New Poll Finds GOP Running Even in Congressional Popularity: Four of Five Say ObamaCare Will Increase Deficit, 85 Percent Expect Tax Increases!

From CNN, "GOP Has Erased Party Popularity Gap in Congress" (via Memeorandum):

Eleven months before crucial midterm elections, a national poll indicates that the public is divided over whether the country would be better off with Democrats or Republicans controlling Congress.

According to a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released Thursday, 40 percent of people questioned say the U.S. would be better off if Democrats ran Congress while 39 percent feel things would be better if Republicans took charge on Capitol Hill. The 1-point margin is a statistical tie.

Support for Democrats is down from a 10-point advantage in August and a 25-point margin in January.

"As the debate over health care continues, the Democrats may have lost the competitive advantage that they enjoyed earlier this year," CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said. "Since August, the number who support Democratic control of Congress has fallen farthest in the Northeast and the Pacific Rim -- two regions that have been Democratic strongholds for many years."

Nineteen percent of people questioned say that the country would be in the same condition regardless of which party controls Congress.

There are some extremely interesting internals to the poll as well. These fiindings are from last week: Sixty-one percent oppose the current Senate health bill working through the Congress. And at the screencap, 79 percent expect healthcare reform to widen the deficit, and a whopping 85 percent expect to see tax hikes:

These findings come precisely as news that the "11th hour" Medicare buy-in compromise will increase costs and accelerate the insolvency of the program, as Medicare eligibility drops to 55 years-old.

In short, the Democrats are riding the rails to an epic ideological-political train-wreck, and as it stands now the GOP is looking to pick up a record number of seats in both chambers of Congress next year. Note too that the president's party nearly always loses seats in the midtems, and an earthquake election could turn Barack Obama's administration into an even bigger disaster than Bill Clinton's in 1993-94.

RELATED: Seattle Weekly, "Rep. Brian Baird Retiring, Making It Harder for Democrats to Keep 2010 Majority."

And from last month, at Gallup, "Republicans Edge Ahead of Democrats in 2010 Vote."

See also, Allahpundit, "Oh my: GOP within one on generic ballot."

ADDED: Gateway Pundit, "61% of Americans Against Democrat’s Nationalized Health Care Bill," and Snooper Report, "It Doesn't Matter Who Is Against The Federal Health Care Bill."

Americans in Pakistan Linked to al Qaeda: Obama 'Mum' on U.S. Extremists Who Pledged to Fight Jihad Against the West!

From the Wall Street Journal, "Americans Detained in Pakistan Found to Have al Qaeda Links":

Five young Americans detained in eastern Pakistan had developed contacts with al Qaeda operatives through the Internet and were on their way to North Waziristan to join a militant training camp, said a senior Pakistani intelligence official.

All of them -- students in their 20s from northern Virginia -- were arrested this week in the garrison town of Sargodha at the house of an activist of Jaish-e-Mohammed, an outlawed Pakistani militant outfit with known links to the Taliban and al Qaeda.

The suspects arrived in Pakistan last month. They are being interrogated by Pakistani intelligence agencies and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, the intelligence official said.

The intelligence official said information gleaned from their laptop computers and other material recovered from the suspects established their links with the militant network operating from the lawless tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

He said the men came in contact with al Qaeda through its local operatives in Pakistan. Police have also seized some jihadist literature from the house where they were arrested.

Usman Anwar, police chief of Sargodha, told reporters that the men admitted that they had come to Pakistan with the intention of joining jihad.

"We watched them for one and a half days and then arrested them," Mr. Anwar said. Police also arrested an employee of the federal highway department who was identified only by the name Fahim.

But check Jihad Watch, "Obama Mum on Arrests of American Muslims in Pakistan, Praises "Muslim-American Community":

In Oslo to pick up his Nobel Peace Prize for Nothing, Obama praises the advances Muslims in America have made since 9/11. And it's true: since 9/11 Muslims in this country have made great strides. They have suffered no widespread "backlash," despite constant media handwringing over the prospect, no discrimination. Americans should be proud of that.

At the same time, American Muslim advocacy groups have been extraordinarily successful in portraying any discussion of the texts and teachings that Islamic jihadists use to justify violence and supremacism, and to make recruits among peaceful Muslims, as "bigoted" and "hateful." This has hamstrung anti-terror efforts, as it has forestalled any thorough examination of the jihad doctrine and ideology by law enforcement officials, and has led them to take many who are not on our side as allies -- including some of those same American Muslim advocacy groups.

Yeah, and one of those advocacy groups would be CAIR, with executive director Nihad Awad seen above, "cautioned against hasty conclusions about the episode." (And see, Frontpage Magazine, "CAIR's Strategy of Deception.")

And the left's Islamo-terrorist enablers are already out with apologies and threat-downgrading. For example, Spencer "God Willing" Ackerman, "About That Domestic Radicalization," and "A Mixed Picture on Domestic Radicalization?"

SHOCKING! President Obama Chose Homosexual 'Man-Boy' Czar to Guide Your Children

This is what President Obama's "safe schools" czar is promoting? From Gateway Pundit, "Promoting Child Porn in the Classroom – Kevin Jennings and the GLSEN Reading List":

Passages of Pride – Pages 33, 34 + 35 (A 15-year-old boy embarks on an intense sexual relationship with a much older adult man.)

Near the end of summer, just before starting his sophomore year in high school, Dan picked up a weekly Twin Cities newspaper. Scanning the classifieds, he came upon an ad for a “Man-2-Man” massage. Home alone one day, he called the telephone number listed in the ad and set up an appointment to meet a man named Tom. Tom offered to drive to Zimmerman. So, over the phone, Dan directed him to a secluded road in his subdivision. “Stop where the pavement ends,” Dan told him.

A couple of nights later, Dan pulled the broken screen from his bedroom window and slipped out of the house while his parents slept. He hurried to the prearranged rendezvous spot, and there, in the dark of night, he met Tom for the first time, man-to-man. In the back of Tom’s van, the two had sex.

“He gave me a little shoulder rub and the next thing I knew his hands were all over me,” Dan remembers. “It wasn’t a bad thing. I didn’t necessarily know it would turn into sex. But I knew what I was doing.”

Dan continued his liaisons with Tom throughout the summer and into the following school year, having sex—usually masturbation and oral sex—with Tom in his van or his Minneapolis apartment.

Also via Gateway Pundit, "Fistgate V: Youth Fisting Instructor Claims Kevin Jennings Knew About Class Content in Advance."

