Wake up America

Hoaxes Make People Wonder If They Will Believe Obama's Veep Announcement Posted: 22 Aug 2008 12:38 PM CDT It seemed like a good idea at the time for the Barack Obama campaign to offer to text people with his vice presidential running mate announcement. Until hoax emails started being sent out and now people wonder if they will believe the truth. Thousands of people signed up on the "Be The First To Know" page on the Barack Obama website, where people could enter their information and receive a text message announcing his choice of a running mate. Some considered creative, new, a good use of the Internet, but an unexpected turn of events The Politico is reporting some are now wondering whether they will believe the text when it comes because they have received dozens of hoax test messages claiming to be "the announcement." Text messages claiming Evan Bayh, John Kerry, Walter Mondale, Eliot Spitzer and Hillary Rodham Clinton and even one saying that Obama chose Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps. Some people even rushed to announce it to others after getting "the message" just to find out it was a hoax and others thought to look online first and seeing no official words, became disheartened. On Wednesday morning, Richmond lawyer Anne Leigh Kerr passed along bad information to political types after receiving a text message from an unknown number that, in formal language, announced that Obama selected Gov. Tim Kaine. The Politico reports that one liberal website, called Wonkette, even posted "a step-by-step manual from a reader under the headline: "Freak Out Your Friends With Fake Obama VP TXT." The managing editor of Wonkette, Ken Layne, says he is proud of the site for doing so, saying, "We are proud to help cause confusion and excitement during this terrible boring week of no news at all. But we can't really take too much credit for it – apparently one of our readers listens to Howard Stern (which is still on the radio?) and heard of the veep TXT hoax, and figured out an easy way to do it through Verizon's TXT website." Layne admits he has personally sent out about 50 hoax emails claiming that Mondale was Obama's choice. He claims that so many of his friends have now sent him hoax text messages "that I'll probably end up ignoring the real one," Layne says. .

Which Podium belongs to the DNC and which belongs to the RNC? Can you tell? Posted: 22 Aug 2008 09:00 AM CDT Name the party!!!!!! These are the two podiums, one for the Democratic National Convention and one from the Republican National Convention. Can you tell which podium belongs to which party? (Click images to enlarge) Which do you like the best? .

John Mccain Hits Obama Hard With 'Housing Problem' Ad Posted: 21 Aug 2008 08:22 PM CDT I said earlier, people in glass houses should watch out when throwing stones. No one can say Barack Obama didn't deserve this. YouTube URL here and John McCain "Housing Problem" ad below. (H/T Hot Air) The Text: Barack Obama knows a lot about housing problems. One of his "biggest fundraisers" helped him buy his million-dollar mansion. Purchasing part of the property he couldn't afford. From Obama, Rezko got "political favors" including "14 million from taxpayers." Now, he's a convicted felon, facing jail. That's a housing problem. As Hot Air so succinctly puts it, "Obama can't pretend he didn't set the stage for this." This ad will run in the same states as Obama's ran. Team Obama truly didn't think about what it wold mean if they rushed through that door and off the cliff, well now, Rezko is back on the table, just as the AIP brings William ayers back out against Obama in their 2.8 million dollar ad campaign. Talk about a double whammy. GAME.SET.MATCH. McCain.. Hot Air has more....go watch the other video they have from June. .

NATO forces in Afghanistan: Some Gave all Posted: 21 Aug 2008 07:56 PM CDT Sergeant Shawn Eades, Corporal Dustin Roy Robert Joseph Wasden, and Sapper Stephan John Stock, combat engineers with 12 Field Squadron, 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, were killed on August 20. Ottawa, Ontario – (Photo courtesy of the Department of National Defence) Three Canadian soldiers were killed and one seriously injured when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle on August 20. Sergeant Shawn Eades, Corporal Dustin Roy Robert Joseph Wasden, and Sapper Stephan John Stock were combat engineers with 12 Field Squadron, 1 Combat Engineer Regiment. They were attached to the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia´s Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group. The injured soldier is in serious but stable condition. Brigadier-General Dennis Thompson, commander of Headquarters, Joint Task Force – Afghanistan (Rotation 5) issued the following statement after learning of the deaths: "An engineer reconnaissance team is a tight-knit unit and these men were no exception. They were a well-trained highly motivated crew that believed in the mission. As combat engineers, they were proud, resourceful, and armed with the technical knowledge that they generously used to assist the mission in helping the people of Kandahar province. Sergeant Shawn Eades was respected by his subordinates, his peers, and his superiors for his outstanding professionalism and his operational experience and his competence. He was a veteran soldier and this was his third tour in Afghanistan. He was a devoted father who liked to share stories of his children with his colleagues and his friends." The four soldiers were on patrol on Highway 1, in Zharey District, when the explosion occurred at approximately 10:30 a.m., Kandahar time. They were evacuated to the Role 3 Multinational Medical Unit at Kandahar Air Field where three were pronounced dead. This is the worst one-day death toll for Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan since July 4, 2007 when six were killed. (source) Three Polish soldiers were killed on Wednesday in a roadside blast in central Afghanistan, officials said. Polish Defence Ministry spokesman Jacek Poplawski said the blast occurred in the central Ghazni province. A fourth soldier was wounded. (CBC) Soldiers stand to attention as the French flag is flown at half mast at the French 8th marine parachutist regiment headquarters on August 19 in Castres, southern France. French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived in Kabul on Wednesday in a show of support for French troops after 10 were killed in the deadliest attack yet on international forces in Afghanistan. ALWAYS REMEMBERED AND HONOURED

