Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Hope & Change Blog-really hit my funny bone...
Just a clever little blog-hope and change and czars, Oh My!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Oh wait, another, another Czar
Okay, Obama now has more Czar's than the Romanov's! Is anyone paying attention? He has appointed a Czar to "look in to" executive pay? Of course the latest, Kenneth Feinberg, the pay Czar is really titled "special master". Are you kidding me???? Okay-let me get this straight. We are taking our country back to the time of Czars (the Romanov's were the second and last imperial dynasty {Czar} of Russia, which ruled the country from 1613 to 1917) AND we have a special master? One could not make this stuff up and be believed.
The man that has never, ever run or governed anything of importance now runs the country, our foreign policy, the banks and the car companies. He is deciding, with the help of inexperienced, unelected people, who the winners and losers will be and how much can be spent on compensation for employees. People, people, people-you have got to wake up and smell the coffee-stop drinking the kool-aid. This is the biggest over reach of government in the history of this country. All with virtually no real oversight and no accountability.
And what exactly have these "Czars" and the billions and billions and billions done to resolve or address the real pressing issues facing our country?
The man that has never, ever run or governed anything of importance now runs the country, our foreign policy, the banks and the car companies. He is deciding, with the help of inexperienced, unelected people, who the winners and losers will be and how much can be spent on compensation for employees. People, people, people-you have got to wake up and smell the coffee-stop drinking the kool-aid. This is the biggest over reach of government in the history of this country. All with virtually no real oversight and no accountability.
And what exactly have these "Czars" and the billions and billions and billions done to resolve or address the real pressing issues facing our country?
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Another Czar?????
Wow, it is now beyond scary! Our government naming Czars to control this, that and the other thing, don't think this was in the big plan our forefathers had for the United States! Folks have got to wake up. Free countries don't have dam Czars.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Obama to name a new Czar
Really? Isn't this America? Why is Obama naming another "czar"? We used to have a process here in the United States. Now we have a government taking over companies, firing and hiring and naming "Czars"?? This really is outrageous. We have a global warming Czar, Ms. Browner, a health care Czar, Nancy-Ann DeParle, a big-picture economic Czar, Paul Volcker and a bank bailout Czar, Herb Allison. According to Steve Holland, "There's a drug czar, a U.S. border czar, an urban czar, a regulatory czar, a stimulus accountability czar, an Iran czar, a Middle East czar, and a czar for both Afghanistan and Pakistan, which in Washington-speak has been lumped together into a policy area called Af-Pak."
Many now feel that Obama’s unprecedented installation of “Czars”, lackeys that have to report directly to the President, overstepping any other branch of government or oversight, is a dangerous new direction for the United States and surely has no precedent in our Constitution. One does wonder why the Senate and the House aren't up in arms over this. In the past a current "urgent" issue may have catapulted a new bureaucracy to try to reign in an out of control entity, but what we have here is simply unacceptable. All on the government's dime (read that as our money) we have groups here, there and everywhere coming up with new and in most cases, ridiculous ideas. How is this helping our economy? How is this keeping us safe? Well, it isn't.
Many now feel that Obama’s unprecedented installation of “Czars”, lackeys that have to report directly to the President, overstepping any other branch of government or oversight, is a dangerous new direction for the United States and surely has no precedent in our Constitution. One does wonder why the Senate and the House aren't up in arms over this. In the past a current "urgent" issue may have catapulted a new bureaucracy to try to reign in an out of control entity, but what we have here is simply unacceptable. All on the government's dime (read that as our money) we have groups here, there and everywhere coming up with new and in most cases, ridiculous ideas. How is this helping our economy? How is this keeping us safe? Well, it isn't.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Another one under the bus.....
They do seem to drop like flies in this administration. Bummer, one would assume this guy at least paid his taxes.........
Jon & Kate
It seemed quite inevitable to us the first time we watched Jon & Kate plus 8 that this was a union doomed to fail. Forget that almost every "reality" show that has ever been on ends in some kind of failure for the participants. These two people never talked to or about one another like a loving, normal and stable couple would. Nice to say here we are, warts and all, but on TV, well the warts really are magnified. Also easy to be glib and say we don't listen to the nonsense in the tabloids, etc. Hogwash! If it is okay to be disrespectful while on the tape one can only imagine how utterly uncivil they must be when by themselves.
The children really are delightful though. Kate does a phenomenal job with the large brood. Obviously she has her priorities spot on when it comes to their meals, their schedules, their health, hygiene, expectations, etc. She runs a tight ship and I would say is pretty lucky to have the help she has, considering her sharp tongue. It is not easy to run a household full of little children! Jon, almost from the beginning, seemed to be sort of hapless. He then morphed in to this pity poor me character. Kate on the other hand really started looking more lively, perhaps from her writing and the opportunities it was affording her. I do believe she has clear vision as to how financially beneficial this show is to her family and their future. I don't fault her for that. Money is pretty dog-gone important when you have children, especially eight children. Apparently the two of them were not or are not on the same page on this. Jon doesn't seem to really like that Kate is "out on her own" promoting the book and the show. Maybe it is more he doesn't like being trapped at home, something millions of stay at home Moms could commiserate with him about at times. Wasn't his complaint that it is all "Jon & Kate", not just Jon? If she would have said that I would have said to her, same as I say to him, good Lord, get over yourself and grow up! That is what you sign up for when you have kids. There are no guarantees that all is going to be wonderful or easy.
When someone has as much at stake as one would surmise Jon does, it certainly is stunning to think he is out partying with college kids. There is an icky factor there I can't seem to get by. Hope they don't have young ladies doing any of the "nanny" work (and yes Kate-even though you said you would NEVER have a nanny, that is what your "helper" is). Not a prayer I would let my teenage daughter babysit for them. Makes no difference what one thinks of Kate. The guy has eight kids, five of them are girls and he is out partying with young women?
What is really sad is of course what this is going to mean for the children. There is no way on earth they aren't touched or harmed by this. Kids don't want to have to choose between parents, they don't like being in the middle and certainly don't like it when their parents are unhappy. And typically children act out when such tension is present in the home between their parents. If you've ever had marital problems you know how difficult it is to focus on anything besides the relationship that is in tatters.
Maybe Jon and Kate should stop the "tours", stop the show and work out the free fall that is their marriage. I don't have much hope for any success but they have eight good reasons to work like hell to fix it and fix it soon.
The children really are delightful though. Kate does a phenomenal job with the large brood. Obviously she has her priorities spot on when it comes to their meals, their schedules, their health, hygiene, expectations, etc. She runs a tight ship and I would say is pretty lucky to have the help she has, considering her sharp tongue. It is not easy to run a household full of little children! Jon, almost from the beginning, seemed to be sort of hapless. He then morphed in to this pity poor me character. Kate on the other hand really started looking more lively, perhaps from her writing and the opportunities it was affording her. I do believe she has clear vision as to how financially beneficial this show is to her family and their future. I don't fault her for that. Money is pretty dog-gone important when you have children, especially eight children. Apparently the two of them were not or are not on the same page on this. Jon doesn't seem to really like that Kate is "out on her own" promoting the book and the show. Maybe it is more he doesn't like being trapped at home, something millions of stay at home Moms could commiserate with him about at times. Wasn't his complaint that it is all "Jon & Kate", not just Jon? If she would have said that I would have said to her, same as I say to him, good Lord, get over yourself and grow up! That is what you sign up for when you have kids. There are no guarantees that all is going to be wonderful or easy.
