31
Jan
Barack Obama, when campaigning, promised he’d try international terrorists in civilian courts. Holding up to that promise, he decided it should be downtown New York City. You know, that place with something like 10,000,000 people living within the federal courthouse. To be blunt, that’s just stupid. It was the fact a terrorist was going to be tried in New York City in 1993 that got the World Trade Center bombed. All the security in the world didn’t stop what the terrorists assured they would do. Since a bomb didn’t do the job, Osama Bin Laden finished the job eight years later.
Now, Obama wants a repeat. That’s just stupid. The mayor of New York City then handed the feds a $20,000,000 tab for securing the trial location. Then Obama’s peeps started wavering a little.
I’ll take care of this whole problem. We got a high security federal prison right here. And, we got a new federal courthouse being built right here, right now. Bring it here.
Now, for those not aware, I’m referring to McCreary County Kentucky.
They don’t have terrorists in McCreary County. Terrorists are scared of places like McCreary County, Kentucky. For good reason. An Arab in McCreary County Kentucky is kinda obvious. Now, we do have some Muslims here, but we know who they are. Each and every single one of them. That’s because small communities are tight. We know who the Japanese are. We know who the Chinese are. The Mexicans come and go to some degree, but the ones that have stayed, we know who they are. An Arab strolling down highway 27 with shackles on won’t make it very far. Terrorists coming to blow up downtown Whitley City or Stearns won’t be hiding too well. And, if we do figure out what they’re up to, there’s a mighty big forest real close to here. And, if they do happen to blow up a truck load of fertilizer, they probably won’t do much damage. And, probably would go unnoticed. We like to blow things up a lot down here anyway. Bottom line, we just don’t have any buildings that big.
For $20,000,000, we’ll make sure they’re tried, convicted, sentenced, and hung. Guaranteed. And, you won’t have to worry about a media spectacle. I doubt much media would come. By the time they found the place, the trial would be over.
What say you, Barack? Deal? You’re not going to close Gitmo any time in your presidency at the rate you’re going now just fussing over where to house them until we can convict them now are you? Bring it here. I double-dog dare ya. I guarantee you’re not going to get a better offer than this one.
This one was probably first, just took a while to get his word out:
According to Bin Laden, because the US didn’t sign the Kyoto Agreement, the only way we can save the planet is to destroy the US. Novel concept.
Additionally, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration has been instructed to quit reaching for the stars and spend more efforts studying climate change.
And of course, Danny Glover blamed Haiti on the failed COP15 talks.
Which one do you suppose is nuttier?
Yesterday on Fox, Senator Ben Nelson of Florida said there would be some incredible news today. And, at first glance, so long as it’s a very quick one, he’s right. However, anyone who thinks will recognize that it’s a shallow victory.
The main problem:
You’ve got a lag between borrowing and spending. That’s a given. However, in the past, disregarding a couple of very unusual circumstances, the borrowing was fairly consistent with growth. You’d see the borrowing spike and ebb in an effort to keep GDP growing at a steady pace. Starting in 2008 the wheels fell completely off that tradition. Before anyone gets loony on me, that was a Nancy Pelosi budget, not Bush. Sure, he signed it. But it was either that or shut down the government with a declining economy. Not smart.
So, you wind up with a situation where debt is now reaching GDP levels. That hasn’t happened in a long time. Given the fact nothing serious has happened to the country, like a world war, this bothers me.
In about a year and a half, we’ve gone from debt being about 65% of GDP, to 85%.
What that means so far is Obama‘s return on investment is not panning out too well.
What it bodes for the near future bothers me too. The sudden jump in GDP is based solely on a percentage of borrowed money. However, a jump is a jump. Is it inflation?
| 2006 | M03 | 199.8 | |
| 2006 | M06 | 202.9 | 1.55% |
| 2006 | M09 | 202.9 | 0.00% |
| 2006 | M12 | 201.8 | -0.54% |
| 2007 | M03 | 205.352 | 1.76% |
| 2007 | M06 | 208.352 | 1.46% |
| 2007 | M09 | 208.49 | 0.07% |
| 2007 | M12 | 210.036 | 0.74% |
| 2008 | M03 | 213.528 | 1.66% |
| 2008 | M06 | 218.815 | 2.48% |
| 2008 | M09 | 218.783 | -0.01% |
| 2008 | M12 | 210.228 | -3.91% |
| 2009 | M03 | 212.709 | 1.18% |
| 2009 | M06 | 215.693 | 1.40% |
| 2009 | M09 | 215.969 | 0.13% |
| 2009 | M12 | 215.949 | -0.01% |
The CPI says no. Is the economy heating up? Unemployment says no.
