential candidates}}
[[Category: Barack Hussein Obama]]
[[Category:Obama Presidency]]
[[Category:Obama Administration]]
[[category:Nobel laureates in Peace]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Obama, Barack Hussein}}

Liberal myths

2011-09-24T15:01:06Z

MarkThePatriot:

== Liberal myths are heavily promoted falsehoods motivated by a destructive belief system ==

Liberal beliefs:<ref>http://www.twilightslastgleaming.com/myths.htm</ref> They include:

*The claim that “The failed economic policies of George W. Bush" caused the recession and high unemployment. <ref>[http://www.examiner.com/conservative-in-national/let-s-discuss-the-failed-economicy-policies-of-president-george-w-bush Let's discuss the "failed economicy policies" of President George W. Bush, Washington Examiner, December 9, 2010]</ref>
*The claim that unemployment benefits stimulate the economy. <ref>[http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/30660 The unemployment ‘benefits’ compassion sham, CanadaFreePress, December 3, 2010]</ref>
*The claim that Democrats lost the [[2010 Midterm elections]] because [[Barack Obama]] was not liberal enough.
*The claim that human beings are beginning to overpopulate. (This myth is used as an attempt to justify abortion and anthropogenic global warming)
*The claim that people today are more knowledgeable than in prior centuries.
*The claim that the [[George W. Bush|Bush]] tax cuts substantially reduced 2006 revenues and expanded the [[budget]] deficit.
*The claim that the Bush tax cuts have not helped the economy.
*Anthropogenic [[Global Warming]]. <ref>[http://www.nowpublic.com/some-exasperating-liberal-myths Some Exasperating Liberal Myths] NowPublic.com, August 27, 2007</ref>
*The claim that a [[fetus]] is not a living person.
*The claim the [[embryonic stem cell]]s will provide many cures. Unlike adult stem cells, embryonic cells have provided no known cures.
*The claim that [[gun control]] reduces crime.
*The claim that [[abortion]] and [[breast cancer]] are unrelated.
*The claim that [[abortion]] and mental depression are unrelated.
*The claim that [[gambling]] financially benefits state school systems <REF>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/09/17/cbsnews_investigates/main3269456.shtml Is The Lottery Shortchanging Schools?] CBS News, September 17, 2007</ref>
*The claim to support the rights of women, never mention the oppressed women in Muslim countries. <ref>[http://www.aclu.org/womensrights/index.html About the Women's Rights Project] ACLU</ref>
*The claim that the [[media]] is not biased toward the liberal agenda.
*The claim that enabling [[oil]] drilling will not reduce long-term [[energy]] prices. <ref>[http://rightwingnews.com/mt331/2008/07/nancy_pelosis_energy_policy.php?comments=show Nancy Pelosi's Energy Policy] Rightwingnews.com, July 8, 2008</ref>
*The claim that enabling oil drilling will not provide [[energy]] security.<ref>[http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=33767 Oil Money May Buy Drilling Vote, Liberal Says] CNSNews.com, August 7, 2008</ref>
*The claim that same-sex couple adoptions can replace the [[love]] from a mother and a father. <ref>[http://lesbianlife.about.com/cs/families/a/adoption_2.htm Lesbian and Gay Adoption Rights] About.com</ref>
*The claim that an individuals [[sexual]] preference needs to be a protected civil right. <ref>[http://www.civilrights.org/research_center/civilrights101/sexualorientation.html GAYS AND LESBIANS] Civilrights.com</ref>
*That there is a [[vast right-wing conspiracy]] <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,359741,00.html THE VAST LEFT-WING CONSPIRACY] Fox News, May 29, 2008</ref>
*The claim that opposing the [[homosexual agenda]] is [[bigotry]]. <ref>[http://www.boycottmcdonalds.com/detail.aspx?id=102 Boycott McDonald's!] American Family Association</ref>
*The claim that the US acted unilaterally in Iraq (The USA and Britain led a 30-nation coalition in Iraq)<ref>[http://www.heritage.org/Research/Europe/wm558.cfm The Myth of U.S. Isolation] The Heritage Foundation, September 7, 2004 </ref>
*The claim that [[President Bush]] stole the 2000 elections. <ref>[http://archive.democrats.com/display.cfm?id=239 Floridagate] Democrats.com</ref>
*The claim that [[President Bush]] lied about WMD in [[Iraq]] to grab [[oil]].
*The claim that [[Saddam Hussein]] was not seeking to buy yellowcake Uranium. <ref>[http://thinkprogress.org/2007/05/14/tenet-niger/ Tenet Agrees To Cooperate With Congressional Investigation Into Niger Fraud] ThinkProgress, May 14, 2007</ref>
*The claim that the [[9/11]] terrorists attacks were an inside job by the [[USA]].
*The claim that Foreign Intelligence & Surveillance Act (FISA) is for spying on Americans. <ref>[http://www.aclu.org/safefree/general/35928prs20080709.html Senate Passes Unconstitutional Spying Bill] ACLU, July 9, 2008</ref>
*The claim that [[big government]] will benefit its' citizens. <ref>[http://www.newsmax.com/politics/candidates_public_service/2008/09/11/130009.html McCain, Obama Discuss Views on Public Service] Ap, September 11, 2008</ref>