McCain Colorado Headquarters Evacuated After Letter Delivered Containing White Powder Posted: 21 Aug 2008 08:01 PM CDT John McCain's campaign office in Colorado was evacuated after a staff worker opened a threatening letter which contained white powder inside. According to a McCain spokesperson, via The Trail, another similar threatening letter was sent to another McCain office in Manchester, New Hampshire, but no word on whether that letter contained any white powder as the one sent to his Denver campaign office did. Four workers present in the office at the time the letter was open, drove themselves to a local hospital to undergo decontamination procedures as a precaution, although no symptoms or signs of exposure to a toxic substance was present. Initial reports had said there were anywhere from 5 to 25 workers in the office. The white powder is contained in the letter is in the process of being tested and the results should be available later tonight. John McCain was not in Colorado at the time, he was in Arizona. CBS' The Horserace reports McCain spokesman, Jeff Sadosky, told CBS News' Michelle Levi, they "immediately notified local and federal law enforcement agencies and are looking to cooperate with them." The Australian reports that Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren says that the letter contained a "generic warning regarding the contents" and hazardous material experts, Secret Service and FBI joint terrorism task force agents were immediately called to the scene to quarantine the workers and evacuate the building. This is the second incident in Denver in the last two weeks regarding potentially toxic agents, the first being the report here at Wake up America on August 13, 2008, where a Canadian man was found dead in a hotel in Denver and a container of what was believed to be cyanide was found in the room. The two incidents are not related as far as anyone knows at this time, but with the Democratic National Convention being held in Denver next week, there has been heightened security in the area. No reports available at this time as to where the letter received at the Colorado campaign office was mailed from or who it was addressed to. Fox News is reporting that both the offices, the Colorado and the New Hampshire office, were evacuated and white powder was found in both letters. AP is reporting also. CNN now as well. .

