Government shutdowns and other mixed blessings

A Government Shutdown: Who to blame


We are seeing a lot of talk about a government shutdown as both sides of the aisle jockey to assign the blame to the other side. THE DEMOCRATS TALKING POINTS ARE THAT THE MEASURES PROPOSED BY THE GOP ARE EXTREME AND THAT THE GOP HAS BEEN HIJACKED BY AN EXTREMIST TEA PARTY.

In the meantime, the Republicans claim that they don’t want a shutdown, but if it comes it will be the Democrats fault. First THE DEMOCRATS FAILED TO PASS A BUDGET BACK LAST SEPTEMBER WHEN THEY HAD MAJORITIES IN BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS. Second with a projected deficit of $1.6 trillion the Democrats have offered up only $30 billion in cuts which equals 1.9% of the deficit. The Republicans are attempting to double that cut to $60 billion or less than 4%.

The CURRENT SPENDING IS AT A RATE THAT WILL SPEND $3.8 TRILLION DOLLARS. The Democrats seem to find cutting that by $60 billion is something we cannot afford to do. If we look at spending in Bush’s last year and increase it by 3% for each year since we find that spending should be $3.17 trillion. This means Obama has increased spending by 633 billion above that figure. THE DEMOCRATS SEEM TO BE ONLY ABLE TO FIND CUTS OF 5% OF THAT EXCESS INCREASE AND THINK THAT 10% IS EXTREME.

Yesterday CHUCK SHUMER WAS CAUGHT GIVING SOME FELLOW DEMOCRATS THE TALKING POINTS about extreme cuts and the TEA Party while HOWARD DEAN ADMITTED THAT IF HE WERE STILL THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HE WOULD BE SILENTLY ROOTING FOR A SHUTDOWN.

We are in full partisan mode right now, but THE REPUBLICAN PARTISAN MODE IS MUCH BETTER FOR THE COUNTRY than is the Democratic one. But a shutdown would test my viewpoint. If the public supports balancing the budget they will blame the Democrats. If they don’t, they will blame the Republicans. In either case it probably is a good idea to find out now where the public is.



Republicans jump on Shumer’s gaffe

Republican leaders wasted little time playing up reports Tuesday that New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, the third-ranking Senate Democrat, told other members of his party that the caucus had urged him TO START CALLING REPUBLICAN BUDGET CUT PROPOSALS “EXTREME” DURING PUBLIC BATTLE BETWEEN THE PARTIES OF GOVERNMENT SPENDING.

“Chuck Schumer did us a favor. He exposed their tactic,” House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Republican of Virginia, told reporters. “You heard his comment. HE’S BASICALLY INSTRUCTING HIS MEMBERS TO DEEM ANY SPENDING CUT UNREASONABLE. ANY SPENDING CUT. SO CLEARLY THEY’RE NOT SERIOUS.”

http://dailycaller.com/2011/03/29/republican-leaders-react-to-schumer-gaffe-on-budget-strategy/#ixzz1I53BeE00

Are the Democrats serious? Only about getting a political advantage and not about fixing the biggest problem the country faces.



Obama tanking in the polls

AMERICAN VOTERS DISAPPROVE 48 - 42 PERCENT OF THE JOB PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS DOING AND SAY 50 - 41 PERCENT HE DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE RE-ELECTED IN 2012, both all-time lows, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

This compares to a 46 - 46 percent job approval rating and a 45 - 47 percent split on the President's re-election in a March 3 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. IN A HYPOTHETICAL 2012 MATCHUP, PRESIDENT OBAMA GETS 36 PERCENT OF THE VOTE TO 37 PERCENT FOR AN UNNAMED REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER.

http://nation.foxnews.com/president-obama/2011/03/30/obama-tanking-polls


The more you know about Obama, the more uncomfortable you feel.


Christie at this point the front runner for the Republicans

The Newsmax/IBOPE Zogby survey shows CHRISTIE TO BE THE CHOICE OF 23.6 PERCENT OF LIKELY GOP PRIMARY VOTERS. That dwarfs the 10.3 percent for second-place finisher Sarah Palin.

“Conservative voters like Chris Christie,” pollster John Zogby tells Newsmax, “because he offers AN ACTUAL GOVERNING MODEL THAT’S CONSISTENT WITH HIS AND THEIR PHILOSOPHY.

“Essentially, he has been fearless in terms of tackling unions, tackling budget cuts, and so on,” Zogby says. “But they also know that he’s an affable personality, that HE DOES NOT COME OFF AS THIS ANGRY RADICAL, BUT AS A CREDIBLE FELLOW.

“And at the same time,” says Zogby, “HE’S PORTLY, HE’S REAL, HE’S NOT OUT OF CENTRAL CASTING. And in many ways, for Republicans, he’s the un-Obama.”

Newsmax/Zogby Poll: Christie Leads GOP Pack

The more you know about Christie, the more comfortable you feel. I guess he is the “un-Obama.” Can you imagine Obama and Christie debating? They would look like Laurel and Hardy and we know who the smart one was with those two.


“Selective Indignation”

There was nothing particularly wrong about Sen. Dick Durbin holding a hearing today on anti-Muslim bigotry. It’s just that NOBODY AT THE HEARING WAS ABLE TO GIVE A PARTICULARLY COMPELLING REASON FOR IT.

Muslim Advocates Executive Director Farhana Khera testified about “A GROWING MENACE” of “RISING” BIGOTRY against Muslim Americans. Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez spoke of the “steady stream of violence” against the Islamic community. The hearing was heavy on anecdotes and light on statistics.

