National Debt Clock

Friday, July 31, 2009

More Problems for Cash for Clunkers: Worthless For Most Auto Recyclers

http://jalopnik.com/5324812/cash-for-clunkers-worthless-for-most-auto-recyclers

"This is because the law requires destroying the engine and the transmission, which makes up to 60% of a vehicle's salvage revenue according to the Automotive Recyclers Association. Being unable to sell these parts means the value has to come from the scraps and whatever parts they can strip for sale within 180 days of receiving the vehicle. After this period they are required by law to destroy it."

"'The CARS act, as written... is horseshit beyond repair' and points out the current scrap value is $140 a ton, which means a two-ton vehicle is only worth $280 as scrap. Subtract out the estimated cost of $200 to detox the vehicle as required by law and the total value is only $80 per car if nothing can be sold on it."

"There is nothing from a federal standpoint to stop a consumer from removing the radio, doors, etc."

Dem Florida Congressman Alan Grayson Grills Ben Bernanke

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00ECLxK2YTs

Alan Grayson: "Which Foreigners Got the Fed’s half a trillion dollars? "
Bernanke: "I Don’t Know."
Alan Grayson: "Half a trillion dollars and you don't know who got the money?"

"$9 billion for New Zealand, that works out to $3000 for every single person that lives in New Zealand. Seriously, wouldn't it have been better to extend that kind of credit to Americans and not New Zealanders?"

Alan Grayson: "[The] US dollar nominal exchange rate [table]...shows a 20% increase in the US dollar nominal exchange rate at exactly the same time you were handing out a half trillion dollars. You think that's a coincidence?"
Bernanke: "YES"

Recession Worse Than Prior Estimates, Revisions Show

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aNivTjr852TI

"The first 12 months of the U.S. recession saw the economy shrink more than twice as much as previously estimated, reflecting even bigger declines in consumer spending and housing, revised figures showed."

Cars.gov Privacy Agreement That Taps Into User's PC

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2009/07/31/beck_exposes_carsgov_privacy_agreement_that_taps_into_users_pc.html

"This application provides access to the DoT CARS system. When logged on to the CARS system, your computer is considered a Federal computer system and is the property of the U.S. Government."

"Any or all uses of this system and all files on this system may be intercepted, monitored, recorded copied, audited, inspected, and disclosed, to authorized CARS, DoT, and law enforcement personnel, as well as authorized officials of other agencies, both domestic and foreign."

Obama Justice Department Withdraws "Special Administrative Measures" Imposed at Supermax Prison Housing "Shoe Bomber"

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=M2VjOGQ0MjkzNDhkYjk1YmNlNDlkZDQ5MjliNDQzNWE=

"Unbelievably, the Obama Justice Department has withdrawn the "special administrative measures" (SAMs) imposed at the federal supermax prison in Colorado against "Shoe Bomber" Richard Reid (the jihadist who tried to blow up a trans-Atlantic flight with nearly 200 people on board)...'SAMs are security directives, renewable yearly, issued by the attorney general when 'there is a substantial risk that a prisoner’s communications, correspondence or contacts with persons could result in death or serious bodily injury' to others.'"

"In a hand-written complaint, [Reid] asserted that he was being illegally prevented from performing daily “group prayers in a manner prescribed by my religion.” Yet the list of Reid’s potential fellow congregants at ADX Florence [i.e., the supermax prison] reads like a Who’s Who of al Qaeda’s most dangerous members: Ramzi Yousef and his three co-conspirators in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing; 9/11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui; “Millennium bomber” Ahmed Ressam; “Dirty bomber” Jose Padilla; Wadih el-Hage, Osama Bin Laden’s personal secretary, convicted in the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombing that killed 247 people."

"[The] detainee policy in the Obama/Holder Justice Department is now being shaped by former Human Rights Watch lawyer Jennifer Daskal, who thinks incarceration is tantamount to torture (recall her complaint that one jihadist, 'a self-styled poet,' was being subjected to severe mental trauma: He 'found it was nearly impossible to write poetry anymore because the prison guards would only allow him to keep a pen or pencil in his cell for short periods of time')."