On Jennings' acceptance and promotion of man-boy relationships, see "Obama's lewd schools czar":

On Oct. 25, 1997, at a conference for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, Mr. Jennings stated, "One of the people that's always inspired me is Harry Hay." The late Hay was a "gay-rights" activist most notorious for supporting the North American Man Boy Love Association. In 1983, speaking in support of NAMBLA, Hay claimed: "[I]f the parents and friends of gays are truly friends of gays, they would know from their gay kids that the relationship with an older man is precisely what 13-, 14-, and 15-year-old kids need more than anything else in the world."

Aso, "Obama appointee lauded NAMBLA figure."

Plus, here comes the left's latest campaign of disinformation and evasion. See Founding Bloggers, "Media Matters Responds To Fistgate III – Attacks Jim Hoft – Defends Reccomended Books."

Also, my previous entries, "More Details Emerge as Dozens in Congress Demand Resignation of Kevin Jennings, Obama's Homosexual Porn-Promoting Schools Czar," and "Fisting Lessons: Obama's Safe Schools Czar, Kevin Jennings, Knew of 'Disgusting' Sex Subjects for Teen Sex Seminars!"

IMAGE CREDIT: Stop Jennings.org.

More Details Emerge as Dozens in Congress Demand Resignation of Kevin Jennings, Obama's Homosexual Porn-Promoting Schools Czar

At World Net Daily, "Dozens in Congress: Oust Obama's porn-promoter: Homosexual activist Jennings now heading America's 'safe schools' office":

More than four dozen members of Congress have signed a letter to President Obama urging the removal of Kevin Jennings, the pro-homosexual activist appointed to head the nation's office of safe schools.

The campaign is available online under the website StopJennings.org. The site tells why signers believe Jennings is unfit for the office.

WND reported last week that books promoted for children by the homosexual advocacy organization Jennings founded, the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network, include descriptions on child molestation, adult-child sex, explicit descriptions of sex acts and tales of cruising restrooms for sex.

Among the book titles recommended for children are "Queer 13," "Passages of Pride," "Growing Up Gay/Growing Up Lesbian," "In Your Face," "Mama's Boy, Preacher's Son" and "Love & Sex: Ten Stories of Truth."

WND reported when the campaign was launched with about a dozen members of Congress asking Obama to remove Jennings:

"We respectfully request that you remove Kevin Jennings, the Assistant Deputy Secretary for the Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools, from your administration. It is clear that Mr. Jennings lacks the appropriate qualifications and ethical standards to serve in this capacity."

The letter was signed by U.S. Reps. Doug Lamborn of Colorado, Steve King of Iowa, Duncan Hunter of California, Darrell Issa of California, Paul Broun of Georgia, Joe Pitts of Pennsylvania and others. The lawmakers pointed out Jennings "has played an integral role in promoting homosexuality and pushing a pro-homosexual agenda in America's schools."

More at the link.

And video c/o Gateway Pundit, "Sean Hannity & Michelle Malkin Break Media Silence on Fistgate & Obama’s Dangerous Safe Schools Czar Kevin Jennings (Video)."

Patrick Frey Attempts Walk-Back of Racist Insinuations Against Robert Stacy McCain

Well, as more and more bloggers make a stand against the smears, it's no surprise that Patrick Frey's trying to weasel out of his insinuations of racism against Robert Stacy McCain.

You can see the screencap from Patrick's entry tonight, "Please Do Not Put Words in My Mouth." And he writes:

I think if people are going to address what I said then they should address what I said. Not some fictional account that somebody made up and tried to put in my mouth.

Funny thing is, no one's putting words in Patrick's mouth.

Note this passage, from Patrick's post on Sunday, "That Quote Most of You Called “Racist” Was Written by Robert Stacy McCain":

I am placing the full quote in the extended entry below. The reader can judge for himself or herself whether the context renders non-racist McCain’s observations about the “natural revulsion” that many people feel upon seeing images of interracial marriage.

By the way, I found the Founding Bloggers post linked at this very lengthy and thorough post that is very harsh to McCain. But the author also has plenty of evidence to back up much of what he has to say. It’s worth a click and a read.

I have much more discussion of the evidence at this page, but I think it’s too lengthy to include here. I think the evidence set forth there is quite compelling and interesting — and shows how McCain has made sort of half-assed attempts to deny, or implicitly deny, the quote. But when he was finally asked the question quite directly by the sympathetic site Founding Bloggers in the link above, he admitted it. And claimed he was taken out of context.
So let’s turn to the full context of the quote.

To be sure, McCain says some other stuff here that is not racist, and some stuff that is less racist than the part quoted above. But I keep coming back to his claim that “the media now force interracial images into the public mind” that that “a number of perfectly rational people react to these images with an altogether natural revulsion.”

And that “[t]he white person who does not mind transacting business with a black bank clerk may yet be averse to accepting the clerk as his sisterinlaw, and THIS IS NOT RACISM.”

You can put as much context around that as you like. It still sounds like racism to me.

We don't need to parse word meanings to see that Patrick's calling out Robert for racism and bigotry. It's a stupid yet sleazy semantic dodge for Patrick to highlight one quote away from the rest of what's he's written. It's especially dishonest, since Patrick -- who's all about "context" -- is the one trolling around the web searching for evidence of -- wait for it! -- Robert's racism. Oh, but of course, he's only scouring the web looking for evidence of WHAT ROBERT SAID, so he'll have evidence to support HIS INSINUATIONS IF NOT OUTRIGHT ALLEGATIONS of Robert's racism. I mean, the post cited by Patrick's not a giveway, eh?, "Meet Robert Stacy McCain, a neo-Confederate wacko extraordinaire." And note that's a leftist blog, so no one would find anything favorable to conservatives there. Clearly, Patrick is comfortable searching for smear sources in the radical left's hate dumps.

But wait! It turns out that Little Miss Attila's written a post, and Patrick's responded there in the comments with the same kind of stupid semantic legerdemain. Referring to Robert's "altogether natural revulsion" quote, Patrick writes at Attila's:

Calling a statement racist and calling the speaker racist are not the same thing.

I am comfortable that the statement is racist.

Well, nope, Patrick. That's not working out too well for you. And you can't accuse me of not reading your posts -- which is your play here, to plead you're a just soul who's intentions are good, Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood! Sorry, but that's not going to fly.

In fact, I'm pretty sure it's like I said a couple of nights ago:

I'm reminded of Mean Girls, how Rachel McAdams had so much power over others, but then became a victim of her own Machiavellian charms when the gunsights were reversed. Regina George deserved it, because, well, she's mean. But the example is the campaign itself, how Lindsay Lohan besmirched herself just as much by sinking to the pits of scurrility and evil. And so it is with racism. No one wants to be called out as racist, but since so few of Americans are genuinely racist today, if it appears the left really has a genuine one, then, BAM, they pounce like a big game cat. But ultimately it's the accuser who's damaged, most recently Charles Johnson, now having to announce his own exile into puritanical ideological purgatory.