There’s no denying that there have been contemptible attacks against Muslims in this country. But the idea that the number of incidents are “increasing” simply hasn’t been supported by federal hate crime reports. SINCE THE SPIKE IN ANTI-MUSLIM HATE CRIMES IMMEDIATELY AFTER 9/11, THE NUMBER OF THESE CRIMES HAS ACTUALLY DECREASED.

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2011/03/29/%E2%80%9Cselective-indignation%E2%80%9D/


It appears the left’s narrative is not supported by the facts. Of course this really isn’t new.



Pigford Case: Racism or Racist fraud?

It’s back to business on our investigation of the Pigford story – the ongoing fraud that needs your help and attention to make it stop. The mainstream – with a few exceptions like John Stossel – are IGNORING THE STORY OF THE ONE OF THE BIGGEST FRAUDS IN U.S. HISTORY BECAUSE IT DOESN’T FIT THEIR NARRATIVE. THE GOOD GUYS ARE THE REAL FARMERS who faced discrimination at the hands of the USDA and the people, mostly conservative at this point, trying to bring their story to light. THE BAD GUYS ARE THE TRIAL LAWYERS, POLITICIANS, RACE HUSTLERS AND THOSE INSIDE THE USDA WHO PROFIT BY LYING TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT HOW THE PIGFORD SETTLEMENT IS A ‘VICTORY’ FOR BLACK FARMERs.

http://biggovernment.com/lstranahan/2011/03/29/original-pigford-claimant-calls-it-one-of-the-biggest-conspiracies-against-the-u-s-treasury-ever/


This is a classic case of how the government can screw something up and then screw up even worse as they try to rectify it. It’s a story of race, fraud, and the worst of our legal and political system.

Cash for clunker part two

Ready for another cash for clunkers program? It looks like GENERAL MOTORS IS ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE IT'S OWN CONSUMER INCENTIVES WITH TAX PAYER MONEY. The car company, bailed out of bankruptcy in 2009 by the American tax payer, APPEARS TO BE TURNING THE GOVERNMENT INTO AN AUTOMATIC REBATE PROVIDER.

The Obama administration and their friends on Capitol Hill are floating around A PROPOSAL TO CHANGE THE $7500 TAX CREDIT FOR GREEN VEHICLES. This change can be found not only in President Barack Obama's budget but also a bill proposed by Senator Debbie Stabenow, Michigan Democrat.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/watercooler/2011/mar/29/cash-clunkers-2-dumped-capitol-hill/

Once again Washington wants to pick the winners and the losers by unsustainable rebates for favored projects. So a $41000 Chevy Volt will only cost $33,500 after the government’s rebate. I don’t think we will see a lot of poor or lower middle class people paying that kind of money for a car.

The Green Energy Economy Reconsidered

"Green" energy such as wind, solar and biomass presently constitute only 3.6% of fuel used to generate electricity in the U.S. But if another "I Have a Dream" speech were given at the base of the Lincoln Memorial, it would undoubtedly urge us on to a promised land where renewable energy completely replaced fossil fuels and nuclear power.

How much will this particular dream cost? ENERGY EXPERT VACLAV SMIL CALCULATES THAT ACHIEVING THAT GOAL IN A DECADE--FORMER VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE'S PROPOSAL--WOULD INCUR BUILDING COSTS AND WRITE-DOWNS ON THE ORDER OF $4 TRILLION. Taking a bit more time to reach this promised land would help reduce that price tag a bit, but simply building the requisite generators would cost $2.5 trillion alone.

Let's assume, however, that we could afford that. HAVE WE EVER SEEN SUCH A "GREEN ECONOMY"? YES WE HAVE; IN THE 13TH CENTURY.

Renewable energy is quite literally the energy of yesterday. Few seem to realize that WE ABANDONED "GREEN" ENERGY CENTURIES AGO FOR FIVE VERY GOOD REASONS.

First, GREEN ENERGY IS DIFFUSE, and it takes a tremendous amount of land and material to harness even a little bit of energy. Jesse Ausubel, director of the Program for the Human Environment and senior research associate at Rockefeller University, calculates, for instance, that the entire state of Connecticut (that is, if Connecticut were as windy as the southeastern Colorado plains) would need to be devoted to wind turbines to power the city of New York….

http://www.forbes.com/2011/03/28/green-energy-economics-opinions-jerry-taylor-peter-van-doren.html

This is a good summary of why those proponents of green energy now don’t really know what they are talking about.



Book review: Why Experts Get the Future Wrong

….This is the problem Dan Gardner tackles in “FUTURE BABBLE: WHY EXPERT PREDICTIONS ARE NEXT TO WORTHLESS, AND YOU CAN DO BETTER.” Gardner, a Canadian journalist and author of “The Science of Fear,” takes as his starting point the work of Philip Tetlock, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

Beginning in the 1980s, TETLOCK EXAMINED 27,451 FORECASTS BY 284 ACADEMICS, PUNDITS AND OTHER PROGNOSTICATORS. The study was complex, but the conclusion can be summarized simply: THE EXPERTS BOMBED. NOT ONLY WERE THEY WORSE THAN STATISTICAL MODELS, THEY COULD BARELY EKE OUT A TIE WITH THE PROVERBIAL DART-THROWING CHIMPS.

The most generous conclusion Tetlock could draw was that SOME EXPERTS WERE LESS AWFUL THAN OTHERS. Isaiah Berlin once quoted the Greek poet Archilochus to distinguish between two types of thinkers: “The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.” Berlin admired both ways of thinking, but Tetlock borrowed the metaphor to account for why some experts fared better. THE LEAST ACCURATE FORECASTERS, HE FOUND, WERE HEDGEHOGS: “thinkers who ‘know one big thing,’ AGGRESSIVELY EXTEND THE EXPLANATORY REACH OF THAT ONE BIG THING INTO NEW DOMAINS” AND “DISPLAY BRISTLY IMPATIENCE WITH THOSE WHO ‘DO NOT GET IT,’ ” he wrote.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/27/books/review/book-review-future-babble-by-dan-gardner.html?_r=2&seid=auto&smid=tw-nytimesscience&pagewanted=all


This is timely as the AGW hypothesis fades into the dustbin of human history. The climate hedgehogs have attributed everything under the sun that goes wrong to global warming.



