Our Confused President’s Press Conference

I admit I missed President Obama’s press conference yesterday: I was in enough pain already. My back is acting up again, and I didn’t want to add insult to injury. But I did make up for it by waking up at 3 this morning, so there's that.

I’ve watched replays of it and read the official transcript of it to know that all I missed was an exercise in confusion, class warfare, and demagoguery.

In other words, it was a typical Obama press conference.

It goes without saying that Obama, away from his teleprompter, is a national embarrassment. He cannot think on his feet and cannot make coherent arguments without resorting to needless finger pointing and blame-laying. His grasp of our current economic crisis is tenuous at best, and he seems to have great difficulty in understanding his role in it. He has no difficulty, however, in dodging responsibility for his mistakes.

Take his remarks on the deficit for instance. In his response to a question about the various dates that have come and gone without a vote to raise the debt ceiling, he laid the blame on Congress for the unprecedented and unsustainable amount of debt that’s currently threatening our economy, saying this:

And [the] last point I want to make about this. These are bills that Congress ran up.

It’s clear that he was trying to blame the deficit on the current congress when in fact these bills were the result of the previous Reid and Pelosi-led 111th Congress. He sounds as though he had nothing at all to do with it, when it was he who signed those bills into law, giving them his final approval.

He’d have you think that the failed $878B Stimulus was none of his doing.

I don’t care who you are, that right there’s just an attempt to confuse you.

And here’s another confusing point. In his opening statement, the President had this to say concerning the things that could be done to help our economy out of the ditch:

Right now, Congress could send me a bill that puts construction workers back on the job rebuilding roads and bridges…

Excuse me, but didn’t we just spend $28B on roads and bridges in the Porkulus Bill? And another thing, didn’t our local taxes go towards those needed repairs at one time? I mean, before public sector union pensions started eating up all that money?

Just checking.

But wait! There’s more! President Obama also continued his War on Prosperity by opening up a new front: Class Warfare. Again, from his opening remarks…

There’s been a lot of discussion about revenues and raising taxes in recent weeks, so I want to be clear about what we’re proposing here. I spent the last two years cutting taxes for ordinary Americans, and I want to extend those middle-class tax cuts. The tax cuts I’m proposing we get rid of are tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires; tax breaks for oil companies and hedge fund managers and corporate jet owners.


It would be nice if we could keep every tax break there is, but we’ve got to make some tough choices here if we want to reduce our deficit. And if we choose to keep those tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires, if we choose to keep a tax break for corporate jet owners, if we choose to keep tax breaks for oil and gas companies that are making hundreds of billions of dollars, then that means we’ve got to cut some kids off from getting a college scholarship. That means we’ve got to stop funding certain grants for medical research. That means that food safety may be compromised. That means that Medicare has to bear a greater part of the burden. Those are the choices we have to make.

So the bottom line is this: Any agreement to reduce our deficit is going to require tough decisions and balanced solutions. And before we ask our seniors to pay more for health care, before we cut our children’s education, before we sacrifice our commitment to the research and innovation that will help create more jobs in the economy, I think it’s only fair to ask an oil company or a corporate jet owner that has done so well to give up a tax break that no other business enjoys. I don’t think that’s real radical. I think the majority of Americans agree with that.

 Hoo boy, George Soros won’t like that, not one bit. Do you think that he’ll enjoy Obama biting the hand that feeds him? I mean, he’s one of the world’s richest men, isn’t he? And doesn’t he have his own corporate jet? And isn’t he a hedge fund manager?

And speaking of corporate jets, wasn’t there a tax break for them in the Stimulus Bill, written in there by Reid and Pelosi? Ace points this out...

Just a few months after lawmakers scolded auto executives for flying to Washington in private jets, Congress approved a tax break in the stimulus package to help businesses buy their own planes.


The incentive -- first used to help plane makers recover from the 2001 terror attacks -- sharply reduces the up front tax bill for companies who buy assets like business planes.


The aviation industry, which is cutting jobs as it suffers from declining shipments and canceled orders, hopes the tax break in the economic-stimulus bill just signed by President Barack Obama will persuade more companies to buy planes and snap a slump in general aviation that began last year.

I just want to make sure I’m not confused on that.

The rest of that quote tends to reinforce Obama’s mistaken idea that all things come from the government, that if Washington doesn’t provide funding for it, it doesn’t happen. In Obama’s world, the private sector doesn’t exist, except as the enemy. Never mind that those evil oil companies are publicly held, and their stock is part of a lot of Americans’ retirement portfolios. And, oh no, the private sector never invests its money into research and development. Nope. Not at all.

It’s almost like we managed to elect the worst president in our history. One with no experience in the real world and who has never held a job in the private sector where he had other people depending on him for their livelihoods.

Or something.

I’m glad I missed it. Sufficient unto the day is the bullshit contained therein.

What You Should Know About the UN’s Agenda 21

I consider myself fairly well informed. I like to read and the advent of the Intertubes has been a Gore-send. I thought I was up to speed on a lot of interesting things, with politics being at the top of the list.

Imagine my surprise when a couple of my fellow Morons over at Ace of Spades HQ mentioned something called Agenda 21 this past weekend. Shirley, someone such as I would have already heard about this, the Boy thought to himself. Come to find out, I’m not as well informed as I thought I was.

Me, born in Alabama, slow, some assembly required. You know the drill.

After some exhaustive research, consisting of five minutes online, I discovered some things about this Agenda 21 that I found disconcerting. Being the good writer I aspire to be, I thought I’d pass along one of the things I discovered, and let your natural curiosity take over.

Here’s a primer…


If that doesn’t grab your attention, nothing will.

What I find most appalling about this is the complete lack of inquisitiveness on the part of politicians about this whole thing. It seems that they are more than willing to implement this agenda with no thought given to it. It’s as if they blindly trust the United Nations, when there is ample evidence that they don’t like America very much.

Another thing that concerns me is that the idea of surrendering our sovereignty never seems to occur to them. It doesn’t take much in the way of research to know that this agenda violates just about every principle that America was founded upon. Property rights, self-determination, local governance, accountability and many other principles would be abolished under this plan.

And the fact that it came about under Bush the Elder makes it even more concerning. At the time, when he introduced the phrase “New World Order,” stupid me thought nothing of it. At the time, America was the leader of the free world, so I thought the phrase naturally had a positive connotation. After all, hadn’t we shown the rest of the world how well freedom works? Weren’t we the envy of the planet for our freedoms and the opportunities that logically sprang from them to be welcome the world over? Wasn’t that why people were literally standing in line to become Americans?

I can sure be thick at times.

In light of what I’ve discovered since Sunday, this should be something that all seven of you should investigate for yourself. It’s not a good thing, for us, for our country or for our way of life.

I’ll even get you started here. I’m a giver that way.

I mean, when even Democrats don’t like it, you know that there’s something pretty wrong with it. Oh, and did I mention that the anti-Christ George Soros likes it as well?

So, whenever you hear the word “sustainable,” or one of the word's derivatives uttered by a politician, know that they’re really talking about a plan for world governance using the cover of environmentalism.

Also, know that they are unfit for office.

Why Are the Corps of Engineers Intentionally Allowing the Midwest Floods?

This is one of those days when I’m just full of questions.

Take the flooding in the Midwest along the Missouri river. I ran across this item over at Ace of Spades HQ this weekend entitled Corps of Engineers Mobilize to Protect Random Critters and Bogs: American Men, Women and Children Hardest Hit. All snark aside, it got me wondering about a few things.

Like, is the Missouri river system of dams being intentionally mismanaged so as to cause the flooding of millions of acres by radical environmental policies that put animals above the needs of people?

It would appear so, especially after reading this link from Ace’s post (actually, it’s Dave in Texas’ post) The Purposeful Flooding of America's Heartland from the American Thinker blog.

Some sixty years ago, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) began the process of taming the Missouri by constructing a series of six dams. The idea was simple: massive dams at the top moderating flow to the smaller dams below, generating electricity while providing desperately needed control of the river's devastating floods.


The stable flow of water allowed for the construction of the concrete and earthen levees that protect more than 10 million people who reside and work within the river's reach. It allowed millions of acres of floodplain to become useful for farming and development. In fact, these uses were encouraged by our government, which took credit for the resulting economic boom. By nearly all measures, the project was a great success.


But after about thirty years of operation, as the environmentalist movement gained strength throughout the seventies and eighties, the Corps received a great deal of pressure to include some specific environmental concerns into their MWCM (Master Water Control Manual, the "bible" for the operation of the dam system). Preservation of habitat for at-risk bird and fish populations soon became a hot issue among the burgeoning environmental lobby. The pressure to satisfy the demands of these groups grew exponentially as politicians eagerly traded their common sense for "green" political support.