The two factors most attributed to the GDP growing is factories paring inventory and increased government spending. Neither reason is good in the long. For that matter, it’s not really good for the short run. I don’t think Ben Nelson needs to use such dramatic adjectives when describing what’s happening right now. If the private sector heats up, then you’ve got something good going on. However, that’s still not happening yet.
29
Jan
So I’m reading and deciphering the news that the economy grew at 5.7% last quarter and what that actually means in regards to how much money Obama spent to get that result. But, I read this:
In the forth quarter, consumer spending contributed 1.44 percentage points to GDP.
Call me picky, but when reading an article numbers, it sure would make me feel better if they knew how to spell those numbers. I mean, exactly which elementary grade did we learn how to spell “four”?
28
Jan
This weekend there was a rally in Washington, DC. It was a pro-life rally. There was also a counter-protest of abortion supporters. CNN reported:
According to Rick Sanchez, both sides were represented. He couldn’t really tell which side was best represented. He was standing in a crowd of about 300,000 pro-lifers and a couple of dozen pro-abortion supporters. He then added:
The “bulk” was 99.99%. I’m not advocating one side or the other. What I am advocating is for media to get it right. CNN just can’t help themselves. They need to. Most of the polarization in this country is illustrated by CNN’s inability to report anything positive on a political position they can’t support. They can’t have two sides to any issue. That inability to accept what they don’t like is the problem in this country right now. This was a pro-life rally. Anyone would expect a huge majority supporting a cause to be at their own rally. Usually there will be a contingent counter-protesting. That’s the norm. This rally fit the norm. Rich Sanchez can’t even accept what is the norm. Pathetic.
HT: CMCSand
28
Jan
I didn’t watch the State of the Union. Never do. It was never intended to be a public soap box for the President. It was intended for the President to address Congress and appraise them of the State of the Union. Back then, that meant that status of the military, land acquisitions, and stuff like that. Now, well, it’s just fluff. Tonight apparently was no different. It seemed long to me, outlasting the ballgame I was watching. That wasn’t exactly the case, but it was close. From what I’m hearing, it came in at about 75 minutes. Now, in historical perspective, this is long. Not record setting, but close. State of the Union addresses are not mandatory to be public. So, until fairly recently, they were infrequent and sometimes written. Johnson got the ball rolling with public speaking. With the advent of television, it morphed into the Grammy Awards of politics. They just do whatever they want, it has nothing to do with reality. That, and starting in the 90′s, they got very windy. So, I quit watching them.
Some interesting notes. Here’s the top 10 windiest State of the Unions:
| President | Year | Duration | Party |
| Clinton | 2000 | 1:28:49 | Democrat |
| Clinton | 1995 | 1:24:58 | Democrat |
| Clinton | 1999 | 1:18:40 | Democrat |
| Clinton | 1998 | 1:16:43 | Democrat |
| Obama | 2010 | 1:15:00 | Democrat |
| Johnson | 1967 | 1:11:16 | Democrat |
| Clinton | 1996 | 1:06:41 | Democrat |
| Clinton | 1993 | 1:05:31 | Democrat |
| Clinton | 1997 | 1:04:21 | Democrat |
| Clinton | 1994 | 1:03:44 | Democrat |
Notice a pattern?
According to written documents, the shortest would have been George Washington’s first. It clocked in at what probably would have been about f0ur to five minutes. However, it was written. So the official time is 0.
The two shortest in my lifetime were Nixon during the height of his impeachment investigation and Jimmy Carter on his way out.
Last year Joe Wilson was reprimanded by Congress for blurting out “You lie” during an Obama speech. The people who trumped up the charges cited protocol for State of the Union addresses, which Obama’s speech was not. The only known heckling ever done during a State of the Union was by Democrats in 2005. No one got censored over that. Those doing the censoring in 2009 remember that well I’m sure.
From what I have gleaned from tonight’s speech, I didn’t miss anything that I didn’t already know.
- Obama’s going to balance the budget by borrowing trillions of dollars and reducing spending by $250 billion over ten years with his three year budget.
- A year into his presidency, it’s still all Bush’s fault. Don’t ask what, it just is.
- In a feel-good gesture to Al Qaeda and other well-meaning terrorist organizations, we’re going to tell them when it’s safe to attack so that no one has to get hurt other than the occasional mother or child.