Yep, the heat's warming up under Patterico's feet, and he can feel that isolation building. Kinda like C.J., in fact, when the blog becomes a battle station for the blogger, who's surrounding by braindead sycophants just as intent to spew slanders as the proprietor.

Anyway, check Jeff Goldstein's piece, "Language Lessons, Revisited [Updated x2]":

I’m sorry, but you can’t have it both ways. If you believe the statement is racist, you believe that it was uttered with racist intent. If you don’t believe it was uttered with racist intent, the statement is not racist, unless the intent to see racism comes from another source, in this case, from some agency who imbues the statement with a meaning that he doesn’t attribute to the original utterer.

That’d be Patterico.

See also, Robert Stacy McCain and Saber Point.

Tiger Woods Love Child!

Well, not exactly. National Enquirer's suggesting that a Tiger Woods love child would be the golf king's ultimate nightmare. See, "TIGER WOODS NEW NIGHTMARE: SEX TAPES & LOVE CHILDREN!":

A disgraced Tiger Woods is terrified that the worst news is yet to come - that he fathered love children with his mistresses! And his many liaisons may have been caught on tape!

That's the bombshell charge that could wreck what's left of his once squeaky-clean image, sink his badly tattered marriage and destroy his multimillion-dollar endorsement empire.

Yesterday, Gatorade dropped a popular Tiger drink and not one of his endorsed commercials have aired since Nov. 30th.

The golf great had wild unprotected sex with a string of mistresses, sources tell The ENQUIRER- and now he fears claims that his out-of-control sexual proclivities may have produced children.

"That would be the final straw for his wife - AND Tiger knows it," said an insider. "But there is definitely more than one woman out there who could come forward to say she had his babies."

See also, my earlier entry, "Is Tiger Woods Finished? Sponsors Take 'Wait-and-See' Approach Amid Cascading Revelations."

"RELATED: Bill Plaschke, "Sleaze has been the undisputed champion of the sports world for 2009."

Fisting Lessons: Obama's Safe Schools Czar, Kevin Jennings, Knew of 'Disgusting' Sex Subjects for Teen Sex Seminars!

I'm late getting to this story, but man is "fisting" is truly disgusting (and thus perfected suited to the Barack Obama administration).

From World Net Daily, "Fistgate: Obama Chief 'Knew' of 'Disgusting' Sex Subjects - Jennings Was Co-Chairman of Committee That Set Up Statewide Program":

A pro-family organization is accusing President Obama's Office of Safe Schools chief, Kevin Jennings, of knowing in advance the "gross and disgusting" subjects that would be covered at a seminar on sex for teenagers.

There have been multiple reports about a Massachusetts school seminar 10 years ago sponsored by the group Jennings founded, the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network, that included instructors providing explicit direction on homosexual activities, such as "fisting."

The subject has been raised as a direct challenge to Jennings' fitness to hold office, and as WND has reported, several dozen members of Congress have signed a letter to President Obama demanding his dismissal.

Now, Brian Camenker and Amy Contrada at Mass Resistance in Massachusetts have posted online audio recordings from the seminar, documenting discussions such as whether to "spit or swallow" during oral sex and how to accomplish "fisting."

More at the link.

Also Jim Hoft, "Fistgate III: Obama’s Safe Schools Czar’s ‘Black Book’ For Kids Included Tips on Fisting and Pi$$ing on Your Partner," and "Fistgate IV: Obama’s Safe Schools Czar Passed Out Gay Bar Guides to Teens at GLSEN Events."

RELATED: "Planned Parenthood Partnered in Safe School Czar's 'Fistgate' Scandals."

After State Dinner, Tareq and Michaele Salahi Stiffed Bartender at Hay-Adams Hotel: Couple to Plead the Fifth Before House Homeland Security Panel!

More on the Palestinian dirtbag White House party-crashers. From the Washington Post, "Salahis Stiffed Hay Adams Bartender After Leaving State Dinner":

So, you just left a state dinner! What are you going to do next? For Tareq and Michaele Salahi, the answer was drinks at the Hay-Adams hotel -- where they walked out on the bill, according to sources close to the matter.

After the couple departed the White House a little before 9 p.m. the night of Nov. 24, they apparently walked across Lafayette Square to the historic hotel at 16th and H streets and down to the Off the Record bar tucked in the lower level.

Unclear what they ordered or how long they stayed, but they were still dressed in their now-instantly recognizable red Indian gown and tux. At some point, Tareq slapped down $20 -- "for the tip," he announced -- but said he had left his credit cards in the car. They never returned to pay the drink tab, the sources say.

A rep for the famously discreet hotel told us: "We never discuss our guests." A rep for the Salahis had no comment.

Plus, from ABC News, "White House 'Crashers' Slapped With Subpoenas: Salahis Expected To Plead The Fifth Before House Panel":

They masqueraded on White House grounds, shook hands with the president and then went on national television to talk about it. Now Tareq and Michaele Salahi say they intend to invoke their Fifth Amendment rights not to incriminate themselves when faced with congressional subpoenas to testify under oath.

Right.

And this is the couple who assured Matt Lauer that the truth would come out during the investigation.

Of course, could be related to this, "White House 'Gatecrashers' Tied to Terror Sympathizer."

Tea Party Express: Part Three

This is the first I've heard of it, but it's good news. From CNN, "Tea Party Express, Part Three":

Just about every blockbuster movie is followed by a sequel, or two. The tea party cross country caravan, it appears, is no different.

A Tea Party Express official tells CNN that they're planning a third national tour in late March and early April that will culminate in the nation's capitol on April 15, tax deadline day.

Levi Russell, a spokesman for the group, which is organized by the conservative political action committee Our Country Deserves Better, says the slogan for the tour is "just vote them out."

Russell says that with the crucial 2010 midterm elections just months away, the tour will spotlight members of Congress who they consider the worst offenders when it comes to fiscal policy. While both Republicans and Democratic lawmakers will be targeted, Russell acknowledges that more Democrats than Republicans will be on their scopes.

Russell tells CNN that tour is expected to kick off on March 27 in Searchlight, Nevada, which is the hometown of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. He adds that the three Republican candidates running to challenge Reid in next year's election are planning to attend the rally.

