Obama, judge drop charges on USS Cole mastermind

President Barack Obama is at it again. He wants the world to love him, so he essentially released the mastermind behind the bombing of the destroyer USS Cole. Obama wants him to be tried in a court that is fair, not a military court.

Let us all be fair. Wow.

CNN story below:

Charges dropped against suspect in USS Cole bombing

(CNN) -- The U.S. government has dropped charges against Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, the suspect in the bombing of the destroyer USS Cole, according to a Pentagon spokesman.

The charges were dropped "without prejudice" by Susan Crawford, convening authority at the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, according to Pentagon spokesman Cmdr. Jeffrey Gordon. The proceeding did not address specifics of the government's case against al-Nashiri, who remains a "high value" detainee held at Guantanamo.

In removing the charges without prejudice, prosecutors can resubmit charges at a later date while at the same time complying with President Barack Obama's order to the military to hold off on cases for four months.

On his first day in office, Obama ordered the halt, requiring prosecutors to seek delays in the 14 active cases before military commissions there. But the judge, Col. James Pohl, ordered arraignment for Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri to go ahead as scheduled on Monday.

With this move, all cases at Guantanamo are now in line with the president's order to halt court proceedings at the detention center, according to Gordon.

Al-Nashiri is accused of planning the October 2000 bombing of the Cole while it was in the Yemeni port of Aden. The attack killed 17 American sailors and crippled the vessel, which returned to service in 2002.

The Office of Military Commissions, which manages the prosecutions of suspected terrorists, said last week that it might have to temporarily drop charges against al-Nashiri to comply with the presidential order.

When prosecutors asked for a continuance in the trial, Pohl denied the request, saying the government's "argument for continuances were unpersuasive," according to a copy of his opinion. Pohl noted there had been no previous requests for a delay, and that the public's interest in a speedy trial would be harmed by further delay.

Al-Nashiri was captured in 2002. He was held in secret locations until being transferred to Guantanamo Bay in 2006.

Meanwhile, the White House has invited families of sailors who died in the Cole bombing to meet with Obama on Friday.

A number of the families were called Thursday afternoon, according to Andrew Hall, the lawyer who represented families.

The invitation was for the families to attend "without their lawyers," according to Hall. They were not told why they were going to meet with Obama, he added.

According to the White House schedule for Friday, Obama will meet privately with families of the Cole attack and also with families of victims of the 9/11 attacks.

"The president wants to talk with these families about resolving the issues involved with closing Guantanamo Bay -- while keeping the safety and security of the American people as his top priority," the schedule said.

Obama speaks to Dems at Williamsburg retreat

President Barack Obama gives a pep-talk to Democrats at a retreat in Williamsburg, Virginia. Obama flew on Air Force One from Washington to Williamsburg. He could have driven there to save the Earth from it's "fever" as Al Gore says.

He didn't talk to the average person, he spoke to the rich Democrats about his "stimulus" bill.

He is talking as if he's on the campaign trail. I thought he was president. I though he was going to unite Washington, not divide Washington.

Mother of 14 appears on NBC's Today, today

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

In my opinion, this woman is an idiot. She may be battling depression as she says is why she has the babies to make herself happier. But, how can a single mom be able to go to college and care for the babies? It can't be done.

Weekly Cable Ratings (Jan 26-Feb 1)

Source: Nielsen Ratings and TVByTheNumbers.com

Prime-time Average Viewers (Top 15)
Network Audience
1. USA 2,359,000
2. Fox News 1,840,000
3. TNT 1,589,000
4. Disney 1,544,000
5. TBS 1,290,000
6. Nickelodeon 1,248,000
7. Cartoon 1,109,000
8. A&E 1.044,000
9. FX 1,032,000
10. Hallmark 983,000
11. ABC Family 981,000
12. ESPN 961,000
13. HGTV 952,000
14. CNN 925,000
15. AMC 919,000

Where is MSNBC? Well, it is ranked 24 with 758,000 viewers. More people watch Lifetime, Discovery, Spike, SciFi, TLC, History, Tru TV and Food Network than MSNBC.

When looking at only cable news channels for Feb. 4, according to Nielsen Ratings, Fox News dominates the ratings.

Cable News Ratings (Total Day)
1. Fox News 1,433,000
2. CNN 765,000
3. MSNBC 477,000
4. Headline News 330,000
5. CNBC 247,000

Cable News Ratings (Prime Time)
1. Fox News 2,922,000
2. CNN 1,286,000
3. MSNBC 905,000
4. Headline News 812,000
5. CNBC 199,000

Time Slots
Morning programs (6:00AM-9:00AM) P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
FOX & Friends – 1,114,000 viewers (375,000) (674,000)
American Morning—473,000 viewers (173,000) (290,000)
Morning Joe-422,000 viewers (162,000) (223,000)
Squawk Box-212,000 viewers (77,000) (125,000)
Morning Express w/ Meade- 198,000 viewers (110,000) (118,000)

6PM - P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Special Report w/Bret Baier – 2,169,000 viewers (425,000) (940,000)
Situation Room— 1,078,000 viewers (270,000) (571,000)
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue —536,000 viewers (161,000) (270,000)
Mad Money—265,000 viewers (118,000) (148,000)
Prime News–341,000 viewers (158,000) (184,000)

7PM - P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Fox Report w/Shepard Smith– 2,086,000 viewers (503,000) (924,000)
Lou Dobbs Tonight–901,000 viewers (266,000) (483,000)
Hardball w/Chris Matthews —722,000 viewers (190,000) (335,000)
Kudlow Report —219,000 viewers (114,000) (156,000)
Issues– 520,000 viewers (252,000) (329,000)

