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The State of The Union
June 15, 2009
My final political rant – the last one ever
to be published in The Total Package …
And also, the single most exciting announcement I’ve ever had the privilege to make …
Our economy is in shambles.
More than 17 million American workers are now unemployed and/or have given up on ever finding a job – about two million more than during the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Experts are now warning that by the end of the year, unemployment will jump as much as 34% from today’s levels, leaving one in eight American workers without an income.
More than 5.6 million families have lost their homes since this crisis began. Rising monthly mortgage payments will almost surely render millions more homeless in the months ahead.
Personal bankruptcy filings have nearly doubled since 2006. Defaults on credit cards, auto loans and most other types of consumer debt have reached pandemic proportions.
A record 33.2 million Americans – about one in ten of us — are now receiving food stamps just to keep body and soul together.
Stock market investors have suffered losses of up to 55% and more since November of 2007. Many families’ retirement plans and college savings plans have been all but wiped out.
Thanks to plunging real estate values, the equity in our homes – our #1 source of retirement savings – is being vaporized before our very eyes.
Many of our states and cities are teetering on the brink of economic collapse; slashing services in a desperate attempt to avoid disaster.
With a $24 billion budget deficit and with state revenues plunging 27% in the last year, California is on the brink of insolvency. As Governor Schwarzenegger recently told his state assembly, “Our wallet is empty, our bank is closed, our credit is dried up.”
And with GM and Chrysler officially bankrupt, liquidating their assets, closing dealerships and laying off thousands, Detroit is beginning to resemble a ghost town. Michigan’s economy is in ruins.
Washington’s solution:
Make matters worse
After pillorying the Bush administration for its record $400 billion budget deficits, the Obama administration nearly quintupled them in its first 100 days in office.
To finance its record-shattering budget shortfalls of nearly $2 trillion per year, Washington now must borrow every penny it can through the sale of treasury notes, bills and bonds.
By doing so, the White House is already crushing bond prices and driving interest rates steadily higher. The yield on the benchmark ten-year treasury has nearly doubled since December.
The panhandler and the counterfeiter – Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke
The Federal Reserve has now resorted to blatant counterfeiting in a failed attempt to dampen this explosion in interest rates.
So, while U.S. Treasury Secretary Geithner is feverishly selling debt instruments to keep the U.S. government afloat …
Ben Bernanke’s Fed is now printing mountains of unbacked, paper dollars with which to buy bonds on the open market.
Put simply, the Fed is flooding the world with newly printed greenbacks — a practice that can only gut the value of every other dollar in circulation … erode our buying power … and send the price you pay for food and other necessities soaring in the years ahead.
If all this isn’t enough to make you worry about our future, consider this: Many of our largest banks and corporations are now being managed by a federal government that finds it impossible to balance its own budget or make a profit delivering the mail.
And if they’re not stopped in time, they’ll also drive the price you pay for natural gas, electricity and gasoline through the roof with their hare-brained “cap-and-trade” schemes.
And soon, the same incompetent and corrupt managers who buried Social Security and Medicare under $53 trillion in unpayable debts will be deciding if and when you get the medical care you need – and of course, adding trillions more to the national debt by giving free health care to millions … and driving most private health insurers into bankruptcy.
Gee … thanks, Washington!
Uncle Sam to the world: “Buddy, can you spare $2 trillion? … Per year? … Pretty much forever?”
For many years, now, I’ve maintained that the answer to the question, “WHY does Washington do such stupid things?” — is simply that politicians in both of the major political parties and in all branches of government are drooling morons and worse; as crooked as a dog’s hind leg.
It should come as no surprise that it is populated almost entirely by pompous, puffed-up self-important, self-righteous gasbags who destroy nearly everything they touch. After all: Washington is the place where we send the people who would starve if they ever had to get a real job.
Bumbling idiots whose attempts to clean up the messes they create (but blame on everyone else) inevitably end in greater calamity.
Make no mistake: Politicians in both major parties created the catastrophe that is now diminishing our opportunities for success and that is now sentencing us, our children and our children’s children to lifetimes of tax slavery.
They created this crisis by failing to enforce standing laws and regulations designed to prohibit the banking and investment abuses that created the greatest consumer debt bubble in history.
They made it worse through their promotion of an historic explosion in private debt with artificially low interest rates, tax incentives for borrowers, subsidies for builders, and sanctions for lenders who denied loans to under-qualified consumers.
They sold our futures for a mess of porridge through profligate spending. The creation and gross mismanagement of government entitlement programs. The build-up of the largest government debt bubble in human history.
And if they’re not stopped, they will ultimately leave America – and The American Dream – a smoking ruin.
We’ve been seduced by a lie
All of us; Republicans and Democrats alike, have allowed ourselves to be seduced by an establishment lie … a red herring … a canard that was cleverly conceived to divide and conquer us and to render us impotent to demand the better government – or at least the minimally competent government – that our forefathers envisioned for us.
Despite the fact that recent history proves there is little if any difference between what the two major parties do once in power, politicians in both parties and the media have conspired to convince millions of voters that they are, in fact, polar opposites.
And so, where political debate once centered on cherished, time-honored principles, it now reflects an utterly childish, comic-book world view in which both parties claim to be populated by super-heroes while asserting that the other is crawling with super-villains.
Meanwhile, we taxpayers and voters are so caught up in vilifying the other party’s guilty bastards while defending our own party’s equally guilty bastards …
Most have forgotten the only battle that really matters is the one our Founding Fathers crafted the Constitution to ensure that “we the people” could always win — if we only tried.
The epic battle between “US” – ordinary, everyday citizens who only cherish freedom and the opportunity to create a better life for our families …
… Versus “THEM” — the career politicians in both parties whose mission it is to sacrifice our liberties and prosperity on the altar of their personal lust for power.
“We” outnumber “Them” – the roughly 1,000 elected officials and bureaucrats who run Washington — by more than 330,000 to one.
The Constitution of The United States has given us all the weapons we need to force them to surrender to our will.
But before we can reclaim our liberty, our prosperity and our children’s futures, “We the People” must set aside the false partisan bickering that divides us.
More than that: We must resume our proper, Constitutional roles as the masters of this government. And we must demand that our elected representatives fulfill their roles as our servants.
This week, my team and I are taking a huge step that we hope will hasten that day – and it would be our privilege to have you take that step with us.
Because it’s not enough just to vote at election time
and bitch in-between …
Lucky for us, the U.S. Constitution empowers us ordinary citizens to win this fight.
It guarantees us the right to choose the people who will represent us in Washington …
To tell them precisely what we want them to do while in office …
To petition them to make things right when they injure us …
And to throw the bastards out on their sorry arses when they fail to deliver.
The U.S. Constitution guarantees us that power.
Now, it’s time to use that power to stop this insanity before it’s too late and to reclaim some semblance of control over our own lives and our own futures.
It’s our solemn duty to rock the White House and roil Congress whenever they step out of line — even when it isn’t election time.
And it’s our obligation to help everyone else who ever wanted to have a voice to do it, too – and hope that by joining our voices together, we can finally make a real difference.
If we fail to use that power now – at the time in U.S. history when our liberty and our prosperity on the line, the collapse of this once-great country will be nobody’s fault but ours.
Personal involvement is no longer optional if we intend to remain free and prosperous.
Getting involved is an act of self-defense. And it’s our sacred duty to help our kids and grandkids enjoy the same opportunities that the rest of us have taken for granted for so long.
No voice, no power.
No power, no peace.
A few months ago, I jumped online to look for ways for me to join the choir of commonsense that I thought would surely be demanding that Washington stop the insanity.
First, I searched for petitions that reflected my views – or maybe sites that would let me create my own petitions and ask others to sign them.
No such luck. So I wrote several articles about issues I cared about and looked around for sites that would publish them; help get the word out.
Not much luck there, either.
So I tried to figure out how I could write personal e-mails to my congressman, my senators and to the President.
Here, I finally succeeded. Sure – it took three Google searches, six or eight clicks and I had to surrender a ton of personal information first, but I eventually arrived at an e-mail form that limited my message to a few lines of text.
Of course, if I was a lobbyist with a big, fat campaign contribution in my hand, nobody in Washington would have demanded my home address and phone number or that I count my syllables before expressing my opinion.
But I’m not a lobbyist. I’m “just” a citizen; a mere taxpayer and voter. And since politicians know all too well that voters can be easily hoodwinked into sending them back to Washington no matter what they do, they’d just as soon I kept my opinions to myself.
So I started thinking: Hmmm …
Wouldn’t it be great if someone created a website for people who want the straight skinny on what both parties are up to?
… How the laws they’ve already passed are impacting our lives, liberty, money and prospects for success right now?
… Details and analysis on new laws they’re planning to hit us with next with plenty of time to voice an informed opinion before it’s too late?
… Plus, expert help for protecting ourselves, our income, investments, retirement, health and quality of life no matter what they try to do to us in the months ahead?
And what if this website also gave us all a more powerful voice and greater influence over what our leaders do in office:
- A quick, easy way to become better informed and to publicly share your opinions on the issues of the day in an easy-to-use blog format after each news story …
- A site ready to publish your articles and videos on the issues you’re most interested in …
- Timely polls that empower you to speak out and know that the results will be delivered both to the national media and to our leaders in Washington …
- The opportunity to sign petitions on crucial issues – and even to create your own petitions on issues you care most about – petitions that could be printed and dropped on the desks of key officials in Congress and the White House …
- A central jumping off point from which you can more conveniently e-mail or even call your elected representatives every day or even every hour if you want to …
- Membership in a growing community of informed, engaged citizens that even Washington won’t be able to ignore …
And what if this website also gave you practical ways to protect your family finances, investments and retirement from Washington’s seemingly endless campaign to break you …
And also helped you prevent or reverse common health complaints quickly, naturally and cheaply without asking permission from any doctor, drug company or insurer and especially without entrusting your life to government bureaucrats …
And what if that website also gave you daily secrets and strategies for living richer despite higher taxes, higher prices and higher interest rates …
All for free.
Wouldn’t that be a good thing?
Introducing NewsBlarg.com:
Rock the White House. Roil Congress. Get Heard!
I know. Funny name. You can blame my 14-year-old son for that. It’s a kid thing, these days.
Anytime he’s frustrated … any time any of his friends want to express skepticism or disgust … they just holler, “BLARG!”
Plus, when you think about it, “Blarg” is also a great description of what our new website does for you:
- It gives you the opportunity to share your ideas on the BLog after each news item.
- It invites you to read ARticles to become more informed and publish your own ARticles, sharing your views.
- Most of all, it gives you a voice: The opportunity to Get heard.
