- Cindy Ramos-Davidson, chief executive of the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said her staff was swamped with requests from Juárez businesspeople wanting to settle in El Paso. They started more than 200 companies in the 12 months ended July 31, a 40% jump from the same period last year.
Monday, October 26, 2009
The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Will Obama attack them too, or are they protected from his anger and ire because of their Spanish surnames? The web site of the El Paso Chamber (all in English, incidentally). According to today's WSJ wealthy Mexicans are migrating to El Paso in the largest number since the revolution of 1910. Link. Murder has exploded in Juarez, now at 300 a month (Isn't that more than Iraq and Afghanistan?). Even the non-rich need body guards to stay in business, so they are moving to El Paso.
WalMart believes Moms don't watch Beck
On October 9 I wrote to Eduardo Castro-Wright of Walmart in Bentonville, AR about pulling advertising from Glenn Beck because of pressure from groups like Color of Change and MoveOn.org. I pointed out that they need a capitalist country if they are going to succeed and advertising with Beck, an old fashioned "muckraker" will help restore our economy (even though he's not a journalist--most of them are either dead or cowed into submission by pressure from special interest groups or the White House). Even though there is a black man in the White House, we Americans are being insulted and called racists by the leftist and marxist groups that support him. So when Obama showed he was one of them--prejudging an entire segment of the country in the Gates incident--Beck called him on it.
Do you know what Walmart wrote back? In an unsigned letter some department called "Executive Communications" wrote a reply very condescending to women, addressing me as "Dear Norma," about my "reaching out to us."
Also, there's a grammatical error in the first paragraph, but I won't embarrass them by pointing it out on my blog. Also, they seem to think Glenn Beck is a cable "news" show--another mistake. Opinion disguised as news is what Katie Couric and the New York Times do.
Do you know what Walmart wrote back? In an unsigned letter some department called "Executive Communications" wrote a reply very condescending to women, addressing me as "Dear Norma," about my "reaching out to us."
- "Our ads are targeted at moms, and fundamentally these ads are about saving people money so they can live better. We buy advertising on shows that run the spectrum politically and socially because we want to be on the programs moms are watching. As our core customer, she is "the boss." At the same time, we want to make sure our commercials don't appear in programs that detract from the message we are trying to deliver."
Also, there's a grammatical error in the first paragraph, but I won't embarrass them by pointing it out on my blog. Also, they seem to think Glenn Beck is a cable "news" show--another mistake. Opinion disguised as news is what Katie Couric and the New York Times do.
Rosie's done one thing right
Her chair. I saw a photo of her today in USAToday doing her Sirius XM radio show on satellite. It appears she's sitting in an Aeron Herman Miller chair. Oh, how I miss mine.
She's irreverent, irrelevant and irritating, but she loves Obama so she won't get get hassled for her opinion by the White House, which only complains about right wing opinions and tries to close them down. She'll probably have Anita Dunn, the Mao-admirer who told high school kids he was an example of choosing your own path in life (not mentioning he was responsible for the deaths of 70 million.) Maybe they could discuss body disposal.
She's irreverent, irrelevant and irritating, but she loves Obama so she won't get get hassled for her opinion by the White House, which only complains about right wing opinions and tries to close them down. She'll probably have Anita Dunn, the Mao-admirer who told high school kids he was an example of choosing your own path in life (not mentioning he was responsible for the deaths of 70 million.) Maybe they could discuss body disposal.
Bonita's Apples
Bonita is a blogger I follow who takes the most wonderful photographs--especially of food (always very healthy and often over a campfire), her family outings in the mountains or interesting places, and her Bahai fellowship. We got permission to use one as a reference photo for a painting (by my husband) and this is the result. The cat didn't want to get up so she came along for the show. He didn't like it, but I made some suggestions and I think he's going to keep it. I think a bit more dark on the right side of the oar would really give more depth, but he says no.
Our trip to New England October 1977--Monday Memories
Today I was looking through the photo album of our trip to New England in October 1977. The photos were taken with my little instamatic camera and the plastic pages of the album have pretty much sucked out all the color, although I think it was gray much of the trip. Plus I taped the description on the open end, so it's virtually impossible to take any photos out. But here's one that many people, particularly artists, will recognize--Motif #1 in Rockport, Massachusetts. It may be the most painted scene in America.
Also on that trip we stopped in Boston for two days and stayed with my college roommate, Dora Hsiung and her husband, who is also an architect and a watercolorist like my husband. Dora and I roomed together at McKinley Hall at the University of Illinois. So I went into Google to see what shows she's doing these days and found a slide show selection of her work of fifty wall hangings, installations and sculptures, many large-scale, which are on view at the Chinese Culture Center (CCC) in San Francisco as part of its Xian Rui (Fresh and Sharp) exhibition series. She is a fabulous artist, and I still have the fabric piece she gave me in 1977, and always look forward to their Christmas cards.
Find more images like this on Chinese Culture Center Online Gallery
Photos of Dora and me in the 50s and 80s
Still clueless about what Obama is doing
ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" October 25.
When will our vigilant, "free" press wake up? Yes, they are nibbling around the edges, but only Laura Ingraham nails it. Where else do you see this kind of passion from the White House, except when attacking America's free speech? And this is the guy who's had a free ride to the White House from the press--yes, even from Fox News. But Laura, the ratings will make no difference when he shuts you down after shutting you out! It's all a cover so we don't focus on what's really happening.
HT David Zurawik, Baltimore Sun.
When will our vigilant, "free" press wake up? Yes, they are nibbling around the edges, but only Laura Ingraham nails it. Where else do you see this kind of passion from the White House, except when attacking America's free speech? And this is the guy who's had a free ride to the White House from the press--yes, even from Fox News. But Laura, the ratings will make no difference when he shuts you down after shutting you out! It's all a cover so we don't focus on what's really happening.
HT David Zurawik, Baltimore Sun.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
The fun way to change behavior
Probably works better than lectures and finger wagging from the nanny state.
Florida gets the most--$580,096,634
Treasury Dept. Press Release on ARRA Housing money
Call me crazy, but I think "supporting local developers," "working quickly," "tax credits," "innovative programs," and "building affordable housing," are what brought us to this mess.
Call me crazy, but I think "supporting local developers," "working quickly," "tax credits," "innovative programs," and "building affordable housing," are what brought us to this mess.
- "WASHINGTON – As part of the Obama Administration's efforts to strengthen communities and ease pressures on the housing market, the U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced $284 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) funding to spur the development of affordable housing in California. To date, 45 state housing authorities have been awarded a total of $3.1 billion in payments in lieu of tax credits for affordable housing projects.
This innovative Recovery Act program allows the federal government to partner with states to support local developers and helps ensure that housing developers can access the financing necessary to build affordable housing," said Treasury Deputy Secretary Neal Wolin. "We have worked quickly to make available more than $3 billion to state housing agencies, and we expect to see continued efforts at the state level, so that these funds can be delivered to the communities that need it most."
In May 2009, the Treasury Department launched an innovative program to provide payments in lieu of tax credits to state housing agencies to jump start the development or renovation of qualified affordable housing for families across the country. Upon receiving notice of these allocations, state housing agencies manage a competitive process to disburse funds to qualified developers. This is an ongoing program open to additional state applications through 2010."
Maybe it's Kerry's first term?
At some very far left blogs, I've seen grousing (swearing, cursing, gutter language like you wouldn't believe!) that Obama is doing a Bush third term. No indeed, they are not happy with the hope and change--it looks like Bush retreads to them. They know and we know why he's waffling on his assurances to us during the campaign. So Dick Cheney's speech at the Republican Convention in 2004 looks more interesting. Maybe, Obama is really Kerry's first term, minus the experience and the military service, of course? Wanting to be under the authority of the UN, seeking approval from our critics, flip flopping on a variety of issues--yes, except for the lack of experience, it all sounds very familier.
"The President's opponent is an experienced senator. He speaks often of his service in Vietnam, and we honor him for it. But there is also a record of more than three decades since. And on the question of America's role in the world, the differences between Senator Kerry and President Bush are the sharpest, and the stakes for the country are the highest. History has shown that a strong and purposeful America is vital to preserving freedom and keeping us safe — yet time and again Senator Kerry has made the wrong call on national security. Senator Kerry began his political career by saying he would like to see our troops deployed "only at the directive of the United Nations." During the 1980s, Senator Kerry opposed Ronald Reagan's major defense initiatives that brought victory in the Cold War. In 1991, when Saddam Hussein occupied Kuwait and stood poised to dominate the Persian Gulf, Senator Kerry voted against Operation Desert Storm.
Even in this post-9/11 period, Senator Kerry doesn't appear to understand how the world has changed. He talks about leading a "more sensitive war on terror," as though Al Qaeda will be impressed with our softer side. He declared at the Democratic Convention that he will forcefully defend America — after we have been attacked. My fellow Americans, we have already been attacked, and faced with an enemy who seeks the deadliest of weapons to use against us, we cannot wait for the next attack. We must do everything we can to prevent it — and that includes the use of military force.
Senator Kerry denounces American action when other countries don't approve — as if the whole object of our foreign policy were to please a few persistent critics. In fact, in the global war on terror, as in Afghanistan and Iraq, President Bush has brought many allies to our side. But as the President has made very clear, there is a difference between leading a coalition of many, and submitting to the objections of a few. George W. Bush will never seek a permission slip to defend the American people.
Senator Kerry also takes a different view when it comes to supporting our military. Although he voted to authorize force against Saddam Hussein, he then decided he was opposed to the war, and voted against funding for our men and women in the field. He voted against body armor, ammunition, fuel, spare parts, armored vehicles, extra pay for hardship duty, and support for military families. Senator Kerry is campaigning for the position of commander in chief. Yet he does not seem to understand the first obligation of a commander in chief — and that is to support American troops in combat.