Just as the first tea party cross country caravan ended in the nation's capital, as part of a taxpayers march on Washington on September 12, this national tour is also scheduled to conclude in D.C. as well. The conservative group FreedomWorks organized the first march on Washington and will reprise their role for the April 15 event.

The first march ended with a large rally in front of the U.S. Capitol. This time organizers plan to hold their rally near the White House.

But, we still have a lot of unanswered questions on divisions in the movement. See, "Tea Party Movement Threatened by Internal Rifts," and ""Tea Partiers Turn on Each Other."

See also my entry, "A Battle Within? Emerging Divisions in the Tea Party Movement, and the response, "A Battle Within the Tea Party Movement? Roger Ogden Responds."

Is Tiger Woods Finished? Sponsors Take 'Wait-and-See' Approach Amid Cascading Revelations

Well the scandalous revelations on Tiger Woods seem to come out by the hour now. Responding to my post this morning, my good friend Carolyn Tackett has written on Tiger Woods' accelerating meltdown, "Can't Get Any Worse for Tiger? How About Naked Pictures?":

I'm not sure if Tiger is suffering from a maturity problem, an ego problem, or a he's just plain nuts problem but surely he would have to know that nude photos of someone of his fame and wealth would not stay hidden forever. In my humble opinion, ain't no flippin way he's coming back from this.

You know the power of redemption, and America's love for the comeback story, but I'd put my money with Carolyn. It's not just the infidelity, but the stupidity, and now the sheer sleaziness of it all. Fox News has a report out on Woods' dirty text messages to Jaimee Grubbs, Excerpts from Tiger Woods' dirty text messages to Jaimee Grubbs." Just one passage for a glimpse into Tiger's world:

October 18, 2009

Tiger: send me something very naughty

Jaimee: some things are worth waiting for lol ... besides im at work

Tiger: go to the bathroom and take it

Jaimee: haha ur too much

That's apparently a request for "sext" messages.

In any case, there's more, from US Weekly, "WORLD EXCLUSIVE: E-mails reveal Tiger loved his mistress":

Tiger Woods’ devastated wife, Elin Nordegren, may be trying to ease the pain of her husband’s hurtful indiscretions by reminding herself that the growing list of buxom nightclub hostesses and waitresses were just hookups. But, in fact, Tiger committed the ultimate act of betrayal — he fell in love with one of his mistresses.

In Touch can exclusively reveal that the woman originally at the center of the storm, party promoter Rachel Uchitel, was more than a fling to Tiger. They weren’t just having sex — they were in a relationship. “Tiger told her he would divorce his wife for her,” an insider says. In fact, hundreds of secret e-mails between the two show that not only was the superstar athlete over the moon for Rachel, he desperately wanted to leave Elin and their two kids to be with her.

Also, from Hollywood Gossip, "Tiger Woods: Really Falling For Rachel Uchitel!"

"I want you to lay next to me, on me, wherever you want to lay. F***! Why didn’t we find each other years ago. We wouldn’t be having this conversation.” - Tiger Woods

See also, OK Magazine, "

World Exclusive: Rachel Uchitel Shares Her Side of Tiger Woods Story."
Meanwhile, the professional fallout continues. See The Hill, "Lawmaker Drops Push to Give Tiger Woods Congressional Gold Medal."

But check the Wall Street Journal, "For Tiger Woods's Sponsors, It's Wait and See."

A Battle Within the Tea Party Movement? Roger Ogden Responds

Roger Ogden, the Meetup Organizer of the San Diego Tea Party, has accepted my offer to respond to my entry from last night, "A Battle Within? Emerging Divisions in the Tea Party Movement." Roger submitted the following essay, unedited, along with the videos:

**********

This is a response to a post by Donald Douglas on American Power Blog on December 8, 2009. I am the organizer of a meetup group in San Diego, “Stop Obama Now”. My members are encouraged to fully exercise their freedom of expression at protests. No one has a monopoly on the truth or good ideas. No one is responsible at our protests for the opinions of some other individuals. We let everyone express their opinion and expect that the truth will prevail. I have also found that attendance is better and our protests are livelier and more energetic, when people have no arbitrary limits placed on them and they can express their own opinions without being censored. Attempts to limit what people can express stifle legitimate protest. Below is a clip of our protest against media bias at NBC studios in San Diego.

Black Liberation Theology is a racist, would-be state religion, whose central religious tenets involve the destiny of the black race and the fate of the white race and America. James H. Cone was the first to canonize the religious doctrine of Black Liberation Theology. Cones first two books are “Black Theology and Black Power” (1969) and “A Black Theology of Liberation” (1970). Some blacks consider Cone’s books to be scripture. According to a public statement of Obama’s self-described “spiritual guide”, Jeremiah Wright, this is the doctrine of Trinity United Church of Christ, which was Obama’s church for twenty years. Many will find the theology described in these books to be very shocking and disturbing. The doctrine can be described as a racist black identity religion that holds the black race to be morally superior, the “Chosen People” and god-like. The white race is held to be satanic or a manifestation of the Antichrist. The theology prophesies that a “Messiah” will arise from the black race, who will be an ordinary man. Cone admits in his own words in the preface of the book that:

“A Black Theology of Liberation has often been rejected as racism in reverse by many whites, particularly theologians … Father Andrew M. Greeley referred to my (Cone’s) perspective on black theology as a “Nazi mentality, a theology filled with hatred for white people and the assumption of a moral superiority of black over white.”

(Andrew M. Greeley is a well-known Catholic sociologist and popular author.)

Black Liberation Theology is more, however, than just a Nazi-mentality. It has distinct parallels to Nazism in its black supremacy and teachings of a divine mission of the black race to destroy the white race and to dominate the world. See the clip below for a relevant interview of Wright and many quotes from the foundation books on Black Liberation Theology by James H. Cone

The racism of Black Liberation Theology is similar to a reverse version of a theology developed by the Nazis, ironically called “Positives Christentum” (Positive Christianity). The Nazi “Christian Identity” movement still uses a similar doctrine in the United States. In the Nazi doctrine, the Aryan race is the manifestation of God and the Jewish/non-white races are satanic and/or the Antichrist. Jesus is a messianic revolutionary, fighting to liberate the Aryan race from oppression by non-Aryans. The teachings of Black Liberation Theology are similar, but racially reversed as described above.

Black Liberation Theology is based largely on the theology of the Black Nationalist group, the Nation of Islam, and is similar to that of other Black Nationalist sects, some of which are full-blown Manson-like, racist cults that worship their leaders and that have in the past carried out mass murders of whites and black opponents or non-believers. The Nazi-like characteristics of some of these related groups have been noted and reported in the past.

