Obama blows over wall of separation with hot air!

Will Christmas pagents reappear this year in schools? Can we decorate the public square again? President Obama has enlisted pastors to plug his health care plan. Whoopee! The man who asked Georgetown University to remove any signs or symbols of the faith, now comes crawling since 70% of us reject his ideas on a takeover of a huge segment of the economy. The president most far out on late term killing of unborn babies, now wants churches to plug his program to impoverish more Americans. If you start hearing this drivel in your church either in Sunday School or from the pulpit, I hope you walk out!

. . .on Tuesday President Obama and his director of faith-based initiatives convened exactly such a meeting to try to control political damage from the unpopular health-care law. "Get out there and spread the word," Politico.com reported the president as saying on a conference call with leaders of faith-based and community groups. "I think all of you can be really important validators and trusted resources for friends and neighbors, to help explain what's now available to them." Since then, there's been nary a peep from the press.

Jim Towey: Pastors For ObamaCare? - WSJ.com

Obama's foreign agenda

President Obama's devotion to international institutions like the United Nations is the core of the Obama Doctrine. . . The United Nations finds no moral conflict in having human rights abusers sit on the U.N. Human Rights Council; in having socialist countries sit on the United Nations' Economic and Social Council; or having terrorism-sponsoring nations block the United Nations from defining an act of terrorism."

Morning Bell: Waiting for Crazy | The Foundry: Conservative Policy News.

So the UN doctrine on human rights is now the BOUSA doctrine on human rights?

The "crazy" in the title refers to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and not Obama--just in case you don't read the article.

Congress again puts politics ahead of rescuing the economy

Obama and the Democrats find yet another way to keep the economy sinking, sinking, sinking--mass uncertainty about taxes. Yes, Mr. Obama's plan is working.

"The delay could complicate the financial planning of millions of Americans. "You're going to have families sitting there thinking about the tax consequences in end-of-life situations," said Alan Rothschild, chairman of the American Bar Association's section on estate law. "That's a horrible situation." The estate tax, which lapsed in January, will return next year at rates up to 55% unless Congress acts."

Congress Punts on Taxes - WSJ.com

Would there be a Republican pledge without the Tea Party movement?

In 18 months the Tea Party went from zero to 29% of the voters. What would Republicans be pledging or debating if it weren't for these folks nipping at their heels as they turned tail and ran?

Highlights of the Pledge include:

1. Small business income deduction of 20% of income
   
2. Permanent extension of current tax rates to avoid largest tax hike in history
   
3. Cancel unspent stimulus funds
   
4. Place a cap on all new discretionary spending
   
5. Restore spending to pre-stimulus, pre-bailout levels of 2008
   
6. Repeal and replace the health care law

For more information on the Pledge to America

Childhood memories? Where did she grow up?

One of the bottles I found under the sink today in my week of kitchen cleaning was a handsome spray bottle with a teal label called "Beach Days Surface Cleaner." I think I bought it some years ago at an eco-friendly display at Meijer's and some how it got stuck in the undersink clutter. It's made by The Good Home Co., established in 1995. The label says,

"In 1995, I began to hand-make quality products with frangrances that were based on my memories of simple, beautiful places. My own wonderful, childhood memories of perfect days by the sea inspired this Beach Days fragrance."

Whew! She must have grown up next to a solvent factory if this stuff makes her nostalgic, because a whiff of this can make your eyes burn from 20 ft. There was only a little left in the bottle, so I added water. That seemed to make it worse.

The main solvent is "propylene glycol n-butyl ether" and it's not recommended for glass, wood, marble, fabric or painted surfaces, which leaves me what exactly in the kitchen?

Glycol Ethers - General Information

And sound and look of affluence

On my morning walk today I could hear the sound of traffic roaring both north and south from Rt. 315--several miles away. I could also hear the happy sounds of the Upper Arlington High School band practicing miles away. I saw construction/remodeling signs of contractors in the yards of the upscale neighborhood built in the mid-1970s. Then I picked up a flyer from a real estate sign for 3815 Criswell Drive.

Half a million won't get you much in Huntington Beach, California, or Coolidge Corners, a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts, but it buys a heck of a lot of house in a very convenient neighborhood of Upper Arlington, a community of outstanding schools and community services, minutes to Dublin or downtown Columbus or OSU, Battelle or Chem Abstracts and a stone's throw from one of the country's best golf courses.

