Unions and Barack's Jack booted Thugs

If it wasn't already becoming obvious that the Campaigner in Chief was openly beholden to the Unions (card check anyone?) here are three more examples - one of which stomps all over states rights.  I guess this is what $100 million in donations to Democrat campaigns last year will buy you.

Exhibit A:   White House puts UAW ahead of property rights

This is the case of Chrysler lenders - with secured loans - being screwed over and intimidated by Obama in favor of unsecured lenders, the UAW.  It's a mugging pure and simple.

Exhibit B:  Obama Tries to Stop Union Disclosure

In a nutshell - unions won't have the disclosure requirements for how they spend their member's dues.   There are non-profits that have a use on this planet that have to report more detailed info than these gangster run unions.

Exhibit C:  U.S. threatens to rescind stimulus money over wage cuts

So California - being this biggest entitlement state in the US - is having a budget crisis.  A big one.   So part of their efforts at balancing the budget included cutting the wages of some employees.   Of course, these are Unionized workers, so Barack "Che" Obama has stepped in and is once again strong arming on behalf of the unions.  And completely stampeding states rights in favor of his One Big Global Government ideal.  

And finally, for today, in addition to strong arming anyone that gets in the way of his Union buddies (you know the ones, "Rocko", "Sticky Fingers", "Big Nose", "Fat Tony" and the rest) - now he's doubling his army of tax enforcers.   Sheriff of Nottinghams if you will.  

I'm no Oracle but even I can read these tea leaves (sorry for the mixed metaphor).  

The USofA I grew up in is not going to be the same one that my little girls will get to enjoy.  

In a developing story....

And one that brings to light the folly that is more government oversight and intrusion into our lives.   The Commonwealth of Virginia's big pharmacy cross-check database has been hacked. 

Well, hacked may be technically correct.   

What's really happened is that this database of over 8 million residents of Virginia has been stolen and held hostage.   Not to mention the 35 million prescription transactions associated with these 8 million residents.

Can you say HIPPA violation?

Can you say lack of oversight by a government that has outsourced it's IT?

Can you say lawsuit?

Why did it take a week before the story broke?   What if those extortionists have already started using the information for identity theft?   The citizens of Virginia may already be screwed.  

What I want to know is how much oversight into the Campaigner-in-Chief's new sweeping electronic health care record initiative will his new Chief Technology Officer (CTO) be involved in?  I only ask because he was the guy in charge of Virginia's now hacked and stolen IT systems.

  

My next question is why does the government need this personal information?   You can claim it's to avoid prescription drug abuse, but really?   Seriously?   How are there 8 million citizens in there?   Are they worried about birth control abuse?   Are you telling me that there are 8 million people just in virginia using serious narcotics that need to be tracked?    As of July 2008  there are only 7.7 million citizens - and I know I'm not on any prescriptions.   Hell, most people I know aren't on any heavy mind altering prescriptions.  

So why are there so many?  And how long does Big Brother and King Kaine plan on keeping this hacker smorgasbord of identity information up and online?   Forever?   

And what is the Commonwealth going to do when they find out that these thieves are from russia, the ukraine, north korea, or wherever?   Will they pay the ransom?   Will we all learn who is taking oxycontin, zoloft or AZT?  

And what will they do when those Names, Addresses and Social Security numbers hit the net? 

My guess is they'll play Alfred E Neuman and say "What?  Me worry?"

They don't seem to have worried much about protecting the information, so why start now?

Be very afraid - and very opposed - to the Teleprompter's big plans to be able to hold your healthcare data.  

It's big Brother.

It's unnecessary.

It's just a bad idea.

A new legacy for Iraq

Brought to them straight from the United States.

The withdrawal timeline calls for US troops to be out of the cities by June 30.   There is understandable concern that the Iraqi Police and Troops aren't quite ready to take on that job.  Commanders on the ground have said as much as recently as last month.

But, in a move straight out of American politics, the Prime Minister is more worried about his political future than that of his nation.   From the article linked above:

Asking U.S. forces to stay in the cities, including volatile Mosul in the north, would be embarrassing for Iraq's prime minister, who has staked his political future on claims that the country has turned the corner in the war against Sunni and Shiite extremists.

I hope this isn't the only legacy we've left after so many years.

Orwell, Alinsky, and the Teleprompter

"And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed—if all records told the same tale—then the lie passed into history and became truth. 'Who controls the past' ran the Party slogan, 'controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.'" 

