In today's dispatch, "July4thPatriot" is found not guilty on possession of a grenade launcher, but is still in jail on the other, uglier charges. Fitzpatrick goes off about Obama AND the UCMJ system. The vice chair for the California GOP is the latest to try and get the stink of birther off of their skin. MilBlogs don't seem to be happy with Lakin, while the military itself starts to crack down on the racists in their ranks. The Oath Keepers shy away from a Tea Bag rally, other rallies tell Dr. Orly to "play nice or go to time out." Dr. Orly tries to horn in on the HCR case in Florida ANYWAY, and Tea Baggers in Boston are a wee bit hypocritical.
I'd like to comment on the "crashtheteaparty.org" groups for a minute.
WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING AND/OR SMOKING???
From now on, any fringe wacko, birther, or racist nutcase at one of those rallies is going to be dismissed as "that's not US, that's the anti-tea party people trying to stir up problems!"
Way to go. Asshats.
Also, I'd like to comment a bit more on some things regarding Lakin that don't pass the sniff test.
His website is very professionally done and a lot of work was done before Lakin made his announcement. The materials and talking points, while quite old and debunked to our eyes, are right up front and obvious.
In addition, the evidence provided by Lakin (other than his COLB "birth certificate", which still makes me laugh), shows he went though his chain of command to get his questions answered - and didn't like the answer he got. Which may be why he got outside legal counsel.
Finally, his claims are very much a subset of Berg's claims. He's focused on the birth certificate issue, and also cites the edited Sarah Obama interview and claims of forgery, both of which were in the Berg-originated lawsuit that John. D. Hemenway filed in Hollister v 'Soetoro'. For the time being, Lakin seems to be shying away from the Indonesian citizenship issue that Berg seems to have fixated on.
Margaret Hemenway has ties and previous connections to various far-right and neo-con groups and politicians, and can be seen by some as a "in the beltway" insider with a past history of being a GOP operative. And she's been, in the press, a defender of her father in law's involvement in Hollister v 'Soetoro'.
What I suspect is that there are some deep pockets bankrolling Lakin's website and the publicity for it. I suspect John D. Hemenway is the civilian legal counsel Lakin has been consulting, and I think Hemenway plans to use Lakin's court-martial or dismissal from service to re-argue Hollister v 'Soetoro', this time with an active-duty (or dismissed due to the birther claims) service member. The courts ruled in Hollister v 'Soetoro' that Hollister didn't have standing due to (among other things) that he hadn't be recalled. With Lakin, they can argue standing due to Lakin being active duty.
I also think that's why Lakin hasn't been seen nosing around Dr. Orly, Berg, or Apuzzo like many of the birthers have wanted him to do - because he's already GOT his civilian attorney ready.
Oh, and speaking of Margaret Hemenway, check out this 19 December 2009 article at the "Lez Get Real" blog.
"Now we are wondering… would this be Margaret Calhoun Hemenway we are looking for? … A 15-year veteran of Capitol Hill and a former Bush White House appointee, who served at the DoD in the capacity of a White House liaison for former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfield?Is this also the same Margaret Calhoun Hemenway who is a contributing editor for Family Security Matters.org, a regular Muslim basher, Birther extraordinary and daughter-in-law to the Birther lawyer John D. Hemenway who was recently reprimanded by a federal judge for his part in the preparation, filing, and prosecution of a legally frivolous suits involving President Obama’s birth certificate?
Is this too, the same Ms. Hemenway who also seems to have had a long-standing relationship with the Karl Rove creation, Swift Vets and POWs for Truth, the group that added the term “Swiftboating” to our political lexicon and gave new meaning to shady smear campaigns forever?"
So let's see. Former Bushie. Muslim basher. Connected to and supportive of birther claims and attorneys. Past association with the Swift Boat liars and smear campaigns.
At this point, the idea that someone is supporting and/or bankrolling Lakin's website and his claims is pretty much 85% and rising. Lakin is looking more and more like a stalking horse in an attempt to get standing and credibility.
