Unemployment rears its ugly head again

Unemployment, by the numbers

The jobs numbers could hardly have been worse. NOT ONLY DID THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE RISE TO 9.2 PERCENT, AND THE ECONOMY CREATE ONLY 18,000 JOBS, BUT THE PERCENT OF AMERICANS CHOOSING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LABOR FORCE DECLINED TO 64.1 PERCENT, the same level as in March, 1984. Over 44 percent of the unemployed have been out of work for six months or longer, making their reentry into employment even more difficult.

But one surprise is that some sectors of the workforce are doing better—those with the lowest and the highest skills. ADULT WOMEN, WHOSE UNEMPLOYMENT RATES DID NOT DECLINE, ARE ALSO DOING BETTER THAN MEN. Their unemployment rate is 8 percent, compared with 9.1 percent for men.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR ADULTS WITHOUT A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA DECLINED FROM 14.7 PERCENT TO 14.3 percent, and their employment rose by 11,000. Hispanic employment, traditionally low-skill, increased by 139,000, and Hispanic unemployment declined by three tenths of a percentage point….

http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/07/unemployment-numbers#ixzz1RbqQcSyf

When unemployment goes up despite people dropping out of the labor market it is not a good sign for the administration.

What was the point of that Rose Garden speech?

Following the release of the dreadful jobs numbers, President Obama appeared in the Rose Garden this morning. However, it was entirely unclear why he was there or what his plan is for digging the economy out of the deep hole in which we find ourselves.

THE SPEECH, IF YOU CAN CALL IT THAT, SEEMED TO BE A DISCONNECTED COLLAGE OF ONE-LINERS AND EXCUSES. He started off by explaining that “the debate here in Washington has been dominated by issues of debt limit, but what matters most to Americans, and what matters most to me as President, in the wake of the WORST DOWNTURN IN OUR LIFETIMES, is getting OUR ECONOMY ON A SOUNDER FOOTING MORE BROADLY SO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CAN HAVE THE SECURITY THEY DESERVE.” Is he saying he’s working on something the public doesn’t care about? Not clear. Later he tied the two together, adopting the GOP position that the failure to address the debt in impairing growth. (“The problems in Greece and in Europe, along with uncertainty over whether the debt limit here in the United States will be raised, have also made businesses hesitant to invest more aggressively.”)

And throughout HIS TONE ALTERNATED BETWEEN DISMISSIVENESS (“We’ve always known that we’d have ups and downs on our way back from this recession”) TO HECTORING (“There are bills and trade agreements before Congress right now that could get all these ideas moving. All of them have bipartisan support. All of them could pass immediately. And I urge Congress not to wait”). DESPITE A BOATLOAD OF EVIDENCE THAT GOVERNMENT SPENDING IS NOT THE WAY FORWARD, HE STILL INSISTS THAT MORE “INVESTMENT” IS NEEDED: “We’ve got to rein in our deficits and get the government to live within its means, while still making the investments that help put people to work right now and make us more competitive in the future.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/post/what-was-the-point-of-that-rose-garden-speech/2011/03/29/gIQAoN3q3H_blog.html

This speech either tells us that BHO thinks we are stupid, or is stupid himself. But it is not surprising he made it since most people in a crisis will revert to what got them to where they are in their life. Obama thinks he knows how to make speeches and is surprised they aren’t making everyone rally around him.

Obama boast blasted

Time is running out on President Obama’s self-imposed deadline to rescue the nation’s slumping economy by his third year in office or risk losing re-election — a cavalier pronouncement punctuated yesterday by dismal jobless figures that prompted even Democrats to second-guess the president’s audacious 2009 assertion.

OBAMA TOLD TV TITAN MATT LAUER DURING A FEB. 1, 2009, MSNBC INTERVIEW THAT HE WOULD BE “HELD ACCOUNTABLE” TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMY BY THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND, “IF I DON’T HAVE THIS DONE IN THREE YEARS, THEN THERE’S GOING TO BE A ONE-TERM PROPOSITION.”

“He said it. He can’t go back and un-say it,” declared Washington, D.C.-based Democratic consultant Tom Ochs. “(The Obama campaign is) going to have to fight to the death on the economy, and I think they know that.”…

http://bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/2011_0709obama_boast_blasted_economy_vow_a_bust/srvc=home&position=0

Don’t you think we need to hold Obama at his word?