And so it is with our current President.  He denies that this upcoming debt on our children and grandchildren is his doing.   He denies that he ever heard Jeremiah Wright speak ill of America.   He denies his relationship with Bill Ayers.   And the "journalists" report it as fact.  It gets documented and not investigated.   And it becomes the truth.

That quote at the top is straight from Orwell's 1984.   A book that talks about the all powerful government.  The one that is only looking out for it's citizens.   It's only interest is in the well being of the masses and not the individual.   And therefor the individual loses freedom in the name of protecting the masses.

"A Marxist begins with his prime truth that all evils are caused by the exploitation of the proletariat by the capitalists. From this he logically proceeds to the revolution to end capitalism, then into the third stage of reorganization into a new social order of the dictatorship of the proletariat, and finally the last stage -- the political paradise of communism."

--Saul Alinksy, Rules for Radicals, 1971

Does this sound like anyone you know?   Just this weekend our Campaigner in Chief describes how the financial sector will play a less significant role in our future economy.  How government will soon be the arbiter of all things money.   One day he declares he thinks that Chrysler will be fine and the very next day his administration is strong arming financial and investment companies to prop up Chrysler during bankruptcy.

We are currently embroiled in the "revolution to end capitalism".

The effective nationalization of industry, banking and trade in the US is the result of this "revolution".  The effort to effectively bankrupt the country is part of this revolution.   The Presidents constant efforts at portraying anyone that is successful as evil (all the while Michelle runs around in $500 tennis shoes) is part of this revolution.  Class warfare is without a doubt part of this revolution.

"'The organizer's first job is to create the issues or problems,' and 'organizations must be based on many issues.' The organizer 'must first rub raw the resentments of the people of the community; fan the latent hostilities of many of the people to the point of overt expression. He must search out controversy and issues, rather than avoid them, for unless there is controversy people are not concerned enough to act. . . . An organizer must stir up dissatisfaction and discontent.

-- Saul Alinsky, Rules for Radicals, 1971

And now the Democrat party has purchased it's filibuster proof majority in the Senate by promising to help get a an old power hungry politician elected if he switches parties.   All the pieces are in place for a complete leftward movement.  The House has no fears that it's radical legislation will be stalled in the Senate so expect to see Speaker Pelosi start up the entitlement engine and rev it up to full power.

It's time, no, it's past time, for the freedom loving, the liberty loving, the constitution loving part of our society to make themselves known.   The Tea Parties were a good start - but what's next?  We must continue to make our displeasure known.   We must continue to let our representatives in government know that this is unacceptable.  We must start looking at the Republican leadership and let them know they've lost their way.

And we must be willing to look for another answer.

While the Republicans blew their chance to show that conservatism is about smaller government, more liberty and more freedom the Democrats have swooped in.   It is George W. Bush and the Republicans that failed us and opened the door to the future of Marxism/Socialism.  Their polarization to the far right and giving so much power to the christian block is what has turned many away.

I urge you to look at the libertarian party as an alternative.   A belief in personal liberty and freedom are the foundations of the Libertarian Party.  Do me a favor.  Read their platform.  You won't agree with all of it, but I bet you don't agree with all of the Republican Party platform either.  Read it.  And see which one strikes you as more conservative.   As more true to the founding father's vision.

And tell me I'm wrong.

 

Wave goodbye to the Republic.

If I were creative I'd come up with some sort of obituary bemoaning the beginning of the end.  But I'm not.   So I won't.

Instead - I'll talk about how we dodged a bullet with a the potential for filibuster proof senate.   Even though there were some "moderate" Republicans, there are also "moderate" Democrats and there was a chance that the truly crazy wouldn't go through.

That dream is over.

Arlen Spector, one of those "moderate" republicans, has switched sides.   Not because he decided that the Dems were the better party but because he knows his own republican constituents think he's an idiot and he won't be re-elected.

He's doing it to keep power.   To keep his job.   He's 79 friggin years old and has been there 30 years.  

And now he has potentially given the Dems the one thing this country can't very well afford.   A free pass on nearly any legislative thing they want.   The ability to ignore the representatives and senators that speak for millions of Americans.

All because Arlen Spector wants to hold power.

It's over folks.    Queen Nancy and Dirty Harry don't really have to worry about a thing.

Get ready for a legislative mugging.   Get ready to become a ward of the State.   Get ready to become part of the "middle class" by reducing everyone (except politicians of course) to a single class that happens to match what we now call poverty.   Get ready for breadlines and state run industry.   

Get ready......to say goodbye to the Republic.

  

UAW to own majority share in Chrysler?

