Big Dogs Weblog

Approval of Congress at All Time Low

Sep 19, 2007 Uncategorized

Back when the Democrats were working to take over the Congress we had polls nearly every day. The president’s approval ratings were in the dump and each day brought a new “record” low. The Democrats played this up each chance they got and, of course, they were assisted by their minions in the media. The MSM could not wait to inform us that the President had new record low approval ratings. It seems to me that this was all I heard. The Democrats used these low ratings and their one sided concern about corruption to get into the majority.

All well and good but when was the last time you heard the news tell you that the approval of Congress was at a record low 10 or 15 times during the day? Have the headlines been screaming about record lows and have the broadcast stations been shouting about how Congress is so despised that it has an approval of 11% and that the President has an approval that is about 2.7 times that. Yes, President Bush has an approval rating of 29%, a mark that had the pundits and the Democrats clamoring just last year is much higher than the rating Congress gets.

I guess it would be too much to have the MSM come out and tell us that 89% of the country disapproves of the way Congress is doing business? Yep, 89% of America is unhappy with their job performance. When the donks talked about the Bush numbers last year they told us it was time for change. I would imagine that we can now assume that it is time for change in Congress and that 89% of the country would not mind if we replaced all these people with people who know how to work together and who have fresh ideas. It is nice to see Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi have this to add to their resumes.

Remember, vote for anyone who is NOT an incumbent.

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Tags: Link Fest, Political Commentary

Update on Tazed Florida Student – The Interview

Sep 18, 2007 Uncategorized

I wrote a piece last evening about a University of Florida student who was tazed (is it tazed or tased?) by the police after asking a question of John Kerry at a town hall type forum. There are several things that are not clear in the video but I indicated that it was clear the student did nothing wrong, and from the video that was presented, this is the case. After I posted I received a comment from Tyler Antar who was at the forum and he indicated that what everyone is reporting is not what actually happened and he offered to be interviewed about the incident. I sent him some questions so that he could clear up the items that are unclear and to let us know what actually happened. Despite what some of the people who visit here would have you believe, I believe in the truth and will report it regardless of what it is (so long as it is credible). Here is the interview with Tyler about Andrew Meyer:

BD: Did he threaten Kerry or not leave after his turn?

Tyler: This is probably the most important piece that the video did not cover. While Senator Kerry was answering a student’s question about Iraq, Meyer rushed to the microphone with cops in tail. No one knew what was going on at that point and I’m sure the cops were looking at the worst case scenario (does he have a gun? a bomb?). They eventually grabbed Meyer who started shouting that Senator Kerry should answer his question because he stood in line for so long. He also said that the Senator should answer everyone’s question who was in line. Senator Kerry responded to the extent that he would try to get all the questions. Clearly he was trying to calm the student down (I can’t remember if it was Senator Kerry or a university official who said earlier that the Senator would only be taking three more questions, which meant that Meyer wouldn’t be able to ask his). The police grabbed Meyer who began to taunt the cops by saying “what, are you going to taser me? are you going to arrest me?” Senator Kerry asked the police to let him go and ask his question. They complied, and Senator Kerry began to finish answering the other student who had been rudely interrupted by Meyer’s antics. (This whole scenario is not on any video that I can find. There is a video on youtube that shows 2 police officers behind Meyer while he is giving his question. This first incident proves why they were standing behind him.)

BD: Was he a conservative or a liberal (or could you not tell)?

Tyler: From the questions he was asking, He would seem to be a liberal. However, I have no information about his official political status. Yet, just from looking at the questions we have:

1. asking Kerry why he didn’t contest the allegations of faulty voter machines and the vote discrimination in the State of Florida. Meyer kept mentioning how a book he was carrying actually named Senator Kerry as the President in 04′.
2. He asks why has Bush been impeached if Clinton was impeached for getting a blow job.
3. This is the strangest question of all. It seems that Meyer is Pro-Kerry at this point, but then he asks the Senator if he was part of the same Skull and Bones secret society at Yale as President Bush.