NewsBlarg.com is the rich media news site for everyone who craves greater control over their government, their money and investments, their health and their lives.
Using news, popular commentary, current events, humor and “How-To” self-help advice from respected sources to attract visitors …
Making full use of e-mail, RSS feeds and soon, SMS text messaging to alert members to breaking news …
Leveraging the power of e-articles, streaming videos and audio podcasts to enrich your online experience …
Offering multiple blogs, petitions and polls to engage you in a two-way conversation and to create powerful online community of like-minded people …
With links to hundreds of news, research and commentary sites so you can dig deeper into any issue at will …
With four free e-zines to alert you to fast-breaking news on current events … on the economy and investment … on prevention and natural health … and on making every dollar in your pocket spend like two, three or more …
And with four separate ways for you to directly influence your elected representatives in Washington …
NewsBlarg.com empowers you to help change our Nation and your personal life for the better!
Born on the 4th of July …
Now, here’s where YOU come in:
NewsBlarg.com is live now, but we’re keeping it a secret for Total Package readers only for the next couple of weeks or so.
That gives us time to beta-test the site, work out the kinks, hunt down the gremlins, tighten all the nuts and bolts, polish the paint and make sure everything works flawlessly when we begin introducing it to the world on Independence Day: Saturday, July 4th, 2009.
So here’s what I need you to do for me …
Click here to visit NewsBlarg.com. Bookmark the site. Grab the RSS feed if you like. Then, sign up for any or all of our four e-letters on politics … the economy and investment … better health … and living better for less.
Check out our Articles of the Day on news that impacts your life, liberty, pursuit of happiness and prosperity. Get fresh, controversial perspectives in our Commentaries on today’s hottest issues.
Sign our Petition of the Month or create one of your own and build your own following. You’ll be amazed at how great it feels.
Weigh in on our Poll of the Day so we can tell Washington and the national media what you’re thinking and feeling right now.
And use the blog at the end of every article to share your feelings – even yell “BLARG!” if the spirit moves.
Then, use the blog at the end of this article or the feedback link on NewsBlarg.com to tell us what you think.
Give us your ideas and suggestions for making NewsBlarg.com better. Tell us what you like and what you’d change. What works for you and what doesn’t.
It’s all free. America and our elected officials desperately need to hear your voice.
And who knows? Your ideas just might be what it takes to make this site an effective tool to help fix America for our generation and to help preserve the Dream for our children and our children’s children.
Now, wouldn’t that be worth a few minutes of your time?
C’mon over – we’re waiting for you. Click this link now and take a look!
Yours for Bigger Winners, More Often,
Clayton Makepeace
Publisher & Editor
THE TOTAL PACKAGE
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132 Comments »
Join the Discussion!
Let us know what you think. Or ask us anything. Or offer your own sage advice.
The only rule: RESPECT THIS HOUSE! Postings that contain abusive language and/or personal attacks will be cheerfully VAPORIZED. One cross word and – POOF! – your well-thought-out post will be gone in a puff of smoke.
– Clayton
Comment by Jacob Bear — June 15, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
I hope this gets big enough that the politicians pay attention. So many of the poor little darlings actually believe they’re making things better. Bill Bonner/Lila Rajiva pointed out a few years ago in “Mobs, Messaiahs, and Markets” that the most dangerous people in the world are the ones who think they’re saving it. Thanks for setting this up, Clayton. Where’s John Gault when you need him?
Comment by Andy — June 15, 2009 @ 7:22 pm
Count me in Clayton
And what would be a really great idea to add - is a website or a place on that website where it translates the legal babble on bills, and proposed laws into something we can actually understand.
Comment by Susan Connors — June 15, 2009 @ 7:35 pm
Hi Clayton
I know I live in Australia - so what! I care about the USA as I have many friends, colleagues and family who live there. Its a great country with a rich and diverse proud heritage. Like Australia in many many ways.
I will check out the site and subscribe! Awesome to see this going ahead.
Politics can stink! No matter where you live. There’s the good, the goofy, the bad, the plain ugly, smoozing and everything in between. People count ant make the difference.
For instance reading your article last week I never even knew that gold was a banned substance in the USA - crazy days!
Anyways, this is good and people need to know the facts not just hear what the media want to give them.
The time for blame is over - to pick up the pieces and see what can be made for the future being today.
Yes, our countries have been kicked in the guts (belly) by stupid mistakes, it doesn’t stop us from living. Its what we do now that will make or break our futures.
I believe that things will improve - from chaos comes opportunity!
“All branches of government are drooling morons and worse; as crooked as a dog’s hind leg.”
Comment to that - at least a crooked leg on a dog is honest in its daily use - play and marking territory.
All the best
Susan Connors
Australia
PS: On the media here this morning, I am so sick of the blame game - its something we can all play till the last cows come in 50 years.
I am standing up and believe we can all make a difference.
Plus my birthday is the good 4th of July - USA Independence day (something else in common).
Comment by Tracy — June 15, 2009 @ 7:37 pm
Hi Clayton,
I really look forward to keeping up with NewsBlarg.com. Since you’re still working out the kinks, how about adding quick buttons to add the rss feed to myYahoo, myMSN, iGoogle, etc. I usually read my selected feeds from my Yahoo home page, and didn’t find this option available. By the way, NewsBlarg.com is going to explode. Hope your servers can handle it.
Comment by Charles Ehrenpreis — June 15, 2009 @ 7:52 pm
Thank you, Clayton!
Wonderful idea - wonderful news!
Your announcement fills me with hope! (Obama’s misuse of the word “hope” only fills me with dread)!
I was pleased to see Dan Kennedy writing for the conservative site, Townhall.com. But you’ve gone beyond powerful, brilliant writing! Your plan for newsBlarg.com gives us a path to sending the powerful messages to the pols to scare them into better “behavior”, and a path to effective persuasion of our compatriots who are either in quiet dispair or who don’t really understand what’s going on.
Of course, count me in!
Please let me know when I can spread the word to my friends and contacts.
Live long and prosper,
Charles Ehrenpreis
Comment by Sheridan — June 15, 2009 @ 7:52 pm
What took ya so long, Clayton?
See you on the new site.
Comment by Steve Newdell — June 15, 2009 @ 8:11 pm
A beautiful piece of writing. I’m an old Chiropractor forced out of practice by encroaching socialized health care, more and more work for less and less pay.
Patients miss me and I haven’t made a decent living since I sold and bowed off that stage.
Yes, I do have something to say. Pardon me while I click that link.
Any other health care providers are invited to shout and let’s build a petition. Let’s work through the system and start here.
Yeah Clayton!!!
Comment by Kammy Thurman — June 15, 2009 @ 8:49 pm
FANTASTIC!
Comment by Danno — June 15, 2009 @ 9:14 pm
Who is John Galt?
Maybe Clayton is.
I’m looking forward to this, Clayton! I’m sure you’ve invested hundreds of hours and thousands (probably much more) of your own dollars getting this going.
Thanks!
Comment by Caleb Osborne — June 15, 2009 @ 9:32 pm
This is awesome Clayton!
Just signed up and I second the idea above to have some way to have all the legal mumbo jumbo in laws spelled out for everyone to make it more clear.
As for the site feedback, looks like there’s a lot of stuff to get through — I’d like to see the author’s name — to see who wrote it before clicking the “read more” link to read the article (yes, I’m biased and will read anything you write!)
Later
Caleb
Comment by Beau Smith — June 15, 2009 @ 9:44 pm
Clayton,
It’s about time! I’m glad to see someone who can condense the current bureaucratic garbage into a form understandable by common people is speaking out. This country needs more people who can (and will) pull back the curtain and show us all the truth.
Gotta go. Checking out new site.
Beau Smith
PS The people who complained about your political rants must be happy. You’re taking them off of TTP. WHO SAYS YOU CAN’T PLEASE EVERYONE?
Comment by Roger Due — June 15, 2009 @ 9:47 pm
Fantastic!!! I have already started spreading the word. Is there any way that you can entice http://www.RobertRinger.com to get involved? When you had your last petition I tried to get him to support you but didn’t see any response. Maybe you can find a way.
Comment by Roger Due — June 15, 2009 @ 10:16 pm
Clayton,
An additional thought. I hope you find a way to reference http://www.NewsBlarg.com on this site so that new readers and those that might not have seen this article have a chance to find it. I am sure you can find a proper way to do so. Thanks.
Comment by Nathan — June 15, 2009 @ 11:23 pm
Way to go Clayton. You’re officially a part of the problem. This is really all the world needs… another venue for rehashed headline news (hire your own f#$kin’ reporters), fear based advertising, and Ann Coulter.
Really, Ann Coulter?
Oh yeah, and Glenn Beck. The guy who’s ’sick and tired of 911 widows’.
You’ll make money with this Clayton, but you’ll only preach to the converted. You’re not filling a gap in the truth, you’re creating a Huffington Post for the right wing.
This is crap, Clayton. I’ve been looking forward to this launch for months and now I find Beck, Coulter, and OReilly… are you going to cover the war on Christmas in great detail along with them, Clayton?
The first article in your health section is total junk and will contribute to obesity and diabetes. Chocolate milk makes you less sore after a workout because it supplies carb’s and protein. But it’s still a slow poison and a banana works just as well. But a banana is food, chocolate milk is processed crap and will cause more problems than it can be linked to.
I just went back to the site to find something good to compliment you on and there was Beck’s smug face staring at me. How can you affiliate yourself with that clown?
Comment by Johnny G — June 16, 2009 @ 1:55 am
Great Idea! What have you been doing the last 8 1/2 years that you didn’t think of this sooner! Yikes!
Comment by Gerold Bigorajski — June 16, 2009 @ 2:24 am
Well, it may be called a kind of ‘accelerated evolution within a completely corrupted system’.
I remember the discussions on this site a year ago on what to do about the economic crisis and on whom to vote for president.
A very few guys at that time mentioned the topic of FIAT money, that the whole thing was manufactured, that since decades every single government (maybe with the exception of JFK who was murdered soon) run on the same foolish policies with the only goal of creating a modern slave society build on debts and social pressure.
Clayton, in this article you confirm those statements, call politicians of both great parties morons, correctly explain they made no difference for years and years and years.
You even mention Bernanke as counterfeiter. But you still not dare to mention he’s only a kind of visible frontend for the real masters behind virtually every government on Earth. Masters that not only deeme themselves but practically are above all law, who have controlled both sides of every major conflict including WW I and WW II since at least a century, who in economic terms owns 9/10th of our world.
It doesn’t matter how you call them and I’d like to avoid giving them a specific known name as these could e.g. imply one or the other major religion is not part of their game according to a recent fiction movie (be assured they ARE). I neither want to supply fuel to the many conspiracy theorists who may be right in some part of what they’re saying but rarely dare to take a look at the whole picture.