Things turned absurd from there. An idea to restore the nation's rivers to a natural (pre-dam) state swept through the environmental movement and their allies. Adherents enlisted the aid of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), asking for an updated "Biological Opinion" from the FWS that would make ecosystem restoration an "authorized purpose" of the dam system. The Clinton administration threw its support behind the change, officially shifting the priorities of the Missouri River dam system from flood control, facilitation of commercial traffic, and recreation to habitat restoration, wetlands preservation, and culturally sensitive and sustainable biodiversity.

Granted, I never thought about it until then. I mean, I knew that radical, far-left, anti-human environmentalists have found a home in our government, but I hadn’t considered that their infiltration would be so serious as to willfully cause the death of Americans and the destruction of so much land.

Although I did know it had been done before. In California’s Central Valley, what was once rich farmland has been turned into a dustbowl after our very own EPA shut off the water supply they say threatens some useless fish. And when I say useless, I mean we can’t eat them. And I’m still wondering why the good people of California are putting up with this blatant violation of our Constitution. After all, our government is supposed to promote the general welfare of the populace, and this action certainly doesn’t qualify.

In fact, I’m frankly surprised that the California governor hasn’t sent in Guard troops to turn the irrigation pumps back on. If I were Gerry Brown, or even Arnold Schwarzenegger, I would have already done so, and dared anyone in Washington to do anything about it. I would have stood up for the people I was elected to represent and would’ve fought any effort by the federal government to prohibit our basic right to feed ourselves.

But that’s just me.

I also wonder why this issue hasn’t been brought before the Supreme Court. I can’t think of a more egregious violation of our constitution than this, but I think the Missouri basin flooding may even be worse.

Another question is, and I’m really getting tired of asking this one, is noted America-hater George Soros involved in this?

Well, what do you know? It seems he is. This post from Radio Patriot entitled Who's Buying Up Flood Ravaged Farmland cites none other than cattle trader Ann Barnhardt. If her name sounds familiar, it’s because I posted the videos of her burning a koran several weeks ago. She’s somewhat of a firebrand.

1. File this one under “Now It All Makes Sense”. A Missouri farming and ranching contact just got off a conference call wherein he was informed that the federal government is sending out letters to all of the flooded out farmers in the Missouri River flood plain and bottoms notifying them that the Army Corps of Engineers will offer to BUY THEIR LAND.


Intentionally flood massive acreage of highly productive farmground. Destroy people’s communities and homes. Catch them while they are desperate and afraid and then swoop in and buy the ground cheap. Those evil sons of bitches.


2. Speaking of evil sons of bitches, George Soros appears to be “investing” in farmground through the same puppet company that he used to get into the grain elevator and fertilizer business. The company is called Ospraie Capital Management and is buying up farmground in a joint venture with Teays River Investments as a partner.

If any of you gentle readers know anyone in the Midwest that has been affected by this apparently intentional flooding, you should inform them of these links.

I have more questions: Why isn’t Darryl Issa investigating this?

And more importantly, why are we allowing our government to do this to us?

Friday Bits of Tid - Musical Edition

'Tis Friday once again. We made it to the weekend despite the best efforts of the world to prevent it.

Yippee!

Try to contain your enthusiasm.

This week brings some disheartenibg news from the entertainment world. Glen Campbell has been diagnosed with Alzheimers's Disease. He's planning a farewell tour. He's a great guitar player, composer, and star of country music and television. Here he is with Ray Charles.



It's time to tid.

Need rain? Try Craigslist.

Setting an example for today's kids - Children's author ejected from plane for bad language.

So you think you're hearing the word "unexpectedly" every time the Obama administration releases the inevitablely bad economic numbers? You're not alone. Pundit Press has this compilation of headlines with that word. As you might guess, it's a rather long post.

Perfectly timed photographs.

Really sharp knives.

I found this little video over at The Jawa Report. Enjoy.



Now for the music-type stuff.

Welcome to the Jungle.



DJ Didgeridoo. And yep, it's what you think it is.

And finally, the latest in oomphalapompatronium music. I'm glad I'm not this guy's roadie.



Have a good 'un, y'all.

How Wonderful! You Are Subsidizing George Soros’ Propaganda Machine

Genius.

That’s what it is.

Pure Evil Genius.

I posted this a while back, warning you about the George Soros Propaganda Machine.

Imagine for a moment that you’re bombarded with information.


Now imagine all that information is incorrect.


Imagine further that it’s all designed to make you think a certain way, and therefore, vote a certain way. It’s possible for you to cast a vote for a candidate who, once in office, would begin to work against your best interests and those of the country.

I can now add one more item to that “imaginary” list.

Imagine that you’re helping to subsidize it with your own money.

Imagine no more, gentle reader. You really are paying your own money to be misinformed and propagandized.

Where else could a Nazi sympathizer and rabid anti-American billionaire like George Soros erect a media empire aided by the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance bill and Hillary Clinton to get Americans to pay for their own downfall?

Is this a great country or what?

I’m not the only one to notice this. The Washington Post has this article about Soros’s Media Matters “war on Fox.”

David Brock, the conservative turned liberal advocate, has recently garnered a considerable amount of press coverage for his attacks on Fox News for, among many other things, allegedly taking over leadership of the Republican Party. What the news coverage has ignored is his use of tax-free funds for his organization, Media Matters for America (MMA), for these attacks — a form of government support for activities that clearly do not merit tax-exempt status and that as a result infringe on Fox News’ First Amendment rights.


MMA was originally established as an Internal Revenue Service Section 501(c)(3) organization, that is, an organization that can receive tax-deductible contributions to engage in educational activities. The more precise purpose was to counter alleged media bias and so to “identify occurrences of excessive bias in the American media, educate the public as to their existence, and to work with members of the media to reduce them.”


MMA’s activities should disallow its tax-exempt status in two fundamental ways. First, IRS rulings make clear that attacks on individuals, statement of positions that are unsupported by facts and use of inflammatory language and other distortions will cost an organization its tax-free status. Second, in declaring “guerrilla warfare” on Fox as the “leader” and “mouthpiece” of the Republican Party and in developing a sophisticated Democratic-leaning media training boot camp, MMA has transformed itself into an aggressive advocate for Democratic and progressive causes and thus produced a second deviation from exempt educational activities.

Oh, and about that “bias” thingy…

MMA’s role as a Democratic training camp parallels exactly the operations of the American Campaign Academy (ACA), which was denied tax-exempt status by the IRS in 1989. ACA operated a school of intensive training for people planning to be campaign professionals. The facts showed, however, that most of the program’s graduates were Republicans, as were the officials who ran it and the funders who donated to it, and it was based on materials developed by the Republican National Committee.

Hmm, I wonder if this will get the scrutiny it deserves in front of a Congressional investigative committee?

Don’t you?

Our Economic Choice is Clear – US or the World

We’ve reached an economic crossroads: there are two paths we can take. One, the path we’re on now, the one endorsed by well meaning but economically ignorant globalists, is doomed to fail. We’ve gone down this path far enough to see what it holds for us: a drastic reduction in our standard of living and the surrender of our values.

The other path is one that has been tried, proven to work, and is currently being dismantled by Progressives from both parties.

America, we have a choice to make. We can either go where the rest of the world wants us to go, or we can strike out on our own. We must choose wisely, for our future is at stake as never before.

There can be no doubt that the path we’re currently on cannot be sustained. The last four years of Progressive control of Washington have given us historic levels of national debt, rising prices for everything through careless manipulation of our money supply, and needless restrictions on capitalism that have resulted in the largest peacetime downturn in our economy in almost one hundred years.

America is just starting to awaken to the dangers of Progressivism. Their agenda is one of stagnation and decline, crafted to exact revenge on the most productive country in the world, all in the name of “fairness.”

And we brought this misfortune upon ourselves. Even when Barack Obama outlined his vision for America, we elected him anyway, despite statements such as this:

We can't drive our SUVs and, you know, eat as much as we want and keep our homes on, you know, 72 degrees at all times, whether we're living in the desert or we're living in the tundra and then just expect every other country is going to say OK, you know, you guys go ahead keep on using 25 percent of the world's energy, even though you only account for 3 percent of the population, and we'll be fine. Don't worry about us. That's not leadership.

Answer this simple question, Mr. President: why not? Why shouldn’t we set our thermostats at a comfortable temperature? Why can’t we drive what we want? And why shouldn’t we be able to eat as much as we want?

Why do you want Americans to have less of anything, Mr. President?

I know I’ll be waiting a long time, because there is no good answer. There is no reason for us to have to do any of those things. Yet this is what passes for progress to Progressives.

And this is what the rest of the world wants for us also. Less.

Less freedom. Less control. Less money.

Is that what you want?