Editorial: A Jobs Report That Defies Description

THE POLITICAL CLASS HAS ALREADY EXHAUSTED THE ADJECTIVES DESCRIBING TODAY’S BLEAK/HORRIBLE/AWFUL/GOD-AWFUL/DISMAL/TERRIBLE/ABSOLUTELY FLAT OUT TERRIBLE JOBS REPORT. The new data showed, among other things, the unemployment rate increasing to 9.2 percent from 9.1 percent even as the labor force got smaller (by more than a quarter-of-a-million people). That is an amazing and alarming phenomenon, since it demonstrates that unemployment has gone up even as the pool of workers shrinks.

THE REAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE INCREASED AS WELL, FROM 15.8 PERCENT TO 16.2 PERCENT. There are now more than 14 million Americans out of work, with 6.3 million out of work for 27 weeks or longer. The unemployment rate has been above 8 percent during every month Obama has been president. Only 18,000 jobs were created in June. THE GOVERNMENT REVISED APRIL AND MAY’S PAYROLLS DOWNWARD BY 44,000. AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS WENT DOWN WHILE THE AVERAGE TIME IT TAKES TO FIND A JOB WENT UP.

There was not a single bit of good news in the Bureau of Labor report. And watching President Obama this morning try to explain this mess and offer solutions to our predicament was painful. HE WAS REDUCED TO LISTING AS ONE OF HIS POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS STREAMLINING THE PATENT PROCESS. THAT UNDERSCORES JUST HOW INTELLECTUALLY EXHAUSTED THE OBAMA PRESIDENCY IS. THEY HAVE NO MORE ARROWS LEFT IN THEIR PUBLIC POLICY QUIVER….

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2011/07/08/a-jobs-report-that-defies-description/

It says it well. Obama is doomed.

This would seem to sum it up nicely

In a conference call with reporters, [Energy Secretary Steven] Chu said the more-efficient bulbs required would save consumers money over the life of the product, even if the up-front price is higher.

“WE ARE TAKING AWAY A CHOICE THAT CONTINUES TO LET PEOPLE WASTE THEIR OWN MONEY,” he said.

http://christopherfountain.com/2011/07/08/this-would-seem-to-sum-it-up-nicely/

This is a political gaffe which is defined as when a politician tells the truth. This quote sums up what progressivism is all about and what they intend to do. The irony is that while progressives won’t continue to let people waste their own money, they are excellent at wasting other people’s money.

We have a spending problem

….But what about World War II, anyway? COMING IN AT 25.3 PERCENT OF GDP, FEDERAL SPENDING IS HIGHER TODAY THAN IT HAS BEEN IN ANY YEAR SINCE 1945. WHAT DID WE DO AT THE END OF WORLD WAR II? WE CUT SPENDING — RADICALLY. IN 1944, FEDERAL SPENDING WAS 43.6 PERCENT OF GDP. BY 1948 IT WAS DOWN TO 11.6 PERCENT OF GDP. It edged up after that, but from 1948–60, federal spending averaged less than 17 percent of GDP. (Those were not the worst years in the history of the republic.)

What that means is that IF FEDERAL SPENDING AS A SHARE OF GDP WERE REDUCED TO THAT POSTWAR AVERAGE FROM 2012–16, WE COULD BALANCE THE BUDGET, START PAYING DOWN THE NATIONAL DEBT, AND CUT TAXES BY $1 TRILLION OVER THOSE FIVE YEARS. Grover Norquist could get his tax cuts, I could get my balanced budget, and Barack Obama still would preside over a government considerably bigger than FDR’s New Deal regime. Not my ideal outcome, but a decent compromise.

Inescapable conclusion: Spending is what is out of whack….

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/271397/warren-buffett-s-worst-investment-kevin-d-williamson

It’s pretty simple to understand. We are spending too much. How you want to cut spending is worth having a debate about, but claiming we have a tax problem is simply denying the obvious.

Justice under Holder looks to repeat the elements that led to the economic meltdown

IN WHAT COULD BE A REPEAT OF THE EASY-LENDING CYCLE THAT LED TO THE HOUSING CRISIS, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS ASKED SEVERAL BANKS TO RELAX THEIR MORTGAGE UNDERWRITING STANDARDS AND APPROVE LOANS FOR MINORITIES WITH POOR CREDIT AS PART OF A NEW CRACKDOWN ON ALLEGED DISCRIMINATION, according to court documents reviewed by IBD.

