The silence is deafening...

You just aren't hearing the laughter.

If you are laughing at this then you have more issues then I previously thought. I doubt the people of Tucson are laughing.

So this is the kind of thing you worry about? Wow.

And...isn't "smoking gun" a phrase denoting irrefutable evidence which proves a crime has been done? Exactly what crime would that be in this case?

Obama indeed is guilty of feel-good, empty rhetoric. But my main criticism of Obama is that he doesn't take on the right wing, but tries to be pleasing to everyone and tries to sedate everyone with his empty rhetoric of "change" and "hope" and bullshit "bipartisanship" and "unity."

I think that I'd rather die by the bullet of a wingnut (at least the wingnuts are committed to their beliefs, which I oppose diametrically) than to be smothered to death slowly by the fluffy, insubstantial rhetoric of the Obamanistas.

Even your response is disjointed reasoning, and as much a post hoc attempt to link things that logically cannot be connected as is your above scribbling. Even funnier is that even if what you said was true, it would still be almost immeasurably trivial.

The laughter is at Mr. Nutbucket Conspiracy Theory, who will bite at any shiny thing the crackpot commercial Rwing media can pull out of their well worn rear ends and wave under his nose.

One wonders that if you ever became a serious student of politics, how would you react to the stuff you write now? The answer is you'd be laughing too.

Not that I'm perfect, mind you, as I also am bone ignorant of many things, like Quantum Mechanics.
The difference is I don't write about Quantum Mechanics.

Keep 'em coming, as your blog is always more fun than reading one of those e-mails I get from WorldNutDaily. It's the same "news," but here it's interactive.

I must admit that I like your sincerity DJohn. There's an endearing quality to it. However, much as I try, I cannot wrap my head around the delusional and paranoid qualities that seem to stick like to your writings like stink on a dead skunk. I must give you kudos for putting it out there too. I'd be worried about looking like an ass but you plug on.
I really wouldn't make too much of the above though. I think it's scare value is probably quite low.
birdog

Paul- "One wonders that if you ever became a serious student of politics, how would you react to the stuff you write now?" So this WAS politics then? Interesting, I thought it was a memorial service for the victims.

BTW, it can only be a "theory" if it lacks definitive proof that proves the theory true. In this case that standard has been met.

Berdina-..."delusional and paranoid qualities"... Feel free to point out what is NOT true here. The facts speak from themselves.

Just in time for 2012 the new batch of Kool-Aid is being made as we speak. It looks like some have started to partake a little early.

Thanks for again making me actually laugh.
So this WAS politics?
Yes, when a president speaks it is politics.
Of course, it's politics to most people.
To you, it's Quantum Mechanics.

Paul-Thank you for confirming what I already knew. Politics is more important than decency with this group. "Never let a crisis go to waste."

Okay, I think we're getting close to the fundamental difference in thinking here. When you read about O'bama's speech, you see threats and reason to be suspicious. I don't see it, and if stumping ever becomes a crime for a politician then they're all in trouble. Are you arguing that O'bama is or should be less a politician than the rest?

I think that whether one has a liberal or conservative mind set, the world is seen through that particular lens. A given. In my observation, the lens through which you and other conservatives view things is slightly to overwhelmingly paranoid, for lack of a better word. I spend probably way too much time trying to understand this, by the way, and I really don't mean this as an insult. It's as if the mind is frantically making connections where none really exist. I don't know, maybe this is a throwback to more primitive times when our minds had to be on constant alert for danger. But now, certainly, higher thinking processes should be preferable.

It interests me that what may begin as a healthy curiosity and need to understand becomes so warped by a far greater need to make connections that aren't there. AND they become threatening. I have seen this process in my work with folks with mental illness. Of all the difficult illnesses we treat, paranoid delusions are the most difficult. They rarely respond to medication and there is no way one can "talk" to a delusion. I am not suggesting that this is you, just that it's a slippery slope.