They care so much about the "rights" of murders yet could care less about killing the innocent unborn.

Government Suspends 'Clunkers' Program

http://wcbstv.com/consumer/cash.clunkers.success.2.1108544.html

"At Current Rate, Giving Out $3,500 Or $4,500 Per Vehicle Would Burn Through $1 Billion Allocated In No Time"

"If they can't administer a program like this, I'd be a little concerned about my health insurance," car salesman Rob Bojaryn said.

When something is free, more people always come to the table than expected. Like Mr. Bojaryn said, just wait until the government gives out "free" healthcare...

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Bush Signs Bill To Take All Newborns' DNA

http://www.infowars.net/articles/may2008/020507DNA.htm

The bill states that the federal government should "continue to carry out, coordinate, and expand research in newborn screening" and "maintain a central clearinghouse of current information on newborn screening... ensuring that the clearinghouse is available on the Internet and is updated at least quarterly".

  • Brase states that S.1858 and H.R. 3825, the House version of the bill, will:
  • Establish a national list of genetic conditions for which newborns and children are to be tested. Establish protocols for the linking and sharing of genetic test results nationwide.
  • Build surveillance systems for tracking the health status and health outcomes of individuals diagnosed at birth with a genetic defect or trait.
  • Use the newborn screening program as an opportunity for government agencies to identify, list, and study "secondary conditions" of individuals and their families.
  • Subject citizens to genetic research without their knowledge or consent.
I must have missed this when it occurred, but this is scary stuff. Since when does the government have the right to force your child to give up DNA for an unknown purpose. What ever happened to privacy? Once again, Ron Paul was correctly a vocal opponent.

Cloward-Piven Strategy

http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6967
http://www.examiner.com/x-25466-DC-Independent-Examiner~y2009m11d24-ClowardPiven-Manufactured-Crisis-series

The authors noted that the number of Americans subsisting on welfare -- about 8 million, at the time -- probably represented less than half the number who were technically eligible for full benefits. They proposed a "massive drive to recruit the poor onto the welfare rolls." Cloward and Piven calculated that persuading even a fraction of potential welfare recipients to demand their entitlements would bankrupt the system. The result, they predicted, would be "a profound financial and political crisis" that would unleash "powerful forces … for major economic reform at the national level."

Their article called for "cadres of aggressive organizers" to use "demonstrations to create a climate of militancy." Intimidated by threats of black violence, politicians would appeal to the federal government for help. Carefully orchestrated media campaigns, carried out by friendly, leftwing journalists, would float the idea of "a federal program of income redistribution," in the form of a guaranteed living income for all -- working and non-working people alike. Local officials would clutch at this idea like drowning men to a lifeline. They would apply pressure on Washington to implement it. With every major city erupting into chaos, Washington would have to act.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Reports of Prison Abuse and Deaths Anger Iranians

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/29/world/middleeast/29iran.html?_r=2&hp

"Some prisoners say they watched fellow detainees being beaten to death by guards in overcrowded, stinking holding pens. Others say they had their fingernails ripped off or were forced to lick filthy toilet bowls."

"More bruised corpses have been returned to families in recent days, and some hospital officials have told human rights workers that they have seen evidence that well over 100 protesters have died since the vote."

"Hospital officials have described receiving bodies of those killed in protests, with the total far in excess of 20, the government’s initial figure."

And our president had trouble speaking out against a government that would do this for a week.

Stimulus Jobs In Oregon -- Last Only One Week

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ifn5cIQggxKMBZdAwWc0ej79EQLgD99NA4VO3

"In Oregon, where lawmakers are spending $176 million to supplement the federal stimulus, Democrats are taking credit for a remarkable feat: creating 3,236 new jobs in the program's first three months. But those jobs lasted on average only 35 hours, or about one work week. After that, those workers were effectively back unemployed."

