“Honesty is not going to get you the house,” a loan counselor at the offices told two activists posing as a mortgage-seeking pimp and prostitute.
“You can’t say what you do for a living.”
ACORN workers in two other cities, Baltimore and Washington, DC, had already fallen hooker, line and sinker for the hidden-camera sting operation by two conservative activists. Four ACORN employees have been fired as a result of the earlier videos, and last Friday the Census Bureau severed its ties with the group, whose members had been hired to do canvassing during the 2010 census.
Mayor Bloomberg spoke out on the controversy today.
“Prostitution is illegal in this state and I don’t know why they would — why an organization like ACORN, who’s trying to encourage voter turnout and voter registration, why they’re getting involved in any of that stuff,” Bloomberg said. “But clearly it’s not appropriate and they shouldn’t have been doing it. Whether they broke a law or not I don’t know. You’ll have to talk to the legal (authorities).”
I smell the makings of another reality show. Damn these people are stupid!
Sorry Bobbo, you know I like your commentary, but it looks like Benjamin has got you here.
The founding fathers created a system of government with checks and balances, both at the federal level and the state/local level, specifically to avoid tyranny.
We all know the states were (and in some cases still are) semi-autonomous regions with their own governments and constitutions, and that the role of the Federal government was only for joint self-defense and regulating interstate commerce. NOTHING MORE.
(That is why there were originally no interstate banks, with the exception of one federal bank to facilitate interstate monetary transfers.)
What you are endorsing is a march toward a central authority which will have immense control over far too many aspects of our lives.
Isn’t it you who says “Throw out all incumbents”?
So why would you want to throw out all incumbents just to replace them with others with MORE power over us?
Insanity.
Oh, and here is a little extra reading to help you get caught up on the Constitution.
http://tinyurl.com/al4ypn
http://tinyurl.com/aw6yyg
#20–Ah Yea==welcome to the party. I sure hope Benji is looking for his waders. We haven’t contested for quite a while. With that, I’ll put the most positive spin on what you say and yet somehow still respond.
1. “The founding fathers created a system of government with checks and balances, both at the federal level and the state/local level, specifically to avoid tyranny.” /// I agree and “in the main” its been money, the rise of corporations, and the two party system that has seen our Federal Government become subject to the most searing criticisms==not its tyranny as such. I don’t think the Founders addressed check/balances at the State much less local level but juices tend to overflow once they start flowing? Hard to avoid what anyone might call “tyranny” as the country goes from 12 Million to 360 Million People?
2. “We all know the states were (and in some cases still are) semi-autonomous regions with their own governments and constitutions, and that the role of the Federal government was only for joint self-defense and regulating interstate commerce. NOTHING MORE.” /// I agree but will note that regulating interstate commerce means every single aspect of life can be regulated. Not what the founders contemplated I know==just as they did not contemplate 360 Million souls either.
3. “What you are endorsing is a march toward a central authority which will have immense control over far too many aspects of our lives.” /// Not at all. All I have advocated here is that people who think, and only think, “Government is the Problem” are idiots. Certainly, FEDERALISM is a pendulum that has swung too far to the Federal side. I welcome the 50 states as exercises in democracy for the explication/betterment of all. I also expect that you agree that our precious CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS cannot be abridge by the States? No Slavery. No ban against Abortion and so forth. Don’t like it??? Then your complaint is with the Majority who do approve and the S Ct that recognized it.
4 “Isn’t it you who says “Throw out all incumbents”?” /// No. I YELL: VOTE ALL INCUMBENTS OUT OF OFFICE!! Most likely for all the same reasons, at least many of the same reasons, that other say “Government is the Problem.”
5. “So why would you want to throw out all incumbents just to replace them with others with MORE power over us?” /// You probably are conflating 2-3 issues because the whole point of voting the incumbents out of office is to reduce their power and the power of their corporate overlords operating in the shadows. Trying to work within the system to return power to the people which means localizing it as much as possible.
Nice Links. Won’t go anywhere==they are all bought off on thinking the money they get from Washington is “free” in that loopy sense so many people have.
Government, whether State/Local or Fedeal==got to come to terms with it and not default to mindless fantasies, the stuff of talk radio and LIEBERTARIAN non sense.
Whats the score?
The US is sooo screwed. Between the white collar corp crooks & these ACORN type petty thieves, there’s no good future to look for.
Thanks, Oh_Yeah for post #20.
Bobbo’s quot here shows he doesn’t get it. “I agree but will note that regulating interstate commerce means every single aspect of life can be regulated. Not what the founders contemplated I know==just as they did not contemplate 360 Million souls either”
Only a broad and improper reading of the Constitution allows the interstate commerce clause to mean every single aspect of life can be regulated. It is ludicrous to believe that growing wheat for personal consumption should be regulated under interstate commerce, but the ruled wrongly that it does. If that doesn’t speak of tyranny, what does. And that is just the beginning.
I am sure that the Founding Fathers contemplated a growing population. Why else would they form the Federal government as an alliance of separate and Sovereign States.
Bobbo’s made the statement: “Hey Benji==I’ll give you a free clue. Only idiots think what the Founding Fathers said is relevant to anything but retard baiting.”
Only a fool ignores his history and culture. To understand the Constitution you have to understand the people who wrote it and what they intended.
#23–Benji==you are up to your knees. Congratulations.
Any discussion of Constitutional issues starts with the Constitutional Provision Quoted in the manner of a Chapter Heading for the readers direction. The DISCUSSION however is all about the relevant case law. The provision itself and what the founding fathers may have said becomes relevant only in those few remaining situations where the issue is new to the Court. Right now, I can’t even think of such an issue==so its all case law.