So, in order to be sure that you're not falling into this trap, take a step back and think about it instead of responding by looking for connections that aren't there.

Tee shirt slogan matches 2008 website slogan = Obama used tragedy for political advantage and campaign kick-off event.

Here's a list of Logical Fallacies.

http://www.philosophicalsociety.com/Logical%20Fallacies.htm#ignorantiam

See if you can find which logical fallacy you displayed in this post and your comments. You'll never be a serious political commentator, but at least this list can set you towards a goal of using all the abuses of logic listed.

What I'd like to see from you is a post about the sad state of our educational system. You haven't written about that, but you write about it every time you post.

If true, pretty slick, I'd say. It's almost... Clintonesque. Yeah, that's the ticket. Clintonesque.

Berdina-Follow me here if you can. Obama makes a speech that many on both sides of the aisle agree was more like a pep rally than a memorial service. I watched the speech. Here is where it gets tricky. Obama is VERY good at giving speeches and people who watch him get caught up in his oratory skills without actually listening to the text of what he is saying.

Go back and READ the text of the speech without watching it and ask your self why it would be necessary to repeat that she "opened her eyes for the first time" over and over again except to highlight it and bring attention to it. in order to connect himself to the event he made sure to mention that it happened "shortly after we had visited her."

But put that aside for a moment. Bow think about the fact that this slogan (which we now know is 3 years old) is put on t-shirts and programs that are handed out to the attendees and you now have the makings of a campaign-style rally. If the college had come up with it all by themselves (as they claim) then who paid for the t-shirts?

Here is one explanation I found:

University spokeswoman Jennifer Fitzenberger told FoxNation.com "it was our idea to do the t-shirts." She said distributing merchandise at a memorial was appropriate and rejected the charge that the University over-commercialized the service. "Our intention was to have something to remember after the event...something that symbolizes our community's spirit...which would live on." When asked if the University had worked with the White House or any partisan groups on any level regarding the t-shirts she said "no."

Fitzenberger insisted the University made no money from the "Together We Thrive" t-shirts and they weren't for sale. "We took the idea to University of Arizona BookStores and they contracted it out with a vendor." Reports put the cost of the t-shirts at $60,000.

FoxNation.com spoke to representatives at University of Arizona BookStores who revealed the vendor they used...."Youth Monument," a Los Angeles-based company specializing in "the hottest" college brands. "I don't feel comfortable commenting on the story," said Nick Ventura when contacted by FoxNation.com. Ventura called himself "a partner" at Youth Monument. When asked if the University of Arizona was a regular client and if there was any contact with the White House or any political group he responded "no comment."

Read more: http://nation.foxnews.com/arizona-shooting-rampage/2011/01/13/t-shirts-handed-out-tucson-memorial#ixzz1BEvhsJyu

So you have a vendor who supplied the t-shirts who suddenly doesn't feel comfortable talking about the whole subject and refuses to speak about the nature of the transaction.

You said: "It's as if the mind is frantically making connections where none really exist."

So you still think connections don't exist?

I also read this but cannot confirm it as of yet: If you were a mourner who took home a “Together We Thrive” T-shirt have a look at the bottom of your shirt. “Rocking America and Rocking the Vote” is a common theme of the DNC, and it’s right there on your Memorial T-shirt memento.

The point here is this was billed BY THE WHITE HOUSE as an apolitical event but in fact turned out to be just the opposite.

So what you are saying is that Obama, and/or someone out there were "working" the memorial service to their own political end. Well hush my mouth. I still don't see where this is anything out of the ordinary, nor is it worth getting panties in a bunch.
I would save the righteous anger for something much more worthy; as Paul suggested, the state of our education or non education here in America. I recently heard that something like 67% of our population does not "believe" in evolution. I say do away with belief systems and stick to facts.
I don't know DJohn, maybe they had a bunch of tee shirts they had to off load and thought this was a good place.
All I know is that if I chased down as many conspiracies as you seem to, my brain would be mush and I'd be a blithering idiot.
But keep us posted on this; maybe you are on to something
birdog

and the psychosis deepens...