8PM - P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
The O’Reilly Factor—3,706,000 viewers (778,000) (1,494,000)
Campbell Brown—940,000 viewers (261,000) (416,000)
Countdown w/Keith Olbermann –1,004,000 viewers (301,000) (513,000)
CNBC Reports—178,000 viewers (77,000) (104,000)
Nancy Grace –1,290,000 viewers (550,000) (744,000)

9 PM - P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Hannity–2,854,000 viewers (706,000) (1,264,000)
Larry King Live—1,495,000 viewers (367,000) (562,000)
Rachel Maddow Show –1,122,000 viewers (320,000) (532,000)
American Greed—256,000 viewers (119,000) (153,000)
Lou Dobbs- 528,000 viewers (213,000) (313,000)

10 PM P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
On the Record w/Greta—2,196,000 viewers (411,000) (885,000)
Anderson Cooper 360—1,421,000 viewers (458,000) (590,000)
Countdown w/Keith Olbermann—589,000 viewers (214,000) (243,000)
On the Money—162,000 viewers (69,000) (86,000)
Nancy Grace –676,000 viewers (343,000) (440,000)

11 PM P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
The O”Reilly Factor– 1,408,000 viewers (415,000) (709,000)
Anderson Cooper 360 —777,000 viewers (326,000) (391,000)
Rachel Maddow Show –514,000 viewers (209,000) (251,000)
Mad Money- 128,000 viewers (a scratch w/45,000) (81,000)
Showbiz Tonight– 404,000 viewers (226,000) (256,000)

Fox News dominates the ratings, hour by hour, day by day. Coincidence? So why are liberals upset with this? Maybe Fox News knows how to report news and make it interesting? Or is it because they don't make every news story a "crisis" like NBC tends to do.

Take another look at the 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. time slots. Keith Olbermann has dropped to third place. Nancy Grace is now bulldozing over Olbermann's show. Olbermann better stop focusing his attacks on O'Reilly and take some of that anger at Nancy Grace.

GE, NBC in the bed with Obama

What ever happened to the media holding the government accountable for their actions. General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt has been named to President Obama's Economic Recovery Advisory Board today (Friday).

General Electric pushes "Green" technology. GE has the most to gain or lose during the Obama years. Immelt is only looking out for himself and the company he runs. GE got Congress to make florescent light bulbs the law of the land in the future.

What else does GE run? NBC-Universal. Is there any coincidence that the networks of NBC have a "Green Week"?

NBC bought the Weather Channel last year to keep up their crisis of global warming.

It is official, NBC will back whatever the government does. There will be no challenging of this. Oh, by the way, GE received bail out funds last year. So, technically, the government and the people run GE. Wow.


IN THE NEWS
Politico: Obama lines up recovery advisers

Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow continues fight for "fair" radio

Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow wants radio to be fair. So she is upset that a radio station called Obama 1260 AM is quitting its Obama format for financial news. Also she wants talk radio to present both sides of an issue. I guess much like MSNBC presents all the sides to an issue because she has no problem with MSNBC.

Radio is all about staying interesting. Apparently the liberals aren't interesting. At least on the radio.

--From POLITICO--

Sen. Stabenow wants hearings on radio 'accountability'; talks fairness doctrine
This morning, radio host Bill Press brought up the recent closing of liberal station Obama 1260 when speaking with Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, and talked about whether there needs to be a balance to right-wing talk on the radio dial.

BILL PRESS: Yeah, I mean, look: They have a right to say that. They’ve got a right to express that. But, they should not be the only voices heard. So, is it time to bring back the Fairness Doctrine?

SENATOR DEBBIE STABENOW (D-MI): I think it’s absolutely time to pass a standard. Now, whether it’s called the Fairness Standard, whether it’s called something else — I absolutely think it’s time to be bringing accountability to the airwaves. I mean, our new president has talked rightly about accountability and transparency. You know, that we all have to step up and be responsible. And, I think in this case, there needs to be some accountability and standards put in place.

BILL PRESS: Can we count on you to push for some hearings in the United States Senate this year, to bring these owners in and hold them accountable?

SENATOR DEBBIE STABENOW (D-MI): I have already had some discussions with colleagues and, you know, I feel like that’s gonna happen. Yep.
Although Obama has been publicly opposed to reinstating the fairness doctrine, conservative radio has talked nonstop about the fear of it returning (or perhaps something like it with another name) while there's a Democrat in the White House and a Democratic majority in Congress.

UPDATE: A commenter points out that Stabenow is married to Tom Athans, a liberal talk radio executive. He was the former executive of AirAmerica radio. He now runs USA Radio, a liberal talk radio outfit.

Al Gore: I know more than your parents

The video is from today's Glenn Beck Program on Fox News Channel. Al Gore really loves global warming.

Road to Communism

Day two of Glenn Beck's segment on America's "Road to Communism" on Fox News

The Liberal Attack on Talk Radio Begins

First off, here's the news:

WASHINGTON -- February 5, 2009: Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) told nationally syndicated talk host Bill Press this morning that the recent flips of liberal Talk stations in several markets were a "disservice to the public."

Stabenow said that, in the day of the Fairness Doctrine, "you had to have balance," and continued, "I think something that requires that in a market with owners that have multiple stations that they have got to have balance -- there has to be some community interest -- balance, you know, standard that says both sides have to be heard."

Stabenow told Press that the airwaves are "dominated by one view" that "overwhelms people's opinions -- and, unfortunately, incorrectly," and said that "right-wing conservative talk hosts" are "trying to make people angry and saying all kinds of things that aren't true and so on."

When Press asked if it is time to bring back the Fairness Doctrine, Stabenow responded, "I think it's absolutely time to pass a standard." To Press' inquiry as to whether she will push for hearings in the Seante "to bring these owners in and hold them accountable," Stabenow replied, "I have already had some discussions with colleagues, and, you know, I feel like that's going to happen. Yep."