Prosecutions have already generated more than $20 million in loan set-asides and other subsidies from banks that have settled out of court rather than battle the federal government and risk being branded racist. AN ADDITIONAL 60 BANKS ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION, A DOJ SPOKESWOMAN SAYS.

No Job, No Problem

Settlements include setting aside prime-rate mortgages for low-income blacks and Hispanics with blemished credit and even counting "public assistance" as valid income in mortgage applications.

In several cases, the government has ordered bank defendants to post in all their branches and marketing materials a notice informing minority customers that they cannot be turned down for credit because they receive public aid, such as unemployment benefits, welfare payments or food stamps.

Among other remedies: favorable interest rates and down-payment assistance for minority borrowers with weak credit.

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=577794&p=1

This is criminal. I hope Holder doesn’t expect to get a free pass after Obama is beaten in 2012.

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.

Nine days later-- Tucson the aftermath

The Chrysalis Opens

….Instead, the metamorphosizing PRESIDENT PUT HIS FINGER TO THE WIND. He soon learned that HIS LEFTIST BASE WITHIN 72 HOURS HAD TURNED OFF THE PUBLIC WITH ITS DEMAGOGIC CHARGES OF CONSERVATIVE CULPABILITY FOR A DERANGED KILLER murdering the innocent. And so Obama summarily JETTISONED HIS LEFTIST SCAPEGOATING BASE. In dispassionate fashion, he figured that within hours the New York Times et al. would Trotskyize their earlier narratives, and most of the left would cease the poll-killing (excuse the metaphor) “climate of hate” narrative.

HE WAS RIGHT. The progressive community snapped back into line, reminding the country that THE DESIRE FOR POWER AND STATUS ALWAYS TRUMPS IDEOLOGY. Hillary Clinton was especially embarrassed: one day she was sermonizing on foreign soil in morally equivalent fashion about an American version of an “extremist”; the next day, her boss told the world that the only thing extreme about the killer was his own nihilistic madness (and by implication damned those vultures [e.g., Ms. Clinton included] who clumsily try to make political points from tragedy).

http://pajamasmedia.com/victordavishanson/the-post-tucson-era/


Obama apparently would rather be a two term president than one that is a hero to the hard left. This should be interesting to watch.

Dupnik confesses:



He became intrigued by antigovernment conspiracy theories, including that the Sept. 11 attacks were perpetrated by the government and that the country’s central banking system was enslaving its citizens. HIS ANGER WOULD WELL UP AT THE SIGHT OF PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, or in discussing what he considered to be the nefarious designs of government.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/16/us/16loughner.html

So Loughner was a truther and hated W. It seems he must have been a democrat or at least was undistinguishable from one politically.


Poll: Americans Split on What to Cut from Government

News poll finds that Americans strongly prefer cutting spending to raising taxes to reduce the federal deficit. While 77 PERCENT PREFER TO CUT SPENDING, JUST NINE PERCENT CALL FOR RAISING TAXES. ANOTHER NINE PERCENT WANT TO DO BOTH.

Yet most Americans could not volunteer a program they'd be willing to see cut in order to reduce the deficit - only 38 percent could name a program they would support cutting. The top responses were military/defense (six percent), Social Security/Medicare (four percent) and welfare/food stamps (four percent).

However, AMERICANS ARE MORE WILLING TO CONSIDER CUTS WHEN PRESENTED WITH SPECIFIC IDEAS, as the chart above illustrates. The most popular ideas for reducing the deficit are to reduce Social Security benefits for the wealthy, reduce the money allocated to projects in their own community, reduce farm subsidies and reduce defense spending. More than 50 percent supported reductions in each of those programs.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20028612-503544.html


I believe the Obama Administration went on the spending spree feeling they would be able in the future to cut back on some of the huge increases in spending and make the case to raise taxes. It seems the left feels Americans aren’t tax enough already as they always compare us to Europe where a greater share of the national wealth is taken by government. Evidently their strategy has not worked.

Dreams of his Opponents

….The person Williams should have been asking about "responsibility" is the president. OBAMA'S CONSPICUOUS FABRICATIONS OVER THE YEARS HAVE CAUSED EVEN THE SOBER AMONG US TO DOUBT HIS ORIGINS STORY…..


