http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/09/024602.php
The unemployment rate for young Americans has exploded to 52.2 percent -- a post-World War II high, according to the Labor Dept. -- meaning millions of Americans are staring at the likelihood that their lifetime earning potential will be diminished and, combined with the predicted slow economic recovery, their transition into productive members of society could be put on hold for an extended period of time. ...
During previous recessions, in the early '80s, early '90s and after Sept. 11, 2001, unemployment among 16-to-24 year olds never went above 50 percent. Except after 9/11, jobs growth followed within two years.
A much slower recovery is forecast today. [Heidi Shierholz, an economist with the Washington-based Economic Policy Institute] believes it could take four or five years to ramp up jobs again.
*****
"There is no assistance provided [in the Democrats' stimulus bill] for the development of job growth through small businesses, which create 70 percent of the jobs in the country," Angrisani said in an interview last week. "All those [unemployed young people] should be getting hired by small businesses."
There are six million small businesses in the country, those that employ less than 100 people, and a jobs stimulus bill should include tax credits to give incentives to those businesses to hire people, the former Labor official said.
"If each of the businesses hired just one person, we would go a long way in growing ourselves back to where we were before the recession," Angrisani noted. ..."
Monday, September 28, 2009
Obama Would Curtail Summer Vacation
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090927/ap_on_re_us/us_more_school
Students beware: The summer vacation you just enjoyed could be sharply curtailed if President Barack Obama gets his way.
Obama says American kids spend too little time in school, putting them at a disadvantage with other students around the globe.
The problem isn't lack of classtime, it's lack of quality class time. Increasing class time won't make students any more competitive international unless they are taught correctly and the right material. Also, what ever happen to powers not expressively given to the Federal government are relegated to state governments?
Students beware: The summer vacation you just enjoyed could be sharply curtailed if President Barack Obama gets his way.
Obama says American kids spend too little time in school, putting them at a disadvantage with other students around the globe.
The problem isn't lack of classtime, it's lack of quality class time. Increasing class time won't make students any more competitive international unless they are taught correctly and the right material. Also, what ever happen to powers not expressively given to the Federal government are relegated to state governments?
Who's Rummaging Through Your Garbage?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1216680/Council-spies-dressed-hoodies-rifle-residents-rubbish-waste-analysis.html?ITO=1490
The 'spies' were part of a week-long waste analysis study by the Northamptonshire Waste Partnership, a collaboration of eight local authorities working to reduce rubbish going to landfill. An external contractor was told to go through the bins of residents.
Residents of this street in Irchester, Northamptonshire, had received no notice about the council's plans to sift through their rubbish
The 'spies' were part of a week-long waste analysis study by the Northamptonshire Waste Partnership, a collaboration of eight local authorities working to reduce rubbish going to landfill. An external contractor was told to go through the bins of residents.
Residents of this street in Irchester, Northamptonshire, had received no notice about the council's plans to sift through their rubbish
Just 41% of Voters Nationwide Now Favor Obama's Health Care Reform
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/september_2009/health_care_reform
It's not a communication issue, it's a substance issue.
As Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, wrote recently in the Wall Street Journal: “The most important fundamental is that 68% of American voters have health insurance coverage they rate good or excellent … Most of these voters approach the health care reform debate fearing that they have more to lose than to gain.” A Rasmussen video report shows that 53% of those with insurance believe it’s likely they would have to change coverage if the congressional plan becomes law.
It's not a communication issue, it's a substance issue.As Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports, wrote recently in the Wall Street Journal: “The most important fundamental is that 68% of American voters have health insurance coverage they rate good or excellent … Most of these voters approach the health care reform debate fearing that they have more to lose than to gain.” A Rasmussen video report shows that 53% of those with insurance believe it’s likely they would have to change coverage if the congressional plan becomes law.
U.S. Commander of Afghanistan Only Talked to Obama Once
http://www.washingtontimes.com/weblogs/back-story/2009/sep/28/us-commander-of-afghanistan-only-talked-to-obama-o/
Meanwhile soldiers are unecessarily dying while Mr. Obama twiddles his thumbs.
Meanwhile soldiers are unecessarily dying while Mr. Obama twiddles his thumbs.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Obamacare: Buy Insurance or go to Jail!
http://www.politico.com/livepulse/0909/Ensign_receives_handwritten_confirmation_.html?showall
http://www.politico.com/static/PPM110_090925_document2.html
Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) received a handwritten note Thursday from Joint Committee on Taxation Chief of Staff Tom Barthold confirming the penalty for failing to pay the up to $1,900 fee for not buying health insurance.