In his years in Washington, John Kerry has been one of a hundred votes in the United States Senate — and very fortunately on matters of national security, his views rarely prevailed. But the presidency is an entirely different proposition. A senator can be wrong for 20 years, without consequence to the nation. But a president — a president — always casts the deciding vote. And in this time of challenge, America needs — and America has — a president we can count on to get it right.
On Iraq, Senator Kerry has disagreed with many of his fellow Democrats. But Senator Kerry's liveliest disagreement is with himself. His back-and- forth reflects a habit of indecision, and sends a message of confusion. And it is all part of a pattern. He has, in the last several years, been for the No Child Left Behind Act — and against it. He has spoken in favor of the North American Free Trade Agreement — and against it. He is for the Patriot Act — and against it. Senator Kerry says he sees two Americas. It makes the whole thing mutual — America sees two John Kerrys.
2004 Republican National Convention on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2004
"The President's opponent is an experienced senator. He speaks often of his service in Vietnam, and we honor him for it. But there is also a record of more than three decades since. And on the question of America's role in the world, the differences between Senator Kerry and President Bush are the sharpest, and the stakes for the country are the highest. History has shown that a strong and purposeful America is vital to preserving freedom and keeping us safe — yet time and again Senator Kerry has made the wrong call on national security. Senator Kerry began his political career by saying he would like to see our troops deployed "only at the directive of the United Nations." During the 1980s, Senator Kerry opposed Ronald Reagan's major defense initiatives that brought victory in the Cold War. In 1991, when Saddam Hussein occupied Kuwait and stood poised to dominate the Persian Gulf, Senator Kerry voted against Operation Desert Storm.
Even in this post-9/11 period, Senator Kerry doesn't appear to understand how the world has changed. He talks about leading a "more sensitive war on terror," as though Al Qaeda will be impressed with our softer side. He declared at the Democratic Convention that he will forcefully defend America — after we have been attacked. My fellow Americans, we have already been attacked, and faced with an enemy who seeks the deadliest of weapons to use against us, we cannot wait for the next attack. We must do everything we can to prevent it — and that includes the use of military force.
Senator Kerry denounces American action when other countries don't approve — as if the whole object of our foreign policy were to please a few persistent critics. In fact, in the global war on terror, as in Afghanistan and Iraq, President Bush has brought many allies to our side. But as the President has made very clear, there is a difference between leading a coalition of many, and submitting to the objections of a few. George W. Bush will never seek a permission slip to defend the American people.
Senator Kerry also takes a different view when it comes to supporting our military. Although he voted to authorize force against Saddam Hussein, he then decided he was opposed to the war, and voted against funding for our men and women in the field. He voted against body armor, ammunition, fuel, spare parts, armored vehicles, extra pay for hardship duty, and support for military families. Senator Kerry is campaigning for the position of commander in chief. Yet he does not seem to understand the first obligation of a commander in chief — and that is to support American troops in combat.
In his years in Washington, John Kerry has been one of a hundred votes in the United States Senate — and very fortunately on matters of national security, his views rarely prevailed. But the presidency is an entirely different proposition. A senator can be wrong for 20 years, without consequence to the nation. But a president — a president — always casts the deciding vote. And in this time of challenge, America needs — and America has — a president we can count on to get it right.
On Iraq, Senator Kerry has disagreed with many of his fellow Democrats. But Senator Kerry's liveliest disagreement is with himself. His back-and- forth reflects a habit of indecision, and sends a message of confusion. And it is all part of a pattern. He has, in the last several years, been for the No Child Left Behind Act — and against it. He has spoken in favor of the North American Free Trade Agreement — and against it. He is for the Patriot Act — and against it. Senator Kerry says he sees two Americas. It makes the whole thing mutual — America sees two John Kerrys.
2004 Republican National Convention on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2004
Has Bill McKibben abandoned Jesus for Al Gore?
Looking back through his writings, I'd say YES. Five or ten years ago he was obsessed with correcting self-centered, me-and-Jesus Christianity, the failures of dispensationalism on the one end and Rick Warren on the other, with some CO2 and environmentalism as top dressing. Oddly, I didn't find much criticism of the humanistic, communistic, peace and justice Christians. The ones whose churches have emptied out from lack of following Jesus. From admiring Cuba's agriculture, to criticizing just about everything in American culture, his Christian veneer is desperately thin, even five years ago. Yesterday, the big 350 event, shows he's completely moved to climate changism. Algorism. No more "let's pretend". Since Jesus put all Creation in motion, (In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. John 1:1-3 RSV), it's odd to see yet another man-made, spiritual but not Christian, movement go global. Ah, the power of the internet. Paul was much more convincing back in the first century and demanded much more of people than demonstrating, painted faces, group projects, and protests. Yes, much more demanding.
Hundreds of photos at the 350 site. From expensive sail boats to high tech bicycles. But I thought this one on the site of a destroyed culture seemed to best illustrate what eco-fundamentalists want for us--especially America. Didn't the rulers of some of these civilizations need human sacrifice to stay in power?
Hundreds of photos at the 350 site. From expensive sail boats to high tech bicycles. But I thought this one on the site of a destroyed culture seemed to best illustrate what eco-fundamentalists want for us--especially America. Didn't the rulers of some of these civilizations need human sacrifice to stay in power?
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Atheist Pat Condell speaks out on free speech
It's not often I agree with an atheist about religion, but this be one of those times.
Our First Amendment rights are under attack.
Our First Amendment rights are under attack.
Giving out awards
A The New Republic Jonathan Chait notes in "The case against awards" that:
- "A recent statistical analysis by Robert T. Hodgson, published in the Journal of Wine Economics (I kid you not), found that a wine that wins one competition is no more likely to win another competition than any other wine. Which is to say, wine awards are handed out completely at random. If you listen to movie buffs, they will tell you that the Academy Awards regularly commit unforgiveable sins of commission or omission. Look closely at any field that gives out awards, and you will probably find that injustice is more the rule than the exception.
- Originally the award was designed to be given to those who had done the most to bring about peace. This means it should go to international mediators and those who make peace with their internal or external enemies. While there might not be good candidates every year, there are many who fit this criterion who haven't received the award. It took the Nobel Committee in Oslo 23 years to award Carter for mediating the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty. There are two figures in the Obama administration who deserve it for their work in the Clinton administration: George Mitchell for mediating the Good Friday Agreement in Belfast in 1998; Richard Holbrooke for mediating the Dayton Accords for Bosnia in 1995. Obama should give each of them half of the peace prize.
Independent booksellers fight back
This is a very, very old problem. The people who do it better get more customers, and the smaller firms (which years ago put the mom and pop firms out of business) complain to the government. I feel badly for the book sellers--I like nothing better than to nose around a cosy bookstore, but there sure are a lot of holes in their arguments. The letter to DOJ from the ABA.
I really think their gripe is with the publishers, not Wal-Mart, Target and Amazon. The book business has been screwy for many, many years. Long before Sam Walton ever thought of expanding his little five and dime store. I remember thinking that when I sat by the hour tearing the covers off books and hauling the guts to the trash bin behind the bookstore.
I really think their gripe is with the publishers, not Wal-Mart, Target and Amazon. The book business has been screwy for many, many years. Long before Sam Walton ever thought of expanding his little five and dime store. I remember thinking that when I sat by the hour tearing the covers off books and hauling the guts to the trash bin behind the bookstore.
Mr. President, there is no consensus
Why does he keep smacking us with the global warming myth? Calling us names like naysayers and cynics. Defeatists. Living in the past. Pretending that most people believe it? Any thinking person can see where we're going with the cap and trade bills and agreements--not to protecting future generations, not to lower energy costs, not to saving glaciers and polar bears. Not only do we know the temperature hasn't risen in a decade, but we're on to his one world, global control scheme. It's just an opinion but considering what a bad country he believes he's heading, I think our president, hopes soon to be ruler of the world. (Look out Norway, he's got his eye on you!)- “There are those who will suggest that moving toward clean energy will destroy our economy — when it’s the system we currently have that endangers our prosperity and prevents us from creating millions of new jobs. There are going to be those who cynically claim — make cynical claims that contradict the overwhelming scientific evidence when it comes to climate change, claims whose only purpose is to defeat or delay the change that we know is necessary.” Obama's remarks at MIT, Friday
And how about Pew Research Center? According to the New York Times
- The decline in the belief in solid evidence of global warming has come across the political spectrum, but has been particularly pronounced among independents. Just 53% of independents now see solid evidence of global warming, compared with 75% who did so in April 2008. Republicans, who already were highly skeptical of the evidence of global warming, have become even more so: just 35% of Republicans now see solid evidence of rising global temperatures, down from 49% in 2008 and 62% in 2007. Fewer Democrats also express this view – 75% today compared with 83% last year.
What's the hurry, Mr. President? "Never waste a [man made, trumped up, media engorged, one-world government] crisis."
Kiplinger drinks the Obama Kool-aid
This little item came through today in AIArchitect, the "Kiplinger Connection."
- Economic Stimulus
Was the economic stimulus a success? Depends on how you measure.
The answer’s no, if set against Obama’s original goals: Holding joblessness around 8% and limiting the economic contraction this year to about 1.2%. [Yup, he missed that big time.]
But measured against what would have been, it was a rousing success. [You're kidding, right? Have you noticed your grandchildren will pay for this?] Washington added about $90 billion to GDP in the second and third quarters, through direct payments to the states, COBRA subsidies for the unemployed, reduced income tax withholding plus the first round of infrastructure spending. [Notice how little was spent on infrastructure--but isn't that what he promised?] Otherwise, the second quarter contraction would have been worse than the 0.7% it was, and third quarter GDP would have been expected to come in flat. As it is … GDP surely rose in the third quarter, probably by a healthy 3.5% or so. [Gee, maybe he can keep this going 10 years like FDR did?]
One reason for the view that the stimulus isn’t panning out: Obama’s tendency to focus on infrastructure development. Spending on it has been slow to take off…with long lead times for planning and contracting … and slow to pay off in terms of increased business spending and job creation. [Or maybe he was wasting too much political capital on stealing our health care and had no appointments who knew anything about business and capitalism?]
