Stimulus funds spent to promote Obama plans

Payback in politics certainly isn't unique to Obama's team.  Obama’s use of stimulus funds is being questioned—stimulus funds for his media buddies.  And who watches MSNBC?  Not very many.  For a President who complains about fat cats, half a million is no big deal.  But for one who promised things would be different, yes, it is the Chicago way. I did check out the PR firm.  Some reporters who formed a company in the late 80s.  Al Gore was an early client.

"Spending reports under the federal Recovery Act show $495,000 paid to McNeely Pigott & Fox Public Relations LLC, which the Labor Department hired to raise awareness “among employers and influencers about the [Job Corps] program’s existing and new training initiatives in high growth and environmentally friendly career areas” as well as spreading the word to prospective Job Corps enrollees.

The firm ultimately negotiated ad buys for “two approved spots” airing 14 times per week for two months on “Countdown With Keith Olbermann” and “The Rachel Maddow Show,” according to a project report, which listed the number zero under a section of the report asking how many jobs had been created through the stimulus contract. David Williams, president of the nonprofit watchdog Taxpayers Protection Alliance, called the contract “questionable” because it created no jobs and because of the placement of the ads on shows viewed as friendly to the administration’s policies.

Read more: Labor Department spends stimulus funds for ads during Olbermann, Maddow shows - Washington Times

Dragging women back to the 50s—the Obama ad

The woman in the ad looks terrified.  Romney wants to drag women back to the 1950s.  I remember the years before 1973.  Abortion was not a political issue; it wasn’t even a religious issue.  It was a non-issue because as a nation we believed the pre-born deserved a chance at life, that life began at conception (all the medical texts said so), and that life was good. But in 1973 the Supreme Court decided Americans had a new right, one that had never existed before—a right to abort a living being from the womb. We’ve been thrown into a moral morass far worse than the battle against slavery, and which involves many more millions, particularly blacks who are targeted in billboards and clinic placements.  

The big issue in the ad is contraception, but we know that it will heat up to include abortion—as will the insurance clause which will eventually be free abortions included in all insurance plans. Sandra Fluke and friends won’t stop with contraception. This is the evil empire of our era.

Twenty years ago the Republicans had a very clear pro-life plank in their platform. “The unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed. . . the party affirms our support for a human life amendment to the Constitution.”   CNN suggests this is the draft for 2012.   It only seems to come up in election years.

"Faithful to the 'self-evident' truths enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, we assert the sanctity of human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed," the draft platform declares. "We support a human life amendment to the Constitution and endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment's protections apply to unborn children."

The party will also reaffirm its opposition to federally-funded stem cell research and demand that the government "should not fund or subsidize health care which includes abortion coverage."

But even 20 years ago, Republican feminists and liberal Christians were urging a “big tent” on this moral issue, and Republicans have lost ground (I wasn’t a Republican in 1992, but I was a pro-life Democrat who have also been marginalized).  zMany Republicans are/ were willing to accept this huge evil in order to win at politics.  Pathetic.  So we can’t blame the Democrats if the old or current platforms have fallen into disuse.

http://www.wibw.com/home/nationalnews/headlines/Romney-Outdated-On-Womens-Issues-Obama-Ad-Says--165222196.html