When someone has as much at stake as one would surmise Jon does, it certainly is stunning to think he is out partying with college kids. There is an icky factor there I can't seem to get by. Hope they don't have young ladies doing any of the "nanny" work (and yes Kate-even though you said you would NEVER have a nanny, that is what your "helper" is). Not a prayer I would let my teenage daughter babysit for them. Makes no difference what one thinks of Kate. The guy has eight kids, five of them are girls and he is out partying with young women?
What is really sad is of course what this is going to mean for the children. There is no way on earth they aren't touched or harmed by this. Kids don't want to have to choose between parents, they don't like being in the middle and certainly don't like it when their parents are unhappy. And typically children act out when such tension is present in the home between their parents. If you've ever had marital problems you know how difficult it is to focus on anything besides the relationship that is in tatters.
Maybe Jon and Kate should stop the "tours", stop the show and work out the free fall that is their marriage. I don't have much hope for any success but they have eight good reasons to work like hell to fix it and fix it soon.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Senior Spector?
Spector must not have been paying attention. His fellow Democrats only say things to make people feel better, they don't actually do what they say they are going to do. It is laughable that he thought he could just change because he didn't think his constituency was with him anymore. Sort of looks like he was a useful idiot for at least one or two news cycles. What do you suppose the over/under is on him being re-elected?
Class Warfare
And this goes to show that the Democrats have successfully amped up the class warfare. Taxes are one issue. We all pay way too much in taxes, regardless of what we earn. It is reckless and unconscionable that our very own government has nothing but disdain for business and the people that work in those businesses. Crooks belong in jail. Too say or imply that all managers or owners are greedy because they work hard and want to make money is absolutely stunning. There is a reason many came to America and were very happy to raise their children in a country that put no limits on their potential. Amazingly Americans don't know what the "American Dream" is or was anymore. We have a President that talks about "greedy" speculators? Hello world, those "speculators", better known as stockholders, are all of us that have retirement accounts. Our hard earned money goes in to those companies and unlike the government, those companies are expected to produce and earn! Class warfare, straight up. Are there terrible companies that deserve to fail? Of course. Are there lousy cheats running various entities? Of course. And who props them up? Our government. Banks that made bad business decisions should have been left to fail. Our Government that likes to regulate everything sees to it they can pull all sorts of shady crap on their customers-they are not looking out for us as they should be-they get their cash from the bank lobby and screw us. Car companies that have not been able to build a car people want to buy should have been left to fail. In their defense they have bureaucrats that have never produced anything telling them how to build their vehicles. They have also not stood up to unions and that is also a big part of their demise. People that bought houses they clearly couldn't afford should lose those houses. Our Government and idiots like Barney Frank had a huge hand in that debacle. Government interference in all of these areas has exacerbated the problems. But for the government that simply takes and takes and takes to vilify people and businesses that work hard for a profit, shame, shame on them. Folks need to wake up because the “rich” bar keeps getting lowered. Those of us that have worked for 45 years and saved for our retirement don’t feel like greedy rich people! All this stimulus BS cash? If they would have sent $100,000.00 to each of us we could have been more successful at stimulating and the cost would have been substantially lower. The fat cats, both sides, just pulled off the biggest scam in the history of this country!
Monday, May 4, 2009
PETER FERRARA: Obama’s Auto Bailout Plan STEALS From Investors and Gives to the Government
Click title to read the article (article also follows my post).
Well, it is pretty dog gone scary when the President says we are going to assume you are guilty and you have to prove you are innocent. Yes indeed, tax cheats running the joint and a President that has nothing but disdain for job creators. Ayn Rand so eloquently said: “Run for your life from any man who tells you that money is evil. That sentence is the leper's bell of an approaching looter.” Our President is telling us that shareholders are evil and "greedy speculators". No Mr. Obama, they are the ones investing and taking risks. And folks, that would be you if you have a 401K or any other retirement account. We don't put that money in Gore's "lock box"; we spread that wealth around hoping to gain more wealth. That is not evil, that is called planning for your future! To Lonie & Bob from the Old School, hey you will have no choice about the cars you will buy in the future-your government will be dictating what can be made and what you can buy. Worked real well in the Soviet Union didn't it? WAKE UP people! This administration is too outrageous for words. Oh, and ask the people in Kenosha WI how they feel about the government helping the car makers out. They got the big screw today and I think they are quite possibly "seeing the light".
As posted on the Fox News site:
By Peter FerraraDirector, Entitlement and Budget Policy, Institute for Policy Innovation/General Counsel of the American Civil Rights Union
How is Obama not a socialist? Under his “auto bailout” policy, the government would be taking GM and Chrysler away from the investors, with majority controlling interest for GM placed instead in the hands of the government (with 50% common stock ownership), and the majority interest for Chrysler (55%) to be given to the UAW union. This is exactly what socialism is.
This policy basically involves stealing the company from the investors and giving it to the federal government and the auto union. This is especially clear for the senior bondholders that Obama has now taken to deriding as greedy. These bondholders agreed to lend money to the auto companies on the condition that the debt owed to them would be senior to the debts of others. Senior means they would be paid first out of the company’s available revenues.
The problem with stealing as national policy, besides being immoral, is that it is impractical.
But the auto bailout Obama wants them to agree to would pay these senior bondholders somewhere between 5% and 30% of what they are owed, while everyone else, including the unions and the government, would get a much higher percentage of what they are owed. So Obama’s deal means they would be last instead of first, as was agreed, to get them to lend the money in the first place. The bondholders were consequently quite right to object to this theft of their money and force the whole deal into bankruptcy court, where the rights of senior creditors are understood and respected.
The issue is not whether these bondholders should sacrifice as part of the auto bailout deal, as Obama claimed last week. None of them are claiming they should get 100% of what they are owed. But given that they agreed to lend their money in the first place on the condition that they be paid back first before others, they should at the very least get back the same percentage as the others. I think that Obama is ignorant of this whole concept of senior bondholders, and, therefore, doesn’t know what he is talking about in discussing the auto bailout.
The problem with stealing as national policy, besides being immoral, is that it is impractical. If the rights of these senior bondholders are not respected, then the auto companies will never be able to borrow money again on the promise that the lender will be paid back first out of available revenues. This will worsen the prospects for success of the bailout. It will also mean more costs for the taxpayers, who will have to pay more in the future to cover what the companies can no longer borrow.
