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The Problem With Blogs — Why Now?
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The Problem With Blogs

The thing about blogs is that they have archives, so if someone says that “I never said that” you can find the entry where they did say that.

Avedon Carol makes the point that Obama was presented as a liberal, by the media and many supporters.

These days the remaining members of the cult claim that it wasn’t that way at all, that people projected their views on Obama, that he didn’t make that claim.

As one of the people who recognized he was a Republican masquerading as a Democrat at the beginning of 2008, I remember what happened when you brought it up at various and sundry blogs. I admit that only a few [who are no longer on my blog roll] implied, or flat-out called me a racist. but at a minimum you were called a Clinton supporter, which was also untrue.

I’m a former Democrat because of that garbage, but Avedon Carol’s larger point is that he was elected by people who overwhelmingly thought he was a liberal. People wanted a liberal, and thought they voted for one. The Democrats are in trouble because they decided to act like Republicans instead of Democrats.

9 comments

1 Kryten42 { 10.05.10 at 6:01 am }

Hmmmm. I’ve always considered that one of the very *good* things about blogs, and the Internet generally (I was always a big supporter of the Internet Archive and Wayback Machine for that reason). 🙂 Of course, The Politicians have come up with a new way to take care of that problem, partially at least, but also to use it to their great advantage, and everyone else’s disadvantage.

Obama-FBI-Microsoft collusion: warrantless snooping on the Internet

(With thanks to Lou Gallo at the Examiner, Houston).

Be careful of what you say or write, how you do business and what you record in your bank account. Big Brother and Sister—and anyone else—may be watching!

Internet privacy no longer exists.

Microsoft, Obama, the FBI and Homeland Security want less secure, free hand Internet monitoring. This is an old story with a new chapter. The big push for Internet monitoring is alive and well in Washington, and Microsoft is a cohort for different reasons.

Obama and the FBI are trying to amend the intelligence authorization bill to allow indiscriminate snooping on the Internet.

Back in 2008, Microsoft provided the U.S. government a technical “backdoor” to its browser, which serves the majority of users (over 60%). Backdoor access is undetectable by security software—it bypasses normal authentication (passwords, etc.), firewalls and other computer security devices. In other terms, the Department of Justice, Homeland Security, the FBI and other security agencies can already eavesdrop on anyone using Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser.

In its infinite greed and fierce competitiveness, Microsoft opts for advertising dollars over providing customers easy access to privacy tools–a de facto, covert compromise of our constitutional rights. Although the computer giant has an effective tool (“InPrivate Filtering”), you have to know about it and then turn it on every time you start up the Explorer browser.

More info is also available at the Techrights blog:
Federal Motors and Federal Microsoft (Microsoft Dependent Government Operations)

It’s no surprise to me of course. 😉

OT: I’m still having technical problems, just had our phone line replaced. Apparently, they no longer bother with rodent proof conduit. I made damned sure the (annoyed, and I could care less) tech used the proper conduit and sealant. He even called his super about it, and I got on and simply said “I’ll happily sue your company and you personally as the legal company representative charged with carrying out this work, for breach of telco and safety regulation. And I will take photo’s. I will also contact the Telcom Ombudsman, ACCC, and any or all currant Affair programs and news media who love this kind of story, and will ensure your name and the name of your superior, are correctly spelled. And yes, I absolutely can and will do all that! Trust me!” They hate me (again, I could care less!) The tech who was standing right next to me was actually trying not to smile, and I noticed a new found respect! He even installed another phone/ADSL point in my room with a built in splitter for free. 😀 Amazing what service one can get when one knows one’s rights and the law. (and, that ‘Command Voice’ we were taught in OCS really comes in handy!) 😉 😛 The picked the wrong day. On top of everything else, I have a head cold, and was very happy to make someone else miserable! 😆

2 fallenmonk { 10.05.10 at 8:49 am }

Good points. I don’t think I really ever considered Obama a liberal per se but I did think he might be an agent for change and I am sorry to say I was wrong to a large degree. I am extremely disappointed in his continuing and silly efforts at getting a bipartisan solution to everything when it is and was painfully obvious that the GOP wasn’t interested in anything but seeing him fail.