(It is possibly that Meyer is trying to say that Kerry conceded the election quickly because he was buddy-buddy with Bush) However, Meyer’s mic is cut off because he said “blow job” and the madness ensues.

**Tyler later emailed that Meyer’s Facebook profile indicates he is Libertarian**

BD: Were his questions insulting to Kerry?

Tyler: No, not really. However, Senator Kerry only answered his first question to the audience. In no way was Senator Kerry trying to use police force to get rid of the student. As I stated earlier, he literally pleaded with the officer to let go of Meyer and let him ask his question.

BD: Was this person a known threat on campus?

Tyler: No, not that I know of

BD: Was he disruptive at this event?

Tyler: Only from the time he rushed to the podium till he was eventually brought outside

BD: Do you think the police used excessive force?

Tyler: No. When Meyer rushed to the microphone, I only saw two cops (a guy and a girl). However, when Meyer constantly resisted arrest, they had to call in for backup. As far as I can tell 4 cops were stationed in the auditorium. 2 by Kerry’s stage and 2 at the entrance with more in the lobby.

BD: Do you believe it was necessary to taze this guy with 6 cops sitting on him?

Tyler: Yes, Meyer was told constantly to put his hands behind his back and comply. He was also warned that if he did not do this, he would be tasered. From the videos, we can not actually see if he complied or not before being tasered.

BD: If this were George Bush speaking and a liberal kid had this happen would it be viewed the same?

Tyler: These were University Cops at this event. Now if George Bush were to speak, he would [have] Secret Service with him. I don’t even want to know what would happen to that kid then. Remember, as far as I can tell, Meyer is a liberal and so is Kerry. Meyer was just cracked out it seems.

BD: Could this have been handled any better?

Tyler: Kerry could have shortened his speech a lot more and therefore given more time to respond to questions. Or maybe no speech at all! I mean the event was called the John Kerry Town Hall Forum. Does that not imply that the event is going to be a Q&A session instead of being filled with speeches? However, as a hardcore conservative I do respect Senator Kerry for trying to soothe the situation down as best he could. After he closed the forum, he stepped off stage to shake hands and signed autographs. I even got him to answer my question that I wanted to pose earlier had Meyer not gone nuts. I’m really surprised that Meyer was able to get away from the officers multiple times. The kid is not bursting with strength. Maybe that could have been handled better.

I think this is pretty telling in that the first part of the video is not included and that would have cleared a lot of this up. One has to ask why the person who took the video edited it out (assuming that a person with a video camera is taping Kerry and not waiting for a ruckus). Perhaps Meyer intended for this to take place or perhaps with the Virginia Tech murders, the police were hyper vigilant and were quick to react when he ran up. Maybe instead of being cracked up, Meyer is a truther. They can get pretty obnoxious. Tyler indicates that Kerry asked the police to leave Meyer alone and he [Kerry] would answer his question. I must retract my comment that Kerry said nothing (which is not present on the video shown) and commend him for trying to diffuse the situation. While it does not change my opinion of him, I believe in giving credit where it is due.

Tyler indicates that he does not think excessive force was used and he was there so I cannot dispute what he saw. From what I saw on the video it seems that the police could have taken this guy into custody without shocking him. Another witness who was sitting in the back row indicated that the student was already cuffed when he was shocked (and Tyler said that was not clear to him). In either case, it was a bit much for this one little fellow. Certainly six cops can handle one kid. Now that I have the rest of the story I am inclined to say that this kid should not win any kind of lawsuit but that, in exchange for no suit (for the excessive force) the school can drop the charges and they can all get on with their lives. The police in DC did not shock anyone and they arrested nearly 200. Perhaps the police here can review their policy on when it is appropriate to shock someone.

I am glad that Tyler was able to clear this up and provide us with a first hand account of the events.

Thanks Tyler. Please keep us up to date with how this gets handled.

