Barack Obama backstage reel

An interesting brief look at behind the scenes of the President.

Obama's United Nations Address

The President gave an excellent speech today in New York in front of the UN general assembly. It's hard to argue with anything he said but I do take issue with one point:

"True democracy demands that citizens cannot be thrown in jail because of what they believe, and businesses can be opened without paying a bribe. It depends on the freedom of citizens to speak their minds and assemble without fear; on the rule of law and due process that guarantees the rights of all people."

I hope he realises the hypocrisy of that statement given the treatment of those during the Occupy and G20 protests, and the abject failure to prosecute any of the criminals on Wall Street. Let's hope that over the next four years his words are more than mere rhetoric, because the last four have been decidedly underwhelming in that regard. The honeymoon is over Mr. President, the world wants results. Will the real Barack Obama please stand up?

Watch the full thirty minute speech below. A transcript is available here.

Barack Obama actually born in Kenya?

I hate to bring up this topic again, but Breitbart posted this little excerpt from a 1991 literary agency booklet. Ol' Barry's bio doesn't quite match with the one he's been touting lately. The whole story is here. 

Obama decries the free market

In a speech given in Kansas, Obama first espoused the virtues of controversial former president Teddy Roosevelt, then decried the concept of free market economics, stopping just short of blaming it for the current financial crisis. I find it a hard pill to swallow that is was the free market, and not absolute corruption, that was the problem. I really wonder from day to day what Obama's personal political convictions really are.

A note for President Obama

From a protestor attending a speech in New Hampshire.

Mr. President:
Over 4000 peaceful protesters
have been arrested.
While banksters continue
to destroy the economy with impunity.
You must stop the assault
on our 1st amendment rights.
Your silence sends a message
that police brutality is acceptable.
Banks got bailed out.
We got sold out.

Massive Attack - Paradise Circus

The year is 1998. Bill Clinton is loving his intern. Coincidentally, Viagra makes its first appearance in the market. Russia's economy collapses. Deutsche Bank buys Bankers Trust. Charlton Heston becomes president of the NRA, Jesse Ventura is elected Governer of Minnesota, and Hugo Chavez rises to power in Venezuela. James Cameron's Titanic wins a record 11 Academy Awards. Amidst the chaos, British trip-hop collective Massive Attack release their album "Mezzanine", the album of the year, and one of the best albums of the decade. The world gasps in awe.

The year is 2010. Barack Obama is loving his Marlboros. Greece's economy, and probably America's too, is on the brink of collapse. Haiti is crippled by an earthquake. Teddy Pendergrass and J.D. Salinger pass on to another realm. Gordon Lightfoot decides to stick around a little longer. James Cameron's Avatar is poised to dance with Oscar again. Amidst the chaos, Massive Attack rises from the darkness to release their first album in seven years, "Heligoland", the album of the year to date, and by default the best album of the decade. The world gasps in awe.

Wow.