This is made all the worse because the entire auto bailout is illegal. The TARP funds funding the bailout were originally authorized by Congress to be used to bail out the banks, not auto companies. So what is involved is stealing from the taxpayers as well. Hopefully, someone will sue in the bankruptcy court on behalf of taxpayers making this argument, and seek to shut the whole bailout down.
Obama’s lawless piracy in regard to the auto bailout has broader implications. Investors nationwide and around the world will see that their legal and property rights may not be respected if they invest in Obama’s New Amerika. So they are less likely to invest here and promote economic recovery, and more likely to look to invest where the thieves will not accuse them of stealing and immorality for looking to get their own money back.
Peter Ferrara is Director of Entitlement and Budget Policy for the Institute for Policy Innovation, and General Counsel of the American Civil Rights Union. He served in the White House Office of Policy Development under President Reagan, and as Associate Deputy Attorney General of the United States under the first President Bush. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Harvard College.
Well, it is pretty dog gone scary when the President says we are going to assume you are guilty and you have to prove you are innocent. Yes indeed, tax cheats running the joint and a President that has nothing but disdain for job creators. Ayn Rand so eloquently said: “Run for your life from any man who tells you that money is evil. That sentence is the leper's bell of an approaching looter.” Our President is telling us that shareholders are evil and "greedy speculators". No Mr. Obama, they are the ones investing and taking risks. And folks, that would be you if you have a 401K or any other retirement account. We don't put that money in Gore's "lock box"; we spread that wealth around hoping to gain more wealth. That is not evil, that is called planning for your future! To Lonie & Bob from the Old School, hey you will have no choice about the cars you will buy in the future-your government will be dictating what can be made and what you can buy. Worked real well in the Soviet Union didn't it? WAKE UP people! This administration is too outrageous for words. Oh, and ask the people in Kenosha WI how they feel about the government helping the car makers out. They got the big screw today and I think they are quite possibly "seeing the light".
As posted on the Fox News site:
By Peter FerraraDirector, Entitlement and Budget Policy, Institute for Policy Innovation/General Counsel of the American Civil Rights Union
How is Obama not a socialist? Under his “auto bailout” policy, the government would be taking GM and Chrysler away from the investors, with majority controlling interest for GM placed instead in the hands of the government (with 50% common stock ownership), and the majority interest for Chrysler (55%) to be given to the UAW union. This is exactly what socialism is.
This policy basically involves stealing the company from the investors and giving it to the federal government and the auto union. This is especially clear for the senior bondholders that Obama has now taken to deriding as greedy. These bondholders agreed to lend money to the auto companies on the condition that the debt owed to them would be senior to the debts of others. Senior means they would be paid first out of the company’s available revenues.
The problem with stealing as national policy, besides being immoral, is that it is impractical.
But the auto bailout Obama wants them to agree to would pay these senior bondholders somewhere between 5% and 30% of what they are owed, while everyone else, including the unions and the government, would get a much higher percentage of what they are owed. So Obama’s deal means they would be last instead of first, as was agreed, to get them to lend the money in the first place. The bondholders were consequently quite right to object to this theft of their money and force the whole deal into bankruptcy court, where the rights of senior creditors are understood and respected.
The issue is not whether these bondholders should sacrifice as part of the auto bailout deal, as Obama claimed last week. None of them are claiming they should get 100% of what they are owed. But given that they agreed to lend their money in the first place on the condition that they be paid back first before others, they should at the very least get back the same percentage as the others. I think that Obama is ignorant of this whole concept of senior bondholders, and, therefore, doesn’t know what he is talking about in discussing the auto bailout.
The problem with stealing as national policy, besides being immoral, is that it is impractical. If the rights of these senior bondholders are not respected, then the auto companies will never be able to borrow money again on the promise that the lender will be paid back first out of available revenues. This will worsen the prospects for success of the bailout. It will also mean more costs for the taxpayers, who will have to pay more in the future to cover what the companies can no longer borrow.
This is made all the worse because the entire auto bailout is illegal. The TARP funds funding the bailout were originally authorized by Congress to be used to bail out the banks, not auto companies. So what is involved is stealing from the taxpayers as well. Hopefully, someone will sue in the bankruptcy court on behalf of taxpayers making this argument, and seek to shut the whole bailout down.
Obama’s lawless piracy in regard to the auto bailout has broader implications. Investors nationwide and around the world will see that their legal and property rights may not be respected if they invest in Obama’s New Amerika. So they are less likely to invest here and promote economic recovery, and more likely to look to invest where the thieves will not accuse them of stealing and immorality for looking to get their own money back.
Peter Ferrara is Director of Entitlement and Budget Policy for the Institute for Policy Innovation, and General Counsel of the American Civil Rights Union. He served in the White House Office of Policy Development under President Reagan, and as Associate Deputy Attorney General of the United States under the first President Bush. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Harvard College.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Adoptive Mother?
Above is the link to the story of another poor child left in the care of a "family" member by the state or city authorities. This story is repeated again and again in cities all over the United States. The useless Health & Human Services departments of most every city work in conjunction with courts that obviously pay no attention to where they send these helpless children. This cycle can only be broken when we wake up to the fact that the biology of "family" is pretty meaningless in many cases. Families that cannot have children wait and wait and put up with bureaucratic nonsense while children that could use a loving home languish with lousy relatives or in foster homes. Many foster parents that want to adopt also languish in the court system while parents and relatives that have abused or don't support their children are allowed to destroy any chances the kids have for a future. If we don't protect the most helpless among us what kind of a society are we? And why or why are these lousy monsters not put away forever? Social workers that visit homes that are filthy and do not even have a bed for the child much less proper food, clothing, etc. and allow children to stay should lose their jobs. Guess what, maybe it is time to start being a little judgemental for the sake of these poor helpless little babies that never had a chance!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Dim view of Tea Parties???
Article that appeared in Yahoo Finance:
Obama aide takes dim view of anti-tax tea parties
Hold the tea: Obama aide takes dim view of anti-tax parties, says president understands
Monday April 20, 2009, 8:09 am EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Damn the tea bags. A top adviser to President Barack Obama takes a dim view of last week's anti-tax "tea parties," promoted by organizers in the spirit of the Boston Tea Party.
"The thing that bewilders me is this president just cut taxes for 95 percent of the American people. So I think the tea bags should be directed elsewhere because he certainly understands the burden that people face," David Axelrod said Sunday.
The rallies coincided with the deadline to file income taxes, and gave people a chance also to voice frustrations about government spending and corporate bailouts.
The tea parties were promoted by FreedomWorks, a conservative nonprofit advocacy group based in Washington and led by former Republican House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas, who is now a lobbyist.
Axelrod was asked on CBS' "Face the Nation" for his opinion on what the show's host described as "this spreading and very public disaffection with not only the government, but especially the Obama administration."
Axelrod replied: "I think any time that you have severe economic conditions, there is always an element of disaffection that can mutate into something that's unhealthy."
"Unhealthy?" the moderator repeated.
"This is a country where we value our liberties and our ability to express ourselves. And so far these are expressions," Axelrod answered.