Read the list. I was just suggesting, now I'm prescribing.

""So you have a vendor who supplied the t-shirts who suddenly doesn't feel comfortable talking about the whole subject and refuses to speak about the nature of the transaction.""

A. Proves nothing.
B. Ask any business owner if they discuss their transactional relationship with ANY customer with anyone BUT that customer. We never do that. Ever. Never.
C. If you've been considering the night school path to a legal degree, stop.
D. Ditto for the Sherlock Holmes School of Deductive Reasoning.
E. Again, and worth saying again...even if your "how the boogie monster got into my sock drawer" line of reasoning were sound, the implication is...exceedingly...trivial.

Hilarious...keep 'em comin'.

So Paul, I read the types of faulty logic on the web site you posted and it looks to me like there's a lot of invincible ignorance at this rodeo.
birdog

Berd,
It's a sort of a Catch 22.
Predilection precludes pertinent perception.

Oh Jesus H. Christ! Enough already. When Obama was running for President the Obama Campaign set up a publishing platform that allowed any supporter to set up a blog, collect donations, write post etc. Most donors had one. Clearly John Berry did. He is a supporter who may or may not have a direct connection to the President. And even if he did, Sherlock, SO WHAT!!!

Berdina-"I still don't see where this is anything out of the ordinary.." Of course not.

Paul- "B. Ask any business owner if they discuss their transactional relationship with ANY customer with anyone BUT that customer. We never do that. Ever. Never."

It's called marketing. I mean what could a business seek to gain by letting consumers know that it is a "preferred" customer of The White House? Unless of course it wanted to keep that fact secret.

"Nothing to see here folks." "Remain calm." "All is well."

Thanks for playing.

Fay-Please READ the posting before commenting. Thanks.

Now that's more like it. Just click your heels three times and repeat this DJohn,
"Nothing to see here folks." "Remain calm." "All is well."
Really.

I really need to go to bed, but. DJohn, I think Fay did the reading and was responding to your conspiracy thinking with some helpful, more rational suggestions for what's probably going on.
Just for shits and giggles, and since I can't wait to see what the exciting end to this drama will be; what do you think the inevitable conclusion to this whole tempest in a teapot will be?

fool.

Berdina-I expect it to go nowhere. The media will continue to gush over Obama "rising to the moment" and continuing the narrative that he is above all of this partisan bickering. While in truth, he is the one that is pulling the strings behind the scenes. When people say Obama is stupid I always disagree. He is brilliant. In fact he is so smart that politically he runs rings around his eneemies because he is always three steps ahead of them. I've said it before and I believe it to be true that he is a first rate political operative. Nothing he does is an accident. It is all a well calculated plan.

He allowed his supporters and the media to blame the Right Wing for half the week before he came in made his apolitical comments at a political rally to show that he is above all of this partisan bickering. He is better than that. He is his own man.

However, he WAITED until it was known that this was not a politically motivated shooting until he went to Tucson. That way he could avoid making a huge mistake by sounding too harsh towards one segment of society (conservatives) which he will need to get reelected.

After watching this man for the time he has been in office (which includes his time in Chicago and the Senate) there is one thing continues to come through in his character: EVERYTHING is political. Nothing is left to chance.

Oh Paul, I've always been a fool. A fool for love. A fool for not knowing when to let go. Let's see...um, a fool for ridiculous arguments. I just can't seem to help myself here. AND I'm really old enough to know better. You know, I think it comes down to being so foolishly interested in human nature and how different people's minds work that it really does make me look foolish. Good thing I don't care so much. I love that you didn't capitalize it though and tried to sneak it in like nobody would notice. Hahaha.

And I am glad to hear, after all, that DJohn thinks nothing will come of it. That means that the powder can stay oh, perhaps just damp one more day.