Um - this article has struck me as funny.   Not "ha-ha" funny.  More like "hrrmmmm" funny.

It seems strange that a Union representing the workers would buy a majority share of a auto manufacturer and get a couple of seats on the Board.   At this point the Union becomes...uh, management.

So, if I were a Union Worker I would wonder who's interest will be at the forefront of the Union's mind.  If I were a shareholder, I would wonder the same thing.

And how is this not some sort of anti-trust issue?

The next question is how much of that 55% majority purchase is being held up with the government's "Public-Private Partnership"?   That would certainly be a fine payoff for the years and years of Union support given to Democrat candidates.   But that's just the suspicious  Conspiracy Theorist in me.

But isn't it convenient.

pssst....hey buddy....you haven't mentioned anything about how, uh, "connected" the Unions have been in the past and.......

Stop - I won't mention it at all.   I know what's good for me.   

Hey! I've got a great idea!

Let's fly a bunch of jets really low over NYC but not let the general population know about it.   It'll be fun!!

Seriously, WTF?

Someone in the Pentagon is gonna get their ass handed to em.   Or at least they should.   If you really wanted a photo of the President's plane flying over the Statue of Liberty with a fighter escort, I bet you coulda used this little known application called Photoshop.

In fact, I bet if you took all of the money spent on jet fuel alone, you could have paid the most badass photoshop guy on the planet to do it - and made it look like the prez was flying the thing - with (insert star/starlette of your choice) as a steward - being held aloft with flying monkeys - there might've been room to include Obama's ego in the picture as well.  (maybe not, that may have cost extra and would cause one HUGE pic with a teeny tiny plane in it)

But that would be too easy.   Let's scare the daylights out of 8 million residents of NYC so we have an authentic pic.   Let's not even tell the Mayor.  They have no need to know.

And the government is the one we want to hand over control of...well...anything.   

If this is indicative of their good decisions (and I'm sure it is - regardless of who is at the controls) then we need to start taking away their control and put it back where it belongs.

 With "we the People".

It's only for the liberals.....

Since the Tea Parties last week I've read and heard from many on the left as they attempt to marginalize the significance of those rallies.  And it's not just the media types from the New York Times, MSNBC or CNN.  Although they have been a good part of gleefully giving these folks a stage.

Everyone from shrill unfunny comedians (and a really bad actress) to Congressmen (and women) to the President's handlers have been working very hard to classify those that attended the rally as just a bunch of ignorant redneck right-wing extremists.  (Sounds like they're reading directly from that Homeland Security memo.   Coincidence?   I don't think so.)

I thought conservatives were the mean ones?

The most amazing thing is when they talk about how uncool it is to protest.  How it's only a racist foundation underlying the protests.    How it's un-American to protest.  How comparing the President to anything other than a hero is somehow mean and uncalled for.

I recall the past 8 years of another President being called every name in the book.  Being burned in effigy.  Being vilified even on those occasions he may have been right.    And I'm pretty sure that was those same folks that are now saying it's racist or un-American.  Strange.  Maybe not.

What they are missing is the fact that the citizens that were out there are not the professional protestor, overly emotional, whiney, or polarizing lefty.   They were the folks that normally just stay home and shake their heads in disbelief at the craziness of the left's antics.   Those attention-starved liberals that don't feel fulfilled unless every one of us is tortured with their opinion.

These are people that just work hard and do the things that need to be done.  

And now they see this as something that needs to be done.

Make no mistake.   We are all angry with the overspending of the Bush Admin.   We are all angry with the forecasted debt that the current President is about to foist on us.  All in the name of resolving an "emergency".   It's got to stop.  The Uncle Sam Gravy Train needs to be derailed.   The government needs to stop overstepping it's bounds and the mandate given by the founding fathers.

The Governor of Texas made a point about trying to force the Federal Government to abide by the 10th Amendment.  

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

To all the whiney libs out there - you're not the only one's entitled to your first amendment rights.  

To all the big government advocates - look out.   You've just activated what was a silent group of citizens that are willing to come together and speak in one voice.   

Hrmmm...What team does CNN play for?

Obviously not that of a free and unbiased press, journalistic ethics or integrity, or the rights of Americans to  Peaceably Assemble.    Yeah, that one is constitutionally protected.. that would be the first amendment, for those that have forgotten (pertinent section in bold):

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. 

...perhaps CNN correspondents, Congress, and the entire Obama Admin can take "Remedial Liberty and Freedom 101" together.