Just for this blog and this topic it should be very clear that basically each and every politican really in power had his part in manufacturing the current crisis for decades now, which makes it an indispensible conclusion they all had their master running them on his very special program all the time.
Funny enough the major contents of that program are not a secret. The essay on psychopolitics after WW II, the letters of the Sapients of Zion, Huxley’s ‘Brave New World’ (if you care to take a look at who Huxley and what his function was) and a bunch of other publications — if there is one thing you really can’t claim than it is you’ve known nothing of it.
Sorry Clayton. As long as you don’t address the masters of that dirty game of making whole mankind a bunch of slaves you remain part of that exact game, are only one side of an intended conflict in which (as usual) both contrahents are controlled by the same supervisor and that may end up in overcoming any known kind of government at all, freeing the way for a ‘One-World’ of Huxley’s and Orwell’s kind.
And as you definitely have learned this lessons and know your stuff for quite a while it may even be suspected you know your role in that game, doesn’t it?
Don’t you think it’s time for some truth? Or do you still believe people can’t confront the nuts and bolts of a world they after all create anew every single day?
— Gerold
Comment by Clayton Makepeace — June 16, 2009 @ 2:33 am
NATHAN: Half the fun of building this site was knowing it would piss you off. People like you just seem to go nuts when other people speak their minds. People like you make the rest of us worry about whether the First Amendment will survive.
GEROLD: The whole point of the site is that it gives YOU a forum to share your views. Want to address these issues? Log in and knock yourself out!
Cheers, y’all!
Comment by Dainis — June 16, 2009 @ 3:34 am
Also, your own articles are laced with abusive language, Clayton. That is the rhetorical form you use.
Comment by Dainis — June 16, 2009 @ 3:36 am
My real post is somehow not getting through…too bad folks.
Comment by Dainis — June 16, 2009 @ 3:37 am
Dear Clayton,
I’ve visited your site from time to time. Your capacity to rile people up is quite remarkable, yet so is, I find, your capacity to blame.
Your exchange with Nathan shows the kind of argument that, in my opinion, ruins the potential for healthy discussion.
“Half the fun of building this site was knowing it would piss you off.”
–So, you have fun making people angry? I didn’t check your article, but you actually have a “health” article promoting chocolate milk? Wow. Talk about misinformed with a really really big mouth. And it’s odd, because while writing, I am moved to “name call” you right back.
To me, that indicates that the wisdom you and your audience carry may well be buried in lust for angry rhetoric.
“People like you just seem to go nuts when other people speak their minds. People like you make the rest of us worry about whether the First Amendment will survive.”
That, Clayton, is a transparent use of logical fallacy. First off “people like you” is a phrase used to create guilt by association. Then you say “go nuts” which makes Nathan crazy (and a part of a group of people who are crazy)…and when are these people “crazy?” When other people speak their minds.
Good use of projection there Clayton. It’s interesting how the use of embedded commands here becomes verbal abuse.
Comment by Dainis — June 16, 2009 @ 3:37 am
And I’m not making this up. Check up with Patricia Evans or Dr. Irene on verbal abuse, and you’ll see that I’m calling a spade a spade.
That’s why your writing is so inflammatory. Because it uses abusive structures.
We’ll do the second part “People like you make the rest of us worry about whether the First Amendment will survive.” I like “make the rest of us worry” not bad…not taking responsibility for one’s own emotions and blaming other people for them…classic abuse territory. Again, please check your references before blasting me for telling the truth about abuse.
The next part is good…worry about whether the First Amendment will survive. That’s such a hoot!
Why, because a person who recognizes chocolate milk for what it is posted on your blog? Why, because HE expressed HIMSELF here, that’s why we should worry whether the First Amendment will survive?
Excuse me?
So, logically, what he must do is shut up and listen to you, in order to preserve the 1st Amendment?
Dear dear Clayton, though my instincts state that you will delete my post, I gather you just might read it. You and I share a love of motorcycles. Get on that thing and ride Clayton, and here is a suggestion that I will allow myself to make (now I don’t know if you are using a pseudonym or not, but I will address the name that you are using publicly).
Clayton, get on that motorcycle and ride. Ride and contemplate one thing and one thing only, and that is being true to your last name.
Best wishes,
Dainis
Comment by Alan — June 16, 2009 @ 3:41 am
NATHAN: Too much coffee!
Ok, it´s all pretty real in our minds — so I think we all could do with a laugh…….
George Dub’ya was probably the hugest joke for a president. If i was to make a DREAM TEAM and put them in the White House, I´d have Tony Robbins as Pres, (he´d have all thedrug dealers hugging and blaming teir fathers) With Jay Abraham and Clayton sorting out the financial mess, bringing all the companies out of liquidation, and teaching the people what to do to get the country moving.
It´s like fantasy football with higher stakes. Let´s have the Redhead as foreign minister - remember, just shake the Queen´s hand - don´t hug her…..
Any additions people??
Comment by Denny — June 16, 2009 @ 4:36 am
FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY!
We need this kind of effort to stop the madness!
Oh yeah, Nathan, pull your head out of your…uhhh the sand.
Clayton, hope you don’t mind, but I sent the link to several hundred of “like minded thinkers” (with mention it doesn’t officially open til July 4th.
If I may I would like to give another example of our “socialism” at it’s finest.
In todays (Monday July 15, 2009 Las Vegas Sun paper they reported in a article titled “Will Web poker bust spark fight or flight” by Laz Benston.
Briefly, it explains how our wonderful “Justice” Department seized, confiscated $30 Million in funds from “major banks” that fund Online Poker for US citizens (including their funds). [Isn't it my choice where I spend my money?] (Denny)
$9.9 Million was seized from Nevada State Bank alone! Which follows last years “seizure” of $20 Million Dollars!
Does this sound kinda’ like “a Government Stimulus”?
We’ve got it (or at least had it) so they just “take it”!
This article can be read in it’s full half page entirety by searching the Web for Las Vegas Sun articles.
This isn’t brought to your attention as a pro or con for Online Poker but rather….
an example of the daily abuse of power this current, growing, socialist government really has.
WE MUST STOP THESE GUYS, THEY ARE LIKE A RUNAWAY MONEY REIGHT TRAIN!!
Thanks for listening
Denny
Comment by Michael — June 16, 2009 @ 5:01 am
Clayton,
Please consider putting a link to Brasscheck TV on your site. It exposes all sorts of frightening shenanigans that the government, big business, or burocrats are getting up to behind your backs.
Maybe it would be worth considering founding a “common sense” party where only people who have actually achieved something worthwhile in business, science, medicine, law and order, or distinguished military service would ever be allowed to run for the senate.
If things continue as they are the nation will descend into utter anarchy in short order, so anyone who stands up for the constitution and encouragees others to do likewise is worthy of praise for their courage and patriotism.
I’m a UK resident, but we are having exactly the same problems here, with a hugely unpopular and inept goverment hanging on to power despite multiple calls for them to go.
Comment by Clayton Makepeace — June 16, 2009 @ 5:19 am
ALAN: But The Redhead LIKES hugs …
DAINIS: I guess I learned how to stimulate rage from you guys.
After a lifetime of being blamed for everything from slavery to destroying the planet …
After decades of being called “greedy” because my investment, risk-taking and hard work has made me better off than most …
After years of being labeled a “reactionary,” a “right-wing extremist” and even a “fascist” for my libertarian principles — simply for advocating that we adhere to our founding documents and principles …
Now, I’m learning that while you guys love to dish it out, you squeal like a bunch of little girls when you’re asked to take it.
Look. NewsBlarg.com was created for these kinds of conversations. A place where you can advance your views — left, right, center; whatever.
I can’t wait to see how you and Nathan defend Bushama’s idiotic fiscal policies and the Demublican establishment. And I can’t wait to see how the rest of our riders tear your faux logic to shreds.
In the meantime, THIS blog is for you to suggest how me can make NewsBlarg better — and I welcome your suggestions.
– CLAYTON
Comment by Clayton Makepeace — June 16, 2009 @ 5:27 am
ANDY: YES!!! We’re working on pages that list all proposed legislation and pending bills and that also explains what they will mean to all of us.
TRACY: RSS FEEDS? Did you click the little orange icon at the top-right of the page? I’ll have the web guys make it bigger. Thanks!
MICHAEL: THANK YOU! Yes, we’ll definitely add links to both BrasscheckTV and also to FactCheck.org.
KEEP THE GREAT FEEDBACK COMING, EVERYONE!
– CLAYTON
Comment by Stephan Nijhof — June 16, 2009 @ 7:18 am
Hey Clayton,
For starters, I’m not a US citizen. Heck, I’m not even an American.
Still, I absolutely LOVED reading your political rants, and I do believe they have a place in a business building context, even if you’re a little league direct mail predator living in a small country like the Netherlands.
So, for what it’s worth, I think NewsBlarg.com is a great idea!
Just a first look revealed several articles that immidiately got my interest. For instance: your article about the best sales copy ever written for the worst product ever created totally rocked. So did “The Fatally Flawed Food Pyramid” by Jon Herring.
True, I too found some flaws in the first two articles I read about health. As an example: I agree with Nathan that chocolate milk is a processed beverage. However, it is one of the best processed beverages you can get, especially if you’re working out on a budget!
Chocolate milk is easy and cheap, has the right ratio of carbohydrates and protein, replenishes your energy, and leaves you feeling more energetic after an intense workout. In other words: your muscles will get the protein they need and you’ll recover quicker (BTW: chocolate milk works great for hangovers too).
However - as Clayton pointed out - THIS blog is NOT the place to discuss these matters. NewsBlarg.com IS.
So, if you’re interested in the thruth about chocolate milk as a post-workout drink, get on over to NewsBlarg.com and read the rest of my comment (BTW Clayton: the formatting of the comment didn’t work out as I intended (no paragraph breaks).
One more thing. I belief pissing of a few people to get your message across is almost always worth the risk, and a great qualifier.
Hope this helps.
Comment by Aaron — June 16, 2009 @ 7:44 am
Clayton,
I just looked over the new NewsBlarg blog, and this is very cool!
Such a neat idea, and I’m quite sure it’s going to be an instant success.
It seems to me that you are missing one component, however.
You’ve got:
*Politics (highly volatile subject matter)
*Finance (highly volatile subject matter)
*Health (controversial as any subject matter)
*Better Living (tame in comparison)
So, what are you missing?
Religion.
I know, I know … it’s supposed to be a news blog, and not designed to be an outlet for religious fanatics.
It’s designed only for political fanatics.