Since Obama was a member of the inner circle of a group, having a Nazi-like racial doctrine, the comparisons between Obama and Hitler/Nazism/Fascism are perfectly justified and legitimate. The public does not understand that Obama’s church has such a racially supremacist doctrine, because the media refuse to report it and politicians will not discuss it. Politicians, such as John McCain, are trying to be "nice guys" and not talk about it. Such people value their reputation more than they are concerned about what happens to America, even though McCain’s hypocritical slogan was putting America first. McCain put his politically-correct reputation first and his political derrière first. That is why I am so discouraged and disgusted with the leadership of the Republican Party. They seem to be able to imagine no greater evil than to have their taxes increased. I believe that there is a serious problem with both political parties. They are like two fraternities that compete, but try to maintain the limits of fraternal, gentlemanly civility. They care more about the political power of their party than they care about our country or what happens to ordinary Americans. They will not attack each other beyond certain limits, even if the fate of the Nation depends on it. George Washington warned Americans about exactly this type of political factionalism in his farewell address to the American public.

It has been said that in times of deception the truth is subversive. In our group, we intend to protect our constitutional rights by vigorously exercising those rights, not by toeing the party line of self-appointed commissars of the so-called Tea Party Movement, corrupt politicians or the politically-correct lapdog media. I will continue to compare Obama to Hitler, regardless of what anyone thinks and in spite of any attempts to smear my reputation, by slandering me as an “extremist.” I urge other Tea Partiers across the nation to do the same as a form of protest of the fact that the lapdog media has never fully explained to the country the racist and bigoted Black Nationalist doctrine of Obama’s church, which prophesies that the black race will produce a “Messiah” who will subjugate America and lead in her destruction by “any means necessary,” if Americans do not submit to their own enslavement. So far, the actions of the Obama administration are not inconsistent with what might be expected as initial steps in an attempt to implement this perverse religious doctrine by corrupting American democracy and subjugating the American people to a all-powerful central government that no longer recognizes constitutional bounds, nor the will of the American People.

What is proposed here is not a conspiracy theory, but that any person who practiced such a cult-like, hateful religion for twenty years is not trustworthy and therefore should not be allowed to hold an office of very high trust, such as the American presidency.

Roger Ogden
Stop Obama Now, San Diego

Eric Holder Visits New York Ahead of 9/11 Terror Trials

At ABC News, "Exclusive: AG Eric Holder in NYC for Terror Trial Summit: Grand Jury Has Already Begun Hearing Testimony on Khalid Sheikh Mohammed" (via Memeorandum).

But see the New York Post, "Holder Tours Federal Courthouse Ahead of 9/11 Terror Trial":

US Attorney General Eric Holder today toured the jail cells that will house suspected 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four terrorist cohorts in advance of their controversial Lower Manhattan trial.

After a meeting with law enforcement brass — including Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, New York FBI director Joseph Demarest and US Attorney Preet Bharara — Holder walked through the underground tunnel that connects the US District Court house on Pearl Street and the Metropolitan Correctional Center across the street, according to sources.

Amid tight security, Holder poked his head into the holding cells for the five suspects, who will be tried in federal district court in New York after they are transferred from a holding facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The courthouse is just several blocks away from the World Trade Center, which collapsed after the Twin Towers were struck by hijacked planes. Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attack.

A grand jury began meeting last week to hear evidence presented by prosecutors from Manhattan’s southern district and Virginia’s eastern district, law enforcement sources said. After any indictment is handed up, the Justice Department has to notify Congress 45 days in advance before moving the suspects from Gunatanamo to the US.

Last month, the Justice Department announced that the trials will be held in New York, rather than by military tribunal, setting off sharp debate over whether security here could be adequately shored up to accommodate the terror trial and the role of the American justice system in trying foreign nationals accused of plotting against the United States.

"We have a robust plan developed by both federal and local officials to ensure that these trials can be safely held in New York, and everyone is committed to doing that," said Matthew Miller a Justice Department spokesman.

"We’re ready," said NYPD Chief Joseph Esposito, who attended the meeting.

See also, Jawa Report, "It Begins: Preparations Underway for Fortress Manhattan during 9/11 Terror Trials."

And Mediaite, "Cheney on Hannity: NYC Terror Trial Will Put 9/11 Plotter “on The Map”‎."

Added: Pat in Shreveport, "Eric Holder Attends Security Summit for 9/11 Terror Trials."

Nude Photos of Tiger Woods Shopped to Playgirl! - Public Image Takes Beating; Corporate Endorsers: How Much is Too Much?

The story's at the celebrity dish monitor Gossip Cop, "Playgirl offered alleged naked photos of Tiger Woods."

And Fox News confirms the story, "Alleged 'Naked Photos' of Tiger Woods Shopped to Playgirl":

It looks as though things are going from bad to worse for Tiger Woods.

A rep from online adult magazine Playgirl (which features men baring it all) confirmed to FoxNews.com that they did indeed receive an offer to purchase naked male photos, purported to be of the controversial sports star.

“We were approached by a third party who wanted to know our ‘interest level’. Our lawyers are currently going over them, the source, the entire package,” Playgirl rep Daniel Nardicio said, adding that they would only purchase the alleged pics if they can successfully confirm them to be Woods.

On Tuesday, reports surfaced that Gatorade was the first major sponsor to sever ties with the golfer, who Forbes Magazine last year estimated earned over a billion dollars, with the majority of his income stemming from sponsorships and endorsements.

Related, the Kansas City Star, "Where's Tiger on TV? His ads have been jerked."

Plus, at CBS News, "Tiger's Public Standing Plummets":

As the number of women coming forward claiming affairs with Tiger Woods mounts, the superstar golfer's standing with the public is plummeting.

According to Davie Brown Entertainment, which publishes a leading industry index, Tiger Woods' status with consumers dropped from sixth to 24th on a list of celebrity endorsers, Bloomberg reports.

More strikingly, Bloomberg reports, prime time television ads featuring Woods have all but disappeared, according to Nielsen Co. data.

The Bloomberg report is here: "Tiger Woods’ Status With Consumers Falls After Marital Scandal."

Left Coast Rebel reports on Tiger Woods' corporate sponsors, "Tiger Woods dropped by Gatorade: Major Endorsements to Follow?"

Michelle Malkin Meets Sarah Palin!