**The words taze, tase, tazer(ed), and taser(ed) are all used to indicate shocked with a weapon. SInce I am unsure of the spelling we will go with all of them.

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Tags: Political Commentary

What Did This Student Do Wrong?

Sep 17, 2007 Uncategorized

Jay from Stop the ACLU sent a link to a story he posted about a University of Florida student who was tasered after asking John Kerry a question. Kerry was there for some kind of town hall question and answer and the student asked him something about being in the Skull and Crossbones when George Bush was. It is unclear to me if the student was pro or anti Kerry and if the questions were asked to show that Kerry is scum or to support him. There is just not enough to determine that. However, it is clear to me that the student did nothing wrong. He questioned a politician and no matter how stupid the question is, he has a right to ask it. Not according to the law enforcement there.

This is totally uncalled for and Jay demands the ACLU do something because they are, after all, against tasers. I would not hold my breath Jay. This guy was not a Muslim, an ILLEGAL alien, or an obvious liberal wacko so he is not protected. If it turns out he is a conservative then he will be hanged in the morning. It was nice of Kerry to tell the police to leave the guy alone that he did not mind answering the questions. Oh wait, the coward did not do that. He just allowed this kid to be dragged off and tasered for asking a question. Of course, Kerry is the same horse’s ass who cuts line at the airport (I would be arrested if he cut in front of me and he would be in the hospital). What has this country come to when a citizen cannot ask a question of an elected official? I hope that this video helps this kid sue the school (or the law enforcement agency) and that he gets millions of dollars for the violation of his civil rights.

I also hope they fire every one of those jack booted gestapo cops. Hell, if they can put border patrol agents in jail for shooting drug running ILLEGALS, they should be able to put these cops in Abu Ghraib for violating the rights of a CITIZEN.

As Jay points out, today is Constitution Day. How ironic that the government would violate it in this fashion.

UPDATE: Mr. Tyler Antar left a comment that he was at this forum and that the video does not tell the whole story. He indicated that the student in it, Andrew Meyer, was not arrested for asking questions (as it appears in the video) and he left his email for me to ask a few questions or interview. I have sent him a few questions and asked him to wirte up what happened and I will post it. If this is not what it seems we want to get the truth. That is why I asked What did this student do wrong? So someone could tell me and it looks like Mr. Antar is the one to do so.

Sometimes unrelated trackbacks to: Outside the Beltway, Perri Nelson’s Website, Blog @ MoreWhat.com, Rosemary’s Thoughts, Mark My Words, DeMediacratic Nation, Right Truth, DragonLady’s World, Webloggin, Cao’s Blog, Leaning Straight Up, Jo’s Cafe, Conservative Cat, Stageleft, Adeline and Hazel, Pursuing Holiness, third world county, Walls of the City, The World According to Carl, Blue Star Chronicles, Pirate’s Cove, Wake Up America, The Pink Flamingo, CORSARI D’ITALIA, High Desert Wanderer, Right Voices, The Yankee Sailor, and Gone Hollywood, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Tags: Link Fest, Political Commentary

Lack of Nuclear Option will Hurt Republicans

Sep 12, 2007 Uncategorized

When the Republicans were in the majority they complained quite a bit that the Democrats were obstructionists. This is usually true whether they are in the minority or not when there is a Republican president as evidenced by their opposition to judicial nominees whereas Republicans give an up or down recommendation to Democratic presidents. Clinton had no trouble getting his nominees approved. In any event, the requirement in the Senate for 60 votes hurt republicans because they did not have that many. When the Democrats put up barriers for everything imaginable, the Republicans threatened to exercise what was known as the nuclear option. This would have required only a simple majority to get anything passed. Their failure to act will hurt them because they lacked the courage to go through with it thus allowing the Democrats the opportunity to do it and take credit for ending gridlock in DC.

