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October 28, 2008 By Fausta

Today at 11AM Eastern: Betty Jean Kling

My guest this morning is Betty Jean Kling of Free US Now, who I met at the Republican National Convention:

I was at radio row at the RNC when I came across Bettyjean Kling and Robin Robinson. Their story is remarkable.

Bettyjean Kling of Pennsylvania and her friend Robin Robinson of Wilmington, Delaware, are PUMAs for Palin.

Staunch Hillary supporters with a long history of activism, they headed to Denver. Bettyjean purchased a 27′ RV and drove to Denver with her friend Robin Robinson as part of the “300″ to get Hillary a nomination and roll call at the Democratic National Convention last week.

They had worked on the Hillary campaign for months, Bettyjean in Pennsylvania and Robin in Delaware, Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

But once they got to Denver they found delegates who told them that they were bein pressured to vote for Obama, and who were being told that they would never have a future in politics if they didn’t. “Their arms were twisted”, said Betty Jean.

During the primaries, the delegates told them, their uncommitted votes were changed for Obama.

Once in the convention, there was a legitimate roll call after the delegates had been made to change their votes.

We’ll talk about that at 11AM Eastern.

You can listen to the podcast here.

The call-in number is 646 652-2639, and chat’s open by 10:45AM. Join us!

September 11, 2008 By Fausta

Red shoes to go!

Via Larwyn and Maria, Sarah Palin returns to Alaska wearing red high-heeled pumps.

Lisa Schiffren points out,

for the record, that is the second pair of ruby-red shoes she has worn in the last two weeks.

Going by that photo, I belive that she’s wearing Stuart Weitzman future, available at Zappos for $216.00.

A splendid choice, especially for us who love red shoes.

David All, who was at the RNC last week, sent photos of other shoe choices during the convention. McCain was wearing his Ferragamo loafers while Palin wore open-toe pumps:

Here’s the well-shod Palin family:

Following the Palin shoes:
The Ferragamo ticket?
The right Palin shoes
Palin’s shoes, and firing guns

Obama’s stuck on lipstick. The Anchoress has the perfect button for Obama.

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September 10, 2008 By Fausta

Sunday last week I first arrived at the Minneapolis/St Paul, took a taxi to Lady Logician‘s friends’ house where we were staying, and after a tour of Minneapolis and a great brunch, they dropped me off at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Once at the Center, I picked up my credentials, met other bloggers, watched An American Carol, and took care of other business. The Code Pink demonstrators (all ten of them) were making noise right outside the entrance. They had unfurled a large (approx. 8′ x 10′) scroll that said “We The People” in calligraphy intended to look like the first three words of the Constitution.

I stopped for a few moments to watch them, and then went back inside. They were hollering what sounded like gibberish to me, and after the first couple of minutes you really got the message.

Red State was there, too, so here’s their video:

As you can appreciate, the Code Pink demonstrators didn’t exactly tread down the path of flawless logic.

As I left the Minneapolis Convention Center I walked past them. One smiled and flashed the “peace” sign. I flashed back with a “victory” sign.

UPDATE
Stix Blog recaps the RNC. Convention Flicker photos from Grizzly and Skye.

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September 9, 2008 By Fausta

In today’s podcast at 10AM Eastern: The anarchists at the RNC

Since my podcast is titled, 15 Minutes on Latin America, what do the anarchists have to do with that?

This:

Jessica Sundin was a coordinator of the protests. In media reports she tried to distance the law abiding protest groups and herself from the anarchist group. However, a thorough review of the online record shows that the RNC Welcoming Committee was integral to the planning led by Sundin and Walker.

In one article on the “fight back” website Sundin describes a trip to Columbia [sic] to meet with the now deceased infamous FARC commander Raul Reyes as a representative of the “US solidarity activists”. Reyes was a Communist guerrilla fighter known for cocaine trafficking and kidnapping Americans. Saint Paul Police have alleged a kidnapping plot by the anarchists aimed at the RNC.

Sundin described the FARC leader who was convicted of the murders of over a dozen Columbian police officers as such “I enjoyed his warmth and humor. He had a friendly, round face, a quick smile, and surprisingly gentle hands.” Of his death she wrote “The criminal Colombian government and their U.S. accomplices should be called to pay for this cowardly and criminal attack.” The Republican Party strongly supports the government of Columbia in its’ fight against the FARC. Some experts consider anarchist groups to be based on communist ideals and fronts for communist activities.

Sundin’s personal web page hosted by a U o M server under the heading “My Stuff” links to communist websites. Under “My anti-war stuff” she links to a declaration from the “Islamic Jihad Army” in Iraq which was killing US troops at the time. It’s clear that she has posted these links in solidarity with the Islamic terrorist group. In another interview she remarked about her previous anti-war activities “We were inspired by the anti-globalism protests in Seattle and wanted to practice civil disobedience.” Those protests were marred by a violent anarchist rampage.