Adolescent Challenges Einstein

Jacob Barnett is twelve years-old. He likes to play Halo, has favorite shows in the Disney Channel, and recently attended his first dance. HE HAS AN IQ HIGHER THAN EINSTEIN'S AT 170, can play classical masterpieces by memory on the piano, left high school by the age of 8, taught himself advanced mathematics within a two week period, and is currently getting so far ahead in university that he is likely to be given a PhD research position soon. NOW, THE BOY IS CHALLENGING EINSTEIN'S THEORY OF RELATIVITY AND THE BIG BANG. By Mr. Barnett's calculations, EINSTEIN'S THEORY DOES NOT ADEQUATELY EXPLAIN HOW ALL THE CARBON THAT MAKES UP THINGS LIKE THE EARTH CAME INTO BEING, and that that Earth would have to be three times older than it is believed to be-- which he also deems improbable. As for what, if not the Big Bang, is responsible for all the carbon in the universe? "I'm still working on that," says the child prodigy. "I have an idea, but...I'm still working out the details."

http://nlt.ashbrook.org/2011/03/adolescent-challenges-einstein.php


This is an interesting story that is worth your time to read it. In it you will learn why Mars’ moons are potato shaped rather than round. Jacob figured it out when he was three years old.

Spending cuts, Florida spending cuts, and more

The House: Leadership Agrees to $100 Billion Cuts Now.

In other House Republican news, a leadership aide associates himself with the accuracy of this Roll Call story:

House Conservatives Persuade Leaders to Slash Spending Further

House Republican leaders have agreed to a key conservative demand that they make good on their campaign pledge to reduce fiscal 2011 spending to $100 billion less than President Barack Obama’s budget request, GOP aides said Wednesday.

According to a GOP leadership aide, Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and other leaders are working with Republican appropriators, the Republican Study Committee and other conservatives on a “unified” strategy to reduce spending beyond the $74 billion in cuts they had already planned. The cuts, which would only apply to non-defense discretionary spending, would come as part of a continuing resolution to fund the government between March and the end of the fiscal year.

“From the start, our focus has been to cut spending so that we can grow the economy, and right now there are a lot of moving parts and we’re actively working to bring the Conference together with a unified strategy,” the aide said.

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/259426/peace-comes-house-gop-leadership-agrees-100-billion-cuts-now-kathryn-jean-lopez


This is the first step. The Republicans will have an even bigger task when they look at the 2012 budget. Stand by for some interesting times ahead.



Florida's Scott Sends Shockwaves With $5B in Budget Cuts

FLORIDA'S TEA PARTY-BACKED GOV. RICK SCOTT PROPOSED CUTTING MORE THAN $5 BILLION FROM STATE SPENDING MONDAY while also slashing taxes as he laid out his first budget proposal aimed at closing a deficit of nearly $4 billion.

The Republican, a former healthcare executive, proposed saving nearly $4 BILLION OVER TWO YEARS BY REFORMING MEDICAID, the health insurance program for poor people.

HE ALSO SAW SAVINGS OF $2.8 BILLION OVER TWO YEARS THROUGH AN OVERHAUL OF FLORIDA'S RELATIVELY HEALTHY STATE PENSION SYSTEM. Scott also proposed cutting taxes by more than $4 billion over two years. This would include a roll-back of corporate income taxes from 5 percent to 3.5 percent and reductions in property taxes….

…."THIS BUDGET FROM THE GOVERNOR IS A FRONTAL ASSAULT ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF EVERY FLORIDIAN AND WILL NOT CREATE A SINGLE JOB NOR SPUR OUR ECONOMY FORWARD," Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith said. "Instead, it takes us further into the economic ditch."

http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/florida-rick-scott-budget/2011/02/08/id/385368?utm_source=twitter


I find it hard to believe the Democrat Party Chairman would be so ignorant of basic economics (not create a single job nor spur our economy forward) as to make the statement he did. Perhaps he should read the next story on Texas.



State of the state: Texas Governor takes on ObamaCare

In his state of the state address, Gov. Rick Perry is DISCUSSING HOW TEXAS HAS BUILT ITS ECONOMIC EDGE, and how it will deal with its budget issues.

Our economic strength is no accident. It’s a testimony to our people, our entrepreneurs and, yes, to the decisions made in this building. Employers from across the country and around the world understand that the opportunity they crave can be found in Texas, and they’re headed our way, with jobs in tow.

People are seeking opportunity as well, and newcomers arrive every day, ready to pursue their dreams. FOR THE SIXTH YEAR RUNNING, RESEARCH FROM ALLIED VAN LINES SHOWED THAT TEXAS WAS THE TOP DESTINATION FOR RELOCATIONS.


Need I go on? Well, don’t mind if I do.

NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE HAD FOUR TEXAS CITIES ON THEIR LIST OF “TOP 10 AMERICAN CITIES BEST SITUATED FOR RECOVERY”, and Forbes considers our growth prospects best in the nation, based on projected increases in jobs, income, and gross state product.

In a category that really affects the bottom line for Texas families, our STATE LEADS THE NATION IN STRONG HOME VALUES. According to one industry analyst, the strongest appreciation in home values over the next seven months, will take place in the Houston area, the Metroplex and Amarillo.