*The claim that [[military]] recruits are poor and uneducated. <ref>[http://www.heritage.org/research/nationalsecurity/cda05-08.cfm Who Bears the Burden? Demographic Characteristics of U.S. Military Recruits] Heritage Foundation, November 7, 2005</ref> <ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3827/is_200612/ai_n17197505 Rangel Is Wrong About Recruits] Human Events, December 4,2006</ref> <ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/31/kerry.mccain/ Bush on Kerry remark: U.S. troops are 'plenty smart'] CNN, November 1, 2006</ref>
*The claim that [[government]] run [[healthcare]] is better than a capitalist healthcare system. <ref>[http://www.pslweb.org/site/News2?JServSessionIdr009=j7lglh8nq9.app5b&page=NewsArticle&id=9238&news_iv_ctrl=1283 Free, universal health care must be a right!] VotePSL.org, may 30, 2008</ref>
*They claim that going on the offense against [[terrorists]] creates more terrorists. <ref>[http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/03/madeleine-albright-we-created-more.html Madeleine Albright: "We Created More Terrorists... Our Soldiers Are the Problem"] Gateway Pundit, March 27, 2008</ref>
*They claim that terrorism should be handled by [[law]] enforcement. <ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/29/AR2008072902041.html Strategy Against Al-Qaeda Faulted] Washington Post, July 30, 2008</ref> <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,406901,00.html Bush: War on Terror is Not Law Enforcement Matter] AP, August 20, 2008</ref>
*They claim that the USA should negotiate with rogue [[nations]] and terror groups.
*They claim that [[socialism]] is superior to [[capitalism]].
*They claim that there is a [[gene]] which causes people to be gay, despite the fact that the scientific community rejects this view
*They claim that [[humans]] and [[ape]]s have a common ancestor
*They claim that the [[death penalty]] does not deter [[crime]], despite the overwhelming evidence showing that the death penalty does deter crime
*They claim that [[atheists]] are just as moral as [[Christians]] who regularly go to a church, or, in some cases, claim atheists are morally superior.
*They claim that all [[religions]] teach the same thing.
*They claim that [[intelligent design]] is not a science and has no evidence.
*They claim that no [[climatologist]] or [[physicist]] rejects global warming, despite the fact that the founder of The Weather Channel rejects global warming, as do thousands of other scientists.
*They claim Hitler was a [[Catholic]].
*They claim opposition to [[Obama]] is racism.
*They claim the general welfare clause in the Constitution gives government the right to force you to buy government-run healthcare.
*They claim Jesus was the first [[socialist]].
*They claim [[affirmative action]] works.
*They claim the [[Old Testament]] is immoral.
*They claim that the [[Jews]] aren't the Jews of the Bible.
*They claim that [[feminism]] has no bias.
*They claim [[homosexuals]] do not try to convert [[heterosexuals]].
*They claim that [[gay marriage]] will not result in [[polygamy]] also being written into law.
*They claim that the [[Bible]] is fictional.
*They claim that [[Liberal Christianity]] is compatible with the teachings of [[Jesus Christ]].
*They claim that proper tire inflation can replace the need for additional oil drilling.
*That we should eat less red meat in order to combat [[climate change]].<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,418801,00.html</ref>
*They claim Jesus was a liberal, or that Jesus was left-wing<ref>[http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/bernstein/works/1895/cromwell/09-communism.htm The 'Diggers' movement is held up as an example of good Christianity]</ref>.
*The claim that the [[Nation of Islam]] is unrelated to Islam the religion.
*The claim that portable school vouchers would destroy [[public schools]], yet send their own children to private schools.
*The claim that if you are [[pro-life]], you don't care about people after they're born. <ref>[http://twitter.com/movingleft Obnoxious supporter of Obama Twitter Account @MovingLeft (Warning:Vulgar)]</ref>
*The claim that more black people died in wars of [[America]] than in [[abortion]]. 1,786 blacks are killed '''daily''' by abortion, one of two [[pregnant]] women will be suckered into pro-choice genocide. [http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/1685410938.html]
*The claim that renaming [[War on Terror]] to Overseas Contingency Operation will reduce the threats facing America.
*The claim to cutback our country's missile defenses will some how make us more secure than we were.
*The claim that the nation will go bankrupt if we don't spend more tax dollars.
*We as a nation must switch to unproven technologies for the environments sake, such as wind or solar power. Yet, proven clean energy generated by nuclear power is not an option.
*The claim that you are not pro-life if you are [[pro-gun]].
*The claim that guns are responsible for deaths. (by that same logic, pencils are responsible for misspelled words.)
*The claim that 47 million Americans don't have health insurance. (Actual number is between 10 and 15 million) <ref>[[Essay:47 million Americans without health insurance lie‎]]</ref>
*The claim that homosexuality cannot be overcome by therapy and prayer.
*The claim that homosexuality is inherent to a person's biology and not a choice of lifestyle.
*The claim that higher income earners in America aren't paying their "fair share".