Well, having just met Michelle Malkin, I know how she feels after she and her family met Sarah Palin and hers:

My family and I had the great honor and pleasure of meeting the governor, her husband Todd, adorable baby Trig, her lovely parents, relatives, and friends from near and far. Sarah’s energy is boundless and her ability to connect is unparalleled with any public figure I’ve met in covering politics over the last 17 years. I spoke, for example, with the first family in line for the book signing. They arrived at 4:30am with four kids in tow. Sarah, the father of the family told me, had written a personal letter sending prayers and good wishes for one of their children battling cancer. On the way out, I ran into a soldier in BDUs rushing through the door with Palin’s book in hand. Breathless, he asked: “Do you think there’s any hope I’ll get my book signed?” Given the special attentiveness Palin’s staff paid to military and their families (several Blue Star families got VIP access), I’m sure he got his autograph. There are countless stories like this in every single city she has visited.

Read the whole thing.

Michelle and Governor Palin are photographed as well.

A Battle Within? Emerging Divisions in the Tea Party Movement

I posted two big entries from last Friday's anti-PelosiCare protest in Irvine: "'Patriots Against Pelosi' -- Hundreds Protest House Speaker at Orange County Tea Party!", and "Tea Party America's Christmas Wish List: 'Kiss My Astroturf' - STOP Health-Care Take-Over, and More!!"

This tea party was one of the best I've attended all year. What struck me as key was the continued enthusiasm among activists. I've been attending events since the Tax Day Tea Party on April 15th, and the atmosphere at this rally was even more friendly, inclusive, and focused than before. I think folks feel they've made a difference already. They can feel it in their bones that grassroots resistance is genuinely working to bring down the socialist regime in Washington. I was also impressed with the powerful sense of spontaneity to the event. There were a number of "protests within the protest" so to speak. It was both a tea party and a protest rally against the Planned Parenthood abortion ayatollahs, the SEIU thugs, and the open borders extremists (who were badly outnumbered).

In short, it was good fun all around. And of course I never had any thought -- after making my way home to write up my reports -- that the American tea party movement was in disarray, or that emerging splits in the coalition would be threatening the movement.

But two developments have made me think about it: One is the exchange I've been having with Roger Ogden, the Meetup Organizer of the San Diego Tea Party. The second is the piece that came out yesterday at CNN, "Tea Party Movement Threatened by Internal Rifts."

As for Roger Ogden, he was sporting some extremely unusual tea party signs. I took a photo of the one I really liked, but his numerous signs comparing President Obama to the Nazis left something to be desired, IMHO. In fact, Roger seemed out of place. As I wrote last weekend:

My bet is this guy's a LaRouchie (the other side of his sign was an Obama-Nazi poster, not my favorite). He didn't seem to be with the grassroots folks I've been highlighting, and there were more extreme-o types on the south side of Douglas street, including some 9/11 truthers. I didn't take any more photos of them ...

Actually, I did take one more shot, but I didn't post it at the time:

And last night, Roger sent me links to the images, including the Nancy Pelosi/Benito Mussolino poster above, as well at this one here:

And this one:

As noted, these aren't my favorites. They reminded me of the freak-o-LaRouchies that infiltrated the Adam Schiff town hall last August. No one wanted to have anything to do with these people (except the left's HCAN extremists, who stowed their signs under the LaRouche table below):

The following week, my good friend The Blog Prof published a devastating exposé on the LaRouchies, "BUSTED!: "Obama As Hitler" Poster Was A Democrat/Union Plant at John Dingell Townhall! UPDATED with video interview!"

That post spread all over the conservative blogosphere. Not only are the LaRouchies freak-show exhibits, they're Democrats.

Folks can see why I had my second thoughts about Roger Ogden.

Yet, he notified me at the post that he was in fact a top San Diego tea party organizer, and I later published an apology for my mistaken inference. I sent him an e-mail too, although unfortunatelty Roger was in no mood to agree to disagree. He questioned my knowledge of German history and black liberation theology, and after I informed him that I was well aware of both these doctrines, he wrote back angrily:

It is really dangerous for someone with this belief system to be President fo the US and on top of that hardly anyone knows it. If you had half a brain, and not just a Ph.D., you would be screaming it to high heaven, like I am. Otherwise, if you have been informed -- as I have just informed you -- and do nothing about it, you are doing a great disservice to our country and you are no patriot.

This went on for a couple of more iterations. I assured Roger we were on the same side despite our differences. Still, I told him he was was making an intolerant ass out of himself. He responded once again:

Nooo. I don't think we are on the same side and I don't think you are a patriot, if you don't think people should be informed about this. If you don't like comparisons to Hitler, what is your proposal to remedy the fact that people are not well-informed about what Obama's religion is? Most people think he is a regular Christian. You are countering my attempt to let people know about it. So, we are definitely not on the same side. You are standing squarely on the side of the moral cowards that are not willing to do anything about this. You are willing to take the chance that he may actually have this belief and try to act on it somehow. You know, there were 5 years or more that Hitler did not reveal what he really planned to do, but it was written in Mein Kampf and people should have acted on that. They ignored it, like people are doing today with Obama, hoping that things will work out.

I was assaulted last night by a stupid fat lady that was supposedly on our side, like you say, because she did not like my sign. I get more oppsition from Tea Pariers that I do from the "other" side. Because Tea Partiers are stupid and ignorant enough of this history that they will allow Obama and Nancy Pelosi to define the bounds of their arguments. It's not the Obama supporters that need to be convinced, it is the people in the middle.

I thought to myself, "You know, I've paid my dues here, and I don't really need the abuse. I'm letting this go." Besides, I've been around the blogosphere enough to realize I wasn't going to have much luck changing Roger's mind, or even getting him to think again about some of his positions. For example, I've never been a big fan of the "liberal fascism" argument, although certainly National Socialism has foundations in the left. No, my sense has always been that Barack Obama's in fact a Leninist vanguard revolutionary, as I wrote in July 2008 during the campaign, "The Ideological Foundations of the Obama Phenomenon":

In any case, see also, Anthony Bradley, "The Marxist Roots of Black Liberation Theology," and Kyle-Anne Shiver, "Obama, Black Liberation Theology, and Karl Marx."

So, while there might be a case to be made for some kind of theological link between black liberation and Nazism, it's strained; moreover, I found it highly unusual that members of the San Diego Tea Party community identify as "messiah skeptics." Honestly, this is getting further over into conspiracy territory than I'd like, but who am I to judge? If Roger wanted to ridicule me as "no real patriot," hey, that's his play. I'll just keep doing my thing. I'll have an impact regardless. And not only that, despite our differences, I still believe people like Roger and I share a core set values in resisting this administration, even if our theoretical foundations diverge significantly.