Or would you rather have more? More freedom, control and money? We can have it, but we must start now. We start by informing our representatives in Washington that we will no longer go down the path that the rest of the world wants for us. We will go our own way. We will turn inwards and begin to renew the American values of creativity, merit, reward, and excellence.

We will start to provide for ourselves and, in the process, show the rest of the world how it’s done.

We’ll unlock the rich natural bounty that our Creator has given us. We will use the land as we were intended to do. We will grow our own food, and trade the surplus. We’ll make our own vehicles, our own computers, our own dishwashers and everything else we need.

America can become self-sufficient first, and then produce more for trade with other countries. We must not become dependent upon any other country for our needs.

This global economy has already shown how vulnerable we are to natural disasters in faraway countries. The recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan idled assembly lines here at home. There is no reason to expose us to that kind of disruption. If we were making our parts here, there would be far less chance that we would experience disruptions in our supply chain. Transportation costs would be lower due to the reduced distance parts must travel. The quality of our products would increase as well.

There are many advantages to becoming self-sufficient. As we are seeing, the rest of the world has a long way to go to catch up with us. We cannot wait for them. To do so would be to stifle our economy for no reason. We can and should be providing for our own needs and creating our own wealth.

If we choose to continue down our current path, we will diminish our nation.

That should be enough reason to choose our own way.

John McCain’s Shameful Embrace of the Latest Lefty Smear Against Conservatives – Isolationist!

In the never-ending quest to paint anyone who doesn’t adhere to the big-government, globalist political movement that is embraced by the New American Communists (known popularly as Progressives), they’ve come up with a new word with which to smear anyone who is opposed to their agenda.

Actually, the word itself isn’t new, but the negative connotation that the left is attempting to attach to it is. Like the word “racist,” it’s being bandied about with enthusiasm to smear, denigrate and deride anyone who dares to oppose this administrations’ involvement in Libya, and the three other conflicts we’re currently engaged in.

And, right on cue, John McCain was out in front of this effort, again turning his back on the Republican Party in general and conservatives in specific in helping progressives attack conservatives who don’t like the idea of entering a conflict without a clear mandate to win and to defeat the enemy.

Thanks a lot, Mr. Maverick, fine job you’re doing there.

It’s interesting that such groups as Code Pink, who were on the evening news nearly every night opposing President Bush’s War on Terror, are strangely silent now that their boy Obama is in the White House. Had Bush engaged us in the conflicts in Libya and Yemen, no doubt we’d be seeing much more of them, hands dripping with red paint, interrupting Congressional hearings, screaming about how illegal it all is and how he’s a war criminal and should be impeached.

Where are they now? And why aren’t they counted as knuckle-dragging isolationists as conservatives are?

The inconsistency, it burns.

But this double standard pales in comparison to McCain’s leftist stance on this issue.

McCain, speaking Monday at an event sponsored by the Foreign Policy Initiative in Washington, D.C., was asked whether he thought that support for the war on terrorism might be eroding within the GOP.


“I worry about it, and I worry a lot,” McCain said. “Because throughout the history of the Republican Party in modern times there’s two wings: the isolationist wing manifested before World War II and at other times; and the internationalist side.


“So I think there are going to be some tensions within our party,” he said.

Americans overwhelmingly support the War on Terror, but are greatly disappointed when they see our fighting men and women in uniform forced to abide by outrageous rules of engagement that give a clear advantage to our enemies. We understand the need to fight, but how can we win with one arm tied behind our back by misguided politicians who seem to think that winning the “hearts and minds” of 7th century barbarians is more important than defeating them?

The only tension that exists within the party is between an appeaser like McCain and Americans who wish to win this war by defeating the enemy by any means.

I have never understood the mysterious position taken by those on the left who oppose any and all wars. In theory, it sounds nice. “Who doesn’t want a world free of hostility and anger? Don’t we all want peace?” they say. I can’t argue with that.

But the problem doesn’t lie with us here in America. The tragic attacks of 9/11 should have proven to the world that radical islamists had escalated their war against the US and the Western way of life. Our response was justified. We wanted to destroy the infrastructure of support for Al Qaida, which was provided by Saddam’s Iraqi regime, along with Iran and Afghanistan. President Bush rightly attacked the source of their support and postponed the establishment of an islamic caliphate by invading Iraq. It had been clear to those who were paying attention that radical islamism was increasingly being supported by whole nations.

But today, ten years removed from 9/11, we still find our military attempting to win against an enemy that willfully ignores the Geneva Convention rules concerning non-uniformed fighters. This is another little detail that’s ignored by the left and various human rights organizations (but I repeat myself). If we were to truly abide by the Conventions ourselves, there would be no prisoners in this war. Illegal enemy combatants would be executed on the spot. We have the legal right to do this, why we aren’t is a mystery.

So we’re left with the impossible task of trying to win a politically correct war, fighting a war on our enemies’ terms instead of our own. And if this is the way McCain and the other appeasers in Washington want to fight this war, then there will be some blowback from those of us who remember how Americans once fought wars: to win them. If they want to call us isolationists, then so be it.

It makes no sense for us to be constantly engaged in hostilities without the clear goal of winning.

The Obama Economy and the Dunning-Kruger Effect

While over at my favorite online hangout, Ace of Spades HQ this weekend, I discovered something new called the Dunning-Kruger Effect. It’s new to me at least, although this concept has been around for over ten years.

Did I mention I’m from Alabama, and that I can be a little slow on the uptake as a result?

Oh, well.

Anywho, I was pleasantly surprised to see something I’ve known all of my adult life recognized as the psychological malady it is. For those of you haven’t yet heard of this phenomenon, here it is in a nutshell: a person’s incompetence inhibits his or her ability to recognize his or her incompetence.

And nowhere is this more readily apparent than in the Obama administrations' flailing about on the economy. We who understand a free market economy see one disastrous decision followed by another equally disastrous decision. TARP, Cash for Clunkers, the bailouts of GM and Chrysler, the Dodd-Frank bill, the refusal of the administration to proceed on previous trade agreements, the NLRB’s interference in Boeing’s new South Carolina Dreamliner plant are all part and parcel of this administrations’ War on American Prosperity.

And they are winning.

It’s clear that Obama hasn’t a clue when it comes to economic matters. And none of the academics he tapped to help him with them know either, which explains why none of them are around anymore. Having done so much damage, they’ve fled Washington for the safety of their tenured teaching jobs, much like rats fleeing a sinking ship.

They literally don’t know what they don’t know, and what’s worse, they refuse to recognize they don’t know.

We’re seeing more attempts by this administration to reach out to private sector business leaders. Here’s the latest proposal according to Newsmax.com…

Buffeted by glum economic news and frustrated by chronic joblessness despite $1 trillion in stimulus spending, the Obama administration has begun exploring a plethora of new proposals aimed at jump-starting the economy.

Cuts in payroll taxes, reductions in the corporate tax rate, opening the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to reduce gas prices, and persuading Republicans to buy into more stimulus programs are just a few of the concepts reportedly being discussed.

The operative word above is “discussed.” Whether or not any of these ideas will result in concrete action to remove government restrictions on the economy remains to be seen. One would think that after two years of increasingly dismal stats, someone in the White House would start to think that maybe they’re doing it wrong.

That’s where the Dunning-Kruger effect comes in. This administration is so inept that their ineptness prevents them from seeing their ineptness.

The Obama administration just can’t seem to realize that they’re the primary cause of our current economic doldrums. Of course, that’s giving them the benefit of the doubt and hoping that their hearts are in the right place.

There’s also another thing that must be recognized, namely that they know full well what they’re doing and are doing it on purpose. If they were trying to destroy our economy and move us toward socialism, what would they be doing any differently? After two years of stifling government intervention resulting in a New Great Depression, could they finally be able to figure out that what they’re doing isn’t working?

This is becoming increasing doubtful, especially when we see this administration giving $2B to Brazil to increase their oil drilling capacity while at the same time restricting new American drilling permits in the Gulf of Mexico.

It kinda makes you wonder whose side they’re on, doesn’t it?

It also doesn’t help when our Manufacturing Czar, Ron Bloom, is a union lawyer and not someone with actual manufacturing experience. It also doesn’t help when says that the free market is a joke and that he agrees with Mao that political power comes from the barrel of a gun.

I’m not encouraged.

Even White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley said at last week’s meeting with the manufacturing community that didn’t have any good answers to the regulatory nightmare that businesses are experiencing thanks to the Obama administration and the 111th Pelosi-Reid Congress.

Daley said he did not have many good answers, appearing to throw up his hands in frustration at what he called “bureaucratic stuff that’s hard to defend.”

“Sometimes you can’t defend the indefensible,” he said.

That sounds like the beginning of a clue. Almost.