Toss a few olives in that summer or Greek salad

• Dozens of health-protective nutrients have been identified in olives, and recent studies have taken a very close look at olive varieties, olive processing, and changes that take place in olive nutrients. The overall conclusion from these studies is exciting for anyone who loves olives of all varieties. Greek-style black olives, Spanish-style green olives, Kalamata-style olives, and many different methods of olive preparation provide us with valuable amounts of many different antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients. While there are trade-offs that occur during olive ripening and olive curing - for example, decreased oleuropein with advanced stages of ripening yet increased amounts of anthocyanins - it's impossible to rule out any single type of olive as being unworthy of consideration as a uniquely health-supportive food, particularly in terms of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.
• Hydroxytyrosol, an olive phytonutrient that has long been linked to cancer prevention, is now regarded as having the potential to help us prevent bone loss as well. Several recent laboratory animal studies have found increased depositing of calcium in bone and decreased loss of total bone mass following consumption of this olive phytonutrient (as well as oleuropein, another key phytonutrient found in olives). These findings are fascinating, since consumption of a Mediterranean Diet has long been associated with decreased risk of osteoporosis, and olives often find themselves on center stage in Mediterranean Diet studies.
• In traditional herbal medicine practices, preparations from olives and olive leaves have often been used in treatment of inflammatory problems, including allergy-related inflammation. New research may help explain how olives work to provide us with anti-inflammatory benefits, especially during circumstances involving allergy. Olive extracts have now been shown to function as anti-histamines at a cellular level. By blocking special histamine receptors (called H1 receptors), unique components in olive extracts may help to lessen a cell's histamine response. Because histamine is a molecule that can get overproduced in allergy-related conditions and can be a key player in the inflammatory process, it's likely that the anti-inflammatory benefits we get from olives involve this anti-histamine pathway. It's also possible that olives may have a special role to play as part of an overall anti-allergenic diet.

From today’s newsletter The World’s Healthiest Foods

Veep choices

Biden is so weak he makes Obama look good. Ryan has wonderful strengths to balance some of Romney's weaknesses. So which presidential candidate is more secure?

The Obama economy—he owns it now, no more blame game

 

Until Obama came along, Bush was probably the all time big spender on social programs, not that it got him any love from the left.  But Obama long ago piled up bills enough for several presidencies.

Still, I can’t imagine George W. Bush whining and complaining and pouting like Obama has done for 4 years.

Monday Memories of the summer of 2012

From my son’s garden

Jalapeño jelly

 

pints of salsa

And there’s more on the way.

Hindsight is always 20-20

“On July 27, 2000, a first-term Congressman [Paul Ryan] from Wisconsin signed his name to the Housing Finance Regulatory Improvement Act. The 30-year-old legislator didn't have much company. Of 435 Members of the House, only 12 were willing to join Paul Ryan in sponsoring a bill to reduce the taxpayer risks at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Eight years later to the day, a federal bailout of the two mortgage giants was on its way to the desk of President George W. Bush. Almost $190 billion in taxpayer financing later, the toxic twins of the housing crisis maintain their massive role in mortgage finance.

On Friday, the U.S. Treasury said it is relieving the two government-sponsored enterprises of the requirement to pay regular dividends to taxpayers. Instead, the toxic twins will simply pass to the feds any profits they make. Fan and Fred's investment portfolios will also have to shrink more quickly, which is very good. But the deal suggests that they will continue to slap taxpayer-backed guarantees on mortgage bonds forever, or until there's a reformer in the White House.”.

Obama and Biden who were in the Senate in the mid-2000s did nothing, but later complain about the mess they inherited.  I looked through v.1 of the testimony in 2000 and see Maxine Waters was quite hostile to the idea of reforming or restricting F&F.

 

If only they had listened

The left is math challenged

“There's absolutely no use trying to explain to these crusaders for justice that Romney pays 13 percent because 1.) He reduces his taxable income with millions in charitable donations, and 2.) His income derives primarily from capital gains on investments, which are taxed at a lower rate than income from a paycheck.

Investment income gets a tax break because the government wants people to invest. Investment creates jobs, spurs development, expands the economy and ultimately reaps greater tax revenues.

When George W. Bush lowered the capital gains tax to its current 15 percent rate from 20 percent, revenue from the tax soared over the next three years and helped the nation avoid the severe economic downturns that easily could have followed the 9/11 terrorist attack, the Iraq War or Hurricane Katrina.”

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120819/OPINION03/208190307#ixzz2413So8vZ

I reduce my tax burden  because of charitable donations—although that’s not why I donate, and because I’m retired, some of my income comes from capital gains investments.  Should I have these “loopholes” but not rich guys like Romney and Obama and Buffett? How much do you want to hurt retirees by raising capital gains taxes?  How much more money do you want to chase out of the country?  I also have other loopholes that some poor people don’t have, like real estate taxes.  Some poor people don’t even have the opportunity to pay taxes so they can claim these deductions, but I’ll leave it to you to decide if that is fair.

