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.

All things nervous--Mubarak falls

Dangerous opportunity

Mubarak resigns: Military takes over

Fireworks burst over Tahrir Square and Egypt exploded with joy and tears of relief after PRO-DEMOCRACY PROTESTERS BROUGHT DOWN PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK WITH A MOMENTOUS MARCH ON HIS PALACES AND STATE TV. Mubarak, who until the end seemed unable to grasp the depth of resentment over his three decades of authoritarian rule, FINALLY RESIGNED FRIDAY AND HANDED POWER TO THE MILITARY.

"The people ousted the regime," rang out chants from crowds of hundreds of thousands massed in Cairo's central Tahrir, or Liberation, Square and outside Mubarak's main palace several miles away in a northern district of the capital.

The crowds in Cairo, the Mediterranean city of Alexandria and other cities around the country erupted into a pandemonium of cheers and waving flags. THEY DANCED, HUGGED AND RAISED THEIR HANDS IN PRAYER AFTER VICE PRESIDENT OMAR SULEIMAN MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON NATIONAL TV just after nightfall. Some fell to kiss the ground, and others chanted, "Goodbye, goodbye" and "put your heads up high, you're Egyptian."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ml_egypt

With the resignation of Mubarak, we don’t know what will happen.  The military has taken over but in reality the military has been in charge for the past 60 years.  Three regimes have changed in that time, but not the political equation.  What America can hope for is that democratic reforms will happen while radical groups like the Muslim brotherhood are kept at bay (too many revolutions end up with a small well organized minority taking over).  We need to wait and see what happens. 

Should President Obama be nervous?

… But IS AMERICA’S LEFT BEING BULLISHLY OVERCONFIDENT in the wake of their biggest midterm defeat since 1948? Definitely, if a series of new polls are anything to go by. A CNN/OPINION RESEARCH SURVEY RELEASED ON TUESDAY SHOWED THAT 51 PERCENT OF AMERICANS BELIEVE BARACK OBAMA WILL LOSE THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN 2012. The poll found that only 26 percent of registered voters will definitely vote for Obama, as opposed to 37 percent who definitely won’t. And despite a rising personal approval rating for Obama, according to RealClear Politics THE AMERICAN PUBLIC STILL OVERWHELMINGLY FEELS THE COUNTRY IS MOVING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, WITH OVER 60 PERCENT OF AMERICANS TAKING THIS VIEW.

Economic issues are likely to dominate the political landscape in the lead up to November 2012, and here the president is already at a distinct disadvantage. Gallup’s latest poll released on February 9 showed that a mere 27 percent of Americans approve of Obama on the deficit (down from 32 percent in November), with 68 percent disapproving. On taxes, Obama has 42 percent approval as opposed to 54 percent disapproval, and on the economy as a whole 60 percent of Americans are unhappy with the president’s handling of the issue, with just 37 percent in favour. And on healthcare policy, another major voter issue in 2012, only 40 percent of Americans back the president, with 56 percent against. As Gallup concludes:

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/nilegardiner/100075460/barack-obama-should-be-nervous-about-2012/

It’s a bit early, but the polls, predictions and prognostication has begun.



New drilling method opens vast oil fields in US

A new drilling technique is opening up vast fields of previously out-of-reach oil in the western United States, helping reverse a two-decade decline in domestic production of crude.


Companies are investing billions of dollars to get at oil deposits scattered across North Dakota, Colorado, Texas and California. By 2015, oil executives and analysts say, the new fields could yield as much as 2 million barrels of oil a day - more than the entire Gulf of Mexico produces now.

This new drilling is expected to raise U.S. production by at least 20 percent over the next five years. And within 10 years, it could help reduce oil imports by more than half, advancing a goal that has long eluded policymakers.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SHALE_OIL?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

Here is some good news today.



Tricks but no miracles in recent jobs report

…THE NUMBER OF NEW JOBS CREATED LAST MONTH, THE GOVERNMENT SAID IN ITS REPORT, ADDED UP TO JUST 36,000. THAT COMPARES WITH THE 150,000 NEW JOBS THAT THE "EXPERTS" WERE EXPECTING.

Keep in mind that 150,000 jobs are not even enough to absorb new people trying to enter the workforce for the first time, much less find jobs for the unemployed.

And THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN FRIDAY'S REPORT FELL BY A LAUGHABLY LARGE 0.4 PERCENTAGE POINTS TO 9.0 PERCENT, which of course the Labor Department chose to highlight in the first sentences of its release…..