….In his 1995 memoir Dreams from My Father, Obama made the same claim. "HE HAD LEFT HAWAII BACK IN 1963," HE WROTE OF OBAMA SR., "WHEN I WAS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD."



…Obama writes ruefully in Dreams, "NO MENTION IS MADE OF MY MOTHER OR ME, AND I'M LEFT TO WONDER WHETHER THE OMISSION WAS INTENTIONAL ON MY FATHER'S PART, in anticipation of his long departure." What Obama does not mention is that THE ARTICLE WAS DATED JUNE 22, 1962.



OBAMA WAS REPORTEDLY BORN ON AUGUST 4, 1961. He was not yet a year old at the time Obama Sr. left Hawaii for good. More to the point, OBAMA FAILS TO MENTION THAT HE AND HIS MOTHER, ANN DUNHAM, WERE LIVING IN SEATTLE AT THE TIME AND HAD BEEN SINCE AT LEAST AUGUST 19, 1961, THE DAY SHE ENROLLED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON…..



……QUESTIONS LINGER ABOUT THE PATERNITY OF MANY OF THESE OFFSPRING. In Dreams, Obama's cryptic and contrarian Aunt Sarah would tell her presumed nephew, " ... THE CHILDREN WHO CLAIM TO BE OBAMA'S ARE NOT OBAMA'S." Obama must have wondered whether she was referring to him.



Curiously, when Obama found the article about Obama Sr.'s departure, he found it "folded away among my birth certificate and old vaccination forms." Later in Dreams, in a passage heretofore overlooked, OBAMA UNWITTINGLY REVEALS THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THAT BIRTH CERTIFICATE.



On the occasion of his father's death in 1982, lawyers contacted anyone who might have claim to the estate. "UNLIKE MY MUM," OBAMA TELLS HIS HALF-SISTER AUMA IN DREAMS, "RUTH HAS ALL THE DOCUMENTS NEEDED TO PROVE WHO MARK'S FATHER WAS."



THE LONG FORM BIRTH CERTIFICATE COULD POSE A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS OTHER THAN COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, including the date of Obama's birth, the state of his birth, and the identity of his father. Any one of these revelations could unravel the yarn that Obama has been spinning.



These problems derive from the fact that ANN DUNHAM ENROLLED AT UNIVERSITY ON AUGUST 19, 1961 and returned to Hawaii only after Obama Sr. had left Hawaii for good. Both of these facts are more firmly established than President Obama's Honolulu birth on August 4, 1961. In my forthcoming book, Deconstructing Obama, I review these possibilities in some detail.



The failure of the mainstream media to even address the inconsistencies in Obama's story is downright shameful. That failure has created a windstorm of curiosity that is becoming increasingly difficult for the media to ignore. The final responsibility for the outburst in Congress last week is theirs.

http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/01/what_obama_has_said_about_his.html


I had read about this before. Rather than being born of a foreign national in Kenya, the author appears to believe Obama’s father was not Obama Sr., but rather a friend of his grandfather and Obama was not born only 2 weeks before his mother moved to Washington State, but rather six months before he was supposedly born (that would eliminate Obama as his father). That is the reason he has not released his birth certificate. In short, Obama’s citizenship is not in doubt, but his paternity may be.

Many Russians here aligning with Republicans

MANY RUSSIAN IMMIGRANTS to the "red borough" of Staten Island ARE FLOCKING TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, saying that the NATIONAL DEMOCRATS' "SOCIALISTIC" POLICIES REMIND THEM TOO MUCH OF THE TOP-DOWN OLIGARCHY THEY FLED IN THEIR NATIVE LAND.


With many of the borough's Russian arrivees already owning businesses and active in civic organizations, their muscle could help the Island GOP solidify electoral gains made this year, when the party took back congressional and Assembly seats.

http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/12/many_russians_here_aligning_wi.html


Nothing surprising here.


The Looming Energy Debate

Over the past years, the CZECH REPUBLIC has invested heavily in renewable energy, such as solar power. Unsurprisingly, the Czech government IS NOW QUIETLY ADMITTING THAT ENERGY PRICES ARE GOING TO RISE, in part, due to these subsidies and the resulting higher energy costs which the public must now purchase.