Gov. Perry listed three reasons Texas is fairing comparatively well: THE STATE HAS A LOW TAX BURDEN, A FAIR AND PREDICTABLE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT, AND STRONG TORT REFORM TO MINIMIZE FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS. Along with a detailed discussion of border security and the Lone Star State’s battle against the EPA, Perry is also taking a strong shot at ObamaCare…..

http://pajamasmedia.com/tatler/2011/02/08/state-of-the-state-texas-governor-takes-on-obamacare/


Perhaps we should contrast this with California, New York, Illinois, or some other Democrat controlled state.


Meanwhile the Feds are trying to mess with Texas

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ONCE AGAIN OVERSTEPPING ITS AUTHORITY BY MESSING WITH TEXAS. Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) leadership continued their game of hardball by STRIPPING TEXAS OF ITS AUTHORITY TO ISSUE GREENHOUSE GAS PERMITS. It is painfully obvious that the EPA is making an example out of Texas. OUT OF THE 13 STATES THAT INITIALLY OBJECTED TO THE EPA’S EFFORTS TO REGULATE, TEXAS IS THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS NOT SURRENDERED to the intrusion of the federal government. As a result, the EPA is punishing Texas for not giving in to their demands……

…. Instead of making an example out of Texas, perhaps the EPA should use Texas as an example. TEXAS HAS SIMULTANEOUSLY IMPROVED ITS ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMY. The Texas Flexible Permitting Program has been successful in reducing emissions and allowing industries in Texas to thrive. According to a report from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the ozone levels in Texas decreased by 27 percent between 2000 and 2009. The national average decrease in ozone levels over this same time period was 12 percent. Our state is dedicated to finding cleaner energy alternatives, but we also know that we need to utilize our known sources of energy effectively and safely…..

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=41684


A Republican House in the meantime will be talking with the EPA about what they are doing per the following story.

Global warming fix heats up hearing with EPA chief

THE HEAD OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY IS IN FOR SOME GRILLING BY CONGRESS THIS YEAR, so much so that a top House Republican joked that she should line up a permanent parking spot at the Capitol.

Topic A is the agency's attempt to curb the release of gases blamed for global warming. HAVING FAILED LAST YEAR TO ENACT NEW LEGISLATION TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GASES, THE ADMINISTRATION IS LEFT TO USE EXISTING LAW TO ACHIEVE ITS GOALS.

That, Republicans contend, WILL PENALIZE INDUSTRIES THAT OTHERWISE COULD BE CREATING NEW JOBS, and they've made the agency a central target of their anti-regulatory agenda.

On Wednesday, EPA CHIEF LISA JACKSON GOES BEFORE A HOUSE COMMITTEE determined to block her agency's steps to address climate change. Jackson contends the law and compelling scientific evidence on global warming give her no choice but to act.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110209/ap_on_re_us/us_epa_under_fire;_ylt=ApW24CA6nE5sd9fMKMlDp_is0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNsazBtY3A5BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTEwMjA5L3VzX2VwYV91bmRlcl9maXJlBGNjb2RlA21vc3Rwb3B1bGFyBGNwb3MDOARwb3MDNQRwdANob21lX2Nva2UEc2VjA3luX2hlYWRsaW5lX2xpc3QEc2xrA2dsb2JhbHdhcm1pbg

Global Warming does not have “compelling scientific evidence” on its side.


Tribe’s OpEd: Misusing the word “Choice”

Tribe's op-ed, as I wrote in the first post, RESTS VERY HEAVILY ON MISREPRESENTING THE SUPREME COURT'S COMMERCE POWER DOCTRINE AS REFERRING TO "COMMERCIAL CHOICES." In fact, the cases REFER TO "COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES," and A SWITCH FROM "ACTIVITY" TO "CHOICE" IS IMMENSELY IMPORTANT in the health care litigation, in which opponents stress that THE FAILURE TO BUY INSURANCE IS INACTIVITY, NOT ACTIVITY, and therefore beyond even the broadest interpretations the Supreme Court has ever given to the Commerce Clause.


Tribe attempted to skew opinion by substituting "choice" for "activity," and I have called him on that. But I need to go further, because someone who uses words to get things done needs to be kept honest not only about shifting from one word to another, but ALSO ABOUT CHANGING THE MEANING OF THE SAME FROM CASE TO CASE. Let's look at how Tribe talked about "choice" and health insurance and then see how that squares with what "choice" is supposed to mean in the abortion context….

http://althouse.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-have-to-take-3rd-shot-at-larry-tribes.html


I’ve made this a must read for a reason. This has an interesting look at how Tribe’s use of the word choice and his definition of it would make that word totally unacceptable to those who favor abortion rights.



Democrat retreat: A posh affair

Anyone expecting the Senate to get any work done over the next few days is going to be disappointed – DEMOCRATS HAVE SKIPPED TOWN FOR A THREE-DAY RETREAT.

But what’s causing a stir isn’t the fact that Democrats are leaving – IT’S WHERE THEY’RE GOING: A SWANKY 573-ACRE RESORT OUTSIDE OF CHARLOTTESVILLE CALLED THE BOAR’S HEAD INN…..

….It’s quite a departure from the Republicans’ retreat last month. THE GOP LAWMAKERS TRAVELED ALL OF A BLOCK FROM THE US CAPITOL, HEADING TO THE NEARBY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

Asked about the Democrats’ getaway plans, the Senate’s top Republican Mitch McConnell today took the diplomatic high road. “I THINK WHERE THEY CHOOSE TO HOLD THEIR RETREAT IS UP TO THEM,” he said.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/02/a-tale-of-two-retreats.html


After all the Democrats are “the party of the people”, or is that “the people who are partying?”