Trying out the new sidewalks
This morning I took advantage of the new sidewalks and timed myself on a walk around the neighborhood which formerly would have meant wet shoes and falling into the traffic from the bad slope. Half an hour, or approximately 2 miles. The intersection wasn't quite finished, so I didn't connect to the sidewalks on the other side that would have led to the park, choosing instead to walk briefly inside Columbus (no curbs, no sidewalks, poorly paved street) and then back again into our community. In spite of the gray skies, the color in the trees is still beautiful. I don't know how many variety of maple trees there is, but they all seemed to be a different color--ochre, yellow, burgundy, gold, red, lime with a touch of rose, scarlet, purple, and some as green as an August day. With some shin stretches and good solid shoes I should be able to tolerate walking on concrete. So as I'm walking and enjoying the fall weather, I'm thinking--M W F exercise class, T Th S walking the neighborhood for half an hour. That really sounds good until the wind picks up and the temperature drops into the 20s. My mother took up cross country skiing at my age--don't think I'll do that--she was just amazing--but in her memory, I'll try to keep up. Besides, we don't get much snow here.
The perfect birthday card
Sometimes it's just not worth it. I look and look and look. Some cards are so not true. When my dad was alive it was virtually impossible to find a good card--sailboats and golf clubs were just not him. I always look for the right words after I find the right art. This week was my son-in-law's birthday. He's not the home made card type--and I do many of those with my own art. So the hunt was on. Finally, I found it. The art was just awful--bad colors, yucky graphics, but the text fit.
(on the front)
Son-in-law
Strong
Good-hearted
Intelligent
Real
Beyond amazing
(inside)
It means so much
to have someone like you
in our family.
Hope you know
how much you're loved
and appreciated.
The four of us went out to eat at our favorite sports bar and caught up (at least my daughter and I did--the guys probably talked sports). She's doing such an amazing job on her treadmill exercise routine--but hurt her tendon on the recent vacation trip, so we're taking over my exercycle today (which is gathering dust) so she can get aerobic but not put pressure on her foot. I don't know how many dress sizes she's dropped but at least four, and all through the discipline of regular, intense exercise. She was dangerously close to being a diabetic, and all her labs are normal now. She's such an inspiration, I'm even wearing my sweats and athletic shoes to go for a walk (on our new sidewalk) after coffee. It's takes a lot to get me to exercise, and to appear in public dressed this way.
And I apologized for the poor art work--He did like the sentiment.
We no longer have this couch, so I'm guessing ca. 2005
Son-in-law
Strong
Good-hearted
Intelligent
Real
Beyond amazing
(inside)
It means so much
to have someone like you
in our family.
Hope you know
how much you're loved
and appreciated.
The four of us went out to eat at our favorite sports bar and caught up (at least my daughter and I did--the guys probably talked sports). She's doing such an amazing job on her treadmill exercise routine--but hurt her tendon on the recent vacation trip, so we're taking over my exercycle today (which is gathering dust) so she can get aerobic but not put pressure on her foot. I don't know how many dress sizes she's dropped but at least four, and all through the discipline of regular, intense exercise. She was dangerously close to being a diabetic, and all her labs are normal now. She's such an inspiration, I'm even wearing my sweats and athletic shoes to go for a walk (on our new sidewalk) after coffee. It's takes a lot to get me to exercise, and to appear in public dressed this way.
And I apologized for the poor art work--He did like the sentiment.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Thanks America!
Some very wealthy suburbs of Columbus, Ohio, are getting new sidewalks, road repairs, and other dinky little jobs cleaned up at your expense (stimulus money). Soon I'll be able to walk to my favorite coffee shop--I don't think it's this stretch, but one further south if I read the papers correctly. Now, we've certainly sent our share to Washington, D.C. and because of the wealth here, Obama will get his pound of flesh in return for these sidewalks. In recent years (since 2004) the progressive movement in U.A. has really been flexing its muscle, but really, if the richest communities in the country like Upper Arlington, Dublin and Worthington, loaded with OSU faculty and government employees, can't pay for their own sidewalks across the street from one of the finest golf courses in the nation, something's really screwy in the federal government.
One of the city workers stopped me on my walk yesterday and asked how I liked the brick retaining wall (had to cut into our landscaping), and I said it looked nice. He started to say something about Obama (I had the impression he thinks it's free money), and then quickly changed the subject when I asked him why Arlington needed stimulus money.
Here's an August article from Business First detailing some of the other projects around our city.
Friday Family Photo--Christopher
In two Monday Memories I featured our nephew Caleb, entering the army reserves. This is our nephew Christopher, grandson of Brother Bob and Sister Jean (as is Caleb, son of Joan and Dan), son of young Robert and Christa. He's recently finished his Air Force training and was hoping for an exotic relocation--wishes granted--he'll be in Dayton, OH!
Obama's promises to the gay lobby
The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. "By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all."
On October 10 the president gave this speech to the HRC which included:
On October 10 the president gave this speech to the HRC which included:
- My expectation is that when you look back on these years, you will see a time in which we put a stop to discrimination against gays and lesbians -- whether in the office or on the battlefield. (Applause.) You will see a time in which we as a nation finally recognize relationships between two men or two women as just as real and admirable as relationships between a man and a woman. (Applause.) You will see a nation that's valuing and cherishing these families as we build a more perfect union -- a union in which gay Americans are an important part. I am committed to these goals. And my administration will continue fighting to achieve them.
What's behind the closed doors?
While I head for the coffee shop, Murray will give you his ideas on what Harry Reid was trying to do this week with the healthcare bill.
- This week Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev) tried taking 250 billion of expenses out of the healthcare Bill in an attempt to lower the overall cost. $250 Billion! How ? By simply eliminating it from the healthcare Bill and paying the 250 billion out to doctors over a 10 year period of time. This would be unfunded and simply be added to the national debt!
It appears there were two problems he was trying to solve. Lower the cost of the health plan to make it look better and still appease the doctors who aren't supporting the plan. You see, even though the AMA claims to be for the plan, the majority of the doctors in this country are not. That's why Obama held that little fiasco handing out white coats to a select few who were supposed to be doctors in an attempt to fake us out one more time. Obama is good at that.
Fortunately 12 Democrats plus the Republicans defeated the move which proved to be a miscalculation by Reid. I'm sure there will be other attempts to make this "dog" bill look better before it's over. This attempt to extract 250 billion of costs out of the healthcare bill has NOT CAUSED A RIPPLE in the mainstream media. With all the attention and focus on this bill, wouldn't you think NBC, CBS, ABC and the major newspapers would jump all over this? No, no, no! They'd rather give us another report on the Swine Flu.
Well the only people that have so far [Thursday] is Fox News. You know Fox. That's the News station that the Obama administration keeps trying to shut down. They have all the others cooperating but so far they haven't been able to quiet Fox but that doesn't mean they haven't been trying! They put political pressure on Fox's advertisers and claim that Fox IS NOT a news station.
There probably is another reason for sneaking out some of the costs of the healthcare bill. These are my own thoughts. You see, Tuesday the Democrats were behind closed doors ( no Republicans allowed in spite of the fact that Obama calls this a bi-partisan effort) to merge two of these bills into one. Now in order to do this there had to be some arm twisting to get everyone in the room to agree. So how do they do this? PORK! Yes folks, it's PORK time again. Since the CBO has already come up with a number, they can't come out of that room with a bigger one. So I think ol' Harry figured if he gets the 250 billion out of the Bill then there's room for $250 billion of negotiable PORK. Pork is always a tool that is used to pass a dog bill. Regardless, whether that was the plan or not, you can count on the fact that if there isn't any PORK in the current Bills , there certainly will be!
Murray
Thursday, October 22, 2009
70 year old woman shoots intruder in motel
In town for the Quarter Horse Show, this lady grabbed her gun when an intruder in the motel room where she was staying demanded money. He's dead. She had a permit. She probably saved their lives, but is very upset. The annual All-American Quarter Horse Congress is in its third week at the state fairgrounds and ends Sunday. It is the world's largest single-breed horse show and attracts more than 600,000 people to Columbus each year. Don't mess with the cowgirls.
Update: He's now been identified -- had a prison record and was wanted in Missouri.
Update: He's now been identified -- had a prison record and was wanted in Missouri.
She’s been there
Tucked inside the story of her saddness and regrets over her own abortion in 1986 at Ambivablog, was this interesting aside:
- "I once had a flabbergasting conversation with the mother of the family I told you about that lost a daughter to cancer. She’s a close friend of mine, a vivacious, youthful 80 now, and I love her very much, but I think of her as what I call an “NPR listener” -- someone who holds all liberal principles as unquestionable and superior. We were talking after one daughter’s abortion, but before the other’s illness became known. She was telling me about a conversation she’d had with a priest or minister who was pro-choice, and she said with vehemence, “He's not stupid. He knows that’s – “ with a wave of her hand – “nothing.” I was open-mouthed. This is a woman who will carry a spider carefully outdoors and release it! And I thought, “That ‘nothing’ was your grandchild.” How can someone have such reverence for the tiny miracle of a spider (which I share, by the way), yet believe that a human embryo, burrowed into the wall of a womb and growing and unfolding its design with a dizzying impulsion, is “nothing”?
I know exactly how, because I’ve been there.
Sometimes things aren't as they seem
Have you been wondering about the more than usual chaos in the vaccine supply this year? First they hype the H1N1 flu; then tell everyone to get the seasonal flu vaccine; then waffle on who should get H1N1; leak stories about health providers not wanting it; then show long lines of people waiting.
So, is this 1) intended to induce panic so you'll feel out of control and turn even more to the government or 2) it's a preview of how the socialized medicine system will work.
Here's today's item from OSUToday, which every day sends me something different
Our church (UALC) has cancelled its two seasonal flu shot Sundays (with Kroger Pharmacy), something it does each year. Wasn't a problem last year. I got mine at Walgreens before they ran out, and my husband found a dr. office that had 2 left and he went there directly.