I find it amusing that it could be considered "unhealthy" for citizens to become involved with what is happening in their government and with the money the government requires them to pay via taxes.
Obviously the Obama administration is banking on the majority being satisfied that the "rich" are being taxed and the government is doling that money out to those they deem deserve it. They are counting on people not recognizing that the "rich" threshold continues to shrink. They are counting on people not getting that income tax is only one of the many, many taxes we pay. Here in Wisconsin we actually pay taxes assessed by unelected and unaccountable "boards". In Washington we have the feckless Geithner passing out money like candy and he is absolutely clueless in how to protect the taxpayer. He doesn't care. We have a cabinet filled with people that believe everyone but them should pay taxes.
Does this sound like angry rhetoric? Well it is. And thank God I live in America and can voice these opinions. I do not take it for granted and I think many others are beginning to feel the same way. The tea parties are just the beginning. And all you lefties, get a grip. Being mad as hell and not wanting to take it anymore does not make us hateful. We are pissed off-big difference. We aren't racists because we disagree with these out of control spending policies, we are concerned citizens, exercising our rights. Someone in Washington has got to start paying attention to those of us out in the trenches. We are out here working hard, saving for our futures and we are pretty dog gone sick and tired of the government taking our money, spending it foolishly, imposing burdens on our children and not being fiscally responsible. So far all I see is that the government has been taking over private business, firing people, trying to limit the income people should be allowed to make and propping up banks that still are not lending properly. GM couldn't operate a profitable business, is there truly anyone in the world that believes that the government can? Wake up. This is the reason for a "tea party".
Obama aide takes dim view of anti-tax tea parties
Hold the tea: Obama aide takes dim view of anti-tax parties, says president understands
Monday April 20, 2009, 8:09 am EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Damn the tea bags. A top adviser to President Barack Obama takes a dim view of last week's anti-tax "tea parties," promoted by organizers in the spirit of the Boston Tea Party.
"The thing that bewilders me is this president just cut taxes for 95 percent of the American people. So I think the tea bags should be directed elsewhere because he certainly understands the burden that people face," David Axelrod said Sunday.
The rallies coincided with the deadline to file income taxes, and gave people a chance also to voice frustrations about government spending and corporate bailouts.
The tea parties were promoted by FreedomWorks, a conservative nonprofit advocacy group based in Washington and led by former Republican House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas, who is now a lobbyist.
Axelrod was asked on CBS' "Face the Nation" for his opinion on what the show's host described as "this spreading and very public disaffection with not only the government, but especially the Obama administration."
Axelrod replied: "I think any time that you have severe economic conditions, there is always an element of disaffection that can mutate into something that's unhealthy."
"Unhealthy?" the moderator repeated.
"This is a country where we value our liberties and our ability to express ourselves. And so far these are expressions," Axelrod answered.
I find it amusing that it could be considered "unhealthy" for citizens to become involved with what is happening in their government and with the money the government requires them to pay via taxes.
Obviously the Obama administration is banking on the majority being satisfied that the "rich" are being taxed and the government is doling that money out to those they deem deserve it. They are counting on people not recognizing that the "rich" threshold continues to shrink. They are counting on people not getting that income tax is only one of the many, many taxes we pay. Here in Wisconsin we actually pay taxes assessed by unelected and unaccountable "boards". In Washington we have the feckless Geithner passing out money like candy and he is absolutely clueless in how to protect the taxpayer. He doesn't care. We have a cabinet filled with people that believe everyone but them should pay taxes.
Does this sound like angry rhetoric? Well it is. And thank God I live in America and can voice these opinions. I do not take it for granted and I think many others are beginning to feel the same way. The tea parties are just the beginning. And all you lefties, get a grip. Being mad as hell and not wanting to take it anymore does not make us hateful. We are pissed off-big difference. We aren't racists because we disagree with these out of control spending policies, we are concerned citizens, exercising our rights. Someone in Washington has got to start paying attention to those of us out in the trenches. We are out here working hard, saving for our futures and we are pretty dog gone sick and tired of the government taking our money, spending it foolishly, imposing burdens on our children and not being fiscally responsible. So far all I see is that the government has been taking over private business, firing people, trying to limit the income people should be allowed to make and propping up banks that still are not lending properly. GM couldn't operate a profitable business, is there truly anyone in the world that believes that the government can? Wake up. This is the reason for a "tea party".
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Jennifer Bukosky
As if it isn't outrageous enough that Jennifer and her two daughters were wiped out by a drugged up driver, multiple repeat offender drugged/drunk driver, we get word of an even greater outrage. A Wisconsin judge, Circuit Court Judge J. Mac Davis in Waukesha County lowered the bail and once again this killer is loose. One wonders if the honorable Judge Davis realizes that Benson killed Jennifer and her two daughters just after being convicted again for OWI.
Did anyone actually think this man was a flight risk? I don't think so. I think most of us that followed this story felt that he was a bigger risk to re-offend. This man has no self control. He has been surrounded by enablers and found a grand enabler in Circuit Judge Davis.
And what do you know? This drug addict, that murdered three innocent people, couldn't comply with the bail requirements and is thankfully back in jail and off the streets. Why on earth did Judge Davis lower his bail? How is it repeat offenders that have killed don't get locked up for the protection of the rest of society? This case gets more outrageous at every turn.
Join the fight to get this repeat drunk/drugged drivers off the road! Contact your Senator and your Representative (http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/).
These laws have got to be changed and the judges that preside need to understand that citizens are tired of this. Where in this court system has been the compassion for Jennifer's family?
Did anyone actually think this man was a flight risk? I don't think so. I think most of us that followed this story felt that he was a bigger risk to re-offend. This man has no self control. He has been surrounded by enablers and found a grand enabler in Circuit Judge Davis.
And what do you know? This drug addict, that murdered three innocent people, couldn't comply with the bail requirements and is thankfully back in jail and off the streets. Why on earth did Judge Davis lower his bail? How is it repeat offenders that have killed don't get locked up for the protection of the rest of society? This case gets more outrageous at every turn.
Join the fight to get this repeat drunk/drugged drivers off the road! Contact your Senator and your Representative (http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/).
These laws have got to be changed and the judges that preside need to understand that citizens are tired of this. Where in this court system has been the compassion for Jennifer's family?
Obama vigorously defended his embattled Treasury secretary, Timothy Geithner.
I would say Timothy Geithner should probably start clearing out his desk. Once Obama is behind you, well ask the Pastor, ask his Grandma, ask Aunti Zeituni Onyango or Tony Rezko, you are toast!
Amazing that Geithner, this super star, this tax dodger, was so very important we had to overlook everything that might have been a flag, is so hapless. I don't know, guy seems pretty clueless to me. Talk about your "deer in the headlight" look. I suppose though it is fair to say that since Congress doesn't read any of the bills it passes chances are neither do any of these other little departments that are spending our money like drunken sailors*.
*Apologies to drunken sailors.