Is this any surprise? Stimulus jobs are artificially created outside of the free market and thus have less sustainability than a job legitimately created as necessity by the free market.

Obama still cashing in on Bush's failings

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jul/29/obama-still-cashing-in-on-bushs-economic-failings/print/

"For a guy who campaigned on taking responsibility and looking forward, he spends an awful lot of time pointing fingers and looking backward."

"Since taking office, Mr. Obama has implemented a $787 billion stimulus package that has failed to produce a quick economic turnaround and the U.S. economy has shed more than 2.5 million jobs."

Monday, July 27, 2009

Charlie Rangel’s Unpaid Taxes

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203946904574300013592601036.html

"Chairman Charlie Rangel, who is leading the charge for a new 5.4-percentage point income tax surcharge and recently called it 'the moral thing to do.'"

So is it the moral thing to do to pay one's own taxes?

"Mr. Rangel soon admitted having failed to report rental income of $75,000 over the years. First he blamed his wife for the oversight because he said she was supposed to be managing the property. Then he blamed the language barrier. 'Every time I thought I was getting somewhere, they’d start speaking Spanish,' Mr. Rangel explained."

But he promised to pay them so all is well and good right?

"Mr. Rangel promised last fall to amend his tax returns, pay what is due and correct the information on his annual financial disclosure form. But the deadline for the 2008 filing was May 15 and as of last week he still had not filed."

Well that was just a one time thing due to the language barrier right?

"The House Ethics Committee is investigating Mr. Rangel on no fewer than six separate issues."

"The Committee of Ways and Means is the chief tax-writing committee of the United States House of Representatives" Source

And this guy is the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee?

House Republicans Harpoon $8.7-Million Intended to Connect Whalers to Their Ancestors

http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=51572

"It involves 'educational/cultural programming' which includes 'mentoring, internships, and education/outreach programming that will increase understanding of cultural diversity and multicultural communication among Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and the people of Massachusetts.'"

This is what we spend our money on? Seriously, why was this even in the included in the appropriations bill in the first place? Whoever it was should be fired.

Obama Didn't Like Bush Rushing Through Legislation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOnYnIDX0Eg

hy·poc·ri·sy
Pronunciation:\hi-ˈpä-krə-sē also hī-\
Function:noun

1. "When you rush these budgets that are a foot high and nobody has any idea what's in them and nobody has read them...It gets rushed through without any clear deliberations or debate then these kind of things happen."

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Minimum Wage Increase will Cause a Loss in 300,000 jobs

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124476823767508619.html

"Based on 20 years of research, I doubt there is ever a goodtime to raise the minimum wage. However, with the aggregate unemployment rate at 9.4%, the teen unemployment rate exceeding 22%, and the unemployment rate for black teens nearing 40%, next month's increase seems like the worst timing possible."


"The best estimates from studies since the early 1990s suggest that the 11% minimum wage increase scheduled for this summer will lead to the loss of an additional 300,000 jobs among teens and young adults. This is on top of the continuing job losses the recession is likely to throw our way."

3,000 Low Temp Records Set This July!

http://www.accuweather.com/mt-news-blogs.asp?blog=weathermatrix&partner=&pgUrl=/mtweb/content/weathermatrix/archives/2009/07/1000_low_temp_records_set_this_july.asp

"1,044 daily record low temperatures have been broken this month nationwide according to NCDC -- count record "low highs" and the number increases to 2,925, surely to pass 3,000 before the end of the month."

Silly weatherman, there is already a consensus that temperatures are WARMING not COOLING so no need to publish anything more like this to the contrary.

First round in Internet war goes to Iranian intelligence

http://www.debka.com/article.php?aid=1396

This system is capable of conducting "deep packet inspection" of every type of text and video communication in all parts of Iran on three tracks:

1. Like other advanced electronic spy systems in the world, this one uses such keywords as attack, weapons, cash, data, explosives, meeting, demonstration, resistance, protest, etc. to alert Iran within milliseconds to feeds of interest by computer or phone - mail, signals or visuals.
In a flash, intelligence analysts get a fix on the sender and the electronic addressee which are then placed on a surveillance list for further monitoring. Once identified, the sender or receiver and their connections are closely shadowed by field agents.