So, is this 1) intended to induce panic so you'll feel out of control and turn even more to the government or 2) it's a preview of how the socialized medicine system will work.
Here's today's item from OSUToday, which every day sends me something different
- ". . . only faculty and staff who have previously registered for an appointment will receive their seasonal influenza vaccination. Walk-ins can no longer be accommodated due to the remaining supply of vaccine dedicated for campus use. Keep in mind, the university's supply is running very low, as stated yesterday."
Our church (UALC) has cancelled its two seasonal flu shot Sundays (with Kroger Pharmacy), something it does each year. Wasn't a problem last year. I got mine at Walgreens before they ran out, and my husband found a dr. office that had 2 left and he went there directly.
The lies we believe
Lies have been in the news lately. How about those lies we tell ourselves? Dr. Chris Thurman has written a book, "The Lies We Believe" which he says are at the root of a lot of our personal problems and unhappiness. Give up those lies and you're on your way to . . . well, maybe a healthier life? My copy came from the church library and seems to be a 2nd ed., although it doesn't actually say that--a combination of the original book and workbook. It's a Christian book published by Thomas Nelson. As part of the "growthwork" he lists 30 lies, and the reader is to rate herself from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree) avoiding if possible too many 4s which would sort of be fence sitting. These are the lies we believe, and the rest of the book explains how to recognize them in your thinking, and try to go for the truth. Because who wants a life based on lies? (Apparently a lot of people!)1. I must be perfect.
2. I must have everyone's love and approval.
3. It is easier to avoid problems than to face them.
4. I can't be happy unless things go my way.
5. My unhappiness is someone else's fault.
6. You can have it all.
7. My worth is determined by my performance.
8. Life should be easy.
9. Life should be fair.
10. I shouldn't have to wait for what I want.
11. People are basically good.
12. All my marital problems are my spouse's fault.
13. If my marriage takes hard work, my spouse and I must not be right for each other.
14. My spouse can and should meet all of my emotional needs.
15. My spouse owes me for what I have done for him/her.
16. I shouldn't have to change who I am to make my marriage better.
17. My spouse should be like me.
18. I often make mountains out of molehills.
19. I often take things personally.
20. Things are black or white to me.
21. I often miss the forest for the trees.
22. The past predicts the future.
23. I often reason things out with my feelings rather than the facts.
24. God's love must be earned.
25. God hates the sin and the sinner.
26. Because I'm a Christian, God will protect me from pain and suffering.
27. All of my problems are caused by my sins.
28. It is my Christian duty to meet all the needs of others.
29. A good Christian doesn't feel angry, anxious, or depressed.
30. God can't use me unless I'm spiritually strong.
If you are not a Christian or even if you have no religious faith at all, you can probably substitute something that fits. Some of these don't sound like lies (18-21), but I'll read further to see how he explains that.
Also, if you're not married, or don't have significant problems in your marriage, I'm guessing you can fill in those with parents, siblings, friends or work colleages.
I see lies number 1-11 as those you believe when you're young--at least up to age 40. One day you wake up and realize . . . Life isn't fair, You can't have it all, Not everyone is going to love me and I really don't care, I can too be happy if I don't get my own way--in fact, I just might be happier, and People aren't basically good--some are real stinkers, some evil, and some are depraved and seem to have been so since the beginning.
There are other lies we buy into, especially when we're older. The ones about family and friends, for instance. This is not Thurman's list--just mine.
1. They had good parents, a great education and all the advantages--they shouldn't be acting this way (be in jail), (divorcing the wonderful long suffering spouse), (living in poverty), (failing at careers), etc.
2. I shouldn't be this sick--I've been very careful.
3. All you need to do is set limits.
4. If you expect the best, you'll get the best.
5. Other families don't have these problems.
6. Other people have more (better, richer, smarter, etc.) friends.
7. I don't have time to (fill in the blanks--read, play tennis, join a gourmet club, travel, knit, paints, etc.)
8. Everyone at church is a hypocrite.
9. Science has all the answers.
10. Poverty is the root cause of crime (assault, mental illness, terrorism, homelessness, abuse, etc.).
11. When I get that next promotion (car, house, outfit), I'll be happy.
12. I can fix other people.
13. If they had just listened to me. . . then. . .
14. If the pastor doesn't visit me in the hospital, the church call doesn't count.
15. I'm always the one who has to clean up the mess others make.
16. It's easier to lie than to tell the truth.
17. One more bite won't matter. . . I'll just even this up a bit.
And there are more--can you make your own list?
However, if you are over 60, it's the "shoulda coulda woulda's" that hobble us, more than the lies. I'll have to make a list of those.
More on the Kinston NC nanny case
More on Attorney General Holder treating southern blacks like children. Although the majority of registered voters in the town of Kinston are black, they don't vote in proportion to their registration, therefore they are considered the "minority" and apparently in deep need of nannying.
This item appears in James Taranto's column (Oct. 21).
This item appears in James Taranto's column (Oct. 21).
- . . . the Aug. 17 letter in which Loretta King acting assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights Division, informed the Kinston's lawyers of the decision:
- According to the 2000 Census, the City of Kinston has a total population of 23,688 people, of whom 14,837 (62.6%) are African-American. The total voting age population is 17,906, of whom 10,525 (58.8%) are African-American. The American Community Survey for 2005-2007 estimates the total population to be 22,649, of whom 14,967 (66.6%) are African-American. As of October 31, 2008, the city has 14,799 registered voters, of whom 9,556 (64.6%) are African-American.
Although black persons comprise a majority of the city's registered voters, in three of the past four general municipal elections, African Americans comprised a minority of the electorate on election day; in the fourth , they may have been a slight majority. For that reason, they are viewed as a minority for analytical purposes. Minority turnout is relevant to determining whether a change under Section 5 [of the Voting Rights Act] is retrogressive.
Black voters have had limited success in electing candidates of choice during recent municipal elections.
The letter does not allege any effort to suppress the black vote. Assuming the absence of such efforts, the reason that "black voters have had limited success in electing candidates of choice" is that so many of them have not bothered to vote!
The Justice Department's position, then, is that the Voting Rights Act requires the department to intervene on behalf of the political preferences that it imputes to people who cannot be troubled to go to the polls. This may well be a correct reading of the law--in which case, it's a screwy law.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Biden quoting Reagan
Although without attribution I think it's called something else.
David A. Ridenour at National Center: "Speaking to the AFL-CIO's 2009 legislative conference in Atlantic City, Vice President Joe Biden said, "When a guy in Minooka is out of work, it's an economic slowdown. When your brother-in-law's out of work, it's a recession. When you're out of work, it's a depression."
Hmm... Sounds a bit familiar.
Didn't Ronald Reagan say on the campaign trail in 1980, "Recession is when your neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours. And recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his"?
I hate it when people remake a classic."
David A. Ridenour at National Center: "Speaking to the AFL-CIO's 2009 legislative conference in Atlantic City, Vice President Joe Biden said, "When a guy in Minooka is out of work, it's an economic slowdown. When your brother-in-law's out of work, it's a recession. When you're out of work, it's a depression."
Hmm... Sounds a bit familiar.
Didn't Ronald Reagan say on the campaign trail in 1980, "Recession is when your neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours. And recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his"?
I hate it when people remake a classic."
It doesn't end with gay pastors
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has been sparing over its sexuality statement for 20 years (1989 the task force was formed), and in August 2009 the liberals won--by a tiny margin. The English in the document is so obscure you'd never get out of Writing 101 if you tried this at the college level. Now hundreds of Lutheran churches are leaving as soon as they can secure their buildings and pensions and work out the business relationships with new umbrella organizations through which they can continues missions, teaching and publication. As I have often pointed out to my clueless (and holier than thou) friends, it wasn't going to end with gay marriage, or ordaining gay pastors in "loving committed relationships." Polygamists and man-boy love advocates were waiting in line for us to lower the bar.
So I hate to say "I told you so," but I will. Obama's nominee Chai R. Feldblum, to the Equal Employment Opportunity Council, is a lesbian who believes any number, any mix and match, makes a family and a household. Read her story at InsideCatholic.com
Obama has flip flopped on so many issues, his backing off of marriage between a man and woman is no surprise.
So I hate to say "I told you so," but I will. Obama's nominee Chai R. Feldblum, to the Equal Employment Opportunity Council, is a lesbian who believes any number, any mix and match, makes a family and a household. Read her story at InsideCatholic.com
Obama has flip flopped on so many issues, his backing off of marriage between a man and woman is no surprise.
- Feldblum's advocacy of the homosexual lifestyle is quite startling, given the fact that she teaches at a Catholic law school. As a matter of fact, she is seen in this video arguing not only that the government has a duty to promote homosexuality but also proclaiming, "Gay sex is morally good."
Since President Obama nominated Feldblum on September 15, his outreach to the homosexual community has rapidly accelerated. His keynote speech to the Human Rights Campaign on October 11 contained all the positions advocated by his EEOC nominee: "You will see a time in which we as a nation finally recognize relationships between two men or two women as just as real and admirable as relationships between a man and a woman."
Obama's declaration "to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and to pass the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act" reflects Feldblum's commitment to employ the power of government to encourage the growth of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender social units, thus presenting a direct challenge to traditional marriage."
Rt. 66 Norwegian style
This is on Renny BA's blog. Stop by for a visit. He features many interesting sights, sounds and foods of Norway--even commented on the Nobel mess, although he's not at all political. I just thought this was a great video and I love the enthusiasm.
If you ever plan to motor west
Travel my way, the highway that's the best.
Get your kicks on Route 66!
He also has some great autumnal photos on his blog--seems to come a little earlier than here in Midwestern USA.
I think my mother used Rt 66 when she drove the family from Illinois to California and back during WWII.
And Rt. 66 Toledo style
Rt. 66 Kitchen Bar and Grill near the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio--it's a miracle these clowns didn't kill anyone.
If you ever plan to motor west
Travel my way, the highway that's the best.