The proof of this administrations’ clue-getting will be real steps to reduce the crushing burden of government red tape that’s currently estimated to cost us $1.7Trillion each year.

Talk is nice, but it won’t get us out of this economic ditch that Obama slid into.

Action will.

Friday Bits of Tid - End of the Weiner Edition

Well, it looks like we won't have Anthony Weiner to kick around anymore. He announced his regination yesterday in a press conference that looked more like a circus. Poor Weiner, it seems he has no skills other than that of a lifetime politician; what will he do now that he's out of a job and has a child on the way?

Not to worry. Weiner has an opportunity to make a move up from the world's second oldest profession to the oldest profession. Hustler Magazine's Larry Flint has offered him a job with a raise.

So, are we to assume he won't be getting royalties from his own doll? It's not only politically correct, it's anatomically correct too.

OK, now that this long national nightmare is over, we can tid with abandon.

Behold the world's longest living light bulb.

What the well-dressed Dad will be wearing this summer - a beer holster.

Apparently, it's illegal in England to shoot off your finger to get rid of a wart.

Prince William could've been an Auburn Tiger.

What Wonder Woman drives. A transparent 1939 Pontiac sedan.

Oh, the shark bites, with its teeth, dear.

Duude, is that, like, a joint on the side of Carl Edwards' car? Far out, man,

And finally, ladies and gentlemen, the PGA's own Golf Boys...



Don't quit your day job, guys.

Y'all have a good 'un, y'all.

The Presidential Campaign Speech We’ll Never Hear

My fellow Americans, these are perilous times for our nation. Our country is in serious trouble. Everywhere you look, there are signs that America is not what it once was.

Our unemployment rate is currently over nine percent and rising. Total sub employment stands around eighteen percent. The number of working Americans is at an all-time low.

Oil prices are high and approaching a new record. If you’ve been to the grocery store lately, you’ve no doubt seen the rapid rise of the cost of food. Many items such as coffee and chocolate are becoming luxuries for too many Americans. Our dollar doesn’t buy as much now as it did last year.

Well-meaning but misguided government programs like Cash for Clunkers needlessly destroyed perfectly good vehicles and help drive up the cost of used vehicles. Takeovers of the Student Loan sector have resulted in vast numbers of young American college students mired in massive debt and unable to find jobs in their chosen field. Already, the government takeover of the health care industry is forcing employers to drop private health insurance plans, depriving Americans of effective, affordable health care.

Too many Americans are struggling with a mortgage that is worth far more that their home is currently valued, many times keeping them stuck in an area where no jobs exist for them.

Our standing throughout the world is being greatly reduced as we snub former allies and seek the friendship of sworn enemies. This administration is more than willing to sit down with our enemies and talk, but the conversation is more one-sided than ever.

All the while, we’re being told this is the new normal for America.

This need not be.

America, the time has come for us to renew the country we love. We made a mistake in 2008. We chose a president based on vapid platitudes and empty slogans. Hope and change were really a smokscreen for the drastic engorgement of a federal government intend upon controlling your lives.

I come to you today to offer a concrete plan for an American renewal, not promises.

I come to you today to lay out my plan, a plan to recapture the American spirit of freedom, prosperity and entrepreneurship.

I will do this by drastically reducing the size, scope, and intrusiveness of the federal government.

The first step of my plan will be to open up America’s vast treasure of natural resources. No longer will we be held hostage by various government agencies that pass regulations that restrict our access to these God-given resources. My highest priority will be the abolition of the Environmental Protection Agency. This responsibility will be shifted to the individual states.

I will make America truly energy independent. No longer will we be held hostage by hostile foreign sources of energy. We have an abundance of coal, which we will use to produce cheap energy wherever possible. I will streamline the process for constructing a new, safe generation of nuclear power plants. The wealth generated by this emphasis on American energy will help fund research into alternative forms of energy in the private sector, in an effort to bring effective and viable, inexpensive forms of energy to market.

This will be but one step toward making America great once again. My next initiative will be the rebuilding of our manufacturing base, so that those Americans who work with their hands can have the bright future for themselves and their families that a career in manufacturing offers. We will no longer be dependent upon other countries to do what we can and should be doing for ourselves, that being creating American products in America.

I will vigorously promote American farming, so that we will have a bounty of food for ourselves and for others.

I will secure our southern border with Mexico. There will be no more violation of our immigration laws. Sanctuary cities will no longer receive federal funds of any type. Employers who seek to bypass our laws to hire illegals will be the subject of swift justice to stop this practice.

In order to secure the blessings of liberty for all Americans, I will review all presidentially appointed appointed judges. With the help of the Supreme Court, I will ask that a simple test be administered to all potential judicial nominees that measures their understanding of our Constitution as it is written. The results of this test will be made public so that the America people will have the confidence that their government will always act in a way that conforms to the principles laid out by our Founders. No longer will there be endless appeals with outcomes that are constitutionally questionable. American law will be clear and equally enforced at all times. I will only nominate Supreme Court justices with a proven track record of adherence to the written word of our constitution. No longer will the court bypass the clear will of the people in their decisions. I will not tolerate legislating from the bench by justices who think our constitution is one that lives and breathes and is subject to the whims of various extremist groups.

I will insist that any bill I sign into law be written clearly in plain English. These new laws will be made available for public review for a period of no less than one month prior to signing.

In keeping with my oath, I will defend America from her domestic enemies. No longer will sedition be tolerated under the guise of freedom of speech. Traitorous acts will be met with justice, and those who advocate the overthrow of our government will be stripped of their citizenship and deported.

Also in keeping with my oath, I will defend America from her international enemies who are now gathering against us. The War on Terror will enter a new phase, one that will rid the earth of the poison of Islamic extremism wherever it is found. No longer will terrorists be held in prison. My administration will be relentless in the pursuit of terrorists who violate our sovereignty and peace, and those who seek the destruction of America will be met with swift and sure justice. No longer will innocent Americans be the focus of intrusive and unnecessary searches in our airports in the name of political correctness. We will start to treat our enemies as enemies. Our support of Israel will be strong, unwavering and unquestionable.

I will withdraw our membership in the United Nations. I will make it crystal clear that only American law, not international law, be considered in American courts. There will be no sharia law anywhere in America in any form.

I will rescind every presidential order signed by Barack Obama. I will instruct Congress to repeal the Affordable Healthcare Act, the Dodd-Frank financial bill, the Clean Air and the Clean Water Acts, and the North American Free Trade Agreement. No longer will these laws restrict America’s greatness with their onerous and nonsensical rules and regulations. No longer will these laws be used by fringe extremist groups as a legal method to restrict America's harvesting of her natural resources.

The hoax of man-caused climate change will be returned to the fringes of society from whence it came. It will no longer be the basis for any law, rule, or regulation.

Furthermore, I will submit to Congress a budget that will drastically reduce the crippling national debt that was irresponsibly implemented by progressives during the 111th Congress. I will balance the budget within the first two years of my term by examining each and every federal department for their relevance, and I will push for the elimination of those departments that do not serve the clear interests of the nation and that do not promote the general welfare of the people. I will reduce our corporate tax rates drastically. I will push for a flat tax rate of no more than twelve percent of income while keeping the home mortgage deduction. I will then urge Congress to pass a Balanced Budget Amendment and end the danger to our economy posed by irresponsible spending once and for all.

I will push for a reexamination of American schools that have become a refuge for far-left radicals and their anti-American beliefs and agenda. I will urge a review of every curriculum and textbook at the local level, and purge the false notion of political correctness from our society. Real American history will be taught and celebrated in our schools once again. Our children will know such names as Washington, Hamilton, Madison, Armistead, Franklin, Lincoln, and Jefferson and will know their contribution to their lives and their freedom.

In short, I offer you my plan to revive America and return her to her rightful place in history as a shining city on the hill, a beacon of freedom that guides the world.

All this and more will I do for the country and the people I love.

I'm Calling in Sick Again

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Specifically, it's my back that's really weak. I zigged when I should've zagged, or shucked when I should've jived.

Anyway, I'm not in good blogging form today, so I'll just leave you with a couple of links to peruse in my absence. There may be a test on this later...

1.9 Million Fewer Americans Have Jobs Today Than When Obama Signed Stimulus.

Nero Fiddles While Rome Burns Obama Jokes About Slow Economic Recovery. Laugh it up, fuzzball.

Remember my recent post on "Progressivism?" What I failed to mention was that it is merely the Americanized version Socialism. But you knew that already. Here's an article that goes into a bit more detail on socialism in general from the good folk over at National Review Online. Know thy enemy.

I'm tired of hearing how America is addicted to oil, as though we're the technological equivalent of drug addicts. Here's another guy who's tired of hearing that false meme. (Language warning) Following that same logic, it could be said we're also addicted to breathing.