2. By "deep packet inspection," the secret controllers can cause delays in online data transfers, which surfers may attribute to glitches connected with their providers. The more targets under surveillance, the more online transfers are slowed down. DEBKAfile's Iranian sources report that the day after the presidential poll and resulting street outbreaks, Iran's Internet control and tracking supervisors took over the 10 leading service providers in the country. Their first action was to slow down incoming and outgoing cyber traffic from 1,500 to 54 kilobytes to make sure that not a single byte by Internet or cell phone to or from protest leaders escaped their notice.

3. Iranian intelligence made cynical use of the large amount of electronic and personal data accumulated on anti-regime elements. Instead of detaining their prey at once, Iranian intelligence invaded their computers and cell phones to plant false leads for smoking unsuspecting activists out in the open and keeping them under inspection. Within a few days of their protest, Mir Hossein Mousavi and the bulk of his supporters, realizing their electronic campaign had been taken over by the regime to hunt them down, disappeared from the streets of Tehran.

Daily Presidential Tracking Poll

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll























People are catching on. Interesting given that Obama is doing everything he said he was. Why does it take people to realize what he is doing is bad only after he is doing it?

School Choice

Since when does a politician know what's best for a child that they have never met, don't know the needs of, and only invoke the name of in the hope of garnering votes? You hear many politicians today speak about choice and the right of people to make their own decisions. Why is it that choice and personal decision making only apply to certain issues? If we triumph the ability to go to Walmart, Target, etc. depending on what quality and price we want, why can't we choose the type and quality of education we want for our children?

Thursday, July 23, 2009

$3 Million to Lesbian Drinking Study

http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid100733.asp

Who cares?! Aren't there more important things you could do with 3 MILLIONS DOLLARS? Your tax dollars hard at work.

Cop who arrested black scholar is profiling expert

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D99KBEAO1&show_article=1

You picked the wrong cop to play the race-card with.

Obama science czar Holdren called for forced abortions

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=103707

Holdren's comment, made in 1977:
"It has been concluded that compulsory population-control laws, even including laws requiring compulsory abortion, could be sustained under the existing Constitution if the population crisis became sufficiently severe to endanger the society."

"Holdren's book proposed multiple strategies to curb population growth, and, according to the quotes excerpted by FrontPage Magazine, advocated an international police force to ensure the strategies were carried out."

Why won't Congress enroll in gov't health care?

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=104716

"The Affordable Health Choices Act drafted by Sen. Edward Kennedy's staff and the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee pushes "Americans into stingy insurance plans with tight, HMO-style controls."

"Under both the House and Senate proposals, members of Congress won't have to participate in the government plan for at least five years – and even after five years, enrollment will still be considered optional. Meanwhile, every other American will be forced to comply with government rules by obtaining "qualifying" plans."

Obama recalls Apollo 11 splashdown in Hawaii – while he lived in Indonesia

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=104703

You think that with someone who has questions regarding his origin of birth that he would stay away from reminiscing about his childhood.

Take the red pill, Mr. President

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Take-the-red-pill-Mr-President-51473502.html

Excellent critique of the President's speak.
"With his example of the red and blue pills, and another about whether a child's hypothetical tonsils should be removed, President Obama unwittingly presents the real problem with his plan for reform. Here is a well-meaning government official who so fails to grasp the problem in health care that he can present such absurd oversimplifications and suggest that this sort of thing is the real problem -- doctors simply lack the common sense to make obvious medical decisions."

"This transfer of medical authority to the bureaucracy is intended to curb costs. Unfortunately, there is exactly one thing that government can do to control costs in health care: it can insist on paying below cost. This shifts the cost burden to private insurance companies, which in turn pass along higher premiums to their patients. This is what government-run Medicare does today for many treatments, including cancer. Government will do more of this kind of "saving" when it assumes greater responsibility for funding citizens' health care, particularly if a government-option health care plan is established."