Amazing that Geithner, this super star, this tax dodger, was so very important we had to overlook everything that might have been a flag, is so hapless. I don't know, guy seems pretty clueless to me. Talk about your "deer in the headlight" look. I suppose though it is fair to say that since Congress doesn't read any of the bills it passes chances are neither do any of these other little departments that are spending our money like drunken sailors*.
*Apologies to drunken sailors.
Obama and the teleprompter
Can you imagine what the furor would be if the cowboy GW Bush had "mis-spoke" because he simply read the teleprompter and didn't have the good sense to realize the speech wasn't his? Or McCain? Or that stupid Sarah Palin? Yeah, you know what it would have been.
Perhaps people are going to start getting that Obama is a man of words and words alone-do we know if they are even his written words?
He will go on Jay Leno's show and explain the mess. What? Since when does the President of the United States go on a late night talk show and explain policy to the citizens of this country? Surely the "sweater chats" are on their way.
They dyed all the fountains green in celebration of St. Patrick's Day-whoopee! And of course there was a big party at the White House. Was that the day before or after he said Vets should pay for their own health care for war related injuries/maladies?
Maybe it is me, but it is like Rome is burning and the Emperor is fiddling away!
Perhaps people will actually get that in addition to simply being a man of words (which we really aren't sure are his) he is absolutely clueless. He is throwing crap at the wall and hoping something, anything will stick. His hapless crew, aided by the bigger hapless crew in Congress, is digging us in to a hole that is almost becoming insurmountable.
This guy is a snake-oil salesman. That in and of itself would probably not be the end of the world however the rest of the world is watching. Small countries struggling in their new democracies are listening in horror as the United States talks about protectionism. Those that believe terrorists and terrorism are real threats are really paying attention to the apparent inability of this administration to grasp this very real threat!
I'm sorry, I know I sound like the Mayor of New Orleans but hell, I'm beginning to think WE'RE ALL GONNA SINK HERE!
Perhaps people are going to start getting that Obama is a man of words and words alone-do we know if they are even his written words?
He will go on Jay Leno's show and explain the mess. What? Since when does the President of the United States go on a late night talk show and explain policy to the citizens of this country? Surely the "sweater chats" are on their way.
They dyed all the fountains green in celebration of St. Patrick's Day-whoopee! And of course there was a big party at the White House. Was that the day before or after he said Vets should pay for their own health care for war related injuries/maladies?
Maybe it is me, but it is like Rome is burning and the Emperor is fiddling away!
Perhaps people will actually get that in addition to simply being a man of words (which we really aren't sure are his) he is absolutely clueless. He is throwing crap at the wall and hoping something, anything will stick. His hapless crew, aided by the bigger hapless crew in Congress, is digging us in to a hole that is almost becoming insurmountable.
This guy is a snake-oil salesman. That in and of itself would probably not be the end of the world however the rest of the world is watching. Small countries struggling in their new democracies are listening in horror as the United States talks about protectionism. Those that believe terrorists and terrorism are real threats are really paying attention to the apparent inability of this administration to grasp this very real threat!
I'm sorry, I know I sound like the Mayor of New Orleans but hell, I'm beginning to think WE'RE ALL GONNA SINK HERE!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Lee Iacocca
The latest email going around is a shortened version of Iacocca's rant on leaders. I did my due diligence and checked it out on Snopes (link in the title to read the piece in its entirety). Most of what was said in the email I received was true. I did read the whole piece though and have a few bones to pick with Mr. Iacocca. To him I would have to say:
I will agree wholeheartedly that there are a bunch of Bozos running our country. Corporate gangsters, yeah they are pretty lousy. I'm unsure how exactly the government can protect us from them. The government is of course one of the biggest thieves of our money. Aren't there all sorts of government oversight organizations that are supposed to be on this watch? Yes, I'm sure there are. We sure as hell don't need another "government" oversight formed.
The car manufacturers don't think they need to build cars that are ultra efficient or run on alternative fuels, also efficiently. If they did, then they would have. Congress has had no problem telling car makers all the little extras they would like to see them build in to a car. They (Congress) don't give a rip if folks can afford that car. And the unions have pushed American cars almost out of reach of most regular working Americans that would like to purchase an "American" car.
Katrina? Well I think the big break down there was at the local level-correct me if I'm wrong-they re-elected the mayor-Mr. "We're all gonna die" Clarence Ray Nagin. That is Bush's fault? While the federal departments didn't seem to be equipped to handle this disaster one would have to honestly say, those there in New Orleans, those on the ground had the greatest responsibility and of course had the greatest failure. The real disaster was not Katrina, it was the levies failing. Levies that they knew could not handle a really big storm. The bigger disgrace is that we are still paying for hotels, etc. for folks that lost homes, etc. At some point people do have to try to do some things for themselves. The millions and millions and millions we have sent to Louisiana is like throwing money down a black hole. Happy to hear no matter how bad things are they had their Mardi Gras. Really, are there any priorities? If we ever had an actual honest oversight board I think the books on Katrina and Louisiana would be a helluva read!
Stay the course. I would have to say I don't buy the "stay the course" argument unless I see a plan. Congress has no plan except to get re-elected or gain power. That of course is why nothing, absolutely nothing constructive gets done.
I think maybe you are getting senile. I do not believe that the President was given a free pass to ignore the constitution, tap our phones or lead us to war on a pack of lies. Once again the mantra that has no fact basis is reiterated as though it is fact. During war, and like it or not, as of September 11, 2001 we have been at war, historically, extreme measures are put in place as protections. I don't recall that all the immigrants that heralded from the middle east were rounded up and interred, as the Japanese were during World War 2. I've searched the archives and have not found evidence of the government "tapping" the telephones of innocent citizens. And finally, Congress was behind Mr. Bush in regards to Iraq. Remember the vote? We do have a process here in the United States. The Middle East has been a mess for many, many years. At least you didn't say it was Bush's fault that they hated us. They hate us. They always have. They always will. Amazingly Iraq is not as big a mess as it was. If we had a press that actually did its work we might know a few more of the stories coming out of that country. The vast majority of the men and women fighting or serving over there do believe their mission is a worthy one and do believe they are making a difference.
Don't assume what I have said so far means I am not outraged. I am rendered speechless at times I am so outraged! (And trust me, those that know me find the fact I could be speechless absolutely stunning!) Do you know who was really outraged on 9/11? Those iPod toting young folks you alluded to. In droves they signed up to serve this country and indeed represent the military overseas. And now as everyone becomes weary of the war they are denigrated, slandered or just forgotten. This is very disheartening to those of us from the Viet Nam era. Soldiers are not the enemy, they are simply doing their duty. Do we still have a huge disengaged population? Of course, always did, unfortunately we always will. Our founding fathers didn't expect what was so hard fought for (remember that war?) would be so callously disregarded. Many young people don't get the connection but I wouldn't limit it just to the young. Most people don't get the power these stupid politicians have. Clueless politicians telling businesses how to run, choosing how to spend our hard earned dollars, deciding who they think deserves more, etc. It is outrageous and quite honestly it isn't going to change. And as they continue to take from those that have and give to those that they think deserve, the numbers skew and soon there will be no turning back. We are inches away from the majority being those that want from others rather than those that want to produce. Politicians do what they do because they know they can. They have written themselves raises and sanctuary and getting rid of them is near impossible. It is all about the money. Today, even when you think you like or admire a politician, hell, they have sold their soul for that seat and they are not serving you. They are serving the devil that bought them the seat!