OK, back to ice packs and stretching. Hopefully, I'll be back at the keyboard tomorrow.

“Why Do You Place Such Importance on the Constitution as the Founders Intended?”

Last Thursday’s post on Sarah Palin and the concept of Principle was a big hit here in Backwards Ville. It received three comments, which is a new indoor record for this blog. I am deeply humbled.

One of those three comments caught my eye, as it was in the form of a question. I shall include it here in its entirety:

Hi,

Why do you place so much importance on the constitution "as the founders intended"?
Don't human advancement and progress warrant constant re-envisioning?
Bye from Holland/Europe! (We're not actually Marx loving commies btw)

Thank you for asking a question (actually two) that could use a good explanation. I’ll try my best to answer.

I’ll work on the assumption that you’re a Holland/Europe native and are therefore somewhat unfamiliar with American jurisprudence, just as I am unfamiliar with Holland’s form of government and its national ideals.

The reason I place so much importance on the Constitution as it was originally intended is because the principles that it embodies are no longer being upheld by the folk we send to Washington.

Our Constitution was a true work of revolutionary art for one simple reason: it was the first attempt to give true political power to the average citizen. Prior to this time, governments shared pretty much the same philosophy, namely that whatever freedoms the people had were the result of the generosity of its rulers. Rulers love ruling others, so therefore there wasn’t much in the way of true individual liberty. Your “freedom” was what someone else decided you could have. If you weren’t born to the throne, too bad for you. You were a subject, not a citizen.

Now imagine that this idea was reversed. Instead of seeking someone’s permission to do a certain thing, or anything, you were free to do as you pleased, within reason of course.

Let’s say that a group of us decided that we’d establish a legal baseline for human behavior. We would make illegal the things that we all recognized were bad, like murder, robbery, rape and the like. If anyone violates those laws, they are punished and separated from the rest of us who choose to abide by them.

So far, so good. We’ve established the basic framework for our society, that there are some things that you absolutely cannot do without a great penalty. But we’re going to do something that's never been done; after that, there is no more. You are free to do whatever you want as long as you don’t violate the basic laws that are there to protect your life and your property. You will be free, and in order for something to be prohibited, there must be a law that specifically prevents it.

So, instead of a government that passes laws that grant permission, we’ll have a government where actions can only be prohibited, not granted. From what I’ve read about history, this was a radical departure from the norm, beginning with the Charter of Liberties, which was the basis for the Magna Carta. These very important documents sought to limit the power of the monarchy. As you might imagine, the monarchs were less than thrilled.

So, in theory, we Americans are free unless there is a law that is specifically against it. Each new law that is passed is done to keep something from happening. This is an important, although poorly understood, distinction. Even our elected leaders can’t or won’t recognize it. Former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, called the 111th Congress, “the most productive in history.” Indeed it was, judging by the number of laws it passed. But if you understand that each new law reduces our freedom, that’s not something to be proud of, unless your goal is to restrict freedom.

In my opinion, the whole of human history is defined by this unquenchable thirst for freedom and the struggle to slake it against those who take their greatest pleasure from controlling other people and will do anything to keep their power.

Which brings me to your second question concerning human advancement. I argue that the advancement of the Circumstance of Man has been greatly enhanced in large part to the introduction of the idea of individual liberty by America.

Think of how long mankind depended on horses for transportation, for example. Now imagine yourself in the king’s court where you are seeking his permission to build a new machine, one that can navigate hostile terrain and weather as well as a horse can and doesn’t leave “residue” on the streets for people to avoid.

But the king doesn’t believe such a thing is possible. He’s very fond of horses and sees no need for this horseless machine of yours.

The end result? No automobile.

That’s greatly simplified, of course, but the idea behind it is the old way of governance by whim of an all-powerful ruler. Whatever he or she felt like doing was the law of the land. This new way would have you at work building this machine (again, within the confines of the basic framework of society where no one is killed or robbed in the process) and you would be free to enjoy the fruits of your labor by engaging in commerce. Your newfangled horseless carriage would greatly reduce travel time for those who purchased it, everyone would want one, and you could make some money.

What’s not to like?

I suppose the Grand Question for me is this: “How many laws are enough?” It seems as though once we established the ground rules, and set up a mechanism to keep them enforced, there wouldn’t be much left for a government to do. Once the foundation has been laid, any subsequent laws should be able to point back to the foundation as a justification. But if the foundation is drawn clearly enough so that everyone can understand and is fairly applied to everyone, why the need for any more laws?

One great example of legislative overreach is so-called “hate crime” laws. Don’t we already have laws banning assault and battery, murder and rape? Aren’t they pretty clearly defined? So, why do we need even more laws to add to the already-existing penalties for such behavior? Why does the intent of the illegal action need to be defined? Also, why does the emotional state of the attacker matter and why does it need to be punished over and above the existing statutes? You don’t normally attack friends.

The answer to those questions is simple; hate crime laws came about from a lack of understanding of the basic principles of American government. They are a transparent effort at societal engineering that seeks to control thought.

And here you thought that George Orwell’s 1984 was fiction. There are a lot of people today who are trying to make it into a documentary.

This ties in with Queen Nancy’s opinion of her work in the 111th Congress. She’s awfully proud of her accomplishment, but she shouldn’t be. If she had any understanding of the Founding Principles, she’d be reluctant to make more laws to remove more of our freedoms. In fact, a true patriot would start to repeal laws instead of creating more of them. This mistaken notion is so ingrained in Washington that any effort to repeal any law is met with wailing and gnashing of teeth from the American Bar Association. It’s almost as if they feel the need to protect their market, a market they can create for themselves by making more laws, thereby increasing the need for their services.

So, Gentle Readers in Holland, I hope I’ve answered your question.

Oh, and one other thing. Your last sentence, “We’re not actually Marx loving commies, btw.” Now you know how Tea Partiers here in America feel. We’re not actually racists or bigots, either, but that doesn’t stop our Mainstream Media from saying it. It’s almost like the wanted to paint us in a bad light.

Now, why would they want to do that?

Friday Bits of Tid - Go Fly a Kite Edition

Weiner Week finally comes to an end. Sadly, the national conversation hasn't. It's too bad we can't seem to focus our attention on more serious matters, although having an online philanderer and liar in Congress is serious.

I miss the good old days when matters such as this were settled with a duel.

On this day in 1752, Benjamin Franklin flew a kite in a thunderstorm to prove that lightning was electricity. He is quoted as saying, "Damn!" right before he dropped the kitestring to let the circulation return to his numb fingers.

It's worth noting that Franklin's education stopped at age 10, which is well past today's current age of 5, or whenever kids starts kindergarden.

Let's tie our tids to the kitestring, shall we? Wait, that didn't sound right...

President Obama fulfills his campaign promise to make everyone's energy bills "necessarily skyrocket." Utility giant AEP will close five coal-fired power plants to comply with EPA regs. And you thought he was just kidding.

Obama's Sadim Touch: He mentioned a restaurant that was indirectly supported by his auto bailout. The restaurant is now closed. Could he give a shoutout to the EPA next time?

The Next Big Thing - Rabbit Dressage.

The US is now a world-wide joke. Kind of.

Autralian UFO documents abducted stolen.

This story is curious. Not in the fact that there was no criminal activity at the house the SWAT team stormed, or even that the person who was the reason for the raid didn't live there. No, what's curious is that the Department of Education has a SWAT team.

And to think, we actually used to eat this stuff. Cabbages as art. Lettuce dress.

Duude, like, you know, some scientists should like, get together, and like do whatever it is they do to some pot, man. That would be, like, the bomb, man.

Assault with a deadly weapon dead weasel.

And finally, Hitler expresses his outrage over WeinerGate...


Hitler Upset About Weinergate from FTR Radio on Vimeo.


Have a good 'un, y'all.

Sarah Palin Speaks a Language That Few Understand – of Meaning and Principle

Few modern politicians can elicit the reaction that Sarah Palin usually gets. To her fans and supporters, she’s a plain spoken conservative with common-sense ideas for America. To her detractors, she’s a shrill, not-too-bright snowbilly hick who’s full of hatred.

How does one account for such wild swings in opinion?

The answer is at once simple and complex; she speaks a foreign language.

Her grassroots appeal is why her supporters are her supporters. She rose through the political ranks from the local arena, through a mayorship, on to governor of Alaska, and onto the national stage as a vice-presidential candidate. Her wisdom and political acumen is borne of experience.

Her detractors cite her lack of a political pedigree. She doesn’t come from a prominent political family and she wasn’t educated at Yale, Harvard, or Princeton. She’s not aware of the ins and outs (the nuances, if you will) of politics. They cite her folksy demeanor, which they, in their infinite wisdom, interpret as something less than elite, common, and she is therefore unfit for public office. In their own highly esteemed opinion, she’s not one of them.

