This is a copy of an old Opinion piece I wrote:
I have been questioning lately if I am being too hard judging Barack Obama? I mean what do we really know about him? Have you ever wondered how an unknown state legislator, who got his lunch handed to him in 2000 when he ran for a congressional seat, managed to become a U.S. Senator in four short years, and President in eight? Have you bothered to look beyond the hype? Did you vote for him because of his experience and knowledge or did you vote for him because it was “historic”? What about his friends and family? I have long been a critic of his not because of color or party. I have been a critic because of what he says versus what he does and the people with whom he chooses to be associated.
- A “reverend and mentor” who GD’s America—but Obama never heard that for 20 years before it was taped...
- A wife who has never been “proud” of America before now...
- A man who runs on transparency – then seals his college records - to prove it...
- A man who claims citizenship – then hires a team of lawyers - to secure it...
- A man who got upset during the campaign when asked about his Muslim heritage – then goes to the Arab countries and proudly proclaims his Muslim heritage….
- A man who would attempt to destroy another life – simply for asking a question he should have answered...
- A man who campaigns on eight years of runaway spending and a deficit – then quadruples it in less than 100 days...
- A man who says we are out of money – then has the treasury print more so he can spend it on every liberal cause - whether Americans want it or not….
- A man who bans lobbyist – then attempts to hire one...
- A man who condemns cheats and dishonesty – then appoints one to run the treasury...
- A man who vows to find all of the tax cheats in this country – but fails to turn around and confront one...
- A man who has never held a job – but the most important one in the world...
- A man who feels hard work should pay – for those who choose not to work…
- A man who’s ability to speak – is dictated by his ability to read….
- A man who feels government can solve the problems it faces – while addressing everything but the problems it created…
- A man who signs a bill into law – but does not read it – or require those sending it to him to read it....
- A man who pledges to do something – before ever thinking of how to do it…
- A man who runs a government – the opposite way he runs his home…
- A man who preaches “equality for all” – then targets 5% unequally...
- A man who pledges to reduce the tax for 95% - then raises them for 100%...
- A man who feels all have the right to own a home – even if they cannot pay for it….
- A man who speaks of responsible behavior – then throws a party every Wednesday night....
- A man who tells me to show fiscal responsibility – then borrows and spends money he doesn’t have....
- A man who loans my money to a bank, even if they didn’t want it – then refuses to allow that bank to repay me my money....
- A man who loans my money to a car company – then gives majority ownership to the autoworkers union who bankrupted it....
- A man who says he doesn’t want to run a car company – then fires the CEO – and puts an inexperienced person in charge….
- A man who supports failure “in” this country – while promoting failure “of” this country...
- A man who speaks of practical solutions – using impractical methods…
- A man who shows me nothing for my money that he spent – and tells me it’s “my patriotic duty” to give him more...
- A man who has never run a business – but would like to tell me how to run mine...
- A man who would operates the highest office in the land – similar to the way the mafia operates the lowest...
- A man who pledges allegiance to the constitution – then null and voids a perfectly legal contract protected by it...
- A man who follows the belief that upholding the immigration laws of America – is unpatriotic and un-American...
- A man who turns his back on this countries friends – while embracing this countries sworn enemies...
- A man who is willing to provided for those who attacked this country – while degrading those trying to defend it...
- A man who would even think of not providing for this countries fallen – after his order fell them...
- A man who “voices” free choice – then systematically seeks to silence the voiceless...
- A man who pleads for God’s blessing of America – then destroys the greatest gift ever given to it....
So after careful examination, have I been right to criticize him? What does it say about us as a nation that we know more about Paris Hilton and other celebrities lives than we do about someone who is affecting the way we live? Someone who is affecting our taxes, healthcare, and national security. On November 8, 2004 Barack Obama said he is “a believer in knowing what you’re doing when you apply for a job”. Really? Joe Biden During the campaign stated, “…The Presidency is not something that lends itself to on the job training.” The Star Beacon endorsed this man and 52% of Americans voted for him without fully looking at his experience or qualifications or listening to those that did. Alexis de Tocqueville said it best that, “in a democracy, we get the government we deserve”. Unfortunately for the American people, we are getting exactly what we deserve; more debt, looming inflation, and nationalization of banking, auto and healthcare industries. Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez stated on live TV June 2nd, "Hey, Obama has just nationalized nothing more and nothing less than General Motors. Comrade Obama! Fidel, careful or we are going to end up to his right." I only hope that things don’t get so screwed up that we end up fulfilling the predictions of Pravda, a Russian newspaper, predicting the demise of America since the Obama administration and Democrat controlled congress took over, “If this keeps up for more than another year, and there is no sign that it will not, America at best will resemble the Wiemar Republic and at worst Zimbabwe.”
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Did you get an invitation?
The Democrats have come out with their “healthcare reform” bill. 1990 pages that none of the people voting on it will read at a cost to you, me and my children of only $1.055Trillion. Did you get your invitation to the unveiling ceremony? Neither did I. Of course, I am not a union member, or hill staffer. I would have liked to know about it, but the bill was done behind closed doors, not on C-SPAN as promised (one of the many that have been broken). The unveiling was also a closed ceremony. Seems they didn’t want anyone with a dissenting opinion there. They even denied a GOP Congressman admittance.
I have a couple of questions. If the plan is so good, why not have it start as of 2010 or 2011? Why wait till 2013? If this is going to be deficit neutral, why do they need to collect taxes to pay for it before it is enacted? If it doesn’t take effect till 2013, what is the rush to get it done NOW! Why not make it transparent and let people discuss it? Can it not stand on its own merits?
When I was young, if I did, or was doing something I shouldn’t I would try to hide it from my parents. I didn’t want them to know what or to what extent. Doesn’t this seem like what the Democrats are doing with healthcare? If it is the right thing to do, it should be able to stand up to scrutiny. If it can’t, it is time to rethink it. In this case, doing something is not better than doing nothing.
I have a couple of questions. If the plan is so good, why not have it start as of 2010 or 2011? Why wait till 2013? If this is going to be deficit neutral, why do they need to collect taxes to pay for it before it is enacted? If it doesn’t take effect till 2013, what is the rush to get it done NOW! Why not make it transparent and let people discuss it? Can it not stand on its own merits?
When I was young, if I did, or was doing something I shouldn’t I would try to hide it from my parents. I didn’t want them to know what or to what extent. Doesn’t this seem like what the Democrats are doing with healthcare? If it is the right thing to do, it should be able to stand up to scrutiny. If it can’t, it is time to rethink it. In this case, doing something is not better than doing nothing.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Working on his game - How the media dogs Obama
During his 8 years in office, President Bush played just 24 rounds of golf. He quit after his last one, October 13th, 2009 out of respect for the families of Americans killed in the war in Iraq. President Obama, infatuated with the trappings of the presidency, has already tied that. It took President Bush 34 months to play 24 rounds of golf. It took President Obama just over 9 months. Funny that the media (you know, the reporters other than Fox) showed images of Bush playing golf three times as many as we see of Obama. The media would hound President Bush and ask about troops killed in action. Meanwhile, President Obama finds it better to work on his game than make a decision about whether or not to send troops to Afghanistan as requested by General McChrystal –Obama’s handpicked guy.
For some other comparisons, the National Debt when Bush took office was $5.7 trillion (the surplus that everyone talks about was a 10 year prediction assuming nothing out of the ordinary – Like a hurricane, attack on American soil, Democrat controlled congress spending money like drunken …. Congressmen). The debt as of Jan 15, 2009: $10.6 trillion. Barack Obama has taken it to $11.9 trillion as of October 26th, 2009 with a record budget deficit of $1.4 trillion (previous record was $459 Billion in 2008). In 2008, 155 American troops were killed in Afghanistan (“a war of necessity”); 267 in 2009 so far (but golf is more important). Where are those “reporters” and opinion page writers that we opposed to the way things were going under Bush now that things seem to be going worse under Obama? I am criticized if I point out the hypocrisies but how much time do we have to give President Obama before we expect the same from him that we did for President Bush?
For some other comparisons, the National Debt when Bush took office was $5.7 trillion (the surplus that everyone talks about was a 10 year prediction assuming nothing out of the ordinary – Like a hurricane, attack on American soil, Democrat controlled congress spending money like drunken …. Congressmen). The debt as of Jan 15, 2009: $10.6 trillion. Barack Obama has taken it to $11.9 trillion as of October 26th, 2009 with a record budget deficit of $1.4 trillion (previous record was $459 Billion in 2008). In 2008, 155 American troops were killed in Afghanistan (“a war of necessity”); 267 in 2009 so far (but golf is more important). Where are those “reporters” and opinion page writers that we opposed to the way things were going under Bush now that things seem to be going worse under Obama? I am criticized if I point out the hypocrisies but how much time do we have to give President Obama before we expect the same from him that we did for President Bush?