==Patriotism==
The liberal belief that an individual can claim to support our military, just not the mission and still be considered a 'Patriot'. In fact, the exact opposite is the truth. A liberals patriotism, party-specific position, cannot support the troops if they are an a impediment to their political left-wing strategy. The main reason for this has to due with passionate, partisan hatred for George Bush as commander n chief, the [[President of the United States of America]]. Liberals claim to support the military, claim not to support the mission and refuse to support the Commander. The extremist left discounts the counter effect of troop morale. Understanding the true liberal mindset when it comes to supporting our U.S. troops, observe the often tried protest march. Though frustration boils over, actions lead from protest to outright sabotage or anarchism. <ref>[http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/09/01/anti-war-protest-at-gop-convention-turns-violent/ Anti-War Protest at GOP Convention Turns Violent] Fox News, September 1, 2008</ref> Liberal credibility fails and lack of concern for the support of America shows. The left-wing cares so much for our military they condone and actually prop up politicians that abuse troops with reckless accusations <ref>[http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0907/Federal_judge_order_Murtha_to_testify_in_Haditha_defamation_case.html Federal judge orders Murtha to testify in Haditha defamation case] Politico, September 28, 2007</ref>, negative media coverage and ego trips <ref>[http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blpic-kerrystuckiniraq.htm Political Humor] About.com</ref>. Liberal protesters look the other way as war memorials are vandalized. Liberals protest our severely injured soldiers at the Walter Reed Medical Center.<ref>[http://www.crosswalk.com/1347570/ Anti-War Protests Target Wounded at Army Hospital] Crosswalk.com</ref> Liberal protesters harass, damage or block military recruitment centers from operating business as-usual. <ref>[http://mfvov.com/blog/?p=505 Recruiting Center Attacks Coast to Coast] Military Families Voice of Victory, March 19, 2008</ref> This leftwing position, the myth is successful in feeding media driven discontent and mediocrity shame. If the news is bad, a liberal is spoon fed. If the news is good, the spoon fed liberal is oblivious. e.g. "a complete suspension of disbelief".

Patriotism, to your brother, who volunteers and risks the ultimate sacrifice out of love, will never be diminished. True patriots will always be in our gratitude and held in the highest light.

==America Perceived==
The myth liberals give says we need to restore America's image in the world. Again, this mostly has to do with liberals' negative view of [[President Bush]]. Liberals want the two linked even though the myth is false. They blame Bush and Iraq for the bad USA image but the truth is that the credibility of the American left is a worse image than America's image abroad. The main need for liberals to propagate this myth is the fact that [[socialist]] governments of Europe oppose the policy of [[Iraq]]. This further fuels liberals' political agenda to remove [[Republicans]] from power. Liberals love Europeans and cite their false socialist utopia at every chance. European opposition automatically reinforces their belief that America's image is damaged. As of 2008, most of the [[European]] leaders that opposed Iraq are no longer in positions of power. The result, European [[conservatives]] were elected who publicly aligned themselves with America.