Henry Gates' Police Report

And now the rest of the story...
http://www.amnation.com/vfr/Police%20report%20on%20Gates%20arrest.PDF
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0723092gates1.html

"Gates opened the front door and exclaimed 'why because I'm black in America?' "
"[Gates] accused me of being a racist police officer."
"Gates told me I had no idea who I was 'messing' with."
"His reply was 'ya, I'll speak with your mama outside.' "
"Gates initially resisted my attempt to handcuff him, yelling that he was 'disabled' and would fall without his cane.' "

And this is the eminent researcher on African Americans in the United States? Way to represent.

Obama: Cambridge police acted 'stupidly'

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0709/Obama_Cambridge_police_acted_stupidly.html
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1186567&format=&page=2&listingType=Loc#articleFull

If you don't know all the facts, don't say anything. It's obvious the type of person you are Mr President. Apparently you make rash judgements on people without understanding all the details. You immediately jump on the race card bandwagon and now you have insulted a hero of our society. What kind of president, person for that matter, does that? This is a serious character flaw and cast doubt on your intention as president.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Obama goes prime-time to pitch healthcare

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/07/22/Obama-goes-prime-time-to-pitch-healthcare/UPI-38611248259706/

"Obama intends to use the news conference as a "six-month report card," to talk about "how we rescued the economy from the worst recession" and the legislative agenda moving forward, including health care and energy legislation."

So when more jobs are lost and economic growth is still negative, it means you've rescued the economy, got it.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Democrats irked by Obama signing statement

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D99J1IPO0&show_article=1

"During the previous administration, all of us were critical of (Bush's) assertion that he could pick and choose which aspects of congressional statutes he was required to enforce," the Democrats wrote in their letter to Obama. "We were therefore chagrined to see you appear to express a similar attitude."

Doth thou savior disappoint?

Obama Approval Tracking Below Carter's

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/presidential-approval-tracker.htm

You don't say?!

Obama Admits He’s “Not Familiar” With House Bill

http://www.heritage.org/2009/07/21/morning-bell-obama-admits-hes-not-familiar-with-house-bill/

Audio:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2009/07/21/obama_not_familiar_with_key_provision_in_health_care_bill.html

"... a blogger from Maine said he kept running into an Investors Business Daily article that claimed Section 102 of the House health legislation would outlaw private insurance. He asked: “Is this true? Will people be able to keep their insurance and will insurers be able to write new policies even though H.R. 3200 is passed?” President Obama replied: “You know, I have to say that I am not familiar with the provision you are talking about.”

"The House bill does not outright outlaw private individual health insurance, but it does effectively regulate it out of existence."

Text of HR3200:
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3200/text?version=ih&nid=t0:ih:253

Quotes from the HR 3200:
Sec 102 (2) LIMITATION ON CHANGES IN TERMS OR CONDITIONS- Subject to paragraph (3) and except as required by law, the issuer does not change any of its terms or conditions, including benefits and cost-sharing

Sec 102 (1) IN GENERAL- Individual health insurance coverage that is not grandfathered health insurance coverage under subsection (a) may only be offered on or after the first day of Y1 as an Exchange-participating health benefits plan.

Sec 102 (3) RESTRICTIONS ON PREMIUM INCREASES- The issuer cannot vary the percentage increase in the premium for a risk group of enrollees in specific grandfathered health insurance coverage without changing the premium for all enrollees in the same risk group at the same rate, as specified by the Commissioner."

SEC. 111. PROHIBITING PRE-EXISTING CONDITION EXCLUSIONS.
(1) A qualified health benefits plan may not impose any pre-existing condition exclusion (as defined in section 2701(b)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act) or otherwise impose any limit or condition on the coverage under the plan with respect to an individual or dependent based on any health status-related factors (as defined in section 2791(d)(9) of the Public Health Service Act) in relation to the individual or dependent.