These are the same folks that gleefully covered such family moments as war protesters burning our previous president in effigy.   Breaking windows and setting fires as the anarchists and professional protestors travelled to WTO meeting places.

But a man, holding his child, cannot respond to a direct question because the reporter keeps interrupting to debate him.    

I guess that really isn't family viewing worthy.

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/julia-seymour/2009/04/15/cnn-correspondent-claims-tea-parties-anti-government-anti-cnn

The National Tea Party

Today is the day when all Americans are supposed to have sent in their tax filings which makes this the symbolically perfect day to protest what this Administration and Congress are doing to us.

I think it's pretty exciting to see the not-so-vocal side of our population start to make some noise.  I'm sure the left will discount it as some sort of flash in the pan, but they should remember one thing.

The people that are showing up today in support of the Tea Parties are not you standard protester.   They're not the "joiners" that the environmentalist, anarchist, "insert-your-cause-here-and-we'll-protest-ists".   

These are the middle class workers that are the backbone of America.  These are the people that quietly go about getting things done and not complaining about things while doing nothing.  These are the people that join the military, that are our police, fireman, and paramedics.  These are your plumbers, carpenters, and workmen.   These are the small business owners that provide the majority of jobs in the country.  

These are Americans.   True Blue.   Red Blooded.    Just get it done, Americans.

And we're tired of our government taking from us.  Taking and taking and taking.   Under the threat of imprisonment we are forced to fund every government folly and Congress does nothing.

And this isn't just an Obama thing.   In my opinion it doesn't matter whether your a Bush, a Clinton or an Obama.  You have all spent too much.   Asked too much.   And taken too much.

And now we're on the verge of taking on an additional debt that will be the yoke on our future generations shoulders.   Several generations.  Take a look at the quote to the right under Jefferson's picture.

So I implore you.  I beseech you.  I beg you.

Don't stop after today.  One day won't make a wit of difference.  A couple of hours hanging out at a bitch-a-thon and then resuming normal life is not the way to make a change.   And this is, for once, a change I can believe in.   This is a change we need our employees on Capital Hill and in the White House to understand it's importance.  It's significance.   

So stay in touch with those you meet today.   Keep the fire in your belly burning.   Stay in touch via websites and twitter and whatever other method you can.   This cannot be a one day event.  

Today MUST be a launching point.

And if you ever thought that your government was afraid of you this should be the confirmation.

Exhibit F (see April 13 post for Exhibits A-E)

The Department of Homeland Security has effectively put a target on anyone's back as a potential radical if you:  Don't like taxes,  don't like abortion, believe in states rights, believe in gun rights, and are white.   

This government has just put in place the perfect excuse to detain and arrest it's own citizens that express views that it doesn't like.  Declare it a safety issue and start rounding us up.  Start with the Republicans and then move on to the Libertarians.  

It's happening folks.  One piece at a time.   It's happening.

A perfect storm sits on the horizon.

Is this the perfect storm of span and control that will lead us to overarching government control?

"Rule 1: Never allow a crisis to go to waste," White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel told the New York Times right after the election

Exhibit A
As the Obama admin forces many banks to take bailout money they dont need, then changes the rules under which the govt will now control them, and then refuse to take the money back when offered so they can maintain control.

Exhibit B
The Dem controlled congress has already been beating the drum to nationalize energy.

Exhibit C
Newspapers are tanking. The free press, as it were, has moved to the internet.  Government considering a bailout - I wonder what kind of Freedom of the Press to expect after that happens?  The administration doesn't like the Op-Ed?  Fire the Editor.

Exhibit D

The Dem controlled congress wants to re-enact the Fairness Doctrine to reduce the amount of critical commentary on the radio.

Exhibit E
The Obama admin with the help of congress is pushing for a cybersecurity bill that would give the president authority to shut down the internet in case of "emergency". Public & private. Does anyone remember where the free press went?

Next will be some sort of nationalization of farms and other food production in the name of national security or public safety.   The government already props up much of the food production in US.  What would happen if that got cut back in the name of saving a few bucks on the $3.7 Trillion budget?  A new emergency perhaps?  That would be a good time to "bailout" the farms.

And the takeover will be complete.

All of these steps - taken in response to an "emergency" - leading down a path that will ultimately mean incredible government control of our everyday lives.   Each item taken individually looks relatively harmless.   Taken as a whole is a recipe for dictatorial rule.

Why is everything closed today....

when the Campaigner-in-Chief says we're not a christian nation?