Obama calls the bail out a success

because he expected the tax payers to lose much more. and he kept the unions happy.

“In a monthly report sent to Congress on Friday, the Obama administration boosted its forecast of expected losses by more than $3.3 billion to almost $25.1 billion, up from $21.7 billion in the last quarterly update.”
From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120813/AUTO01/208130392#ixzz24123vaYe

Unfortunately, he’s so pleased with it he wants to continue buying up other industries.

Fact checking the fact checkers

A biased "fact checker." Who knew?

People, especially conservatives, hate it when I use Snopes, but I’ve always found them (a husband and wife team) to be pretty accurate.  Not so all of them.   " . . . media fact checkers aren't going to be surprised by this, but Media Trackers, a nonpartisan watchdog, combed through the personal Twitter feed of PolitiFact Ohio writer Tom Feran and found he's a pretty vocal liberal. You can review the evidence here, but it turns out that he's not a fan of George W. Bush, refers to conservatives as "wingnuts" and "yahoos," and tweets out links to blog postings on the "The Cancer of Conservatism." On the other hand, Feran is an enthusiastic Obama supporter—"Go-bama!"—and supporter of Occupy Wall Street." Shocked. Not. [Weekly Standard Blog]

The Mustang, 1964 1/2

Down memory lane. As we drove to the near by Tri-Motor air museum today, on the way at a stop sign we admired an early Mustang lovingly restored and both agreed it was about the prettiest car ever (although not particularly comfortable) except for the 55-56 Chevy, to which I'm partial. Technically, there is no such car as a 1964 1/2, it was called that because it came out early, or late, I suppose depending on your viewpoint We began reminiscing about my brother's--I think it was red--a first year model. When babies started to arrive, it wasn't a good family car. Bet he wishes he had it now.

Tri-Motor Heritage Museum in Port Clinton

Today we visited the newly opened Ford Tri-Motor heritage museum near Port Clinton on Oak Lake Drive.  A very impressive building which speaks of history and risk, and not the fame of the architect. There are not many displays, yet, but I’m sure that will grow, and the Ford Tri-Motor being restored is in a number of large pieces.  While there we enjoyed an art show sponsored by the Greater Port Clinton Area Arts Council.  I bought a very nice small bowl in soft greens and blues, just perfect for the lake house from Colin Budd who summers on Catawba and winters in Oracle, AZ, and a note card from Julie Faetanini,  of Sandusky, which I’ll probably never use because it’s too nice.  Looking forward to the opening of the Tin Goose Diner which is in the building.

 http://www.colinbudd.com/page2.html

I can’t find any text to got with these photos, but they are interesting. http://www.putinbayphotos.com/TriMotor8407/TriMotor8407.htm

Job growth under Obama--the IRS

"When President Obama's Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA, aka "Obamacare") goes fully into effect in 2014, the American people will only then begin to see the implications of its thorough government takeover of health care, in all its glory. But what they are not expecting is the massively expanded role of the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") in our lives, as the IRS is the chief agency responsible for enforcing the Act."

The new face of healthcare

SPLC maps to hate

Which is a hate organization, one which maps to another organization on a "hate map" or one that follows the teachings of Jesus? If you support Southern Poverty Law Center, shame on you. It had FRC on a “hate map” as a destination where a security guard was shot this week by a guy carrying a bag of Chick-fil-A.  "Family Research Council (FRC) champions marriage and family as the foundation of civilization, the seedbed of virtue, and the wellspring of society. FRC shapes public debate and formulates public policy that values human life and upholds the institutions of marriage and the family. Believing that God is the author of life, liberty, and the family, FRC promotes the Judeo-Christian worldview as the basis for a just, free, and stable society."

The founder and 2 CEOs of SPLC make over $300,000 a year; the CEO of FRC earns $174,000.  Poverty pays well.

