StormWarning’s Counterterrorism

In the waning moments of the Presidential Election campaign, there is little left but the counting. I don’t know how it will turn out. I’ve voted already (just once). My mind races with things to say about the decision making power of the American electorate. In my rather short life to date (based on the longevity of men in my family, I’ve got a few laps of the track left), the “influencers” and “influences” on these decisions have certainly changed.

There is no wonder why we end up with the poor choices we have. Perhaps we deserve better, perhaps, we get what we deserve.

Alas, I believe that this is the best place for me to “get off the bus.”

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With all of the empty headed rhetoric I’ve read in the months leading up to this very horrific election for President, a most recent “prediction” that an Obama election would result in the destruction of multiple U.S. cities with the deaths of millions of citizens is about the most outrageous of what passes as truth/fiction on the Internet. Opinions abound. There is no doubt in my mind that the candidate in question is perhaps the worst choice we’ve ever been presented, and will no doubt, if elected, prove many of the negatives about him to be true. So I once asked a friend of mine who actually served his country with distinction and does the kind of work claimed by this “predictor of doom and nuclear holocaust” about this writer of fiction. My friend, a true and honest hero read some of the “predictor’s” web site and other writings, and came back to me with this:

“Other than looking like he just bought 1500 dollars worth of surplus kit from brigade Quartermasters, and looking like Twinky Central. There is absolutely no background on why he is the considered expert on anything other than a cool web page…(opinion about the “Twinky’s” personal tragedy deleted).

He should have background music from the twilight zone.”

There is no truth in this World on the Internet, only words. Yes, there are many who would claim some level of “expertise” without ever leaving the computer. And yes, there are the many who would believe, simply because the words scream from the computer screen. And yet, they are “Twinkies and Wannabees” and nothing more.

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A real life parable on “wealth redistribution.”

Does it work? Experiment!

In a local restaurant my server had on a ‘Obama 08′ tie, again I laughed as he had given away his political preference–just imagine the coincidence.

When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need–the homeless guy outside.

The server angrily stormed from my sight.

I went outside, gave the homeless guy $10 and told him to thank the server inside as I’ve decided he could use the money more. The homeless guy was grateful.

At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn even though the actual recipient deserved money more.

I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.

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A sure sign of defeat is when the opposition resorts to desperate measures to discredit…or draws on extraordinary and actually very vague satire to make a point.  With respect to the person who pointed me to this, I will not refer to any post but only to what appears to be a serious paper that infers that Obama uses hypnotic suggestion in his speeches.

I am speechless. If I wasn’t speechless, I’d be…

ROFL

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Many in the blogosphere crowd will be surprised by the answer to this question. But even the question and answer is raising the eyebrows of some people like Evan Kohlmann who know alot more about the al Qaeda mentality thant (I hate freakin’ typos!) almost everyone out there (including myself, of course).

In a commentary posted Monday on the extremist Web site al-Hesbah, which is closely linked to the terrorist group. It said the Arizona Republican would continue the “failing march of his predecessor,” President Bush.

The post apparently draws the conclusion that al Qaeda has successfully lured the U.S. into a trap that had “exhausted its resources and bankrupted its economy,” and goes on to suggest that a terrorist strike might swing the election to McCain and guarantee an expansion of U.S. military commitments in the Islamic world.

In Kohlmann’s post on Counterterrorism Blog, he points out that Randy Scheunemann and Jim Woolsey, McCain advisors quickly spoke to minimize the entry on al-Hesbah as a “blog entry.” Clearly, al-Hesbah is not just another blog site, nor is the propaganda in this particular post meaningless blog-blather.  Six months ago, on April 3, 2006, Al-Qaida’s Organization in Saudi Arabia issued an official communique regarding their relationship with Al-Hesbah: “We can only say good things about our brothers from the Al-Hesbah network…The brothers from Al-Hesbah have provided a superb service to the jihad and the mujahideen and everyone credits them for this.”

Of greatest importance to me and clearly supporting my views all along is Kohlmann’s conclusion that should be read and understood by each and every one of the blog-bursting citizen journalists who have exercised their freedom of speech to express their views to their minions who agree with them, even if the information posted there on their blogs has no real factual value (I’m not going to blockquote this section because it would de-emphasize the type face and I want it to be read):

“There is, of course, a degree of well-deserved irony in John McCain having to defend himself against charges of being a “terrorist enabler”. The McCain campaign has been unforgivably slow to condemn the vocal minority of their supporters at recent campaign rallies who have shouted out “Terrorist!” and “Kill him!” in response to hearing the name of Senator Barack Obama. The fact is, Al-Qaida’s real interest in the current American election cycle has nothing to do with choosing one candidate over the other — clearly, Al-Qaida doesn’t like either candidate. Rather, what Al-Qaida is hoping to witness this political season are internal recriminations, name-calling, racism, xenophobia, disunity, and America tearing at its own social fabric. The motivation is obviously not in crowning the victor, but in prolonging the game. Those foolish individuals who have shown up at political rallies carrying tasteless signs and threatening violence against their own fellow Americans are Al-Qaida’s real allies in this race. They are the ones who are responsible for providing a limitless bounty of propaganda fodder for our global adversaries — and there should be no tolerance in either campaign for such despicable behavior.”