….THE LABOR DEPARTMENT ALSO ANNOUNCED IN ITS LATEST REPORT THAT IT HAD OVER-COUNTED BY 452,000 THE NUMBER OF JOBS IT PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT HAD BEEN CREATED IN 2010. President Obama loves to say in speeches that 1.3 million jobs were created last year.

HE CAN'T ANYMORE BECAUSE THE NEW FIGURE IS JUST 909,000, and many of those were temporary Census 2010 positions…..

….IN JANUARY 2010, THE LABOR DEPARTMENT ASSUMED THAT 427,000 JOBS WERE KILLED BY THESE SMALL COMPANIES. THIS JANUARY THE MODEL GUESSED THAT ONLY 339,000 JOBS WERE ELIMINATED.


In other words, if Labor had used anything near last January's 427,000 figure, THIS JANUARY'S HEADLINE NUMBER COULD HAVE BEEN NEGATIVE INSTEAD OF SHOWING THE PALTRY 36,000 JOB GROWTH…..

……But even that doesn't tell the whole story because ADP DOES NOT COUNT GOVERNMENT WORKERS WHO ARE BEING FIRED AS PART OF BUDGET CUTBACKS.

According to Challenger Gray and Christmas, another private research firm, 142,255 GOVERNMENT WORKERS WERE PART OF ANNOUNCED LAYOFFS IN 2010. And public employees are likely to suffer more layoffs in the months ahead as local governments deal with budget deficits.

BOTTOM LINE: JOB GROWTH STINKS. But it isn't ebbing and flowing nearly as much as the government's number would have you believe

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/tricks_but_no_miracles_in_recent_5BVccbpjgGSJR4cvIzr54N#ixzz1DZIpt0WR

This is a definite must read. It is fascinating to see what is actually going on. It also explains why Gallup came out and said the Unemployment rate was 9.8% just before the government came out at 9.0%. It appears there are rules of thumb being manipulated to make the numbers look better.



Too Useful to Check: Us Magazine Falls For Fake Palin-Aguilera Story

GossipCop.com reports that Us Weekly just did something extraordinarily dumb (bolds, italics, and link are in original):

WHOOPS! US WEEKLY PUBLISHES SARAH PALIN/CHRISTINA AGUILERA SPOOF AS FACT

This is really bad.

Us Weekly has published what it claims are comments made by Sarah Palin, in which the former vice presidential candidate blasts Christina Aguilera’s performance of the national anthem at Super Bowl XLV.

EXCEPT THE OVER-THE-TOP “QUOTES,” WHICH US WEEKLY ATTRIBUTES TO A MONDAY RADIO INTERVIEW WITH SEAN HANNITY, WERE ACTUALLY WRITTEN FOR A SATIRE WEBSITE…..

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tom-blumer/2011/02/10/too-useful-check-us-magazine-falls-fake-palin-aguilera-story#ixzz1DZYCJrpe


Sometimes liberals can’t help themselves. Even if it’s not true, it should be. As Dan Rather said regarding the documents about President Bush being given special treatment they were: “Fake but accurate.”



The great Pigford fraud

…Andrew Breitbart delivered remarks, saying that AL PIRES CREATED A SYSTEM TO EXPLOIT BLACK FARMERS IN THE SOUTH, WHO ONLY NUMBERED ABOUT 3,000 EXPECTED CLAIMANTS at the outset. PIGFORD HAS ENDED UP WITH ABOUT 94,000 CLAIMANTS, thanks in no small part to Sen. Barack Obama’s sponsorship of a bill to extend Pigford when he was in the Senate. Meanwhile, BLACK FARMERS WHO WERE ACTUALLY DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BY THE USDA WERE SCAMMED TO BENEFIT THE CLASS ACTION ATTORNEYS INVOLVED, who made a killing off of Pigford. The farmers, meanwhile, lost their land and continue to be victims of the entire process.

FILM MAKER LEE STRANAHAN SHOWED UNDERCOVER VIDEO THAT HE OBTAINED, WHICH PROVES THAT THE LAWYERS INVOLVED DEFRAUDED THE BLACK FARMERS, while also teaching others how to scam the government out of money by exploiting the Pigford settlement. Stranaham’s undercover film also shows proof THAT PIGFORD IS BEING USED AS A STEALTH REPARATIONS PROGRAM.