American Issues Project Launches Ayers Attack Ad Against Barack Obama Posted: 21 Aug 2008 06:18 PM CDT AIP ad linking Barack Obama with former terrorist William Ayers, can be found above and at American Issues Project here. The American Issues Project is a conservative outside group and is launching a $2.8 million ad campaign against Barack Obama which highlights Obama's ties with a former member of the Weatherman group, William Ayers. The American Issues Project (AIP) is a 501(c)4 organization which means it is not required to disclose it's donors. It is said to be a product of a coalition of conservative groups, headed by the president of AIP, who is a Missouri conservative named Ed Martin. Another member of the group is Ed Failor Jr., who is a former McCain aide in Iowa who departed the scene after the McCain campaign shakeup last year. The AIP describes itself as an "organization representing a coalition of conservative activists committed to raising important issues that deserve deeper examination given their impact on policy. In accordance with federal law, the American Issues Project only solicits and accepts contributions from individuals and not from any business corporation." The ad campaign they are launching against Barack Obama is to highlight his ties with William Ayers, who is a former member of the Weatherman Underground Organization, which organized the Chicago Riot in 1969 and bombed buildings in the 1970's. The AIP has announced they are spending $2.8 million on this ad campaign that starts with the video above entitled "Know Enough?" The text of the ad states: Narrator: "Beyond the speeches, how much do you know about Barack Obama? What does he really believe? Consider this: United 93 never hit the Capitol on 9/11. But the Capitol was bombed thirty years before - By an American terrorist group called Weather Underground that declared 'war' on the U.S. - Targeting the Capitol, the Pentagon, police stations and more. One of the group's leaders, William Ayers, admits to the bombings, proudly saying later: 'We didn't do enough.' Some members of the group Ayers founded even went on to kill police. But Barack Obama is friends with Ayers, defending him as, quote, 'Respectable' and 'Mainstream.' Obama's political career was launched in Ayers' home. And the two served together on a left-wing board. Why would Barack Obama be friends with someone who bombed the Capitol...and is proud of it? Do you know enough to elect Barack Obama? American Issues Project is responsible for the content of this ad." The full quote referring to the bombings mentioned in the ad, was given by the New York Times in 2001 and it was, "I don't regret setting bombs. I feel we didn't do enough." It is unclear why the AIP left the first portion of the statement out of the ad. (William "Bill" Ayers, 2001, Chicago Magazine, trampling on the American Flag) In conjunction with this ad, the AIP has also announced the release of a 167 page PDF file of what they call "back-up documentation and historical accounts" and saying they are using this new ad, which will show in Ohio and Michigan, to "shed light on Obama's friendship with Ayers." More about Ayers can be found at Wikipedia, as a reference, and from an August 2001 interview with William Ayers at Chicago Magazine.com. According to an AIP spokesman, Christian Pinkston, "The idea here was to talk about the fact that his friends hate America, and that's who he's aligning himself with." When asked for a comment, Obama spokesman, Tommy Vietor, responds via The Politico, "The fact that John McCain dispatched his paid consultant to launch this despicable ad from a so-called 'independent' committee shows how desperate he is to change the subject from his shocking disconnect with the economic struggles of the American people. He knows that Barack Obama has denounced the detestable crimes that Bill Ayers committed 40 years ago. Instead of invoking Paris, Britney and obscure '60s radicals, Sen. McCain should take the day off at one of his seven homes to consider whether his support for outsourcing, tax breaks for companies who ship jobs overseas and continued spending of $10 billion a month in Iraq is really putting "country first." To us, it sounds like just more of the same." The controversy surrounding Obama's relationship with Ayers is not knew and was brought up back in April, during the Democratic presidential primaries, when Hillary Clinton's communications director Howard Wolfson argued that "if Obama can't answer questions on topics like the Ayers connection 'appropriately and effectively and candidly' then 'it does not speak well of the kind of candidate he would be in the fall against Sen. John McCain."' More recently there has been controversy in the media surrounding over 100 boxes of records of internal files for the Chicago Annenberg Challenge stored at the Richard J. Daley Library at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where Ayers is a professor, being made unaccessible to the media, as reported by the Wall Street Journal and other news organizations such as LA Times Top of the Ticket and The Chicago Tribune. The AIP news release announcing the two-phase outreach effort to influence voters this fall can be found at Market Watch. .