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Sly like a fox to fight with Fox
I have to give him credit; President Obama knows how to control the media. I didn’t it think it was a smart move of the Obama administration to pick a fight with an entitylike Fox News since it is a proven fact that more people get their news from Fox than from any other cable news source. If fact, as reported on the huffingtonpost.com, (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/30/fox-news-dominates-3q-200_n_304260.html) the top ten cable news programs in Q3 of 2009 were on Fox News while CNN and MSNBC are down 30% and 10% respectively. The top three, “The O’Reilly Factor” (averages 3.295 million viewers; up 12% from last year), “Hannity” (2.603 million, up 9%), and “Glenn Beck” (2.403 million, up 89%) have almost as many viewers individually as MSNBC and CNN combined. The 11pm repeat of “The O’ Reilly Factor” even beats out MSNBC and CNN. In fairness, CNBC does take 17 of the bottom 20 of the shows; probably not the distinction they want. Why would the President go after an entity that has the largest viewership? What could possibly be gained by making an enemy of such a powerful news organization? This is where I think the President is smart.
The Obama White House is on record saying that they controlled the media during the campaign. "Very rarely did we communicate through the press anything that we didn't absolutely control," said Anita Dunn, White House communications director. She continued on "Whether it was a David Plouffe video or an Obama speech, a huge part of our press strategy was focused on making the media cover what Obama was actually saying as opposed to why the campaign was saying it, what the tactic was. … Making the press cover what we were saying." So obviously, they control what the press reports; at least MSNBC, CNN, ABC, CBS, and NBC. Again, I wondered what could possibly be gained by attacking Fox News? Then it hit me. How many people are concentrating on the unemployment rate right now? Currently, unemployment is at about 9.8% as of the end of September. When the stimulus bill was rushed through, without anyone reading it I must add, it was stated that without the stimulus we would be at around 8.5% by now. With stimulus it would be under 8%. Looks like someone read the economy wrong. AGAIN! – But they know how to fix health care. Right! How about the falling home prices and foreclosures? Foreclosures are up 17 percent in the second quarter of this year. You heard that on MSNBC and CNN didn’t you? Afghanistan? Iran? Iraq? Health Care Reform? I could go on but the point is that instead of hearing about any of these, we are bombarded with the war on Fox News. And President Obama’s response is, “I’m not losing any sleep over it”. OF COURSE NOT!!! His minions are out there stirring up the pot and keeping everyone thinking about Fox, which is causing Fox viewership to rise even more, while at the same time working behind the scenes to pass his failed health care scheme – it will eventually pass and it when your rates rise and your care gets worse,thank a democrat. He is not losing sleep because when anything goes wrong he will put the blame on Fox News, the past administration, and/or anyone who questions his administration. He has the perfect out.
I wrote an Opine; don’t know if it was ever published, that stated that Obama is performing magic. While you are watching his right hand, his left is reaching in your pocket and taking your money. When he speaks of smoke and mirrors, he knows what he is talking about. His smoke machine is working overtime. When you hear what his administration is doing, ask why? Why fight with FOX when there are bigger problems? Why not provide the additional troops to Afghanistan? Why are job losses going up when, with the stimulus, they should be going down? Ask the important questions. Why did Congress only stop funding for ACORN till October 31st? Why, with all the information about ACORN, aren't more investigations being done into their illegal advice? Why does he have Communists advising him? Why does he have people advising him who admire Mao Zedong? Why does he have someone advising him who admires the way Chavez crushed the media in Venezuela? I am not making this stuff up. You can't; fiction has to make sense!
On a side note, I believe the time has come for a clean sweep. I don’t care if you are a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or Independent. The time has come to vote all incumbents out of office. We have lost control of our Congress as a whole and it is time to remind those that seek elected office that they work for us, not vice verse. Vote them all out and send a message. Someone brand new cannot do any more harm than the ones in office now.
The Obama White House is on record saying that they controlled the media during the campaign. "Very rarely did we communicate through the press anything that we didn't absolutely control," said Anita Dunn, White House communications director. She continued on "Whether it was a David Plouffe video or an Obama speech, a huge part of our press strategy was focused on making the media cover what Obama was actually saying as opposed to why the campaign was saying it, what the tactic was. … Making the press cover what we were saying." So obviously, they control what the press reports; at least MSNBC, CNN, ABC, CBS, and NBC. Again, I wondered what could possibly be gained by attacking Fox News? Then it hit me. How many people are concentrating on the unemployment rate right now? Currently, unemployment is at about 9.8% as of the end of September. When the stimulus bill was rushed through, without anyone reading it I must add, it was stated that without the stimulus we would be at around 8.5% by now. With stimulus it would be under 8%. Looks like someone read the economy wrong. AGAIN! – But they know how to fix health care. Right! How about the falling home prices and foreclosures? Foreclosures are up 17 percent in the second quarter of this year. You heard that on MSNBC and CNN didn’t you? Afghanistan? Iran? Iraq? Health Care Reform? I could go on but the point is that instead of hearing about any of these, we are bombarded with the war on Fox News. And President Obama’s response is, “I’m not losing any sleep over it”. OF COURSE NOT!!! His minions are out there stirring up the pot and keeping everyone thinking about Fox, which is causing Fox viewership to rise even more, while at the same time working behind the scenes to pass his failed health care scheme – it will eventually pass and it when your rates rise and your care gets worse,thank a democrat. He is not losing sleep because when anything goes wrong he will put the blame on Fox News, the past administration, and/or anyone who questions his administration. He has the perfect out.
I wrote an Opine; don’t know if it was ever published, that stated that Obama is performing magic. While you are watching his right hand, his left is reaching in your pocket and taking your money. When he speaks of smoke and mirrors, he knows what he is talking about. His smoke machine is working overtime. When you hear what his administration is doing, ask why? Why fight with FOX when there are bigger problems? Why not provide the additional troops to Afghanistan? Why are job losses going up when, with the stimulus, they should be going down? Ask the important questions. Why did Congress only stop funding for ACORN till October 31st? Why, with all the information about ACORN, aren't more investigations being done into their illegal advice? Why does he have Communists advising him? Why does he have people advising him who admire Mao Zedong? Why does he have someone advising him who admires the way Chavez crushed the media in Venezuela? I am not making this stuff up. You can't; fiction has to make sense!
On a side note, I believe the time has come for a clean sweep. I don’t care if you are a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or Independent. The time has come to vote all incumbents out of office. We have lost control of our Congress as a whole and it is time to remind those that seek elected office that they work for us, not vice verse. Vote them all out and send a message. Someone brand new cannot do any more harm than the ones in office now.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Obama White house and the Outer limits. – We control the transmission.
There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume. If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper. We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical. We can roll the image, make it flutter. We can change the focus to a soft blur or sharpen it to crystal clarity. For the next hour, sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear. We repeat: there is nothing wrong with your television set. You are about to participate in a great adventure. You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to... The Outer Limits.
— Opening narration – The Control Voice – 1960s
White House Communications Director and admirer of Mao Zedong, Anita Dunn, speaking at a videotaped conference to the Dominican government Jan. 12, 2009, let slip the way the Obama administration had already duped the press and how they will continue to do so in an event focusing on Obama's media tactics and hosted by the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development - which seeks to promote collaboration between the U.S. and the Dominican Republic.
President Obama's presidential campaign focused on "making" the news media cover certain issues while rarely communicating anything to the press unless it was "controlled," Dunn disclosed to the Dominican government.
"Very rarely did we communicate through the press anything that we didn't absolutely control," said Dunn. (my emphasis added)
"One of the reasons we did so many of the David Plouffe videos was not just for our supporters, but also because it was a way for us to get our message out without having to actually talk to reporters," said Dunn, referring to Plouffe, who was Obama's chief campaign manager.
"We just put that out there and made them write what Plouffe had said as opposed to Plouffe doing an interview with a reporter. So it was very much we controlled it as opposed to the press controlled it," Dunn said.
"Whether it was a David Plouffe video or an Obama speech, a huge part of our press strategy was focused on making the media cover what Obama was actually saying as opposed to why the campaign was saying it, what the tactic was. … Making the press cover what we were saying."
Once he took office, the press was used again as questioners were “preselected” or given questions to ask by the White House. Amazingly, the President, who is usually full of “um’s” and ‘uh’s” always seemed to have the answers for these.
Even Helen Thomas, former presidential correspondent and current member of the White House Press Corps, accused White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs and the Obama administration of “controlling the press” during a briefing earlier. Thomas even went as far as to claim “Nixon didn’t try to do that,” “They couldn’t control (the media). They didn’t try.” “What the hell do they think we are, puppets?” Thomas said. “They’re supposed to stay out of our business. They are our public servants. We pay them.”Thomas’ argument stems from the idea that instead of randomly answering selected questions from the hundreds of submissions, the White House New Media Office would rifle through them and pick the “best” submissions.
CBS Correspondent Chip Reid agreed with Helen Thomas, stating that “even if there’s a tough question, it’s a question coming from somebody who was invited or was screened, or the question was screened.”
Thomas added “It’s shocking. It’s really shocking.” “When you call the reporter the night before you know damn well what they are going to ask to control you,” “I’m not saying there has never been managed news before, but this is carried to fare-thee-well--for the town halls, for the press conferences,” she said. “It’s blatant. They don’t give a damn if you know it or not. They ought to be hanging their heads in shame.”