Good.

I’ve wondered why all the hate towards someone I identify with? It’s been my experience that experience is the best teacher of all. Sarah Palin has experience, but she also has something that has been absent in our political process for quite some time, and is poised to make a grand comeback: principles and meaning.

This is a subtle thing, this meaning. It’s been removed from our national dialogue through the introduction of political correctness. Note again, if you will, something I pointed out the other day. Words that formerly had meaning have been replaced with something far less than precise. The easily understood description of a garbageman has been replaced with the term “sanitation worker.” This is only one example, there are quite a few more.

When this trend began, it’s supporters insisted on the new usage over the old one. I’ve seen and heard speakers corrected mid-sentence for not using the new, improved language of politi-speak. I always felt like asking those people, “Why do you insist that I use the word “spokesperson” instead of “spokesman”? Do you not know what I mean? I do include men and women who speak on behalf of a group. Why can’t you understand that?” But that’s not me on TV.

It seems that the plain old traditional method of communication where the meaning of a word was plainly understood by all is falling into disfavor, primarily among those who think themselves to be superior to the rest of us. It’s a conceit, a shibboleth, to indicate that they belong to a certain class of Americans who are oh-so-much more enlightened than us knuckle-dragging bitter-clingers.

Look around you and ask yourself just how good of a job these political elites are doing. There’s not much to recommend, is there?

If I may, I’d like to draw another analogy to the engineering world. If I have an idea for a product, I have an overall sense of what that I want that product to do. That’s called the “design intent” and it functions as an umbrella of sorts over the project. When questions about a specific aspect of the product arise, they take the form of “What is the intent of the design?” The answer to that question determines a lot.

It’s an all-encompassing concept that guides the development for said product. Sometimes it’s easily recognized and documented, at other times it’s less clear, but it’s always there. This could also be called the guiding principle of the design.

So, what we have here is a “first principle” or the basis of the intent of the design; it serves as the foundation of the product, regardless of the steps or methods of development.

Now, let’s move that idea of an overarching principle and apply it to Sarah Palin. Her speeches tend to be long on ideology and somewhat short on specifics, something her detractors are quick to point out. But there’s a reason for that: she is speaking of the overall concepts that should guide our country, but are missing in today’s political arena of ideas.

Take ObamaCare (please!). It seems the progressives, in their zeal to implement one of their most cherished big-government programs, universal health care for all, ignored the most important design principle of all: the never bothered to ask if what they were trying to do was permitted by our Constitution.

Had we the proper people acting in our stead in Washington, this would’ve been the first question that was asked before starting on that legislative crusade. Clearly it wasn’t, which is why 26 states have filed suit against it and why it’s currently being argued in the 11th Circuit Court in Atlanta today. They just went ahead and did it, making the rules up as they went along.



Back to Sarah, when she speaks, she speaks of the lost values of individualism, personal responsibility and freedom, and of the limited role of government that was the original intent of our Founders. These are the principles enshrined in our constitution and the ones that should be the intent of every law that is written. You and I know, however, this is far from what’s happening in Washington today.

And the number of people who can’t understand her is deeply concerning. They seem oblivious to meaning, and look at you funny when you say something that they should intuitively understand, yet don’t.

I’m noticing more and more of these curious creatures as time goes by. They tend to repeat slogans and buzzwords, glibly free of any kind of relevance to reality. When presented with the facts that disprove their position, their emotions take over instead of their intellect. Rational argument is replaced with criticism and name-calling.

Just like third grade.

It’s not that Sarah Palin is dumb, not by any means. As we’ve seen in the past few days of the Anthony Weiner scandal, we have the ability to elect some stupid, dishonest people without principles into positions of power.

The people who still support Weiner after the truth was known about his virtual peccadillos will never understand Sarah Palin.

And they vote.

Sleep well tonight.

The Washington Post Examines Obama’s Recent Ohio Speech and Finds, um, Discrepancies

This is kind of old, since it’s from last week. I’m from Alabama, what can I say?

Anyway, as you may know, President Obama gave a speech at an automotive plant that makes Jeeps. He was rather proud of his perceived “rescue” of the American auto industry, and this speech seemed to be little more than him patting himself on the back.

I hope he didn’t hurt himself.

As our economy continues its downward slide, Obama has seen fit not to actually do anything to improve it, but he does speechify quite a bit. It’s like he’s a cheerleader for the opposing team on the wrong sideline.

His administration is solely responsible for our economy now. Obama was elected primarily on Bush-bashing, trodding on the well-prepared ground of the media and its’ relentless attacks on Bush. But after two and a half years of continuing downturn, it’s painfully evident that he’s not making things any better. Nor does he intend to.

There is no question that we have in Obama the most virulently anti-business president in our history. His hostility has been well documented. He never misses an opportunity to paint all business owners as greedy vampires, eager to drain the lifeblood of the nation. Never mind that he’s the beneficiary of massive amounts of money from various large companies who greased his palm and are now the recipients of large government contracts. Think General Electric.

I’ve already poked many holes in Obama’s anti-American agenda. But, last week, a major newspaper, the Washington Post, decided to try their hand at some real, live, journalism by doing a bit of fact checking on Obama’s speech. Glenn Kessler does a stellar job of examining the inconsistencies and fabrications in the President’s speech.

Normally, one must go to a blog to get this level of accuracy, but here the Post seems to be attempting to actually report in a factual manner. Wow, what a concept. Who knew that a major news outlet would even consider printing anything more than a transcript of a presidential speech, much less do some actual reporting of, *gasp*, fact?

All snark aside, it’s really nice to read. I present a few choice quotes to remind you of how it once was done. They come out of the gate with this…

“What we found is one of the most misleading collections of assertions we have seen in a short presidential speech. Virtually every claim by the president regarding the auto industry needs an asterisk, just like the fine print in that too-good-to-be-true car loan.”

OK, that’s pretty good. I like it when somebody else does my fisking for me. See the second sentence above. It gets better…

“Let’s look at the claims in the order in which the president said them.


“Chrysler has repaid every dime and more of what it owes American taxpayers for their support during my presidency — and it repaid that money six years ahead of schedule. And this week, we reached a deal to sell our remaining stake. That means soon, Chrysler will be 100 percent in private hands.”


Wow, “every dime and more” sounds like such a bargain. Not only did Chrysler pay back the loan, with interest — but the company paid back even more than they owed. Isn’t America great or what?


Not so fast. The president snuck in the weasel words “during my presidency” in his statement. What does that mean?”

Whoa, there, Nelly. Did I just read the words “weasel” and “Obama” in the same article from a prominent newspaper? That has to be a first. Truly Pulitzer Prize worthy.

It gets better…

Obama said this:

“In the year before I was President, this industry lost more than 400,000 jobs, and two great American companies, Chrysler and GM, stood on the brink of collapse. Now, we had a few options. We could have done what a lot of folks in Washington thought we should do — nothing.”

To which the Post responds…

“This is quite a straw man — that many people wanted to do nothing. It was never so black and white. The debate was over the right course to take in the bankruptcy process.


The Wall Street Journal published Monday an interesting conservative critique of the government’s intervention by David Skeel, a law professor at University of Pennsylvania. Skeel says that the revival of the auto industry “is a very encouraging development,” but “to claim that the car companies would have collapsed if the government hadn’t intervened in the way it did, and to suggest that the intervention came at very little cost, is a dangerous misreading of our recent history.””

More truth? What is this world coming to, its senses?

You know, there actually were a few in Washington then that remembered why we have bankruptcy laws.

“We do not read Boehner’s quote that way; in this 2009 comment, he is questioning the administration’s approach while saying, “The success of our automotive industry is critical.”Shelby and Kyl in 2008 were protesting the use of taxpayer funds by Bush to delay a bankruptcy filing; they preferred immediately putting the companies through the bankruptcy process.


It will be up to historians to decide what the best solution would have been for taxpayers and the auto industry. We can understand why the president wants to portray himself as making a lonely and tough decision. But the debate was not either/or, [but] rather what was the best policy to bring the automakers back to financial health.”

In hindsight, what happened was that Obama, instead of letting our system work, intervened and skirted the normal course of action for companies in financial trouble, which is to file bankruptcy. Obama couldn’t allow this because it would have permitted GM and Chrysler to renegotiate contracts with the unions. And as we all know, unions are among the biggest block of Obama’s supporters. If you’re a stockholder in GM or Chrysler, you know you were screwed.

It’s heartening to see a major newspaper actually do its job these days. Obama's speech received three our of a possible four Pinocchios.

To quote the Blogfather, read the whole thing.

America’s Political Cancer – Progressivism

In case you haven’t noticed it yet, America is sick.