Powerline suggests that this SAME LOOMING CONSEQUENCE IN AMERICA WILL BE "THE NEXT OBAMA DISASTER." In light of rising oil costs, energy is an issue waiting in the wings for its cue to take center stage in the public debate. Having opposed off-shore drilling and committed America to renewable energy, Obama will not endure such a debate unscathed.

http://nlt.ashbrook.org/2011/01/the-looming-energy-debate.php


The Obama’s administrations’ energy policy has been a disaster. Subsidizing as of yet unworkable technologies while shutting down workable ones will hit the American public soon. This will not bode well for Obama and the Democrats in 2012.

Free Speech in Academia

Concerned parents looking to send their kids to a college free from repressive speech codes can now add another option to their list. Last semester, the UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA (UVA) ELIMINATED THE LAST OF A SERIES OF POLICIES THAT UNCONSTITUTIONALLY RESTRICTED THE FREE SPEECH OF STUDENTS AND FACULTY MEMBERS. Two-thirds of the nation's colleges maintain policies that clearly and substantially restrict freedom of speech. But now, UVA is an exception to the rule having fully reformed four speech codes over the course of the last year.

PRESIDENT TERESA SULLIVAN SHOULD BE COMMENDED for overseeing these important changes, which guarantee the First Amendment rights of students and faculty members at the University of Virginia. Within just three months of taking office, President Sullivan has overseen the transformation of UVA from a school that earned FIRE's worst “red light” rating for restricting protected speech to their highest “green light” rating. But there is another UVA administrator who deserves even higher praise than President Sullivan.

FIRE began working with UVA administrator Dean Allen Groves in April 2010 after Adam Kissel gave a lecture on free speech that was hosted by two UVA student groups - Students for Individual Liberty and Liberty Coalition.

http://townhall.com/columnists/MikeAdams/2011/01/17/a_cavalier_administrator/page/full/


Who could object to free speech, especially at the University level? Evidently a lot of people can and do. But this article is good news.

Bush and other Progressive nightmares

Rethinking George Bush?

Do you miss him yet? It appears the answer more and more is yes.

Former president George W. Bush left office with the lowest approval
ratings since Richard Nixon. So, for nearly two years, Pres. Barack Obama won
easy applause by prefacing almost every speech on his economic policies with a
“Bush did it” put-down.

But suddenly Bush seems okay. Last week, the president did the
unthinkable: He praised Bush for his past efforts to reach out to Muslims. Vice
President Joe Biden went further and blurted out, “Mr. Bush deserves a lot of
credit.” Biden topped that off with, “Mr. President, thank you.”
What’s going on?

For one thing, recent polls show an astounding rebound in the
former president’s favorability — to the extent that in the bellwether state of
Ohio, voters would rather still have Bush as president than have Obama by a
50–42 margin. Nationwide, Obama’s approval ratings continue to sink to near 40
percent — a nadir that it took years for Bush to reach. IT HAS BECOME BETTER POLITICS TO PRAISE BUSH THAN TO BURY HIM.

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/246688/rethinking-george-bush-victor-davis-hanson


It’s the spending, Stupid

When Bill Clinton was running for the Presidency, he focused his campaign with a sign that hung in his office, “It’s the economy, stupid.” Unfortunately for the Democrats, the man who should be reading the “It’s the spending, stupid” is not up for reelection and he doesn’t seem to “get it.”

Look at the astonishing numbers in the Rasmussen poll released last
week. Nearly seven in 10 respondents (68%) want a smaller government, lower
taxes and fewer services. The party breakdown: GOP, 88%; Democrats, 44%; and Other, 74%. In short, the independent voters who decide national elections have
moved into the anti-spending column. I don't think they'll leave any time soon.

In a note on last week's poll, Rasmussen points out that the only
time it recorded a higher shrink-the-government number, at 70%, was in August
2006. That was just ahead of the famous off-year election in which Republican
voters withheld support for their party's free-spending members in
Congress

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703743504575493953591176476.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop

When Progressives attack

Here’s a tale that actually happened in this country. It is a story of crime and punishment

With his responsibilities as a father of four, Maged should have shunned a
life of crime. Instead, he advertised his criminal activity with a placard in
his shop window, promising to press men's suits for 35 cents. This he did, even
though President Franklin Roosevelt's New Dealers, who knew an amazing number of things -- his economic aides were not called a "Brains Trust" for nothing -- knew that the proper price for pressing a man's suit was 40 cents.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/15/AR2010091505090.html

More bad news

UCLA Anderson Forecast predicts 'very sluggish growth' accompanied by high unemployment
What no recovery in time for the 2010 elections? Not good news if you are a Democrat.
California's recovery will be weaker than rest of nation's