The Jewel of Medina: More Cowardice From the West Posted: 21 Aug 2008 05:35 PM CDT Wednesday, August 20, 2008 by Gary Fouse Add Random House Publishing House to the list of cowardly Westerners who are submitting to the threat of Islamic anger. Now the esteemed publisher has announced that they are suspending publication of a controversial novel by Sherry Jones entitled; The Jewel of Medina-an account of the marriage of the Prophet Mohammed with an 11-year-old bride, Aisha. The author's Serbian publisher has also pulled the book. In the case of Random House, the decision was made upon the protest of a non-Muslim US professor. The Serbian publisher made the decision in response to the protest of a local Muslim group. After Random House sent out advance copies of the book, they received a protest from University of Texas Professor Denise Spellberg, who derided the book and warned the publisher that it would incite violent reactions from Muslims. (Why is it always the professors?) In the Serbian case, when the publisher announced that the book was being pulled, an organization called the Islamic Community of Serbia accepted the "apology" and announced that planned protests would be called off.In her defense, Ms Jones denies any intent to portray Islam or the Prophet Mohammed in a bad light, and expressed disappointment with the decisions to pull the book. What is disappointing is to witness another case of non-Muslims caving in to the threat of Islamic reaction, real or imagined. Random House states that they have received no protests from Muslims regarding the book. Apparently, Professor Spellberg speaks for them. I can't speak for Serbia, but US publishers like Random House would do well to contemplate the whole issue of censorship-and self-censorship. When it comes to the history of Islam, given the present-day situation in the world with Islamic terrorism, which, many would argue, is rooted in Islamic writings, we all have an intense interest in the true nature of this religion and its implications for the rest of us in the world. If, in fact, Mohammed took an 11-year-old wife, that is a legitimate issue for our consideration. If it is historical fact, then how can we suppress it? If Mohammed took an 11-year-old wife, are we not entitled to know of it? ------------------------------------------------------ Gary Fouse is a regular contributor to Radarsite with his popular and incisive Fouse Report. ----------------------------------------------------- A note from Radarsite: Thank you Gary for this disturbing -- no, this infuriating heads up. I doubt that I'm the only one around here who's finding it more and more embarrassing to admit to being a member of this chicken-hearted Western Civilization. We are making Neville Chamberlain look like Clint Eastwood by comparison to our own pathetic compromises and concessions to our enemies. And here is another one. Why don't we just tear down that Statue of Liberty and replace it with some great Saudi mosque? And just who is this Denise Spellberg, this modern female Judas? Ms. Spellberg is an associate professor at the University of Texas in Austin. And, surprise, surprise, her fields of expertise are in Middle Eastern Studies and Women's Studies. Any questions here about her political leanings? Spellberg has advocated the protection of the civil rights of Americans, telling a seminar audience on "Preventing another September 11," that, "Now more than ever, all of us need to stand together. United is not simply against violence but for the protection of the religions and civil rights of all citizens of this country." I wonder whose civil rights Ms. Spellberg is concerned about here? The Mormons? The Jews? The Christian community in general? Evidently, she has written extensively and reverently on the life of the child bride Aisha, calling her story "sacred history". "I felt it my duty," she stated in a recent letter to the Wall Street Journal, "to warn the press of the novel's potential to provoke anger among some Muslims." Well, Ms. Spellberg, I would suggest that you have another, higher duty. The duty of remaining a loyal citizen of the United States, the duty to do your part in protecting your country from its enemies during this time of utmost peril. Not only are you forfeiting this sacred duty, but by finding opportunities to defend and protect our sworn enemies you have committed treachery. And despite your erudite admonishments to the contrary, Islam is most certainly our sworn enemy, the sworn enemy of all Western Civilization, of all freed societies and democracies everywhere. By espousing the Islamic cause you have turned your back on your own country and your own people. Sleep well, Professor Spellberg, and know that despite the fact that they have nothing but contempt for your "Women's Studies", and indeed for your own sacred femininity, the jihadis nonetheless value you for your tireless work on their behalf. - rg Interesting visitors: Host Name calvin-o.randomhouse.com IP Address 170.171.1.5 [Label IP Address] Country United States Region New York City New York ISP Random House Inc 21st August 2008 13:40:15 http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&q=%22jewelradarsite.blogspot.com/2008/08/jewel-of-medina-more-cowardice-in-west.html

Barack Obama Chooses His Vice President; Update- USA Today Says Obama Confirms Pick, But Won't Tell Posted: 21 Aug 2008 06:21 PM CDT [Update] Found it!!! He told USA Today. In an interview in Chester, Va., the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee said he's made up his mind, but he would not say whether he's informed that person yet. "I won't comment on anything else until I introduce our running mate to the world," he said. "That's all you're going to get out of me." Obama said it was a difficult decision. "We had some great choices." Obama said he wanted somebody who is "prepared to be president" and who will be "a partner with me in strengthening this economy for the middle class and working families." He said he was looking for not just a partner but a sparring partner. "I want somebody who's independent, somebody who can push against my preconceived notions and challenge me so we have got a robust debate in the White House." Original post below: Barack Obama told reporters that he has chosen his vice president, but he didn't tell them who he chose. I heard it on the news but have not found a link yet, will link to a news article when one is put online. So you have something to read until links become available, Obama did make mention of what his criteria was going to be in an interview. Hopefully, the same thing that my campaign has told the American people about me. That I think through big decisions, I get a lot of input from a lot of people and that, ultimately, I try to surround myself with people who are about getting the job done and who are not about ego, self-aggrandizement, getting their names in the press, but are focused on what's best for the American people. I think people will see that I'm not afraid to have folks around me who complement my strengths and who are independent. I'm not a believer in a government of yes-men. I think one of the failures of the early Bush Administration was being surrounded by people who were unwilling to deliver bad news, or who were prone to simply feed the President information that confirmed his own preconceptions. I guess that takes Biden out of the running. [Update] Looks like someone from The Moderate Voice must have been watching the same news program, because they heard it as well. Waiting for the media to catch up online... More to come. .