1. Almost 3,000 sq ft
2. 112 x 150 lot
3. finished media room
4. bump out on garage for hobbies or third car
5. beautiful yard with patio and irrigation system
6. island kitchen with pantry wall and mud room
7. dining room with wet bar and built-ins
8. marble floors in foyer and kitchen
9. 2nd floor laundry
10. deluxe master bath with jetted tub and shower

So the taxes are over $10,500, but we don't have personal property taxes like some of you do; we don't have mountains and beaches near by, but there is an airport; and of course, we have football out the wazoo.

Today I got an e-mail from Bob, a high school friend warning me Starbucks prices were going up, up and away. (About 6 guys from my high school (1950s) have e-mail lists--and they say women talk. . .) I wrote back and told Bob I judge affluence by . . . kitchen counter tops. Recently our neighborhood had a home tour. You would think laminate counters are a sign of 3rd world poverty. Granite, marble, polished concrete, and the new cabinets to support them, the track lighting to shine on them, and the gorgeous art to hang above them are a sign that Americans are still doing quite well, thank you. Also, I'm a fan of HGTV, and hooked on the home buying "reality" shows (completely unreal). You would think people have seen a rat if the buyers see laminate.

Personally, I think marble is way overrated. It's hard to clean--in fact my kitchen counter never feels clean to me and it's too dark to tell. The instructions for its care read like a school exam, so now I just clean it with anything handy--usually Windex, which I've learned is just about the handiest tool around.

The point of all this is to tell all those economic experts and journalists who for the last 30 years have been telling me how awful it is to be poor in the United States and how we're all going to hell in a hand basket, that many Americans are doing just fine. And they are very, very tired of hearing our scolding, obsequious president diminish what a market economy can provide for most of us, and give hope for the rest. We started our marriage in the bottom quintile 50 years ago and never even noticed we were poor because we had so much for which to be grateful.

The Carter-Obama Comparisons

This is a "kiss and tell" entry. I adored President Jimmy Carter, and wrote him a fan letter after he was turned out to pasture by Reagan (and I received a thank you note which I kept on my refrigerator for at least a year). However, at first I thought he was a wonderful ex-president going about inspiring people with authentic Christian good works (Habitat for Humanity). However, as he got older and more restless he began setting a really bad example for future Democratic ex-presidents and ex-vice presidents. (This doesn't seem to be an affliction of Republicans.) He began to act as though he still mattered to the American public, that people cared what he thought. That said, I still admire a man who will defend his record while working out of a cramped apartment with a Murphy bed rather than living it up in high style the way other Democrats do. Old clips seen on 60 minutes a few days ago, however, did bring some unfortunate comparisons with my least favorite president, Barack Obama.

"Princeton University historian Sean Wilentz, for instance, told Fox News in August 2008 that Mr. Obama's "rhetoric is more like Jimmy Carter's than any other Democratic president in recent memory." Syndicated columnist Jonah Goldberg noted more recently that Mr. Obama, like Mr. Carter in his 1976 campaign, "promised a transformational presidency, a new accommodation with religion, a new centrism, a changed tone."

But within a few months, liberals were already finding fault with his rhetoric. "He's the great earnest bore at the dinner party," wrote Michael Wolff, a contributor to Vanity Fair. "He's cold; he's prickly; he's uncomfortable; he's not funny; and he's getting awfully tedious. He thinks it's all about him." That sounds like a critique of Mr. Carter.

I don't think Carter is the narcissist that Obama is, nor is he a Marxist, but he is a liberal, finger wagging whine. When I saw that 1970s clip of him lecturing the American public on their morals, it just sent a chill down my back. Excuse me if it sounds racist, but that was way too much blue-eyed, elder soul for this former fan.

John Fund: The Carter-Obama Comparisons Grow - WSJ.com

Look out Illinois, here he comes

"There is a "decent chance" Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel will leave the White House as soon as October of this year to run for mayor of Chicago, a senior White House official confirmed this afternoon to CBS News, though the official stressed that no final decision has been made."

This might be your only opportunity to have the words "decent" and "Rahm Emanuel" in the same sentence. Act now if you're from Chicago.

The unintended consequences of government take-overs

This is what happens when 1) lobbyists write the bills, and 2) congress doesn't read the bills, and 3) a president puts his own leftist ideology ahead of what's good for the nation (a good economy so we can pay for health care).

"Anthem Blue Cross, Aetna Inc. and others will halt new child-only policies in California, Illinois, Florida, Connecticut and elsewhere as early as Thursday when provisions of the nation's new healthcare law take effect, including a requirement that insurers cover children under age 19 regardless of their health histories."