Hope they're paying him well for the loss of his career.
14 April - According to the Duncan Banner, Tea Party "July4Patriot" Charles Alan Dyer has been found not guilty of a charge of possession of a grenade launcher.
"A jury in a federal courtroom Tuesday returned after several hours with a not guilty verdict for Charles Alan Dyer, who was charged in January with a federal complaint of possession of a grenade launcher.
The complaint was filed by Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Agent Brett Williams, following a search on Dyer’s premises east of Marlow on an unrelated charge by Stephens County Sheriff Wayne McKinney and deputies. "
(Snip)
"The federal indictment alleged that Dyer was found to be in a possession of a Colt M-203, 40-millimeter grenade launcher on Jan. 12. The weapon was not registered to Dyer in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Records, according to the court documents filed in January.
The National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database had the grenade launcher listed as a stolen weapon in 2006, from Fort Irwin, Calif.. It is allegedly one of three that were stolen from the military base and is not known if the other two have been recovered.
Had Dyer been found guilty and convicted, he could have faced up to 10 years in a federal prison and a fine of up to $10,000. "
14 April - However, again according to the Duncan Banner, Charles Dyer is now in Stephens County to face one charge of child sexual abuse.
"Dyer was found not guilty in a federal courtroom by a jury late Tuesday following a two-day trial on charges of possession of a grenade launcher.
Stephens County had a hold on Dyer to be transferred back to the county to face one charge of child sexual abuse that was filed Jan. 20, in Stephens County District Court. Late Tuesday, Assistant District Attorney Josh Creekmore said Dyer was scheduled to appear in county court 9 a.m. today for his initial arraignment. It isn’t known if a bond will be set. McKinney said there will be extra security at the courthouse.
He was originally arrested on that charge Jan. 12, and during that investigation by the county sheriff’s office, the federal charge was filed. "
14 April - The only thing Walter Fitizpatrick hates more than Obama is the Military Court and Military Justice system. So it's not surprising he's spouting off about Lakin now.
"No courts-martial under SOETORO-OBAMA are sustainable. United states military punishment power is not vested in foreign-born Domestic Enemies."
Yeah, let's see Lakin try and run with that claim.
"Lieutenant Colonel Lakin’s defense is as direct as Col. Lakin standing up in any hearing room to report there exists no controlling authority to assemble the military disciplinary proceeding underway."
That should be good for a psych evaluation or two.
"You must understand clearly it is SOETORO-OBAMA who ordered Lt.Col. Lakin court-martialed and it is SOETORO-OBAMA who sits as the chief disciplinary hearing officer at the Col. Lakin attainder court-martial."
No, Lakin's higher ups in the Chain of Command. Next??
"To be sure SOETORO-OBAMA’s order to court-martial Col. Lakin is yet another Act of TREASON!"
Enforcing the UCMJ isn't treason, no matter what court-martialed former navy officer Walter Fitizpatrick thinks of it.
"The issue regarding the absence of authorized punishment power being separate and distinct from challenges available to Colonel Lakin going to the issues of Attainder, and the absence of integrity or confidence in any military disciplinary hearing."
I suspect if Lakin claims the military court doesn't have the authority to try him, the President of the court is going to either laugh, order a psych eval, or hold him in comtempt.
"Here endth the lesson!"
Here continueth the wingbattery.
And from comments:
"bill Says:
Thursday, 15 April 2010 at 12:59
Well from what I can gather,the shucking and jiving DOD is at
it again.Col.Lakin “reassigned ? ”"
"We're not racist, honest!!
14 April - And California GOP vice chair Tom Del Becarro is trying to wash the stink of birther off of him.
"California Republican Party vice chair Tom Del Becarro, the outspoken conservative publisher of PoliticalVanguard.com, says that there is no way he's part of the "birther" movement -- and he charges the whole thing is being tossed around by Democrats to "create controversy" and shift focus from real election year issues.
"I'm not a 'birther' -- by any stretch,'' said Del Beccaro, reached minutes ago by the Chronicle. "I am focused on electing Republicans this fall who have practical solutions to the problems facing the state.''