SEC. 116. ENSURING VALUE AND LOWER PREMIUMS.
(a) In General- A qualified health benefits plan shall meet a medical loss ratio as defined by the Commissioner. For any plan year in which the qualified health benefits plan does not meet such medical loss ratio, QHBP offering entity shall provide in a manner specified by the Commissioner for rebates to enrollees of payment sufficient to meet such loss ratio.


Medical Loss Ratio Defined
"The portion of health plan revenue that does not cover administrative or marketing expenses, taxes and profits."

"Viewed from different angles, a measure of the profitability of a health insurer, the quality of health care enjoyed by its customers, the competitiveness of pricing in the marketplace or the efficiency of its non-medical activities."

"For Aetna, a figure [medial loss ratio] that increased last quarter from 74.6 to 79.4, causing a 20 percent plunge in its share price when it was announced."

This will essentially be price setting and will put private insurers out of business.

Senior Democrat says no consensus on health bill

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D99IV05G2&show_article=1

We can only hope they keep this up until Obama loses support of the people.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Pelosi On Health Care: We Have The "Support Of The American People"

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2009/07/17/pelosi_on_health_care_we_have_the_support_of_the_american_people.html

Oh Really?

Poll: Americans Oppose a government-run health-insurance company, 50% to 35%
http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/poll_oppose_public_health/2009/07/17/237014.html

Larry Summers cites Google search as progress

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/25083.html

"Searches for the term were up four-fold when the recession deepened in the earlier part of the year, and the recent shift goes to show consumer confidence is higher, Summers told the Peterson Institute for International Economics."

Since when is a google search evidence of anything? This has got to be a joke. Out of all the statistics collected, this is the one that indicates your spending is justified?

House Democrats muzzle GOP on sensitive issues

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D99FO5880&show_article=1

"The tradition has often meant laborious debates. But it has allowed lawmakers with little seniority to have their say on doling out the one-third of the federal budget passed by Congress each year. It was a right the Democrats zealously defended when they were the minority party from 1995 through 2006."

Obviously, it's only tradition when it benefits your side.

WANTED: Humorist in the Workplace

https://www.fbo.gov/spg/TREAS/BPD/DP/RFI-BPD-09-0028/listing.html

"The Contractor shall conduct two, 3-hour, Humor in the Workplace programs that will discuss the power of humor in the workplace, the close relationship between humor and stress, and why humor is one of the most important ways that we communicate in business and office life."

This is what my tax dollars are going to, someone to teach about humor!!!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Joe Biden: ‘We Have to Go Spend Money to Keep From Going Bankrupt’

http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=51162

" 'You’re telling me we have to go spend money to keep from going bankrupt?’ Biden said. 'The answer is yes, I’m telling you.'”

Definitions:
Bankrupt: Having been legally declared financially insolvent.
Insolvent: Having liabilities in excess of a reasonable market value of assets held

According to these definitions, to prevent bankruptcy, one must become more solvent. That would mean reducing liabilities or increase assets.

According to Biden, to prevent bankruptcy, one must also become more solvent. This is accomplished by increasing liabilities, borrowing more debt, and decreasing assets, spending money. Make sense? duh.

Free speech plan booted by House committee

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=104064

"The Rules Committee voted 8-4 along party lines to reject the amendment that would have halted any proposals by the FCC that would restore the Fairness Doctrine, which was abandoned in 1987 under President Reagan."

"The First Amendment 'is not a partisan issue; the preservation of constitutional freedoms should be the paramount duty of every elected representative and should take precedence over partisan gamesmanship or heavy-handedness.'"

Organizational Chart of the House Democrats' Health paln

http://images.newsmax.com/misc/Dem_Healthcare.jpg






















Yeah, that'll work, I don't see what the problem is?