As you may remember, Gateway Pundit was in a bus that the anarchists attacked last Monday.

(h/t Monica.)

Today’s podcast starts at 10AM Eastern; chat’s open by 9:45AM, and the call-in number is 646 652-2639. Join us!

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September 7, 2008 By Fausta

The Ferragamo ticket? and other Sunday items

Well, yesterday was an “opportunity for growth” day*: For some reason I couldn’t access WordPress, while at the same time the (new) roof leaked for most of the afternoon and I had four bowls in the kitchen trying to catch the drips.

This morning the sun has come out, I can blog, and The Husband is in the attic collecting soaking-wet insulation into garbage bags so we won’t have home-grown mold taking over. For more homeowner fun, he’ll be clambering on the roof later to see what was the reason for the leaking roof.

On the blog part, I must thank the guys at David All Group, especially the brilliant and handsome Joe Mansour, for the excellent service. At all times of day or night they have come through. They moved this blog from Blogger to WordPress and have provided unequal support and service. If you are considering hiring a web service provider, go the All way.

Special thanks also to the dozen readers who emailed asking about the blog troubles. I really appreciate your support.

Since it’s Sunday, it’s time to think shoes – not that I need any excuse for that – and Beth (who’s going to be a grandmother) yesterday sent me this photo of the shoes Palin wore on Thursday at the RNC:

(By the way, those are not McCain’s shoes you’re looking at. McCain was wearing a matched suit, as you can see here)

Her shoes remind me a lot of the Ferragamo Ribes

However, the shoes Palin’s wearing in the photo are different.

Could it be that we are looking at the Ferragamo ticket? I can only hope so. Ferragamos are my favorite shoes.

Of course the party of envy and class struggle will have canniptions over the Republicans’ Ferragamos. They already have over McCain’s Ferragamo loafers (last year it was Fred’s turn), and right now they’re shocked, SHOCKED, I tell you! over Cindy McCain’s $300,000 Outfit, even when Mrs McCain is a wealthy woman in her own right, and in a free market democracy one can buy whatever one may best please. Once punitive inheritance taxes are paid, one may also inherit pearls and diamonds. When you have Secret Service protection one can wear the real thing, too.

Which, as it turns out, may or may not be a $300,000 outfit. Here’s how they break it down:

Cindy McCain
Oscar de la Renta dress: $3,000
Chanel J12 White Ceramic Watch: $4,500
Three-carat diamond earrings: $280,000
Four-strand pearl necklace: $11,000–$25,000
Shoes, designer unknown: $600
Total: Between $299,100 and $313,100

So let’s look at the numbers, if you can bear with me.

The Oscar de la Renta dress and the Chanel watch are easy enough to recognize. However, only an expert can assess the value of a pearl necklace (and the expert would need an x-ray machine to ascertain if the pearls are natural or cultured) or diamond earrings (again, with a loupe). And, who knows what the shoes would cost in the “designer unknown” category?

The Vanity Fair editors, whose salaries and lifestyles depend on selling exactly the items Cindy McCain consumes, are outraged that she purportedly spends her money on such things instead of, say, the full array of back-to-school supplies and clothes for 500 kids. In all the years she’s been in public office I don’t recall Vanity Fair giving Nancy Pelosi the same kind of condemnation over Pelosi’s own Armani suits and Hermes scarves. After all, the $400 you spend on a Hermes scarf will pay for “the full array of back-to-school supplies and clothes” for a couple of kids. Or so would Vanity Fair would have you believe. (The mind wonders how many orphans from Mother Theresa’s orphanage has Nancy adopted, too, but I digress.)

One can only speculate how many Vanity Fair editors were sporting Chanel watches as they wrote and edited those two articles.

Or perhaps their brands of choice veer towards the more traditional Rolex and Cartier? I do recall seeing Graydon Carter wear a Cartier tank watch years ago.

Be that as it may, in this our country, where people like me come in search of opportunity, anyone can aspire to buy oneself beautiful quality items produced from around the world, with one’s own hard-earned money, and enjoy the comforts of prosperity, just like anyone else, without being preached by The One or those who feel they know what’s best for you.

*My late friend Pat used to refer to things which try your patience as “F.O.G.s” or “f*****g opportunty for growth.”

———————————————————————
This week’s WSJ’s Five Best Books on presidential administrations, selected by Fred Siegel:

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September 6, 2008 By Fausta

Shoes stories from the Convention

Wednesday morning at the Red State bloggers’ brunch buffet table:
Cathy: “Hi! You must be Fausta.”
Me: “Yes, I am! How did you know?”
Cathy: “I recognized you from your shoes.”

I was wearing a pair of red patent Nina slingbacks which look a lot like these, which sadly are no longer available in red patent leather,:

Thursday afternoonat the Xcel Center, weaving our way through the maze in our high heels, after walking miles in sneakers:
Pamela: “We’re walking like women who’ve spent the whole day in slippers and just put on high heels!”
———————————————————————-

I’d be much obliged if anyone can find a photo of the shoes Cindy McCain and Sarah Palin wore to McCain’s speech. From the Press area I could tell they were high heel open toe pumps, but not much else.

