Saturday, September 29, 2012

Looks Like the Shoe's on the Other Foot!

Apparently, a vendor hired by the Republican Party of Florida was caught submitting bogus voter registration forms. (See Article)  Some Democrats were pretty upset by this, which I found odd, because I've never heard the left get too concerned about illegitimate voters on the roles.  In fact, they typically sue to keep them there.  Maybe if enough voter registration fraud happens on the right, then Voter ID laws will be something we can all come together on.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

"The future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam"

Can you believe that's what the President of the United States said today in his speech to the U.N.?? 

Americans have always cherished the Freedom of Speech.  If you want to say something critical or even vulgar about the prophet of Islam (or any other topic for that matter), then have at it.  I'm shocked that Obama would even suggest otherwise and I'm worried that so many people are lying down and lining up to reelect him.


Just keep in mind that every terrorist attack has led to an added layer of security with added restrictions in what we're allowed to do.  The latest terrorist attack in Libya (or protest against a video if you're convinced by Obama) may well lead to limitations in what we can say since it could provoke thugs in the Middle East.  Obviously, Congress would never go along with something so ridiculous, right?  Well, they don't have to.  Just like amnesty for the "dreamers" and eliminating work requirements for welfare recipients, Obama will just issue another executive order.  In fact, it's no stretch of the imagination for Obama to declare the removal of that ridiculous youtube video a matter of national security.  The ability to make such modifications to the Web would be trivial to add to the executive order on cybersecurity, which is almost ready according to Janet Napolitano.  Then Obama wouldn't have to bother asking youtube to review whether troublesome content is "in compliance with their terms of use".

Where would it stop?  Clearly, "slanderous" comments against any religion would have to be enforced for fairness.  Then each of the protected classes would line up for their protections, too.  Today, such statements are "politically incorrect".  Soon, they'll be violations.  Forward?  No thanks - not with Obama at the wheel.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

That's Odd - I'm Not Seeing Much On Obama's Gaffes

Here are three pairs of stories.  Pick which one you've heard being covered more.  The media bias is appalling.  I don't know if it's worse this time around or if I've just noticed it.


Statements on the Libya Attack and Ambassador Assassination
Romney was blasted by the media for his comments the night of the Sept. 11th attacks on the Egyptian and Libyan embassies that included that assassination of our ambassador in Libya.  His statement criticizing the Obama administration for apologizing to the rioters for the misuse of our First Amendment Right because of an offensive youtube clip was resoundingly declared a gaffe, although it was applauded by many on the right.

On the other hand, this week, the administration finally caved on their insistence that the attacks in Egypt and Libya were spontaneous riots sparked by a youtube clip.  They now acknowledge that the assassination in Libya was a coordinated terrorist attack.  I'm not sure if they've admitted the obvious that it was timed for Sept 11th or not.  The media must figure that since everyone pretty well knew the administration was lying from the beginning, it wasn't really a story once it was confirmed...  It's a sad state of affairs when the version put forth by the Libyan government is more credible than what this administration would have you believe.


Hidden Videos
A hidden video of a Mitt Romney Fundraiser is released that shows him making insensitive statements about the 47% of tax return filers that owe no federal income taxes.  Obviously, many of those 47% have legitimate reasons for not owing and I hope some of them do come out for Romney.  The real frustration lies with the (I'm guessing double-digit) percentage of filers who are freeloading the system.  These are the SSDI frauds, the "single mothers" living with their working "boyfriends" (i.e. fathers), and the unemployment filers working under the table.

The Romney campaign counters with (unhidden) video of Obama as an Illinois State Senator declaring that he is for wealth redistribution.  He wants to take all your stuff and pass it around as he and his party see fit.  Of course, some of that ends up in their own pockets, kind of like the Politburo.  How else did Harry Reid become a multi-millionaire as a legislator?  Interesting, too, is that the media coverage of Romney "writing off" the 47% that don't pay federal income taxes failed to contrast that with the Obama campaign's admission of writing off the white working class.  Anyway, here's the redistribution video:

A Real Obama Gaffe
Whereas Romney's media-declared gaffe after the attacks on Egypt and Libya practically derailed mainstream coverage of the growing crisis in the Middle East, I'm sure they won't put themselves out too much reporting every angle of Obama's recent interview on Spanish TV where he was mercilessly attacked for not keeping his campaign promises to the Hispanic community (i.e. amnesty) and for the bungled Fast and Furious operation.  In particular, Obama said he's learned in his first term that "you can't change Washington from the inside."  Oops.