There is even dicta saying to the effect: Resort to authority is irrelevant when we have statutes and case law on the issue.
Forget wheat. I’m upset you can’t grow and consume your own MJ without violating the errant S Ct decision saying its all Interstate Commerce and subject to Federal Regulation. I disagree, but have lost that argument. I’m not going to image myself with a tin cup in my hand raking it across the prison bars saying “You can’t do this to me.”
Tyranny? Yea, of a sort. Or not—as you will. Just as tyrannical for a State to do the same, and so forth.
Do we address the issue by starting and stopping with the “idea” (shit, fart, vomit!!) that Government is the Problem?===or that the rules the government is currently enforcing need to be changed?
Thats right. Its change baby and how to best get it.
First was Baltimore, then Washington, DC, and finally Brooklyn. Why does anyone think that these sets of ACORN workers giving out almost identical advice to illegal activities were not trained by their bosses?
Why didn’t the mainstream media uncover this?
“Whats the score?”
I don’t know, with you I just like the debate.
Specifically because you actually think out your point of view, unlike most others.
Not to mention your response was very close to what my response would have been.
This is a fun read.
http://www.rottenacorn.com/
Forgot:
http://rottenacorn.com/
I’m sure the Founding Fathers never envisioned and would have been horrified at Corporations Law, which essentially gives corporations the same rights as an individual, creating a separate legal persona of limited or no liability. This allows shareholders and management to avoid any legal responsibility for the corporations actions. Its a total rort.
Government is a necessary evil. What needs to happen is to reduce the influence of the rich elite and their banks and corporations on government, and return control to the people, who really need to become more politically aware and active.
Off topic I know and I find myself almost agreeing with Bobbo. Scary stuff
#29–Hugh==well thanks. My memory is that initially I agreed with most of your postings, so I didn’t address you. Then one day I did and we went off track from what was mostly unrevealed concordance.
I think the Founding Fathers did not expect to be held in high esteem as they have been. Expected their first draft of the Constitution to be subject to Revolution every generation or two==not stretched and mangled into circumstances that were impossible to see.
Its said the constitution is a wonderful unique document because it set the framework that still works today some 220 years later.
I say BS. The constitution barely exists except as a museum piece having been fully replaced by the S Ct. It has become a bit of false idolatry to wave in front of the gullible too sheepish to see past political manipulation and sloganeering. Good for new immigrants and children.
We hooman beings do that with relics. Apotheosis. Terrible hooman trait, turns off the brain. Keeps the little ones on dry land.
REVOLT!!!!!! VOTE ALL INCUMBENTS OUT OF OFFICE!!!
#29 I’m sure that next to the horror of the founding fathers for the corporate scum, they would be appalled by the likes of acorn.
I am so sick of hearing/reading people talk of “The Founding Fathers”. Good Lord, you would think they were all knowing and all seeing, and that they got it right! Grow up. I’m not holding myself to what a few now-dead white men thought would be a good system of government. We’ve managed to hold such high ideals as to have slavery of black people, pretty much wipe out native americans, and make very poor conditions for all kinds of immigrants to our great nation in our early years. Then we gave all of our resources away to greedy companies because “they can develop them for our benefit.” Sure, take the land for railroads, take the coal, copper, natural gas, etc. Heck, make me pretty much only able to own the topsoil my house is on. Oh wait, I don’t own it. I’m allowed to live on it while I spend the rest of my life working to pay for it and the taxes to protect it and have roads leading to it. Thanks! The floundering fathers created a form of government that lead to all this… a continuation of the haves and have-not system that they revolted against to have their independence. Really they wanted the freedom to be their own haves and sit atop their own have-nots. I’m interested in a government that protects the have-nots, gives them a fair chance at a good life (not great, just good) and doesn’t always maintain or tip the balance of the game to those who already have most. Human decency shouldn’t mean that you have to be a multi-billionaire before you say “I won, here’s a little bit back to small people. Thanks for playing.”
#32–bored==well said. Haven’t thought about that aspect of the Western Expansion for a while. Certainly a valid view. “Floundering Fathers”–gotta remember that one.
#31 Pedro
Yeah they seem pretty dodgy. Another nail in the coffin of honesty in politics. Corruption seems to be the only way to get ahead in a modern Democracy.
I heard the claim that Nancy P. has blocked ACORN being investigated six times. I have the feeling anyone in politics connected to this group is about to pay.
They made the claim tonight that they had a real bomb they were going to explode tomorrow. If supporting the efforts of a person to set up a brothel in public housing using underage girls and human trafficking wasn’t the bomb this must be really seriously rank.
About the Constitution: it is the foundation on which our government rests. Like any foundation it’s been subject to a few changes over the years but throw it out and we are going to end up forging a new nation or nations based on a completely different legal system. Normally speaking that follows a lot of bleeding and dying and the end product may be much less than people had hoped for.
I would note that my favorite part of the Constitution was only added to satisfy people who weren’t present when it was first written: the bill of rights.
#34 I’d go a step further and say not only democracy but society. We could argue if politics permeated society or if it was otherwise. Fact is, we seem to be riding a downward spiraling decay into anarchy.
# 11 Ah_Yea:
“It is time to have a full, top to bottom audit of ACORN.”
Okay, I can go for that, as long as we do the same for Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Countrywide, CitiBanc, GMAC, WaMu, Goldman Sachs, AIG, Chase, etc., etc., etc. (I’m sure there are at least two or three dozen more that could go on the list.) Compared to any of these, ACORN is some pissant little group that provides some harassment along the edges of big business.
#38 Lesson of the day: Two wrongs make a right. Thanks!