Passenger Trains: Clearly the Change We've Been Waiting For

You are our Ruler. An entrepreneur tells you he wants to create something he calls a "skating rink." Young and old will strap blades to their feet and speed through an oval arena, weaving patterns as moods strike them.

You'd probably say, "WE NEED REGULATION -- SKATING STOPLIGHTS, SPEED LIMITS, TURN SIGNALS -- AND A RINK DIRECTOR TO POLICE THE SKATERS. YOU CAN'T EXPECT SKATERS TO NAVIGATE THE RINK ON THEIR OWN."

And yet they do. They spontaneously create their own order.

At last month's State of the Union, PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID AMERICA NEEDS MORE PASSENGER TRAINS. How does he know? For years, politicians promised that more of us will want to commute by train, but it doesn't happen. People like their cars. SOME SUBSIDIZED TRAINS COST SO MUCH PER COMMUTER THAT IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO BUY THEM TAXI RIDES.

THE GRAND SCHEMES OF THE POLITICIANS FAIL AND FAIL AGAIN.

By contrast, the private sector, despite harassment from government, gives us better stuff for less money -- without central planning. It's called a spontaneous order.

Lawrence Reed, of the Foundation for Economic Education, explains it this way:

"SPONTANEOUS ORDER IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LEAVE PEOPLE ALONE -- WHEN ENTREPRENEURS ... SEE THE DESIRES OF PEOPLE ... AND THEN PROVIDE FOR THEM…..

http://townhall.com/columnists/johnstossel/2011/02/09/passenger_trains__clearly_the_change__weve_been_waiting_for/page/full/


This is a huge difference between liberals and conservatives. Liberals see the profit motive as something that cheats consumers, cause inferior products and threatens safety. Conservatives see successful organizations as those that provide value, gives people what they want and do it more efficiently, more effectively, and more profitably than government can.



Obama's Approval Rating on Deficit Sinks to New Low

NEARLY SEVEN OUT OF TEN AMERICANS DISAPPROVE OF HOW PRESIDENT OBAMA IS HANDLING THE BUDGET DEFICIT, ACCORDING TO A GALLUP POLL RELEASED TODAY.

Although Obama called for a freeze on non-defense discretionary spending in his State of the Union speech, most Americans aren’t impressed. HE ALSO HAS HIGH DISAPPROVAL RATINGS FOR HIS POLICIES ON THE ECONOMY (60 PERCENT), HEALTHCARE (56 PERCENT), AND TAXES (54 PERCENT).

Obama’s also losing independents on key issues. Independents are leaning Republican on healthcare, the economy, taxes, and the budget deficit. And while Independents remain fairly evenly split between the parties on certain issues – including foreign affairs and energy policy — GALLUP FOUND NO POLICY THAT INDEPENDENTS ARE LEANING DEMOCRAT ON.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/146021/Obama-Approval-Rating-Deficit-Sinks-New-Low.aspx


In the USA, with Democrats and Republicans pretty evenly split, it is the independents that determine elections. In 2006 and 2008, they acted like Democrats. In 2010 their views mirrored Republicans. It appears at this stage, they are still acting like Republicans.



Webb bows out in 2012: Others at risk

With Wednesday's announcement that SEN. JIM WEBB, D-VA., WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION IN 2012, the number of pro-ObamaCare senators facing re-election in 2012 falls to 10. But the original post is worth revisiting.

NOT A SINGLE SENATE DEMOCRAT ON FEB. 2 VOTED TO REPEAL OBAMACARE. That was expected. But with the health law as unpopular as ever, the vote could come back to haunt vulnerable Democrats in 2012.

Eleven Democrats up for re-election next year represent states in which Republicans won a majority of the 2010 popular vote for House seats: Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin…..

http://blogs.investors.com/capitalhill/index.php/home/35-politicsinvesting/2397-11-pro-obamacare-senators-face-red-state-voters-in-2012


Webb a Republican turned Democrat may have wished he stayed a Republican.



More about Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood

As the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood emerges as THE STRONGEST OPPOSITION MOVEMENT IN THE CENTER OF THE ARAB WORLD AND, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THE LIKELY WINNER IN FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS, particularly in parliament, it is incumbent that we learn more about it.

While campaigning for parliamentary seats in recent years, the shadowy group does not usually go beyond sloganizing “Islam is the Solution.” In a timely release, PALESTINIAN MEDIA WATCH HAS TODAY POSTED ITS TRANSLATION OF THE BOOK JIHAD IS THE WAY, BY THE EGYPTIAN MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD’S FORMER DIRECTOR MUSTAFA MASHHUR (1996–2002). The book explains the fundamental concepts of the Muslim Brotherhood ideology, which is typically kept hidden from world view. As PMW describes, it “encompass subjects such as the MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD’S GOAL OF ESTABLISHING AN ISLAMIC STATE, WORLD DOMINATION UNDER ISLAM, THE PUBLIC AND PERSONAL RELIGIOUS DUTY OF MILITARY JIHAD, and the warning not to rush to Jihad until it is prepared and timed for maximum benefit.”

Below are some sample quotes from the translation:

● “. . . the Islamic Ummah [nation] . . . can regain its power and be liberated and assume its RIGHTFUL POSITION WHICH WAS INTENDED BY ALLAH, AS THE MOST EXALTED NATION AMONG MEN, as the leaders of humanity . . .”

● “. . . KNOW YOUR STATUS, AND BELIEVE FIRMLY THAT YOU ARE THE MASTERS OF THE WORLD, even if your enemies desire your degradation . . .”