Get your kicks on Route 66!
He also has some great autumnal photos on his blog--seems to come a little earlier than here in Midwestern USA.
I think my mother used Rt 66 when she drove the family from Illinois to California and back during WWII.
And Rt. 66 Toledo style
Rt. 66 Kitchen Bar and Grill near the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio--it's a miracle these clowns didn't kill anyone.
Short memory--the paranoid conspiracies of the right, never the left
Thomas Frank at the Tilting Yard in the WSJ today displays a very short memory. The only paranoid conspiracies and talkers he can think of are all appearing on Fox News. He's forgotten Rosie and the Dixie Chicks; Carville and Dean; Carter and Gore; Rahm and Dunn; Moore and Soros. I guess he got the Obama memo on denigrating Fox. Next he’ll be touting volunteerism and green tips. He apparently doesn’t remember the Hollywood stars and talkers who bought into the conspiracy theories about 9/11, accusing George Bush of plotting the whole thing; or the Katrina Hurricane when an entire state and city firmly in control of Democrats managed to blame President Bush for years of their neglect, Corps of Engineers, environmental EPA decisions, etc.; nor does he remember all the Democrats who pounded the podiums about WMD in the late 90s when they thought Al Gore was going to be President; or how the Republicans were accused of stealing not only the 2000 election but the 2004; and who can forget the Patriot Act conspiratists? And have you read Janet Napolitano's latest dictionary of terrorism words? I mean before it got pulled for really, really bad press. Wow. Talk about paranoid. It's her middle name! And who could be kookier than the global warmists? They make the birthers look absolutely reasonable, but with less evidence. Yes, Mr. Frank, Mr. Pseudo-journalist, you ought to see a doctor--your short term memory is really slipping.
So whose news is biased? Associated Press?
Here’s the Fox News account on Sept. 14 of the Senate vote resulting from videos which Brietbart TV supplied Glenn Beck radio and Fox News (Sept. 10 airing), followed by the accounts of CBS (page not available except in cache), MSNBC/NBC, and ABC, all of which used the identical Associated Press report which gave more coverage to ACORN's excuses than the tapes. I cut and pasted the first part--they are all identical. I wonder which one Mr. Gibbs thinks isn't news?
Fox News, Sept. 14, 2009 (AP) WASHINGTON -- The Senate voted Monday to block the Housing and Urban Development Department from giving grants to ACORN, a community organization under fire in several voter-registration fraud cases.
The 83-7 vote would deny housing and community grant funding to ACORN, which stands for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.
The action came as the group is suffering from bad publicity after a duo of conservative activists posing as a prostitute and her pimp released hidden-camera videos in which ACORN employees in Baltimore gave advice on house-buying and how to account on tax forms for the woman's income. Two other videos, aired on the FOX News Channel, depict similar situations in ACORN offices in Brooklyn and Washington, D.C.
----------------
CBS News Sept. 14, 2009 (AP) Washington --The Senate voted Monday to block the Housing and Urban Development Department from giving grants to ACORN, a community organization under fire in several voter-registration fraud cases.
The 83-7 vote would deny housing and community grant funding to ACORN, which stands for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.
The action came as the group is suffering from bad publicity after a duo of conservative activists posing as a prostitute and her pimp released hidden-camera videos in which ACORN employees in Baltimore gave advice on house-buying and how to account on tax forms for the woman's income. Two other videos, aired frequently on media outlets such as the Fox News Channel, depict similar situations in ACORN offices in Brooklyn and Washington, D.C.
---------------------
MSNBC Sept. 14, 2009 AP WASHINGTON - The Senate voted Monday to block the Housing and Urban Development Department from giving grants to ACORN, a community organization under fire in several voter-registration fraud cases.
The 83-7 vote would deny housing and community grant funding to ACORN, which stands for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.
The action came as the group is suffering from bad publicity after a duo of conservative activists posing as a prostitute and her pimp released hidden-camera videos in which ACORN employees in Baltimore gave advice on house-buying and how to account on tax forms for the woman's income. Two other videos, aired frequently on media outlets such as the Fox News Channel, depict similar situations in ACORN offices in Brooklyn and Washington, D.C.
----------------
ABC News Sept. 14, 2009 AP - The Senate voted Monday to block the Housing and Urban Development Department from giving grants to ACORN, a community organization under fire in several voter-registration fraud cases.
The 83-7 vote would deny housing and community grant funding to ACORN, which stands for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.
The action came as the group is suffering from bad publicity after a duo of conservative activists posing as a prostitute and her pimp released hidden-camera videos in which ACORN employees in Baltimore gave advice on house-buying and how to account on tax forms for the woman's income. Two other videos, aired frequently on media outlets such as the Fox News Channel, depict similar situations in ACORN offices in Brooklyn and Washington, D.C.
Note: On September 15, four days after the tapes were first aired on Fox, Charlie Gibson laughed when asked about it on WLS (Chicago) saying that he was unaware of the scandal.
Fox News, Sept. 14, 2009 (AP) WASHINGTON -- The Senate voted Monday to block the Housing and Urban Development Department from giving grants to ACORN, a community organization under fire in several voter-registration fraud cases.
The 83-7 vote would deny housing and community grant funding to ACORN, which stands for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.
The action came as the group is suffering from bad publicity after a duo of conservative activists posing as a prostitute and her pimp released hidden-camera videos in which ACORN employees in Baltimore gave advice on house-buying and how to account on tax forms for the woman's income. Two other videos, aired on the FOX News Channel, depict similar situations in ACORN offices in Brooklyn and Washington, D.C.
----------------
CBS News Sept. 14, 2009 (AP) Washington --The Senate voted Monday to block the Housing and Urban Development Department from giving grants to ACORN, a community organization under fire in several voter-registration fraud cases.
The 83-7 vote would deny housing and community grant funding to ACORN, which stands for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.
The action came as the group is suffering from bad publicity after a duo of conservative activists posing as a prostitute and her pimp released hidden-camera videos in which ACORN employees in Baltimore gave advice on house-buying and how to account on tax forms for the woman's income. Two other videos, aired frequently on media outlets such as the Fox News Channel, depict similar situations in ACORN offices in Brooklyn and Washington, D.C.
---------------------
MSNBC Sept. 14, 2009 AP WASHINGTON - The Senate voted Monday to block the Housing and Urban Development Department from giving grants to ACORN, a community organization under fire in several voter-registration fraud cases.
The 83-7 vote would deny housing and community grant funding to ACORN, which stands for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.
The action came as the group is suffering from bad publicity after a duo of conservative activists posing as a prostitute and her pimp released hidden-camera videos in which ACORN employees in Baltimore gave advice on house-buying and how to account on tax forms for the woman's income. Two other videos, aired frequently on media outlets such as the Fox News Channel, depict similar situations in ACORN offices in Brooklyn and Washington, D.C.
----------------
ABC News Sept. 14, 2009 AP - The Senate voted Monday to block the Housing and Urban Development Department from giving grants to ACORN, a community organization under fire in several voter-registration fraud cases.
The 83-7 vote would deny housing and community grant funding to ACORN, which stands for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.
The action came as the group is suffering from bad publicity after a duo of conservative activists posing as a prostitute and her pimp released hidden-camera videos in which ACORN employees in Baltimore gave advice on house-buying and how to account on tax forms for the woman's income. Two other videos, aired frequently on media outlets such as the Fox News Channel, depict similar situations in ACORN offices in Brooklyn and Washington, D.C.
Note: On September 15, four days after the tapes were first aired on Fox, Charlie Gibson laughed when asked about it on WLS (Chicago) saying that he was unaware of the scandal.
Fixing troubled mortgages for the elderly
Sometimes older is not wiser. It seems that Pedro Garcia, a retired corrections officer, refinanced the home he bought for $23,000 40 years ago for $490,000 with what is known as an exotic "option ARM." In 2009 the house was valued at $150,000. When his payments had balooned beyond his pension's monthly income he quit paying. Bank of America, under pressure from tax cheat Geithner to remedy these bad decisions and "predatory lending" when money was flowing, refinanced it for $85,000 and then gave him a reverse mortgage on that, so he is now paying nothing. Of course, he'd already used that refinancing money--$70,000 to fix up the house, medical bills for his ill wife, and monthly living expenses. I guess the bank just eats that. But he still has a small second mortgage, which has also been modified by that lender. Something like 500,000 borrowers have been rescued by Obama's $75,000,000,000 foreclosure prevention plan. (WSJ story here) According to the article, Mr. Garcia and others were misled by these predators and the ARMs they pushed. No mention in this article about the number of non-profit organizations (like ACORN) that worked with banks and pushed both subprimes and ARMs especially for minorities. 32% of option ARMs were in foreclosure or delinquent as of August, compared to 48% of subprime. The difference is the option ARM people were good credit risks, sensible and wiser. Go figure. Pot. Rainbow. Free money.
And we're still seeing schemes from the government to put people into more housing debt, this time it's Obama instead of the Bushes or Clinton. Earlier this week there was an article on the tax credit plan for first time buyers. Claims for the $8,000 tax credit might have significant fraud. What a surprise! This little goodie if it is extended, will cost the tax payers an additional $16.7 billion. The new proposed ceiling might be $300,000 income per couple instead of the current $150,000. Under the current stimulus plan we the tax payers pay $43,000 for each borrower who uses that $8,000 tax credit. If they raise the ceiling, each tax credit will cost us $250,000 per home sale. (WSJ story here) Folks, you all took second grade math. Does this make any sense to you?
Update: On April 3, 2008 Michelle Malkin exposed the housing counseling racket, deep within the Bush Administration: ". . . mortgage counseling is a thriving racket that benefits far Left groups ranging from the AARP to ACORN to La Raza and Legal Aid. The Department of Housing and Urban Development funds hundreds, if not thousands, of these groups across the country. In October, HUD announced more than $44 million in new housing counseling grants to over 400 state and local efforts. The White House has increased funding for housing counseling by 150 percent since taking office in 2001." http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/the-left-wing-mortgage-counseling-racket/
But wait--she appears on Fox News from time to time, so it must not be reliable.