- He’s going to immediately “save” more jobs by only cutting NASA’s budget to the point only 7,000 people lose their jobs in Florida. Since he could have cut it so that 20,000 people lost their jobs, 13,000 jobs are saved.
- Finding 10% unemployment unacceptable, he’s shooting for 12% this year.
- In an effort to stimulate more loans, Obama is planning on busting up any bank that gets big enough to loan money. If they pay dividends or bonuses, they don’t deserve to call themselves a business.
- Any other industry that pays bonuses will be dissolved as well under the too big to fail policy.
- Has fixed GM all by himself by firing the CEO. The new CEO’s first action is to pay back the loan.
- Is addressing the lack of jobs by unionizing everything.
- Not sure if he mentioned health care or not.
- Congratulated Scott Brown, relishing his opportunity to be even more bipartisan.
- Promised to have even more transparent government by sending out tweets during closed door meetings.
- Recognized Václav Klaus, the President of Czechoslovakia.
- Since the Himalayan ice caps aren’t actually melting, is converting NASA to a climate change facility where carbon will converted to something more useful like aerosols, citing the hockey stick didn’t go up until after the aerosol ban of 1978.
- Is canceling President’s Day for Mao Day.
- Will be accepting large donations to not call the next #1 team in basketball.
Actually, none of that is probably true. But then again, neither is the speech. I like what a good friend mine suggested:
The state of the union address is outdated. The country needs a Facebook. If you want to know the state of the union check its status on Facebook.
In other words, go back to the spirit of the State of the Union MESSAGE. Clever. Genius even. But, that would have deprived us of:
Now, I have to go back to work on my State of the Union speech. And I worked on it until pretty late last night. But I want to say one thing to the American people. I want you to listen to me. I’m going to say this again: I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky. I never told anybody to lie, not a single time; never. These allegations are false. And I need to go back to work for the American people. Thank you.
That’s how important these State of the Union addresses are. Really. They are.
In his budget for Fiscal Year 2011, to be presented on Monday, February 1, President Obama will propose a three-year hard freeze on non-security discretionary spending, to last from 2011 through 2013.
This will save $250 billion over the next decade, senior administration officials told reporters. (The debt during that same period is projected to grow by $9 trillion.) By 2015, non-security discretionary spending will be at its lowest level as a component of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product in 50 years.
The announcement will come at a time when the White House and Democrats are trying to deal with voters angry about a dysfunctional Washington, DC, with many concerned about the deficit and out-of-control government spending. The president and his team have said for months that he would address deficits in his State of the Union address, knowing that the massive spending in the Wall Street bailout and stimulus package would make many Americans uneasy, but the upset victory of Sen.-elect Scott Brown, R-Mass., underscored that concern.
OK, I’ll give Obama kudos for pacifying the public. But, I think once people think about this plan for about 30 seconds, they’ll probably be as mad, if not madder, than they were before.
- First of all, why domestic? Why does Obama expect US citizens, who pay the taxes, to suffer a constricted government spending plan when people all over the world will apparently not?
- Second, constricting domestic spending means taxes will not be collected on that money. Money spent out of the country is not taxed in the first place. That’ll be a double-whammy on the budget process.
- Third, this speech is supposed to be about jobs, jobs, jobs. You’re not going to create jobs AND cut spending.
- Fourth, he’s borrowing trillions to cut billions for three years. Go figure that one.
- Fifth, he’s citing saving $250 billion over ten years, but the cuts are for three. Go figure that one.
- Last, the deficit is still projected to grow $9,000,000,000,000 in ten years. Cutting raises for top administration ain’t gonna touch that figure.
I can see this, as with almost every other Obama plan, blowing up in their faces. Obama really has no clue what the average person is thinking right now. Really, he doesn’t.
27
Jan
This is pretty cute. However, as Huffington Post acknowledges, don’t follow the rules too close, you will die from alcohol poisoning and probably a few other maladies.