In its third quarterly report of 2010, the UCLA Anderson Forecast predicts
"very sluggish growth" for the foreseeable future as the U.S. economy continues
to recover from the recession. As for the California economy, the state is
looking at a difficult period ahead as it attempts to regenerate not only the
1.3 million jobs lost during the recession but also create additional jobs
needed for new entrants into the job market over the past two-and-a-half
years.

http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/ucla-anderson-forecast-predicts-171752.aspx

Tolerance – Liberal style

A Michigan couple is crying unsportsmanlike conduct after their
6-year-old daughter was removed from a flag football
cheerleading team because they complained that one of the team's chants was too
risque.

"Our backs ache, our skirts are too tight, we shake our booties
from left to right."But instead of seeing their concerns with the cheer
resolved, the Tesches saw their little girl booted from the team.

Don’t you just love the tolerant left?

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/09/15/year-old-girl-removed-cheerleading-team-complaint/


Tax cuts for the Wealthy

Washington (CNN) – Thirty-one House Democrats, most of whom face tough
re-election bids this fall, have signed a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer urging them to extend expiring tax breaks for all income levels, including the wealthy.

The letter–written by Utah Rep. Jim Matheson, Illinois Rep. Melissa Bean, Virginia Rep. Glenn Nye and Michigan Rep. Gary Peters–states that after listening to economists, small businesses and families over recent weeks they are concerned that "raising any taxes right now could negatively impact economic growth."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/15/more-democrats-break-with-obama-on-tax-cuts/

I believe the phenomena you are seeing is the breaking of ranks which normally is followed by complete disarray.

Targeting the Democrats

Democrats unveil new logo: It’s a target.

I remember a Far Side cartoon in which two deer were talking. One had a target on its chest and the other said, “Bummer of a birthmark.” Well the Democrats appear to be looking for someone to put them out of their misery.

Democrats were able to take their share of the news cycle not merely by
nominating scandal-plagued Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., to run for reelection,
but by picking perhaps the absolute most appropriate image they could in this
political climate: a target

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/democrats-unveil-new-logo-its-a-target-102996509.html#ixzz0ze8AlCRU

Young Guns bring a glimmer of hope

People keep asking what will the Republicans do to reign in the reign of prolific spending by Obama and the Democrats when they gain control? Here’s a good piece on the problems and possible solutions

I have been, and remain, skeptical of congressional Republicans’ ability to
head off Fiscal Armageddon; the political incentives are all wrong, and it
probably will take a major economic crisis to realign those incentives. But I am
a little less skeptical today than I was yesterday — maybe 5 percent less. I
think there is a non-trivial chance that non-entitlement spending could be
scaled back to 2008 levels — not exactly raging austerity, but a start; combined
with sane entitlement reform and tax reform, that could get us several steps
back from the ledge we’re on. Something good seems to be afoot among
Republicans.

http://www.nationalreview.com/exchequer/246567/young-guns-vs-deficit

Yes, They Are Electable

The latest meme from the Democrats are the TEA Party candidates aren't "electable." I would ask Scott Brown about that.

Tuesday night was absolutely a precursor to November. It was absolutely a
continuation of what we’ve been seeing since Scott Brown was elected to “Ted
Kennedy’s seat” in Massachusetts. It’s a confirmation that voters are in an
anti-establishment mood.

But it’s more than simply being anti-establishment. It’s a vote against the current liberal rule in Washington. In that way, it is a vote for authenticity in philosophy. And it is a warning to moderate Republicans.

Senator Olympia Snowe, the Maine Republican, may
have a more conservative voting record this session because of it. ……..

It may explain why Harry Reid can’t break 50. It may explain why Nancy
Pelosi is working overtime trying to convince her caucus and the rest of us that
it ain’t over. It may explain why Barack Obama has lowered the office of the
presidency to campaigning against the House Minority Leader.

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2010/09/15/can-the-tea-party-win-in-november/yes-the-tea-party-candidates-are-electable

Why things look so good if you are a Republican.