Okay, the second key thing I noticed yesterday was the CNN piece, "Tea Party Movement Threatened by Internal Rifts." Athough CNN's liberal -- and thus I'd discount most of the article as an attempt to sow dissension on the right -- the article make reference to Donna Klink, of the Golden Triangle Tea Party in Texas. I looked her up, and she had this piece at Resist.net, "Coalition Message":

We should all remember the simple principles of “Strength in Numbers” and “United We Stand, Divided We Fall”! Our individual groups can keep their own identity and their own beliefs, while still reaching out to and working with other groups that share common goals. We MUST stop this battle within and fight together. Independent Tea Parties, Republican Tea Parties, 912’s and other groups that are trying to accomplish much of the same things. It is those commonalities that MUST bring us together.

Donna is responding to Kenneth Vogel's piece at Politico a few weeks back, "Tea partiers turn on each other."

While Donna's concerned that the movement becomes too diverse, risking a rupture in the absence of a dominant rallying personality (see the CNN piece), my concern is that the tea party movement will essentially become a populist third party movement; and given the historical record of third parties in our structural two-party system, it's possible that the white-hot populism that's driving much of the opposition to the Democrats will go the way of other short-lived third party phenomena, for example, the United We Stand organization of Ross Perot's 1992 presidential campaign. Later becoming the Reform Party, the movement peaked with the 1996 presidential election, with Perot taking about 8 percent of the national vote; and also in Jesse Ventura's election to the governorship of Minnesota in 1998. The Reform Party is dead today, and it's hard to say if that burst of populism brought about much change in the long run.

My hope is that the tea partiers can come to some accomodation with the most conservative leaders of the Republican Party, especially Sarah Palin. Our movement needs to work within the structural constraints of the single-member, winner-take-all system. This does not mean we need to compromise our constitutional principles of limited government and our moral foundations in divine historical exceptionalism. We do need vigorous but more centralized leadership, that's for sure, because the time is now for a conservative resurgence. It's happening all around us. (Polls show tea party candidates surging ahead of Republicans in generic congressional surveys, which may be good for the movement, but could result in a fracturing of elected leadership on the right.) The Democrats have overreached and will implode of their own hubris and stupidity. Conservatives and patriots can help that process along by continuing to do as we have all year -- by offering a principled free market alternative to the Democrats' socialist agenda, an agenda that's based primarily in the ideological politics of the Marxist proletarian revolution.

Best Op-Ed Title Evah! - 'Copenhagen's Political Science'

Frankly, after all these years, I've never really looked at the phrase "political science" in quite the same way. From Sarah Palin, "Copenhagen's Political Science" (via Memeorandum):

With the publication of damaging e-mails from a climate research center in Britain, the radical environmental movement appears to face a tipping point. The revelation of appalling actions by so-called climate change experts allows the American public to finally understand the concerns so many of us have articulated on this issue.

"Climate-gate," as the e-mails and other documents from the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia have become known, exposes a highly politicized scientific circle -- the same circle whose work underlies efforts at the Copenhagen climate change conference. The agenda-driven policies being pushed in Copenhagen won't change the weather, but they would change our economy for the worse.

The e-mails reveal that leading climate "experts" deliberately destroyed records, manipulated data to "hide the decline" in global temperatures, and tried to silence their critics by preventing them from publishing in peer-reviewed journals. What's more, the documents show that there was no real consensus even within the CRU crowd. Some scientists had strong doubts about the accuracy of estimates of temperatures from centuries ago, estimates used to back claims that more recent temperatures are rising at an alarming rate.

This scandal obviously calls into question the proposals being pushed in Copenhagen. I've always believed that policy should be based on sound science, not politics. As governor of Alaska, I took a stand against politicized science when I sued the federal government over its decision to list the polar bear as an endangered species despite the fact that the polar bear population had more than doubled. I got clobbered for my actions by radical environmentalists nationwide, but I stood by my view that adding a healthy species to the endangered list under the guise of "climate change impacts" was an abuse of the Endangered Species Act. This would have irreversibly hurt both Alaska's economy and the nation's, while also reducing opportunities for responsible development.

More at the link.

Governor Palin published "The 'Cap And Tax' Dead End" at the Washington Post in July. Her expertise in energy policy and international environmental issues is substantial and growing, and the continuing rollout of her national role is going better than most analysts predicted last summer. NOTE that this is BIG trouble for Barack Obama. According to CNN, "Palin's popularity on the rise." The survey finds Palin at 46 percent approval rating, and that's just 1 point less that President Obama's approval in the latest Gallup poll, "After Brief Uptick, Obama Approval Slips to 47%."

BOMBSHELL! Developing Nations Revolt at Copenhagen: Group of 77 Demands Billions From U.S. to Cut Emissions!

From the Wall Street Journal, "Rifts Arise at Climate Summit":

Developing countries used the forum of the United Nations climate summit here to demand that rich nations commit money and accept sharper cuts in their emissions, highlighting the divisions among the world's rich and poor nations that stand in the way of a new global climate deal.

Representatives of China, the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter, said President Barack Obama's proposal that the U.S. reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 17% from 2005 levels by 2020 isn't ambitious enough. Su Wei, the Chinese chief negotiator, said industrialized countries must provide money and technology for developing countries as they seek to limit their greenhouse-gas emissions and face the challenges of climate change. "They have the responsibility to provide financial support and technology transfer," he said.

Developing countries want billions of U.S. dollars to reduce their own emissions and limit the impact of global warming, but rich nations have been shy in pledging specific figures. The U.S. and the European Union have said they are willing to provide their "fair share" of a total global figure of $10 billion a year between 2010 and 2012.

That amount "would not buy developing countries citizens enough coffins," said Ambassador Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, who represents the Group of 77, a body which includes players such as China, India and Brazil.

See also, the Guardian UK, "Copenhagen Talks in Chaos After Leak" (via Memeorandum).

Also, from Gateway Pundit, "Saudi Delegates Call For Investigation Into Climategate at Copenhagen Junk Science Summit (Video)."

Video Hat Tip: Weasel Zippers, "Wow. Just Wow: “Please Help the World” Film Shown During Copenhagen Opening Ceremony By The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark."

Tiger Woods Linked to Porn Star Joslyn James (Possibly 11th Woman): Elin Nordegren Buys a Home in Sweden!

At Fox News, "Porn star Joslyn James brings the number of women linked to Tiger Woods to 11":

Tiger Woods' list of possible paramours grew to eleven Tuesday with the addition of a second porn star.

The New York Post reports that Veronica Siwik-Daniels, aka Joslyn James, was linked to Tiger in a post on the sports website Deadspin.com.