| Event | Instructions |
|---|---|
| Obama says “let me be clear” | Do one shot |
| Obama says “change isn’t easy” | Do one shot |
| Obama says “make no mistake” | Do one shot |
| Obama says “Let me be clear, change isn’t easy, make no mistake.” | He’s screwing with you to get you drunk, so five shots |
| Joe Wilson yells something | Do two shots |
| Obama yells back | Finish the bottle |
| Obama says “jobs” | Do one shot, two if you’re unemployed |
| Obama says “health care“ | Do not drink, you will not be given a replacement liver |
| Nancy Pelosi claps like a seal | Do one shot |
| Nancy Pelosi becomes a seal | STOP DRINKING FOR THE LOVE OF GOD |
| Obama mentions Bo | Put beer in your dog’s water bowl |
| Michelle Obama wears a slinky dress | Go immediately to the HuffPost Style page for close-ups |
| Joe Biden nods-off/laughs inappropriately/starts talking before the speech is over | Do three shots |
| Obama uses the term “Congressional leadership” | Do two shots carefully as all that laughing will make it difficult to swallow |
| Obama says he’s “fighting for you” | Do one shot, two if you believe him |
| Obama mentions Haiti | Text “Haiti” to the number 90999 and donate $10 to the Red Cross |
My personal choice would have been a half-shot every time he says “I”.
That was last week’s jobs speech. You think you can handle that? ( Really. You will die. Drink coffee. )
26
Jan
A full year into Obama‘s four year term, he’s still passing the buck:
“Today’s report from C.B.O. confirms that the recession inherited from the Bush Administration continues to erode the budget’s bottom line,” said Representative John M. Spratt Jr., the Democrat of South Carolina who is chairman of the House Budget Committee.
From the start of his administration, Obama promised to cut the $1 trillion deficit he inherited in half by 2012.
President Obama’s team may well have prevented the collapse of the nation’s banking system from a crisis the president inherited,
On and on and on it goes. Can’t blame Democrats because Obama inherited this mess. Only problem with that scenario is it was the Dems, not Bush, that created the mess in the first place.
That’s what’s happened since Nancy Pelosi and the Dems took over the spending and budgeting process. The economy was cruising along in one of the longest growth periods in the history of the planet. Then thing got bumpy in 2007. The big spike around January 2009 was not the beginning of the chart, it’s the MIDDLE of the chart. Obama was part and parcel to the problem as a member of the controlling party. The mess he’s complaining about is the mess him, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid created with their spending plans.
Where it gets really pathetic is Obama blaming the minority party in Congress for not allowing the Democrats in Congress to spend the money as they see fit now. That’s what this is all about. So, if the President can’t control what Congress is doing in 2009 and 2010, how was the President in 2007 to blame for what that Congress did then?
Seems kind of obvious, in-your-face kind of stuff to me. But, no one in media can see that. They just keep repeating the Democrat Holy Grail over and over and over, “it’s Bush’s fault”. Meanwhile, they lost two Governor’s races and a long-time solid blue Senate seat. Last week the 12th incumbant Democrat retired rather than face the voters again. Was that a clue that the blame game wasn’t working any more? No, they blamed those losses on, you guessed it, the economy they inherited.
And the media sang backup.
Now Obama is saying he wants to freeze federal growth after spending a trillion dollars to stimulate it. But, he’s not sure he can do that. It may not be possible due to, drum roll please, the economy he inherited.
That would be yet another campaign promise broken.
And the media will blame it on the economy he inherited.
And the Democrat losses in November will multiply.
And Obama will blame it on Bush.
And the media will back him up.
25
Jan
Bristol and Sarah Palin were recently on Oprah Winfrey’s show. Big fat hairy deal. Bristol had recently stated that she didn’t plan on having extra-marital sex again. Having had extra-marital sex, and being left a single mother, I can see the motivations to not doing it again. Oprah didn’t see it that way. She has serious doubts Bristol can hold out for marriage. She said so. She gave Bristol the chance to back down, to get laid without concern.
Now, not necessarily dissing Oprah, but why does a woman who’s ONLY had extra-marital sex think that everyone HAS to have it as well? I mean, she puts her men on the same level as her dogs. But, it’s important for her to know she’s “wanted enough to be married”. Hell, any guy that’s had three beers will want ANY woman enough to make her feel like she’s wanted enough to be married. So, I don’t think Oprah should be telling any young girl they need to lower their standards to her level. It may not happen that way, but then again, it may. Raising a kid alone is a hell of a responsibility. At least make it worth more than a six-pack of beer. I wonder if Oprah has ever even pondered why teenage pregnancy is rising again? Telling kids they know they can’t not have sex is giving them a pass. Even if Oprah does think all women are easy lays, she should think a little more about the consequences of what she’s pushing.
Now, Oprah’s just stupid on this issue. The big problem is the number of people who consider Oprah a hero and Bristol Palin trailer trash. Maybe if it weren’t for people like Oprah setting the bar so low, we wouldn’t have quite as much trailer trash?
Yeah, that’s what I’m saying Oprah.