Things keep going from good to even better for the Republicans

Back then:

-The unemployment rate was 9.7 percent; it's 9.6 now.
-Half of the country said in January that the country was on the wrong
track; 57 percent say that now in the new AP-GfK poll.
-About 42 percent of
the country disapproved of Obama's job performance; half does now.
-Democrats had a 49 percent to 37 percent advantage over Republicans on the
party that voters want to see control Congress; the GOP now enjoys a 55-39 lead
among likely voters.
The last one is the big one. Six months ago, the
country preferred a Democrat congress over a Republican on by 12%. Today that
number is a Republican advantage of 16% a 28% turnaround.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ELECTION_LOOKAHEAD?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-09-15-16-32-48

The Era Of Health Care Rationing Begins

Supporters of health reform said it would never happen. Maybe they got
caught up in their own rhetoric. Maybe they just didn't want to believe it was
possible. But rationing in America has started.

This week, the Food and
Drug Administration is expected to revoke approval of the drug Avastin for the
treatment of advanced breast cancer. Louisiana Republican Sen. David Vitter has
described the anticipated move as "the beginning of a slippery slope leading to
more and more rationing under the government takeover of health care."

It seems that even loyal Democrats have noticed the Obama
administration's not-so-subtle policy shift toward rationing. According to
Politico, many of the 34 House Democrats who voted against the health reform
bill are aggressively touting their "no" votes in campaign ads.

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=547365

The Obama Bubble

The meteoric rise of Barack Hussein Obama has only been matched by the
rapid crash of his popularity. So what happened?

Fast forward to 2010. The Obama bubble has burst. Political moderates
have fled. His speeches are met with indifference and disdain. His
dependence on the teleprompter has become a national joke. His policies have
exacerbated our problems, not solved them. His endorsements guarantee
electoral defeat. The “I” word — incompetent — is heard with increasing
frequency. Even some media personages are critical.

How did this happen? Quite simply, the Obama bubble, like all
bubbles, was unsustainable. A bubble is not, by nature, a long-term affair.
It always consumes itself, sooner rather than later. So it is with Obama. He
promised so much, too much to possibly deliver. The hype produced the pop.
Did anyone really believe he could slow the rise of the oceans and cool the
planet?

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/sep/15/donna-joyce-latest-bubble-has-burst-the-one-as/

Primaries push more women into general elections, but most fresh faces now belong to Republican Party

Democrats used to own the field of women running for higher office. Not
anymore.

Nearly two years after an anticipated gender bounce - with
predictions that women in both parties would rush into politics inspired by both Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin- it turns out that the momentum is on the Republican side.

If there is a Palin effect, it is not being matched by any Clinton effect at the
other end of the ideological spectrum.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/15/AR2010091506408.html

I guess my question is if you are a Democrat and don’t vote for a woman Republican, doesn’t that mean you are sexist?

Michelle Antoinette Obama?

Michelle Obama Criticized as "Modern-day Marie Antoinette" Over Spain Vacation

With an economy that is suffering, a healthcare plan that is unpopular, a financial reform that is getting more and more criticism, you would think the White House would be careful in the message it sends to the voters. It appears the message is "Eat, drink, and make merry."

Andrea Tantaros has penned a scorching editorial for the New York Daily
News deeming First Lady Michelle Obama a "modern-day Marie
Antoinette" for her vacation in Spain with her daughter.

"The First Lady is spending the next few days in a five-star hotel on
the chic Costa del Sol in southern Spain with 40 of her 'closest friends,'"
Tantaros writes, pointing to a CNN report that Michelle Obama and her group are
expected to occupy 60 to 70 rooms. "Not exactly what one would call
cutting back in troubled times."

Tantaros goes on to criticize the first lady for traveling abroad
instead of within the United States, something that would help the U.S.
economy.

We need to pass the bill to find out what's in it

And unfortunately we are now finding out what's in it and it isn't good.

To wit, the House voted last week to repeal one ObamaCare mandate. It
might have been the first part of the bill to go over the side, except Democrats rigged the vote so that it failed, even though it got a majority.

The target was an ObamaCare footnote that could wreak havoc with
more than 30 million small businesses. In the name of smoking out the illusory
"tax gap" of unreported business income, Democrats snuck in a
requirement that companies track and submit to the IRS all business-to-business transactions exceeding $600 annually. This 1099 reporting detail received no scrutiny until the IRS's National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson
exposed the paperwork burden, which would produce no improvement in tax
compliance. ...

Democrats write all this and more off as "unintended consequences," but tell that to the intended victims. The only way to fix ObamaCare is to get rid of it.

http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2010/08/wsj-democrats.html