Source: RadioInk: SENATOR: TALK RADIO HEARINGS COULD BE ON THE WAY

This is just the beginning. Rush Limbaugh was attacked a couple weeks ago when he said he wanted Obama's policies to fail and that translated into he wanted Obama to fail. Then Barack Obama said to GOP members in Congress to stop listening to Rush Limbaugh.

Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity have been getting attacked by the liberal media and the Obama crones. One big issue that is near and dear to Al Gore's heart is global warming. The big three on the radio dial all say that global warming is not an issue. They all say the sun warms the Earth and say that humans are not responsible for weather. Many liberals and Al Gore have compared people who don't believe in global warming to people who are Holocaust deniers and people who were against civil rights.

Obama and liberals do not want to be criticized. They want the entire media to be on their side, much like MSNBC already is. CNN is close, but still has some Obama dissenters. Fox News doesn't bow down to Obama. CBS News and NBC News love Obama. The liberals control practically every television news outlet, newspaper and political magazine, but they still haven't figured out talk radio.

The trick with talk radio is you have to talk for two to three hours and still stay interesting. AirAmerica Radio was a failed attempt by the liberals, but they continue to try to make it on the few stations they have.

The sad thing is that the one AirAmerica radio program that was somewhat popular was the Rachel Maddow Show and she's now on MSNBC to fulfill their liberal requirements. I hear she is still on AirAmerica, so it may be getting more popular with her on MSNBC.

In my opinion, the reason liberal talk radio has never worked is that the liberals have control of television and newspapers. As a liberal, why would you want to listen to liberal talk if you get it all day with the New York Times, Washington Post, Comedy Central's Daily Show and Colbert Report, NBC News, CBS News and MSNBC already. The reason conservative talk radio has been a success is that traditionally there has been no conservative voice on television and in the newspaper.

And now the liberals want total control within the media with the "Fairness Doctrine." And this title of a doctrine couldn't be further from the truth, this is a suppressing doctrine. It takes the freedom of speech away from people.

Why destroy AM radio when conservative talk saved it. If there was no Rush Limbaugh, would you be listening to AM radio? If there was no Rush, there would be no ESPN Radio, Dr. Laura, Clark Howard Show, O'Reilly Radio Factor, Coast to Coast AM and surprisingly enough, AirAmerica.

A listener doesn't like Michael Savage because he isn't fair in this time of change:

Diane Feinstein loves the "Fairness Doctrine" (Fox News)


Dennis Kucinich also loves the "Fairness Doctrine" (CNN)

Daschle: I used to drive my own car

The former Health and Human Services designate Tom Daschle didn't know he had to pay taxes on his "free car." He didn't know. If you want to be in President Obama's cabinet, there are two qualifications: 1. be a liberal, 2. don't pay taxes.

Let's look at the history of Tom Daschle in Washington and cars...







(Videos are courtesy of Fox News Channel and CNN)

Has your bank received TARP funds?

TARP recipients as of Jan. 31, 2009:

Bank of America Corporation
Bank of New York Mellon Corporation
Citigroup Inc.
The Goldman Sachs Group
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Morgan Stanley
State Street Corporation
Wells Fargo & Company
Bank of Commerce Holdings
1st FS Corporation
UCBH Holdings, Inc.
Northern Trust Corporation
SunTrust Banks, Inc.
Broadway Financial Corporation
Washington Federal Inc.
BB&T Corp.
Provident Bancshares Corp.
Umpqua Holdings Corp.
Comerica Inc.
Regions Financial Corp.
Capital One Financial Corporation
First Horizon National Corporation
Huntington Bancshares
KeyCorp
Valley National Bancorp
Zions Bancorporation
Marshall & Ilsley
U.S. Bancorp
TCF Financial Corporation
First Niagara Financial Group
HF Financial Corp.
Centerstate Banks of Florida Inc.
City National Corporation
First Community Bankshares Inc.
Western Alliance Bancorporation
Webster Financial Corporation
Pacific Capital Bancorp
Heritage Commerce Corp.
Ameris Bancorp
Porter Bancorp Inc.
Banner Corporation
Cascade Financial Corporation
Columbia Banking System, Inc.
Heritage Financial Corporation
First PacTrust Bancorp, Inc.
Severn Bancorp, Inc.
Boston Private Financial Holdings, Inc.
Associated Banc-Corp
Trustmark Corporation
First Community Corporation
Taylor Capital Group
Nara Bancorp, Inc.
Midwest Banc Holdings, Inc.
MB Financial Inc.
First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.
United Community Banks, Inc.
Wesbanco Bank Inc.
Encore Bancshares Inc.
Manhattan Bancorp
Iberiabank Corporation
Eagle Bancorp, Inc.
Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc.
Coastal Banking Company, Inc.
East West Bancorp
South Financial Group, Inc.
Great Southern Bancorp
Cathay General Bancorp
Southern Community Financial Corp.
CVB Financial Corp
First Defiance Financial Corp.
First Financial Holdings Inc.
Superior Bancorp Inc.
Southwest Bancorp, Inc.
Popular, Inc.
Blue Valley Ban Corp
Central Federal Corporation
Bank of Marin Bancorp
Bank of North Carolina
Central Bancorp, Inc.
Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc.
State Bancorp, Inc.
TIB Financial Corp
Unity Bancorp, Inc.
Old Line Bancshares, Inc.
FPB Bancorp, Inc.
Sterling Financial Corporation
Oak Valley Bancorp
Old National Bancorp
Capital Bank Corporation
Pacific International Bancorp
SVB Financial Group
LNB Bancorp Inc.
Wilmington Trust Corporation
Susquehanna Bancshares, Inc
Signature Bank
HopFed Bancorp
Citizens Republic Bancorp, Inc.
Indiana Community Bancorp
Bank of the Ozarks, Inc.
Center Financial Corporation
NewBridge Bancorp
Sterling Bancshares, Inc.
The Bancorp, Inc.
TowneBank
Wilshire Bancorp, Inc.
Valley Financial Corporation
Independent Bank Corporation
Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.
First Litchfield Financial Corporation
National Penn Bancshares, Inc.
Northeast Bancorp
Citizens South Banking Corporation
Virginia Commerce Bancorp
Fidelity Bancorp, Inc.
LSB Corporation
Intermountain Community Bancorp
Community West Bancshares
Synovus Financial Corp.
Tennessee Commerce Bancorp, Inc.
Community Bankers Trust Corporation
BancTrust Financial Group, Inc.
Enterprise Financial Services Corp.
Mid Penn Bancorp, Inc.
Summit State Bank
VIST Financial Corp.
Wainwright Bank & Trust Company
Whitney Holding Corporation
The Connecticut Bank and Trust Company
CoBiz Financial Inc.
Santa Lucia Bancorp
Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida
Horizon Bancorp
Fidelity Southern Corporation
Community Financial Corporation
Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc.
First California Financial Group, Inc
AmeriServ Financial, Inc
Security Federal Corporation
Wintrust Financial Corporation
Flushing Financial Corporation
Monarch Financial Holdings, Inc.
StellarOne Corporation
Union Bankshares Corporation
Tidelands Bancshares, Inc
Bancorp Rhode Island, Inc.
Hawthorn Bancshares, Inc.
The Elmira Savings Bank, FSB
Alliance Financial Corporation
Heartland Financial USA, Inc.
Citizens First Corporation
FFW Corporation
Plains Capital Corporation
Tri-County Financial Corporation
OneUnited Bank
Patriot Bancshares, Inc.
Pacific City Financial Corporation
Marquette National Corporation
Exchange Bank
Monadnock Bancorp, Inc.
Bridgeview Bancorp, Inc.
Fidelity Financial Corporation
Patapsco Bancorp, Inc.
NCAL Bancorp
FCB Bancorp, Inc.
First Financial Bancorp
Bridge Capital Holdings
International Bancshares Corporation
First Sound Bank
M&T Bank Corporation
Emclaire Financial Corp.
Park National Corporation
Green Bankshares, Inc.
Cecil Bancorp, Inc.
Financial Institutions, Inc.
Fulton Financial Corporation
United Bancorporation of Alabama, Inc.
MutualFirst Financial, Inc.
BCSB Bancorp, Inc.
HMN Financial, Inc.
First Community Bank Corporation of America
Sterling Bancorp
Intervest Bancshares Corporation
Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc.
Parkvale Financial Corporation
Timberland Bancorp, Inc.
1st Constitution Bancorp
Central Jersey Bancorp
Western Illinois Bancshares Inc.
Saigon National Bank
Capital Pacific Bancorp
Uwharrie Capital Corp
Mission Valley Bancorp
The Little Bank, Incorporated
Pacific Commerce Bank
Citizens Community Bank
Seacoast Commerce Bank
TCNB Financial Corp.
Leader Bancorp, Inc.
Nicolet Bankshares, Inc.
Magna Bank
Western Community Bancshares, Inc.
Community Investors Bancorp, Inc.
Capital Bancorp, Inc.
Cache Valley Banking Company
Citizens Bancorp
Tennessee Valley Financial Holdings, Inc.
Pacific Coast Bankers' Bancshares
SunTrust Banks, Inc.
The PNC Financial Services Group Inc.
Fifth Third Bancorp
Hampton Roads Bankshares, Inc.
CIT Group Inc.
West Bancorporation, Inc.
First Banks, Inc.
FirstMerit Corporation
Farmers Capital Bank Corporation
Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation
Commerce National Bank
The First Bancorp, Inc.
Sun Bancorp, Inc.
Crescent Financial Corporation
American Express Company
Central Pacific Financial Corp.
Centrue Financial Corporation
Eastern Virginia Bankshares, Inc.
Colony Bankcorp, Inc.
Independent Bank Corp.
Cadence Financial Corporation
LCNB Corp.
Center Bancorp, Inc.
F.N.B. Corporation
C&F Financial Corporation
North Central Bancshares, Inc.
Carolina Bank Holdings, Inc.
First Bancorp
First Financial Service Corporation
Codorus Valley Bancorp, Inc.
MidSouth Bancorp, Inc.
First Security Group, Inc.
Shore Bancshares, Inc.
The Queensborough Company
American State Bancshares, Inc.
Security California Bancorp
Security Business Bancorp
Sound Banking Company
Mission Community Bancorp
Redwood Financial Inc.
Surrey Bancorp
Independence Bank
Valley Community Bank
Rising Sun Bancorp
Community Trust Financial Corporation
GrandSouth Bancorporation
Texas National Bancorporation
Congaree Bancshares, Inc.
New York Private Bank & Trust Corporation
Home Bancshares, Inc.
Washington Banking Company/ Whidbey Island Bank
New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc.
Bar Harbor Bankshares/Bar Harbor Bank & Trust
Somerset Hills Bancorp
SCBT Financial Corporation
S&T Bancorp
ECB Bancorp, Inc./East Carolina Bank
First BanCorp
Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc.
Yadkin Valley Financial Corporation
Carver Bancorp, Inc
Citizens & Northern Corporation
MainSource Financial Group, Inc.
MetroCorp Bancshares, Inc.
United Bancorp, Inc.
Old Second Bancorp, Inc.
Pulaski Financial Corp
OceanFirst Financial Corp.
Community 1st Bank
TCB Holding Company
Centra Financial Holdings, Inc./Centra Bank, Inc.
First Bankers Trustshares, Inc.
Pacific Coast National Bancorp
Community Bank of the Bay
Redwood Capital Bancorp
Syringa Bancorp
Idaho Bancorp
Puget Sound Bank
United Financial Banking Companies, Inc.
Dickinson Financial Corporation
The Baraboo Bancorporation
Bank of Commerce
State Bankshares, Inc.
BNCCORP, Inc.
First Manitowoc Bancorp, Inc.
Southern Bancorp, Inc.
Morrill Bancshares, Inc.
Treaty Oak Bancorp, Inc.
1st Source Corporation
Princeton National Bancorp, Inc.
AB&T Financial Corporation
First Citizens Banc Corp
WSFS Financial Corporation
Commonwealth Business Bank
Seaside National Bank & Trust
CalWest Bancorp
Fresno First Bank
First ULB Corp.
Alarion Financial Services, Inc.
Midland States Bancorp, Inc.
Moscow Bancshares, Inc.
Farmers Bank
California Oaks State Bank
Pierce County Bancorp
Calvert Financial Corporation
Liberty Bancshares, Inc.
Crosstown Holding Company
BankFirst Capital Corporation
Southern Illinois Bancorp, Inc.
FPB Financial Corp.
Stonebridge Financial Corp.
Peoples Bancorp Inc.
Anchor BanCorp
Parke Bancorp, Inc.
Central Virginia Bankshares, Inc.
Flagstar Bancorp, Inc.
Middleburg Financial Corporation
Peninsula Bank Holding Co.
PrivateBancorp, Inc.
Central Valley Community Bancorp
Plumas Bancorp
Stewardship Financial Corporation
Oak Ridge Financial Services, Inc.
First United Corporation
Community Partners Bancorp
Guaranty Federal Bancshares, Inc.
Annapolis Bancorp, Inc.
DNB Financial Corporation
Firstbank Corporation
Valley Commerce Bancorp
Greer Bancshares Incorporated
Ojai Community Bank
Adbanc, Inc
Beach Business Bank
Legacy Bancorp, Inc.
First Southern Bancorp, Inc.
Country Bank Shares, Inc.
Katahdin Bankshares Corp.
Rogers Bancshares, Inc.
UBT Bancshares, Inc.
Bankers' Bank of the West Bancorp, Inc.
W.T.B. Financial Corporation
AMB Financial Corp.
Goldwater Bank, N.A.
Equity Bancshares, Inc.
WashingtonFirst Bank
Central Bancshares, Inc.
Hilltop Community Bancorp, Inc.
Northway Financial, Inc.
Monument Bank
Metro City Bank
F & M Bancshares, Inc.
First Resource Bank