There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. – The Control Voice (Obama administration) – 2009?
UPDATE: 9/20/2009
The White House has come out with a coordinated attack against Fox News because it is the only station that questions the Obama administration. They have tried to marginalize Fox. White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel told CNN on Sunday that President Obama does not want "the CNNs and the others in the world [to] basically be led in following Fox."
Obama senior adviser David Axelrod went further by calling on media outlets to join the administration in declaring that Fox is "not a news organization."
"Other news organizations like yours ought not to treat them that way," Axelrod counseled ABC's George Stephanopoulos. "We're not going to treat them that way." Could this be seen as a veiled threat? If other news organizations do treat Fox as a news organization will the Obama administration seek to marginalize them also?
It should be noted that the Obama administration FCC Diversity Czar, Mark Lloyd, has stated about the first Amendment; "It should be clear by now that my focus here is not freedom of speech or the press. This freedom is all too often an exaggeration. At the very least, blind references to freedom of speech or the press serve as a distraction from the critical examination of other communications policies. "[T]he purpose of free speech is warped to protect global corporations and block rules that would promote democratic governance."
And his views on the way things should be can be summed up "In Venezuela, with Chavez, is really an incredible revolution - a democratic revolution. To begin to put in place things that are going to have an impact on the people of Venezuela."
"The property owners and the folks who then controlled the media in Venezuela rebelled - worked, frankly, with folks here in the U.S. government - worked to oust him. But he came back with another revolution, and then Chavez began to take very seriously the media in his country."
Ridiculously exorbitant fees and fines on broadcasters could certainly be "used to financially strangle groups that criticize the government," could they not? That is, when the government's not simply "revoking the licenses" of stations that don't toe the Party line. Or better still, "seiz(ing) control of media outlets to stifle criticism."
This entire censorious evolution - from fines, to license rescission's to outright seizures - took place in just over three months. This is Lloyd's definition of Chavez "tak(ing) very seriously the media in his country," as a part of leading an "incredible..democratic revolution."
Could this happen here? I don't know? Could anyone predict a time that the government would own an automobile company or fire the CEO of a company? Could anyone predict a time when government would seek to force you to purchase something. You don't have to purchase car insurance if you don't have a car, but you might have to purchase health insurance no matter what. Could you predict a time when a tax cheat would be the head of the Treasury or Chairman of the Ways and Means, writing the laws that we must follow while at the same time breaking them with impunity?
"If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume. If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper. We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical. We can roll the image, make it flutter. We can change the focus to a soft blur or sharpen it to crystal clarity. For the next hour, sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear." - The Control Voice (Big brother)
— Opening narration – The Control Voice – 1960s
White House Communications Director and admirer of Mao Zedong, Anita Dunn, speaking at a videotaped conference to the Dominican government Jan. 12, 2009, let slip the way the Obama administration had already duped the press and how they will continue to do so in an event focusing on Obama's media tactics and hosted by the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development - which seeks to promote collaboration between the U.S. and the Dominican Republic.
President Obama's presidential campaign focused on "making" the news media cover certain issues while rarely communicating anything to the press unless it was "controlled," Dunn disclosed to the Dominican government.
"Very rarely did we communicate through the press anything that we didn't absolutely control," said Dunn. (my emphasis added)
"One of the reasons we did so many of the David Plouffe videos was not just for our supporters, but also because it was a way for us to get our message out without having to actually talk to reporters," said Dunn, referring to Plouffe, who was Obama's chief campaign manager.
"We just put that out there and made them write what Plouffe had said as opposed to Plouffe doing an interview with a reporter. So it was very much we controlled it as opposed to the press controlled it," Dunn said.
"Whether it was a David Plouffe video or an Obama speech, a huge part of our press strategy was focused on making the media cover what Obama was actually saying as opposed to why the campaign was saying it, what the tactic was. … Making the press cover what we were saying."
Once he took office, the press was used again as questioners were “preselected” or given questions to ask by the White House. Amazingly, the President, who is usually full of “um’s” and ‘uh’s” always seemed to have the answers for these.
Even Helen Thomas, former presidential correspondent and current member of the White House Press Corps, accused White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs and the Obama administration of “controlling the press” during a briefing earlier. Thomas even went as far as to claim “Nixon didn’t try to do that,” “They couldn’t control (the media). They didn’t try.” “What the hell do they think we are, puppets?” Thomas said. “They’re supposed to stay out of our business. They are our public servants. We pay them.”Thomas’ argument stems from the idea that instead of randomly answering selected questions from the hundreds of submissions, the White House New Media Office would rifle through them and pick the “best” submissions.
CBS Correspondent Chip Reid agreed with Helen Thomas, stating that “even if there’s a tough question, it’s a question coming from somebody who was invited or was screened, or the question was screened.”
Thomas added “It’s shocking. It’s really shocking.” “When you call the reporter the night before you know damn well what they are going to ask to control you,” “I’m not saying there has never been managed news before, but this is carried to fare-thee-well--for the town halls, for the press conferences,” she said. “It’s blatant. They don’t give a damn if you know it or not. They ought to be hanging their heads in shame.”
There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. – The Control Voice (Obama administration) – 2009?
UPDATE: 9/20/2009
The White House has come out with a coordinated attack against Fox News because it is the only station that questions the Obama administration. They have tried to marginalize Fox. White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel told CNN on Sunday that President Obama does not want "the CNNs and the others in the world [to] basically be led in following Fox."
Obama senior adviser David Axelrod went further by calling on media outlets to join the administration in declaring that Fox is "not a news organization."
"Other news organizations like yours ought not to treat them that way," Axelrod counseled ABC's George Stephanopoulos. "We're not going to treat them that way." Could this be seen as a veiled threat? If other news organizations do treat Fox as a news organization will the Obama administration seek to marginalize them also?
It should be noted that the Obama administration FCC Diversity Czar, Mark Lloyd, has stated about the first Amendment; "It should be clear by now that my focus here is not freedom of speech or the press. This freedom is all too often an exaggeration. At the very least, blind references to freedom of speech or the press serve as a distraction from the critical examination of other communications policies. "[T]he purpose of free speech is warped to protect global corporations and block rules that would promote democratic governance."
And his views on the way things should be can be summed up "In Venezuela, with Chavez, is really an incredible revolution - a democratic revolution. To begin to put in place things that are going to have an impact on the people of Venezuela."
"The property owners and the folks who then controlled the media in Venezuela rebelled - worked, frankly, with folks here in the U.S. government - worked to oust him. But he came back with another revolution, and then Chavez began to take very seriously the media in his country."
Ridiculously exorbitant fees and fines on broadcasters could certainly be "used to financially strangle groups that criticize the government," could they not? That is, when the government's not simply "revoking the licenses" of stations that don't toe the Party line. Or better still, "seiz(ing) control of media outlets to stifle criticism."
This entire censorious evolution - from fines, to license rescission's to outright seizures - took place in just over three months. This is Lloyd's definition of Chavez "tak(ing) very seriously the media in his country," as a part of leading an "incredible..democratic revolution."
Could this happen here? I don't know? Could anyone predict a time that the government would own an automobile company or fire the CEO of a company? Could anyone predict a time when government would seek to force you to purchase something. You don't have to purchase car insurance if you don't have a car, but you might have to purchase health insurance no matter what. Could you predict a time when a tax cheat would be the head of the Treasury or Chairman of the Ways and Means, writing the laws that we must follow while at the same time breaking them with impunity?
"If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume. If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper. We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical. We can roll the image, make it flutter. We can change the focus to a soft blur or sharpen it to crystal clarity. For the next hour, sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear." - The Control Voice (Big brother)
Nice work if you can get it!
I don’t have the most current numbers, but you will get the idea.
Our elected representatives, those people that we entrust to do what we want them to do concerning the running of the government, those people that work hard for us; have a current salary (2009) for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate of $174,000 per year.
• During the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin considered proposing that elected government officials not be paid for their service. Other Founding Fathers, however, decided otherwise.
• From 1789 to 1855, members of Congress received only a per diem (daily payment) of $6.00 while in session, except for a period from December 1815 to March 1817, when they received $1,500 a year. Members began receiving an annual salary in 1855, when they were paid $3,000 per year.
Congress: Leadership Members' Salary (2009)
Leaders of the House and Senate are paid a higher salary than rank-and-file members.
Senate Leadership
Majority Party Leader - $193,400
Minority Party Leader - $193,400
House Leadership
Speaker of the House - $223,500
Majority Leader - $193,400
Minority Leader - $193,400
A cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) increase takes effect annually unless Congress votes to not accept it.
For all this money, you have to figure that they are working hard right? Well……..
