There he goes again

Politico is reporting today that, "Investigators for an Arizona sheriff’s volunteer posse have declared that President Barack Obama’s birth certificate is definitely fraudulent. [...]

Mike Zullo, the posse’s chief investigator, said numeric codes on certain parts of the birth certificate indicate that those parts weren’t filled out, yet those sections asking for the race of Obama’s father and his field of work or study were completed."

Yes! Look at the codes! And the state of Hawaii, all the candidates he's ever run against, the Republican Party, and everyone else not certifiably in-flipping-sane is in on it!

And only a rag-tag band of professional conspiracy theorists given a platform by an embroiled-in-controversy nutcase of a sheriff can show us the truth!

You may remember that Mike Zullo is selling a book on the subject, and so has a particular interest in milking this cow for all it's worth. You might also remember that said book was co-authored by ultraconspiracy megatheorist Jerome Corsi, who wrote a previous, more expansively dumb book on the subject that tanked when Obama released that document Corsi said he wasn't releasing. You may also remember that Sheriff Joe is, well, freaking insane. Nonetheless, they assure us they only have our best interests at heart.

Sheriff Joe is still, technically speaking, a public official, though what the hell he does during his actual day job is certainly a mystery to all. Since his constituents appear to be in no particular hurry to stop the public shaming of their county, all we can hope for is that, at some point, Arpaio retires to spend more time with his pet theories and find even crazier people to share them with. He and Donald Trump can form a road show. (Hat tip to Hunter)

Barack Obama released a PDF version of a certified copy of his original hospital 1961 birth certificate at a White House press conference on April 27, 2011. That document resides on the White House web site and has been the subject of intense criticism from those whose ideas about the President’s birthplace are challenged by it.

One of the interesting characteristics of the form is penciled notations adjacent to some data items, consisting of numbers and letters. While they were a mystery to some, it was clear to those experienced in old data systems that these were codes for data entry operators

In August of 2011, the Department of Health & Human Services released information under the Freedom of Information Act regarding the coding of natality (Birth) data in 1961. The first part of the response response consisted of a hyperlink to the 1961 document titled Vital Statistics Instruction Manual, Part II Coding and Punching, Section C, Geographic Code Final, Births, Deaths and Fetal Deaths Occurring in 1960-1961 (VSIM). The second part of the FOIA response was a 12-page document titled: Division of Data Processing, Vital Statistics Programming Branch, Tape File Information, 1960-1961 Natality Tape Files for the United States (NTFUS).

 The NTFUS is the layout for all of the data stored by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), all 26 reels of magnetic tape comprising 2,134,172 records for 1961. The document can be used to inform us how data was submitted by the states. How did Zullo turn this into a conspiracy theory? He counted on nobody remembering there is a Google.

This is an Open Thread.

Comments

[Puget Sound Blathers]

And the laser like Democrats focus on jobs continues:

"Congressional Democrats are using the legislative process to pressure Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney to release more tax returns and information about his investments in offshore accounts.

In the House, Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.) is proposing legislation that would require presidential candidates to release 10 years worth of tax returns and disclose any overseas investments."

No, it isn't from the Onion.

LMAO. I'm sure Sparkles is equally outraged about this...er, maybe not.

[Puget Sound Blathers]

or this, from Dem Hank Johnson. I guess the economy is going so well he also has time to focus on these weighty matters:

Democrat Hank Johnson: Mr. Speaker,Whereas, in the Fourth Congressional District of Georgia, there are many individuals who are called to contribute to the needs of our community through leadership and service; andWhereas, Mrs. Melody Poole Ellis has answered that call by giving of herself as an educator at Dunaire Elementary, and as a beloved daughter, mother, wife and friend; andWhereas, Mrs. Ellis has been chosen as the 2012 Teacher of the Year, representing Dunaire Elementary school; andWhereas, this phenomenal woman has shared her time and talents for the betterment of our community and our nation through her tireless works, motivational speeches and words of wisdom; andWhereas, Mrs. Ellis is a virtuous woman, a courageous woman and a fearless leader who has shared her vision, talents and passion to help ensure that our children receive an education that is relevant not only for today, but well into the future, as she truly understands that our children are the future; andWhereas, the U.S. Representative of the Fourth District of Georgia has set aside this day to honor and recognize Mrs. Melody Poole Ellis for her leadership and service for our District and in recognition of this singular honor as 2012 Teacher of the Year at Dunaire Elementary School"

See Sparkles, its easy to play that game. When folks will start to admit it is going on with BOTH f'n parties then we can start to move forward.