Source: Fox News

Soviet Russia building nuclear reactor in Iran

Soviet Russia is back and better than ever. Well, somewhat. They still have some work to do to become a dominant world power instead of just a regional power. But this is a start.

Russia is building a nuclear reactor in a power plant in Bushehr, Iran. The plan is to have the plant up and running by year's end. But what does this mean? Is this just a ploy to help Iran's making of a nuclear bomb, or is it only for power? It is hard to say.

Russia has made some critical moves to get back to a world power in the past few months. Russia has become closer to Cuba again and sent some Soviet era battle ships to the Caribbean Sea. Now they are helping Iran.

Is the Cold War over? Or, has it just cooled off?

America now has a new president and this president wants to become friends with every country in the world. He wants to become friendly with the Middle East. He wants "world peace." He wants what Jimmy Carter wants. Haha. Carter said that Hamas is just "misunderstood."

IN THE NEWS:
International Herald Tribune: Russia to start Iran nuclear power plant by year end

Gore: Children, don't listen to your parents, listen to me about global warming

Al Gore says that older people aren't that smart. He compares global warming to civil rights in the 1950s and 1960s. Only Al Gore is right and the parents are wrong. Comrades, this has been done before as Glenn Beck has said in the audio below. He is right. If you are going to begin a revolution, you have to brainwash the youth. Al Gore knows his history.

The students were invited to hear a speech from Al Gore at the Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference in Washington, D.C. on January 17. These 12- and 13-year-old children some of the brightest science students across the United States. Start young and brainwash so in the future global warming will become the accepted truth about weather.

The audio is from the Glenn Beck radio show on Tuesday.




If you don't believe what was said, see it for yourself:


IN THE NEWS
Buffalo News: Global warming conference in Buffalo at -6 degrees

Obama: Pass it now, or we may never recover

I will admit that the United States needs some sort of stimulus to help the economy. But maybe a stimulus that is capitalistic, not socialistic.

President Barack Obama says, no he threatens the Senate to pass his pork bill. What is a reality is that this "stimulus" has little if anything to do with stimulizing the economy.

The US House of Representatives passed their version of the "stimulus" and now Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid wants to pass his version of the "stimulus" to "improve" the economy.

Now, there is some things in this bill that will help the economy, but this is only a small part of the bill. The rest is pork. In fact, the city of Chicago is getting millions from this bill, if it's passed. Why? Is it because Obama is from Chicago and it's a thank you to Mayor Richard Daley?

This bill may put the US economy into a depression. But no worries, Obama will just blame it and everything that goes wrong on George W. Bush. The media will agree. Obama's "quick fix" is just like eating a doughnut. It tastes good when you eat it, but if you don't exercise, you will pay for it later. If you catch my drift.

--Chicago Tribune--

Daley refuses to release stimulus project list
Posted by Dan Mihalopoulos at 6:40 p.m.

Mayor Richard Daley said today Chicago has compiled a wish list of "shovel-ready projects" to spend federal economic stimulus funds on should Congress approve a plan.

Unlike hundreds of other cities, however, Daley said Chicago won't make its list public.

"Yes, we do, we have our list, we've been talking to people. We did not put that out publicly because once you start putting it out publicly, you know, the newspapers, the media is going to be ripping it apart," Daley said.

"It's very controversial. Yes, we have ready projects from the Board of Education to the City Colleges to the Park District to the CTA and the city of Chicago. Oh yes. Us and New York decided not to do that. We thought we could go directly into the federal bureaucracies and the different departments," the mayor added.