In 2006, Congress was in session only 103 days, slightly more than two days a week on average. While most Americans returned from their holiday vacation in the first week of January, the House took nearly the entire month off, commencing the session on January 31st. In February, the House met for only 47 hours, an average work week for many Americans. Despite Speaker Pelosi's loud promise of a five-day workweek, the House schedule is laughable. The first clue that members wouldn't be working harder was when House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) announced that the House would take a day off during the first week in session. Why? Was there a national emergency? Maybe a catastrophic storm? Not at all. It was because of the championship college football game between Oklahoma State and Florida State. Obviously oblivious to the criticisms of Congressional laziness, Hoyer explained that the work of the Congress would be suspended so that everyone could watch a football game.
How many American workers are given a day off to watch a football game?
A close look at the schedule of the House is shocking. Congress will be out of Washington for more than 16 weeks. And when they are technically in session, they don't do much. Take the month of February, for example: the House was only in session for nine days — and on three of those days, the sessions lasted less than 20 minutes, while a fourth lasted for 39 minutes. Their designated “President's Day District Work Period” is a ridiculously transparent euphemism for a vacation week — sometimes involving free travel. Right after the so-called travel "reforms" were passed, 66 members of the House traveled during February at the expense of private organizations (legal under the new rules), many of them to exotic vacation spots. Of course, they typically take the month of August off also.
If you notice 1995, taskmaster Newt Gingrich kept the house in session for a whopping 183 days. Finally I want to leave you with this thought. There will be no cost of living adjustment for seniors in 2010 and congress, finally getting it will not get their automatic pay raise for 2010. Well, almost. They are set to still get their pay raise in 2011, unless they vote against it.
Update: I realized that I left out a couple of important statistics.
The above numbers are based on working a full year ((52 weeks * 5 days/week)- vacation, holidays, and sick time). It doesn't take into account the time we get off while getting paid to look for a better job. You know, like our recent candidates for President did where they got paid while campaigning for a better job.
Congress, nice work if you can get it.
Our elected representatives, those people that we entrust to do what we want them to do concerning the running of the government, those people that work hard for us; have a current salary (2009) for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate of $174,000 per year.
• During the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin considered proposing that elected government officials not be paid for their service. Other Founding Fathers, however, decided otherwise.
• From 1789 to 1855, members of Congress received only a per diem (daily payment) of $6.00 while in session, except for a period from December 1815 to March 1817, when they received $1,500 a year. Members began receiving an annual salary in 1855, when they were paid $3,000 per year.
Congress: Leadership Members' Salary (2009)
Leaders of the House and Senate are paid a higher salary than rank-and-file members.
Senate Leadership
Majority Party Leader - $193,400
Minority Party Leader - $193,400
House Leadership
Speaker of the House - $223,500
Majority Leader - $193,400
Minority Leader - $193,400
A cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) increase takes effect annually unless Congress votes to not accept it.
For all this money, you have to figure that they are working hard right? Well……..
In 2006, Congress was in session only 103 days, slightly more than two days a week on average. While most Americans returned from their holiday vacation in the first week of January, the House took nearly the entire month off, commencing the session on January 31st. In February, the House met for only 47 hours, an average work week for many Americans. Despite Speaker Pelosi's loud promise of a five-day workweek, the House schedule is laughable. The first clue that members wouldn't be working harder was when House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) announced that the House would take a day off during the first week in session. Why? Was there a national emergency? Maybe a catastrophic storm? Not at all. It was because of the championship college football game between Oklahoma State and Florida State. Obviously oblivious to the criticisms of Congressional laziness, Hoyer explained that the work of the Congress would be suspended so that everyone could watch a football game.
How many American workers are given a day off to watch a football game?
A close look at the schedule of the House is shocking. Congress will be out of Washington for more than 16 weeks. And when they are technically in session, they don't do much. Take the month of February, for example: the House was only in session for nine days — and on three of those days, the sessions lasted less than 20 minutes, while a fourth lasted for 39 minutes. Their designated “President's Day District Work Period” is a ridiculously transparent euphemism for a vacation week — sometimes involving free travel. Right after the so-called travel "reforms" were passed, 66 members of the House traveled during February at the expense of private organizations (legal under the new rules), many of them to exotic vacation spots. Of course, they typically take the month of August off also.
If you notice 1995, taskmaster Newt Gingrich kept the house in session for a whopping 183 days. Finally I want to leave you with this thought. There will be no cost of living adjustment for seniors in 2010 and congress, finally getting it will not get their automatic pay raise for 2010. Well, almost. They are set to still get their pay raise in 2011, unless they vote against it.
Update: I realized that I left out a couple of important statistics.
Median Salary by State or Province - Country: United States (United States)
CAREER TOOLS: Salary Calculator, Career Path Tool, Cost of Living Calculator, Meeting Miser
The above numbers are based on working a full year ((52 weeks * 5 days/week)- vacation, holidays, and sick time). It doesn't take into account the time we get off while getting paid to look for a better job. You know, like our recent candidates for President did where they got paid while campaigning for a better job.
Congress, nice work if you can get it.
Let them take control of health care- how bad can they do?
This is an older post that I wanted to put out here:
I don’t know about you, but I feel much better knowing we spent $787 Billion of our money on a stimulus bill, to find out that the administration “misread the economy”. On December 19, 2008 Vice President-Elect Joe Biden, in an interview with George Stephanopoulos, said the U.S. economy is in danger of "absolutely tanking". "The economy is in much worse shape than we thought it was in". In February 2009 the Stimulus bill under “unprecedented transparency and accountability” (LOL) was signed into law and was going to halt unemployment at 8%. If we hadn’t had the stimulus, unemployment was projected to be as high as 8.5% by now. Fast forward to July with unemployment at a 26-year-high of 9.5 percent, with double digits in Ohio (currently 10.5 down from 11.2 in June) and Michigan (14.7% down from 15.6 in July- still the highest in the US by far) and $500 Million in stimulus money lost to fraud, Joe Biden now states on July 5, 2009, "The truth is, we and everyone else, misread the economy.” If it was in worse shape than they thought back in December, how could they have misread it again? These people supposedly got voted into office because they understood the economy. Fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me. With their great track record on the economy, give them control of health care. After all, since they misread the economy in December 2008 and again in July 2009, what are the chances they could misread how health care needs to be run? Even a blind squirrel finds an ACORN. If you think health care is expensive now, wait till it is free.
A quick note on Sarah Palin; in battle, if you aren't getting shot at or taking flak, you aren’t hitting the target. The continued attacks by the MSM and the left show just how scared the left is of a strong willed, independent, intelligent woman who lives by the morals she preaches. She has had numerous frivolous lawsuits leveled against her and won every one of them. We know more about her from where she was born to what she does in her off time than we do our current Commander in Chief. The constant barrage of accusations and scrutiny tell us that she is a force to be feared by the left and some on the right. Why else would they still seek to tear her down? If she were a crack pot, the press would treat her the same way they treat Kucinich and Biden and not give her a second look or better, build her up knowing that she was no threat. Instead, they look to tear her down in any way lest she come to higher office and clean up the corruption in government as she has done in Alaska. If you don’t think they are scared, look at how many articles are written about her from the left.
I don’t know about you, but I feel much better knowing we spent $787 Billion of our money on a stimulus bill, to find out that the administration “misread the economy”. On December 19, 2008 Vice President-Elect Joe Biden, in an interview with George Stephanopoulos, said the U.S. economy is in danger of "absolutely tanking". "The economy is in much worse shape than we thought it was in". In February 2009 the Stimulus bill under “unprecedented transparency and accountability” (LOL) was signed into law and was going to halt unemployment at 8%. If we hadn’t had the stimulus, unemployment was projected to be as high as 8.5% by now. Fast forward to July with unemployment at a 26-year-high of 9.5 percent, with double digits in Ohio (currently 10.5 down from 11.2 in June) and Michigan (14.7% down from 15.6 in July- still the highest in the US by far) and $500 Million in stimulus money lost to fraud, Joe Biden now states on July 5, 2009, "The truth is, we and everyone else, misread the economy.” If it was in worse shape than they thought back in December, how could they have misread it again? These people supposedly got voted into office because they understood the economy. Fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me. With their great track record on the economy, give them control of health care. After all, since they misread the economy in December 2008 and again in July 2009, what are the chances they could misread how health care needs to be run? Even a blind squirrel finds an ACORN. If you think health care is expensive now, wait till it is free.
A quick note on Sarah Palin; in battle, if you aren't getting shot at or taking flak, you aren’t hitting the target. The continued attacks by the MSM and the left show just how scared the left is of a strong willed, independent, intelligent woman who lives by the morals she preaches. She has had numerous frivolous lawsuits leveled against her and won every one of them. We know more about her from where she was born to what she does in her off time than we do our current Commander in Chief. The constant barrage of accusations and scrutiny tell us that she is a force to be feared by the left and some on the right. Why else would they still seek to tear her down? If she were a crack pot, the press would treat her the same way they treat Kucinich and Biden and not give her a second look or better, build her up knowing that she was no threat. Instead, they look to tear her down in any way lest she come to higher office and clean up the corruption in government as she has done in Alaska. If you don’t think they are scared, look at how many articles are written about her from the left.
Who works for whom?