Still, the highly charged subject matters of politics and finance need the third musketeer … or the third stooge … take your pick.
Ah, come on, Clayton … give us a format and outlet on newsblarg for religion.
It’ll be insightful to say the least.
Whatdya say?
Heck, I’ll even volunteer to write this portion of the blog for you if you feel you would like to include it, but don’t have the time.
Aaron
Comment by Clayton Makepeace — June 16, 2009 @ 8:00 am
ARRON: You caught me with my “fiscally conservative, socially liberal, pro-religion-but-personally-agnostic” undies showing.
What would the rest of you say to adding an ezine on cultural issues including ethical, moral and religious issues of the day?
– CLAYTON
Comment by Len — June 16, 2009 @ 8:06 am
TO NATHAN (#12) AND DAINIS (#16-19): Why not post your comments on the “chocolate milk” article right there in the article’s comments section on NewsBlarg.com, like Stephan (#25)did?
Comment by Tesla — June 16, 2009 @ 8:59 am
But why did Bush end Posse Comitatus years ago and set The Patriot Act so it could easily be used against the American Citizenry?
Why are our Police being militarized?
Why has our National Guard been sent away to fight wars and leave us unprotected?
Why did the WHO quietly raise the Pandemic Level to Phase 6 (the highest level) for a flu that has barely killed anyone?
Why is Baxter mixing up vaccines for the entire world population, even though they were caught sending out live avian flu that almost killed us all? Why might there be forced vaccinations?
Here’s why…
The economy is being imploded on purpose. We’re being backed into a corner and this has been planned for years. They didn’t make the possibility for martial law easy years ago by mistake.
Look into Operation Northwoods … then look at 9/11 through that filter. Then notice how quickly things start falling into place from that date to today.
Comment by Tesla — June 16, 2009 @ 9:06 am
Factcheck is owned by the Annenberg Foundation. Obama worked for them in some capacity and they’re hardly Pro-America when they’ll go so far as to post phony certificates of live birth as real to justify our President’s legitimacy as a citizen.
I’d leave that link out, Clayton. But that’s just me
Comment by Charles Bosler — June 16, 2009 @ 10:05 am
Clayton,
As a retired U.S. Marine with over 30 years of service and 6 combat tours in Viet Nam, I am sick and tired of the elected officials in Washington thumbing their noses at the people of the greatest country on earth.
It is not only our right … it is our solemn duty to express our opinion of the government and if they fail to listen to us … take action.
It is a natural right which the people have reserved to themselves, confirmed by the [English] Bill of Rights, to keep arms for their own defense; and it is to be made use of when the sanctions of society and law are found insufficient to restrain the violence of oppression. [From A Journal of the Times (March 17, 1769), excerpted in Dickerson, ed., Boston Under Military Rule.]
Semper Fidelis
Comment by john — June 16, 2009 @ 10:14 am
Glenn Beck would be so proud of you Clayton.
I hear Sweden is a nice country.
Comment by Nathan — June 16, 2009 @ 10:30 am
You do some impressive mental gymnastics, Clayton.
Really? Me endangering the 1st Ammendment for disagreeing with you? I don’t think that’s how the whole thing works…
I’m not a liberal, democratic, or an Obama supporter. So I’m in whatever group you wanted me in when you said ‘you guys’.
I’m just a thoughtful person that recognizes the difference between the truth (or an honest search for the truth) and all the other junk that fills up the airwaves, TV stations, and blogoshpere.
And all you’ve done here is squat down and add your own reeking feces to the pile, Clayton.
I do like the interactive nature of the site. Making petitions, submitting your own articles, etc. But you’ve created a space - and the comments section on this article proves it - which will only be safe for people who already have a certain mindset.
Which is why I’m telling you that you’ll make money, but you won’t make a difference.
Comment by Nathan — June 16, 2009 @ 10:39 am
About the chocolate milk…
The problem with the study is that it was conducted by the processed food industry. These studies have been done and presented over and over again for years.
Companies like General Mills pay American College of Sports Medicine to do studies with predictable results. results that will help the sales of junk food.
The studies are done and released to the media as breaking news over and over again, have been for years. It’s PR and for Newsblarg to repeat shows that they’re just adding ‘content’, like everyone else, and only trying to buck the system when it fits their agenda.
Again, not looking for truth of any kind.
Comment by Cathy — June 16, 2009 @ 10:55 am
Clayton,
I want you to succeed… and you’ve taken on a massive challenge. You’re a GENIUS at content so I’m not even going there.. but I AM PLEADING with you to hire a better creative director/ web designer. No offense to whoever it is - but your design has never been the strong point of TheTotalPackage.
Up until now, it’s not been that important because poor design has just meant an ugly, outdated site, but we love what you have to say, so we overlooked that.
NewsBlarg.com is a whole different kettle of fish. You’re no longer our favorite, featured speaker that we’re willing to go anywhere to hear, even if it is an ugly school auditorium built in 1978… Now you’re just one of the many voices we’re trying to process.
You could still get away with a badly designed page when you were serving up one contributor a day, but with over 50 different articles to choose from, the visual confusion this site makes me just want to click the back button.
You need help us visually organize and prioritize what we’re seeing.
To prove my point… have your webmaster analyze what people are clicking… my guess is there’s not much exploring going on.. people are booting outta here.
Your layout is terrible, your header graphic is horrible, there’s just no other way to put it. Too much red all over the place. Graphic design 101: Save red for the call to action.
And that morbidly obese, bald little character with the overgrown molars is honestly off-putting and doing more harm than good. It makes the whole site look cheesy, tacky and outdated - like you were too cheap to hire a decent cartoonist.
I can’t even begin to express my dismay at the thought that you’re building your brand around this sorry creature.
There are so many creative, talented illustrators out there doing amazing things! I think illustration is a GREAT way to go and a fantastic way to brand yourself - but please update your illustration style.
You can hire someone amazing for $15 an hour on Elance who will create characters and do illustrations for you all day long.
Anyway. America needs you to succeed at your mission, but this crappy design will sink this site within 6 months if you don’t fix it.
– one of your BIGGEST fans.
Comment by Bill Caskey — June 16, 2009 @ 11:55 am
Bravo. A place where people — citizens — can get their voices heard. I hope you’ll make youtube videos done by amateurs like me–available to the masses–when the message is right.
One suggestion, you can make it prettier–easier to read–seems to be awfully ‘busy.’ I know great copywriters like you don’t care if things look good–all about content. I agree unless it’s unreadable–and unscannable. Good luck.
Comment by Eugenie Verney — June 16, 2009 @ 12:02 pm
Tend to agree with Cathy about the design. I really struggled to find focus on the home page, and I’ve no idea why you’re running two Reuter news feeds!
You definitely need to streamline this - way, way, way too much stuff going on there and no coherent design theme - and the other pages also need a bit of finessing.
As to the politics driving the project - not my place to comment, living as I do in Scotland! Though I do have one quick question: what the Hell is a “European-style socialist state”?! Am I living in one? If so, how can I tell?
Best of luck - and continued thanks for the Total Package, which completely rocks!
Eugenie
Comment by Brian Duvall — June 16, 2009 @ 12:09 pm
It’s too busy on the home page. Too confusing with no strong call to action. Check out The Daily Show and Colbert Nation websites for examples of good layout with tons of content. Also, awesome themes / color schemes. Needs more white space with visual barriers to break up the feeling of clutter.
Try using the Featured Content Gallery plugin and include photos. Hope that helps.
Comment by Christopher Dittemore — June 16, 2009 @ 12:21 pm
Clayton,
I love the website. I’m thinking that
it’s my new favorite place to go, but..
upon a close inspection I’m not sure it
is going to get swarms of visitors. I
didn’t see a simple way to invite or
share the word.. maybe a tell-a-friend
with a benefit attached to it.
I also, noticed that you are going to be
promoting some products which is all well
and good. So, why don’t you share the
revenue with affiliates and not the masses
to get the word out faster. Maybe, I’m
wrong, but I don’t see the hook that will
get people to invite other people and I
don’t see the tactics in place to make it
easy for people to do it.
Obviously, this is just a quick view on my end.
These topics are things I devote my life spreading
so if you need assistance - look me up. It’s good
to see someone doing something other than talking
about the fact that America is becoming a police
state and the medical community isn’t quite what
it appears to be.
C.
P.S. Let’s use Twitter and position off their
network of people to spread the word.
Comment by I.A. — June 16, 2009 @ 12:23 pm
Down with politicians that stink and steal!
Comment by John Klein — June 16, 2009 @ 12:26 pm
This looks like THE PLACE for all of us to post our favorite negative rant. But where is the balance - the presentation of both sides of an issue? The Blarg seems to be attracting those of a very conservative, libertarian nature…Those with strong emotions and simple answers to complex problems. Where are the more liberal commentators like Anderson Cooper/CNN?
I’ll be taking a “wait and see” attitude to see if this endeavor is worth the time to follow it.
Comment by I.A. — June 16, 2009 @ 12:29 pm
I’ll need a few days to take in all the new and good stuff first, to see all that the site has to offer, to click and read and click some more before I’m able to give good inputs…
Talk to you again in a few days time…
Comment by dg — June 16, 2009 @ 12:40 pm
Clayton, I’m neither American, nor a politico, so I’m looking at your site form a pure functionality and presentation point of view.
For me, it feels a bit busy and cramped, as the font is a point or two too large for the page-space you’ve given it.
Also, the formatting of your articles is a bit sparse. In “You’re Deluded” it’s hard to tell where the article actually starts as the formatting of “Scroll down to leave comments” is the same as the body text.
I realise these comments are a tad more mundane than many above, but it’s the input I have - I hope it helps.
Comment by ron — June 16, 2009 @ 12:44 pm
Not a bad start, but the blog needs better graphics
and a wider variety of ideas. Your favorite
columnists are rank conservatives, the same folks
who helped lead this country into the mess we’re in
now. Why not have debates, pro and con, on
questions facing the country right now?
##
Comment by Mike Holownych — June 16, 2009 @ 12:45 pm
Hey Clayton,
This seems like a great site. I especially think that a lot of thought and effort was placed on the look and feel of the site. Great Job!!!
Although I do not live in the US, I will most certainly read your site regularly!
Comment by Dan Foley — June 16, 2009 @ 12:52 pm
Doggonit Clayton,
Just when I thought I might have the great blogs corralled, you come up with NewsBlarg. Now I have to follow another one because you publish such great information and opinions.
I guess I’ll have to Man-up and add your site.
Thanks!
Comment by Glenna Cottrell — June 16, 2009 @ 12:56 pm
Hi Clayton,
I liked the News Blarg.You have a variety of things,Religion would be good to add.You can always change after a period to different topics.