Monday, September 17, 2012

Happy Birthday, Occupy Wall Street

It's the1-year anniversary of OWS's siege of Zucotti Park in Manhattan.  While I'm no fan of the handouts and gimmes that they demand, such as forgiveness of student loans, I do agree with them when it comes to the growing income disparity in America.  There are some books on the subject that I think I'll take a look at, but in the meantime, I thought I would offer one suggestion that could help the situation in a small government kind of way.

As I see it, the problem is that the vast majority of the money I spend goes directly to the 1%.  Aside from the occasional local restaurant, most of my money goes to fill ups from the oil companies, I mostly buy groceries from a large (Chinese-owned) chain, I enjoy going to Costco, my clothes come from stores that are located all across the country, and on and on and on.  How is anyone aside from the 1% really supposed to benefit much from all that money?  Sure, all those places employ people, but not at a very high rate of pay - too much of that money goes to the 1% of people that run and own the companies we've all heard of.

So I decided this weekend that I would try to spend more of my money in places where it'll benefit the 99% more directly.  I went to a privately owned grocery store in town that doesn't have as good of a selection, or strawberry jelly in the quantity I'm used to, but the price was actually OK at the end.  We're interested in buying more of our veggies and meats from farms in the area, and there are too many hairstylists in town to justify anymore trips to the Hair Cuttery.  The only problem is that it can be pricey doing the right thing.  My shoes are pretty worn out and not looking very presentable.  Instead of buying a new pair, I thought I'd try taking them to the cobbler in town.  A new pair is $100 at Rockport, but after some haggling, new soles on the pair I have are going to be $75 (ack!) and insoles will be another $12...  The Boston area is pricey, but I was expecting a lot more savings compared to a new pair of shoes.  I'll see how well they hold out.  To see if I'm getting too ripped off, I'm taking a similar pair of shoes in to the other cobbler in town next weekend.
Taxing the 1% so that the government can give the cobbler benefits when he goes out of business is not a very efficient way of redistributing the wealth.  Keeping those shops in business maintains a demand for skilled labor, keeps the moms and pops off the welfare roles, and keeps the quaint downtowns more vibrant, which increases property values.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

We're Investigating Filmmakers Now


The Feds brought an amateur filmmaker who posted a video on youtube in for questioning.  It's bad enough that they've pointed their finger at him for causing protests and the murder of an ambassador half a world away in the first place.  Really?  He's the only one who's voiced or published slanderous statements against Islam on the World Wide Web?  Why don't we shine the media spotlight on what intelligence the administration had leading up to these Sept 11th anniversary attacks - not on this poor guy.

I wonder if the Feds will similarly be made to answer for facilitating the production of a Hollywood blockbuster on the killing of Osama bin Laden (Zero Dark Thirty).  I mean, who doesn't think it's going to hurt the feelings of some Muslims?  If it incites any Middle East protests, they won't be able to hide behind this line anymore:

"The United States government had absolutely nothing to do with this video. We absolutely reject its content and message."  Link
Zero Dark Thirty

Who's Buying This?

Yesterday, the White House said:
'This is not a case of protests directed at the United States writ large or at U.S. policy, this is in response to a video that is offensive to Muslims'

So remember - when you see mobs burn our embassies, burn our flag, burn effigies of Obama, and murder our diplomats, it's not that they don't like us.  They just don't like youtube (and probably won't like the upcoming blockbuster "Zero Dark Thirty" much, either...).  See post.

You won't hear the media report this White House statement for the B.S. it is, though.  These are their marching orders.


Friday, September 14, 2012

OK, Can We Go Home Now?