● “It should be known that Jihad and preparation towards JIHAD ARE NOT ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF FENDING-OFF ASSAULTS AND ATTACKS OF ALLAH’S ENEMIES from Muslims, but are also FOR THE PURPOSE OF REALIZING THE GREAT TASK OF ESTABLISHING AN ISLAMIC STATE and strengthening the religion and spreading it around the world . . .”

● “. . . Jihad for Allah is not limited to the specific region of the Islamic countries, since the Muslim homeland is one and is not divided, and the banner of Jihad has already been raised in some of its parts, and it shall continue to be raised, with the help of Allah, until every inch of the land of Islam will be liberated, the State of Islam will be established . . .”

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/259348/more-about-egypts-muslim-brotherhood-nina-shea

For those who think we should cheer lead the turmoil in Egypt, this is something to think about. The Muslim Brotherhood is an extremist group bent on establishing an Islamic world order.


If you want to read more of the translation you can find it here.


http://palwatch.org/STORAGE/special%20reports/Jihad_is_the_way_by_Mustafa_Mashhur.pdf



A Blowhard Bromance?

On Fox News’ late-night Red Eye, Greg Gutfeld asked his panel about the move by ex-MSNBC host Keith Olbermann to Al Gore’s Current TV. “IS THIS A BLOWHARD BROMANCE?”


In a discussion that described Olbermann’s move to the poorly-rated Current (described by Gutfeld as a network devoted to “knitting and all things yarn”) as “deserved oblivion,” CURRENT WAS DESCRIBED AS SUCH A NONFACTOR IN THE CABLE TELEVISION WORLD THAT IT DIDN’T EVEN WARRANT A MENTION IN OLBERMANN’S PRESUMED NONCOMPETE AGREEMENT WITH NBC. “They had ‘don’t work at Subway,’ but not that,” said Gutfeld.

Watch it here: http://www.mediaite.com/tv/red-eye-panel-declares-gore-and-olbermann-pairing-a-blowhard-bromance/


Actually this makes a lot of sense for Gore, but I’m not sure it does for Olbermann. Current TV should pick up so viewers, but they are so low in ratings, it is looking like it may be the Air America of cable. Olbermann right now is worth a lot to someone. Going to Current TV and not pulling off a miracle diminishes his value.

Arianna Huffington's ideological transformation

….That version of Huffington CALLED FOR STRICT IMMIGRATION RESTRICTIONS. She FAVORED BILL CLINTON'S RESIGNATION and floated the rumor that a former ambassador had been buried in Arlington because Clinton had slept with his wife.

By that time, she had already had many ideological meanderings, beginning with a book called "The Female Woman" (seen as anti-feminist) and continuing to a biography portraying Picasso as a misogynist (seen as a feminist tract). SHE HAD ALSO BEEN HEAVILY INVOLVED IN CAMPAIGNS BY HER THEN-HUSBAND, A REPUBLICAN, FOR THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

But IN THE LATE 1990S, HUFFINGTON BEGAN TO REINVENT HERSELF. She covered the '96 political conventions for Comedy Central with Al Franken. She broke with Gingrich. She disparaged Bob Dole. She promoted Warren Beatty for president. She published a book favoring campaign finance reform. In 2000, she hosted a "shadow convention" protesting both parties.

SHE LATER EXPLAINED THE "TRANSFORMATION" OF HER POLITICAL VIEWS BY SAYING THE RIGHT HAD "SEDUCED, FOOLED, BLINDED, BAMBOOZLED" HER.

That's crazy talk. NOBODY BAMBOOZLES ARIANNA STASSINOPOULOS HUFFINGTON. If anybody was fooled, it was those who believed she would be a more enduring progressive than she was a conservative.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/08/AR2011020805179.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns


The paragraphs I have reproduced are from the end of the article. It’s an interesting read to see the transformations of Arianna over the years. I’m of the belief she is neither a progressive nor conservative, but is a dedicated opportunist.

Obama and the left: Two different responses to the shootings

NY Times doesn’t read its own findings

It seems that Jared Loughner did not even like or watch TV or the news, according to his friends:

He did not watch TV. He disliked the news. He didn’t listen to political radio. He didn’t take sides. He wasn’t on the left. He wasn’t on the right.

The friends went on to describe deep seated rage: "Osler says his friend wasn’t shooting at people, "'HE WAS SHOOTING AT THE WORLD.'"


This would MAKE HIM TYPICAL OF OTHER MASS SHOOTERS according to a study 0f 102 rampage killers done by the New York Times:


The Times found, however, that the debate may have largely overlooked a critical issue: AT LEAST HALF OF THE KILLERS SHOWED SIGNS OF SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS. ...


It seems that A NUMBER OF THE TIMES'S COLUMNISTS OVERLOOKED THE PAPER'S OWN FINDINGS on rampage killings when first discussing the Arizona shooting. Do they even bother doing any research? For example, KRUGMAN BLAMED TALK RADIO, THE CULTURE OF RIGHT LEANING HATE AND RUSH LIMBAUGH. A NYT'S EDITORIAL MADE THE SAME POINTS. Maybe if someone there had taken the time to reflect on their own study, they would have reached a different and more even-handed conclusion.

http://drhelen.blogspot.com/2011/01/osler-says-his-friend-wasnt-shooting-at.html


The lack of facts and a propensity not to actually check to see if there are any facts seems to be a hallmark of the left.



What if Jared Loughner had be Muslim?

Shamefully and sadly, the media would have covered his horrific assassination attempt of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz) and slaying and maiming of innocent Arizonans in a more responsible manner. THEY WOULD HAVE CALLED FOR RESTRAINT AND NOT VIOLATED THE JOURNALISTIC TENET OF NOT ASSUMING ANYTHING, a tenet they purportedly (and often facetiously sanctimoniously) claim to hold dear.