Obama Health Plan Ups Taxes to Pre-Reagan Levels, Would Break Campaign Promise

http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/us_health_taxes/2009/07/15/236004.html

"The plan would honor Obama's campaign promise not to raise taxes on families making less than $250,000. But it would break an Obama pledge that no one _ including the wealthy _ would pay higher taxes than they did in the 1990s. The pledge, as listed on Obama's campaign Web site, was: "'No family will pay higher tax rates than they would have paid in the 1990s.'"

"The bill unveiled by House Democratic leaders Tuesday would create three new tax brackets for high earners, with a top rate of 45 percent for families making more than $1 million. That would be the highest income tax rate since 1986, when the top rate was 50 percent."

Too bad integrity and keeping ones word doesn't matter anymore.

Healthcare Bill to Massively Affect New York

http://www.nypost.com/seven/07162009/photos/news_graph.jpg

"The top rate in New York City, home to many of the state's wealthiest people, would be 58.68 percent"

"The legislation is especially onerous for business owners, in part because it penalizes employers with a payroll bigger than $400,000 some 8 percent of wages if they don't offer health care"

"Asked if Obama supports the surtax on wealthiest Americans even though it would break a campaign pledge, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said only, 'It's a process that we're watching.'"

This is theft pure and simple. To each according to his needs, from each accord to his means.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Justive Ginsburg Interview

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/12/magazine/12ginsburg-t.html?pagewanted=4&_r=1

"Frankly I had thought that at the time Roe was decided, there was concern about population growth and particularly growth in populations that we don’t want to have too many of."

And yet you still support it, my God...

"The most merciful thing that a large family does to one of its infant members is to kill it."
Margaret Sanger, Women and the New Race
(Eugenics Publ. Co., 1920, 1923)

Billions in aid go to areas that backed Obama in '08

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-07-08-redblue_N.htm?csp=34

"Counties that supported Obama last year have reaped twice as much money per person from the administration's $787 billion economic stimulus package as those that voted for his Republican rival, Sen. John McCain"

"The reports show the 872 counties that supported Obama received about $69 per person, on average. The 2,234 that supported McCain received about $34"

"The imbalance didn't start with the stimulus. From 2005 through 2007, the counties that later voted for Obama collected about 50% more government aid than those that supported McCain"

I think the point here is not some much the idea of favoritism given that last statement, but it is interesting to note that those area of the country more dependant on the government voted for Obama. That's the biggest difference I see ideologies. Liberals get elected not on ideas, but on promises to give you a free lunch. These areas in turn become dependant on the government and feel they must vote for a liberal in order to continue leeching off the government. Where is your pride America? What happened to principles of hard work and sacrifice? You should be ashamed that you knowingly indenture yourself to someone else. This country was founded so its people could be free from tyranny. Now, America, we seem to be willing subjecting ourselves to tyranny. Our founding fathers must be rolling over in their graves.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Congressman Peter King on Michael Jackson

http://www.tmz.com/videos?autoplay=true&mediaKey=40aee77a-ff06-433d-957b-8a6f25c026bd


"Let's knock out the psychobabble," he said in the video, which was taped outside an American Legion Hall in his district. "He was a pervert, a child molester; he was a pedophile. And to be giving this much coverage to him, day in and day out, what does it say about us as a country? I just think we're too politically correct."

"There's nothing good to say about this guy," King continued. "But the bottom line is, would you let your child or grandchild be in the same room as Michael Jackson?"

13 U.S. soldiers to die in Afghanistan since Jackson's death on June 25

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,530361,00.html

We need to get our priorities stright.

Canadian Government Healthcare...Overruled?

http://www.blakes.com/english/view_disc.asp?ID=907

This appears dated and apparently little has come from it, but definitely shows the problems government-run health care will cause. I wonder if our supreme court would have the guts if a similar case came to them in the future?

Monday, July 6, 2009

Our Troubling Tax System

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGIfbAt8voU&feature=player_embedded

"If tax compliance were an industry, it would be one of the largest in the United States. To consume 7.6 billion hours, the "tax industry" requires the equivalent of 3.8 million full time workers."

Are you serious!?