Those [[liberals]] that use the myth and regularly bash the USA are often called the "Blame America First" crowd. Though they never seem to mention that America gives more in donations, in total dollars, than any other country on Earth. <ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-06-25-charitable_N.htm Americans give record $295B to charity] USA Today, 6/25/2007</ref> A sure way to change America's image in the world is to show the world we respect life. The repeal of Roe Vs. Wade would be a start.

Reasons why [[America]] was hated prior to 2003 include wealth, women's rights, support for our democratic ally [[Israel]], democratic government, capitalist economy and exporting immorality.

==Bad Successful Companies==
In the attempt to point fingers and lay blame, the liberals produce the myth that profits made by successful companies are bad for America. Only a select group of companies are targeted for public shame. This is a false myth because successful corporations actually create jobs and [[tax]] revenue. Retirement funds and municipal bonds rely heavily on the profits from these companies. Also, the reason these companies flourish is because the capitalist system rewards their hard work. The liberals will try to create sympathy, that they care for the average American, they are the ones going after wrongdoers to make it right.

[[Liberals]] have demonized such companies as RJ Reynolds, Walmart, Halliburton and [[Blackwater]]. Their latest target is Exxon Mobil for their enormous profits and futures market oil speculators. Most of their accusations are absurd. Liberals in [[Congress]] don't blink an eye when it comes time to spend all that tax revenue generated. Liberals in Congress have been called on their [[hypocrisy]] for owning stocks in those companies. Which in turn, they divest their portfolios like nothing was ever wrong. For years, for decades, these companies have lobbied members of Congress, they have worked together for their common goals. In return, hefty [[campaign]] donations are their reward. Then for opportune reasons, liberals will publicly ridicule and verbally attack these bad, greedy capitalists. Corporate heads are brought before congress for a sideshow grilling to explain their actions. <ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/01/MNU7VU217.DTL Congress asks Big Oil to justify big profits] The SF Chronicle, April 2, 2008</ref> The Windfall Tax is just another example of the sham created by this liberal myth. Those companies make enough money, they should now be forced to give some back. They are threatened with nationalization <ref>[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=65111 Congresswoman threatens to nationalize oil industry] Worldnetdaily.com, May 23, 2008</ref>
and further government regulation, a socialist scheme. As the price of gas fell, Congress just pretended like nothing ever happened, Big Oil off the hook.

==The Economy From The Previous 8 Years==
In an attempt to spread Bush hatred without mentioning his name, it is common for liberals to lie and say ''"we're in this economic mess because of the policies over the previous eight years."'' This is a myth, perpetuated by the corrupt in order to link bad economics with [[Conservatism]] and Bush policy. These liberals are the very same individuals that would not recognize George W. Bush's economic successes when the economy was creating jobs. Bush, [[McCain]], [[Alan Greenspan]] are all on record as trying to fix the corrupt lending policies and government mismanagement for the past eight years. <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMnSp4qEXNM&NR=1 Financial Meltdown Video]YouTube</ref> All the while Democrats were lining their pockets with [[Fannie Mae]] and [[Freddie Mac]] donations. Democrats are overwhelmingly responsible if they should point fingers. Democrats [[Barney Frank]], [[Chris Dodd]], [[John Kerry]], [[Charles Schumer]] and even [[Barack Obama]] are as much, if not directly, indirectly responsible for the failed economics of this country over the past eight-years. The same people who got us into this mess are now responsible for getting us out of financial meltdown. Blame can go all around on this one, both Republicans and Democrats. This was the result of many bad decisions over a long period of time. Then out of nowhere, financial calamity that nobody saw coming, except congressmen and women who were privy to bank collapses. They made good money while the rest of America suffered. <ref>[http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2009/06/members_of_us_house_financial.html Members of U.S. House Financial Services Committee snapped up or dumped bank stocks as bottom fell out of market Cleveland.com June 25, 2009]</ref>

{{cquote|The truth of the matter; Bush-era 4.5% unemployment, Obama-era will it go higher than 10%?}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Liberalism}}

[[Category:Deceit]]
[[Category:liberals]]

Worst College Majors

2011-09-24T14:46:12Z

MarkThePatriot:

The '''worst college majors''' are fields of study that leave the student with relatively few job opportunities and often a distorted or ultra-[[liberal]] view of the world. If the student incurred debt in attending college, then he is left with obligations without any practical way to pay for them.