Inside the country lives a foreign organism that is eating away at it. It was diagnosed about a hundred years ago. Many efforts have been made to cut it out, but it has always returned, stronger and more determined to consume the host.

We’re seeing the effects of this sickness everywhere we look: our economy is anemic, we’re saddled with unimaginable debt, inflation is running rampant, there are record numbers of Americans living below the poverty level and on food stamps for the first time, and that’s just in the first breath.

The rights you were once guaranteed are now under attack. You no longer have property rights thanks to the awful Supreme Court Kelo decision that gave local governments the ability to seize your property for its purpose, those being unrelated to the traditional expansion of a community.

In the not-so-distant past, these traditional uses were for the building of roads, or schools. Everyone accepted the need for such services and understood the reasons for them. But since Kelo, your property can now be condemned for private developers who promise to increase the tax base through their redevelopments.

Your clearly defined right to own a firearm has been under attack for generations. I wonder which part of “The right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed” cannot be understood by those who would rob us of this very basic right.

All this and more is a clear indication of a country that’s not what it once was. As concerning as all these problems are, they are only symptoms of a larger disease.

That disease is called “progressivism.”

You may say to yourself, “But Mr. Boy, isn’t progress a good thing?”

Well, out here in the real world, it is. But understand that in the realm of politics, nothing is as it seems and the words you and I use in everyday conversation have a radically different meaning in the alternate universe that is politics.

Some of us remember when a garbage man was called a garbage man, not a sanitation engineer. In order to be a valid and accurate description of the position, one would normally associate the word “engineering” with the actual act of engineering, something that is difficult to envision happening while hanging from the rear of a large truck filled with refuse.

This is a perfect example of the alternate reality of politics. Clear speech is twisted and distorted so that only an insider would understand it. We now are expected to speak (and therefore think) in a politically correct way. What was once called “war” is now termed “kinetic military action.” Terrorism is now called “man-caused disaster.”

It’s ironic in the extreme that politics, which should be the repository of clear thinking and concise action, now creates its own language that confuses simple issues.

Again, this is merely a symptom of a much more serious problem.

It’s important to understand just what is meant by the term “progressive” in today’s politics. You may have guessed it doesn’t mean what you think it means.

Sure, the word sounds innocent enough. Who wouldn’t want progress? Isn’t that the normal course of history, to progress and to become better?

That, gentle reader, is exactly what you’re supposed to think.

The mere act of introducing alternate, political meanings to everyday language should set off your alarm bells and have your Bullshit Meter pegged. True, language evolves, but this isn’t a natural evolution of language: it’s a deliberate attempt to confuse you with words.

And it seems to be working quite well.

Today’s “progressive” is yesterday’s Socialist. Or Marxist. Or Communist. Or Fascist. Take your pick; they’re all opposed to the American values of individual liberty, limited government, private property rights, and capitalism.

You might be interested to know that we already have a Socialist in Congress, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Although he official designation is that of Independent, Sanders is a Socialist, which his Congressional web site readily acknowledges.

How this has managed to occur in our fair country, that we elected an American to high office that aligns himself with anti-American political beliefs, is a mystery. It is a testament to the power of purposeful confusion. And also to the stupidity of Vermont voters.

Or didn’t you know that socialism is directly opposed to American values?

Of course you did, that’s why you’re here, reading this blog.

What you may still not know is that the Democrat party has undergone a not-so-subtle transformation in the past few decades. What it stands for today is far removed from its roots.

Today’s Democrat is likely to call itself a “progressive” instead of a Democrat. This is a not-unimportant distinction. It could also call itself a "Progressive Democrat," thus doubling down on the idiocy.

While I could spend several thousand more words explaining why “progressivism” in our political system is a bad thing, I don’t really need to. All you have to do is look around to see the results of big-government, free-spending “progressives.”

Do you like what you see? Do you think that a 9.1% unemployment rate, when we had a rate half that high less than five years ago, is a good thing? Do you think our skyrocketing debt is good for you, or your children, or your grandchildren? Do you think that the Obama administrations’ takeover of the healthcare system will be good for the country? Do you think that the EPA’s threatened shutdown of oil drilling in Texas to protect a worthless lizard is good for gas prices and your wallet?

This and much more can be laid directly at the feet of “progressives” and "progressive thought." Even that term is misleading, for thought requires the admission of that pesky thing called reality, and a recognition of logic and common sense. None of that figures into what passes for "progressive thought," based as it is on emotionality and feelings.

You really should start to believe that we have a problem within our own political system. It can be removed from the body politic, but it will take some effort.

We have to purge “progressivism” from our political system if we are to continue as a country of laws and freedom. If you find anyone in any political race that calls themselves a “progressive,” be they Democrat or Republican, know that this person is your enemy and do everything in your power to defeat them.

“Progressivism” should be viewed as the cancer it is, eating away at our liberties and our way of life. And those who call themselves “progressive” are the willful carriers of this most dangerous political disease.

I Am America and I Must Speak

I am America.
You are my people. In a way, you are my children.

I’d like to have a talk with you.

I’ve been rather quiet lately, but I’ve noticed that there are a more than a few of you who don’t have a very good opinion of me. Some of you have been misinformed. You don’t seem to be aware of history.

I’d like to set the record straight, if I may.

I’m the world’s oldest standing government. My constitution hasn’t been substantially changed in over two hundred years. I have some authority from which to speak.

Before I was born, governments operated from a simple premise: people needed the permission of their leaders before they were allowed to do anything. There was no standard the people could rely on when it came to conducting their lives. Their monarch was the law. Whatever he or she felt like doing, no matter how outrageous, was the law of the land, usually under the penalty of death.

I was different. The people who built me had a new idea about government. They were the first in the world to wonder if mankind could rule himself. Power, which is what government is all about, would belong to the people. They would gather and agree on the rules they wanted to live by, and hold elections to appoint someone who would guarantee their rules were made into law and that those laws were enforced.

What made me special was that I would be small. Although I had power, I used it sparingly and only with great trepidation. I was made not to interfere with the lives of my people, as all before me had done. I was designed to leave people alone and let them live as they saw fit. I was to be a silent guardian of rights, used only when necessary, and with the approval of all.

My laws were basic. They were drawn from mankind’s observation that there is a way of life that is decent and good, one that leads to peace if those laws of life are followed. My laws were constructed around the Ten Commandments of Judaism, for these were found to be the best yardsticks by which to live. They were administered with the compassion that marks the Christian faith.

Yes, I am a Christian country. The men who built me were men of God. They didn’t try to hide their faith. Instead, the sought to codify the good things they found in it. They wanted their faith in God to be the foundation of a government that would let people be truly free. The men who built me would never live to see their labors come to fruition, but the tree of liberty which they planted would become great with time, and bear much fruit for the whole earth, the fruit of freedom. Sweet if eaten with humility, bitter if eaten to excess. Always to be tended by a Master Gardener and held fast in the belly of Man.

My people had freedom enshrined in their government for the first time in history. And they made the best of it, both for themselves and for others.

This made me unpopular with those who had become accustomed to power. From my birth, I was criticized. They said I could never work. They said that man was far too flawed, that he needed the firm hand of a ruler in order to thrive.

I proved them wrong.

I showed the rest of the world what man could do when he was free to follow his conscience.

I attracted the best and the brightest people from around the world. Many people came to me penniless, and I filled their purse with freedom. Many came to me destitute; I filled their cupboards abundantly, asking nothing in return except that they preserve the foundation upon which I was built.

As time passed, I gave more of myself than anyone who came before me. From me came a new way of life and many blessings.

My scientists gave the world new medicines. Plagues became a thing of the past. Water became clean. Mankind began living longer, better lives.

My engineers gave the world new technology. From me came modernity. I gave you automobiles, airplanes and washing machines, computers, television and radio. I gave you the best products at the lowest cost.

Travel to other lands that once took months can now happen in one day. You are better clothed and fed than anyone in history. You know more than anyone who came before you. I did this to show you the lessons of history, so that you wouldn’t make the same mistakes again.

I gave you more time to spend with the ones you love. I gave you a prosperity that no one on Earth had known before. The world is better off because of me.

Even in war, I was different. Many times, I’ve been called upon to right wrongs and to stop the advance of evil. I could have done what others had done, and remained as a conqueror in those foreign lands, but I did not. Many times, I have rebuilt those whom I have warred against. I always returned to my home and left other countries better than I found them. If I chose, I could claim far more land as my own.

My blood has been spilled all over the world for the cause of freedom. But I value freedom above power.

I thought I had proven myself.

I see I was wrong.

Instead of adopting my ways and imitating my success, others continued on the path of power, not freedom. With a loud voice, they continued to condemn me. They act as if I have done nothing to improve the lot of man.