Meaning, surely we can move beyond Barack Obama now, no?  There are credible-sounding reports that the US received some intelligence about 48 hours ahead of time about plans to attack embassies.  Where there's smoke, there's fire...  The White House denied it, saying they received no actionable intelligence.  That's not how you'd word it if you'd received no intelligence, right?

What's really bothering me is that the President and Hillary are going all out blaming some youtube video for inciting all of these attacks.  It seems more plausible to me that some group(s) orchestrated these attacks to start on Sept 11th and simply pulled a youtube video to incite some mobs, which is not the same thing.  If they did have some intelligence in advance and continue to double down on deflecting the blame to a youtube film anyway, that would be beyond pitiful.  I want to give them the benefit of the doubt that they haven't sunk that low.  However, I can't get past the absurdity of a youtube video being the source of all the problems we're seeing.  The media, on the other hand, seems to have no problem swallowing that explanation - the U.S. media, anyway.

Also, isn't it considered undignified to have cameras and the press at the Air Force bases when the remains of the fallen are returned home?  Not if you're Obama.  The media criticizes Romney for "politicizing" the crisis when he comes out against the administration for seemingly blaming our First Amendment Right of the Freedom of Speech for this crisis - but Obama's not politicizing it by making a speech over Ambassador Chris Steven's mortal remains?  Save it for the funeral.  I'm so tired of the media bias.


So how about that Freedom of Speech?  Are you ready to give up the right to express criticism against Islamists and their "religion of peace"?  Because it sounds to me like that's going to be what Obama would like to change most to prevent an occurrence like this in the future.  He certainly had nothing to do with it.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Where's the Gaffe?!

Romney comes out and calls the administration's response to the embassy attacks disgraceful because it included sympathy with the mob in the Middle East for any offense that might've hurt their religious feelings.  Consider for a moment that this administration actually stated that it's a misuse of your First Amendment right to Freedom of Speech to offend the religious beliefs of Muslims:

Here the Tweet released after the flag had been burnt in the Cairo Embassy:
The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.

I'm still with Mitt on his statement released later that night, now tagged as a gaffe by the mainstream media:
"It's disgraceful that the Obama Administration's first response was not to condemn attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks."

Romney reaffirmed his position in the morning during a press conference while Obama was making his first appearance to the public.  Obama kept an acknowledgement in his statement of some perceived provocation on the religious sensibilities of the attackers:
"...the United States rejects efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others, we must all unequivocally oppose the kind of senseless violence that took the lives of these public servants."

So we have another Romney/Obama distinction.  The Obama administration is concerned about offending fundamental Islamists in the Middle East - to the point where they may make such expressions a misuse of our Freedom of Speech.  After all, every other terrorist attack has led to more restrictions on us of one kind or another.  Romney wants only to denounce these zealots for attacking our sovereignty and killing our citizens.  It's no time for a soft and conciliatory response - wars have started over less.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Attacked Again



The Kardashian President

The conservative talk radio programs like referring to Obama as the Kardashian President.  It's fitting on days like today.  Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu requests a meeting on a day when two U.S. embassies are attacked in the Middle East and at a time when Israel has problems aplenty of its own.  Barack turns him down saying his calendar is full - then announces on the same day that he's booked an appearance with David Letterman.  I know it's very fashionable in a lot of liberal and 99%-er circles to trash Israel, but this is such a disgrace.

via link on the Drudge Report  www.drudgereport.com


Monday, September 10, 2012

A Little Comic Relief - Putin Campaign Ads

These most recent polls are so disappointing that I thought I'd cheer up with some humorous Putin campaign ads.  Despite my earlier posting on Putin, I can assure you I'm not obsessed with him.  The clips below are the last of what I know about him.   Meanwhile, I'm waiting for a few days to look at the polls again - once they include any reaction to Friday's jobs report showing 4x as many people going on the dole than getting a job. If that doesn't jolt the American people, what will?  In any case, on with the Bread and Circuses, which we'll need a lot of during the long and slow "recovery" Obama repromised if he's reelected:

In this first ad, "virgin" first-time voters are asked to choose Putin for their "first time".  

This second ad shows how voting for Putin is as good as having sex!