Later, Daley was asked why he wasn't being more transparent.

"Read some of your newspapers. Heh heh," he replied.

I did find a list of possible projects in Obama's stimulus package. This may not be the entire list because the Senate may add some more pork to the deal.

(source: http://manyeyes.alphaworks.ibm.com/manyeyes/datasets/obamas-stimulus-plan-the-breakdown/versions/1 )


Category Project Amount ($)
Energy Electricity Grid 11000000000
Energy Renewable Energy Loans for Projects 8000000000
Energy Renovate and repair federal buildings 6700000000
Energy Grants for state and local governments 6900000000
Energy Energy retrofits for low-income housing 2500000000
Energy Energy efficiency and renewable energy research 2000000000
Energy Loans for vehicle battery manufacturers 2000000000
Energy Energy efficiency grants and loans for schools, governments and utilities 1500000000
Energy Weatherizing homes 6200000000
Energy Rebates for smart appliances 300000000
Energy Replacing federal vehicles with alternative fuel cars 600000000
Energy Grant program for electric vehicle technology 200000000
Energy Projects for cleaning fossil energy 2400000000
Energy Department of Defense research 350000000
Energy Assistance to state and local governments for alternative fuel busses 400000000
Energy Projects for energy efficient manufacturing processes 400000000
Energy Grants and loans to states and cities for diesel emissions reduction 300000000
Science and Technology Wireless and broadband grants 6000000000
Science and Technology National Science Foundation 3000000000
Science and Technology National Institutes of Health Biomedical Research 2000000000
Science and Technology University Research Facilities 1500000000
Science and Technology Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 462000000
Science and Technology Department of Energy 1900000000
Science and Technology NASA 600000000
Science and Technology Biomedical Advanced Research and Development, Pandemic Flu and Cyber security 900000000
Science and Technology National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Satellites and Sensors 600000000
Science and Technology National Institute of Standards and Technology 300000000
Science and Technology Agricultural Research Service 209000000
Science and Technology U.S. Geological Survey 200000000
Business Small Business Credit 430000000
Business Rural Business-Cooperative Service 100000000
Business Industrial Technology Services 100000000
Business Economic Development Assistance 250000000
Science and Technology DTV Conversion 650000000
Infrastructure Highway infrastructure 30000000000
Infrastructure New transit construction 1000000000
Infrastructure Transit upgrades and repair 2000000000
Infrastructure Transit assistance to expand facilities 6000000000
Infrastructure Amtrak and Intercity rail grants 1100000000
Infrastructure Airport improvement grants 3000000000
Infrastructure Aviation explosive detection systems 500000000
Infrastructure Coast Guard bridges 150000000
Infrastructure Improving Social Security Administration 400000000
Infrastructure IT improvements for Farm Service Agency 245000000
Infrastructure State Department Technology 276000000
Infrastructure Repairs for Department of Agriculture 44000000
Infrastructure Department of Defense medical facilities 3750000000
Infrastructure Military facility repairs 2100000000
Infrastructure Troop housing 1200000000
Infrastructure Department of Defense child development centers 360000000
Infrastructure Guard and Reserve facilities 400000000
Infrastructure Veterans medical facilities 950000000
Infrastructure Veterans cemetaries 50000000
Infrastructure Border ports of entry 1150000000
Environment Job Corps facilities 300000000
Environment Public land and park construction 3100000000
Environment National treasures 400000000
Environment Corps of engineers water restoration 4500000000
Environment Bureau of reclamation 500000000
Environment Watershed infrastructure 400000000
Environment Repairs to flood control systems 224000000
Environment Clean Water State Revolving Fund 6000000000
Environment Drinking Water State Revolving Fund 2000000000
Environment Rural water and waste disposal loans 1500000000
Environment Hazardous waste cleanup 800000000
Environment Leaking underground storage tanks cleanup 200000000
Environment Nuclear waste cleanup 500000000
Environment Cleanup and close military bases 300000000
Environment NOAA habitat restoration 400000000
Environment Grants to cleanup brownfields 100000000
Environment State and private wildfire precention 550000000
Environment Federal Forest wildfire prevention 300000000
Infrastructure Bureau of Indian Affairs 500000000
Education School construction 20000000000
Education Education technology 1000000000
Education Pell grants 15600000000
Education College Work-Study 490000000
Education Student Aid Administration 50000000
Education IDEA special education 13000000000
Education Grants to help disadvantaged kids 13000000000
Education Statewide data systems 250000000
Education Education for homeless children and youth 66000000
Education Improving teacher quality 300000000
Education Childcare for low-income families 2000000000
Education Head Start 2100000000
Education IDEA Infants and families 600000000
Healthcare Health information technology 20000000000
Healthcare Prevention and wellness fund 3000000000
Healthcare Healthcare effectiveness research 1100000000
Healthcare Community health centers 1500000000
Healthcare Training for primary care providers 600000000
Healthcare Indian health service facilities 550000000
Jobs Training and employment services 4000000000
Jobs Vocational rehabilitation state grants 500000000
Jobs Employment services grants 500000000
Jobs Community service employment for seniors 120000000
Jobs Increasing and expanding unemployment insurance 36000000000
Jobs COBRA for the unemployed 30300000000
Housing Funding for public housing 5000000000
Housing HOME Investments with local communities 1500000000
Housing Native American housing grants 500000000
Housing Funds for communities to buy and rehabilitate foreclosed homes 4200000000
Housing Homeless assistance grants 1500000000
Housing Rural housing insurance fund 500000000
Housing Fund for rural, high-need sustainable building practices 10000000
Housing Lead paint removal from homes 100000000
Housing Rural community facilities 200000000
Social programs Nutrition assistance to modest-income families 20000000000
Social programs Senior nutrition programs 200000000
Social programs Afterschool meals 726000000
Social programs Improving systems related to WIC 100000000
Social programs Payments to disabled and elderly 4200000000
Social programs Community services grants 1000000000
Social programs Community development grants 1000000000
Social programs Emergency food and shelter 200000000
Social programs Low-Income home energy assistance 1000000000
Social programs Child support enforcement 1000000000
Social programs Social security backlog 500000000
Social programs Centers for independent living 200000000
Social programs AmeriCorps 200000000
Social programs Grants to faith- and community-based organizations 100000000
Social programs Department of Labor Worker Protection 80000000
Public Services Medicaid Aid to states 87000000000
Public Services State Education 120000000000
Public Services Temporary Assistance for needy families 2500000000
Public Services State and local law enforcement support 4000000000
Public Services Periodic census and programs 1000000000