We encourage college students and employers to improve this list over time.

==Majors==
# Women's studies,<ref>"Women’s studies ... is disappearing from British universities. ... Students have begun to realise, too, that women’s studies is useless for getting you a job. It’s no coincidence that the subject’s collapse coincided with the introduction of tuition fees. The moment you start paying for something is the moment you consider whether it’s really worthwhile." [http://www.theinsider.com/news/639292_The_End_Of_Women_s_Studies_And_Other_Useless_Qualifications]</ref><ref>http://www.boundless.org/2000/features/a0000225.html</ref><ref>http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/why-is-gender-studies-dominated-by-one-gender-1.289830</ref> recently renamed "gender studies" at some schools
# [[Atheism|Secularism]]<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/08/us/08secular.html</ref>
#[[Homosexuality|LGBT]] studies<ref>http://www.yale.edu/lgbts/</ref><ref>http://www.lgbts.umd.edu/</ref>
# Film<ref name="georgetown" />
# General Religious studies programs and Theology<ref>[http://www9.georgetown.edu/grad/gppi/hpi/cew/pdfs/whatsitworth-complete.pdf What's It Worth?] Georgetown University, July 2011</ref><ref name="yahoolist" />. Ministers, however, have a low 1.2% unemployment rate in the [[United States]]. <ref name=georgetown>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703648304575212001278867126.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_careerjournal]</ref>
# English Literature/Literary Criticism
# Music Therapy<ref name="georgetown" />
# Dance<ref name="georgetown" />
# Interior Design<ref name="yahoolist" />
# Art History<ref name=yahoolist>[http://finance.yahoo.com/college-education/article/110196/20-worst-paying-college-degrees-in-2010 20 Worst-Paying College Degrees in 2010] Yahoo! Finance, 08/12/2010</ref>
# Comic Book Art
# Surfing Studies
# Golf Management – University of Birmingham / Florida Gulf Coast University
# Communications
# [[Evolution|Evolutionary biology]]
# Architecture <ref>http://www.foxbusiness.com/slideshow/personal-finance/2010/06/28/worst-fields-graduates/#slide=5</ref>
# Degrees leading to careers in investment banking and corporate work<ref>http://www.foxbusiness.com/slideshow/personal-finance/2010/06/28/worst-fields-graduates/#slide=3</ref>
# Journalism <ref>http://www.foxbusiness.com/slideshow/personal-finance/2010/06/28/worst-fields-graduates/#slide=4</ref>
# Psychology<ref name="georgetown" />
# Fashion Design
# Theater<ref name="georgetown" />
# Horticulture<ref name="yahoolist" />
# Human Resources<ref name="yahoolist" />
# Photography<ref name="georgetown" />
# Video game design<ref>One observer noted that not even the video game industry typically hires people who majored in video game design.</ref>
# Forestry/Range Management/Wildlife Management
# Environmental Studies
# Outdoor Recreation
# Fine Art<ref>http://www.artcareer.net/faqs/job-market-outlook-for-artists-and-designers/</ref><ref name="yahoolist" />
# Astronomy
# Horticulture
# Geology
# Anthropology
# Sociology