Friday, September 7, 2012

Jobs Report: Any Good News You Hear Today Is a Lie

Today is a really good opportunity to test the integrity of your news source.  Whether it's CNN, NPR, MSNBC - regardless of its reputation - anyone who puts a shine on this month's jobs report is lying to you and carrying water for Obama.  If you're surrounded by good news today, please consider diversifying your news sources.

The unemployment rate went down from 8.3 to 8.1%  Yay!  More evidence of progress on the slow road to recovery!  Well, all partisanship aside, there was no good news to be found anywhere in the jobs report this morning.  The fall in unemployment is the result of 96,000 new jobs being created and 368,000 people "giving up" their job search and leaving the unemployment rolls.  Those people have spent their 99 weeks and are moving on to more stable forms of unemployment, like Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).  Remember, SSDI is no longer just a safety net for those that are physically unable to work.  It's now a way of life for people who need only claim to be "too depressed" or "anxious" to work.  Keep in mind that only 1-3% of people who go onto SSDI ever return to the workforce.  

Another chunk of those 368,000 people are on other forms of welfare and are now free from looking for work thanks to a stroke of Obama's pen in mid July.  This was an executive order that ends a requirement Congress put in place as part of welfare reform during Clinton's administration.  I realize Clinton's speech at the DNC was pretty convincing that this was just done to free up states that want to try out their own programs  for getting people back to work.  Fine - but it will take months for these experiments to be evaluated and the start of this executive order was naturally timed for those welfare recipients to be coming off of the welfare rolls starting now and continuing through to the election.  Today's jobs report of lower unemployment and more people leaving the workforce than finding a job is a trend we can expect to continue in next month's report and in the one that comes out on Nov 2nd, the Friday before the election.  By then, Obama should be basking in an unemployment rate in the mid 7's.

Right wing lunacy?  Depends on who you ask - according to the most media sources, it's at least a lie and even racist if you ask the DNC chair.  I think manipulation of the unemployment rate with welfare fraud is has been in the works for a while and is real and is being embraced by the Democratic Party to get Obama reelected.  I don't know how deep their motives go, but I really don't want to see the "better place" Obama promises to lead America forward to.

Just a couple more numbers to consider:

  • Based on the 96,000 jobs created this month, the unemployment rate today would be 8.4% if so many people hadn't "given up" their job search.
  • Only 69.9% of men are now in the workforce - the lowest rate since the number began being tracked in 1948. 
  • The overall workforce participation rate is the lowest since 1981.
  • If the workforce participation rate had remained the same as it was when Obama took office, he'd have an unemployment rate of 11.4% today.


 

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Bill Clinton's DNC Speech

If you're a Romney/Ryan fan, then there was some good news and some bad news last night at the DNC.  The bad news is that Bill Clinton made a great speech with a message that I think resonates with many in the middle of the political spectrum.  The only good news is that about 3 times as many people were watching the NFL season opener :)

What I thought was good about Bill Clinton's speech is that he stuck to the issues.  There was none of the divisive "You didn't build that" nonsense that has become the Obama and Elizabeth Warren platform.  There were no fear mongering false accusations that the Republicans are trying to take away access to contraception or the right of women to choose.  Instead, he gave an argument to all of the issues that the average person actually worries about.

Of course, I think some of Clinton's arguments were pretty ridiculous.  For example, he complimented Obama's energy policies and cited some domestic gas production statistics.  The gas (and associated jobs) boom in North Dakota and elsewhere is happening despite Obama's policies, not due to them.  Obama has mostly shut down U.S. offshore drilling while offering assistance to Brazil and others to develop their offshore resources.  Obama is the only obstacle remaining in the way of  the Keystone Pipeline. Obama once said that his policies would put coal-powered plants out of business. Link  How about supporting cleaner coal technology instead?  Obama's idea of domestic energy production is to tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve - and solar cells.