Okay, go back to your Mike Malloy.

[T-S]

Sparky, you just have to consider the source when PS posts.

Last I heard it wasn't the Dems holding up legislation. They might as well do something useful while the Republican obstructionists go about celebrating Reagan who,btw, raised taxes. I'm sure they'll get around to joining the dems one of these days. But I'm not counting on it. The "committee" who met on inauguration night will have to be voted out first.

As for Malloy? Your guess is as good as mine.

[KS]

The laser-like Republican focus on jobs continues:

" Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) is floating legislation that would name most U.S. coastal waters after former President Ronald Reagan. Issa reintroduced his bill Wednesday to rename the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which generally extends from three miles to 200 miles offshore, as the Ronald Wilson Reagan Exclusive Economic Zone."

No it isn't from the Onion.

Posted by: sparky | July 21, 2012 at 06:03 PM

So, what's your point ? It may not be from the Onion, but its probably from the Puff Host, Salon or some other leftwing biased website that exaggerated any aspect to make the R's look like they waste our money. How about being real for a change and admit both parties engage in this chicanery ? Your credibility would also improve.

[Puget Sound Blathers]

spot on, KS.
both parties are culpable in this game.
at least you are honest enough to admit it.

[sparky]

It's from The Hill.com and I don't need your approval to feel good about myself, KS. The Republicans do a great job of demonstrating their priorities without my help, or that of any blog.

[T-S]

Another "cussed and discussed" (h/t to Walt) claim that "both sides do it." Your side seem to have fallen into such despair that that's your only defense these days.

Hahahahaha.

Stop your whining you two.

[Puget Sound Blathers]

The Republicans do a great job of demonstrating their priorities without my help, or that of any blog.

Posted by: sparky | July 21, 2012 at 07:34 PM

as do the Dems...those proclamations will really get the economy going.

but hey, 'Denial' isn't just a river.

[T-S]

You ignore the substance of the post. That's why few people talk to you. We might as well be posting to a wall.

[T-S]

Sparky, several good articles on environmental issues. Check our King Salmon runs decline

I love King. I purchased a filet today - not a big one - but $20. Dinner size.

And Kalamazoo and the devastation of tar sands spill

Wow! If we aren't killing each other with guns, we're doing it with chemicals.

[sparky]

Salmon is going to be priced out of most people's budgets. Did you know they feed farmed salmon a dye-infused feed that makes the skin the red color of those that are caught wild? Dont every buy salmon from Costco!

[T-S]

Thanks for the tip. I'm getting pickier about food and where I buy it. It is way more expensive but I buy pretty much humanely raised animals and local when I can. I wish we had a food policy in the US that would turn paved roads back into small agriculture and with the goal that all food would be local..

I read in Harpers an interesting article that Walmart is trying to localize all its food. The two reasons I recall reading were that they want local producers to survive (sounds fishy to me!) and that transportation costs are eating away at their profits (sounds more like it!). I think a lot of people would like to get back to sustainability and quality again.

[KS]

It's from The Hill.com and I don't need your approval to feel good about myself, KS. The Republicans do a great job of demonstrating their priorities without my help, or that of any blog.

Posted by: sparky | July 21, 2012 at 07:34 PM

It's attitudes like that which feed into polarization. The point was not for you to self-flagellate, but to extend an olive branch and give you the opportunity to show objectivity, which you rejected in knee-jerk fashion.

BTW - I never buy farm raised salmon.

[KS]

Another "cussed and discussed" (h/t to Walt) claim that "both sides do it." Your side seem to have fallen into such despair that that's your only defense these days.

Hahahahaha.

Posted by: T-S | July 21, 2012 at 07:55 PM

LMAO - nope. T-S BS Earlier you did not have a problem that both sides are at fault, then you denied it like a small person would - you're the pot calling the kettle black just like your former persona.

Not that it really matters- its all too predictable, just that your flimsy arguments have been fleshed out and when it comes to politics, your's and Sparkles' credibility is hovering near zero. Keep talking about food purchases and salmon though and it may turn into something productive.

[T-S]

Did you notice, Sparky, the concern of the people who live up there and will have a diminished store of food for the winter?