 

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/shooting-southern-poverty-law-center-put-family-research-council-hate-map

At a press conference on Thursday outside the FRC headquarters in downtown Washington, FRC President Perkins said, “I want to express my appreciation to the groups and organizations that we do not agree with on many public policy issues who have also expressed their outrage at what took place here yesterday. For that, I appreciate it. I appreciate them making those statements.”

“But I would ask them to go a step further and to join us in calling for an end to the reckless rhetoric that I believe led to yesterday’s incident that took place right behind me,” he said.

“And that does bring me to my final point,” said Perkins. “Let me be clear, that Floyd Corkins was responsible for firing the shot yesterday that wounded one of our colleagues and our friend Leo Johnson. But Corkins was given a license to shoot an unarmed man by organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center that have been reckless in labeling organizations hate groups because they disagree with them on public policy.”

In case you believe in "fairness" ala Obama

Obama and his supporters don't think he's doing such a bad job. I checked Daniel the Librarian* from Alaska, and he's loving it, and never liked being a Catholic anyway. Didn't he want fair? Isn't that what Jesus is all about? Unemployment is up; income is down; food stamp recipients are up; poverty higher; college grads not doing any better than those who didn't go; debt is soaring pushing his legacy to future unborn generations, so, . . . more people with less, more people dependent. See how it's all leveling out? That's a statist's idea of fair.

*Librarians vote 223:1 Democrat to Republican (survey from 2004, but it probably hasn't changed), which could explain some unbalanced library collections.

David Barton and left wing hate non-profits

David Barton has educated thousands, maybe millions, about the contributions of the Founders, the role of the 3 branches of government, how LBJ took away rights of churches in the 60s and fought civil rights legislation in the 50s, and especially the stunning role of African Americans in our country's history--something few of us ever learned since much of it was done through the churches. But he's been labeled a right wing extremist hater for telling the truth. He's also educated people on who gave us Jim Crow and the KKK, something the Democrats try to hide. If you're contributing to SPLC, check out the salaries of their mostly white board and executives. Hate really pays well for leftist non-profits. http://freethoughtblogs.com/rodda/2012/05/28/southern-poverty-law-center-names-david-barton-as-a-radical-to-watch/

Remember when Fancy Nancy knew more than President Bush about peace in the middle east?

Remember when Nancy Pelosi tried to undermine (with other Democrats like Obama) President Bush with playing footsie with Syria's Assad? Yesterday Assad forces bombed a children's hospital. I think this makes them extremist Muslims instead of moderate Muslims--the moderates only bomb the infidels. The Sunni Muslims are the majority and the Alawite sect to which the family of President Bashar al-Assad belongs is the minority.

"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi challenged the White House on Middle East policy yesterday, meeting with Syria's leader and insisting "the road to Damascus is a road to peace." That brought a sharp attack from the Bush administration, which has rejected direct talks with Damascus until it changes its ways.

http://articles.boston.com/2007-04-05/news/29225817_1_syrian-security-officials-syrian-president-bashar-assad-mideast-crises

Clean energy in Michigan

When Gov. Granholm signed the Clean Renewable and Efficient Energy Act in 2008 there were 4,256 jobs in the state in "power and communications systems construction," which includes the jobs for wind and solar power construction. In 2011, that number had dropped to 3,728 jobs; about a 14 percent drop.

http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/17400

Rahm

George Obama, Barack’s youngest brother

"George has a real life brother who just happens to be the president of the United States. (George Obama is the youngest of eight children sired by Barack Obama Sr.) George’s brother is a multimillionaire and the most powerful man in the world. Moreover, George’s brother has framed his re-election campaign around the “fair share” theme that we owe obligations to those who are less fortunate.

One of Obama’s favorite phrases comes right out of the Bible: “We are our brother’s keeper.” Yet he has not contributed a penny to help his own brother. And evidently George does not believe, even in times of emergency, that he can turn to his brother in the White House for help."

You see, George is a "conservative" living in Kenya and rejects the anti-colonialism espoused by his and Barack's father - so naturally, his wealthy brother, Barack Obama, has nothing to do with him.

"So much for spreading the wealth around."
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/08/16/how-became-george-obama-brother/