The story kicked off after Del Beccaro, who's in line to be the party's next chairman, was quoted in a Los Angeles Times story today about the birther controversy -- after "birther" rabblerouser Orly Taitz was tossed from the Pleasanton Tea Party Wednesday following concerns from some campaigns and some Republicans.
No wonder: Taitz's "queen birther" fringe element appeal has also prompted cringes from some GOPers. As a Republican candidate for California Secretary of State, she is suing the frontrunning GOP Secretary of State candidate, former NFL player Damon Dunn -- who has racked up a score of major endorsements. Taitz has said on her website that "the only reason he was endorsed so far is because he is an African American, and Republicans want to have an African American to show diversity.''
Try tomato juice.
14 April - San Ramon Mayor Abram Wilson shows he's part of the sane wing of the GOP in stating clearly that he believes Obama was born in the US.
"A Los Angeles Times article yesterday quoted a Wilson consultant as stating that the candidate's campaign had no comment on where Obama was born. The story described some state Republicans' disdain for fellow party member Orly Taitz, a Secretary of State candidate who espouses the "Birther" theory that Obama was born in Kenya and is thus ineligible to be president.
However, in a telephone interview today with SF Weekly, Wilson said he doesn't question Obama's status as a natural-born American citizen. "We can just end that right now," he said. Nevertheless, Wilson said he approved of his consultant's statements on the subject, arguing that the state's problems are too serious to discuss trifling matters such as questions about Obama's birthplace.
It hardly sounds revolutionary to dismiss out of hand a loony and clandestinely racist conspiracy theory. But consider that another GOP official interviewed in the Times story, state party vice chair Tom Del Beccaro, said of Obama's citizenship, "I've never seen yay or nay either way, so how could I know?"
Birther idiocy also enjoys widespread popularity among adherents of the Tea Party movement, only 29 percent of whom believe Obama was born in the U.S."
Of course, Abram Wilson is an African-American male, so doubtless many birthers will simply claim he's covering for Obama or is a Democratic "plant".
14 April - The MilBlog BlackFive comments on Lakin. Bear in mind these blogs or their readers may not particularly care for Obama, but they care more for the military and the UCMJ.
"We've been around this block enough times, but to clarify once again- Officers in the military do not get to question the credentials of those lawfully appointed over them. That includes, without question, the Commander in Chief. The second that he was inaugurated as President, Barack Obama became the lawful Commander in Chief. If there were questions about where he was birthed they became moot for any serving officer once he was sworn in. Individuals in the military swear to follow the orders of their superiors and if everyone could question the credentials of anyone else, we would have chaos not good order and discipline. Can any private demand to see a Ranger school graduation certificate from his LT before he goes on a patrol? NO! So this douchebag is getting what he deserves.
(snip)
Well done dipstick. Nice job throwing your career away on an idiotic stunt."
And in comments:
"butt neckid said...
well on one hand I don't think osamabama is an american, I do believe he is unfit for command of a one man parade.
on the other hand Ltcol Lakin is a....... dumbass and made a shambles of what WAS his career...hell he doesn't have enough horse power to make the talk show circuit...he needed at least one star to do that.......
and:
"Aw1tim.wordpress.com said...
If this crapweasel possessed the courage of his convictions, and had any interest at all in the concepts of Honor, Duty & Country, he would have done the honorable thing and resigned his commission BEFORE he brought up the whole "birther" issue.
For an officer, ANY serving officer to act as he has done in unforgivable. He will be facing a courts-martial for his actions and, despite the howls of glee from fellow birthers, I can guaran-damn tee you that the issue of Obama's citizenship will NEVER see the light of day in that court room. It's a non-issue to the prosecution. The only issue is to whether or not the officer refused an order to deploy from his unit's commanding officer. THAT order would have been perfectly legal, and the crapweael had three choices: follow it, request an exception or other orders, or resign. He chose to destroy his career instead. He deserves whatever fate he gets.