I believe it is time to start treating our representatives much the same way we and/or our military are treated. We need to start a grassroots movement to take back control of our representatives. I propose:
Starting in year 2012, all members of the House and Senate, no matter seniority, will get a starting salary of $104,000 ($2000 per week) with all applicable taxes taken out. Currently (2009) the rank-and-file members get $174,000 per year with the “leaders” getting $193,400. We will see an immediate savings of over 40 million dollars. They will not need as much money if the other parts of my proposal are implemented. Starting salaries are capped at $104,000 per year for the next 8 years and re-evaluated each census year.
All representatives will live in publicly provided housing. By that I mean that the state, via the Governor’s office, will purchase or rent the housing for the Senators and each district will purchase or rent housing for their representative and pay for utilities and upkeep. This is done through taking a percentage of money from each county/city in the district proportionate to the number of people in the county/city. The mayor of the county/city with the largest population works with the congress person to find the initial housing. After that, it is re-used by each successive representative. If members don’t want to take advantage of the free housing, they are free to pay for housing out of their own pocket. There is no housing allowance. When voted out of office, they leave the public housing provided to them much the same as the President and Vice President do.
I am sure the capital building has a cafeteria. Members of Congress who eat in the cafeteria eat for free; paid for by our tax dollars. It would be run similar to any military cafeteria. They get a choice of a couple of entrees, salad, soup, etc. If they decide to eat someplace else, they pay for it out of pocket. Any reimbursements for “business” meals require the representative to fill out a form for reimbursement to include date, time, reason, who attended (by name and company) along with a copy of the itemized receipt. All requests are posted online for a period of 30 days for constituent review. As long as it is valid, as determined by IRS regulations, it is paid. Questionable receipts are held until Election Day and the sum total is put on the ballot with places to vote 100%, 50%, 25% or 0% and that is what they receive. All unused food from the cafeteria is donated to homeless shelters.
Each year, at 60 days prior to Election Day, the representatives submit, online and in the newspaper, a listing of what they did as well as their request for any pay increase they think they deserve with justification. Much like everyone else has to do during an annual review. If the people feel the representative is doing a good job, they are voted a raise. If not, they don’t. No longer should they automatically receive a pay raise just because they don’t vote against it. How many of us have that option? This is just a rough draft, but the point is that our representatives have ceased to represent us as the framers of the constitution wanted and we need to take control back. The founding fathers didn’t want the representatives to be paid at all. Now the hard part is finding an honorable representative who would champion these ideas. When you have the control to vote your own pay and benefits, why would you take anything less than the best?
Starting in year 2012, all members of the House and Senate, no matter seniority, will get a starting salary of $104,000 ($2000 per week) with all applicable taxes taken out. Currently (2009) the rank-and-file members get $174,000 per year with the “leaders” getting $193,400. We will see an immediate savings of over 40 million dollars. They will not need as much money if the other parts of my proposal are implemented. Starting salaries are capped at $104,000 per year for the next 8 years and re-evaluated each census year.
All representatives will live in publicly provided housing. By that I mean that the state, via the Governor’s office, will purchase or rent the housing for the Senators and each district will purchase or rent housing for their representative and pay for utilities and upkeep. This is done through taking a percentage of money from each county/city in the district proportionate to the number of people in the county/city. The mayor of the county/city with the largest population works with the congress person to find the initial housing. After that, it is re-used by each successive representative. If members don’t want to take advantage of the free housing, they are free to pay for housing out of their own pocket. There is no housing allowance. When voted out of office, they leave the public housing provided to them much the same as the President and Vice President do.
I am sure the capital building has a cafeteria. Members of Congress who eat in the cafeteria eat for free; paid for by our tax dollars. It would be run similar to any military cafeteria. They get a choice of a couple of entrees, salad, soup, etc. If they decide to eat someplace else, they pay for it out of pocket. Any reimbursements for “business” meals require the representative to fill out a form for reimbursement to include date, time, reason, who attended (by name and company) along with a copy of the itemized receipt. All requests are posted online for a period of 30 days for constituent review. As long as it is valid, as determined by IRS regulations, it is paid. Questionable receipts are held until Election Day and the sum total is put on the ballot with places to vote 100%, 50%, 25% or 0% and that is what they receive. All unused food from the cafeteria is donated to homeless shelters.
Each year, at 60 days prior to Election Day, the representatives submit, online and in the newspaper, a listing of what they did as well as their request for any pay increase they think they deserve with justification. Much like everyone else has to do during an annual review. If the people feel the representative is doing a good job, they are voted a raise. If not, they don’t. No longer should they automatically receive a pay raise just because they don’t vote against it. How many of us have that option? This is just a rough draft, but the point is that our representatives have ceased to represent us as the framers of the constitution wanted and we need to take control back. The founding fathers didn’t want the representatives to be paid at all. Now the hard part is finding an honorable representative who would champion these ideas. When you have the control to vote your own pay and benefits, why would you take anything less than the best?
Time to replace them all!
I have always been told to get up off your tush if you want to bring about change. If you want to make a difference, you cannot just complain, you must act. And so it was that I found myself writing my congressman, Steve LaTourette, about a concern I had. Act; do something. I, like many others, was told and believed that if you contact your representative, they would at least listen. It turns out that I was wrong. Representative LaTourette is just like every other politician. I am not naive enough to think that he reads every letter sent to him. I hoped that he at least got a synopsis of the letters sent by people in his district. Again, I believe I am wrong. I now believe that if you send a letter to your representative, some over paid staffer reads the letter and totally disregards it. Another staffer then writes a generic letter that doesn’t even address the subject matter from the letter and it is signed,or more likely rubber stamp signature, by someone and sent on its way back to the constituent in hopes of placating them into thinking their representative is listening. Just don’t read the letter sent back. Such was the response I got from an e-mail sent to Mr. LaTourette about introducing legislation to require our elected officials actually read what they are voting on prior to voting; or in other words, do the job they are expected to do. What I got was a generic letter thanking me and letting me know he is, “keeping my opinion in mind should the matter come to the floor”. No mention of the “matter”, just that he will keep it in mind. Put that with an e-mail sent at another time about asking for an investigation into the pork introduced in the stimulus bill and the response that the stimulus bill passed along party lines. No mention of investigation, no mention of anything of substance.
At this point, I must say that I am disappointed with my representation in Congress. As readers of the Opine know, I am not shy about voicing my opinion. I urge people to NOT WRITE their representative. Instead, work to replace your representative with someone who will be responsive to their constituents. If the person doing the job, is not doing a good job, it is our responsibility to fire that person and put in someone who will. If we do not hold them accountable, who will?
At this point, I must say that I am disappointed with my representation in Congress. As readers of the Opine know, I am not shy about voicing my opinion. I urge people to NOT WRITE their representative. Instead, work to replace your representative with someone who will be responsive to their constituents. If the person doing the job, is not doing a good job, it is our responsibility to fire that person and put in someone who will. If we do not hold them accountable, who will?
Oops, she did it again!
A good memory is needed once we have lied,” observed Pierre Corneille, the 17th-century French tragedian. If Hillary Clinton ever tells you she doesn’t remembering something, believe her.
During the presidential campaign Mrs. Clinton drew on her Bosnia experience, saying:”I remember landing under sniper fire. There was supposed to be some kind of a greeting ceremony at the airport but we just ran with our heads down to get in the vehicles to get to our base.” Archive footage showed her walking calmly from the plane and she later apologized saying it was the first time in twelve years or so she misspoke- an Orwellian term deployed by politicians to describe what has happened when they have been caught in a barefaced lie.
You may also recall her famous naming: For no obvious reason she once claimed her parents named her after Sir Edmund Hillary, even though she was born more than five years before the mountaineer's ascent of Everest, when he was known by almost no one outside New Zealand.
When she ran for New York senator she claimed to have been a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees even though no one could recall her ever having expressed the slightest interest in or knowledge of the baseball team.
But that was then when she was a first lady and Presidential candidate. This is now. The former first lady turned Senator turned Secretary of State was in Belfast the week of October 12th, 2009 and recalled, “When Bill and I first came to Belfast we stayed at the Europa Hotel ... even though then there were sections boarded up because of damage from bombs.” But as usual for her, it didn’t happen- again I ask, politicians don’t even try to be credible when they lie? She and Bill stayed there two years after (1995) the Europa was bombed in 1993. The last time the Europa underwent renovations because of bomb blast damage was in January 1994, 22 months before the presidential entourage booked 110 rooms at the hotel.
When Hillary speaks, we should listen. After all, she wouldn’t lie to us would she?
During the presidential campaign Mrs. Clinton drew on her Bosnia experience, saying:”I remember landing under sniper fire. There was supposed to be some kind of a greeting ceremony at the airport but we just ran with our heads down to get in the vehicles to get to our base.” Archive footage showed her walking calmly from the plane and she later apologized saying it was the first time in twelve years or so she misspoke- an Orwellian term deployed by politicians to describe what has happened when they have been caught in a barefaced lie.
You may also recall her famous naming: For no obvious reason she once claimed her parents named her after Sir Edmund Hillary, even though she was born more than five years before the mountaineer's ascent of Everest, when he was known by almost no one outside New Zealand.