Each every one of the amateurs should read that paragraph carefully, fully and then re-read it. In the search for what you believe is the truth, you have given al Qaeda and its followers, exactly what they wanted.

Is there an attack on the horizon? I don’t know and if I had that information, I wouldn’t be blogging. But contrary to the knee jerk reaction of Randy Scheunemann and Jim Woolsey from the McCain campaign, in my opinion, the meaningless “musings and bravado” has come from many of the conservative blogs that couldn’t focus on issues, and instead spent their time on name calling.

[This may be the best place for me to "get off the bus."]

Al Hesbah, Randy Scheunemann and Jim Woolsey

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It is difficult to avoid the derogatory terms. But there is a massive human trafficking industry that has been created by another Cuban exodus. We have a serious problem here and neither of the candidates is addressing it. Illegal immigration is continuing. Our borders are not safe. And now the “Dusty Feet” are are our newest illegal arrivals.

U.S. Coast Guard patrols have sharply reduced the flow of Cubans across the narrow Florida Straits, enforcing a policy of returning people intercepted at sea to Cuba’s communist government.

It’s called “wet-foot, dry-foot” - wet for those caught at sea, dry for those who reach land in Florida and thus qualify for U.S. entry. A third expression has entered the jargon - “dusty-foot,” referring to Cubans who arrive in Texas, where Cubans need only present identity documents and undergo medical and background checks before being welcomed to America.

The price of passage is $5,000 to $10,000 per person and much shorter than in the days when Cubans would spend days at sea headed for Florida or Mexico on rickety boats and rafts. They were known as “balseros,” from the word “balsa” to indicate the flimsiness of their boats.

But the Mexican route is also becoming increasingly prone to violence.

Cut the crap people! Illegals, more illegals and many of them “other than Mexicans” are entering the United States through Texas. I once took a position that Congressman Steve King’s solution, an electrified fence was wrong. Now, I wonder if I was wrong. There are many other ways to guard our border, other ways to track the people entering the country illegally.

I suppose that I now even agree with Texas Fred. Shoot’em before they take over this place.

Dusty Feet, illegal immigration

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How many times is someone suddenly foisted onto the staged, only to be revealed as something that he or she is not? Well, Joe Wurzelbacher, aka “Joe the Plumber” (whose real name is Sam), has found that sometimes if you step into the limelight, you can get slimed.

Seems like Sam W. isn’t a licensed plumber!

It wasn’t long before the Association of Plumbers, Steamfitters and Service Mechanics revealed that Wurzelbacher was not a licensed member of their trade.

“That means that he has not completed the training program necessary for him to sit for a license test,” said Tony Herrera, market recovery specialist for Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 50 in Toledo, Ohio.

“It’s a shame that this guy has ended up in this situation because it seems like he’s misrepresented himself — and for that matter the plumbing and pipefitting industry.”

“Say it ain’t so, Joe!” (er-r-r-r-r, I mean Sam)

What may even be worse, it seems like Joe owes some back taxes too! But, according to the ever reliable New York Times, the spin is still trying to evade Obama’s comments:

“I’m getting ready to buy a company that makes $250,000 to $280,000 a year,” he told Mr. Obama. “Your new tax plan is going to tax me more, isn’t it?”

That encounter wound up on YouTube and led to appearances on the Fox News Channel, interviews with conservative bloggers and a New York Post editorial, all of whom seized on a small part of Mr. Obama’s long reply. “I think that when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody,” Mr. Obama had said.

There is no way to parse those words and have them come out saying anything different. “I think that when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody,” Mr. Obama had said.

Despite the chastizing of a commenter on a previous post, Linda “N” who is a real estate agent in Maryland who probably sold houses to people who got those sub-prime mortgages, defaulted and now are crying about losing their houses - houses I might add that they really didn’t have the income to qualify for a mortgage of the required amount to start with - and got rich off of the commissions and fees from the transaction (perhaps even a little skim from the mortgage company???), MY WEALTH IS MY WEALTH AND IT IS HARD EARNED. STAY AWAY FROM IT!

Joe the Plumber

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OK, I saw this on other blogs but it bears repeating. Obama wants to give everyone a chance to succeed and will work to spread the wealth! What ever happened to someone working to become wealthy? WTF!