Despite what Clinton says, I still think Obama's executive order ending the work requirement for welfare recipients is a scam to reduce the unemployment numbers ahead of the election.  See my welfare fraud post.  Some new numbers come out tomorrow - we'll see if there is a drop in unemployment that is larger than can be explained with new jobs.  It's true that the executive order requires states who want the work requirement waiver to basically do a better job getting people employed - but it'll take months for the government to evaluate any state's alternative program.  So in the short term, it is a drop in the work requirement to get people off the unemployment rolls.

But I think Clinton had a point on some of the economic issues and the debt. His sound bite about the GOP argument was, "We left [Obama] a total mess. We feel like he didn't clean it up fast enough. So fire him, and put us back in." It is true that a big part of the debt consists of Bush tax cuts and Bush war costs (but you could make the same argument about a lot of expensive entitlements or discretionary programs, too).  Bush doubled the debt from about $4.5T to about $9T.  I get that.  But the problem is that Obama has increased the debt even more in half the time and has no intentions of turning the budget deficit around. Our debt is now higher than GDP, but that does not phase Obama as he saddles our economy with amnesty and more entitlements, i.e. Obamacare, without reforming any of the existing ones.

I'm voting for the Republicans this year with the hope that the Tea Party brings enough fiscal common sense and political pressure to the GOP to break the status quo.  The Tea Party has changed the GOP in the short time since Bush was in office.  The Tea Party is why Paul Ryan is the VP nominee.  The Democrats are not going to do our country any favors when it comes to the debt and deficits.  Their shift has only been towards the social extremes.  If the Democrats pull this election off, I'll be in agreement with them on one thing: it'll be Bush's fault.


Wednesday, September 5, 2012

A Preview of Obamacare

On display in Massachusetts is the latest example of what we can expect when the government takeover of healthcare is complete.  A prisoner serving life in prison for killing and nearly decapitating his wife has sued the state and *won* the right to have a sex change operation.  (Article)  For years, we've already been footing the bill for Michelle Kosilek's hormone therapy, etc, but apparently it's cruel and unusual punishment for her to be trapped in a man's body.


We can't afford this crap.  And even if we could, why would we even entertain such nonsense.  I could blow my money in Vegas and spend it more wisely than the government.  Now we have a precedent to deal with where transgender prisoners may be entitled to sex change therapy and ultimately operations.  There are 600 of them according to Michelle's thank-you note to the judge!  So why in the world would Obamacare bureaucrats deny the same treatments for anyone with Obamacare?  They wouldn't.  This is the tip of the iceberg of how Obamacare would go way past what we can afford and what's reasonable.  The government has proven itself unworthy to entrust with so many of our tax dollars.  Aren't there more important things to do than castrate Michelle Kosilek?  We need to massively shrink the scope of our government and focus it on our economic well-being.  There are better and easier ways than Obamacare to expand healthcare access and lower costs.  Here's my favorite, for what it's worth.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Are You Voting for Obama Because You're One of the "99%"?

Not me.  I'm voting for Romney because I'm in one of the 54% of households that owed federal income taxes in 2011.

First they came for the "1%" and I said nothing because I'm not in the 1%.  Then they came ...

Already, "millionaires and billionaires" are households making $250K per year.  It's a slippery slope!

A fair tax system would be a broader base and fewer deductions.  Simplify.  That way, everyone would be able to guess pretty closely what percent of his income Romney had paid in taxes - and what percent their neighbors and colleagues had paid.  When everyone chips in, there are more eyes on where the money goes and it's spent more carefully.  Right now, it's taken from people who have too much anyway and given to people who can't get enough.  How do we ever go back when the takers outnumber the givers?

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Have You Checked Out Putin Lately?


A black belt in Judo...


Who likes to play hockey.

The cold doesn't bother him much.

But warmer is better.

His favorite place to fish is anywhere there are bears.

 Likes to shoot?  Of course.

How else do you hunt?  Here, kitty kitty kitty.

Whale hunt, anyone?

Remember that bomber that invaded US airspace a little while back?  That may have been Putin himself!

My other car is a Harley...  when it's not a deep-sea submarine.

Comfortable with his body - and yours.


Apparently he has a soft spot.


But don't worry - I'm sure our guys have them quaking in their boots, too!  Keep up those P90X workouts, Paul Ryan!