But because Loughner was not a member of one of the mainstream media’s protected classes, they used Loughner’s heinous act to go on liberal crusades against conservatives and Tea Partiers, to promote gun control, amnesty, and rail against those who may oppose ethnic study programs that erroneously teach students that the Southwestern part of the United States is a part of Mexico.

Immediately after this senseless tragedy, The New York Times opined that “it is legitimate to hold Republicans and particularly their most virulent supporters in the media responsible for the gale of anger that has produced the vast majority of these threats, setting the nation on edge…..

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=41136


This is an interesting piece speculating on how the left wouldn’t be speculating about the right. What we’ve seen is not journalism but political opportunism played out on a national scale by the left.



What the left did wrong

By Jennifer Rubin

Why were the last four days a mini-disaster for the swampland of the left? It boils down to: facts, response and time.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/right-turn/2011/01/what_the_left_did_wrong.html


This is a very worthwhile read. I found this to be very insightful, “The final lesson for the left is this: for the sake of a second term, the president is willing to throw liberals under the bus.”




Why the Left Lost It

There has been a great effort this week to come to grips with the American left's reaction to the Tucson shooting. Paul Krugman of the New York Times and its editorial page, George Packer of the New Yorker, E.J. Dionne of the Washington Post, Jonathan Alter of Newsweek and others, in varying degrees, HAVE LINKED THE MURDERS TO THE INTENSITY OF OPPOSITION TO THE POLICIES AND PRESIDENCY OF BARACK OBAMA. As Mr. Krugman asked in his Monday commentary: "Were you, at some level, expecting something like this atrocity to happen?"

The "you" would be his audience, and the answer is yes, they thought that in these times "something like this" could happen in the United States. Other media commentators, without a microbe of conservatism in their bloodstreams, have rejected this suggestion.

So what was the point? Why attempt the gymnastic logic of asserting that the act of a deranged personality was linked to the tea parties and the American right? Two reasons: POLITICAL CALCULATION AND PERSONAL BELIEF.

The calculation flows from the shock of the midterm elections of November 2010. That was no ordinary election. WHAT VOTERS DID HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CHANGE THE CONTENT AND DIRECTION OF THE U.S. POLITICAL SYSTEM, POSSIBLY FOR A GENERATION.

Only 24 months after Barack Obama's own historic election and a rising Democratic tide, the country flipped. Not just control of the U.S. House, but deep in the body politic. REPUBLICANS NOW CONTROL MORE STATE LEGISLATIVE SEATS THAN ANY TIME SINCE 1928.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703791904576076373704758778.html?mod=WSJ_newsreel_opinion

If you know history, you know before 1928 (read that the Great Depression), the Republicans had been the dominate party since 1860. The massive movement to the Republicans does and should concern the Democrats.

World Freest Economy

HONG KONG WAS RATED THE WORLD'S FREEST ECONOMY FOR A 17TH STRAIGHT YEAR in a ranking by the U.S.-based Heritage Foundation, above rivals Singapore and Australia for the title.


HONG KONG, WITH A SCORE OF 89.7, IS WELL ABOVE THE WORLD AVERAGE OF 59.7, the Washington-based Heritage Foundation said in its 2011 Index of Economic Freedom report released on Wednesday.


The study assesses 183 economies, out of which mainland China ranks 135th.


"Hong Kong, one of the world's most competitive financial and business centers, demonstrated a high degree of resilience during the global financial crisis," the report said.

Freedom in trade and finance was the biggest boost to Hong Kong's ranking, while investment freedom and property rights, business and monetary freedom all scored highly.

THE UNITED STATES FELL TO THE 9TH FREEST FROM 8TH LAST YEAR and United Kingdom slipped to 16 place from 11 in 2010 due to more policy responses to the global economic turmoil, it added.

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Hong+Kong+reigns+world+freest+economy+17th+straight+year/4097106/story.html#ixzz1Av4p5fJP



Arizona: Let’s start thinking about locking up lunatics

In my Washington Examiner column “Systematic assassinations not part of our politics,” I wrote of the Arizona murders:

IF ANY BLAME ATTACHES TO OTHERS, IT IS TO AUTHORITIES WHO HAD NOTICE OF HIS MADNESS AND DID NOT DO ENOUGH TO CONFINE HIM OR PREVENT HIM FROM BUYING A GUN. The Pima County sheriff, who was quick to suggest the attack was among the "consequences" of Republican rhetoric, also reported that the shooter's bizarre behavior was brought to the attention of authorities.

Arizona reportedly gives authorities more leeway than most states to put such an individual under restraint or at least prevent him from buying a gun. Perhaps there is some good reason this was not done; but at least there are questions that need to be asked.

Or to put it more bluntly, SHOULDN’T THIS GUY HAVE BEEN LOCKED UP? I am pleased to see that William Galston, writing in his New Republic blog, has the same idea, and calls for a reconsideration of the laws that have reduced the possibility of involuntary commitment. Psychiatrist E. Fuller Torrey, writing in the Wall Street Journal, makes the same case and adds interesting detail. Jennifer Rubin, on her new Right Turn blog at the Washington Post notices that, as her headline reads, “Left gives up on guns, moves on to mental health,” and applauds the move.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/01/arizona-let-s-start-thinking-about-locking-lunatics#ixzz1AvFicr7D


While Michael Barone zeros in on the failure here, the anti-gun cabal is acting like a teacher who punishes the entire class for the disruption of one student. To them the answer is to deny everyone the “Legal” right to own a gun. Even Dupnik wouldn’t go along with that idea as he encouraged everyone to buy a gun as his deputies couldn’t keep them from harm.