The Democrats were vehemently opposed to this because they knew they would not be able to obstruct and they had not thoughts they would ever be in the majority again because of their self destructive nature and ideals that are out of touch with many Americans. Eventually a compromise was reached when the so-called gang of 14 (seven from each side) agreed on procedures to keep the Republicans from exercising the nuclear option. The Democrats immediately broke their promise and the republicans did not exercise the option, for some unknown reason.

Now that the Democrats are in charge and have excluded Republicans form anything that deals with legislation the republicans have become the obstructionists. I think the difference is, the Democrats in the Senate will push for a nuclear option so that a simple majority will get things done. Nancy Pelosi mentioned the problem of needing 60 votes in the Senate as a barrier to enacting their cut and run strategy. She is not in the Senate but she certainly understands that the Senate is where things get really bogged down.

“The American people long ago rejected the President’s plan to stay in Iraq, which is why they voted for a New Direction in 2006. Yet, with his veto pen and the 60-vote hurdle in the Senate, the President is preventing the redeployment of our troops, the rebuilding of our military, and the refocusing of our nation’s efforts on fighting terrorism.” Yahoo News

I believe that this was the first shot fired in a battle that will see Democrats push for their nuclear option and they will not entertain a gang of any size and they will not work for compromise. They are wrongly convinced that their win in 2006 was a mandate for them to lose the war. The American want something successful done in the war, not cut and run. The troops and a majority of Americans do not want to leave in defeat and this is something the Democrats do not understand. They are so convinced that they are right that they have been battering a General Officer who has a lot of experience, more than any of them, in battle and in leading. They are telling him he is wrong and that they are right because they, I guess, can see everything from their Capitol offices.

The Democrats will work to get the 60 vote requirement done away with so they need only 51 votes to accomplish anything. I bet they wish they had let the Republicans exercise the nuclear option so that it would be in place and they could rub their noses in the fact that their tool was used against them. Perhaps not, they will probably enjoy saying they ended gridlock much more than the nose rubbing. Since that did not happen they will now work to rid themselves of the very thing they fought hard to keep. I warned the Republicans before to never, ever, trust a Democrat but they never listen.

Well, at least we have a president who seems to have found his veto pen.

Tags: Political Commentary

Which Government Displays More Failure?

Sep 10, 2007 Uncategorized

This item comes from the Federalist Patriot:

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said that expecting Congress to pass 12 appropriations bills by the deadline at the end of September would be “unrealistic.” He blamed the Senate, which still must pass 11 of the 12. House Minority Leader John Boehner, however, blamed Democrats’ preoccupation with losing the Iraq war. “Had… Democratic leaders not devoted six months of the taxpayers’ time and money to forcing a U.S. retreat from the war against al-Qa’ida in Iraq at the expense of pressing national priorities, the Congress could have completed more of the work the American people sent us here to do.”

It is amazing that Hoyer said that expecting Congress to pass 12 bills by the end of September is unrealistic while his very own party within that Congress expects Iraq to have met all 18 milestones by the time General Petraeus reports on the surge and the overall effort in that war torn country. Iraq has accomplished 7 or 8 of the items (depending upon who is reporting) and has reached a partially met on others. The completed stands around 45% (if the upper number is taken). That is certainly a failing grade in most books (except the public schools where it would hurt self esteem to grade a kid) but it shows progress in a difficult situation.

Iraq has met some of the goals so it is working to achieve them. They are just not able to complete them as early as our Congress wants them to. It is, as Hoyer would say, unrealistic to expect full compliance. Pulling out our troops and dropping support now would not, as some on the left claim, show the Iraqis that this is not an open ended commitment, it would actually show them that a Congressional body that is unable to meet its own expectations is being, dare I say it, unrealistic.

After all, there are problems. Hoyer complains that the Senate is slow and it is time consuming with all that goes on. Geez, you would think they are trying to run our government in the middle of a war zone or something

If they were, perhaps they would have a higher rate of success. Maybe Hoyer should ask the Iraqis how to get things done…

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Tags: Link Fest, Political Commentary