When she ran for New York senator she claimed to have been a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees even though no one could recall her ever having expressed the slightest interest in or knowledge of the baseball team.
But that was then when she was a first lady and Presidential candidate. This is now. The former first lady turned Senator turned Secretary of State was in Belfast the week of October 12th, 2009 and recalled, “When Bill and I first came to Belfast we stayed at the Europa Hotel ... even though then there were sections boarded up because of damage from bombs.” But as usual for her, it didn’t happen- again I ask, politicians don’t even try to be credible when they lie? She and Bill stayed there two years after (1995) the Europa was bombed in 1993. The last time the Europa underwent renovations because of bomb blast damage was in January 1994, 22 months before the presidential entourage booked 110 rooms at the hotel.
When Hillary speaks, we should listen. After all, she wouldn’t lie to us would she?
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Can I have one also?
I want everyone to know that I believe we should get rid of all weapons, not seek to create weapons, work to end hunger, poverty and strife, and work towards a world where all persons, animals, plants and minerals are treated with dignity and respect.
Since I now have the same qualifications as Barack Obama, can someone please forward my credentials to someone a university professor of history, political science, philosophy, law and theology, or university president or directors of peace research institutes and institutes of international affairs and have them send my credentials to:Postmaster@nobel.no
According to the statutes of the Nobel Foundation, a nomination is considered valid if it is submitted by a person who falls within one of the following categories:
• Members of national assemblies and governments, and members of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
• Members of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague and of the International Court of Justice at the Hague
• Members of Institut de Droit International
• University professors of history, political science, philosophy, law and theology, and university presidents and directors of peace research institutes and institutes of international affairs
• Former Nobel Peace Prize Laureates and board members of institutions that have previously been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
• Present and past members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee
• Former permanent advisers to the Norwegian Nobel Institute
As I see it, making a statement is the same as actually doing something. At least that is how it appears since Barack Obama had done nothing to foster peace prior to becoming President and only gave speeches about how bad America was and apologizing for our strength in the world between January 20th and February 1st. Since I, along with every Miss America, have made the appropriate statements, I believe I should be nominated.
Please send this to all the people you know that could possibly submit my name. Who knows, maybe I could win.
Since I now have the same qualifications as Barack Obama, can someone please forward my credentials to someone a university professor of history, political science, philosophy, law and theology, or university president or directors of peace research institutes and institutes of international affairs and have them send my credentials to:Postmaster@nobel.no
According to the statutes of the Nobel Foundation, a nomination is considered valid if it is submitted by a person who falls within one of the following categories:
• Members of national assemblies and governments, and members of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
• Members of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague and of the International Court of Justice at the Hague
• Members of Institut de Droit International
• University professors of history, political science, philosophy, law and theology, and university presidents and directors of peace research institutes and institutes of international affairs
• Former Nobel Peace Prize Laureates and board members of institutions that have previously been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
• Present and past members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee
• Former permanent advisers to the Norwegian Nobel Institute
As I see it, making a statement is the same as actually doing something. At least that is how it appears since Barack Obama had done nothing to foster peace prior to becoming President and only gave speeches about how bad America was and apologizing for our strength in the world between January 20th and February 1st. Since I, along with every Miss America, have made the appropriate statements, I believe I should be nominated.
Please send this to all the people you know that could possibly submit my name. Who knows, maybe I could win.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Before it was Obama's stash, it was my cash!
There is a quote attributed to more than one person that states: “It's no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense.”
More than 50,000 applications for the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing program were handed out over the last few days in Detroit. It is estimated that one in four adults in Detroit is without a job and the foreclosure rate is among the nation’s highest.
Governor Jennifer Granholm and lawmakers are trying to close a $1.8 billion deficit in the general fund and another shortfall of about $1 billion in the school aid fund for the budget year that starts Oct. 1. There is about $1.2 billion available in federal stimulus cash for the general fund and about $800 million for school aid through next year, according to the Senate Fiscal Agency. The Senate Fiscal Agency reported Thursday that state tax receipts for July were down 10 percent from a year ago. Business tax collections were down 19.1 percent from last year's mark, sales tax receipts were down 13.4 percent and income tax revenue was down 7.2 percent. In a related note, Michigan had a net domestic outmigration (-109,257 people) from 2007 to 2008 and has not seen an increase in payroll jobs in seven years. Is it any wonder people are leaving when their wages stay the same but taxes go up? The only states losing people faster are New York and California. Texas –With no personal income tax has the largest growth (Anyone see a trend?)
Back to the real story: Several thousand people showed up to get some of this “free money”. $3,000 per applicant It is being offered to only 3,500 if the more than 50,000. Radio Station WJR in Detroit on October 8th, 2009 had the following exchange:
ROGULSKI: Why are you here?
WOMAN #1: To get some money.
ROGULSKI: What kind of money?
WOMAN #1: Obama money.
ROGULSKI: Where’s it coming from?
WOMAN #1: Obama.
ROGULSKI: And where did Obama get it?
WOMAN #1: I don’t know, his stash. I don’t know. (laughter) I don’t know where he got it from, but he givin’ it to us, to help us.
WOMAN #2: And we love him.
WOMAN #1: We love him. That’s why we voted for him!
WOMEN: (chanting) Obama! Obama! Obama! (laughing)
Now on this one, we have to laugh. I mean, this woman is in line to collect her money from Obama. Her “Obamamoney” that she doesn’t know where Obama gets it. DO YOU PAY TAXES? If you do, then the money is coming from you! Could this result in a lawsuit that he is purchasing votes? When you rob from Peter to pay Paul, you can always count of the support of Paul. But wait, it continues with another woman……
ROGULSKI: Did you get an application to fill out yet?
WOMAN: I sure did. And I filled it out, and I am waiting to see what the results are going to be.
ROGULSKI: Will you know today how much money you’re getting?
WOMAN: No, I won’t, but I’m waiting for a phone call.
ROGULSKI: Where’s the money coming from?
WOMAN: I believe it’s coming from the City of Detroit or the state.
ROGULSKI: Where did they get it from?
WOMAN: Some funds that was forgiven (sic) by Obama.
ROGULSKI: And where did Obama get the funds?
WOMAN: Obama getting the funds from… Ummm, I have no idea, to tell you the truth. He’s the president.
ROGULSKI: In downtown Detroit, Ken Rogulski, WJR News.
I heard one person say that he was homeless because he moved back in with his parents.
Now I am not against giving people a hand up. I have been unemployed before and believe me, unemployment causes you to look at what you are spending money on and change your habits. Part of my deductions is to provide money for unemployment insurance. Unemployment payments are barely enough to live on. But I guess that is the purpose; help you through the rough times while you get back to work.
I am against giving a hand out. This was my cash before it was Obama’s stash (maybe he will use the money he got from the Nobel Peace Prize – another blog coming soon). I do have a few questions about this program.
As reported: To be considered, applicants must have lived in Detroit for the past six months, been homeless within the past year and be of low to moderate income. A single applicant is ineligible with an income of more than $24,850 annually; the maximum annual income for an eligible family of four is $35,500. Individuals and families meeting the income criteria and facing eviction and foreclosure also are eligible. Being able to maintain housing after getting the assistance also is a condition of the program. The program also provides money to keep utilities turned on.
My questions: If you are homeless, where will they send the check? If you are 18+ (now considered an adult) and you are “homeless” because you live at home with your parents do you qualify? Does anyone remember Katrina? Giving away “free money” is going to help the casinos, plastic surgery industry, the same way that the $2,000 debit cards handed out were used to purchase Louis Vuitton handbags and beer at strip clubs. http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46361
I couldn’t make this stuff up. If I did, it would have to make sense.
More than 50,000 applications for the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing program were handed out over the last few days in Detroit. It is estimated that one in four adults in Detroit is without a job and the foreclosure rate is among the nation’s highest.
Governor Jennifer Granholm and lawmakers are trying to close a $1.8 billion deficit in the general fund and another shortfall of about $1 billion in the school aid fund for the budget year that starts Oct. 1. There is about $1.2 billion available in federal stimulus cash for the general fund and about $800 million for school aid through next year, according to the Senate Fiscal Agency. The Senate Fiscal Agency reported Thursday that state tax receipts for July were down 10 percent from a year ago. Business tax collections were down 19.1 percent from last year's mark, sales tax receipts were down 13.4 percent and income tax revenue was down 7.2 percent. In a related note, Michigan had a net domestic outmigration (-109,257 people) from 2007 to 2008 and has not seen an increase in payroll jobs in seven years. Is it any wonder people are leaving when their wages stay the same but taxes go up? The only states losing people faster are New York and California. Texas –With no personal income tax has the largest growth (Anyone see a trend?)
Back to the real story: Several thousand people showed up to get some of this “free money”. $3,000 per applicant It is being offered to only 3,500 if the more than 50,000. Radio Station WJR in Detroit on October 8th, 2009 had the following exchange:
ROGULSKI: Why are you here?
WOMAN #1: To get some money.
ROGULSKI: What kind of money?
WOMAN #1: Obama money.