Saturday, September 1, 2012

Liberal Media Kevin Bacon Game - How Many Steps Is Any GOP Statement to Racism?

The mainstream media and Democrat figureheads have become particularly adept at assigning racist foundations to Romney campaign maneuvers and other newsworthy events.  It reminds me a lot of the Kevin Bacon game where tortuous connections tie any celebrity to Kevin Bacon.  I have a few examples here, but the ones that originated from the RNC speeches this week, courtesy of Chris Matthews, are the most disgusting.  Take a look:

RNC Example 1:
Mitch McConnell's speech takes a jab at Obama's constant golf playing by stating, "President Obama is working to earn a spot on the PGA tour" --> Tiger Woods plays golf  -->  Therefore, this is racial innuendo that seemingly links Obama to Tiger's personal trangressions as well.  Huh???

RNC Example 2
Connecting Obama to corrupt Chicago politics is also racist.
Chicago --> lots of black people live in Chicago --> Racism.  Wow

The only racism I heard from the convention came from the left:
Yahoo! News Washington Bureau Chief and former ABC New political director David Chalian was heard off-mic on the first night of the convention as Hurricane Isaac was making landfall: “They aren’t concerned at all.  They are happy to have a party with black people drowning.”  Sam Donaldson, by the way, has come out in support of Chalian.  Thank you, Yahoo! for canning Chalian right away.

Other Example 1:
Voters should be required to show ID at the polls.  --> IDs cost money -->  According to the Democrats, minorities (and senior citizens) don't have money  -->  Therefore, proposed Voter ID laws are racist.  (Showing ID, however, to buy alcohol, board a plane, conduct a bank transaction, or even to buy spray paint or Sudafed is not racist.)

Other Example 2:
Mitt Romney gives a speech to the NAACP.  -->  Romney declares that he will overturn Obamacare --> [at this point, Newsweek and Daily Beast columnist Michael Tomasky directly jumps to racism, because according to him, "Obamacare" is a "heavily loaded word" and an "insult".]  --> the NAACP loudly boos Romney -->  With poise, Romney waits for the boos to die down and finishes his point.  -->  The pundits heap all kinds of praise on Romney --> Nancy Pelosi accused Romney of knowing the NAACP was going to boo him.  -->  Therefore, Romney planned the whole thing and is a racist.

Other Example 3:
President Obama announces in the Rose Garden what amounts to amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants by not deporting them and granting them work permits.  -->  Daily Caller's Neil Munro interrupts the President's announcement to ask about the policy's impact on American jobs. -->  Congressman Elijah Cummings (D), among others, concludes that the disrespect was possibly because of Obama's race

Other Example 4:
Fast and Furious is an ATF program where guns were intentionally supplied to Mexican drug cartels.  -->  An American Border Patrol agent is shot and two of the guns found at the scene were traced to the program.  -->  A Congressional committee conducts an investigation and demands records from Attorney General Eric Holder about the the program.  -->  Eric Holder refuses and eventually convinces President Obama to declare the documents sealed using Executive Privilege (which by definition would imply direct knowledge by the President)  -->  The House of Representatives votes to hold Eric Holder in contempt of Congress.  --> Since Eric Holder is black, the Republican Representatives are racist.

Needless to say, any suggestions by conservatives of racially motivated policies enacted by the Democrats are either also racist or simply buried by the media and, for the most part, unreported.  For example, Eric Holder and the Department of Justice have come under attack for failing to condemn seemingly serious infractions by the New Black Panther Party.  In one instance, the New Black Panther Party was reported to have intimidated voters in Philidelphia polling stations in 2008.  The same group also got a pass when the publicly announced a $10,000 bounty for the vigilante capture of George Zimmerman, the "white Hispanic" shooter of Trayvon Martin.  Eric Holder did make public comments, but only to praise Reverend Al Sharpton for his efforts in vilifying George Zimmerman in spite of the unknowns in the case.  Finally, it's just a matter of course for 85 or 90% of the African American vote to go to Obama.  Can you imagine if the white vote was that lopsided against Obama?

Welcome to post-racial America.  I'm all for Freedom of the Press - just don't call it news.