Rep. Steve King delivered remarks following Stranaham. King looked into the Pigford settlements almost a decade ago, when a researcher delivered evidence to his office that about 75% OF THE PIGFORD I SETTLEMENTS WERE FRAUDULENT. King noted that there were black farmers who were discriminated against, and they should be made whole. But the Pigford settlements have far exceeded the number of actual farmers who were harmed. KING CALLED FOR A CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION INTO PIGFORD, TO UNCOVER THE FULL EXTENT OF A “CRIME AGAINST THE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS.”

http://pajamasmedia.com/tatler/2011/02/10/cpac-presser-the-great-pigford-fraud/


You may not have heard much about this, but it has been brimming around the internet for a while now. The estimate of the number of farmers hurt (3,000) vs the number of claimants (94,000) shows us we need an investigation and prosecuting those who were involved in fraud.



FOIA requests: A double standard?

ERIC HOLDER’S JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS EVEN POLITICIZED COMPLIANCE WITH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT. According to documents I have obtained, FOIA requests from liberals or politically connected civil rights groups are often given same day turn-around by the DOJ. But requests from conservatives or Republicans face long delays, if they are fulfilled at all.

THE DOCUMENTS SHOW A PATTERN OF POLITICIZED COMPLIANCE WITHIN THE DOJ’S CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION. In particular, I have obtained FOIA logs that demonstrate as of August 2010, the most transparent administration in history is anything but. The logs provide the index number of the information request, the date of the request, the requestor, and the date of compliance.

For example, REPUBLICAN ELECTION ATTORNEY CHRIS ASHBY OF LECLAIR RYAN MADE A REQUEST FOR THE RECORDS OF FIVE SUBMISSIONS made under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. ASHBY WAITED NEARLY EIGHT MONTHS FOR A RESPONSE. Afterwards, Susan Somach of the “Georgia Coalition for the Peoples’ Agenda,” a group headed by Rev. Joseph Lowery, made requests for 23 of the same type of records. While Ashby waited many months for five records, SOMACH WAITED ONLY 20 DAYS FOR 23 RECORDS.

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/bombshell-justice-department-only-selectively-complies-with-freedom-of-information-act-pjm-exclusive/


This isn’t necessarily surprising, but it is disappointing. Wasn’t the Obama administration going to be the MOST TRANSPARENT in our countries history? Evidently not.



CBO Director Says Obamacare Would Reduce Employment by 800,000 Workers

Testifying today before the House Budget Committee, Congressional Budget Office (CBO) DIRECTOR DOUG ELMENDORF CONFIRMED THAT OBAMACARE IS EXPECTED TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF JOBS IN THE LABOR MARKET BY AN ESTIMATED 800,000. Here are excerpts from the exchange:…

…Rep. [John] Campbell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, we'll -- and Dr. Elmendorf -- and we'll continue this conversation right now. First on health care, before I get to -- before I get to broader issues, you just mentioned that you believe -- or that in your estimate, that the health care law would reduce the labor used in the economy by about 1/2 of 1 percent, given that, I believe you say, there's 160 million full-time people working in '20-'21. That means that, in your estimation, the health care law would reduce employment by 800,000 in '20-'21. Is that correct?

Director Elmendorf: Yes. The way I would put it is that WE DO ESTIMATE, AS YOU SAID, THAT...EMPLOYMENT WILL BE ABOUT 160 MILLION BY THE END OF THE DECADE. HALF A PERCENT OF THAT IS 800,000.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/daily/daily.asp


Next time a democrat asks why the Republicans are looking out for jobs but rather are looking at Obamacare, you now have the answer. Since 2010 saw the economy grow by 909,000 jobs this alone would save almost as many jobs as the economy created.

Jobs and other important things

Natural Born Job Killer

The new House majority INCURRED THE WRATH OF THE MEDIA BY REFUSING TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE REPEAL BILL and ignoring their calls to "wait a bit longer" before bringing it up for a vote. In fact, the Republicans had the temerity to give the "REPEALING THE JOB-KILLING HEALTH CARE LAW ACT" pride of place in their vote schedule. This affront has inspired a spate of "news" stories claiming that the GOP has misled the public concerning Obamacare's effect on unemployment. The REPUBLICANS HAVE, ACCORDING TO THESE ARTICLES, MISREPRESENTED A CBO REPORT THAT SUGGESTS THE NEW LAW WILL ELIMINATE 650,000 JOBS. A typical example is an AP "fact check" piece that includes this priceless quote from economist Paul Fronstin: "CBO ISN'T SAYING THAT THERE IS JOB LOSS AS MUCH AS THEY ARE SAYING THAT FEWER PEOPLE WILL BE WORKING."

http://spectator.org/archives/2011/01/21/a-natural-born-job-killer

I put this one in my blog simply for the fact check quote. It is a gem.