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September 4, 2008 By Fausta

Liveblogging McCain’s speech at the RNC, from the Convention

McCain is greeted by the enthusiastic crowd with chants of “USA, USA” He accepts the party nomination and is interrupted by more chants of “USA, USA”.

The Xcel center is full to capacity, and more, since the hallways are full too.

Here is a preview of his speech:

This evening U.S. Sen. John McCain will accept the Republican Party’s nomination for President of the United States. Excerpts from Sen. McCain’s acceptance speech, as prepared for delivery, are below.

On running mate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin:

“I’m very proud to have introduced our next Vice President to the country. But I can’t wait until I introduce her to Washington. And let me offer an advance warning to the old, big spending, do nothing, me first, country second Washington crowd: change is coming.”

On solving problems in Washington:

“The constant partisan rancor that stops us from solving these problems isn’t a cause, it’s a symptom. It’s what happens when people go to Washington to work for themselves and not you.

Again and again, I’ve worked with members of both parties to fix problems that need to be fixed. That’s how I will govern as President. I will reach out my hand to anyone to help me get this country moving again. I have that record and the scars to prove it. Senator Obama does not.”

On love of country:

“I fell in love with my country when I was a prisoner in someone else’s. I loved it not just for the many comforts of life here. I loved it for its decency; for its faith in the wisdom, justice and goodness of its people. I loved it because it was not just a place, but an idea, a cause worth fighting for. I was never the same again. I wasn’t my own man anymore. I was my country’s.”

9:23PM A woman in the audience runs in, lifting her arms while making the peace sign, and McCain says, “don’t let the static distract you.”

9:26 The crowd roars when he mentions Sarah Palin. Every time.

9:35 The simple stage with the large screen showing the American flag waving in the background is particularly appropriate to the message that “We believe in a government that unleashes the creativity and initiative of Americans. Government that doesn’t make your choices for you, but works to make sure you have more choices to make for yourself.” And, of course, is a world apart from Obama’s Hollywoodesque temple and mythology.

Views from the Press area:

9:52 Loud applause and cheers, ” I have that record and the scars to prove it. Senator Obama does not.”

9:57 The TV monitors show Veterans standing up when he said that he turned down the VietCong’s offer.

10: 02 Dig at Obama: “I’m not running for president because I think I’m blessed with such personal greatness that history has anointed me to save our country in its hour of need.”

The crowd drowns out the end of the speech, with cheers and applause, standing up.

Cindy McCain joins him. Sarah Palin and her husband are now on the stage, to loud applause.

Confetti, balloons… and joy.

What a wonderful moment.

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September 4, 2008 By Fausta

PUMAs for Palin!

I was at radio row at the RNC when I came across Bettyjean Kling and Robin Robinson. Their story is remarkable.

Bettyjean Kling of Pennsylvania and her friend Robin Robinson of Wilmington, Delaware, are PUMAs for Palin.

Staunch Hillary supporters with a long history of activism, they headed to Denver. Bettyjean purchased a 27′ RV and drove to Denver with her friend Robin Robinson as part of the “300” to get Hillary a nomination and roll call at the Democratic National Convention last week.

They had worked on the Hillary campaign for months, Bettyjean in Pennsylvania and Robin in Delaware, Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

But once they got to Denver they found delegates who told them that they were bein pressured to vote for Obama, and who were being told that they would never have a future in politics if they didn’t. “Their arms were twisted”, said Betty Jean.

During the primaries, the delegates told them, their uncommitted votes were changed for Obama.

Once in the convention, there was a legitimate roll call after the delegates had been made to change their votes.

“This was a fixed convention,” Bettyjean asserted to Roger Hedgecock during this afternoon’s radio show.

Robin Robinson started by saying that “This was the demise of democracy… The Democrat party forced their delegates to vote against the will of the people.” Robin and Bettyjean were bitterly disappointed. When they heard that Sarah Palin was going to be the Vice-Presidential candidate, “our spirits rose and we headed to St. Paul.”

Robin continued, “We were heartbroken that [the Democrats] were going to do this to a woman.” Bettyjean pointed out that, “they turned against Hillary and then they attacked Geraldine Ferraro.”

Robin and Bettyjean said that “the MSM is hiding us, they won’t cover us.”

“Governor Palin will be able to be Vice President and we’re going to support her,” adding, “when we heard the Democrats’ personal attacks against Palin’s family we decided that this is not a ‘Democratic’ party after all.”

“Women’s issues are human rights issues, and without human rights there is no democracy at all.”

They exhorted Hillary supporters to step in now: “If Palin doesn’t become Vice President, no other woman will feel that she’s going to be able to run again…. look at the candidate, and look at the person. Palin’s real.”

They both ended by saying, “If you want change, vote for Sarah Palin.”

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