As for there being 2 parties in the government, we have the republicans and Obama.Seems as if he brings something up and
no one says No.
To top it off we have a man who is not qualified to run for
President, much less be president.
You helped a lot of people to feel better, after venting their feelings.Keep up the good work.
Glenna
Comment by Tracy — June 16, 2009 @ 1:03 pm
Hi Clayton,
I have a lot of apprecation for the information you give us, and so was happy to honour your request to look at http://www.blarg.com and comment here.
I like the idea of the power-to-the-people that the US promises, and you using the power of the internet to activate that.
However, speaking as somebody who lives in a European socialist country (although we’re only socialist by US standards) I have to say I think it’s not too bad. We Europeans look with pity on Americans who can be bankrupted by a bad illness, who can be kicked out of their jobs with no rights, who can have their house repossessed so easily.
Europeans pay for all these things in their taxes, for sure, but we still enjoy a high standard of living.
So … I don’t think I’ll become a fan of Blarg for the reason that it’s promoting a very different viewpoint to my own. Also, as a non-American, I’m not your target audience anyway.
(And I have to say I agree with the other posters on the website layout.)
The best of luck with it though - I very much admire that you put your money (and time) where your mouth is.
All best, Tracy
Comment by Johanna — June 16, 2009 @ 1:04 pm
The new site is great.
The content organization and readability makes my search for the titles that interests me.
Like the petition site, the better living section and the poll. Nice!
It is very easy to sing up, log out and log in. Just one thing, You cannot make changes to the profile once it is saved. I was able to customize the sections I want to see and read about once I signed up.
Thanks for creating this site. I will sure visit it often.
Comment by Tony — June 16, 2009 @ 1:14 pm
Hello! Just checked out NewsBlarg, and wanted to give my thoughts on the matter. I like the concept and think that the site is a very ambitious concept.
One of my concerns is with the ads that are scattered on the front page. While everything written on the site is more of a text base, these stand out and are taking away from the website. I realize this might be effective marketing, though I think you are trying to provide a point of view and a service to the people. This would be getting in the way.
Additionally, I think your NewsBlarg Store ad at the bottom of the front page should be welcomed as a tab along the top. Not everyone will be scrolling down a days worth of news to see if you are selling something.
Oh! One more thing. The video spotlight would be a great thing to have alongside the right side of the page. Again, not everyone will be scrolling to see videos.
I wish you the best of luck with the venture. It is a fantastic thing to see someone branch out towards something they are passionate about!
Tony
Comment by John Gilger — June 16, 2009 @ 1:15 pm
WOW!
This looks great and the content is awesome.
I’ve subscribed and passed the link to a bunch of old curmudgoenly vet friends of mine on the DHS worry list ;-)I think you have an instant hit on your hands.
John
Comment by John Duncan — June 16, 2009 @ 1:16 pm
Hi Clayton,
Nice “blarg”, sir !
I could tell immediately you do not have an agenda, here. Proof of that is apparent with your links to everybody from Rush, to Beck, to O’Reilly, to Dowd.
Very cool…Good luck and God Bless America !
John Duncan,
TX
Comment by C.S.Radhakrishnan — June 16, 2009 @ 1:21 pm
THIS DIVERSIFICATION WAS OVERDUE.Your new campaign goes one step forward on “The Demise of the Dollar” CAMPAIGN of pre-election days when the Honorable Congressmen were grimly reminded of the impending Economic crisis. America as a theoretical construct is still capable of being salvaged.Only the middle class will have to assert ,and the upper end stop migrating financially.
The design and other features remind me of a traditional Tantrik Yantra, with the dominance of the Black and the dark red color.That way it will help hypnotize the readers to a great extent.
The clarity of the text parts could receive a little more attention.
Best of Luck
Comment by Matches Malone — June 16, 2009 @ 1:27 pm
Signed up right away, as soon as I saw what you were doing, Clayton. Unfortunately, it looks like you’re putting a band-aid on a bullet wound, however, I’ll comment and contribute when I can. Thanks for creating this site.
Comment by Elsa is Elsa — June 16, 2009 @ 1:52 pm
Hi Clayton,
Great that you are doing your best to get your opinions heard. (They’re not my opinions. I support liberal European style health and education, for instance. It’s what we have here in Canada, making (among other things) the best university education very affordable for all - like for me.)
But that’s not why I’m writing. It’s about a small thing that I think could be improved.
Looked at the NewsBlarg yesterday, created a petition (to ban bad thinking).
One small problem. I wanted to save, not post - but when you save, it automatically posts.
My suggestion: currently there are only 2 options (preview and save). Either rename the options (preview and POST), or create 3 options (preview, save and post).
Another comment - the blarg doesn’t feel like a place for many viewpoints, and for discussion. For instance, re the views presented in the blarg, I likewise see loads of dangerous crazy stuff happening, like the massive debt creation. But I see sanity in universal health coverage and heavily funded education all the way through university. I don’t experience the blarg as a place for that to be looked at, rather than ranted against.
Elsa, Ph.D. (a prof for a quarter century within the same education system that funded my education - doing my best to develop good thinking skills in students)
Comment by Albert — June 16, 2009 @ 1:53 pm
First impressions:
a. I don’t like the choice of font. Some letters appear gray’d out (w and y).
b. I had to grab a dictionary for the definition of “roil.” Thank you for challenging my classic education with this 16th century word.
c. And I like chocolate milk.
Thanks for the new site.
Comment by Bob Heiney — June 16, 2009 @ 1:53 pm
Clayton - you are the King of all Copywriters and have always delivered extreme value to your clients. Now you are serving America in a mighty way with your new news venue. Mainstream media is worthless - made up from a group of light weight thinkers who spend heir ‘productive’ time writing White Papers for the White House.
NewsBlarg.com is off to a great start with great stuff to read - I mean aren’t the very best writers represented here? I can scarely wait for tomorrow’s edition of News I Can Actually Use.
Comment by john — June 16, 2009 @ 2:04 pm
Clayton -
Since you asked, I find the new site to be a bit busy. For me, and I freely admit to being more than a bit ADD, I felt like there was too much information pulling me in all directions all at once.
John
Comment by Clayton Makepeace — June 16, 2009 @ 2:06 pm
Thanks for the suggestions everyone!
TO CHARLES BOSLER: You have our deepest respect and gratitude, sir. And for my part, I agree with you on all counts.
TO CATHY AND EUGENIE VERNEY: Thanks for your crit on the “look” of the site. More help, please: What would you do to give the site a better feel? Any specific ideas?
RON AND JOHN KLEIN: You are absolutely correct on the commentators. Too many libertarians and conservatives — too few balancing viewpoints. I asked our people to remedy that this morning!
This is great stuff! Keep the ideas coming!
– CLAYTON
Comment by Kathy Anderson — June 16, 2009 @ 2:18 pm
Hey Clayton,
I’m wondering if the petitions will do any good since I’ve read that online petitions are not legal and have no impact.
I like the site and look forward to taking time to go through it. I am hoping there will be more in-depth information as time goes on. Some of the articles seem a little weak to me.
I’m on board.
Kathy
Comment by Christopher — June 16, 2009 @ 2:18 pm
I personally like it Clayton. I sign petitions almost every day to be sent to Washington from other blogs similar to yours. And it is my understanding that for a petition to be taken seriously you need to have address’s of the signers.
I don’t know if petitions actually change anything though. I’m still waiting to see Oboma’s long form birth certificate. And he says he is being transparent with us. Ya, right.
With this administration we may all end up in jail over this. So, I’m thinking of getting a tattoo on my rear end just in case. saying “one way do not enter”. Could come in handy for those doctor visits too.
All kidding a side this government is going down the wrong path for me and something needs to be done about it NOW!
Comment by Leon Sivils — June 16, 2009 @ 2:19 pm
Clayton, thank you. You and your team are the best. As I watched people parrot the party line I truly thought all had gone mad.
You have helped restore my hope that at least some people were getting it and seeing just what we have lost and how much more we are going to lose. This felt like it happened overnight but it didn’t.
The seeds of destruction are in our own nature and as our nation grew these weeds grew too-side by side with it until finally those who hate and would rule over us found release from the restraints framed by God and our fathers.
Is it in the heart of the people to do right? I wonder.
God Bless your work! How can we help?
Comment by VigilanceMike — June 16, 2009 @ 2:23 pm
One word, then two words, for now. Awesome! Thank you!
Caught me in the middle of the business day (at least we’re still allowed to make decisions about how we spend our time) and I could spend the rest of it there…so, this goes into the “d@mned important but not urgent pile” and I’ll be back later, hopefully with something more helpful than “awesome”.
Comment by Chris Holley — June 16, 2009 @ 2:26 pm
Clayton-
A very nice site…clean layout, lots of options…and I certainly agree with the manifesto!
The challenge will be to develop a ‘voice’ that makes the site stand out from the crowd.
It’s a great start. Good luck!
Comment by Rick Brown — June 16, 2009 @ 2:48 pm
I just did a quick look-see at NewsBlarg.com. I’m happy to see that the links I tried all work and even happier at the high level of the content.
The world needs more voices questioning the dubious policies and tactics of the Obama / Democrat administration.
While I’m from Canada, (which is blessed with a Conservative government at the moment) I watch with great concern the decent into what will most likely be economic and regulatory chaos south of our border.
I sincerely hope that Americans wake up to the fact that there is no free lunch! With all this spending funded by unprecedented levels of government debt the potential for economic colapse is very real and very near.
Thanks for the site. I’ll place it in my Favorites list and wait eagerly for it to go live:)
R.Brown
Comment by Doug — June 16, 2009 @ 2:48 pm
great start. Clean, easy to read and lots of content. good luck!
Comment by David G. — June 16, 2009 @ 2:52 pm
Clayton,
Nice looking site, it appears that it will be full of news and views as well as being very interactive with some Facebook-like capabilities included.
I did have a browser problem - when I view the site using IE7, there is a big horizontal scroll bar for my browser window - looks like a lot of empty space out to the right side of the Home page. This does NOT show up when using Firefox 3. (I tried IE8 for a couple of hours and then removed it after it screwed up my PC!)
Regarding your Manifesto, you begin thus:
“In crafting the U.S. Constitution and our Bill of Rights, The Founders’ mission was to clearly create a nation in which The People reign supreme …”
Silly simpleton, don’t you know that “We the People” have _progressed_ beyond that tired old world view of a written Constitution for a single nation? We’re now “Progressives” - the enlightened “People of the World” who are willing to share the light of our knowledge with all who are willing to submit their minds and hearts (and wallets!) to our cause.
Come join us as we build the “New World Order” of Change and Progress for all!
.
.
.