Everything starts with repeal

Suppose someone - say, the president of United States - proposed the following: We are drowning in debt. More than $14 trillion right now. I'VE GOT A GREAT IDEA FOR DEFICIT REDUCTION. IT WILL YIELD A SAVINGS OF $230 BILLION OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS: We increase spending by $540 billion while we increase taxes by $770 billion.

HE'D BE LAUGHED OUT OF TOWN. And yet, this is precisely what the Democrats are claiming as a virtue of Obamacare. During the debate over Republican attempts to repeal it, ONE OF THE DEMOCRATS' MAJOR TALKING POINTS HAS BEEN THAT OBAMACARE REDUCES THE DEFICIT - AND THEREFORE REPEAL RAISES IT - BY $230 BILLION. Why, the Congressional Budget Office says exactly that.

Very true. And very convincing. Until you realize where that number comes from. Explains CBO Director Douglas Elmendorf in his "preliminary analysis of H.R. 2" (the Republican health-care repeal): "CBO anticipates that enacting H.R. 2 would probably yield, for the 2012-2021 period, a reduction in revenues in the neighborhood of $770 billion and a reduction in outlays in the vicinity of $540 billion."

As National Affairs editor Yuval Levin pointed out when mining this remarkable nugget, THIS IS A HELL OF A WAY TO DO DEFICIT REDUCTION: A RADICAL INCREASE IN SPENDING, TOPPED BY AN EVEN MORE RADICAL INCREASE IN TAXES.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/20/AR2011012003687.html


Krauthammer points out the idiocy of the left’s argument regarding not repealing healthcare because it will increase the deficit, but if goes right along with the argument the left used against extending the tax cuts for those making over $250,000 per year. The problem the Feds have is spending, not taxing.

House GOP begins long drive to dismantle Obamacare

Everyone knows House Republicans (along with three Democrats) voted Wednesday to repeal Obamacare. But fewer people know what those same House Republicans -- this time, with 14 Democrats -- did Thursday.

BY A VOTE OF 253 TO 175, THE GOP DIRECTED KEY HOUSE COMMITTEES TO REPORT ON WAYS TO LOWER HEALTH CARE PREMIUMS, ALLOW PATIENTS TO KEEP THEIR CURRENT HEALTH PLANS, INCREASE ACCESS TO COVERAGE FOR THOSE WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS, AND DECREASE THE PRICE OF MEDICAL LIABILITY lawsuits. In other words, the committees are beginning work on replacing the House-repealed Obamacare with Republican health policies.

Repeal got a lot of press coverage. Replacement got far less. If they needed any reminding, GOP lawmakers are learning that controlling the levers of power in the House doesn't mean controlling the media narrative on health care. "DEMOCRATS WANTED TO CHARACTERIZE REPEAL AS DRACONIAN, IGNORING THE FACT THAT WE DO HAVE VERY, VERY POSITIVE ALTERNATIVES," says Rep. David Dreier, chairman of the House Rules Committee. "It's been difficult for us to get that [message] out there. We said repeal and replace, and we're in the process of replacing."

http://washingtonexaminer.com/politics/2011/01/house-gop-begins-long-slog-dismantle-obamacare#ixzz1BgOKxzfC


Repeal and replace will be a very attractive alternative to Obamacare, but you've probably not heard anything about the replace part.

Fighting the “Climate of Hate” Venezuelan Style

ANY VENEZUELANS who believe that President Hugo Chávez has committed a crime and resort to the Attorney General Office to seek prosecution of the Venezuelan president WILL GO FROM COMPLAINANT TO DEFENDANT, as provided for in two judgments issued by the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ).

The Supreme Tribunal of Justice authorized the Public Prosecution Office, led by Luisa Ortega Díaz, to DISMISS TWO CASES FILED BY HENRY RAMOS ALLUP AND RAFAEL MARÍN, TWO LEADERS OF VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION PARTY ACCIÓN DEMOCRÁTICA (Democratic Action); and by retired Navy Vice Admiral Iván Carratú and retired Colonel Pedro Soto against Chávez. Additionally, THE TOP COURT "INSTRUCTED" THE PUBLIC PROSECUTION OFFICE TO "INITIATE A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AGAINST THE COMPLAINANTS."

http://english.eluniversal.com/2011/01/20/en_pol_esp_anyone-accusing-chav_20A5014571.shtml

This certainly will cut down on the negative language used against Hugo Chavez. This is how the rule of law becomes lawless.