All I wanted to do was replace some worn out shoes.   Shouldn't be a big deal.   I drive by many stores - national chains - publicly traded - not mom and pop shops - and they're all closed.  

On Easter Sunday.

Odd.

I could understand opening late so make sure those employees with a particular religious leaning get to make it to church.   

But to not open at all.

it must be something bigger.  

Cuz we're just a nation of  citizens....

right?

Even more confusing....

Virginia's Government offices are closed tomorrow.  For an Easter holiday.

They don't close for Yom Kippur, Kwanzaa, or Ramadan.....

But they close for Easter.

Someone must love that Bunny......

Or perhaps......The Teleprompter is wrong.....

Why Does Obama Hate America?

It should now be obvious to anyone that is not under the Obamabot zombie curse that our Campaigner-in-Chief really does hate America and what it stands for - Freedom, Liberty, and Justice.

As the Presidential Teleprompter displayed for all the world to see, he does not believe in the America that won World War II, has committed billions of dollars in aid to nations in need, stared down communism and won.   He has no class when it comes to office of the President.   Leno?  Cheesy Trinkets for visiting dignitaries?  Kow-towing to other world leaders?  Seriously.  WTF?  

WHAT KIND OF MEGALOMANIAC GIVES THE FRICKIN QUEEN OF ENGLAND AN IPOD WITH HIS OWN SPEECHES ON IT?

It reminds of a joke we used to have about a certain co-worker long ago.    

Q:  "Whats the difference between Roy and God?"

A:  "God doesn't think he's Roy."

This disdain for the office is in the image of Jimmy Carter, our worst President ever who has yet to get out of his own personal malaise.   This is in the image of Pelosi and Reid - both whacko extremists of their ever fragmented party.   But that should be no surprise t anyone.   He was tagged as more liberal than either of them during his 15 minutes in the Senate before he started running for President.

After two weeks of denigrating his own country across the entirety of Europe, then going to Turkey and doing the same, we find out he didn't even do it with a plan.   Didn't get anything in return.   No troop commitments to Afghanistan.   No money to help with the global economic issues.   Nothing.

Which leads me to believe that, he just plain old hates a free America.  That he wants to remake the entire country in his own distorted image.  That the constitution needs a "do-over" since it's been 283 years since those losers gave away all that power to the people.  What the hell did they know....they wore wigs for chrissakes.

But he can fix that.   Let's start by nationalizing everyone and everything that moves.  We're one simple majority vote (remember reconciliation?) away from saying that anyone that takes any government money will be under the thumb of government.   How long before your tax refund gets included in this equation?  Scarily, with the liberal mindset that all of the money you earn is theirs and they're nice enough to let you keep some, you may already be party to this control.

In a perfect example of American fortitude put up against the Campaigner-in-Chief's inability to do anything without polling data:   

An American flagged container ship was hijacked by Somali pirates.   The White House, after crafting the perfect press release said they were studying the problem.   The American crew took back their ship against armed pirates.  When last seen, the White House was crafting a perfect response charging that the American's aggression was uncalled for and they will be brought to justice.   

They're waiting on polling data before releasing the announcement.  Gotta make sure Soros and Company like the wording.  

The White House then apologized for our arrogance in thinking we had a right to our ship in international waters.  Nancy Pelosi announced a new bill nationalizing commercial shipping and transferring control to everyone's new friend Fidel.  Also, pending is a bill to transfer Navy resources to Fidel so those arrogant military types don't get any ideas like those unruly crewmembers from the freighter.    

The Presidential Teleprompter then praised the administration and it's friends in Congress for swift and decisive action that the world will see as a softening of American Imperialism.   

Cricket sounds were soon heard across the European continent. 

Obama Government Subsidizes Terrorists

Here it is!   I sarcastically mentioned this possibility a few weeks ago thinking that no one in their right mind would do this.   Boy was I wrong.   

So, we really are going to drop them off on main street USA and we will pay them to live here.

If this bunch of naive socialists think this is going to be ok, what the hell are they going to do to our economy.   Obama has already shown that he is a failure with diplomatic relations.   He obviously believes his own press about how much the world loves him - but when he reaches out he gets smacked down.   

And now we will have terrorists living on our streets and paid for by Barack Obama.  I wonder if they'll get discount coupons for C4 and automatic weapons, too.

I guess that is a change.   Not so sure about the believing in it though.

The rest of the story....

With a tip of the hat to Paul Harvey who passed away at the end of February I bring you the rest of this story as told by someone inside AIG.  Someone who has been vilified by Government and the Public alike, and then abandoned by someone I had felt a lot of respect for.