Berd,
Of course I wasn't referring to you, beyond the shared guilt that we violated reason by crossing the "there is never only one fool in an argument" line.
I prefer to think of this as reaching out to a fellow American whose words indicate he's crying out for help.
We have a DJohn tangentially attached to our family. He's just as deep into what objective thinkers know is junk thinking garbage, just as much a clucking repeater of Glenn Beckian ignorance.

That aside, he's not an overall idiot, and I'm sure Deej isn't either. The only requirement to become a Beckian babbler is at the very least only a political blindness to logical thinking.

There ya go, DJ. I said something nice.

DJohn...
You see? You fabricated a premise out of thin air, and based your last comment on this laughable assertion--

"However, he WAITED until it was known that this was not a politically motivated shooting until he went to Tucson."

Grammar aside, Obama would have gone to Tucson regardless, you flying saucer spotting trog. One would have to be a total moron to think otherwise, truly. For real. Ab-so-lute-ly.

This sprinkling of nuts on your spastic sundae is also as oblivious:

"That way he could avoid making a huge mistake by sounding too harsh towards one segment of society (conservatives) which he will need to get reelected."

This isn't just poor political thinking, it is a serious injury of the ability to think.

Does your local high school have an emergency room? If they do, have somebody drive you there immediately.

You're right about DJohn being tangentially attached. This is obvious by his fairly frequent posts. Although his logic is faulty, there's an earnestness in remaining in the mix that I find endearing. DON'T ASK ME WHY??? and this more than anything keeps me interested in responding. High school is a good idea but so would any community college that offers history/critical thinking classes. I see hope but not as long as there is an emotional attachment to remaining ignorant.

Paul, Berdina-Thank you for the "kind" words. I think.

You may want to do some research on your man to get more intimately acquainted with him. I would start with looking in to his FIRST run for office and look very closely at what he did in Chicago. Nothing has changed but the audience and the stage upon which he performs. This is the role he was chosen for.

You see it's not just Obama that I distrust. I am moving beyond the Left/Right paradigm and going behind the curtain. There is much more happening than you might think.

When you start to look into what some in our government has been doing in the last 40 years you will come to realize that we've been part of the "Greatest Show on Earth" and we didn't even know it.

America is still a great country but only because of its people. However, unless people wake up and FAST the future is a bleak one.

The issues we squabble about are "white noise" that is designed to keep us distracted and fighting each other. In reality there is only ONE Party in DC and the President is a figurehead. Now that Washington has managed to bankrupt us we have become slaves.

The only real question that remains is WHO will be our master?

You end up that last one with a pertinent question. What I'm saying is you definitely don't have the answer. In that, GI-GO best describes why. Conservatism is the problem, not the solution.

Ah grasshopper.
I agree with Paul that conservatism is not the answer and DJohn, I think you are realizing that as well. I don't have the answers but there are a lot of thoughtful, educated people out there who are at least trying to formulate the questions.
"The issues we squabble about are 'white noise' that is designed to keep us distracted and fighting each other." I agree with this. It's useful to some powers that be to keep people at each others throats. Look at poverty and racism. Easier to blame "the other" than to look at the real causes.
So take a tip from your last post; dig deeper and don't believe the bullshit that the right is handing to you on a phony populist platter.

@berdina henry
It is the stench of hypocrisy that exudes from you and your progressive party’s mouth. Your party is only happy when there is no opposition to your evil ideas. Your own politicians say Americans are too stupid to think for themselves. Bill Mahar must be your favorite TV hero. Bear with me here, but I think from the way you talk, that is why you follow progressivism blindly and to the point of delusion. Basically, you are a progressive puppet.

You and your progressive party could not care less about Gabby Giffords, Christina-Taylor Green and all of the other victims. You are party is too busy turning it into a political stunt.