Wait! There's more! Lets check what's behind door number two:

$2 billion for child-care subsidies
$50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts
$400 million for global-warming research
Another $2.4 billion for carbon-capture demonstration projects
$650 million on top of the billions already doled out to pay for digital TV conversion coupons.


IN THE NEWS
The 2009 Stimulus Bill includes what?
Business Week: Stimulus: How Porky is it?
Boston Globe: Stimulus plan at a glance

The day after: Blagojevich in the papers

Chicago Tribune (link)


Chicago Sun-Times (link)


The (Springfield) State Journal Register (link)

Blagojevich as gov. has come to an end

I am going to miss seeing Rod Blagojevich on television, but I'm glad it's over. Or is it? The disgraced former governor of Illinois now will face Federal charges of attempting to sell Barack Obama's open Senate seat. Mr. Blagojevich may join his predecessor George Ryan in Federal prison. Blagojevich still maintains his innocence. We shall see what happens.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich is impeached by the Illinois House of Representatives:


Blagojevich makes a statement after impeachment by the Illinois House of Representatives:


Below are videos from the week of Blagomania (all are in order of occurrence):

ABC's Good Morning America on Monday (Part One):

ABC's Good Morning America on Monday (Part Two):

ABC's The View on Monday (Part One):

ABC's The View on Monday (Part Two):

ABC's Thew View on Monday (Part Three):

Fox News Channel with Geraldo chasing Blagojevich on Monday:
Fox News Channel's On The Record with Greta Van Susteren on Monday: (click here to see video)

CNN's Larry King Live on Monday (Part One):

CNN's Larry King Live on Monday (Part Two):

CNN's Larry King Live on Monday (Part Three):

CBS' Early Show on Monday (Part One):

CBS' Early Show on Monday (Parat Two):

Fox News Channel's Fox and Friends on Tuesday (Part One):

Fox News Channel's Fox and Friends on Tuesday (Part Two):

Fox Business Network's Happy Hour on Tuesday: (click to see video)

Fox Business Network's Happy Hour on Tuesday: (click to see video)

Fox News Channel's Glenn Beck on Tuesday (Part One):

Fox News Channel's Glenn Beck taped Tuesday aired Wednesday (Part Two):

Fox News Channel's On The Record with Greta Van Susteren on Tuesday: (click here for video)

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show on Tuesday (Part One):

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show on Tuesday (Part Two):

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show on Tuesday (Part Three):

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show on Tuesday (Part Four):

MEDIA CIRCUS IS OVER, BLAGOJEVICH IS BACK TO ILLINOIS

Blagojevich speaks to the Illinois State Senate on Thursday:

Blagojevich Senate Conviction Vote on Thursday:

Blagojevich Senate vote on barring him for future Illinois political office:

Blagojevich speaks after losing governor job and not being allowed to serve any public office in the state from his Chicago home:

Another video from MSNBC (a bit longer):


IN THE NEWS:

WGN NEWS: Impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been removed from office

Chicago Tribune: Impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been removed from office



The era of Governor Pat Quinn now begins...


Bleep them:

Blagojevich: 'Impeachment trial is a sham'

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said today that the state is denying the will of the people. He said that he was re-elected as governor because the people think he is doing a good job.

He then said the "Impeachment trial is a sham" to reporters. He said that his conversation with Rahm Emmanuel, Obama's Chief of Staff, had nothing to do with the pay-to-play scandal.

Well, I think that the state actually likes Blagojevich because they haven't convicted him yet. What is taking them so long? There is a lot that can take him down, it is not just the scandal involving the open Senate seat, as we all know.

Below is a story from the Chicago Tribune and its television partner WGN.

IN THE NEWS:
Chicago Tribune: Blagojevich: 'Impeachment...'

Tax evader approved as Treasury Secretary

Timothy Geithner has been approved to be the next Treasury Secretary. He failed to pay his taxes for more than eight years. He owed the IRS $34,000 in taxes. But he was the only person in the world who understood TARP funds, as the Obama administration and the news media has said. He is the right man for the job. Yet, he doesn't know how to pay his own taxes and he's going to be in charge of the administration that is in charge of the federal tax system. Wow!

After all, it's only a "careless mistake" in forgetting to pay thousands of dollars in taxes. That's what he said and Sen. Harry Reid. Amazing!

IN THE NEWS:
Fox News: Senate Panel Approves...
MSNBC: Committee approves...
Wall Street Journal: Treasury's Top Post...

Is Obama soft on terrorists?

President Barack Obama signed his first executive order today and it was to close the Guantanamo Prison on the U.S. soil in Cuba.

Obama said that the prisoners being held there will be questioned under the Army Field Manual, which is intended for honorable combatants, meaning POWs in a military conflict. So, are these terrorists honorable?

Then after being questioned and found guilty, where shall the terrorists go? It's not going to be Gitmo. Will it be the prison near you?

What has Obama done?!


IN THE NEWS:
Fox News: Obama Issues Directive...