Ed Liddy, new CEO of AIG, brought in to clean up the sins of the past.  Convinced a lot of people to work very hard for little to no pay with the promise of a brighter day.  

And he dropped them all like a hot potato at the first sign of push back.  

The first sign from the hypocrites on Capital Hill, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave and the Attorneys General for Connecticut and New York.  The same hypocrites that know for a fact that these bonuses weren't for the same folks that caused the downfall.   That these bonuses were for the employees that stayed behind to clean up the mess instead of jumping ship like the rats the others were.  

The politicians knew this and played it out to the public as outrage.   They created the situation and then lit the fire of public outrage.   Death threats against the employees, their families, their children.   If anyone gets hurt the blame should lay squarely on Barack Obama and his cronies for setting this in motion.

Ed Liddy became what we already expect out of the likes of Pelosi, Reid, Obama, Rahmbo, and the rest.

And it's horribly disappointing.

An unfunny joke, overheard...

I'm standing in my local coffee shop this weekend and overhear two  fellas talking about how they're just gonna stop paying their mortgage and let the government cover it. <chuckle chuckle>

I'm sure they were just being sarcastic and pointing out how ridiculous the Teleprompter's plans are, but it struck as really unfunny and a sign that the Dems may be winning this war of attrition.

It started with President Bush and the Dem Congress shocking the daylights out of us with how many billions were being given away. Now we toss around sums like $788 Billion as if we're talking chump change. The Teleprompter is talking another Trillion dollars and has pretty much set up a budget that will hose future generations farther than the eye can see.

But don't worry. Those evil rich people will pay.

Did I mention I saw those two joking fellows each get into very high priced vehicles and head towards the local McMansion subdivision in the tony west end? Yeah. Those evil rich people are already getting tired of it.

A Socialist Mobocracy?

Well - Obama and his Democrat cronies on the Hill have show that they are good at one thing.  Pushing the right buttons of their rabid followers who will then begin to form "enforcement groups".

Why in the world should the recipients of the bonuses at AIG (or anywhere else) need to be afraid?  They are employees at a company that is living up to contractual obligations and nothing more.   

They are not evil.  

They are not greedy.

They are not the problem.

The problem, of course, lies back in Washington.  The problem is that All of the President's Henchmen, in this giant effort to remake America, knew that the bonuses were protected in the legislation.   Lil Timmy Geithner knew.   Obama knew.  Dodd knew.  Frank knew.   The whole damn thing was inserted and protected at the last minute.   

Conspiracy Theorists should be having a hay-day with this.

I think the original insertion of the contract honoring provisions was there simply to make sure that AIG (and others) get to try and keep the best and brightest employees.  I think that was probably the right decision, although I think the head of AIG (and others) should look hard at what bonuses are being paid to whom.  But I think the heads of those companies need the leeway to run the companies as they see fit.

But that original proposition is over, as I'm sure Rahm and Axelrod have spun up Obama (and the Obamabots) to help rewrite history (1984 anyone?) and foment this anger to further get government's grip on business.  

It's a short leap from telling bailout companies how to run their business and then applying it to all businesses.   

And don't get me started on the punitive legislation that those thugs in the House have passed.  Pelosi and her posse have just shown how they are willing to punish small groups of people that do something they don't like.  Well, that should be, "don't like anymore", since they voted to allow it in the first place.

This disengenious at best, foolhardy and naive at worst, attempt to rewrite their own history and claim ignorance is just one more reason that Pelosi, Reid and Obama are a bad fit for America.

Congress and the AG meet LUC

Not at the same time and not together - but they are each making  gargantuanly stupid decisions

Let's start with AIG. As I was listening to a talk radio guy  (Doc Thompson, 1140AM, WRVA in Richmond, Va - 3pm-6pm) that I have a whole lot of philosophical commonalities with, he said something that struck me. He said that we should stop thinking of AIG as a recipient of government largesse and realize that we (American citizens) have basically bought a majority shareholder stake in a commercial enterprise. So you, I and every other American now owns 1/300,000,000th of 80% of AIG. AIG wasn't just given money, they sold us a stake. Unlike GM, they weren't loaned money. They sold us something - the hugely majority share of the company.

So that got me thinking. Of course, the scary part of that thought is how much our elected representatives will want to fiddle around with the company. But let's skip that fear for the moment. If you look at AIG you will see a highly profitable company that has been bitten in the ass by basically one division/department/business unit. They are a huge company with many successful lines of business. They have already replaced the CEO and what I would assume is the executive staff that were responsible for the downfall. So with that in mind we have to consider the big bonus dust up and the fiddling.