The Constitution again. Free Speech. These next few years may be the years we decide if indeed Free Speech is one of the "Freedoms" we really cherish and are willing to fight for. Thank God Mr. Iacocca, I come from the democracy, this great experiment, America. You thought Bush was dicking around with the Constitution? Have you heard about the fairness doctrine? The inability to even ask our President a question without being called a racist? Card check law? Excuse me, these things really infringe on my free speech rights! Ask Joe the Plumber about free speech.
I agree with you wholeheartedly in that we rise and fall together. Sadly, as you alluded to, there are not many real leaders. My theory is the media has made it impossible. They are the ones with the power and the politicians jump as they pull the strings. Oh FDR, Lincoln and Truman knew the wrath of the media but the media was not 24/7 as it is today. I will say that nothing has changed since the "old days": you are a winner if the media has decided they are going to give you a pass or you are toast if they slaughter you . Obviously this is timeless and something you know if you are a student of history. Clearly history has shown us that Truman was a leader that did care about his country, above himself. Come on Lee, can you actually imagine any single one of the "Leaders" today dropping the bomb? And Lincoln, hey, 50% of the population HATED him. Today we look at him as one of the greatest leaders this country has ever had. The civil war was pretty ugly, pretty costly and even though necessary, pretty dog gone unpopular.
Your "C" list. I really found this section interesting.
Curiosity. I'm hoping the leader of the free world {and like it or not that is what the President of the United States is} devours the reports put on his desk by those charged with the daily briefs, filled with fact, not conjecture. You honestly believe the leader of the free world should see what CNN has to say? Get dam real. Obviously you have a problem with Fox News, did you explain that anywhere? Newspapers and news reports are biased whether we like it or not and some more than others. This is the 21st century. Our President does not need to get his "news" from the paper or TV. He lives the news. And while it is nice to be liked the Presidency is not a popularity contest. It is sort of like being a Mom or a Dad or a teacher. Sometimes no one likes you but you have to do what is best. 70 percent may have said Bush stunk but he was elected twice-kind of skews those numbers, doesn't it? And I don't believe Congress has had numbers of approval as high as Mr. Bush. Finally there is not one, no not one, politician that doesn't look at polls.
Creative. I don't think we want to use the word Biden and Creative in the same sentence. That said I am not sure what the point of Mr. Iacocca's section here was. I do believe that one does follow their instincts. Now maybe that isn't something Mr. Iacocca believes. And I do not know what adaptation to change that he was looking for in this section.
Communicate. I do believe that there has been communication. No one is going to come out and tell you how ugly war is. I do not believe that we have been told all is well either. If there is anything that has not been communicated well it would be how grateful many, many, many of the Iraqi's are to have an opportunity. How sad that the turn out at the first real election in Iraq was more than 10 times the kind of turn out at an American election. Additionally they apparently know how to have an election that is not froth with fraud (think ink finger). Was it simply a "photo op" that had a family of a fallen soldier being graciously and honestly thanked by one freed Iraqi woman through that effort? While both were invited to the State of the Union Address, no one, I repeat, no one, could have foreseen that moment. That particular moment spoke volumes.
Character. Personally I don't think power has much to do with character. The right thing? The right thing is what it is inside you. I think it is safe to say that people can disagree on what is the right thing to do. It is an intrinsic thing in my opinion. I would say to this rant by Mr. Iacocca that it is a fallacy that the United States has been responsible for hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi citizens dying. We have saved and liberated hundreds of thousands of Iraqi citizens Mr. Iacocca and as an American I really do take offence to that statement. Prove that our government and our soldiers were responsible for such losses.
Courage. Balls you say? I do know about balls and yes I am a woman that some have said "has balls". Excuse me, "staying the course" even though it wasn't popular took balls in my opinion. Standing up for what you believe in takes balls. And please, there is not a politician alive that does not "sanitize" their town halls, etc. Here I really have to say Pah-lease!
Conviction. Well here I 100% agree with you on Congress. Truly, they are so hapless they may actually get the stupid masses perhaps ready for a Tea Party as called for by Mr. Santelli. Thank God that congress doesn't like to spend a lot of time at work. They are breaking our backs as it is, imagine how much worse it would be if they spent another dam month in Washington! Yikes!!! I do not have facts in front of me concerning the vacation "days" that Bush has taken. I do remember that Regan and his days at the "ranch" were truly fodder for the chattering class. I have to be a bit catty here, at least he wasn't getting blow jobs in the Oval Office by a girl young enough to be his daughter! If you say you don't like his work-product, fine. But honestly, number of days, hours, etc. worked versus what? Get the dam job done. Talking, no matter how eloquent one can speak, is not getting the job done!
Charisma. Mr. Iacocca doesn't like Bush so perceived no charisma. I didn't see him as out of place at any of the summits. He is a President, not a rock star. At least folks weren't wondering who the hell he was going to be chasing around his hotel room that night!
Competent. Once again, the smartest man to walk the earth, Al Gore, didn't win, Bush did. So what does that mean? I'm not really sure. The social security problem has brewed for a very long time. Social security was not to be the health care and disability lifeline for the aged as well as every other person that didn't have other options, as our government has done. It was to be a supplement savings, not an entire way of live and certainly not the bucket of social services it has become. Bush, Clinton, Bush, Regan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson, Kennedy, etc. ALL have a hand at bankrupting that program. Congress has really been the spender-bees here although I agree, Bush should have wielded the veto pen. I do see that as party pay-back and yielding to fear of unpopularity. We have been paying for wars for years and years and years and years. Bush should have pulled the military out of all the dam countries we are in from wars past, especially those that were reticent to participate in the Iraq war but eager to reap benefits of that war.
Common Sense. Very few people are gifted with common sense. I don't know that I could say one way or the other if Bush has common sense or not. Honestly I don't see him as out of touch as many of the others we call leaders. Like it or not many did welcome the Americans as liberators. Like it or not unions run the school systems and it is not for the children it is for their purposes. No disagreement with misplaced loyalty to lousy employees. And the mission accomplished? He was honoring a specific group returning and my disappointment was actually their inability to articulate that, rather let it be something that was used "against" the war effort. Please, don't quote Clinton when talking about common sense. Clinton grew up in a dysfunctional family and he went on to be dysfunctional partner in his own family. Clinton's reality is more in his head than in reality.