Rep. Bishop takes heat over Breitbart videos about black farmers settlement

VIDEOS FEATURING TWO GEORGIA FARMERS THAT ARE BEING CIRCULATED ON THE WEB by conservative commentator Andrew Breitbart HINT THAT BISHOP, OF ALBANY, MAY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT POSSIBLE FRAUD IN LAST YEAR'S SO-CALLED "PIGFORD" SETTLEMENT between the government and black farmers who claimed that a Department of Agriculture farm loan program discriminated against them.

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE IMBIBING," BISHOP SAID of the two farmers after watching the videos. "I'm just perplexed and shocked."…..

…..In the new Breitbart videos, South Georgia farmers Eddie Slaughter and Willie Head complain that Bishop, who also is an African-American, did nothing when they asked him to investigate the Pigford settlement.

SLAUGHTER AND HEAD SAY THEY AND OTHER FARMERS SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A BETTER DEAL, AND THAT MORE SETTLEMENT MONEY WENT TO LAWYERS AND PEOPLE WHO AREN'T FARMERS THAN TO THEM AND OTHER ACTIVE FARMERS

http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/rep-bishop-takes-heat-810415.html

Perhaps this is worth a congressional investigation (not Bishop but the settlement).



Poll: Most Say Deal With Deficit Now

Most Americans believe the massive federal budget deficit is a very serious problem that will create hardships for future generations, according to a new CBS News/New York Times poll.

SIXTY-FOUR PERCENT SAY THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED THE DEFICIT WILL CREATE HARDSHIP IN THE FUTURE, AND ANOTHER 26 PERCENT ARE SOMEWHAT CONCERNED. Just eight percent say they are not concerned.

FIFTY-SIX PERCENT SAY THE DEFICIT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ACTION, while 38 percent say efforts to address the deficit can wait until the economy has improved. Republicans and independents were more likely to push to deal with the deficit now, while Democrats were more likely to say it can wait.

So how do Americans propose to address the deficit? BY CUTTING PROGRAMS, NOT RAISING TAXES. Sixty-two percent would prefer to cut programs from which they benefit, including 81 percent of Republicans. Just 29 percent want taxes raised, including 42 percent of Democrats.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20029119-503544.html

This isn’t news, but it does give you a measure of the dissatisfaction.

Criminalizing free speech by exploiting the Arizona tragedy

THE PROGRESSIVE ELITES ARE TIRED OF HAVING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THE CITIZENS ABOUT THEIR POLICIES. They feel that only they have the knowledge and power to make decisions for us. Questioning their policies is an act of rebellion that cannot be tolerated. CIVILITY MUST BE INTRODUCED WHICH MEANS POLITELY GOING ALONG WITH THE STATUS QUO ELITE'S AGENDA. Any strong disagreement about pending laws would be seen as hostility against these elected progressives.



REPRESENTATIVE BOB BRADLEY (D.-PA.) PLANS TO INTRODUCE A BILL TO CRIMINALIZE NOT ONLY LANGUAGE BUT ALSO IMAGERY SUCH AS THE CROSSHAIRS ON A MAP BY SARAH PALIN. The Democratic Council used the same imagery in 2004. The government subjectively will have power to decide who to prosecute or who to ignore. Freedom of speech protection would become arbitrary and capricious. This would never pass in present day America but shows their arrogance.



On a parallel front, other prominent progressives such as LOUISE SLAUGHTER (D.-N.Y.) AND JAMES CLYBURN (D.-S.C.) WANT TO GIVE THE FCC (FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION) THE POWER TO CONTROL THE NEWS THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD BE ALLOWED TO HEAR. They realize to be effective, state propaganda must silence the opposition, a necessary element of a government to totally control the populace.



Never let a crisis go to waste to silence the opposition and push your agenda. MOIRA LIASSON OF NPR HAS SUGGESTED THAT CALLING PEOPLE SOCIALISTS, FASCISTS OR COMMUNISTS ARE INCENDIARY TERMS THAT SHOULD BE REPRESSED TO HAVE CIVIL POLITICS. This is absurd since these are defined terms, and politicians refer to themselves using these words

http://www2.hernandotoday.com/content/2011/jan/20/202023/criminalizing-free-speech-by-exploiting-the-arizon/news-opinion-editorial/


Free speech is the keystone to democracy. The latest attacks upon it in the name of civility are truly frightening.