And we're still seeing schemes from the government to put people into more housing debt, this time it's Obama instead of the Bushes or Clinton. Earlier this week there was an article on the tax credit plan for first time buyers. Claims for the $8,000 tax credit might have significant fraud. What a surprise! This little goodie if it is extended, will cost the tax payers an additional $16.7 billion. The new proposed ceiling might be $300,000 income per couple instead of the current $150,000. Under the current stimulus plan we the tax payers pay $43,000 for each borrower who uses that $8,000 tax credit. If they raise the ceiling, each tax credit will cost us $250,000 per home sale. (WSJ story here) Folks, you all took second grade math. Does this make any sense to you?
Update: On April 3, 2008 Michelle Malkin exposed the housing counseling racket, deep within the Bush Administration: ". . . mortgage counseling is a thriving racket that benefits far Left groups ranging from the AARP to ACORN to La Raza and Legal Aid. The Department of Housing and Urban Development funds hundreds, if not thousands, of these groups across the country. In October, HUD announced more than $44 million in new housing counseling grants to over 400 state and local efforts. The White House has increased funding for housing counseling by 150 percent since taking office in 2001." http://michellemalkin.com/2008/04/03/the-left-wing-mortgage-counseling-racket/
But wait--she appears on Fox News from time to time, so it must not be reliable.
The jargon creep
Not a creep that uses jargon, but a description of a program so filled with gooble-de-gook you either skim over and don't notice it, or gag:
First column: university, college, department, program, unit, committee, community, individual, agent, purpose, class, victims, technology, change, hope etc. etc.
Second column: best, finest, newest, oldest, complex, simple, collaborative, positive, negative, vulnerable, weak, strong, sustainable, eco-friendly, green, digital, economic, social, cultural, diverse, digitized, etc., etc.
Third column: prepare, promote, enhance, foster, nurture, involve, increase, decrease, build, remove, improve, resolve, recognize, change, equip, engage, etc.
Fourth possible column: these would be adverbs, or other squish words, but use sparingly.
Just for fun and comparaison, Google this phrase, "mission statement school of social work" and just browse what the individual universities describe as their mission. Stoneybrook is big on "oppression," and Georgia is concerned about families. Some are specific about skills and expectations; some just float in a sea of meaningless words. You can almost guess the age and political preferences of the writers.
- "Ohio State University College of Social Work [description] First accredited in 1919, the College of Social Work is the oldest continuously accredited social work program in the country. The college, through excellence in teaching, research, and service, prepares leaders who enhance individual and community well-being, celebrate difference, and promote social and economic justice for vulnerable populations. It fosters social change through collaboration with individuals, families, communities, and other change agents to build strengths and resolve complex individual and social problems. As an internationally recognized college, it builds and applies knowledge that positively impacts Ohio, the nation and the world. Social Work's vision is to “embrace difference, seek justice, and be the change.”
- prepare leaders (I hope they prepare a few followers, because without sensible, educated, skilled followers, there's no one to lead)
- enhance (vt from old French via Latin; improve, increase
- community well-being (a moving target--depends on the amount of the grant)
- promote social and economic justice (guidelines from Saul Alinsky, Mao, small sects and cults living on Pacific Islands, various dead, and some living in Chicago, heros from the 1970s and Latin American revolutions--whether in church or college these are code phrases for some form of socialism, never capitalism, the system for which most immigrants come here and with which they succeed)
- vulnerable populations (whatever group brings in the most government money--could be Appalachian resettled miners, mentally ill street people, Vietnam vets, unemployed TV and toaster repairmen)
- celebrate difference (convince middle class rural and suburban college kids that their own lives and values are worthless)
- foster (v. from Old English word for food and feeding; giving parental care or nurture; encourage; promote growth or development)
- social change (what academics and government officials do for a living which affords a comfortable life style and sense of purpose for the agent; what they promote when they don't like someone else's values, religion, appearance, beliefs)
- collaboration (lots of meetings, task forces, papers, and empire building)
- other change agents (non-profits, churches, local government officials, members of the DNC, assorted useful misfits--most surviving on federal grants)
- families (any mix and match group)
- social problem (crime, education, voter behavior, smoking, obesity, or any people or personal structure that will not respond to government intervention so that the income stream is steady)
- you get the idea, jargon.
First column: university, college, department, program, unit, committee, community, individual, agent, purpose, class, victims, technology, change, hope etc. etc.
Second column: best, finest, newest, oldest, complex, simple, collaborative, positive, negative, vulnerable, weak, strong, sustainable, eco-friendly, green, digital, economic, social, cultural, diverse, digitized, etc., etc.
Third column: prepare, promote, enhance, foster, nurture, involve, increase, decrease, build, remove, improve, resolve, recognize, change, equip, engage, etc.
Fourth possible column: these would be adverbs, or other squish words, but use sparingly.
Just for fun and comparaison, Google this phrase, "mission statement school of social work" and just browse what the individual universities describe as their mission. Stoneybrook is big on "oppression," and Georgia is concerned about families. Some are specific about skills and expectations; some just float in a sea of meaningless words. You can almost guess the age and political preferences of the writers.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Obama's manufacturing czar is just a thug
Quoting Mao once doesn't make him a Marxist--I'd need to see the rest of his record, but he sure sounds and acts like a thug or goon in a business suit.
Ron Bloom, giving a speech in which he says that "the free market is nonsense." Where does he find them?
“Generally speaking we get the joke. We know that the free market is nonsense. We know that the whole point is to game the system, to beat the market, or at least find someone who will pay you a lot of money because they’re convinced that there is a free lunch. We know this is largely about power, that it’s an adults only, no limit game. We kind of agree with Mao that political power comes largely from the barrel of a gun. And we get it that if you want a friend, you should get a dog.”
Ron Bloom, giving a speech in which he says that "the free market is nonsense." Where does he find them?
“Generally speaking we get the joke. We know that the free market is nonsense. We know that the whole point is to game the system, to beat the market, or at least find someone who will pay you a lot of money because they’re convinced that there is a free lunch. We know this is largely about power, that it’s an adults only, no limit game. We kind of agree with Mao that political power comes largely from the barrel of a gun. And we get it that if you want a friend, you should get a dog.”
Can we trust government cost estimates?
No. They are never accurate. War. Peace. Highways. Social Security. CO2. Schools. Even pork (earmarks) aren't accurate. Never. Does the government ever "contain" costs. No. In today's Review and Outlook in the WSJ:
- Start with Medicaid, the joint state-federal program for the poor. The House Ways and Means Committee estimated that its first-year costs would be $238 million. Instead it hit more than $1 billion, and costs have kept climbing.
Thanks in part to expansions promoted by California's Henry Waxman, a principal author of the current House bill, Medicaid now costs 37 times more than it did when it was launched—after adjusting for inflation. Its current cost is $251 billion, up 24.7% or $50 billion in fiscal 2009 alone, and that's before the health-care bill covers millions of new beneficiaries.
A high tech net for volunteers
I hope everyone contributing to buy nets and t-shirts noticed the article about malaria in today's Wall St. Journal. It's about high tech epidemiology and volunteers who help with malaria vaccine modeling. The simulations could take months or years as millions die or become disabled by a disease that about 30 years ago had practically been conquered. That is until Rachel Carson told about her vision of a silent spring, and DDT as a killer of mosquitoes that spread the disease was essentially taken off the market. In its place we have bed nets and local spraying, and do-gooders buying orange t-shirts and having basketball games and bake sales to feel like they're doing something. Meanwhile, millions of children, mostly black and brown, mostly poor, mostly not using bed-nets because they aren't accessible, are dying.
So while they slice and dice the genes of the female mosquito becoming famous for writing articles in peer review journals, they can only hope for that enzyme that will cure the disease. But doesn't volunteering just feel so good? Isn't that what counts? The feeling, not the results?
So while they slice and dice the genes of the female mosquito becoming famous for writing articles in peer review journals, they can only hope for that enzyme that will cure the disease. But doesn't volunteering just feel so good? Isn't that what counts? The feeling, not the results?
How Well Do You Know Illinois?
Recently, a high school friend sent me quiz, "How Well Do You Know Illinois?" I got most of them right, although I didn't know the original name of the Chicago Bears, and guessed at the state flower. So I wouldn't win a million. Also, if Peoria is the oldest town, there are four or five others ready to call her a liar, although it may be the oldest of the four listed. However, I also knew Ronald Reagan wasn't born in Dixon, Illinois, which means at least one answer was wrong--so maybe there were others--like the oldest town.
Could you go through these questions, not miss any and win a million dollars, if the opportunity arose.
1. $100 What is the Capital of Illinois?
a. Chicago
b. Champaign
c. Springfield
d. East St.. Louis
***********************************************************
2. $200 The State Motto is . . ..
a. Home of Ronald Reagan
b. Prairie State
c. Land of 100 Lakes
d. Land of Lincoln
***********************************************************
3. $400 - State that DOES NOT border IL?
a. Iowa
b. Missouri
c. Texas
d. Indiana
***********************************************************
4. $1000. Which is furthest down south?
a. Chicago
b. Decatur
c. Carbondale
d. Bloomington
***********************************************************
5. $2000 What is the State bird?
a. Chicken
b. Cardinal
c. Pheasant
d. Eagle
***********************************************************
6. $4,000 - Which community is oldest in Illinois?