Makes me wanna barf every time I hear them talk …
David G.
Comment by Charles Wainwright — June 16, 2009 @ 3:00 pm
I enjoyed searching through your News Blarg.com site. The links functioned well and the information headings were useful and their content was very interesting and informative. As a comparison for some of your site topics is the email newsletter from Rodale (the people from Emmaus, PA). Their content, though more narrow in discipline, makes for interesting reading.
Keep up the good work!
Charlie
Comment by Clayton Makepeace — June 16, 2009 @ 3:14 pm
TO KATHY: After having done some work with Grassfire.org, I’m convinced that online petitions have PLENTY of impact …
But only IF the signed petitions are delivered via fax, or better yet, printed and piled up on their desks.
No petition is ever a “legal” document, though. They’re simply group letters to reps that gain influence because of the number of signatures.
TO CHRISTOPHER: Your tattoo idea made me laugh out loud. Might come in handy in an IRS audit, too!
TO LEON SIVILS: How can you help? Great question!
First, give us any ideas you have for improving the site.
Second, give us your ideas for making a big splash — introducing NewsBlarg.com to the whole country this summer.
Third, tell everyone you know about NewsBlarg.com beginning on July 4th, when the site is finished.
And fourth, USE THE SITE TO EXPRESS YOURSELF!
TO DAVID G. Thanks for the heads-up on the browser problems you experienced. Our web guys are ON IT!
Thanks again, everyone, keep the comments coming!
– CLAYTON
Comment by Brad H — June 16, 2009 @ 3:22 pm
Hey, Clayton… Great job on the new Blarg site. I think you have just created a hit word “BLARG” that packs a punch against stupidity in American Government. Personally, I’m a Nationalist Independent Conservative tired of the BS being fed through the alphabet channels with jump-jockey journalists/reporters who are only told what to report or say. Also tired of people who want BIGGER and BIGGER government to be the Big Daddy/Momma to help them with their lack of better judgement which cost us, the true Americans who are out working and paying our bills, not looking for a handout.
Last night, I watched a PG movie, “Any Which Way But Loose” with Clint Eastwood for the first time since I was 10 with my kids who are now 10 and 12. I’m sure you’ve seen it and as you know PG back then is probably considered an R today. Anyway, that movie came out in 1978 and was the world so much different just 30 years ago.
I love the way Philo Beddo didn’t take an BS from anyone and wasn’t afraid to throw a punch on someone just being a jerk. I loved MA’ who pulled out the shotgun and started shooting at the biker gang. My point is, I’d like to see a harder-hitting, impacting section about stupidity in politics on the site whether it’s right, left, green, or terrorism affecting our foundation as the mighty US of A and what “WE” can do about it. To many people are on the sidelines waiting for a knight in shining armor to come. I know Armageddon is coming, although I don’t like sitting around watching bad things happen with my beloved country which my kids and grandchildren will be living in.
There is a lot of information and I look forward to following it. I’ll add your site to the likes of WorldNetDaily, DrudgeReport, MichaelSavage, and PatriotPost.US.
Warmest regards,
Brad
Comment by Laura — June 16, 2009 @ 3:24 pm
Clayton,
AWESOME website, I’m really looking forward to exploring the various aspects of newsblarg. There is a LOT there.
In fact, I was so impressed, I’ve already emailed Sean Hannity about it - so too late - I’ve already started telling people about it!
Laura
Comment by Clayton Makepeace — June 16, 2009 @ 3:27 pm
TO ROGER DUE (COMMENT #13): Sorry I missed your post earlier.
YES! I spoke with Robert Ringer about the site three weeks ago and it looks like we will definitely have many opportunities to cooperate.
– CLAYTON
Comment by Mel Collins — June 16, 2009 @ 3:42 pm
Clayton,
The multi-registration offering is a great idea… and I registered as soon as I saw it. Thanks for thinking of me.
Mel Collins
Pingback by The State of The Union June 15, 2009 — June 16, 2009 @ 3:42 pm
[...] Source:The State of The Union June 15, 2009 [...]
Comment by Kevin Adam — June 16, 2009 @ 3:44 pm
Hi Clayton and company!
Wow, what a site you’ve put together with NewsBlarg! There is SO much there I’ll need to be sure I visit every day to keep up with current events and catch up with the content already in place. BTW - every link that I clicked worked fine.
Thanks for doing this - I’m certain is was, and will continue to be, a huge investment. And thanks for caring about this country so much and being willing to provide information and easy access for our voices to be heard.
My hat is off and my flags are waving!!
Kevin
Comment by Susan Connors — June 16, 2009 @ 4:00 pm
Hi Clayton and co
Had another read this morning and love what I am seeing.
Now the chocolate milk thing - come on people!
As kids we drank chocolate milk - you know the stuff does come from cows and is actually good for you!
Milk is milk with or without chocolate flavoring.
Milk has been around probably the same time evolution has in its forms.
So to say its not healthy - geez
My 4 kids here in Aus are thriving. I have had it and am not dead. Could be the healthy gene pool
Something to think about.
Yes Clayton I will post this in the comment section.
Susan Connors
Australia
Comment by mrinkjet — June 16, 2009 @ 4:03 pm
Hi Clayton,
This will create some interest.
(I just posted a link on twitter)
Cheers
Rick Bullock
Mister Inkjet
Australia
Comment by SUSAN HUROWITZ — June 16, 2009 @ 4:04 pm
Dear Clayton,
I was immediately impressed by your website.
Reading a few articles, I was further impressed by their
clarity in simplicity.
Your news website appears fully loaded, for timely
dissemination of information, made easily digestable.
I believe you just met a pressing need of the public.
Thank you for your efforts!
Susan Hurowitz
Comment by Jerry — June 16, 2009 @ 4:10 pm
Clayton,
Please consider adding a link to Oath-Keepers.blogspot.com (soon to be OathKeepers.org) on your website.
What the website is about: “Military, Veterans, and peace officers who will honor their oaths to defend the Constitution, will NOT ‘just follow orders,’ will stand for liberty, and will save the Republic, so help us God. Our motto is: ‘Not on Our Watch!’”
I think you’ll agree, their purpose is very much aligned with that of NewsBlarg.com.
After all, our worst nightmare is that the government may eventually find a pretext for using force to crush all dissent and advance their agenda. If or when that happens, our only hope is that our soldiers will remember their oath to uphold the Constitution, instead of blindly following orders.
Comment by John — June 16, 2009 @ 4:34 pm
To Clayton and Staff,
WONDERFUL WORK ON BLARG!
3 questions:
1) Will we get to learn about the “mushroom supplement?”
You know, the response to the promo, and ROI. That would be nice and educational.
2) Is “rejuva” and “Safe Money” independant ads? Or is it other products for the Blarg?
3) Can I come to North Carolina and set those so called Agnostic Undies on fire? Clayton, look up the word agnostic in the dictionary. How can a minister’s son be agnostic? I think something deeper is going on with you…like denial.
3 Comments
1)After reading the first invite post, I almost wanted to slash my wrists-depressing. Careful! We need hope!!
2) I’m not impressed with the headline and lead for the AgoriGold.
“Cancel Your Visits and Payments to The Heart Doctor.”
Just a quick guess. I’m not sure what the #1 desire of this market is?? Also, the promo is heavy with proof elements. . . maybe too heavy.
3)There is nothing like religion to get people fired up and talking. But its kinda cheap like the dollar store.
Well, Congrats Clayton on your new endeavor. Love Ya.
John Babin
Comment by Ekene — June 16, 2009 @ 4:59 pm
I have been thinking about this for a long time now, if copywriters write speech for the politicians to get to the heart of people, then the same guys can change the way thoes polictians do things.
Thanks to the power of internet and the technology that is available to everybody.
I would say now is the time to sell a different kind of product usings Newsblarg.com.
I’m in Nigeria and I will be learning a lot from this site as things unfold. I have secured a domain for something like this htt://www.howudey.com for my country, but then I have a lot to learn from your work Clayton.
====================================================
I will be posting some of my comments and possible corrections soon.
Comment by Kammy Thurman — June 16, 2009 @ 5:37 pm
Went thru it all yesterday. Like I said, FANTASTIC! Everything worked just fine, and I loved all the info. Only comment is when will the first petition be in place as there was only a place-holder there yesterday. Heck, even my cynical hubby dived into it this a.m. You’re talkin’ his language!
Comment by Jeff McIntosh — June 16, 2009 @ 5:38 pm
I think you’re gonna rock it! I would like to see you, Clayton, do video interviews with various folks. Ron Paul and Lew Rockwell come to mind. I would really love to see you interview some of the scoundrels responsible for this mess and hold their feet to the fire!
I’m on board, best wishes.
Comment by Darrel Hestdalen — June 16, 2009 @ 5:51 pm
Clayton,
I appreciate your efforts to voice the opinion of the people that cherish our freedom.
The egotistical airheads in Washington have lost the vision of what the United States means to the freedom loving people of the world.
Darrel
Comment by Emre Yuce — June 16, 2009 @ 6:12 pm
Dear Clayton,
I like the idea…
Political power, like any other kind of power is prone to ABUSE. And I think Newsblarg can potentially make a contribution in checking that.
Still, Economic power can be abused just as well!! And, I’d love to hear your views and suggestions on how to check “economic” power abuse also.
If it weren’t for the government, people would still:
… have to work 70-hours a week for a subsistence wage
… never have a pension, health care, paid vacation nothing, NADA, ZIPPO!!
… be vulnerable to getting kicked out of their jobs at will
… be TOTAL SLAVES to wielders of economic power (now we’re only partial slaves)
except for a few virtuous, hard-working, determined, courageous, self-made entrepreneurs who can manage to fend off and even beat some of those Economic Behemoths…
Last but not the least, sooner or later, the average American will find out what kind of benefits the average Western European in a Welfare (Socialist?) Democracy gets:
A decent dental care
A decent health care!
No fear of bankruptcy in the case of a major illness
Much better unemployment benefits
Much much much more AFFORDABLE higher education
etc. etc. etc.
I know the USA is a paradise for a hard-working, aspiring entrepreneur (he/she would run into much more obstacles in a Western European country), but sooner or later he/she will have to share MORE with the average American.
You know it fully well, when people can see their benefits clearly, they’ll soon vote into Washington D.C., people who will deliver them. They even started doing it by voting Obama into Presidency
:)
Now, for how long can a party (the elephants), calling the well-to-do “their base”, can fool the average American out of those benefits fully enjoyed in the European Union by repeatedly using its “War on Terror” and “Christian” trump cards?