ROGULSKI: Where’s it coming from?
WOMAN #1: Obama.
ROGULSKI: And where did Obama get it?
WOMAN #1: I don’t know, his stash. I don’t know. (laughter) I don’t know where he got it from, but he givin’ it to us, to help us.
WOMAN #2: And we love him.
WOMAN #1: We love him. That’s why we voted for him!
WOMEN: (chanting) Obama! Obama! Obama! (laughing)
Now on this one, we have to laugh. I mean, this woman is in line to collect her money from Obama. Her “Obamamoney” that she doesn’t know where Obama gets it. DO YOU PAY TAXES? If you do, then the money is coming from you! Could this result in a lawsuit that he is purchasing votes? When you rob from Peter to pay Paul, you can always count of the support of Paul. But wait, it continues with another woman……
ROGULSKI: Did you get an application to fill out yet?
WOMAN: I sure did. And I filled it out, and I am waiting to see what the results are going to be.
ROGULSKI: Will you know today how much money you’re getting?
WOMAN: No, I won’t, but I’m waiting for a phone call.
ROGULSKI: Where’s the money coming from?
WOMAN: I believe it’s coming from the City of Detroit or the state.
ROGULSKI: Where did they get it from?
WOMAN: Some funds that was forgiven (sic) by Obama.
ROGULSKI: And where did Obama get the funds?
WOMAN: Obama getting the funds from… Ummm, I have no idea, to tell you the truth. He’s the president.
ROGULSKI: In downtown Detroit, Ken Rogulski, WJR News.
I heard one person say that he was homeless because he moved back in with his parents.
Now I am not against giving people a hand up. I have been unemployed before and believe me, unemployment causes you to look at what you are spending money on and change your habits. Part of my deductions is to provide money for unemployment insurance. Unemployment payments are barely enough to live on. But I guess that is the purpose; help you through the rough times while you get back to work.
I am against giving a hand out. This was my cash before it was Obama’s stash (maybe he will use the money he got from the Nobel Peace Prize – another blog coming soon). I do have a few questions about this program.
As reported: To be considered, applicants must have lived in Detroit for the past six months, been homeless within the past year and be of low to moderate income. A single applicant is ineligible with an income of more than $24,850 annually; the maximum annual income for an eligible family of four is $35,500. Individuals and families meeting the income criteria and facing eviction and foreclosure also are eligible. Being able to maintain housing after getting the assistance also is a condition of the program. The program also provides money to keep utilities turned on.
My questions: If you are homeless, where will they send the check? If you are 18+ (now considered an adult) and you are “homeless” because you live at home with your parents do you qualify? Does anyone remember Katrina? Giving away “free money” is going to help the casinos, plastic surgery industry, the same way that the $2,000 debit cards handed out were used to purchase Louis Vuitton handbags and beer at strip clubs. http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46361
I couldn’t make this stuff up. If I did, it would have to make sense.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Old is new again
I recently looked for a quote on the internet and came across a few that took me by surprise. See if these quotes from the past don’t have some meaning today:
“ America is like a healthy body and its resistance is threefold: its patriotism, its morality, and its spiritual life. If we can undermine these three areas, America will collapse from within.” – Josef Stalin.
Is our patriotism not lacking? I see people with their hats on sitting while the Flag passes by in a parade. They do nothing to acknowledge our symbol of freedom. I hear our elected officials say that peaceful protests are not patriotic like they were 4 years ago. Now they are full of radicals and racists. Wasn’t it a stigma to have a child out of wedlock at one time? I enjoy the female form as much as anyone but is it necessary to have 10 year old girls wearing pants that say “juicy” on them? What someone does in the privacy of their house/bedroom, is not my business. But must what was regulated to the bedroom be in out in the open now? Undeniably, God has been taken out of the classroom, off the playing field, and there are even those that want it taken off our money. Even our elected officials that claim to be regular churchgoers can’t seem to find a church.
“Education is a weapon, whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed – Josef Stalin. Truer words were never spoken. I have seen videos of children being taught songs to our President similar to those videos of children singing songs to Mao, Hitler, Lenin, Castro, and Chavez. I have seen copies of textbooks with obvious historical errors. Books that get the amendments to the Constitution wrong. History books talking about Nazi Germany that mention that people were killed with poison gas but say nothing about the gas chambers or crematoria.
“Destroy the family, you destroy the country.” - Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.
Need I say more? How many people reading this will have dinner as a family tonight? How many reading this, and I know this is a touchy subject, are single parents? Divorce has become so easy that people leave at the slightest hint of trouble. Having been married for 23 years, I can say that it is not always peaches and cream but I made a commitment to her and she to me. Figure it out, work it out!
“The surest way to destroy a nation is to debauch its currency.” - Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.
Is our government not doing this as you read this? Where in the Constitution does it state that the government can take my money to give to someone else? The dollar is no longer the power it once was and printing money to pay for budget deficits doesn’t help.
“Only an armed people can be the real bulwark of popular liberty.” - Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.
Of course, if you listen to some of the readers of the Opine, they would have you believe that you should not have the right to keep weapons. You should check them in and out of an armory. That will do us well. Even Lenin knew that if the people had a means to resist, they would. In 1976, Washington, D.C., enacted one of the most restrictive gun control laws in the nation. Since then, the city's murder rate has risen 134% while the national murder rate has dropped 2%. Among the 15 states with the highest homicide rates, 10 have restrictive or very restrictive gun laws.
“The way to crush the bourgeoisie is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation.” - Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.
If I understand what is happening in our country today, we are offering up “free …” to everyone. Cash for clunkers, Stimulus Bill, Health care (though now if you don’t purchase health insurance you are subject to a tax, I mean “fine”, if you don’t purchase it – so much for free). The government (all the parties) are giving money away and then buying back the debt. Talk to any economist and you will see that this will lead to inflation. Meanwhile, our leaders are talking of taking even more money from the 1% of the people that make 22% of the money and already pay 40% of all the taxes because they don’t pay their fair share. That will help! (sarcasm for those that don’t realize it)
“Give me four years to teach the children and the seed I have sown will never be uprooted.” -- Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
With our new President in office less than a year, we already have children being taught to sing praises to him. Need I say more?
“The bourgeoisie is many times stronger than we. To give it the weapon of freedom of the press is to ease the enemy’s cause, to help the class enemy. We do not desire to end in suicide, so we will not do this.” -- Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.
I actually find this to be a humorous statement because the press is anything from free. The fringe media, ABC, CBS, NBC all shill for Obama. Most newspapers, Star Beacon included, are pro Obama (remember the Star Beacon endorsed Obama) and rarely if ever print opposing views –so much so that if you are reading this, I am surprised.
“We can't expect the American People to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Socialism, until they awaken one day to find that they have Communism.” -- Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.
This has been going on for years. Both major parties are guilty. As we move more and more from people being responsible to take care of themselves and our children are taught in “the story of stuff” that “it is the job of the government to watch out for us, to take care of us” we move more and more towards Socialism. It is not the governments job to watch out for us or to take care of us. It is our job. It is the governments job to provide for our protection from enemies both foreign and domestic. Not to protect us from failure. It is not the governments job to provide us with health care. It is our job to seek out and provide for our own care.
“ America is like a healthy body and its resistance is threefold: its patriotism, its morality, and its spiritual life. If we can undermine these three areas, America will collapse from within.” – Josef Stalin.
Is our patriotism not lacking? I see people with their hats on sitting while the Flag passes by in a parade. They do nothing to acknowledge our symbol of freedom. I hear our elected officials say that peaceful protests are not patriotic like they were 4 years ago. Now they are full of radicals and racists. Wasn’t it a stigma to have a child out of wedlock at one time? I enjoy the female form as much as anyone but is it necessary to have 10 year old girls wearing pants that say “juicy” on them? What someone does in the privacy of their house/bedroom, is not my business. But must what was regulated to the bedroom be in out in the open now? Undeniably, God has been taken out of the classroom, off the playing field, and there are even those that want it taken off our money. Even our elected officials that claim to be regular churchgoers can’t seem to find a church.
“Education is a weapon, whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed – Josef Stalin. Truer words were never spoken. I have seen videos of children being taught songs to our President similar to those videos of children singing songs to Mao, Hitler, Lenin, Castro, and Chavez. I have seen copies of textbooks with obvious historical errors. Books that get the amendments to the Constitution wrong. History books talking about Nazi Germany that mention that people were killed with poison gas but say nothing about the gas chambers or crematoria.
“Destroy the family, you destroy the country.” - Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.
Need I say more? How many people reading this will have dinner as a family tonight? How many reading this, and I know this is a touchy subject, are single parents? Divorce has become so easy that people leave at the slightest hint of trouble. Having been married for 23 years, I can say that it is not always peaches and cream but I made a commitment to her and she to me. Figure it out, work it out!
“The surest way to destroy a nation is to debauch its currency.” - Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.
Is our government not doing this as you read this? Where in the Constitution does it state that the government can take my money to give to someone else? The dollar is no longer the power it once was and printing money to pay for budget deficits doesn’t help.
“Only an armed people can be the real bulwark of popular liberty.” - Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.