Violators could be charged with a misdemeanor and could face up to a year in jail or a $25,000 penalty, Barthold wrote on JCT letterhead. He signed it "Sincerely, Thomas A. Barthold."
http://www.politico.com/static/PPM110_090925_document2.html
Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) received a handwritten note Thursday from Joint Committee on Taxation Chief of Staff Tom Barthold confirming the penalty for failing to pay the up to $1,900 fee for not buying health insurance.
Violators could be charged with a misdemeanor and could face up to a year in jail or a $25,000 penalty, Barthold wrote on JCT letterhead. He signed it "Sincerely, Thomas A. Barthold."
Death Panels by Proxy"
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/sep/25/death-panels-by-proxy/
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/09/024589.php
"Too Technically Difficult for Ordinary People"
"Beginning in 2015, payment would be reduced by five percent if an aggregation of the physician's resource use is at or above the 90th percentile of national utilization." Translated into plain English, it means that in any year in which a particular doctor's average per-patient Medicare costs are in the top 10 percent in the nation, the feds will cut the doctor's payments by 5 percent.
Forget results. This provision makes no account for the results of care, its quality or even its efficiency. It just says that if a doctor authorizes expensive care, no matter how successfully, the government will punish him by scrimping on what already is a low reimbursement rate for treating Medicare patients. The incentive, therefore, is for the doctor always to provide less care for his patients for fear of having his payments docked. And because no doctor will know who falls in the top 10 percent until year's end, or what total average costs will break the 10 percent threshold, the pressure will be intense to withhold care, and withhold care again, and then withhold it some more. Or at least to prescribe cheaper care, no matter how much less effective, in order to avoid the penalties.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Who is Valerie Jarrett?
I first heard of her from the NEA conference call:
"We have about 20 folks and we work under Valerie Jarrett, she's one of our fantastic leaders."
Now I found this:
http://frontpagemag.com/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=36289
"Jones owed his elevation to another new factor: the unparalleled influence of Valerie Jarrett."
"The president makes no decision without her and has said she can 'speak for me.'"
“If you want him to do something, there are two people he’s not going to say no to: Valerie Jarrett and Michelle Obama.”
“I trust her completely…She is family.” Obama trusts Jarrett “to speak for me, particularly when we’re dealing with delicate issues.” When asked, he admitted he runs every decision by her.
"We have about 20 folks and we work under Valerie Jarrett, she's one of our fantastic leaders."
Now I found this:
http://frontpagemag.com/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=36289
"Jones owed his elevation to another new factor: the unparalleled influence of Valerie Jarrett."
"The president makes no decision without her and has said she can 'speak for me.'"
“If you want him to do something, there are two people he’s not going to say no to: Valerie Jarrett and Michelle Obama.”
“I trust her completely…She is family.” Obama trusts Jarrett “to speak for me, particularly when we’re dealing with delicate issues.” When asked, he admitted he runs every decision by her.
NEA Conference Call: Who are Buffy Wicks?
http://biggovernment.com/2009/09/22/nea-conference-call-who-is-buffy-wicks/
"...Wicks had a very hard time finding a job but somehow she landed a job in the Obama White House. It’s unclear how she did that."
Wicks used to work for Wake Up Wal-Mart (wakeupwalmart.com), which is not a formal affiliate of ACORN but is an ACORN-sponsored spinoff group. The group works very closely with ACORN and is modeled after ACORN’s own anti-Wal-Mart affiliate W*A*R*N* (Wal-Mart Alliance for Reform Now).
"...Wicks had a very hard time finding a job but somehow she landed a job in the Obama White House. It’s unclear how she did that."
Wicks used to work for Wake Up Wal-Mart (wakeupwalmart.com), which is not a formal affiliate of ACORN but is an ACORN-sponsored spinoff group. The group works very closely with ACORN and is modeled after ACORN’s own anti-Wal-Mart affiliate W*A*R*N* (Wal-Mart Alliance for Reform Now).
U.N. Climate Summit Leaves Large Carbon Footprint
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/09/22/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5329380.shtml
It happens every autumn: midtown Manhattan becomes the motorcade capital of the world. Each foreign leader in town has a convoy of vehicles. Some of them, like President Obama's motorcade, are 20-to-30 vehicles in length. It's so long - it seems that when the front of it reaches the U.N., the back end is still back at his hotel.
Exacerbating the annual exercise in diplomatic gridlock are police actions, blocking intersections and closing streets for security to facilitate motorcade movements. It renders countless other vehicles immobile while waiting for motorcades to pass, their engines idling but still blowing exhaust into the midtown air
Does it undermine the goal of the climate change summit and cause the pledges of environmental concern to ring hollow?