A. Chicago
b. Peoria
c. Effingham
d. East St. Louis
***********************************************************
7. $8,000 - The Chicago Bears were known as...?
a. Always has been known as Chicago Bears
b. Decatur Bears
c. Sucky Bears
d. Decatur Staleys
***********************************************************
8. $16,000 - What town is home to Superman?
a. Harristown
b. Pana
c. Metropolis
d. Peru
***********************************************************
9. $32,000 - City that has never been the capital of IL?
a. Springfield
b. Peoria
c. Kaskaskia
d. Vandalia
***********************************************************
10. $64,000 - State Flower?
a. Corn Stalks
b. Yellow Dandelions
c. White Daisies
d. Purple Violets
***********************************************************
11. $125,000 - how do you pronounce "Moweaqua"?
a. Mo-we-qua
b. Mow-wee-aqua
c. Mowey-qua
d. Mow-aqua
***********************************************************
12. $250,000 - Jesse Jackson stuck his nose into the business of what town concerning the 6 criminal kids?
a. Springfield
b. Decatur
c. Peoria
d. Chicago
***********************************************************
13. $500,000- Going to the boat means?
a. Cruising Lake Decatur
b. Going to your mother-in-laws house
c. Riverside Gambling
d. Going to jail
***********************************************************
14. $1,000,000 - Which President was born in Dixon, IL?
a. Reagan
b. Clinton
c. Jefferson
d. Nixon
*******************************************
ANSWERS ARE BELOW.....................
1. 100 C - Springfield
2. 200 D - Land of Lincoln
3. 400 C - Texas
4. 1000 C - Carbondale
5. 2000 B - Cardinal (even though hunters like to claim it as the pheasant)
6. 4000 B - Peoria -- Even though East St Louis looks as if it should be the oldest [others also claim to be the oldest, Cahokia, Palestine, Shawneetown]
7. 8000 D - Decatur Staleys --- Even though C (sucky bears) would work too:)
8. 16000 C - Metropolis (yep its a real city in southern IL)
9. 32,000 B - Peoria
10. 64,000 D - Purple Violets -- Even though (a) Corn Stalks should be.
11. 125,000 A - Mo-we-qua
12. 250,000 B - Decatur
13. 500,000 C. Riverside Gambling --- Better not mean (b) going to your mom in laws
14. 1,000,000 A - Reagan [wrong!]
Could you go through these questions, not miss any and win a million dollars, if the opportunity arose.
1. $100 What is the Capital of Illinois?
a. Chicago
b. Champaign
c. Springfield
d. East St.. Louis
***********************************************************
2. $200 The State Motto is . . ..
a. Home of Ronald Reagan
b. Prairie State
c. Land of 100 Lakes
d. Land of Lincoln
***********************************************************
3. $400 - State that DOES NOT border IL?
a. Iowa
b. Missouri
c. Texas
d. Indiana
***********************************************************
4. $1000. Which is furthest down south?
a. Chicago
b. Decatur
c. Carbondale
d. Bloomington
***********************************************************
5. $2000 What is the State bird?
a. Chicken
b. Cardinal
c. Pheasant
d. Eagle
***********************************************************
6. $4,000 - Which community is oldest in Illinois?
A. Chicago
b. Peoria
c. Effingham
d. East St. Louis
***********************************************************
7. $8,000 - The Chicago Bears were known as...?
a. Always has been known as Chicago Bears
b. Decatur Bears
c. Sucky Bears
d. Decatur Staleys
***********************************************************
8. $16,000 - What town is home to Superman?
a. Harristown
b. Pana
c. Metropolis
d. Peru
***********************************************************
9. $32,000 - City that has never been the capital of IL?
a. Springfield
b. Peoria
c. Kaskaskia
d. Vandalia
***********************************************************
10. $64,000 - State Flower?
a. Corn Stalks
b. Yellow Dandelions
c. White Daisies
d. Purple Violets
***********************************************************
11. $125,000 - how do you pronounce "Moweaqua"?
a. Mo-we-qua
b. Mow-wee-aqua
c. Mowey-qua
d. Mow-aqua
***********************************************************
12. $250,000 - Jesse Jackson stuck his nose into the business of what town concerning the 6 criminal kids?
a. Springfield
b. Decatur
c. Peoria
d. Chicago
***********************************************************
13. $500,000- Going to the boat means?
a. Cruising Lake Decatur
b. Going to your mother-in-laws house
c. Riverside Gambling
d. Going to jail
***********************************************************
14. $1,000,000 - Which President was born in Dixon, IL?
a. Reagan
b. Clinton
c. Jefferson
d. Nixon
*******************************************
ANSWERS ARE BELOW.....................
1. 100 C - Springfield
2. 200 D - Land of Lincoln
3. 400 C - Texas
4. 1000 C - Carbondale
5. 2000 B - Cardinal (even though hunters like to claim it as the pheasant)
6. 4000 B - Peoria -- Even though East St Louis looks as if it should be the oldest [others also claim to be the oldest, Cahokia, Palestine, Shawneetown]
7. 8000 D - Decatur Staleys --- Even though C (sucky bears) would work too:)
8. 16000 C - Metropolis (yep its a real city in southern IL)
9. 32,000 B - Peoria
10. 64,000 D - Purple Violets -- Even though (a) Corn Stalks should be.
11. 125,000 A - Mo-we-qua
12. 250,000 B - Decatur
13. 500,000 C. Riverside Gambling --- Better not mean (b) going to your mom in laws
14. 1,000,000 A - Reagan [wrong!]
A story of love and determination
My friend Helen sent this story e-mail. It's going around. So I checked it as I usually do, and Snopes says it is true, and it appears on a number of blogs. Here's a longer version without photos.
- "While it is tragic that someone should die, especially so young, it's difficult to see the story of Katie Kirkpatrick Godwin as a sad one.
She did not allow illness to make her weak, she did not allow it to change her relationship with her God or her family or her husband. She did not let sickness stop her from living, take away the hope or faith that made her believe she had a future. She had a lovely wedding and she had love and she gave love and love doesn't die.
And that is how Katie beat cancer."
Why doesn't Obama trust black voters?
Al Gore was the same way in the 2000 election in Florida. Remember the hanging chads? That happened because a black district hadn't voted the straight Democrat ticket and Gore's people wanted a recount by eyeballing little bits of dangling paper to determine intent. Now Eric Holder, Obama's Attorney General, has decided black voters in Kinston NC couldn't possibly vote if the "Democrat" designation wasn't beside the name of the candidate. The story is at the Washington Times, but never you mind, I'm guessing Obama's White House doesn't approve of this one as real news either.
- The Justice Department's ruling, which affects races for City Council and mayor, went so far as to say partisan elections are needed so that black voters can elect their "candidates of choice" - identified by the department as those who are Democrats and almost exclusively black.
The department ruled that white voters in Kinston will vote for blacks only if they are Democrats and that therefore the city cannot get rid of party affiliations for local elections because that would violate black voters' right to elect the candidates they want.
The appeal of celebrity
Because of reality shows on TV, the ordinary people with little talent can now be a star--if they are fat, have a beat up truck, a house falling down, have multiple births, are little people, are former cheerleaders, want to swap wives, or have a terrible wardrobe.
The balloon fiasco is just the latest example of what can go wrong. Millions of people watched and prayed and soon became very dissolutioned when first they thought the 6 year old had died, then he was hiding, then the family had pulled a hoax.
"A celebrity is a person who is know for his well-knowness." (Daniel Boorstin) It isn't even about money anymore. It's a craving for the public's attention.
Here's People Magazine's rules for a successful cover.
The balloon fiasco is just the latest example of what can go wrong. Millions of people watched and prayed and soon became very dissolutioned when first they thought the 6 year old had died, then he was hiding, then the family had pulled a hoax.
"A celebrity is a person who is know for his well-knowness." (Daniel Boorstin) It isn't even about money anymore. It's a craving for the public's attention.
Here's People Magazine's rules for a successful cover.
- Young is better than old.
Pretty is better than ugly.
Rich is better than poor.
TV is better than music.
Music is better than movies.
Movies are better than sports.
Anything is better than politics.
And nothing is better than a celebrity who just died. (Richard Stolley, quoted in Neal Gabler, Life; The Movie, 2000. See also The Magazinist
Obama's Human Rights record
Not so great. Much worse than Bush's--actually, not even close. He at least freed all those second class citizens, aka women.
Bret Stephens examines Obama's Human Rights record.
China: no pressing whatsoever on human rights
Sudan: "incentives and disincentives" for the genocidal Sudanese government of Omar Bashir
Iran: denied funding for a human-rights group working the Iran beat to appease Tehran
Burma: where 150,000 died of starvation in plain view being denied humanitarian aid, Obama is going to change to constructive engagement
Tibet: ignore the Dalai Lama and concede to China with constructive engagement (see Burma)
Bret Stephens examines Obama's Human Rights record.
China: no pressing whatsoever on human rights
Sudan: "incentives and disincentives" for the genocidal Sudanese government of Omar Bashir
Iran: denied funding for a human-rights group working the Iran beat to appease Tehran
Burma: where 150,000 died of starvation in plain view being denied humanitarian aid, Obama is going to change to constructive engagement
Tibet: ignore the Dalai Lama and concede to China with constructive engagement (see Burma)
International Day of Climate Action
World wide stupidity and insanity. It always amazes me that people who sincerely believe God couldn't speak the creation into existence in 6 days, just as sincerely believe they can organize themselves into committees, focus groups, clubs and dictatorships to change the climate.
Plan to restrict free speech
A proposal sponsored by the Obama administration at the United Nations that purports to seek protection for "freedom of opinion and expression" actually is a call for a worldwide crackdown on freedom of speech and a mandate for nations to ensure "that relevant national legislation complies with … international human rights obligations" – a clear threat to the First Amendment, according to critics.
The resolution was submitted recently by the United States and Egypt. It was approved by the U.N. Human Rights Council as a first step in its process through the international organization.
It demands that all nations condemn and criminalize "any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence." Steven Groves of the Heritage Foundation told WND the issue is not about free speech at all but about installing international precedents to stifle any criticism of Islam.
Full story at World Net Daily.
The United Nations has become a totally worthless organization, filled with petty tyrants and dictators who won't obey our laws when their here strutting their lies, and don't allow any freedoms in their own countries, from which people flee to come here to find what they don't have at home. Now Obama wants us to become just another third world, banana republic where everyone can be equally poor to fit his narcissistic personality. Unfortunately, he's succeeding.