==Courses==
# Football Culture
# Queer Musicology – UCLA
# The Science of Harry Potter – Frostburg University <ref>CBS News: ''Harry Potter Goes To College: Professor Uses Boy Wizard To Explores Links Between Magic, Science'', by Bootie Cosgrove-Mather, Sept. 26, 2003 [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/19/national/main584456.shtml] ''...Frostburg State President Catherine R. Gira said she isn't worried that some may view a Harry Potter class as trivial. "Irrespective of the specific title of the course, the 'magic' in the fiction is being analyzed by applying concepts of physics, chemistry, biology and engineering. This honors course creatively packages scientific principles in a contemporary way that will interest today's students," Gira said.''</ref>
# Native American Feminism - University of Michigan
# Cyber Feminism - Cornell University
# Feminist New Black Man - Occidental College <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvlL_lDk4ko Jason Mattera At CPAC, YouTube]</ref>
# Philosophy and Star Trek – Georgetown University in Washington <ref> [http://courses.georgetown.edu/index.cfm?Action=View&CourseID=PHIL-180]</ref>
# Emotional Literacy<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1076368/Schools-councils-waste-300-000-useless-emotional-literacy-course-faraway-island-sun.html</ref>
# Media Genres, the study of zombies - University of Baltimore <ref>[http://www.aolnews.com/weird-news/article/university-of-baltimore-pop-culture-class-focuses-on-zombies/19625044?test=latestnews College Course Preps Pupils for Zombie Apocalypse, AOL News, September 9, 2010]</ref>
# The Science of Superheroes - UC Irvine <ref>[http://www.newsrealblog.com/2010/11/14/the-top-8-california-schools-that-are-like-totally-wasting-your-money/ The Top 8 California Schools that Are, Like, Totally Wasting Your Money, NewsRealBlog, November 14, 2010]</ref>
# Field Equipment Operation (tractor driving) - UC Davis
# Hip Hop: The Politics of Culture - UC San Diego
# History of Surfing - UC Santa Barbara
# Labor Studies - UM Saint Louis & UM Kansas City <ref>[http://www.thehotjoints.com/2011/04/25/video-college-course-teaches-violent-union-tactics/ Video: College Course Teaches Violent Union Tactics, The Hot Joints, April 25, 2011]</ref>
# Arguing with Judge Judy - UC Berkeley
# Self-Esteem - Cal State Fresno
# Gaga for Lady Gaga: Sex, Gender, and Identity- University of Virginia-Charlottesville<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/10/lady-gaga-college-class_n_712540.html</ref>
# Pilot Brewery (brewmaster) - UC Davis
# Search for Extraterrestial Intelligence - UC Berkeley
# Ecology of Renewable Natural Resources - Texas Tech University <ref>[http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/courses/NRM.php]</ref>

== Sources ==

* [http://www9.georgetown.edu/grad/gppi/hpi/cew/pdfs/whatsitworth-complete.pdf What's It Worth? The Economic Value of College Majors] - Comprehensive report at [[Georgetown University]] website
* [http://learnfinancialplanning.com/best-worst-college-majors-degree/ Best and Worst College Majors]
* [http://www.toptenz.net/to-10-useless-college-classes-degrees.php Top 10 Useless College Degrees & Classes]
[[Category:college]]
[[Category:education]]

== References ==

<references/>

Marijuana

2011-07-16T03:40:56Z

MarkThePatriot:

[[Image:Marijuana.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Indoor Marijuana Grow (DEA photo)]]
'''Marijuana''' is a dangerous drug that comes from the ''Cannabis'' [[plant]]. The main active ingredient in marijuana is [[Tetrahydrocannabinol|THC]], or tetrahydrocannabinol, an [[organic chemistry|organic chemical]] compound.

The effects of marijuana can include short-term memory loss, mild [[hallucination]]s, and an impairment of physical and mental functioning. Proponents of marijuana have claimed that it has medicinal benefits (see [[Medical marijuana]]) although other treatments can also deliver these benefits to various ailments without hallucinations and the impairments to judgment.

The religious or sacramental use of marijuana is reported in various cultures such as those of the [[Rastafari]] movement or the [[Sadhu]]s of India.

==Medicinal Harms==
Marijuana contains many of the same carcinogens as tobacco, thus when smoked it has the same harmful effects including: potential damage to DNA, cancer, respiratory diseases associated with smoke inhilation, and impaired immune system.<ref>[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090615095940.htm Science Daily 6/9/2009]</ref>. However, these effects have not been linked directly to alternate methods of marijuana use. Marijuana use can impair short term memory while intoxicated. THC has slight negative affects on long term memory and thus, in chronic users (approximately 1g/24Hrs)<ref>[http://www.askmen.com/sports/health/20_mens_health.html AskMen: Benefits of Marijuana]</ref>, complications with long term memory are a risk. If smoked, marijuana leads to a temporary increase in heart rate and blood pressure while intoxicated. For this reason, there is a slight increase in the risk for heart related problems including heart attack during the time of intoxication<ref>[http://www.askmen.com/sports/health/20_mens_health.html AskMen: Benefits of Marijuana]</ref>. Chronic smokers can sometimes suffer from mild withdrawal symptoms, however marijuana is not physically addictive.<ref>[http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-teenage-mind/201012/is-marijuana-addictive Psychology Today: Is Marijuana Addictive?]</ref>. Marijuana can impair judgment, motor skills, and balance <ref>[http://www.acde.org/common/Marijana.htm]</ref>. Marijuana has also been linked to impaired learning <ref>[http://www.nature.com/npp/journal/v31/n10/full/1301068a.html Neuropsycopharmacology: High-Potency Marijuana Impairs Executive Function and Inhibitory Motor Control]</ref>

