In his book The Family of Secrets, Russ Baker makes a very compelling argument that Dan Rather was set up by the Bush Administration.  Rather’s story about Bush’s questionable service in the Texas National Guard was later dismissed since Rather’s source wasn’t reliable.

Baker’s point is that the Rather’s story about Bush’s record is true, but having it reported and then having the chief source discredited.   The story will now be tarnish and the reputation of the person running with the story.

Also, reporters will not want to research the story themselves.  They will either believe it has no legs, or don’t want to suffer the same fate as Dan Rather.

I attended a couple of Anti-Bush/Anti-War rallies when Bush was still in office.  I do lean conservative on many issues, but I feel these wars are wrong.  I also had many problems with the Bush Administration.  The passing of the “War Commissions Act” spurred me on to start this podcast.

While attending these rallies, I noticed many signs that painted President Bush in a bad light.  Pictures of Bush wearing the infamous Hitler moustache.  Signs proclaiming Bush as a fascist.  As many problems I had with Bush, there were a few signs that were below the belt.  (Funny, but below the belt.)

However, members on the right called those who opposed these wars and/or Bush as being  “Unpatriotic.”  I don’t consider those I met at these events or myself as “Unpatriotic.”  I consider them as “Patriots.”

On November 22, 2008, Ragman and I attended the “End the Fed” rally in Houston, Texas.  Remember, Obama had just been elected President but has not been sworn in yet.

At this rally, I notice signs were more Anti-Pelosi than Obama.  I seem to recall two signs that even mentioned Obama.  However, this rally grew from two sources: Ron Paul’s campaign (He spoke at this event) and the “Banker Bailout” bill that just passed.

I have argued against the liberal claim that the Tea Party movement is strictly an “Anti-Obama” movement.  There is no doubt that President Obama’s polices have poured a lot of gasoline on the flame.  However, I feel history will show that it was the “Banker Bailout Bill” was the original match.  (A bill that both Obama and McCain supported)

Since Obama has taken office, Ragman and I have attended various Tea Party events .  Yes, we have seen many signs that do not place President Obama in a good light.  Not much unlike, the many signs I noticed at the Anti-Bush rallies mentioned earlier.

Some liberals have claimed the Obama as the infamous Joker picture was racist.  However, these same liberals had no issue with a picture of President Bush in the Joker makeup on a national magazine cover.  Could the better explanation be that these artists are not racists and thought that these Presidents are just clowns?

Again, the same liberals claiming the Obama signs portraying him as either a socialist or fascist are also racist.  Yet again, they had no issues with similar signs of Bush at their rallies.

As someone who has attended Tea Party events, I don’t consider these people (or myself) as racist.  I consider them Patriots.

Now for the heart of the story…

Recently, the NAACP chastised the Tea Parties for the “racist elements” within their fold.  The Tea Party has fired back saying they should get their own house in order.  Also,  why hasn’t the NAACP condemn the actions of the Black Panthers in Philadelphia back on election day of 2008? Or how the Obama Administration is handling the case?

Whites don’t have a monopoly on racism.  If you have a group of any size, you will have racists in their group.  I don’t care what race is the majority of the crowd.

The news has been a buzz ever since the edited version of Shirley Sherrod’s speech hit the conservative blogger’s website.  What was seen was part of the speech appeared very racist.  This coming right after the NAACP’s bashing of the Tea Parties.  So of course, conservatives went nuts. (The timing here is very interesting.)

We have learned since that the speech had been edited.  What was posted was taken out of context and her whole speech was about her mistake and reconciling her actions.  However, the White House and Dept. of Commerce quickly pulled the trigger on Ms. Sherrod without investigating the incident themselves.

Now both conservatives and liberals have egg on their faces.

As FDR once said, “There are no coincidents in politics.”  I think we have been “Dan Rathered” by someone.  There are some questions here that needs to be asked and I don’t see the national media are asking.

1) How did this conservative blog get this speech?  Not like conservative bloggers were hanging out at NAACP’s speeches from twenty years ago?

2) Who edited the speech?  The bloggers or the “person” who gave them the video?

3) Why was the White House and Dept. of Commerce so quickly to fire Ms. Sherrod without doing a full investigation or asking her about the speech?

The true nature of the speech now has been reveal and justly, the liberals are upset.

So you have this one “racial” event so closely after the NAACP’s attack on the Tea Party.    The conservatives go bananas followed up by the liberals.  The racial tension in the country raises…   Operation Successful!

I saw today on my Facebook; a widget with a picture of Sherrod asking me to “like” something: President Obama needs to say “NO” to Fox News.  I think this illustrates my point.

While we as individuals and the media are bickering amongst ourselves, Congress is pushing a very awful banking reform bill that will only benefit the major bankers.  It does nothing about the economic problems that started in 2008: Fannie and Freddie, derivatives, and the Federal Reserve.  It actually gives the Federal Reserve more power.  The Texas Bankers Association blasted the bill stating it only consolidates power among the largest banks while hurting state and local banks.

Also, this even pushes the BP story back. How well is the cap really working? Funny how Lindsey Lohan’s jailing manages to seep up to the top of the media stories.

If the national media isn’t going to be asking the necessary questions, then it comes to us. The bloggers/podcasters need to make sure the proper questions are asked and things are brought into context.  We can’t make the mistake as that conservative blogger website did regardless of who is at fault in this Sherrod story.

This whole event again is dividing us instead of bringing us together.  Recently, Ron Paul and Barney Frank appeared on CNN together pushing a bill they agree on.  This is what the establish fears: the left and right finding issues we agree on and doing something about it.

Again, we need to avoid these traps that will only divide us.

We can’t let Lady Liberty down…

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I have wondered why more of the Left have not complained more about Obama continuing a lot of Bush’s agenda.  Stewart does a great job pointing these out.  The recent story where the Speaker of the House recently got called out by liberals during one of her speeches is a good sign.  I hope the left has finally has waking up to the hypocrisy  by the leadership of their party in Washington DC.

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Show 17 is here for your listening pleasure.  We actually recorded this show the weekend of January 24th, 2009, prior to the Republican Party naming their new party leader.  Keep that in mind and enjoy.

Show Notes:

• What happens to the Republican Party in the post Bush era.
• Will the Republican Party survive in its current incarnation?  Is that good or bad?
• Are there any well spoken, charismatic, up coming leaders in the party? Why/Why not?
• What happened to all the elite/intellectual conservatives? Do they still exist?

Enjoy!

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As we all know the $700 Billion economic bailout bill failed to pass the House of Representatives, so the Senate took it’s turn in a similar bill and added $150 Billion worth of pork/earmarks to “sweeten” it. It passes in both the House and Senate and President Bush signed it into law (Public Law 110-343) within hours.

Both presidential candidates voted for the bill.

Here is Senate roll call (number 213, 74-25 passed)

Here is the HR roll call (Roll call 681, 263-171 passed), 58 Reps changed votes from Monday to Today.

There are six versions of the bill (HR 1424), version six actually dealing with the Economic bailout.  You can read all six Here or read the version directly affecting the bailout Here

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