14 April - And it looks like military racists and tea baggers may need to watch themselves a bit better.
"Last July, Stars and Stripes reported that 130 members of newsaxon.org, a social networking Web site affiliated with the National Socialist Movement, had listed “military” as their job in “Facebook”-style user profiles. Swatsikas, Nazi symbolism and militant imagery emblazon the site.
The Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights group in Montgomery, Ala., presented dozens of the user profiles to Congress and the Pentagon. The center estimates “thousands” of extremists serve in the ranks and has lobbied the Pentagon for three years to adopt clearer anti-hate measures and more vigorously pursue servicemembers known to be affiliating with hate groups.
“At long last, we think it’s a great thing,” said Mark Potok, editor of the Intelligence Report, an SPLC magazine. “This really seems like an important change. Although some people chose to deny it, this is a very real problem in the military.”
14 April - Looks like the "Oath Keepers" are going to be shying away from the 19 April Tea Party rallies near Washington DC.
"Oath Keepers as an organization feels that a confrontational stance, such as has been published, places this event, in public perception, outside the terms of our stated and published mission,” states the press release. “The mission of Oath Keepers is not to confront the government. Instead, our mission is to reach out to people within government – to police, military, firefighters and first responders – to teach them about their obligations under the oath they took to defend the Constitution, to increase their knowledge of the Constitution, and to inspire them to defend it by refusing to obey unconstitutional, unlawful orders.”
Oath Keepers is asking members who attend the rally to do so as individuals and not representatives of the Oath Keepers group, adding that Oath Keeper garments should not be displayed or worn at the event."
Of course, the article goes on to blame "threats of violence made by participants in the march, highlighting once again the danger posed by provocateurs who seek to cause mayhem in order to discredit peaceful political groups." Because it's not like they couldn't act like idiots on their own.
14 April - Dr. Orly's upset because she's been told to watch her mouth if she wants to play with the rest of the Tea Party Reindeer. (malware and redirect warning)
"We have a controlled opposition in some tea parties. Bridgit Melson and Fred Watson, organizers of the tea party in Pleasanton Ca told me that I am not allowed to say anything negative about Damon Dunn, if I am saying anything negative, I will be sent to an area where people are demanding free speech and I will not like it there."
"Wahhh! They're going to make me sit in time out with the little people! Wahhh! Why won't they let me finish!"
14 April - Dr. Orly blames hackers again (malware and redirect warning)
"I BELIEVE THERE IS HACKING AGAIN
Posted on | April 14, 2010 | No Comments
I didn’t get donations on either one of the web sites for a while. I decided to check and I saw that my card didn’t go through. Did any of you have similar problems?"
Well, it could be you set things up wrong (again), or nobody's donating to you (also possible if not likely.)
14 April - And in Keith Olbermann's Worst Person in the World list:
(AND YES TO A CINEMATIC TITANIC REFERENCE!!!!! YAY!! Oh hell, I have to include this video!)
15 April - Dr. Orly really doesn't like "no" as an answer, does she??
"A California woman who has become the public face of the birther movement appeared Wednesday in federal court in Pensacola seeking to become a party to a lawsuit to strike down the recently passed health care legislation."
(Snip)
"U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson last week denied Taitz's motion to intervene in the case. Nevertheless, she showed up in court Wednesday and attempted to speak to Vinson as she handed out copies of a motion for him to reconsider his decision of last week.
"I have already dealt with your motion to intervene and as of now you are not a party," Vinson said."
Can we now has sanctions Judge Vinson, please??
15 April - *Snork* Someone's having fun with fake documents and Орлий Тайц.
15 April - Interesting report from the Boston "tea party" yesterday.
"Gene Theroux, of Springfield, held up a sign that read “Against Progressivism,’’ which he said meant he was protesting “the movement to socialism’’ and the United Nations’ “sovereignty violations’’ against the United States. The 57-year-old retired Air Force chief master sergeant said he likes his government-run health care administered by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, but he worries about what will happen when some 30 million newly insured Americans enter the system.