The President, the Congress, and pretty much everyone else needs to stop micro-managing these bailout companies. If they are to recover and stand on their own again they need top quality people. Should we be rewarding the folks that got those companies into this mess? Probably not. But let's not paint entire companies, or their employees, with the same brush. As an investor in many other companies, I don't pretend to know how to run them. We should not
pretend to know how to run AIG.

Taking Congress's newly announced taxes on not just these bonuses but the severely limited compensation potential for any company that has taken bailout money, they have effectively reduced the quality of the workforce they can hire. And by extension they are single handedly causing these companies to take even longer to recover, potentially causing them to need more bailout money, and putting our children even deeper in debt.

By pandering and fomenting this class warfare mentality the Obama Administration and politicians on Capital Hill are laying the groundwork for further economic meltdown. Which may just be the point.

On to the AG

In case you missed it, the Attorney General of the US is in the process of following the marching order to close down Gitmo. That has the big complication of what to do with all of the detainees that are current residents. Now keep in mind, these aren't folks that were caught in some white collar drag net, they weren't just sitting around in their home having dinner, they were on the field of battle and were captured. I wont' get into the discussion on whether they should classified as POWs, Enemy Combatants, or even detainees. Honestly,
that is not my concern at the moment.

My concern is that these folks have been captured in action against our troops and have been held in detention for a long time. Let's even take the far left view that all fo these fellas are "victims" and being wrongfully held against their will by the US government. So I imagine they don't like us very much whether they are rightfully or wrongfully being held. I know I wouldn't be a big fan of the US.

But the AG is actually considering releasing these fine folks into the US if they can't find another country that will take them.

Seriously.

How in the world can this be allowed to happen? We might as well offer up some government subsistence for terrorist cells. Let's get the CIA to start rounding up terrorists and holding networking sessions so they can meet their new compatriots. Since the Teleprompter President loves websites so much, maybe we can setup terrorist-linkedin.gov or maybe some job training so they don't blow themselves up before they reach their target.

We've already found that a large number of former Gitmo residents end up back in al-Qeada or the Taliban. What makes these lilly livered liberals think that would be any different if we dump them into American society?

And dont' get me started on how much money we surely will throw at them to "get their start" here in the US.

Straight from the horse's (teleprompter's) mouth

Now this is some funny stuff.   Sadly, it is a satirical statement on what is very much true....the sad part being the "true" and not the satirical.

Check out  http://baracksteleprompter.blogspot.com/

Righteous Indignation for the Righteously Indignant

Dodd Blames Obama Administration for Change to Bonus Amendment

So, the folks that are so ticked about the bonuses were the one's that put in the loophole to allow them.    

One of the scariest paragraphs:

Other Democrats who voted for the stimulus bill have ramped up criticism of AIG’s bonuses, including Massachusetts Representative Barney Frank, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, who told reporters, “I think the time has come to exercise our ownership rights."

These people are not to be trusted.

Making the sausage

As the saying goes, Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made.

It would seem that the "Change you can believe in" is ready to play the same old games. There's a completely retarded provision in the rules of the Senate and House that basically allows the majority party to ramrod through whatever legislation they want. It removes any chances of debate on a law and reduces the number of votes that are required to pass it. It's been used several times by both partys to pass things they knew wouldn't enjoy any bipartisan support.

And it's a corruption of the process.

This rule allows for the majority to completely disregard the elected representatives of a large chunk of the American populace. The Democratic controlled congress used it in the 1980's and early 1990s. The Republicans used it from the time they became the majority until they lost it again. Now it's rearing it's ugly head once again. No matter who is using it, it's wrong. It breaks the process that ensures dissenting voices are heard. It goes against everything our entire system of government is founded on. The premise that representatives from the many states will make the laws. This turns that on it's head by saying the representatives from some of the states will make the laws. You can learn more about this bastardization of the american system at wikipedia. 

But now on to my main point

The man whose tele-prompter told him that he would be a bipartisan president and go to Washington and change the business as usual mentality, is playing more business as usual.

The president and his democrat cronies know that their plans for cap-and-trade and universal healthcare (except for Veterans) will never stand the blinding light that would be shed on it if this were allowed to be debated. So they want to invoke "reconciliation". Which is, like most things that Congress names, is a misnomer.  (Good article at Bloomberg.com)

Cap-and-trade is nothing more than a method to levy more taxes in the name of the environment. If you think these companies that get nailed by cap-and-trade aren't going to pass along those costs, you are a fool. The first thing you should remember is that businesses don't pay taxes. They collect taxes. Every business takes their cost of producing what they sell, add on some profit, and then add on whatever overhead the government decides it needs as a tithe. Then they use that as the price. You pay the taxes. They just collect them and send them to our governmental overlords.