Also, from the Cleveland Leader, "Elin Nordegren Buys a Home in Sweden -- Will She Take the Kids and Leave Tiger Woods?":

As we reported yesterday, rumors are circulating that Tiger Woods' wife, Elin Nordegren, has moved out of their family home in Florida. While she is reportedly staying nearby, a very recent real estate transaction is fueling speculation that she may instead take the kids with her to her homeland of Sweden to start a new life.

Swedish newspapers report that Elin purchased Faglaro Mansion, a nice island getaway in her home country. She is said to have a little more than $2 million on the purchase. HPG, a Swedish news agency, says that the official story from her family is that she bought the place with her twin sister, not her husband.

Since her husband's cheating scandal broke, Nordegren, 29, has not been heard from.
Nordegren's new Swedish home is located on prime Scandinavian real estate on a small, secluded island that is reachable from Stockholm only by ferryboat. It once belonged to a professional soccer player who wanted privacy. It's said that she looked at it last summer and purchased it two weeks ago.

Nordegren's home purchase is also covered at the Kansas City Star, "Report: Tiger Woods' wife buys a house in Sweden."

Also, here's the Deadspin piece cited by Fox News above, "Chaos in Tigerland: A Deadspin Investigation Into the Sexual Habits of Pro Athletes":

The biggest misconception about the Tiger cheating scandal is that Rachel Uchitel and Kalika Moquin, two of the first three women named by the tabloids, were his full-time lovers. They may have been at some point (especially Rachel, some say on numerous occasions) but that was not their primary function. No, Uchitel's main job was to provide women for Tiger during his globetrotting excursions to various tournaments, charity functions and fuck-and-run private-jet weekends with his Fortune 500 party pals that he seemed to enjoy so much. Kalika Moquin? Many Las Vegas insiders doubt that she ever slept with Tiger. But she did set him up with some sweet VIP service at The Bank or at Bare like any good hostess would: a roomful of available girls with a certain look that Tiger wanted, flown in just for the occasion. This is the world of high-end nightclub VIP treatment, where velvet ropes guard comfy, cloistered areas with leathery couches and bottles of Grey Goose, everything catered to the wishes of the much sought-after professional athlete clientele. And, yes, sports fans, that means loading their velvet-roped stable with fake-boobied ponies to fuck. "The fact that people don't understand that these affairs are well-orchestrated is pretty naive," says one VIP concierge who has worked with Uchitel (we'll call him "Serge" for the sake of not always having to say "VIP Concierge Number 1" when using his quotes). "Rachel Uchitel works for Tiger the minute he gets off the plane wherever he is: from dinner, to photos, to nightclubs, to drugs, to girls — whatever he wants."

RELATED: US Magazine, "Exclusive: Tiger Woods Didn't Wear Condoms With Two Flings."

No Christmas Presents for Malia and Sasha Obama: White House Nativity Scene Almost Got the Boot!

President and Mrs. Barack Obama do not give traditional Christmas gifts to their children. The Politico ran the story during last year's campaign, "Obama Leaves the Gifting to Santa":

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) tells People magazine in the issue out Friday that he and his wife, Michelle, do not give Christmas or birthday presents to their two young daughters.

But on top of that, a story on Crashergate's Desiree Rogers indicates that the First Family was pushing for a "non-religious Christmas," but relented during internal debates on whether to display the holiday crèche (nativity scene) in the East Room at the White House.

See also, "No Christmas Presents for the Obama Kids this Year":

Unlike almost all Americans—including atheists—the Obamas do not give their children Christmas gifts. We know this because Barack bragged about this last year to People magazine. So it should come as no big surprise that he and his wife would like to neuter Christmas in the White House. That’s their natural step—to ban the public display of Christian symbols. Have any doubts?

Last April, Georgetown University was ordered to put a drape over the name of Jesus as a condition of the president speaking there.

If the Obamas want to deprive their children of celebrating Christmas, that is their business. It is the business of the public to hold them accountable for the way they celebrate Christmas in the White House. We know one thing for sure: no other administration ever entertained internal discussions on whether to display a nativity scene in the White House.

Image Credit: Atlas Shrugs, "Obama's 'Non-Religious' White House Christmas and No Christmas Gifts for his Kids."

Now Democrats to Focus on Jobs!

President Obama was elected on economic issues, but the idiot's wasted most of the year on his socialist takeover of the healthcare system, and not to mention his world apology tour for the "evils" of the United States.

So, maybe the dumb Democrats are finally getting a clue. From the Washinton Post, "Entering an election year, Democrats sharpen focus on jobs: Some fear that the most basic of voter issues has been crowded out":

President Obama's renewed focus on the economy underscores an elemental truth of politics. For all the attention the White House and Congress have given to health care and Afghanistan this fall, no problem poses a greater political threat to the Democrats in 2010 than joblessness and slow economic growth.

The clamor in Congress for more attention on the economy has been rising by the week as Democrats look to the opening of a midterm election year with unemployment at 10 percent and forecast to stay in that range for some months. The White House, too, has gotten the message. For the third time in six days, President Obama will put employment at the forefront of his agenda, with a speech Tuesday outlining new ideas to create jobs.

"We've made a huge amount of progress in terms of turning off the flood of job loss," said White House senior adviser David Axelrod. "But there's also a big hole. Over the course of this recession, 8 million people lost jobs. That's a lot of people. We've got our work cut out for us. We're moving in the right direction, but we've got to make more progress."

But will the Democrats' attention to the economy prove to be little more than an exercise in checking a box or the beginning of a sustained and determined focus on a problem that many Americans fear has gotten too little attention from their elected leaders? Will the economy have to compete in the coming year with issues like climate change and immigration reform, which Obama has promised to push once the health-care debate ends, or will the administration delay shifting to those problems until it has dealt more successfully with the economy?

Democratic strategists are keenly aware of the potential problem for their party. "There is a sense that we pick up that people are not only worried about the substantive issue, but they're not sure that Washington is focused on that issue and they'd like to see Washington focused much more on that issue," said Mark Mellman, a Democratic pollster.

Although the unemployment rate ticked down from 10.2 percent to 10 percent in the latest report, released Friday, about one-sixth of the workforce is either out of work or underemployed. Not since the early 1980s has the jobless rate hit levels this high, and Republicans suffered major losses in the 1982 midterm election. Democrats could suffer the same fate next year.

"Democrats are now scrambling to catch up, not only with public concern but also the facts on the ground, which are pretty dismal," said William Galston of the Brookings Institution, where Obama will speak Tuesday. "This job market has deteriorated far more than anyone thought possible even a year ago."

You think?

More at Memeorandum.