We are now marching on to 2012 and will build more and more momentum against your progressive ideology of hate and rhetoric. Thank you for waking Conservatives up from our post November 2010 complacency.

You couldn't be more wrong Tommy. Nor more rude.

I really beg to differ that Obama decided to start campaigning for 2012 at the Tucson rally. I think he started campaigning the day after he was elected in 2008. This is just like any other occupant of the Oval Office. They do it subconsciously from day one because they're all politicians. Why do you think W had Karl Rove on the payroll? Why does Obama have Axelrod on the payroll?

As to the tee shirts, I think the U of A was trying to make a statement about what actually happened recently in Tucson.

You have a perfect right to be angry about all sorts of stuff. I'd appreciate hearing about some of the other things you're pissed off on future postings. And I appreciate your thoughts, even though I sometimes don't agree with you.

@berdina henry
Gee, be rude and receive rude, or do you have short term memory loss. Your comment below is not rude?

Berdina henry says, “So take a tip from your last post; dig deeper and don't believe the bullshit that the right is handing to you on a phony populist platter.”

This also is not to mention, you are definitely in the wrong blog site if you do not want rudeness. Look around grasshopper, politics is pretty rude. It is unfortunate that civility cannot be maintained, but such is the political climate. Two different ways of life are clashing. One side ratchets up and then the other side ratchets up in response and where it stops, nobody knows. Unfortunate, isn’t it?

Ok. Let's say for the sake of discussion that your notion is accurate. The President and his people used this memorial service as a kickoff for his campaign. Essentially you are accusing the President of really, really, really bad taste, right? Would it be more than that? It would be bad form to use a tragedy for a political campaign. Please tell me that it means more than that. And be persuasive because I am granting the first part just for conversation sake.

Bill-"Essentially you are accusing the President of really, really, really bad taste, right? " I guess if you boil it down to the least common denominator then yes, that is what he is guilty of. That and manipulation of the American people's emotions for political sake. Do politicians do this often? Yes.

The thing is I would like to think that we have not become so jaded and insensitive to one another in this country that we would be ok with our President doing exactly that. Maybe I'm wrong. If we are at a point now where EVERYTHING is politics then we are in more trouble than I thought. If every action is calculated and purposeful in order to elicit some sort of response that favors an agenda then we have become a "false" society. Nothing is real anymore. It's just for show.

If I was a family member of one of the victims I would be outraged that someone would come to their funeral or memorial service just so that they can make themselves look better in the public eye.

Instead of what was done here I would have rather seen Obama go to Tucson and meet privately with the families to convey his condolences and best wishes. No need to make a big deal about it. Show people that you care...REALLY care.

I can't tell you how many people commented to me that they thought the "pep-rally" display of enthusiasm at that memorial service was just over-the-top and disrespectful. This was billed as something that was apolitical but it turned out to be anything but.

How come guys like you never actually say anything?

Politicians campaign? Really?

@DJohn
"If I was a family member of one of the victims I would be outraged that someone would come to their funeral or memorial service just so that they can make themselves look better in the public eye. "
You aren't a family member what's more I have yet to hear a word of condemnation concerning the tone and tenor of the Memorial by a family member. You, Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, and Michelle Malkin have all weighed in to tell us how outraged you are, but it wasn't your memorial. That you have a problem with it is really irrelevant, no one in Tucson was obligated to please you.

Major-So agree then that this "apolitical event" was indeed political. Thanks for playing.

Anthony-"no one in Tucson was obligated to please you." True. I guess I expected to much from Obama. My fault.

@DJohn

Absent any information to the contrary I believe that the memorial in Tucson was what Tucson and the bereaved wanted for their fallen. You as a right-leaning partisan may not be satisfied, but your satisfaction is not particularly relevant.
Oh and by the by, it has been quite a bit beyond 48 hours so I just checked your link; http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/johnberry_iv/C94H imagine my surprise when I found the link was active and still had the same content. Pretty poor prognostication there DJohn.