Autism Fraud

The report that first triggered scares that a vaccine to prevent measles, mumps and rubella might cause autism in children has received another devastating blow to its credibility. The BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL HAS DECLARED THAT THE RESEARCH WAS NOT SIMPLY BAD SCIENCE, AS HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR YEARS, BUT A DELIBERATE FRAUD….

Some parents still consider Dr. Wakefield a hero, and others have moved on to other theories, equally unsupported by scientific evidence, as to how vaccines might cause autism.


THEY NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT FAILURE TO VACCINATE THEIR CHILDREN LEAVES THEM TRULY VULNERABLE TO DISEASES THAT CAN CAUSE ENORMOUS HARM.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/13/opinion/13thu2.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha211



Surely criminal action should be taken against Dr. Wakefield. He was a pied piper who led parents to put their children at terrible risk.



Obama does well—his audience, not so much

Never before in the annals of national moments of mourning have the words spoken been so wildly mismatched by the spirit in which they were received.

THE SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SPEECH LAST NIGHT WERE BEAUTIFUL AND MOVING AND POWERFUL. But for the most part they didn't quite transcend THE WILDLY INAPPROPRIATE SETTING IN WHICH HE DELIVERED THEM.

There was something about the choice of place, a college arena with the appropriate name of the McKale Memorial Center, that made the event turn literally sophomoric.

If there is one thing we expect from occasions of national mourning, it is, at the very least, A MODICUM OF GRAVITY. That gravity was present in the president's speech from first to last -- especially in the pitch-perfect response to the disgusting national political debate

 

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/prez_perfect_but_the_crowd_was_appalling_j08cf0Fajllkht0yZ4W7GM#ixzz1AvIQZIQq


Obama did make a good speech. Wild cheers from the crowd reminded me of the Paul Wellstone memorial service. Let’s give credit where it is due (President Obama) and hope that the left learns the proper way to mourn.


A Tawdry Start to the 2012 Election Campaign

Four years of a Democratically-controlled Congress, coupled with two years of the Obama administration, gave the American progressive movement more power than it had ever achieved before. Not Democrats, progressives. Democrats have had control of the White House and substantial majorities in both houses of Congress prior to 2008, but NEVER WITH A PARTY COMPRISED OF PEOPLE TILTED SO FAR TO THE PROGRESSIVE side of the ledger. Thinking they had achieved what political strategist James Carville referred to as the beginning of a “40 YEAR ASCENDANCY,” THEY BEGAN IMPLEMENTING THEIR AGENDA WITH LITTLE REGARD FOR PUBLIC CONCERN. ON NOVEMBER 2ND, A CONCERNED PUBLIC THOROUGHLY REJECTED THEM.

So what do far-left ideologues do when they have recently endured a clear-cut rejection of their ideology? Apparently A GOOD NUMBER OF THEM TAKE TO THE AIRWAVES AND TELL THE AMERICAN PUBLIC–WITH SMUG CERTAINTY, NO LESS–WHAT MOTIVATES A MADMAN. Facts, as demonstrated by progressives who have sought to tie the tragedy in Arizona to anything and everything conservative absent a shred of evidence, do not matter. Alleged shooter Jared Loughner has become the “vehicle du jour” for a progressive movement in utter denial of reality. IT IS A DENIAL SO PROFOUND that they would rather believe what happened on election day was a spasm of national insanity

http://frontpagemag.com/2011/01/13/a-tawdry-start-to-the-2012-election-campaign/


Are the Progressives crazy or just kidding themselves? Do they really think that their charges against the right will sway the public?



The Golden No-Vitriol Age Wasn’t So Golden

Denunciations of media vitriol in the wake of the Tucson shootings look back to an age of civil media discourse. That golden age existed in living memory: the 1960s and 1970s, when the mainstream media almost universally hewed to a belief in professional, objective, neutral journalism. The news industry could enforce this line, since it was more oligopolistic than at any time before or since. MOST CITIES HAD ONLY A FEW DOMINANT NEWSPAPERS. Television penetrated about 90 percent of American homes by the late 1950s, and the classic era of network television news began in September 1963, when the Huntley-Brinkley Report on NBC and the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite expanded from 15 minutes to 30 minutes. THESE NEWSCASTS RAPIDLY BECAME THE PRIMARY NEWS SOURCE FOR MOST AMERICANS. NO CABLE NEWS, NO INTERNET.

The result? TWO DECADES OF ASSASSINATIONS AND ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS against major political figures, starting with JFK ….

You could even argue that the golden-age mainstream media made violence more likely by shutting out marginal voices; but IT’S MORE LIKELY THAT THE TONE OF THE MEDIA HAS LITTLE TO DO WITH THE VIOLENT ACTIONS OF RADICALS AND CRAZIES.

http://blog.american.com/?p=24876


Well said and something to think about.




A Rising Star: Chris Christie

I happened to see this NJ Gov. Christie appearance on Morning Joe (MSNBC) yesterday morning and I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT TAKE TEN MINUTES TO SEE HOW A POLITICIAN SHOULD BOTH SEEM AND BE, how he should think aloud, how he should talk. Very impressive, and very disarming. You can tell how his interlocutors--even those who want to disagree with him--are disarmed, even persuaded. HIS CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY FOR A POLITICIAN ARE NEARLY PERFECT, in my opinion. You cannot help liking him. HONEST, CLEAR, AMUSING, LUCID--notice that there is no "uhming and ahing" at any time, no hesitation--clearly deeply thoughtful and knowledgeable, he speaks with an authority that is rare. Very persuasive. Also, he's fat, lards the lean earth as he walks along, he's thrice wider than other men. therefore worthy of our entire trust. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE THAT THIS MAN WILL NOT RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

http://nlt.ashbrook.org/2011/01/chris-christie.php


I’m keeping an eye on him. He is impressive.