==Medicinal Benefits==
The active ingredient in marijuana, [[Tetrahydrocannabinol|THC]], has been shown (in studies) to produce certain psychological and medicinal benefits. Marijuana has been used to treat anorexia and has been used as an antiemetic.<ref>[http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Support/marijuana National Cancer Institute]</ref> Harvard University conducted a study on the effect of Δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol on certain lung cancers. The result of the test was that THC can reduce tumor size by as much as half.<ref>[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070417193338.htm Science Daily 4/7/2007]</ref> In addition to a significant reduction in tumor size, there was a reduction in lesions on the lungs by 60%, and a reduction in protein markers associated with the progression of cancer.<ref>[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070417193338.htm Science Daily 4/17/2007]</ref> This study shows that not only can THC treat the side effects of cancer treatment, but can stop the spread of cancer, repair damage caused by tumors, and even reduce the size of tumors.

In addition to the positive effect on cancer treatment symptoms and cancer itself, marijuana is used to help patients afflicted with [[amyotrophic lateral sclerosis|ALS]]<ref>[http://ajh.sagepub.com/content/18/4/264.short American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine]</ref>.

Marijuana is an [[antispasmodic]] and is used in the treatment of seizures <ref>[http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=9586&page=106 National Academies Press: Marijuana and muscle spasticity]</ref>. Marijuana is also used in the treatment of migraines, arthritis<ref>[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/art.1780090304/abstract Online Library: Treatment of adjuvant arthritis in rats with anti-inflammatory drugs]</ref>, depression<ref>[http://www.interestingfacts.org/fact/facts-about-marijuana Interesting Facts: Facts about marijuana]</ref>, and glaucoma. However the effect of marijuana on intraocular pressure (IOC) is not as effective as those offered by other drugs on the market <ref>[http://www.nei.nih.gov/news/statements/marij.asp National Eye Institue: Glaucoma and Marijuana use]</ref>.

There have not been many in-depth and widely distributed studies into the possible medicinal effects of marijuana. However, with pressure from advocates of marijuana, more accredited institutions are conducting research on the drug.

==Interesting Facts==
Carl Sagan used recreational marijuana to help "open his mind".<ref>[http://boingboing.net/2009/10/07/carl-sagan-spaced-ou.html Boing Boing: Carl Sagan Spaced Out]</ref>
Cannabis was first cultivated in China around 4000 B.C.<ref>[http://www.interestingfacts.org/fact/facts-about-marijuana Interesting Facts: Facts about marijuana]</ref>
U.S. Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper.<ref>[http://www.interestingfacts.org/fact/facts-about-marijuana Interesting Facts: Facts about marijuana]</ref>
George Washington grew marijuana. <ref>[http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/thepresidentandcabinet/a/gwtheman.htm The President and the Cabinet: George Washington the Man]</ref>
Marijuana is over 100 times less lethal than Alcohol (ratio of lethal dose to effective dose)<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrahydrocannabinol Wikipedia: Tetrahydrocannabinol]</ref>.
==Law==
Marijuana is a [[Schedule I]] [[Controlled Substance]] in the United States of America, meaning that it is an illegal substance under the law of the United States. In a few countries, particularly in the most [[liberal]] countries of [[Western Europe]], it is legal, though several other countries impose more harsh penalties than the Untied States.