The biggest-Crisis. Do you really believe that Bush should have jumped up at that grade school and began to fret, as did Mayor Nagin as the waters continued to rise? Hindsight is a terrific view. Check your timeline. Bush entered the classroom at 9:03am. He was told approximately 2 or 3 minutes later that a second plane had hit the towers. He left the classroom at 9:13am. Quite honestly I cannot imagine the President of the United States jumping up, telling those kids we were under attack and then having a news conference. Those few minutes he "sat" there his aids were able to at least collect a few pieces of information and he could end the session without alarming the children. And to say he was a coward and just flew around is just stupid. Do you think there is a plan in place to protect the president? Do you think it would have been prudent to go to Washington when clearly there were still planes unaccounted for and reports had at least one heading for Washington? This statement has always made my head want to explode. Honestly, does anyone believe that we don't whisk the President away to keep him or her safe, no matter what? The Secret Service pretty much makes that kind of determination in a scenario such as 9/11. And had he galloped back to Washington everyone would have lamented what a stupid cowboy he was. Sure didn't see any congress people hanging around when they heard planes were headed in their direction. As a matter of fact they were all running away from the Capitol.
A Hell of a Mess. I do agree that we are in a hell of a mess. I think we are winning the war. If Iacocca thought we were running the biggest deficit in the history of the country in 2008, holy shit, he must me frothing at the mouth now! Are we losing our manufacturing edge to Asia? Entitlement has crippled companies and they can not compete with countries that are dying for a piece of the pie. Most "high costs" that stifle our economy are precipitated by government intrusion. High gas prices? Well let's discuss this one. We can't drill here. We tax the hell out of gasoline and we love to punish the oil companies. Bad, evil, money making oil companies. Oh wait, shit, that was the only stock my portfolio held that actually was making money I am planning on for retirement. Hapless Jimmy Carter sat there in his cardigan sweater telling us to turn down the heat and walk places. We have been crippled energy-wise since the Carter days! Not one plan, not one, came out of that catastrophe back in the 70's. Schools are a mess because unions have taken the professionalism out of teaching and made it something else. Real teachers are leaving in droves. Putting aside unions as a problem that plagues our education system, we have government bodies that expect teachers to be "parents" to the children they are supposed to be educating. Schools and educators are expected to give kids breakfast, teach them hygiene and report on misdeeds by the parents. They can not touch the children nor can they actually reprimand kids in their classrooms. If they hurt a child's feelings they could lose their jobs! Really, are our leaders going to come from this system? Parents that either don't care enough to see to it their kids eat or brush their teeth or parents so namby-pamby they don't want their precious ones to ever have hurt feelings!
There isn't a bureaucrat around that would protect the rights of the majority of travelers for fear of being labeled a racist or a hater. Excuse me, last I heard it wasn't a dam old lady that commandeered four airplanes with the intent of using them as weapons, or bombed the Cole, or the American Embassy in Beirut in 83, the American Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya & Tanzania in 98 or Yemen in 2008. But profiling would be "racist". We cannot even get this hapless bunch of politicians to pass a stinking travelers bill of rights. Oh that is because the airlines don't want it. The people do, but hell, we are the little people. The protection most of us have in the air now is the hope there will be enough passengers on board that will not sit still for such a takeover! But rest assured, because airlines line the pockets of politicians, you can be held hostage by the Airline for hours and hours and hours, without water, food or compensation for that lost time. Now that is outrageous!
The auto industry was floundering when Mr. Iacocca rescued one of them. How did it happen that the Big 3 are no more? Is that a serious question? Greedy companies that figured protectionism by the government would keep them safe is surely part of it. Is the backbone of our country honestly an industry that didn't have enough pride or fore site to reach the future? If so we are in a world of hurt. Sadly an entire state has been decimated by this industry and the blame and subsequent care of those folks falls on the United States Government? Crazy time indeed.
Mediocrity is accepted when something is better than nothing. That is what has become the norm for many Americans. They have no dream. Whose fault is that? To listen to Iacocca he blames Fox News for scaring politicians to inaction. Has he seen how many channels are available to people? Clearly Fox has some pretty good numbers but really, do you honestly blame Fox for the hapless crew we call Congress? May I remind you and everyone that Congress had lower numbers than even Bush did? Action by congress has now put our children's children's children in debt! America was not Robin Hood Land, it was the land for dreams. People come from all over the world (surely our borders attest to this) to get a piece of that dream. And there are those of us that are here that believe in that dream. We aren't the millionaires or the high charged company executives that go begging to the government for money, we are simply the chumps that keep it all going. But be careful, even chumps have a breaking point and I would say many of us are just about there. We are tired of being called racists. We are tired of being portrayed as stupid. We are sick to death of being talked down to. And we are REALLY done with the stinking elite that think they know better than we do about every aspect of our lives.
I will agree wholeheartedly that there are a bunch of Bozos running our country. Corporate gangsters, yeah they are pretty lousy. I'm unsure how exactly the government can protect us from them. The government is of course one of the biggest thieves of our money. Aren't there all sorts of government oversight organizations that are supposed to be on this watch? Yes, I'm sure there are. We sure as hell don't need another "government" oversight formed.
The car manufacturers don't think they need to build cars that are ultra efficient or run on alternative fuels, also efficiently. If they did, then they would have. Congress has had no problem telling car makers all the little extras they would like to see them build in to a car. They (Congress) don't give a rip if folks can afford that car. And the unions have pushed American cars almost out of reach of most regular working Americans that would like to purchase an "American" car.
Katrina? Well I think the big break down there was at the local level-correct me if I'm wrong-they re-elected the mayor-Mr. "We're all gonna die" Clarence Ray Nagin. That is Bush's fault? While the federal departments didn't seem to be equipped to handle this disaster one would have to honestly say, those there in New Orleans, those on the ground had the greatest responsibility and of course had the greatest failure. The real disaster was not Katrina, it was the levies failing. Levies that they knew could not handle a really big storm. The bigger disgrace is that we are still paying for hotels, etc. for folks that lost homes, etc. At some point people do have to try to do some things for themselves. The millions and millions and millions we have sent to Louisiana is like throwing money down a black hole. Happy to hear no matter how bad things are they had their Mardi Gras. Really, are there any priorities? If we ever had an actual honest oversight board I think the books on Katrina and Louisiana would be a helluva read!
Stay the course. I would have to say I don't buy the "stay the course" argument unless I see a plan. Congress has no plan except to get re-elected or gain power. That of course is why nothing, absolutely nothing constructive gets done.
I think maybe you are getting senile. I do not believe that the President was given a free pass to ignore the constitution, tap our phones or lead us to war on a pack of lies. Once again the mantra that has no fact basis is reiterated as though it is fact. During war, and like it or not, as of September 11, 2001 we have been at war, historically, extreme measures are put in place as protections. I don't recall that all the immigrants that heralded from the middle east were rounded up and interred, as the Japanese were during World War 2. I've searched the archives and have not found evidence of the government "tapping" the telephones of innocent citizens. And finally, Congress was behind Mr. Bush in regards to Iraq. Remember the vote? We do have a process here in the United States. The Middle East has been a mess for many, many years. At least you didn't say it was Bush's fault that they hated us. They hate us. They always have. They always will. Amazingly Iraq is not as big a mess as it was. If we had a press that actually did its work we might know a few more of the stories coming out of that country. The vast majority of the men and women fighting or serving over there do believe their mission is a worthy one and do believe they are making a difference.