This is what Obama says: “It’s not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody that is behind you, that they have a chance for success too.”

Forget his name! Attack his freakin’ policies. Redistribution of wealth?!!! I’ve worked hard ot get where I’ve gotten and made huge sacrifices. He wants to give other people a chance to achieve, or to simply “get!” Something for nothing??? “F” that shit!

Obama socialism

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OK, y’all! They’re at it again. This time with a bogus subject line in an email “Security Update for OS Microsoft Windows” so open it at your own risk! Some people are just dumb enough to open this email and then spread the virus (malware) to everyone in their address book.

According to a new report by McAfee, cyber-criminals are increasingly capitalizing on users looking to protect their PCs with the latest updates. In its bi-annual Security Journal threat report, McAfee noted a jump in the amount of malicious software posing as applications from security vendors.

Almost on cue, news of a Trojan masquerading as a Microsoft update has been made public. The Trojan, identified by Sophos as Mal/EncPk-CZ, is being spread via e-mails with the subject line “Security Update for OS Microsoft Windows.” The e-mails come on the eve of Patch Tuesday, Microsoft’s monthly security update. Users should be aware, however, that Microsoft never delivers its patches through e-mail attachments.

Some people are just dumb enough to open this email and then spread the virus (malware) to everyone in their address book. If you do, please take me out of your email address book (in fact, get me the hell out of your data base, NOW! - cause if you’re that unaware of what’s going on in the World of cybersecurity, then I shouldn’t know you).

Security Update for OS Microsoft Windows

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We could very well lose this election and see Obama as President. It will be the fault of everyone who failed to focus on the issues: National security, War on Terror and the economy. We could well lose this election because McCain has allowed himself to be backed into the corner and taken the mantle of “Bush-v3.” We could lose this election because McCain never came out and soldified the importance of regulating the credit markets. We could well lose this election because we haven’t emphasized the role that people in Congress who claimed that they saw nothing wrong or insecure with the sub-prime mortgages (including Frank and Shays and others including Maxine Waters) didn’t just lose 20% of their home values because people who were being given a chance to own a home, even when they didn’t have the credit scores to justify their mortgages. We could well lose this election because the move from a “chicken in every pot” to “everyone is entitled to own a home” is pure and simple bullshit! Owning a home is not a right! Owning a home is something that you earn and work hard to afford.

We are running the risk of losing this election and seeing Obama in the White House because the Republican Party lost focus, and didn’t understand that this election is truly the first election to be decided on the Internet. The blogdom that focused on the ridiculous instead of the issues (largely because the blogopsphere is incapable of critical thinking and issues discussions), will have handed this election to Obama (Barry, or Barack, which ever you please).

But we will all most certainly pay the price of having an inexperienced person in the White House in a time when the World is clearly still at war, and with Obama, who truly will strip the military.

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She’s a beautiful woman in a beautiful pose in a tasteful picture taken by her husband Brad Pitt. The photo is an wonderful and intimate view of a natural event. I see nothing wrong with it.

“Angelina posed for Brad in one of the photos while breastfeeding. It’s really beautiful and tastefully done.’

“The photos are amazing,” added a second source.

Angelina says: ‘I’m just a mom and I’m very grounded by my family. I’m very happy, and I’m so lucky. ‘The world can like me, hate me, fall apart around me, and at least, you know, I wake up with my little kids and I’m happy.’

More…So why is there such a hub-bub and Internet buzz over Mrs. Pitt’s tit?

La Leche League International, the world’s oldest breast-feeding support organization, applauds Jolie’s apparent decision to be photographed nursing.

“Breast-feeding in public reveals a whole lot less than what has been revealed on the red carpet. … I think we do need more role models like Angelina Jolie willing to be photographed and say, `Hey look, it can be done, it oughta be done,’” said La Leche spokeswoman Jane Crouse.

Its the voyeuristic world in which we live. IMO, she is strikingly beautiful, especially in that cover shot.

Angelina Jolie, breast feeding picture

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A “POST-IT” NOTE: Well, I was obviously wrong at the end of the day. While the market’s wild ride had it down nearly 700 points during interim trading, the Dow finished 43 points higher. Did the market actually bottom, or did bargain hunting simply “save the day?” From any analytical perspective, it is clearly too early to tell what Monday will bring. One thing is certain, people who played by the rules, had good credit, and paid their bills have been trumped by people who tried to live outside of the realm of their life’s reality, leaving the good guys, me included, in the dust of their defaulted mortgages. So to all of those people I say “eff-u.”

NOTE: Yesterday, Yom Kippur. Generally it is a light trading day. The market will tank today. All of that volume and downward swoosh in the indicies happened with a good percentage of the floor traders and brokers and stock traders fasting on the Day of Atonement. Hold on for another wild and deadly ride.