The USA is richer than any other Western-European Welfare Democracy in terms of GDP per capita…
STILL, the average American is in a PITIFUL state compared to an average EU citizen…
Best,
Emre
Comment by John Anderson — June 16, 2009 @ 6:25 pm
Hey Clayton,
I wanted to sign up for email yesterday and it wouldnt accept any of my email addreses I tried.
So in the end I gave up.
I liked everything else -didnt think the design was that bad at all, and content looked interesting.
I think it will be a hit.
Will you be the ‘personality’ behind it? (In the same way, Martin Weiss is behind Money and Markets)
I think it’s important for an economic libertarian site, that you also push a socially liberal agenda.
Fair enough; have free markets and let us entrepeneurs create the wealth for all to share in….
But, so many ‘conservatives’ say…we should fend for ourselves, get the government out of our lives…
BUT not out of bedrooms or out of our personal choices…(Trying to push anti gay legislation, or trying to push no-choice legislation)
To them I saw…Your Morality is your Morality….Don’t try and inflict it upon others!
Can I get a witness!
All best wishes on it,
John
P.S Let me know when you fix up the email thing, as love to sign up as a member.
Comment by Lloyd Prentice — June 16, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
Thank you, thank you, and thank you, Clayton. This is a wonderful beginning of a collection of needed services. I hope it replaces much or even most of the liberal media that has such a strong hold on the perceptions of Americans.
Please consider whether it would be possible sometime to also have regional or area versions to carry local news as well as national and international news. Readers could subscribe to their regional versions or get them by your system of links.
Although I didn’t notice copyright notices, but I presume they exist.
I pray that this endeavor succeeds. Our nation needs it.
Comment by Steve Newdell — June 16, 2009 @ 7:21 pm
Hello Wendy and Clayton,
I’ve been on the BLARG and placed a petition. I mentioned to the technicians that we need to be able to do a spell check and edit what we write there. I left a couple of mistake and I’m embarrassed about it.
Petitioners need more instructions as to how a petition should be written. Without that we see a lot of short funny comments. It quickly becomes a free-for-all without any credence before “the great powers.”
I ran into a missed word once or twice somewhere. Otherwise, so far as I can see, all the gizmos work. It’s a great idea. It’ll no doubt earn 1000 times what it cost to get started.
You’d better give your son a stake in this. After all, HE named it….
Kindest regards,
Steve Newdell
Comment by Donna Kaluzniak — June 16, 2009 @ 7:37 pm
Clayton, excellent, excellent site. And very much needed! I love the easy links to write the legislators and the president. Good topics, interesting polls. Thank you & the Redhead for putting this together. - Donna
Pingback by The State of The Union June 15, 2009 — June 16, 2009 @ 7:44 pm
[...] Original post [...]
Comment by Rod Newbound, RN — June 16, 2009 @ 7:48 pm
Glad to finally see your new site up. I’ve set it as my “home page”, so I can follow it closely every day.
My first thought when I went to the site was “it’s too busy”, but after a few minutes, my eyes picked up the subtle demarcations in your layout which make it easy to focus in on one thing at a time.
I strongly agree with the position you’ve so boldly taken, and will do every thing I can personally to help you make it a successful venture. Since you’ve mentioned you want to keep this private for now, I’ll hold off on passing it on to friends and family until closer to the official launch… but it won’t be easy!
May God Bless You and keep you safe.
Warm regards,
Rod
Comment by Stephen Percival — June 16, 2009 @ 7:50 pm
Hi Clayton -
I am excited to see such a website that allows the varying views of the political spectrum be read in one spot with the ability to read and compare the views of the opposing sides to draw a conclusion that is so difficult to do with the varying places to go to hear or read those views.
Thank you for your beliefs and willingness to step up to the plate!
Stephen Percival
Comment by Stacy Karacostas — June 16, 2009 @ 8:03 pm
Wow! This is great Clayton!! Count me in. I too believe that politicians from both sides have created the mess we’re in. That and a completely broken system.
One important category that’s missing from the site though is Environment.
So much of what is happening right now with environmental regulation is as shady as in the farming industry. And it’s going to impact us economically as well as from a health perspective.
It’d be great to get my environmental news here as well.
Thanks for taking the reigns!
Stacy
Comment by Mitchell — June 16, 2009 @ 9:35 pm
The site looks really interesting; I’ll definitely add it to my reader.
The one problem I noticed was the kerning of the lower case m in the body copy looks bad. The m had much too much space around it, to the point it looked almost like a word space.
Comment by Harvey — June 16, 2009 @ 9:36 pm
No ZIP code, no sign up? What about people from outside US?
As someone already mentioned, site does look very cramped — not sure where to look.
Comment by Dan Pueppke — June 16, 2009 @ 9:37 pm
Clayton,
First and foremost, please remember that you did indeed ask for this input. Now that I have you on guard…
First impression is “Wow that looks nice!” I continue, the opinions expressed by me are gleaned from the training provided by the good folks at MarketingExperiments.com.
Further perusal leads to some confusion. I think that you have too much going on the home page. I am confused visually by so many different displayed options. Lead me to where you want me to go. What is the call-to-action?
The social media links are a good idea, make them more prominent, make sure that you engage a Twitter audience, it is very HOT! If your call-to-action is your newsletter, make that more prominent. Add a third-party credibility indicator to the top of the page. For this site, it may be anything that says you know news and should be viewed as an authority. Maybe you have some writing awards that you could employ in that spot.
I really like the CPA offers, I think that you have targeted what I believe your target demographic to be very well, provided they are middle-aged and older. If this is incorrect, adjust your offers.
Perhaps you are looking to provide a “dashboard” site. One that provides all of the important items on one page for the convenience of the user. If this is the intention, perhaps a different page other that the home would be better.
All in all, it looks like a nice alternative to mainstream media. The real deal, not some influenced gibberish dribble we normally get.
Just my opinion. Best of Luck!
Comment by Dan Pueppke — June 16, 2009 @ 9:44 pm
I did write the above post before reading the others, I do not like to be contaminated by others musings. It looks like I may have learned a few things in the ensuing years. Others seem to have some of the same opinions, so I hope that you are able to utilize some of this feedback to a positive outcome. It looks like people did take a look for you.
Do have a good day!
Dan
Comment by charles d hart — June 16, 2009 @ 10:47 pm
hi wendy, clayton,You did it up right.this is one of the better things that is happening in 09 you are going to keep
every one aware of what is happening.so keep it coming we all
need it. thank you, charles d hart
Comment by Stuart Wright — June 16, 2009 @ 11:16 pm
From Clayton Victoria Australia to Clayton. You’ve taken on a mammoth task - good luck. I enjoyed the video on the Climate Change myth.
However, I also detect an unholy Rightist Christian smell that could defeat the aim of rational open debate.
The reference to European Socialist is clearly negatively emotive and fails to address the great benefits especially in health and education that such systems bring.
I find it amazing that over the years successive US Governments have been convinced to loosen the constraints of ethical financial proberty and fiduciary duty. “It’s un American for governments to constrain business” When the financial engineers drive their economic tanks through the loopholes they lobbied for and the market realities detrack them then rain down retribution on the innocents in the street, I ask whether the US government is only a government for the wealthy. If that is the case “God Help America”.
Australia owes its very existence to the USA of the 1940’s and its wealth on the USA of 50’s 60’s and 70’s and for that I am grateful. However, I watch with horror at the economic anarchy that has developed under the guise of “inalienable freedom”. When will people realize that freedom is a privelege personally earned through taking personal responsiblity? It doesn’t matter whether it is fuel efficient vehicles, ethical banking and business standards, proper funding of schools, taxing the citizens and business correctly to build and support the public infrastructure and health, or the curbing of vested interests whose only goal is the creation of power and money by what ever means and no matter who is hurt.
Clayton, as an experienced wordsmith you have the skill to change or marshal public opinion. Please use this gift wisely.
I trust that NewsBlarg will become the voice of reason that amplifies the logical truth and debunks the emotional claptrap.
Stuart Wright
Comment by Salimine — June 16, 2009 @ 11:20 pm
Hi,
Straight to the point, concise, brief, focused, that’s the newsblarg.com. Design is to achieve readership, not just being pleasing to the eye, and it is attractive on its own right. Hope that the content will be just what you have in mind, an awareness campaign to those who wants it and needs it. Thanks for this. I will keep on checking on it from here on.
Comment by Stephen Davies — June 17, 2009 @ 12:47 am
Clayton,
Glad to see this website finally coming together (been waiting with baited breath for this).
Not sure where to post any quirks, but noticed when posting on the blog feature, the text editor doesn’t put breaks in the text and putts everything in on long paragraph.
Just thought you might like to know before it goes fully live on July 4th.
Looking forward to writing some articles for this new website.
Thanks!
Comment by will witt — June 17, 2009 @ 2:22 am
Hi Clayton
You need a “View from Europe” angle.
I could help contribute to that
Regards
Comment by Oscar Lito M Pablo — June 17, 2009 @ 3:26 am
Hi Clayton,
I really, truly appreciate your selflessness and willingness to share your priceless knowledge and experience in your articles, and wish you great success in your new venture.
I’m a Software/Web Developer, not a Web Designer, but I know a great Web design when I see one. You probably have great Web developers/programmers on your staff, but it would be tremendously helpful if you add a good, professional Web designer to the mix.
You mentioned you’ve already invested a not-so small fortune for it. Hire a good Web designer for a few more bucks and your NewsBlarg.com will shine.
All the best,
Oscar
Comment by Lance Nelson — June 17, 2009 @ 4:04 am
Clayton,
Great site… if i was super critical then my taste is for a little less on front page
Lance
Comment by Eugenie Verney — June 17, 2009 @ 6:50 am
Clayton - happy to expand! This is all about impact, not about content - as I said yesterday, I’m not getting involved in that!
You’re lacking coherent branding, and your graphic design elements have a rather amateurish and dated feel, as well as looking jumbled and not very aesthetically pleasing. Just compare newsblarg.com with this site: here you have simplicity, clean, bright colours, and memorable branding in the cube.
You are also burying your video elements way too far down the page. Look at any well-designed news-based site (and as you’re using the word “news” in your title that needs to be your model) that uses video and you’ll find it consistently gets star billing. That - as you know - is because more people will now click on a vid than click on a headline.
Overall, there’s just too much Stuff on the home page - or rather, too much Stuff in full and it’s spread about without a cohesive strategy: you need fewer words, many more photos (you only have two small mug shots), fewer but more visible vids, cleaner lines, clearer delineation between content and ads, and more compelling branding. You don’t need any hint of long copy here, really you don’t - that lives behind the home page!
A few well-designed UK media sites that you may not have seen:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/
http://itn.co.uk/
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/
Hope that’s helpful!