Limbaugh did nothing wrong

I was watching CNN last evening and they were having a field day during CNN Newsroom about something Rush Limbaugh said. The host of the 3 p.m. segment of the show Rick Sanchez kept displaying Facebook, Twitter and CNN blog posts that were negative about Limbaugh. People were writing that Limbaugh was a racist, idiot and many other demeaning things. These people are idiots.

Rush did nothing wrong. He spoke about what he believes. He has the First Amendment right to speak. And anyway, what he said was not racist and it was not demeaning. His quote had nothing to do with President Barack Obama. It was about his policies and not the color of his skin. Limbaugh is against socialism, he wants capitalism to succeed. But people don't care, apparently. They say Rush is racist and an idiot.

CNN and all other news outlets that aired this video should be ashamed of themselves for not reporting the whole truth. Get the whole context and not just a sound bite. Wake up!

Below is the video of Rush Limbaugh on Fox News' Hannity Show:


Besides saying that Limbaugh wants Obama's policies to fail, a Green Bay Middle School aired the Rush Limbaugh Show's coverage of the inauguration. This upset some people because Rush made comments, as he always does! But this is different, apparently. Limbaugh also made comments during President George W. Bush's conferences and any other important person who was talking during his three-hour show

By the way, Limbaugh offered the school to teach civics and take some of the students on a ride on his private jet to learn about economics and eat pizza, he said on his radio show today.

IN THE NEWS:
Rush Limbaugh: Rush Taints Momentous....
WLUK: Limbaugh commentary...
Green Bay Press Gazette: Limbaugh teaching civics?

Somebody was missing at Obama's Inauguration

Where was Rod Blagojevich today? He is the governor of Illinois, Barack Obama's home state. Rahm Emmanuel was at the festivities and he is about as guilty as Blago. They are buddy-buddy after all.

By the way, why hasn't Blagojevich been convicted by the Illinois State Senate yet? What is taking them so long? Illinois government is just as corrupt as Blago himself.

In other governor senate appointment news, New York Gov. David Patterson will make his appointment soon. Maybe today. If he chooses Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, it will be a mockery. Just because she's a "Kennedy." But, we'll see. At least he isn't taking money for the seat like Blagojevich.

Obama's Poem at Inauguration

Written and Spoken by Elizabeth Alexender


Praise song for the day.

Each day we go about our business, walking past each other, catching each others’ eyes or not, about to speak or speaking. All about us is noise. All about us is noise and bramble, thorn and din, each one of our ancestors on our tongues. Someone is stitching up a hem, darning a hole in a uniform, patching a tire, repairing the things in need of repair.

Someone is trying to make music somewhere with a pair of wooden spoons on an oil drum with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice.

A woman and her son wait for the bus.

A farmer considers the changing sky; A teacher says, “Take out your pencils. Begin.”

We encounter each other in words, Words spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed; Words to consider, reconsider.

We cross dirt roads and highways that mark the will of someone and then others who said, “I need to see what’s on the other side; I know there’s something better down the road.”

We need to find a place where we are safe; We walk into that which we cannot yet see.

Say it plain, that many have died for this day. Sing the names of the dead who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton and the lettuce, built brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of.

Praise song for struggle; praise song for the day. Praise song for every hand-lettered sign; The figuring it out at kitchen tables.

Some live by “Love thy neighbor as thy self.”

Others by first do no harm, or take no more than you need.

What if the mightiest word is love, love beyond marital, filial, national. Love that casts a widening pool of light. Love with no need to preempt grievance.

In today’s sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be made, any sentence begun.

On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp -- praise song for walking forward in that light.




What in the world is this poem supposed to mean?!?!

The Video with courtesy of YouTube and Fox News:

It's Official: The "messiah" is now the leader of the "citizens of the world"

President Barack Obama was sworn into office just after noon today. Below is a video of the swearing in ceremony and inaugural address from YouTube and C-SPAN.


To read President Obama's speech click the link below:
http://drudgereport.com/flashosi.htm

MY TAKE ON THE CROWD:

I wonder how Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush felt when they saw the crowd? And then the cheers for Obama, similar to a football or baseball game. Sadly, for many of the people in the crowd, they do not go to church or understand religion, so I think they need something to believe in, so they chose Barack Obama. Obama is their golden calf.

MY TAKE ON THE SPEECH:

Obama gave a campaign-style acceptance speech. He spoke in generalities, but he did say that the citizens of the United States have to be accountable for our actions. Does this mean, we are the problem? And, if so, how are we to fix this problem? Also he said some words that are very similar to former President George W. Bush in talking about terrorism. The speech was good, but not up to the hype.

And, what was with the people leaving before the ceremony was completed. They came to hear Obama, but not the rest. They came, but did they understand the words said by Obama? Or are they there to gaze at his magnificence. Well, I guess it was like an awards ceremony.

Former President Bill Clinton didn't seem happy being there, but the next Secretary of State Hillary Clinton looked thrilled.

Change has come. The President will lift us up now. He is the one the prophesy has proclaimed.

My Favorite Paragraph of the speech:

"For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do."



God Bless Mr. Obama and God Bless the United States of America.

The end is near for Blagojevich

The Illinois House of Representatives impeachment panel voted 21-0 in favor of impeaching Gov. Rod Blagojevich today. Next up will be a vote by the House of Representatives to impeach him. Then a trial will convict the governor.

This will be interesting. What will happen to Rahm Emmanuel as well? How powerful is the Chicago Machine?

In the News:
Chicago Tribune: House panel unanimous...

Obamania has hit the comics

The love affair with President-elect Barack Obama continues to grow. At first it was by the news media, and now it is Marvel Comics.

In the current issue of the Amazing Spider-man, Peter Parker has to thwart an Obama impostor.

Now, to be frank, presidents have been in comics in the past. But for some reason, this feels different.

Link:
Chicago Tribune: Presidents in the comics