LATimes

Senate Republicans hold up Dream Act for children of immigrants--a lie

Republicans can't stop anything in this Congress (which is why Obama won't be sorry that some Democrats will be defeated in November--he'll be able to continue blaming Republicans for all his mistakes). And slipping the Dream Act into a defense bill is defenseless. WaPo is so biased in this story it is unbelievable that anyone buys or advertises in this yellow rag. The vote was 56-43 and 60 were needed. Arkansas Democratic Sens. Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor voted with Republicans. Majority Leader Harry Reid also voted to block the bill in a procedural move that allows the defense bill to be revived later.

The DREAM Act allows young people to become legal U.S. residents after spending two years in college or the military. I'm completely in favor of young people entering the military and achieve a fast track to citizenship--the U.S. has been doing that since the early 19th century. But why give citizenship to illegal students? Then why not any international student who is here with his/her parents for any reason?

What about all the people who have come here and followed the rules. How will the Democrats and RINOs reimburse them? Why, when a college education doesn't guarantee even a citizen a job, are we using it as a carrot for illegals to come here?

Senate Republicans hold up Dream Act for children of immigrants

Gabourey Sidibe's 'Elle' cover: Why the outrage? | EW.com

There was a photo of President Obama in the newspaper today and his skin looked lighter than mine. Must have been the lighting, because I think everyone, even Joe Biden*, knows who he is. So what's the fuss over Gabourey Sidibe? Is this a new form of racism? A black woman, can't be enhanced, can't be photographed to look glamorous, and only Oprah gets that privilege? Magazine cover editors can't make their own decision without checking with the race police? Like those white models look like that first thing in the morning?

*""I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy," Biden said. "I mean, that's a storybook, man."

Gabourey Sidibe's 'Elle' cover: Why the outrage? | EW.com

OSU's Brutus Buckeye tackled by Rufus, mascot of OU

It came as a shock that when the OU mascot, Rufus, ran on to the field he attacked Brutus Buckeye. Now after all the shock, awe and apologies, it turns out the doofus Rufus wasn't even a student at OU-- "[Brandon] Hanning, 19, is a student at Hocking College. He enrolled at OU last year but dropped out, he said. He added that he still hadn't been informed of his firing, but didn't care." Link. The only reason he tried out was so he could tackle Brutus.

"As the Buckeyes ran onto the field of the “Horseshoe,” packed with 105,000 cheering fans, Rufus spotted Brutus running out with the team, got in front of him and attempted a tackle. Brutus avoided this first attempt, with Rufus losing his head, literally. Brutus lifted his arms in a “what the hell?” gesture, and jogged away.

Rufus got up, collected his head, adjusted it and gave chase. By the time Brutus got to the end zone, Rufus caught up with him and jumped on his back, pulling him to the ground.

Brutus appeared unfazed, and made his way back up, with Rufus still clinging around his neck and striking Mr. Buckeye about his stuffed mascot head and face. The two then toppled to the painted ground again. As they got up, Rufus still swinging, Brutus pushed him off and again raised his arms in protest, with Rufus responding in kind.

A member of Ohio State security then escorted Rufus to the sideline and told him that if he touched Brutus again he would be forced to leave." Athens News

Funny? I don't think so. And after reading several accounts, it's still not clear why a non-student was their mascot. Maybe no one checked after he dropped out of school?

Minimum wage, no benefits temps hired by union to picket Wal-Mart

The UFCW of Nevada pays temporary workers minimum wage to demand fair treatment and wages from Wal-Mart. Doing the same thing it claims Wal-Mart does.

Working stiffed, the Jon Stewart show.

Bad kitty

Summer at Lakeside

Old habits die hard. Ours is a rescue cat. She was turned in at Cat Welfare, but had clearly been a pet--was declawed and spayed. However, she'd been living by her wits for awhile, possibly inside an apartment where we speculate the owner had died or gone to a nursing home. She was very adept at digging food out of the garbage disposal or trash, and would gobble all her meal in a matter of minutes instead of nibbling through the day as our other cats.

This morning when I walked in the kitchen I stepped on a chicken bone, which she had dug out of the trash.

The street easement mowing and care is a home owner's responsibility

Construction during 2009

We have "new" sidewalks in our neighborhood. The easement, which belongs to the city, is narrow and when walking you're probably within about 6' of cars and trucks whizzing by, drivers on cell phones, moms talking to kids, stuff blowing off trucks. But most of us are happy to have them, and I see a lot of people getting out to walk. It's supposed to be near 90 today, so I went out at 8:10 to take advantage of the shade walking north.