Cap-and-trade is just an excuse wrapped in a cloak of environmentalism. Creating a new tax on the american public while sending out disinformation that it's just a tax on those evil businesses that produce the products you buy and the energy you use.

But the tax is on the American public. It effects everyone - even those poor and middle class folks that the tele-prompter claims he wants to help. Last time I checked, those folks need energy too.  It's going to cost upwards of $2 TRILLION dollars to do this.

But this is just stage one in a grander plan. Cap-and-trade the daylights out of business. Business raises it's prices. In the name of "Fairness" congress sets price limits (thereby further screwing over the open market). Business can't operate on those fixed prices. Government must nationalize the business to ensure the continued production. And the May Day parades begin.

We, as citizens, must express our displeasure with the president's efforts at ramrodding these deficit laden, ill conceived and badly timed ponzi schemes. Don't let them fool you - this is nothing more than an attempt to reach into your pocket and to gain more control over the free market and your life.

Don't let them do this. Not this way.

Need I say more...

All hail the tele-prompter. The tele-prompter rules all. Especially
the facade that is Barack Obama.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Barack-Obama-Thanks-Himself-In-Teleprompt-Blunder-During-Address-With-Irish-PM-On-St-Patricks-Day/Article/200903315243932?lpos=World_News_First_World_News_Article_Teaser_Region_1&lid=ARTICLE_15243932_Barack_Obama_Thanks_Himself_In_Teleprompt_Blunder_During_Address_With_Irish_PM_On_St_Patricks_Day

In the future I'll be posting more short items that catch my interest.

After a long hiatus

I have pretty much remained silent since August of last year. The election was in full swing, Hillary was gone, and it was Obama and McCain in a cage match. And I went silent.

There are a lot of reasons for this, most of which have to do with not wanting to be just another voice in the wind talking about how both of these guys are pandering idiots, how the Presidential elections in the US have been absconded by the two parties that are in power, how the voice of reason has been usurped by the voice of far radical party wonks on both sides and how the American people, in the end, are given no real choices. Most importantly though, the more I rant the more I want to rant and the more I think about new rants - and that was just
taking too much of my mental process. Too much away from my family. Too much away from those things I should be spending more time thinking about - like family, work and family.

So why am I back?

Well, let's just say that current events are leading me to need a place to vent. To shout out at the top of my lungs that this new President is a shallow figure that is overly dependent on his tele-prompter, his advisors, and his naive view of the world. His disdain for those that have made something of themselves and those that have given of themselves to the protection of this country. His apparent need to have government run everything. His inability to manage
anything. His ever failing list of nominees that keep turning out to be failures and the one's that make it through the process turn out to be bumbling idiots.

Change you can believe in

Only if you think the same chuckleheads that were running the Clinton Administration can be called change. More like "Flashback you can believe in". It's the same tired story of wanting to redistribute wealth. Penalize those that work hard for what they have and give it those that don't. Free healthcare for everyone - except Veterans. Let's not let this crisis go by without making the most of it. Let's make sure that those that already pay 90% of the taxes can get jacked up to 95% of the taxes while we give rebates to those that don't pay any taxes. Let's take a time of serious economic uncertainly and what has to be reduced tax revenues and increase the size and cost of government exponentially. Let's tax businesses more. Let's remove
the incentive to be philanthropic and reduce the deduction on money you can give to charity. Let's create a government so large, so heavy, and so burdensome that the Kremlin would be proud. There's your change. I hope those of you that voted for this empty suit are
happy.

Give credit where credit is due

I must admit I do like - no love - how he has been able to marginalize Hillary Clinton. Put her in a Secretary of State, then assign his cronies to basically do her job in all of the hot spots so she doesn't really get any credit, and then wait for her to open he mouth so he can fire her. Either way, Hillary loses. She either has nothing to do with efforts on critical issues or she gets canned for insubordination. I'm sure it was Axelrod or Rahm's idea.

Fin

So I told myself that if I start doing this again I would just spend 20 minutes on any rant and when that was done, it's done. I'm there.  If there are typos and grammatical issues - I apologize - but this is all I have time for and editing just takes away from rant time.

Talk to you soon.