3 Steve Bates { 10.05.10 at 10:58 am }

Obama is almost the biggest disappointment I’ve ever voted for. Almost, but not quite: in 2000, I voted for Gore/Lieberman. Lieberman takes the all-time prize, not as veep, of course, but in that other office he seems to own.

I did, in fact, support Clinton before the primaries, and I still believe she would have been a (marginally) better president. And I had few delusions about Obama, and had to talk myself into voting for him. It won’t happen again. In my defense, Obama is one of the most effective liars I’ve ever encountered. He talks a good game.

FWIW, an observation: when America relinquished the white male property-owning vote, they gave the vote to non-property-owners, former slaves and women… in that order, and the order says something. Clinton never had a chance at being president; she has the wrong plumbing.

4 Ame { 10.05.10 at 12:51 pm }

I was feeling disappointed in Obama until I started visiting the http://www.whitehouse.gov website 3-4 times a week. It’s absolutely mind boggling the things that have been accomplished that I only read about on that website, and never hear about in media outlets. The degree of falsification of the public record that has ocured in the media should be criminal. There’s always been spin, but then there’s now intentional misrepresentation of fact.

5 Bryan { 10.05.10 at 11:36 pm }

I was being snarky, Kryten. It’s amazing how many people forget there are searchable records of their work.

The Executive branch thinks that terrorism magically endowed them with the powers of Joseph Stalin to muck about in people’s lives. Just another reason not to use M$ software.

There is no representation for the left at the national level. They must have finally realized it because the Dem Senate campaign just had Bernie Sanders, an Independent/Socialist send out an e-mail asking for money. They figured out that the base doesn’t believe them anymore.

It’s a shame, but the only way you can get what you paid for anymore is through the courts. Corporations just don’t care.

Fallenmonk, I’m not sure that the whole “bi-partisan out-reach” wasn’t just an excuse to do what he wanted to do from the beginning. As we all know, the GOP doesn’t “do” bi-partisan.

Yeah, Steve, there was a lot of “wait her turn” and outright misogyny on the left. My misgivings about Clinton were in the foreign policy area, so you can imagine how thrilled I was to see her appointed Secretary of State. Her record indicates that she was to the left of Obama on domestic issues, according to her voting record. Obama voted just like LIEberman.

Ame, no one here is saying that they haven’t done anything, it’s just that they haven’t done anything important for the majority of people in this country, and they haven’t eliminated the odious practices begun by the Bush administration. Our civil rights are under constant attack, and that is just not acceptable.

6 Kryten42 { 10.06.10 at 12:26 am }

I know Bryan. So was I. 😉 Told you… I have a cold. 😛 😀

And yeah, I agree with you RE: this Admin. The only accomplishments they have are the minor ones the GOP/Corp’s allow. None of the major things have happened and will never happen (under this Admin.). That’s the way it looks *out here* anyway.

7 Bryan { 10.06.10 at 10:54 pm }

When in doubt, assume Number 7. 😈

8 Kryten42 { 10.07.10 at 1:54 am }

Yup! 😆

Here is a perfect example of “the Problem with Blogs”! And thank the stars! 😉

Thanks to TP!
Inconvenient Facts That The Chamber Hasn’t Refuted

VIDEO: Asked About The Chamber’s Foreign Funding And Ad Campaign, Roy Blunt Cuts And Runs

So, as well as US Corp’s buying US Politicians and lobyists, you also have International Corp’s doing so blatantly now. 🙂 And of course, nobody will do Jack about it. Sad…

9 Bryan { 10.07.10 at 1:00 pm }

Most “US” corporations have nothing in the US except their headquarters. All of the actual “work” is done outside the US. There are “citizenship” laws for people, and if corporations are going to be considered “people”. they are going to have to be “citizens” to fund election campaigns.