The residents at the corner of Kenny and Millcreek do not take good care of their property in general, but the easement along Kenny is a disaster. Horizontal weeds grow out on to the sidewalk 12 to 18 inches. Vertical weeds are 2-3 ft tall. Plastic bottles and bags snuggle up to the weeds.

If the owners won't take care of it, the city should give them a warning and then charge them for the maintenance.

Then on Regency Dr. a bit east of Kenny the driveway ribbons and curbs that connect to the street are crumbling and dangerous--chunks of concrete are in the street. The other streets aren't that way. Whose responsibility is this? All the houses through there are very expensive, some are for sale. I wouldn't want to purchase a home where taxes are high and maintenance and pride are low.

Sickle cell testing of athletes stirs fear of discrimination

Nothing like a helping of ignorance to assist young athletes in dying on the field.

This must be the worst case of race based discrimination I've heard in a long, long time. Don't allow the testing so you can make money on black athletes.

Sickle cell testing of athletes stirs discrimination fears

Clean the kitchen week

No, you won't find it on any calendar, but I'm declaring this as "Clean the kitchen week." Pretend your mother is visiting; or that you are moving to a new place and you don't want to take anything you won't use.

Monday: Refrigerator; toss the frosty frozen stuff; make vegetable soup from the tired left overs. The photo above is chicken broth, tomatoes left from summer (peeled), a quarter of a green pepper, some celery tops, chopped onion, and some left over brown rice. Consolidate or pitch. Wipe down the shelves. Clean the cabinet above (if you have one) and the floor below. Don't forget to vacuum the dust.

Tuesday: Gunky, sticky stuff--Stove top, oven and microwave.

Wednesday: Hard to reach stuff--get out a step stool. Shelves in cabinets, both wall and base; pantry if you have one; bookshelves if you have one in the kithen. Look at past due dates on staples; resort your can goods so you know what you have; toss discolored or old food items.

Thursday: Hidden away stuff--Drawers, including that junk drawer where you toss everything you don't know what to do with.

Friday: Shiny stuff--Counter tops, sink, faucets, pictures and mirrors (if you have them) floor.

Saturday: If you're employed, I guess you have to do Monday-Friday all in one day. Otherwise, take the day off.

Democrats spend on anti-health-reform advertisements

Where were these brave Democrats (that's a joke) when 70% of the American people let them know we didn't want ObamaCare? Politico's Sarah Kliff notes:

"Democratic candidates are spending three times more advertising against the health reform law than they are in support of it.

Since the beginning of Congress’s August recess, Democratic candidates have poured $930,000 into ads deriding the health overhaul but just $300,000 in pro-reform spots, according to Evan Tracey at Kantar Media."

Politico is a liberal site--insists on calling it "health care reform." Sounds better I suppose than health care swamp, health care sop, or health care boondoggle bill which no one read.

Clarice Feldman at American Thinker says the Democrats have noticed the guillotines being rolled up to the polling places. Would you trust a flip-flopper, tax-and-spend-and-lie-about-it, incumbant Democrat/Republican or a TEA candidate?

And what about Molly?

James Taranto of the Wall Street Journal tells about Molly Norris, a caroonist who's been driven underground and forced to give up her job for suggesting something Muslims didn't like. Now we have Sharia for our newspaper staff? Taranto continues and notes that Obama has only championed First Amendment rights for Muslims:

"Where is President Obama? Last month, speaking to a mostly Muslim audience at the White House, the president strongly defended the right of another imam held up as a moderate to build a mosque adjacent to Ground Zero. The next day, and again at a press conference last week, Obama said he was merely standing up for the First Amendment. As far as we recall, it's the only time Barack Obama has ever stood up for anybody's First Amendment rights.

Now Molly Norris, an American citizen, is forced into hiding because she exercised her right to free speech. Will President Obama say a word on her behalf? Does he believe in the First Amendment for anyone other than Muslims?"

Story about Molly Norris.

Molly disappears.

People understand the Tea Party candidates

Dan Green writes in response to Peggy Noonan: "When you see tea Party folks on the tube, or see them interviewed, I see a next door neighbor. I see someone who pays their share of taxes, struggles but pays their mortgage, I see folks who helped their kids through college. When I see or listen to numerous economists, and elected legislators, I sense babble."

Now maybe that's not a political philosphy to satisfy 8 term congressmen of both parties or rich union leaders, or Karl Rove, or mainline Protestant misleaders and passive pastors, but it works for a lot of us.

Peggy whined her way through most of George W. Bush's 2nd term, and she's not quite on board with most conservatives. . . yet. But she's moving. She's moving.