“Where does it say in the Constitution that there’s a mandate for all Americans to have health care?’’ he said. “This bill will ravage the health care that I get.’’
Translation: "I got mine, so screw you!"
"Lindsay Lacombe, who wore an “I Love Fox News’’ T-shirt, drove in from Fitchburg, in part to protest the health care reforms.
“This was just something I really wanted to participate in,’’ said Lacombe, 22, a junior at Fitchburg State College. “I don’t understand how everyone can get free health care. It’s not right.’’
When it was explained that the new law requires many of the newly insured to make some contribution toward their health insurance, she said: “I’m not a political science major.’’"
Or terribly bright either.
The best came at the start - and end of the article:
"Early yesterday morning, Valerie and Rob Shirk corralled their 10 home-schooled children into their van for the 2 1/2-hour drive from their home in Connecticut to Boston, arriving just in time to hear Sarah Palin denounce government-run health care at the tea party movement rally on Boston Common.
They thought it would be a learning opportunity for their children, who range in age from 9 months to 15 years old and who held up signs criticizing the government for defying the “will of the people.’’
“The problem in this country is that too many people are looking for handouts,’’ said Valerie Shirk, 43, of Prospect, Conn. “I agree with the signs that say, ‘Share my father’s work ethic — not his paycheck.’ We have to do something about the whole welfare mentality in this country.’’
Great line about "welfare mentality" and "work ethic".......until you get to the end of the article (bold face mine):
"For the Shirks, it was a day for their children to seek inspiration from Palin and the other speakers, who questioned Obama’s patriotism and at least one of whom referred to him repeatedly as Barack Hussein.
The couple, who rely on Medicaid for their health care, were also upset about the nation’s new health reforms.
When asked why her family used state-subsidized health care when she criticized people who take handouts, Valerie Shirk said she did not want to stop having children, and that her husband’s income was not enough to cover the family with private insurance."
Then why on earth are you HAVING that many kids????
“I know there’s a dichotomy because of what we get from the state,’’ she said. “But I just look at each of my children as a blessing.’’
And you're teaching your children to live beyond your means and be freaking hypocrites about the government handouts you're getting. What a great role model you are for your family.
15 April - CBS News reports on Lakin.
"Lt. Col. Terry Lakin, an army doctor, is facing a court martial for refusing to go to Afghanistan because he has not seen a copy of the president's birth certificate.
Lakin is a "birther," a group that does not believe that President Obama was born in the United States despite extensive evidence to the contrary. He said he considers any orders from the president, who is the military's commander in chief, to be "illegal."
Lakin did not report to Fort Campbell, Ky., this week for deployment, opting instead to go to the Pentagon, where, as MSNBC reports, he was informed by his brigade commander, Col. Gordon Roberts, that he would face court martial. His was also stripped of a pass to enter the Pentagon and a government laptop computer."
Urgh... Just... What? WHAT?
They're actually real, though; that's what freaks me out. I keep hoping the whole lot of them are just pretending.
Posted by: Mike | April 15, 2010 at 03:02 PM
Agreed Mike....agreed.
Posted by: heron | April 15, 2010 at 03:28 PM
"From now on, any fringe wacko, birther, or racist nutcase at one of those rallies is going to be dismissed as "that's not US, that's the anti-tea party people trying to stir up problems!""
Who GIVES a damn if they blame the left, they BLAME US FOR EVERYTHING BAD IN THIS WORLD anyway...
Posted by: JJ jones. | April 15, 2010 at 11:47 PM
Yeah, I'd like to echo a big FU to the crashtheteaparty.org folks and explicitly state that I condemn, not condone their actions.
They are not helping and are just contributing to the problem.
I suspect that they are really just attempting satire more than actual action, in an attempt to drive the already paranoid over the edge.
However, *funny* they may think that might be, it is NOT helpful and just contributes to already a bad political climate of mistrust in this country and gives an easy straw-man excuse for Tea Party & conservative to try to continue to blame their actual bad behaviors on others.
Posted by: G | April 16, 2010 at 02:26 PM