Ron Paul Strikes Gold

http://www.thebigmoney.com/articles/mothers-milk/2009/07/02/ron-paul-strikes-gold?page=0%2C0

They only listen when it is politically correct to do so. How about do that right thing when it isn't popular, that'll show some meddle.

Americans on Healthcare Reform

http://www.pollingreport.com/health.htm

It's amazing the schizophrenia on some of these questions. People are happy with their current coverage, yet feel the country as a whole is bad. They believe that health care reform will increase costs, decrease quality, and lead to bigger government, yet trust Obama to make it all better. Or people think government would do a better job than private insurance yet again believe health care reform will increase costs, decrease quality, and lead to bigger government. Or the question on how you think Obama is handling healthcare...he hasn't done anything except talk about it! Sheeple!

Honduras Defends Its Democracy

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124623220955866301.html

"Honduras is fighting back by strictly following the constitution. The Honduran Congress met in emergency session yesterday and designated its president as the interim executive as stipulated in Honduran law. It also said that presidential elections set for November will go forward. The Supreme Court later said that the military acted on its orders. It also said that when Mr. Zelaya realized that he was going to be prosecuted for his illegal behavior, he agreed to an offer to resign in exchange for safe passage out of the country. Mr. Zelaya denies it."

"[Mrs. Clinton] accused Honduras of violating "the precepts of the Interamerican Democratic Charter" and said it "should be condemned by all." Fidel Castro did just that. Mr. Chávez pledged to overthrow the new government."

Why again is Mrs. Clinton Secretary of State?

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Congress's Travel Tab Swells

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124650399438184235.html

"The spending on overseas travel is up almost tenfold since 1995, and has nearly tripled since 2001, according to the Journal analysis of 60,000 travel records. Hundreds of lawmakers traveled overseas in 2008 at a cost of about $13 million. That's a 50% jump since Democrats took control of Congress two years ago."

"The congressional trips are possible thanks in part to an unlimited fund created by a three-decade old law. Nearly two dozen government officials work full-time organizing the trips. Much of the costs are not made public, including the cost of flying on government jets. The Air Force maintains a fleet of 16 passenger planes for use by lawmakers."


"Last summer, Rep. Brian Baird (D., Wash.) took a four-day trip to the Galápagos Islands with his wife, four other lawmakers and their family members. The lawmakers spent $22,000 on meals and hotels, records show. Mr. Baird, a member of the House Science Committee, said the trip was to learn about global warming.
On the first day, lawmakers toured a breeding center for giant tortoise and land iguanas before dining with scientists, according to an itinerary for the trip. The next morning, lawmakers headed to the Galápagos National Park while their family members had the option of hiking, swimming or shopping. That afternoon, the group boarded a boat to visit a sea-lion colony and search for white-tip sharks."

White House Reporters Grill Gibbs Over ‘Prepackaged’ Questions for Obama

http://www.breitbart.tv/white-house-reporters-grill-gibbs-over-selected-questions-for-obama/

So much for openness and transparency.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

700 NYC teachers are paid to do nothing

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090622/ap_on_re_us/us_rubber_rooms

Your tax dollars hard at work!

"Once their hearings are over, they are either sent back to the classroom or fired. But because their cases are heard by 23 arbitrators who work only five days a month, stints of two or three years in a rubber room are common, and some teachers have been there for five or six."

""The day just seemed to crawl by until I started painting," Cohen said, adding that others read, play dominoes or sleep."

"There was a bar across the street," Saunders said. "Teachers would sneak out and hang out there for hours."

Home prices post 18.1 percent annual drop in April

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/30/AR2009063001257.html

"Four months ago, the Obama administration detailed its "Making Home Affordable" initiative. But progress has been slow. "So far (the modification program) isn't showing large numbers, which tells me that it's not working and that's a problem," said Patrick Newport, an economist with IHS Global Insight."

"Prices are still dropping. They're just no longer in freefall," Newport said.

The Debate is Over? Alan Carlin's CO2 Charts

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,529725,00.html