I’ve had my faults. No country is perfect. But because of the way I was made, I can correct those faults. And I have done so many times.

But that’s not enough for those who claim false things against me. Although I am still a beacon of freedom for the world as evidenced by the many waiting to become Americans, there are those who live within me who say I am not what I have proven myself to be.

They say that I oppress, that I stifle, and that I smother. They say that my foundation is no longer strong. It’s outdated and not modern enough for the times.

The world has changed, they say, and I haven’t kept up with it. I find that somewhat amusing, for it was I who changed the world.

My enemies are determined to transform me into something that I was never intended to become. My enemies want me to become like the rest of the world. They want my people to be far less free than I want them to be.

My enemies are those who seek their power over my people.

They have managed to poison the tree of liberty with lies and deceit. They have twisted the minds of my children and taught them that I am somehow wrong. They call me a thief. They say I stole land from my neighbors. They act as though treaties I signed in good faith were no longer valid.

Not content with that, my enemies have posed as my people and taken up residence within my halls, scheming and planning my demise from the very ground upon which I was born. In the same place where I once was praised, I am now condemned. Where once I was defended, I am now given over to my enemy, tyranny, and its handmaiden, misery.

Those who claim to do my work and continue my legacy are busy making more and more laws every day with which to restrict the freedom of my people. Those who truly loved me would never want to bind my people, for they are their neighbors. They would act with restraint, loathe to enact another law.

To them I ask…

How many laws are enough?

How much tax is enough?

How much power is enough?

I fear. I fear for my liberty. I fear for my life.

I fear that I am no longer loved by my own children to whom I have given so much. They were born in my land, nurtured from my bosom and given opportunities they now take for granted, smug in the belief that those rights of freedom and liberty can never be taken away. They think they are superior to me because they believe what the rest of the world believes.

I was never like the rest of the world. I don’t wish to become like it now, nor ever.

To my enemies, I say leave me, and my people, in peace.

I ask no more than that.

If you are discontent with the blessings I’ve bestowed upon you, you are free to go live in a place more suited to your values. I’ve opened up the world to you. I won’t force you to stay with me as others do.

See how the rest of the world lives and ask yourself who has the better life. Open your eyes to the wonder of the world I’ve done so much to fashion in the mold of freedom.

See for yourself what I have done.

Decide for yourself.

You are free.

Friday Bits of Tid - First American Spacewalk Edition

Greetings and salutations, y'all. We survived another week, despite the best efforts of the rest of the world.

Give yourself a pat on the back. These days, you deserve one.

On this day in 1965 Major Edward H. White became the first American astronaut to venture outside a spacecraft. The Gemini program was an essential part of our race to the Moon. While not quite as popular as the other programs, it laid the groundwork for the Apollo missions. Legend has it that Gus Grissom and John Young, the two astonauts in the first manned Gemini mission, were going to crack a joke after their flight: they wanted to announce their engagement at the press conference.

You gotta love pilot humor.

A-OK, back to Earth for today's tidding.

When tap dancing shoes are outlawed, only outlaws will have tap dancing shoes.

Certainly, this has never happened before. Grandma beats would-be robber with cane.

You can't make this stuff up. Brazil may impose warning labels on underwear. "Warning. Accidents Cause People."

According to Michelle Obama, this guy should've been dead a long time ago. Man eats 25,000th Big Mac. Goes to show what she knows.

Duuude, did you, like, see where this totally cool new, like, pot superstore is gonna open up? Yeah man, it's gonna be called "Home DePot." Like, a buch of us went over there last week, but we can't, like, remember where it is now. Bummer, duuuude.

Kansas City police shoot concrete alligator. Aren't these guys supposed to have college degrees?

And finally, Lt. Commander Data raps about his cat, Spot.



Have a good'un, y'all.

Barry Gets a Lecture

Lady Liberty was sitting on the couch crying when Barry walked in the door.

“What’s wrong, uh, dear?” Barry asked.

“If you don’t know, I’m not going to tell you!” she said through a wet tissue.

Barry rolled his eyes, as he usually did when she got this way. He thought to himself, “She must have been talking to her Dad on the phone again.”

He sat down at the end of the couch a comfortable distance away from her, just in case.

“Dear, please tell me, um, what’s bothering you,” he said. He knew she couldn’t stay in this mood for long, and she was such a sucker for his rich baritone voice. That’s how he had wooed her in the beginning. It had always worked.

“Just look at this house! And look at me! I’m horrible!” she sniffed.

“Dear the house looks just fine. And you, um, look just as good to me as the day we married. There’s nothing wrong that a bit of exercise wouldn’t fix. I thought you wanted to, ah, join the gym down the street.”

She wailed and grabbed another tissue from the box next to the chocolates that she’d been eating. Empty wrappers littered the coffee table and floor.

He scooted a bit closer, but still out of her reach. He was cautious that way.

She said, “You… you… promised me that you’d take care of my house when we got married. But look at this place. I knew you had never owned a house before, and we agreed to live here, but you’ve done nothing to help around here. Not one thing!”

“Now, uh, dear, you know that’s not true…”

“Look! You’re never home. You say you’re at the office all day, but really you’re at the golf course. How is that helping me around here?”

Barry shifted in his seat. “I said we could hire someone to, um, help you. Why haven’t you, ah, put an ad in the, ah, paper?”

“You know we can’t afford it. I handled all the bills around here before you came along. You said you’d do it, but every day when I go to the mailbox, we have a new letter from the bill collectors. Some of them aren’t even in English!”

Barry looked out the window, wishing he’d stayed at the clubhouse a little while longer. He might have gotten home after she’d gone to bed and avoided her crying jag. They were becoming more frequent now.

She looked at him with a look that would have made him cringe not too long ago. He could see the fire in her eyes. Now he was becoming immune to what he considered ranting. She’s just blowing off steam again, he told himself.

“Have you looked in the back yard lately?” she snapped. “Remember that storm we had last week?”

“Yes dear, I remember. Do you remember the, ah, crew I hired to clean all that up?”

“You mean the ones who’re living in the garage now?” she said. “They moved right in like they owned the place. I know you have a soft heart for them, but I can’t get to sleep anymore. The do nothing but party until all hours of the morning. Sure, they cleaned up the yard, but they’ve trashed the garage. Just go try to find that basketball I gave you for Christmas, just try…” her voice trailed off into another tissue.

“Dear, I’ll, ah, take care of that real soon, I promise.” Barry’s lip was starting to glisten from sweat. This scene was getting worse by the minute. He had never seen her like this.

“Promises, promises. That’s all you ever do anymore is make promises, all the time. Is that what you tell your friends when you talk about be behind my back? “Oh, I’ll just whisper those sweet nothings in her ear and she’ll be alright.” Is that what you brag about to your buddies? Do you think I don’t know they hate me?” she sobbed.

Barry scooted a little closer to her and tried to put his arm around her. She pushed him away. “You know they ,um, don’t hate you. They just think you could, uh, be a better wife to me now.”

“Oh, so now I’m not good enough for them, is that it?” she cried. “I know that Billy guy you knew from college doesn’t like me, and that Jerry fellow from church really doesn’t like me, he said so! And that guy George, don’t get me started on him. He barely knows me but I’ve heard some of the things he’s said, he probably hates me more than all your little buddies combined. Just because he has a lot of money, you hang on his every word. Don’t try to hide your friends opinions from me, I know all about them. Why do you spend so much time with them and not me?” she sobbed again.

“Dear, I hardly ever talk to them. All they do is offer me advice when I call them,” he replied.

“Every single day?! You know, I see the phone bill. You spend hours on the phone with them all the time. And who is that woman named Nancy? If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you and her were having an affair,” she said, her voice muffled by a handful of tissues.

“Come on, dear, we just work together, you know that. She doesn’t mean a thing to me.”

Barry knew his bride was a lot smarter than he’d given her credit for. Even though he was new to this marriage game, he was starting to think he might be in some real trouble with his Lady.

She sat upright and looked right at him with bloodshot eyes. “I bet! I bet she’s all slim and trim like I was before we got married. Now look what all that exotic food you’ve been feeding me has done to my figure. I can barely see my feet anymore. I just feel horrible…”

“Now dear, we, ah, just have a working relationship. But she does understand me pretty well…” Barry blurted out without thinking.

“That’s what I thought! You are having an affair! You cad!! If I had known what I know now three years ago, I would never have married you!”

Lady Liberty stood up defiantly and yelled, “Go pack your bags and leave my house this second!” She ran upstairs and slammed the bedroom door.

Barry couldn’t help but hear her click the lock.

As he walked toward the car with his suitcase, he reached into his pocket for his phone and hit a speed-dial number.

“Hi Nancy, it’s me, Barry. I, um, need a place to stay tonight…”