Many liberals have advocated for decriminalization.<ref>[http://www.leap.cc Law Enforcement Against Prohibition]</ref><ref>http://www.lp.org/issues/lp-oss.shtml</ref>

Many [[American]] [[conservative]]s, especially social conservatives, oppose legalization of marijuana in any form due to its harmful medical and emotional effects and its likelihood of harm to third parties due to drug-related crime and reckless driving. A few libertarian-leaning conservatives, most notably [[William F. Buckley]] and [[Larry Elder]], have advocated the decriminalization of this drug. Some [[liberal]]s support legalization, but most instead advocate for drug treatment and rehabilitation. [[Libertarian]]s are usually the biggest supporters of marijuana legalization.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Illegal substances]]
[[Category:Illegal Drugs]]

Bullying

2011-07-16T02:59:16Z

MarkThePatriot: /* Bullying by Children */

'''Bullying''' is the use of force to get one's own way, typically for a selfish purpose at at the expense of others. [[Censorship]] is a type of bullying. A person who perpetrates bullying is known as a [[bully]].

In college and at many [[public school]]s, bullying takes the form of intimidating students to prevent them from expressing or defending their [[conservative]] views. Teachers<ref>See [[professor values]].</ref> and [[liberal]] students can use [[liberal grading]] to bully students into accepting [[liberal]] positions or avoiding conservative ones in classroom discussions and on papers and exams. '''Bullying''' can be used to punish students in or outside of class for doing or saying something that is [[politically incorrect]]. An example of classroom bullying is for students to ostracize a fellow student based on a viewpoint expressed by that student.

== Bullying by Children ==

[[Children]] in [[public school]]s are often permitted (at least tacitly) to bully other, weaker children. This can take the form of teasing, hitting, extortion ("Give me your lunch money"), and so on. Children who engage in this type of bullying tend to do so as a means of acting out due to problems in their home lives, and are much more likely to live in poor, single parent, or nonreligious households.

Educators have been known to countenance the practice by saying that as kids grow up, they simply must learn to deal with bullies.<ref>[http://www.crimeprevention.gov.au/agd/WWW/rwpattach.nsf/VAP/(1E76C1D5D1A37992F0B0C1C4DB87942E)~Bullying+Parents.pdf/$file/Bullying+Parents.pdf] </ref> The implication is that they can learn this on their own, while academic subjects such as arithmetic and English must be learned from books and teachers.

It is commonly said that bullying is "simply part of growing up" or part of "the rough and tumble of childhood."<ref>[http://www.police.govt.nz/service/yes/nobully/bully_info.html]</ref>

*Most students who are bullied either do not report the bullying to adults, or they wait a very long time before doing so. The reasons include feelings of shame, fear of retaliation for reporting, and fear that adults cannot or will not protect the victim in the settings where bullying usually takes place.
*Many teachers and parents tell children not to "tattle," and to resolve their problems themselves.<ref name="lfcc">[http://www.lfcc.on.ca/bully.htm]</ref>

Many academic approaches go out of their way not to mention using any kind of adult force (let alone [[punishment]]) to stop bullies. One Canadian program is an exception:

:If the bullies will not change their behavior, despite concerted efforts by school personnel, the bullies, and not the victims, should be the ones who are removed from the class or school, or transferred to another program. Consequences for the perpetrators will be of considerable interest to all students, and will set the tone for future situations.<ref name="lfcc" />

==Response and Prevention of Bullying==
Besides telling an adult, there are other things kids can do to stop themselves from being bullied or prevent bullying in the first place. They include but are not limited to
# Learning self defense and not being afraid to fight back if provoked.
# Gathering up a large posse of friends to help defend yourself.
# Lifting weights and taking protein supplements to get bigger (this is only appropriate for high school students, before the age of 14 or 15, kids usually don't have enough testosterone to build muscle and weight training before 14 can be dangerous).
# Sticking up for smaller, younger, and weaker kids. This sends a message that bullying will not be tolerated.
# Tolerance of those who are different.
# Teachers taking a more proactive role and nipping bullying in the bud when it crops up.
# Ridiculing and shunning those who repeatedly engage in bullying.
# Longer suspensions and expulsions, or in extreme cases, criminal charges for the worst offenders.
# Return of classroom prayer and teaching of proper morals and why bullying is inherently evil and wrong.
# Parents punishing children who bully others.
# Staying active and participating in sports (team or individual) and/or martial arts. Athletic and strong children are much less likely to be bullied.
# Parents teaching kids proper social skills so they are less likely to be bullied.

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Liberalism}}
[[Category:Sociology]]
[[Category:Liberal Traits]]