Asked about it, White House climate change negotiator Todd Sterns had a suggestion.
"I think the U.N. should make a pledge to electric vehicle motorcades within five years," he said.
Right. As soon as all U.N. diplomats pay their parking tickets.
HAHAHAHAHA
It happens every autumn: midtown Manhattan becomes the motorcade capital of the world. Each foreign leader in town has a convoy of vehicles. Some of them, like President Obama's motorcade, are 20-to-30 vehicles in length. It's so long - it seems that when the front of it reaches the U.N., the back end is still back at his hotel.
Exacerbating the annual exercise in diplomatic gridlock are police actions, blocking intersections and closing streets for security to facilitate motorcade movements. It renders countless other vehicles immobile while waiting for motorcades to pass, their engines idling but still blowing exhaust into the midtown air
Does it undermine the goal of the climate change summit and cause the pledges of environmental concern to ring hollow?
Asked about it, White House climate change negotiator Todd Sterns had a suggestion.
"I think the U.N. should make a pledge to electric vehicle motorcades within five years," he said.
Right. As soon as all U.N. diplomats pay their parking tickets.
HAHAHAHAHA
FDIC Weighs Extraordinary Steps to Shore up Fund
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/FDIC-weighs-extraordinary-apf-3266069115.html?x=0
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is weighing several costly -- and never-before-used -- options as it struggles to shore up the dwindling fund that insures bank deposits.
The agency is considering borrowing billions from healthy banks.
The FDIC is going to bail itself out with money from banks which itself insures? Are you serious!
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is weighing several costly -- and never-before-used -- options as it struggles to shore up the dwindling fund that insures bank deposits.
The agency is considering borrowing billions from healthy banks.
The FDIC is going to bail itself out with money from banks which itself insures? Are you serious!
Iran Says Makes New Model of Nuclear Centrifuges
http://in.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idINLM24002120090922
Iran has built a new generation of centrifuges for enriching uranium and is testing them, the official news agency IRNA quoted its nuclear energy agency chief as saying on Tuesday.
"Iranian scientists have made a new generation of centrifuges that are currently undergoing necessary tests," Ali Akbar Salehi told a Tehran news conference as reported by IRNA.
"Chains of 10 centrifuges are now under test," he said, and the number in each chain "will be gradually increased."
Salehi did not say when the new model of centrifuge would be introduced to the production line in its Natanz enrichment plant but said it was stronger and faster than those now in operation.
Iran has built a new generation of centrifuges for enriching uranium and is testing them, the official news agency IRNA quoted its nuclear energy agency chief as saying on Tuesday.
"Iranian scientists have made a new generation of centrifuges that are currently undergoing necessary tests," Ali Akbar Salehi told a Tehran news conference as reported by IRNA.
"Chains of 10 centrifuges are now under test," he said, and the number in each chain "will be gradually increased."
Salehi did not say when the new model of centrifuge would be introduced to the production line in its Natanz enrichment plant but said it was stronger and faster than those now in operation.
After 'Inappropriate' NEA Conference Call, White House Pushes New Guidelines
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/09/after-inappropriate-nea-conference-call-white-house-pushes-new-guidelines.html
White House officials say they are enacting specific steps to make sure such a call never happens again.
Buffy Wicks, Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, was also on the call, and thanked the artists "for being on the call and just a deep deep appreciation for all the work you all put into the campaign for the two-plus years we all worked together.”
Today White House officials are meeting with the chiefs of staff of the executive branch agencies to discuss rules and best practices in this area, a conversation during which they will be told that that while White House lawyers do not believe that the NEA call violated the law, "the appearance issues troubled some participants," Burton said. "It is the policy of the administration that grant decisions should be on the merits and that government officials should avoid even creating the incorrect appearance that politics has anything to do with these decisions."
Doesn't happen again or doesn't become front-page news again?
White House officials say they are enacting specific steps to make sure such a call never happens again.
Buffy Wicks, Deputy Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, was also on the call, and thanked the artists "for being on the call and just a deep deep appreciation for all the work you all put into the campaign for the two-plus years we all worked together.”
Today White House officials are meeting with the chiefs of staff of the executive branch agencies to discuss rules and best practices in this area, a conversation during which they will be told that that while White House lawyers do not believe that the NEA call violated the law, "the appearance issues troubled some participants," Burton said. "It is the policy of the administration that grant decisions should be on the merits and that government officials should avoid even creating the incorrect appearance that politics has anything to do with these decisions."
Doesn't happen again or doesn't become front-page news again?