The Manufactured Controversy Of The Day: John McCain's Houses Posted: 21 Aug 2008 02:54 PM CDT The Politico, via the massive play it is getting on memeorandum, reports that they asked John McCain how many houses he owned and he told them he would have to get his staff to get back to them. Democrats are having a blast with this manufactured controversy, but as The Trail points out, McCain not only owns houses but the McCain's also own investment properties, which aren't homes they live in or reside in at any time of the year. This started the Obama campaign to instantly start attacking on the subject before thinking the issue through and the questions surrounding the home he owns, which McCain spokesman, Brian Rogers, calls "a frickin' mansion", then he expands on that by saying, "He doesn't tell people that. You have a mansion you bought in a shady deal with a convicted felon." The felon reference was to Tony Rezko, a former Obama friend and financial backer who was convicted on fraud and bribery charges this year. Rogers vowed to intensify efforts to link Obama to Rezko in the coming days. "That's fair game now," he said. "You are going to see more of that now that this issue has been joined. You'll see more of the Rezko matter from us." The Top of the Ticket shows both campaign's responses: In baseball terms, that's known as hanging a curveball. And this morning you can't find a Democrat who's not holding a baseball bat, swinging away. Barack Obama's campaign may have set a record getting an ad up about it. Even Obama -- who usually leaves this stuff to the surrogates and staffers -- got into it, weaving a jab into a comment earlier today in Chester, Va. (Transcript is from the campaign; video is below): I guess if you think that being rich means you've got to make $5 million and if you don't know how many houses you have, then it's not surprising that you might think the economy was fundamentally strong. But if you're like me, and you've got one house, or you are like the millions of people who are struggling right now to keep up with their mortgage so they don't lose their home, you might have a different perspective. ... So there's just a fundamental gap of understanding between John McCain's world and what people are going through every single day here in America." Of course, McCain's people couldn't leave Obama's reference to his own house dangling out there. That's the house, you'll recall, next to the lot Obama got a deal on through his friendship with now-convicted Chicago wheeler-dealer Antoin "Tony" Rezko. McCain's spokesman Brian Rogers: Does a guy who made more than $4 million last year, just got back from vacation on a private beach in Hawaii and bought his own million-dollar mansion with the help of a convicted felon really want to get into a debate about houses? Does a guy who worries about the price of arugula and thinks regular people 'cling' to guns and religion in the face of economic hardship really want to have a debate about who's in touch with regular Americans? The reality is that Barack Obama's plans to raise taxes, and opposition to producing more energy here at home as gas prices skyrocket show he's completely out of touch with the concerns of average Americans. This will get a lot of play on the Democratic blogs but I am not sure it is wise to start bringing up homes and houses and elitism when Obama is already seen as elite and the Rezko situation is ripe for plucking this close to the November elections. One would think the Democrats would have learned by now that when one lives in a glass house, those stones they throw can demolish their own house when they boomerang back at them, faster than those stones will demolish ANY of McCain's multiple houses. You can see all the buzz going on about this over at memeorandum, to which I tip my hat for bringing the whole thing to my attention early this morning. The Politico article can be found here. If this is the best the Democrats and Obama have to use against McCain, then they are in even more trouble than recent polls say they are. .

Denver Moves Inmates To Make Room For Protesters Arrested At Democratic Convention Posted: 21 Aug 2008 02:29 PM CDT It is being called a "contingency plan," just in case there is a need for any mass arrests while the city of Denver hosts the DNCC as well as hosting those planning to protest at the convention. Inmates are being moved to make room in the jails of Denver. Denver is making preparations for next week when they will host the Democratic National Convention and the hoopla expected to accompany the event, including a "contingency plan," in case any mass arrests become necessary, according to CBS4Denver. Approximately 100 inmates are being shipped out to other facilities to make room. These preparations include a tent that is being set up at the Denver County Jail which will have the ability to house 50 additional inmates and preparing the gym which will allow room for another 50 or 75 beds they call "boats". Other preparations include a warehouse that has been set up as a processing center for people arrested during the four-day convention. According to the Undersheriff, Bill Lovingier, "If people become aggressive, violent and hostile, these are people we would remove from the cell and move to the city jail." Signs warn that electric stun devices are used in the facility, but the barbed wire at the facility a week ago is now gone. The cage-like cells will have roofs made of chain link wire. "Actually I think this will much more comfortable than the downtown city jail if anyone has to end up there," community member Joe Mauro said. Reporters were shown, booking, medical and telephone facilities for the prisoners. Authorities say they are not expecting mass arrests, but they wish to be prepared in case things get out of control and it becomes necessary. The tents being prepared are more comfortable than the jailhouse itself and as CBS4 reports, the last time they were utilized, the inmates "practically begged to be moved there." Mayor John Hickenlooper's office issues a press release, shown at CBS4Denver, which explained the purpose of the holding facility. In the release he states that while the City and County of Denver is not anticipating the need for widespread arrests, they are obligated to prepare for that scenario given the fact that some organizations intend to deliberately get arrested. Hickenlooper also states that water, bathrooms, phones and medical staff will be available in the air-conditioned processing center. Funny, we aren't seeing this type of chaos expected for the Republican convention. Says a lot. .

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