Yesterday’s post:
Combined with all of the misdirectedness of the blogosphere and Russ Limbaugh focusing on words like “Hussein” and “Muslim” and “whitey” instead of leadership and experience, “its the economy stupid!” Yes, a refrain from 1992, but with the market dropping over 20% in 2 weeks, who will be blamed? That’s why we’re in for a very long and very dangerous next four years.

Everyone with a home with a mortgage that they could actually afford is being left holding the bag for all of the leaches and fire flies who bought houses that they couldn’t afford because FANNIE and FREDDIE were willing to loan them money (without anything close to the credit score that I’ve maintained). I’ve been screwed by this home mortgage crap. I’m angry, and I’m about to get even more angry because of the implausible focus on the man’s middle name, and not his lack of experience or ability to lead! Fucking idiots that you all are. And you call yourself Republicans. Oh, I forgot! You’re “conservatives.”

stock market

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Combined with all of the misdirectedness of the blogosphere and Russ Limbaugh focusing on words like “Hussein” and “Muslim” and “whitey” instead of leadership and experience, “its the economy stupid!” Yes, a refrain from 1992, but with the market dropping over 20% in 2 weeks, who will be blamed? That’s why we’re in for a very long and very dangerous next four years.

Everyone with a home with a mortgage that they could actually afford is being left holding the bag for all of the leaches and fire flies who bought houses that they couldn’t afford because FANNIE and FREDDIE were willing to loan them money (without anything close to the credit score that I’ve maintained). I’ve been screwed by this home mortgage crap. I’m angry, and I’m about to get even more angry because of the implausible focus on the man’s middle name, and not his lack of experience or ability to lead! Fucking idiots that you all are. And you call yourself Republicans. Oh, I forgot! You’re “conservatives.”

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I can easily argue that everyone who spent time and time and time trying to prove that Obama was a Muslim or Michelle Obama said “whitey” or any one of the other byte vacuums, instead of actually studying Obama’s lack of foreign policy experience will be as much to blame for the result if Obama wins, as McCain is (or was) for allowing himself to get painted into the corner to be blamed for the financial mess that is President Bush’s alone (and his Adminstration) or for allowing Obama to make the statement that he made about “invading a country that hadn’t been involved in 9/11.”

The lack of critical thinking instead of school yard name calling and its associated mentality will be responsible if the worst case scenario plays out.

Each and every one you who wasted time worrying about “Barry’s name” will be to blame. The freakin’ illuminati of the conservative far right, deep in their lack of knowledge of world affairs, policy issues, and the like, fell quickly into the trap of focusing on the non-issues long before Obama took the nomination away from Senator Clinton. That too was a result of distracting people unable to think for themselves away from the real issues of leadership and experience. Those people who today bemoan the possibility that Obama will win the election, would have cried loudly had Mrs. Clinton been the Democratic nominee. Then, those who lack the depth of knowledge needed to actually make considered decisions based on critical thinking, would have gone back in the “way back machine” to 1992 and re-characterized Mrs. Clinton’s health care plan. So, we now face the prospect of not only having a President without experience becomes our President for at least the next four years.

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This is borrowed from Debbie Schlussel’s website (why I haven’t been reading this lady’s writing more in the past, I cannot know, but will correct in the future). This piece, a bit off color in some places (its Howard Stern on satellite radio afterall) shows you just how illiterate and ill-informed the electorate is, and why this Nation is at the brink of great troubles, especially re: foreign policy, but also in general (IMO).

Some language is a bit harsh to the ears of some more sensitive readers, and for that, you have my apologies in advance.

If this radio interview represents how even a small segment of the population will make its decision in the next election, we are all doomed. If this radio interview represents how even a small segment of the population will make its decision in the next election, we should seriously consider IQ testing as a pre-qualification for voting. If the people interviewed in this audio are in any way involved in the selection of the next President, G-d Help Us All.

It is also very important (recognizing that this is solely my opinion) that if people had focused more attention on Obama’s lack of experience, what I consider to be his horrible judgment in foreign policy and diplomacy, and a general insensitivity to World issues (including his ridiculous comment in yesterday’s debate in which he made a statement about “invading a country that had nothing to do with Sept. 11th”), instead of worrying about Rev. Wright, and spending “time and time and time” trying to prove that Obama was a Muslim or Michelle Obama said “whitey” or any one of the other byte vacuums…and if John McCain hadn’t allowed himself to get painted into the corner to be blamed for the financial mess that is President Bush’s alone (and his Adminstration), we might not be facing the next four years with a Democrat in the White House, and an ill-prepared semi-Senator as President.

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