What government waste?

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) IS TEACHING FARMERS HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN “CARBON MARKETS” DESPITE THE FACT THAT SUCH MARKETS DO NOT EXIST and Congress – in rejecting cap and trade legislation last year – has refused to create them.

DEPUTY SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE KATHLEEN MERRIGAN MADE THE ADMISSION AT THE WORLDWATCH INSTITUTE’S 2011 STATE OF WORLD SYMPOSIUM Wednesday, saying that one of the ways USDA was dealing with climate change was to teach American farmers how to participate in “carbon markets,” the technical term for a cap and trade program.


“[USDA] will show farmers clearly and directly how they can benefit from participating in carbon markets,” Merrigan said. “It’s got to go from the drawing board to the boardroom.”

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/federal-government-teaching-farmers-part

It appears the government has money to burn. Oops won’t that accelerate AGW?

More global warming news

THE COLDEST AIR OF THE WINTER SO FAR HAS ARRIVED OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS AND MIDWEST AND WILL CAUSE TEMPERATURES TO PLUMMET IN THE NORTHEAST IN THE WAKE OF TODAY'S DISRUPTIVE SNOWSTORM.

The wave of arctic air may lead to frozen pipes in some households and eventually broken water mains in some communities.

Furnaces and heaters will be working hard in coming days, and you will get the bill for it later in the month.

Actual temperatures may do no better than the single digits for highs today in Chicago and Milwaukee.

http://www.accuweather.com/blogs/news/story/44721/deep-freeze-gripping-midwest-a-1.asp

I posted this since the warmist claim cold weather is proof of global WARMING. Hmmmm.









Big new wind turbines too close together, says top boffin

A top American fluid-dynamics boffin says that NEW, LARGER WIND TURBINES NOW GOING INTO SERVICE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE PLACED MUCH FURTHER APART - which will have serious implications for the amount of energy produced by wind farms of the future.

The latest wind farms now going into service use huge turbines with rotor diameters in the 100m range, expected to offer large outputs. But according to engineering professor and fluid dynamics expert Charles Meneveau of Johns Hopkins University, there's a problem....

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/01/21/wind_turbines_too_close_together/

Bigger apparently is not necessarily better.

Exceptionalism, Faith and Freedom: Palin’s America

….Palin is thus on firm ground when SHE LINKS “THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE AN EXCEPTIONAL NATION” WITH THE OBSERVATION, MADE BY DE TOCQUEVILLE, THAT IN AMERICA “THE SPIRIT OF RELIGION AND THE SPIRIT OF FREEDOM [ARE] INTIMATELY UNITED.” “The Founders,” she declares, “deliberately and self-consciously constructed a government based on the belief that religion was at the root of the personal and public virtues necessary to sustain freedom.”

IN HER VIEW, WE ARE FREE AND EQUAL BECAUSE AS CHILDREN OF GOD WE HAVE AN INHERENT DIGNITY THAT IS INVIOLATE: “We are free as a consequence of being made in the image of God.” In statements like this, Palin brings together her argument for a certain form of politics (“to govern ourselves locally without waiting for any central authority to show us the way”), her claim of American exceptionalism (“we have managed to be, for the most part, the moral and upright people that our Founders hoped we would be”), her grounding of democracy in religion (the equality of men and women follows from their status as God’s children) and her admiration for Jefferson Smith, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King and Frank Capra.

There is then a unity to the book, but it is not one Palin proclaims or works out discursively. Rather, the unity is conveyed by the quotations that carry the argument, long (sometimes two-page) quotations from an impressive variety of authors, quotations that are strong in isolation and even stronger when they are laid next to one another. THE BOOK IS REALLY AN ANTHOLOGY. The author does not present herself as controlling or magisterial; she gives her authorities space and then she gets out of the way. HER PERFORMANCE MIMES THE BOOK’S LESSON: RATHER THAN ACTING AS A CENTRAL AUTHORITY, SHE LETS INDIVIDUAL VOICES SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. Humility is not something Palin is usually credited with, but here she enacts it by yielding the stage as others proclaims the truths she wants us to carry away…..

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/17/exceptionalism-faith-and-freedom-palins-america/

Getting praise for her new book in the NY Times seemed to be quite a coup. The reviewer (Stanley Fish) is a man of the left, but a bit different than many on the left. Anyway I thought you might want to look at getting this book.