The resolution was submitted recently by the United States and Egypt. It was approved by the U.N. Human Rights Council as a first step in its process through the international organization.
It demands that all nations condemn and criminalize "any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence." Steven Groves of the Heritage Foundation told WND the issue is not about free speech at all but about installing international precedents to stifle any criticism of Islam.
Full story at World Net Daily.
The United Nations has become a totally worthless organization, filled with petty tyrants and dictators who won't obey our laws when their here strutting their lies, and don't allow any freedoms in their own countries, from which people flee to come here to find what they don't have at home. Now Obama wants us to become just another third world, banana republic where everyone can be equally poor to fit his narcissistic personality. Unfortunately, he's succeeding.
Changing sheets listening to Fox
Fox News was on in the background while I was changing sheets today. Sounded like news to me. Can't imagine what the WH is so in a snit about. The stories I heard were H1N1 vaccine--reasons to get it, who, where, etc. That was an interview with a doctor. Story about Christopher Dodd wanting more rules for banks. Straight line reporting, quoting him--didn't even point out his ethical failings and his sweetheart deals. Then there was a science feature about a blob robot, again an interview with an expert. It appears the White House can't tell the difference between opinion and news. Probably watching too much ABC, NBC, NBC and CNN--because on those channels, you really can't tell. Today the Fox Business Channel starts for us on our cable service--we enjoy Neil Cavuto on regular Fox and look forward to seeing him and a few others on the Business Channel, like Dave Ramsey, Elizabeth McDonald and John Stossell.
People who demean Fox News don't recognize unfiltered, non-Katified news, and don't notice that the panels have more than one viewpoint--sometimes 3 or 4! Oh, the horror of it. It's not Obama 24/7!
People who demean Fox News don't recognize unfiltered, non-Katified news, and don't notice that the panels have more than one viewpoint--sometimes 3 or 4! Oh, the horror of it. It's not Obama 24/7!
Socialism sells. . . then kills
Joe Wilson and his opponent have now both raised $2 million for their campaigns. His "You Lie" statement of truth energized both campaigns. The Democrats are now the party of the fat cats, rich energy moguls going green, foreign born lobbyists and smelly Euro-socialists, in addition to their usual supporters, Hollywood celebrities and the public librarians. So they have a lot more money than we do.
So time to chip in, Conservatives. Yes, both parties are full of pork-fed liars, but for now, getting Congress out of the clutches of the White House Statists is important. These are very deep pockets among the Obama crowd. I used to think it wasn't ethical to get involved in other states' elections. But that was before we knew the extent of Soros, ACORN and the Chicago machine.
Joe Wilson for Congress blog.
Photo from Stop blaming capitalism for socialism's failures at But now you know.
Captured CO2
Last week there was a dust storm over Australia that dumped tons of red dust in the ocean. The dust contained nutrients which fed huge blooms of phytoplankton. Those tiny plants provide food for larger ocean creatures. The plankton has captured about 8 million tons of CO2. This will be deposited on the ocean floor. That's one month of emissions from a dirty coal-fired plant in China making energy conserving light bulbs for Americans so they can sit in dim rooms feeling good about themselves for not using American clean coal mined here in Ohio and other Appalachian states providing good jobs. The DC and California greenies don't like the ocean doing the natural CO2 capture and storage primarily because they can't make any money that way or tax it.
Ohio State sets new enrollment records
According to OSUToday: "Ohio State has set new records this fall – in the size, quality and diversity of its student body. There are new records in the number of students attending the Columbus campus and several regional campuses. New autumn quarter enrollment figures show a 2.7 percent increase in Ohio State enrollment, with a record 63,217 students on all campuses and a record 55,014 on the Columbus campus – a 2.4 percent increase. Across all campuses, there are a record 49,915 undergraduates including 9,510 new first-year students — providing more students than ever access to higher education." Read more: the full report (51 pages) or the press release http://osu.edu/news/newsitem2575
The library has now moved back to the main campus, so in order to go there, I'll have to compete for parking again. I loved having it on Ackerman Rd. The ACK STAX. I think I used the library more those 3 years than all the other years in my retirement (9).
The library has now moved back to the main campus, so in order to go there, I'll have to compete for parking again. I loved having it on Ackerman Rd. The ACK STAX. I think I used the library more those 3 years than all the other years in my retirement (9).
Cash for Oldsters
"No one ever went broke underestimating political cynicism, but these days even we can't keep up: On Wednesday [Oct. 14], President Obama announced that he wants to send every American senior a $250 check.
"Even as we seek to bring about recovery, we must act on behalf of those hardest hit by this recession," Mr. Obama said. Of course it's a mere coincidence that these checks are being proposed, and probably passed, just as Congress is about to vote on health care."
So says Review and Outlook at Friday's WSJ. Keep in mind, only the opinion page in the Wall Street Journal is conservative--the news section follows like a puppy at Obama's heels. (Nice doggie, good doggie, here's a bone, now don't bite or I'll bury you with the other chickens in the Fox Den.)
A group of us seniors was talking Sunday evening in our home. Actually, we aren't the "hardest hit" at all; one observed that we have all lived at a much reduced, simpler lifestyle when we were younger--it is no sacrifice or terror for us to reenter that territory like it might be for children and grandchildren who have enjoyed all the perks and materialism that a booming free market economy offers, and much of it sterile and unspiritual to boot! Also I know couples my age and older with 5 and 6 pension streams, their two or three homes and cars are paid for, and their "gotta have it" odometer is no longer functioning. A few born in the 20s and 30s remember the Great Depression, but most remember their parents' stories and advice. We are the fortunate generation, not the hardest hit.
In a recent e-mail, the ever vigilant Murray observed:
"Even as we seek to bring about recovery, we must act on behalf of those hardest hit by this recession," Mr. Obama said. Of course it's a mere coincidence that these checks are being proposed, and probably passed, just as Congress is about to vote on health care."
So says Review and Outlook at Friday's WSJ. Keep in mind, only the opinion page in the Wall Street Journal is conservative--the news section follows like a puppy at Obama's heels. (Nice doggie, good doggie, here's a bone, now don't bite or I'll bury you with the other chickens in the Fox Den.)
A group of us seniors was talking Sunday evening in our home. Actually, we aren't the "hardest hit" at all; one observed that we have all lived at a much reduced, simpler lifestyle when we were younger--it is no sacrifice or terror for us to reenter that territory like it might be for children and grandchildren who have enjoyed all the perks and materialism that a booming free market economy offers, and much of it sterile and unspiritual to boot! Also I know couples my age and older with 5 and 6 pension streams, their two or three homes and cars are paid for, and their "gotta have it" odometer is no longer functioning. A few born in the 20s and 30s remember the Great Depression, but most remember their parents' stories and advice. We are the fortunate generation, not the hardest hit.
In a recent e-mail, the ever vigilant Murray observed:
- Now remember, the reason to rush the [stimulus] Bill through without reading it was to avoid a another crisis to go along with the housing bubble burst that was ALL Bush's fault. So why has only about 15% of the $787 billion stimulus been released? Gee, I thought rushing this money into the economy was the key point. But wait, take another look at Emaneul's statement again [never waste a good crisis]. They don't want to waste a crisis so therefore what's the best strategic plan for the Obama team? (not for you & I silly) It seems to play out like this. They are trickling the money into the economy and plan to dump 2/3 of it in just before the next election. So let's see, 1/3 over the first two years and then wham, 2/3 just before the next election. Hmmmmm! Who does that help?
In the meantime, in order to keep the peasants at bay, they will extend unemployment benefits. Thus they will be using your tax dollars to enable them to delay the so called stimulus money until THEY can best take advantage of it while the masses are beating the bushes looking for jobs. I guess the rush wasn't so important after all !!
This is the kind of deception and lying that we've become used to but shouldn't be comfortable with. It's like the other day when things weren't going well for Obama so he says he wants to give S.S. recipients $250 checks to offset no COLA for 2010. (your congressman gave himself a $4,700 raise on his 174,000 dollar salary) Obama throws out crumbs with your tax dollars so he can milk it for all it's worth. In this case he's hoping to get the seniors off his back by waiting to cut the checks until right before the midterm elections. Hmmmm! This must part of the transparency he promised.
It's just like his ObamaCare. If it passes Heh,Heh,Heh.... benefits won't start for the uninsured until 2013 after the elections. Why? Because that's when we find out just how bad this plan is and how much it's really going to cost after it's too late. Why do I say it's bad? Well, if they won't bother to read it, won't post it on the Internet and use trickery to calculate the cost, what other conclusion can you come to? Besides, the 4 things that need to be in any healthcare plan that would lower the healthcare costs aren't in it. In fact, the largest cost to the healthcare industry (free healthcare for illegals) is being totally ignored as are the illegals themselves. That in itself tells you this package stinks. Today I find out that one of the ways the Democrats used to help lower the overall cost of the healthcare bill was to take some of the expensive provisions out of the Bill and put them in a separate bill to pass. Ahhh, isn't transparency wonderful? Isn't this the kind of information that should be exposed on the 6 o'clock news or make the headlines?
The latest polls show that 54% oppose and 35% are for the healthcare plan. But that doesn't matter. We're dealing with what Obama wants. The Obama team has ignored us at the town hall meetings, tea parties, our e-mails and the March on Washington. Obama stages his own town hall meetings and runs them like he's campaigning. Welcome to ObamaWorld!
Monday, October 19, 2009
New editor in blogger
For several days I tried "new editor" in the basic posting template at blogger. Didn't like it. When I copied and pasted text from another source, I couldn't control the paragraphs; I couldn't see what I was editing; there was no spell check, had to use IE's; sometimes in the window things ran off the margin. Really, I could see no advantage. Still haven't seen a correction to the label problem (2000 limit) and I've read through the discussions at the blogger.com forums. Some people seem to be in worse shape than I. So I continue to use the labels I have and hope someone fixes this problem. If you don't have an "Anita Dunn" label there's really no work-around.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
Posts