U.S. to Push for New Economic World Order at G20
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE58G34Z20090921?sp=true
The United States envisages the IMF playing a central role in a process of "mutual assessment" by making policy recommendations to the G20 every six months. ''
Where exactly in the Constitution does it say that deferring to extrenal bodies is acceptable?
The United States envisages the IMF playing a central role in a process of "mutual assessment" by making policy recommendations to the G20 every six months. ''
Where exactly in the Constitution does it say that deferring to extrenal bodies is acceptable?
Nuke Agency Says Iran Can Make Bomb
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9AP714G0&show_article=1
Experts at the world's top atomic watchdog are in agreement that Tehran has the ability to make a nuclear bomb and is on the way to developing a missile system able to carry an atomic warhead.
Wait, I thought Biden said Iran wasn't a threat?
Experts at the world's top atomic watchdog are in agreement that Tehran has the ability to make a nuclear bomb and is on the way to developing a missile system able to carry an atomic warhead.
Wait, I thought Biden said Iran wasn't a threat?
Eastern Europe Grumbles About Downgrade in US Ties
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090917/ap_on_re_eu/eu_eastern_europe_missile_defense
Scuttling a missile defense shield in the Czech Republic and Poland helps smooth relations between the U.S. and Russia. But at what price?
Some of America's staunchest allies are the East Europeans — and on Thursday, they expressed dismay at what many see as a slight after decades of their support for the U.S.
Among them were some famous names, including Lech Walesa, the former Solidarity leader and Polish ex-president. "I can see what kind of policy the Obama administration is pursuing toward this part of Europe," he said ruefully, adding: "The way we are being approached needs to change."
"The Americans are not interested in this territory as they were before," he said. "It's bad news for the Czech Republic."
But a prominent Czech legislator suggested the rebuff would have consequences should Washington ask for troops — or anything else.
"If the administration approaches us in the future with any request, I would be strongly against it," said Jan Vidim, a lawmaker with the conservative Civic Democratic Party, which had supported the missile defense plan.
U.S. Scraps Missile Defense Shield Plans
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/09/17/united.states.missile.shield/index.html
The Obama administration will scrap the controversial missile defense shield program in Eastern Europe, a senior administration official confirmed to CNN Thursday.
But he [Vice President Joe Biden] did explain the logic of doing so, saying Iran -- a key concern for the United States -- was not a threat.
Poland and the Czech Republic had based much of their future security policy on getting the missile defenses from the United States. The countries share deep concerns of a future military threat from the east -- namely, Russia -- and may now look for other defense assurances from their NATO allies.
The Obama administration will scrap the controversial missile defense shield program in Eastern Europe, a senior administration official confirmed to CNN Thursday.
But he [Vice President Joe Biden] did explain the logic of doing so, saying Iran -- a key concern for the United States -- was not a threat.
Poland and the Czech Republic had based much of their future security policy on getting the missile defenses from the United States. The countries share deep concerns of a future military threat from the east -- namely, Russia -- and may now look for other defense assurances from their NATO allies.
House Votes to Deny all Federal Funds for ACORN
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090917/ap_on_go_co/us_congress_acorn
WASHINGTON – The House voted Thursday to deny all federal funds for ACORN in a GOP-led strike against the scandal-tainted community organizing group that comes just three days after the Senate took similar action. "ACORN has violated serious federal laws, and today the House voted to ensure that taxpayer dollars would no longer be used to fund this corrupt organization," said second-ranked House Republican Eric Cantor of Virginia.
The vote, on a provision attached to a student aid bill, was 345-75, with Democrats supplying all the "no" votes.
Apparently "mad-man" Beck was on to something...
WASHINGTON – The House voted Thursday to deny all federal funds for ACORN in a GOP-led strike against the scandal-tainted community organizing group that comes just three days after the Senate took similar action. "ACORN has violated serious federal laws, and today the House voted to ensure that taxpayer dollars would no longer be used to fund this corrupt organization," said second-ranked House Republican Eric Cantor of Virginia.
The vote, on a provision attached to a student aid bill, was 345-75, with Democrats supplying all the "no" votes.
Apparently "mad-man" Beck was on to something...
Obama Helps Strengthen General Electric-Putin Ties
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Obama-helps-strengthen-General-Electric-Putin-ties-59644627.html
"Shortly after the pullback on the shield programme was announced, Russia's government said Prime Minister Vladimir Putin would meet several U.S. executives on Friday from firms including General Electric, Morgan Stanley as well as TPG, one of the world's largest private equity firms"
"Shortly after the pullback on the shield programme was announced, Russia's government said Prime Minister Vladimir Putin would meet several U.S. executives on Friday from firms including General Electric, Morgan Stanley as well as TPG, one of the world's largest private equity firms"
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