Of course, if you listen to some of the readers of the Opine, they would have you believe that you should not have the right to keep weapons. You should check them in and out of an armory. That will do us well. Even Lenin knew that if the people had a means to resist, they would. In 1976, Washington, D.C., enacted one of the most restrictive gun control laws in the nation. Since then, the city's murder rate has risen 134% while the national murder rate has dropped 2%. Among the 15 states with the highest homicide rates, 10 have restrictive or very restrictive gun laws.
“The way to crush the bourgeoisie is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation.” - Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.
If I understand what is happening in our country today, we are offering up “free …” to everyone. Cash for clunkers, Stimulus Bill, Health care (though now if you don’t purchase health insurance you are subject to a tax, I mean “fine”, if you don’t purchase it – so much for free). The government (all the parties) are giving money away and then buying back the debt. Talk to any economist and you will see that this will lead to inflation. Meanwhile, our leaders are talking of taking even more money from the 1% of the people that make 22% of the money and already pay 40% of all the taxes because they don’t pay their fair share. That will help! (sarcasm for those that don’t realize it)
“Give me four years to teach the children and the seed I have sown will never be uprooted.” -- Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
With our new President in office less than a year, we already have children being taught to sing praises to him. Need I say more?
“The bourgeoisie is many times stronger than we. To give it the weapon of freedom of the press is to ease the enemy’s cause, to help the class enemy. We do not desire to end in suicide, so we will not do this.” -- Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.
I actually find this to be a humorous statement because the press is anything from free. The fringe media, ABC, CBS, NBC all shill for Obama. Most newspapers, Star Beacon included, are pro Obama (remember the Star Beacon endorsed Obama) and rarely if ever print opposing views –so much so that if you are reading this, I am surprised.
“We can't expect the American People to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Socialism, until they awaken one day to find that they have Communism.” -- Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.
This has been going on for years. Both major parties are guilty. As we move more and more from people being responsible to take care of themselves and our children are taught in “the story of stuff” that “it is the job of the government to watch out for us, to take care of us” we move more and more towards Socialism. It is not the governments job to watch out for us or to take care of us. It is our job. It is the governments job to provide for our protection from enemies both foreign and domestic. Not to protect us from failure. It is not the governments job to provide us with health care. It is our job to seek out and provide for our own care.
Our Dear Leader - Obama loves the little children
Isn’t it nice to see the resurgence of children singing songs of praise to their elected leaders? I saw videos of children singing songs to “The Dear Leader” (as titled in youtube prior to the election and now pulled from youtube) and most recently children praising President Obama earlier this summer because, “He said, Red, Yellow, Black or White, are all equal in his sight, Mmm, Mmmm, Mmm, Barck Hussien Obama”. I don’t know of any time in our history that this has been done. I don’t remember hearing of children singing to George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, etc. Yes, it makes me so proud to see the youth of today indoctrinated to love their leaders and sing songs of praise to them. The only thing I can equate it to is the way children sang songs to other leaders like Lenin, Mao, Hitler, Castro, and Chavez. Our children (and I mean nationwide, not necessarily Geneva/Ashtabula) can’t sing Christmas carols or have Christmas break (it is referred to as Winter Recess) because this is seen as bringing religion into the classroom but they are being encouraged to sing praises to Obama. "Give me four years to teach the children and the seed I have sown will never be uprooted."-- Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.
In a related story, I just saw a video of community organizers, “The Gamaliel Foundation”, in what appears to be a religious ceremony (mock?) complete with the leaders in robes at the point similar to when the priest or pastor says the prayers for the sick and the needy and the congregation says “hear our prayer” instead quoting the prophet Jeramiah and the congregation crying out in response “hear our cry Obama” and “Deliver us Obama”. Is this the hope and change, the “fundamentally transforming of the United States of America” that the people voted for? Does anyone else see a problem with this?
In a related story, I just saw a video of community organizers, “The Gamaliel Foundation”, in what appears to be a religious ceremony (mock?) complete with the leaders in robes at the point similar to when the priest or pastor says the prayers for the sick and the needy and the congregation says “hear our prayer” instead quoting the prophet Jeramiah and the congregation crying out in response “hear our cry Obama” and “Deliver us Obama”. Is this the hope and change, the “fundamentally transforming of the United States of America” that the people voted for? Does anyone else see a problem with this?
Flag etiquette
Despite the weather, The Grape Jamboree parades were still very nice. Geneva does a good job of putting on parades and I enjoy watching them each year. They were only marred by a few things. People next to me kept asking if it was over because of the large distances between the participants. They couldn’t see down the street and after a group would pass and be down the block with no one directly in front they would ask if that was the end. It did, however, give time for large crowds to cross the street; which they did numerous times. I could not believe the number of times large groups of people would walk in front of a moving vehicle to cross the street during the parade. Especially within 5 seconds of the announcer asking people NOT to walk in front of moving vehicles. Lastly, my seven year old son knows that when the American Flag passes by in a parade, you stand at attention, take off your hat if you are wearing one, and place your right hand over your heart. Public Law No. 110-181 Section 9 of title 4 states, United States Code states, “All persons present in uniform should render the military salute. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute.” It is a shame that many adults do not know or practice this basic Flag etiquette. If you ask my children what the American Flag stands for, they will tell you in a word “freedom”. As a veteran, I find it disheartening that people of all ages don’t give the due respect that our Flag deserves. When you stand at attention with your hand over your heart, you are in effect remembering your pledge of allegiance as well as paying respect and remembering those that came before you and fought for the freedoms that you enjoy in this country. Freedoms that many people around the world don’t have. Like no other standard, our Flag is seen as a symbol of freedom wherever it flies. I know of no other country on earth that people will risk everything they have, including their lives, to be a part of. I haven’t ever heard of living the Cuban or Russian or even the Canadian dream. I don’t think it is asking too much to show the respect due to the symbol of this country. God Bless America.
Michelle's tall tale to the IOC
I listened with interest to Michelle Obama make the very moving appeal to the IOC why Chicago should be the site of the 2016 Olympics. It was touching to hear her say “Some of my best memories are sitting on my dad’s lap, cheering on Olga and Nadia, Carl Lewis, and others for their brilliance and perfection.” I know when I heard that I remembered when I was younger and my family sitting around the television watching America, the Soviet Union, and the occasional East Germany three way battle out in the Olympic fields. I distinctly remember
watching Olga Korbut in 1976 (I don’t remember much of the ’72 Olympics) when she wiped tears from her eyes the whole world cried with her. She is credited with inspiring thousands of little girls going into gymnastics. Nadia Comaneci was only 14 and I was all of 11 when this beautiful girl competed in 1976 and I found myself watching gymnastics to see the pretty girls. When Mrs. Obama recalled Carl Lewis (insert sound of needle being pulled across the record)! Carl Lewis? This is where she lost credibility. I knew by this time the rest of her speech was probably just a story told to appeal to the judges but short
on truth. Carl Lewis first appeared in the Olympic games in 1984; three years after Michelle graduated from high school. Mrs. Obama is a little over 1 year older than me. So if I am to believe her, she sat on the lap of her 49 year old father at the ripe age of 21 watching the Olympics. I can only imagine the love her father must have had for his daughter to endure the pain of having a grown woman sitting on his lap. Pain because Frasier Robinson, Michelle Obama’s father, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in his early 30’s according to her speech at the Democratic National Convention and I can only imagine the pain he was in.
In this day and age of YouTube and the internet, don’t you think that politicians would at least try make their lies credible? The list of minorities that were in the 72 and 76 Olympics is substantial. Why not use Michael or Leon Spinks? Brothers who both took home Gold Medals. They were recognizable names? Why pick someone so easy to check that people are going to remember him clearly and verify if you are telling the truth or not? The IOC probably did a quick internet check and found her lying in as little as two minutes. I realize that she probably didn’t write her speech. It was probably written by a staffer who wanted to make an impression on the IOC and Mrs. Obama probably just read it off a teleprompter inserting the appropriate batting of the eyes, practiced head shakes and pauses where prompted. But, didn’t she even read it beforehand to check that what was written was truthful or believable? What else did she lie about? Valerie Jarrett, a top White House adviser, CEO of a Chicago construction company bidding on the contract to build the 3,500 Olympic Village and Chicago slum lord who stood to make millions off of the buildings that would need to be torn down to make way for the proposed Olympic village, promised “there wouldn’t be a dry eye in the room” after she (Michelle Obama) spoke. She probably wasn’t expecting it to be from laughter. Ms. Jarrett also said, "Our intel said we were really close, we were number two. There was only it was down to two of us." Strike two; We were last place. The intelligence was wrong
on the Olympic committee. Can you imagine how good our intelligence is on Iran?
As in the book 1984 (in honor of Mr. Lewis) the Obama administration has decreed that all textbooks will be rewritten to include Carl Lewis as a medal winner in the 72 and 76 Olympics and references to President’s unsuccessful trip to
Copenhagen will be stricken so the state will remain infallible. (The last sentence is a joke for those readers that take me too serious – gotta go, I think the television is watching me again.)
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