Eugenie
Comment by Dave Stephens — June 17, 2009 @ 7:29 am
Clayton … Thank You for your dedication and unfailing belief in the U.S.A. and for the newsblarg which I believe will have a tremendous impact on our future.
I have included links to here from my latest blog post.
Thanks again … Dave
Comment by Rocky — June 17, 2009 @ 7:43 am
A great read, Clayton & Co. I read most of Obama’s copy and was greatful for the tips and disgusted with the content. He’s got a good team of writers, that’s for sure. Also using the Guide for WDW.
Thanks, Rocky
Comment by Merrill Clark — June 17, 2009 @ 9:08 am
Clayton,
You have such great points of view, I had to read this twice just to make sure I didn’t miss anything.
Oh…and if you haven’t already, another site you may be interested in, with similar points of view is http://www.actforamerica.org.
It has an easy way to contact all the US politicians, and you can even sort by State.
Good luck!
Merrill
Comment by Charles — June 17, 2009 @ 10:23 am
Great article Clayton. I’ve been a follower of you and you work for about 18 months or so now. I really enjoy reading your articles and other work. I do have a question for you however…it sounds like the tone you use to write in most of your government “rants” is that of a “fear tactic” to maybe get people emotionally scared or what not.
To me that sounds a little like what happens in the main stream media. I like to think of you and I as being similar in the fact that we both try to be “agents” of change. I try to be more solution oriented as a pose to focusing on the problem or perpetrators. NewsBlarg.com is great idea and a great start. I’m willing to help as best as I can. Lets just focus more on the what to do as a pose to whose to blame for it.
– Charles –
Comment by Andrew — June 17, 2009 @ 1:00 pm
Hi Clayton,
Greetings from Cyprus…
The layout seems a little busy, which was a problem with some of the BBC sites out of the UK.
Some BBC (radio)sites now look beautifully uncluttered despite having a lot of info on them. May I recommend http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/
I love what you are doing and more power to your elbow!
Comment by Gregory Barros — June 17, 2009 @ 1:20 pm
Hi Clayton,
Capital Idea!
NewsBlarg.Com is right on the money as a virtual venue where every individual can be heard, freedom (of association and expression) is the only watchword and respect for others’ rights to disagree is the operating imperative.
As well, we prospective members of the NewsBlarg.Com community presume each individual benefiting from this resource understands the distinction between fact and opinion that ad hominum attacks serve no other purpose than to enflame, incite, obfuscate and provoke.
I respectfully suggest you include the following:
Posts/Links to our country’s founding documents:
01) Declaration Of Independence
02) Articles Of Confederation
03) US Constitution, highlighting Our Bill of Rights: the first 10 Amendments
Post/Link to Western Civilization’s first contract limiting the power of the government:
04) Magna Carta Libertatum
Generally called Magna Carta, which King John of England signed; June 15, (coincidental with your NewsBlarg announcement) 1215 at Runnymede.
05) Shadow Government Statistics
John Williams publishes “Shadow Government Statistics” as an eNewsletter service that analyzes U.S. government economic data and reporting, exposes and reports flaws in that reporting and provides an objective assessment of real underlying economic and financial conditions without commercial and political hyperbole: http://www.shadowstats.com/
Cordially,
Gregory Barros
Comment by Ray McGee — June 17, 2009 @ 1:38 pm
Hey Clayton,
What a great concept! Thanks for putting this together.
Now, all we have to do is convince Americans to stop asking the government for “solutions,” and we’ll be well on our way back to the principles that our Forefathers believed.
Comment by Eileen — June 17, 2009 @ 2:39 pm
I subscribe because I really appreciate your business acumen and all the tips and suggestions you give on copy, etc. Stick with what you know, Clayton. However, if I want informed political commentary, I go to my trusted sources of choice. For those who can’t get enough of the vacuous windbags Beck, O’Reilly and Co., they can always tune in to Fox.
Comment by Paul Flood — June 17, 2009 @ 3:41 pm
Hi Clayton,
A couple thoughts -
I enjoyed the site content but felt it was bit busy and lacked a flow.
Where’s the USP? Why should I go to newsblarg and spend time there instead of anywhere else? I know it from your post above and past writings but not from looking at the site.
Do you want to have links to off-site articles open in a new window so you don’t lose that visitor?
An interesting photo montage to add would be of the quotes that line the Capitol building and hallways as well as those carved into the walls of the different monuments in DC. Particularly those that reference rights, freedom, limited power of the government and similar topics.
The text of the Constitution, Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence and the Federalist Papers would be nice to link to. Perhaps we could even get a few of our Washington politicians to read them.
Thanks for carrying the torch. It’s a great service.
Paul
Comment by Len — June 17, 2009 @ 3:53 pm
Thanks for all the great feedback, everyone. Your suggestions are very appreciated and are all being taken into consideration. Keep ‘em coming!
Len
Comment by Deb Wright — June 17, 2009 @ 3:54 pm
Clayton,
Thanks to both you and Wendy for putting in the time and effort this venture requires. I don’t have any suggestions to add regarding revising the site, everyone else’s comments covered anything I found. Except for one thing…
and it’s not your fault.
This is an opportunity for a lively exchange of ideas. A place for constructive discussion of problems we ALL face. But as with your political pieces in The Total Package, certain negative individuals (yes, Nathan, this time it’s you) just can’t get beyond their prejudices.
It’s time for everyone, including the Nathan’s of the world, to realize it really is an us against them situation. You’re either a member of government or a victim of it. We’re all gonna sink or swim together. So if you don’t have anything helpful to say, shut the hell up. (What a whiner!)
Deb W.
Comment by Ellie — June 17, 2009 @ 4:22 pm
Clayton, I’ve been reading your zines for a long time. I’m thrilled with the newsblarg! Perfect timing for those of us worried about the future of our independence, democracy and the ability to leave something decent for our kids and grandkids.
I’ve grown weary of people waiting for government (right down to our local businesses and our local government) to ‘fix things’, all while they complain about the very same government. A real live oxymoron!
I’m an Atlas Shrugged groupie. So I’ll be keeping up with your new idea to see where it goes.
Best to you…and thank YOU for restoring my faith! I’m now going to look at what I might do in my own small way to help. I think I’ll start by creating a “Where is John Galt?” t-shirt to wear.
Comment by Andy — June 17, 2009 @ 4:37 pm
Clayton, what a terrific site. And it can only improve with time, as more people discover NewsBlarg.com. I have added it to my favorites.
Make it a great day, Andy Wallace, Cary NC
Comment by Stephen Davies — June 17, 2009 @ 4:52 pm
Hey Clayton,
Having read your comments abut your new site, you mentioned that the formatting problem is when you write comments in Word, then transfer them into the text box.
My problem came about by simply typing directly into the text box provided on the site. Now, I’m talking about the blog portion of your new website, so perhaps the comments section is ok.
If you go look at the blog postings, mine is one big paragraph with no breaks… not even after the periods.
For what it’s worth, I’m using the FireFox 3.0.11 browser (in case there are any conflicts there).
Thanks again!
Comment by Stephen Davies — June 17, 2009 @ 4:54 pm
Once you get this new site rolling, is there any chance you might be able to get newsmax.com to give you a plug?
I believe some of your copy has ended up on their site in the past in way of health products.
Comment by Dr. Dana Myatt — June 17, 2009 @ 11:46 pm
Well it’s About Darned Time!
Hey Clayton — I and my staff have been working on a similar project called Keep America Free, but when I got the distinct impression that YOU were working on a political forum, I stopped my presses and marked time …
Glad to see that my intuition was correct and SO glad that a man of your scope and reach is doing this. How’s about I just contribute to YOUR blarg and blarney and save myself the work of creating my own?
Congratulations and thank you on this project, and count me in!
— Doc Dana
Comment by Will Best — June 18, 2009 @ 8:50 am
Clayton,
Nice to see someone in this field with a brain. So many big names in the non-copyrighting segment of marketers are hard-core leftists and it makes me sick. I think the biggest reason for this is that they care far too much about what people think of them - You are different, and smart. I’m new here, and now I’m a fan.
Comment by S ODay — June 18, 2009 @ 10:41 am
I too have wondered how to engender any effective pressure as one person; this may just be the spark that’s needed to get all the pent-up anger and frustration focused.
And glad to see your take-no-sides, take-no-prisoners, kick-the-bums-out posture.
Bravo!
Comment by Dainis — June 18, 2009 @ 11:17 am
“DAINIS: I guess I learned how to stimulate rage from you guys.”
Whoever “us guys” are, if you really think “we” are a group, well…”we,” that crafty us/them rhetorical too…we must have taught you well. What’s going on here is called projection and disassociation from personal responsibility.
“Now, I’m learning that while you guys love to dish it out, you squeal like a bunch of little girls when you’re asked to take it.”
Us/them rhetoric. Clayton does not know me. Cannot group me into a group, and you must hate little girls!
What do you have against little girls Clayton? Are you some kind of child hater? You must be! When my daughter squeals or cries out for attention, guess what, I give it to her! I give her love and laughs and giggles, so she doesn’t have to “squeal like a little girl.”
You obviously hate children, Clayton, and I mean, if you’re readers want to associate with someone who hates children, and in particular little girls, then go ahead, but that’s just not my style.
(Skilled readers will get what I’m doing)
“I can’t wait to see how you and Nathan defend Bushama’s idiotic fiscal policies”
More of the logical fallacy called “guilt by association,” tried and true, works on sheeple.
Nathan: “Really? Me endangering the 1st Ammendment for disagreeing with you?”
Good point Nathan, and I think that a whole lot of people are able to catch this kind of nonsense nowadays.
It’s really too bad, cuz Clayton could really be fun and helpful sans all this abusive and logically flawed rhetoric.
Comment by Dainis — June 18, 2009 @ 11:20 am
corrections:
rhetorical tool
your readers not you’re
wuz typing quickly
Comment by Terry Moore — June 18, 2009 @ 11:02 pm
Thank God it’s your last political rant - you were beginning to sound like that other bloated gasbag, Rush Limbaugh
Comment by Dean — June 19, 2009 @ 9:20 am
Great site -
The only improvement is it could be a little more foreigner friendly if you want participation from those of us outside the US.
Comment by Steve Braddock — June 19, 2009 @ 3:09 pm
I love the new Blarg website - my favorites are the videos.
Comment by Ed Stutzman — June 23, 2009 @ 10:03 pm
Great job! The new site is awesome. There is a lot on the home page, but there’s lot to get out to everybody.
Comment by Alex K — July 3, 2009 @ 10:36 am
One of the best pieces I’ve read in a while. Thanks for the heads up Clayton. I forwarded this to all my friends. I really hope that people will get on Blarg and take action.