Don't assume what I have said so far means I am not outraged. I am rendered speechless at times I am so outraged! (And trust me, those that know me find the fact I could be speechless absolutely stunning!) Do you know who was really outraged on 9/11? Those iPod toting young folks you alluded to. In droves they signed up to serve this country and indeed represent the military overseas. And now as everyone becomes weary of the war they are denigrated, slandered or just forgotten. This is very disheartening to those of us from the Viet Nam era. Soldiers are not the enemy, they are simply doing their duty. Do we still have a huge disengaged population? Of course, always did, unfortunately we always will. Our founding fathers didn't expect what was so hard fought for (remember that war?) would be so callously disregarded. Many young people don't get the connection but I wouldn't limit it just to the young. Most people don't get the power these stupid politicians have. Clueless politicians telling businesses how to run, choosing how to spend our hard earned dollars, deciding who they think deserves more, etc. It is outrageous and quite honestly it isn't going to change. And as they continue to take from those that have and give to those that they think deserve, the numbers skew and soon there will be no turning back. We are inches away from the majority being those that want from others rather than those that want to produce. Politicians do what they do because they know they can. They have written themselves raises and sanctuary and getting rid of them is near impossible. It is all about the money. Today, even when you think you like or admire a politician, hell, they have sold their soul for that seat and they are not serving you. They are serving the devil that bought them the seat!
The Constitution again. Free Speech. These next few years may be the years we decide if indeed Free Speech is one of the "Freedoms" we really cherish and are willing to fight for. Thank God Mr. Iacocca, I come from the democracy, this great experiment, America. You thought Bush was dicking around with the Constitution? Have you heard about the fairness doctrine? The inability to even ask our President a question without being called a racist? Card check law? Excuse me, these things really infringe on my free speech rights! Ask Joe the Plumber about free speech.
I agree with you wholeheartedly in that we rise and fall together. Sadly, as you alluded to, there are not many real leaders. My theory is the media has made it impossible. They are the ones with the power and the politicians jump as they pull the strings. Oh FDR, Lincoln and Truman knew the wrath of the media but the media was not 24/7 as it is today. I will say that nothing has changed since the "old days": you are a winner if the media has decided they are going to give you a pass or you are toast if they slaughter you . Obviously this is timeless and something you know if you are a student of history. Clearly history has shown us that Truman was a leader that did care about his country, above himself. Come on Lee, can you actually imagine any single one of the "Leaders" today dropping the bomb? And Lincoln, hey, 50% of the population HATED him. Today we look at him as one of the greatest leaders this country has ever had. The civil war was pretty ugly, pretty costly and even though necessary, pretty dog gone unpopular.
Your "C" list. I really found this section interesting.
Curiosity. I'm hoping the leader of the free world {and like it or not that is what the President of the United States is} devours the reports put on his desk by those charged with the daily briefs, filled with fact, not conjecture. You honestly believe the leader of the free world should see what CNN has to say? Get dam real. Obviously you have a problem with Fox News, did you explain that anywhere? Newspapers and news reports are biased whether we like it or not and some more than others. This is the 21st century. Our President does not need to get his "news" from the paper or TV. He lives the news. And while it is nice to be liked the Presidency is not a popularity contest. It is sort of like being a Mom or a Dad or a teacher. Sometimes no one likes you but you have to do what is best. 70 percent may have said Bush stunk but he was elected twice-kind of skews those numbers, doesn't it? And I don't believe Congress has had numbers of approval as high as Mr. Bush. Finally there is not one, no not one, politician that doesn't look at polls.
Creative. I don't think we want to use the word Biden and Creative in the same sentence. That said I am not sure what the point of Mr. Iacocca's section here was. I do believe that one does follow their instincts. Now maybe that isn't something Mr. Iacocca believes. And I do not know what adaptation to change that he was looking for in this section.
Communicate. I do believe that there has been communication. No one is going to come out and tell you how ugly war is. I do not believe that we have been told all is well either. If there is anything that has not been communicated well it would be how grateful many, many, many of the Iraqi's are to have an opportunity. How sad that the turn out at the first real election in Iraq was more than 10 times the kind of turn out at an American election. Additionally they apparently know how to have an election that is not froth with fraud (think ink finger). Was it simply a "photo op" that had a family of a fallen soldier being graciously and honestly thanked by one freed Iraqi woman through that effort? While both were invited to the State of the Union Address, no one, I repeat, no one, could have foreseen that moment. That particular moment spoke volumes.
Character. Personally I don't think power has much to do with character. The right thing? The right thing is what it is inside you. I think it is safe to say that people can disagree on what is the right thing to do. It is an intrinsic thing in my opinion. I would say to this rant by Mr. Iacocca that it is a fallacy that the United States has been responsible for hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi citizens dying. We have saved and liberated hundreds of thousands of Iraqi citizens Mr. Iacocca and as an American I really do take offence to that statement. Prove that our government and our soldiers were responsible for such losses.
Courage. Balls you say? I do know about balls and yes I am a woman that some have said "has balls". Excuse me, "staying the course" even though it wasn't popular took balls in my opinion. Standing up for what you believe in takes balls. And please, there is not a politician alive that does not "sanitize" their town halls, etc. Here I really have to say Pah-lease!
Conviction. Well here I 100% agree with you on Congress. Truly, they are so hapless they may actually get the stupid masses perhaps ready for a Tea Party as called for by Mr. Santelli. Thank God that congress doesn't like to spend a lot of time at work. They are breaking our backs as it is, imagine how much worse it would be if they spent another dam month in Washington! Yikes!!! I do not have facts in front of me concerning the vacation "days" that Bush has taken. I do remember that Regan and his days at the "ranch" were truly fodder for the chattering class. I have to be a bit catty here, at least he wasn't getting blow jobs in the Oval Office by a girl young enough to be his daughter! If you say you don't like his work-product, fine. But honestly, number of days, hours, etc. worked versus what? Get the dam job done. Talking, no matter how eloquent one can speak, is not getting the job done!
Charisma. Mr. Iacocca doesn't like Bush so perceived no charisma. I didn't see him as out of place at any of the summits. He is a President, not a rock star. At least folks weren't wondering who the hell he was going to be chasing around his hotel room that night!
Competent. Once again, the smartest man to walk the earth, Al Gore, didn't win, Bush did. So what does that mean? I'm not really sure. The social security problem has brewed for a very long time. Social security was not to be the health care and disability lifeline for the aged as well as every other person that didn't have other options, as our government has done. It was to be a supplement savings, not an entire way of live and certainly not the bucket of social services it has become. Bush, Clinton, Bush, Regan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson, Kennedy, etc. ALL have a hand at bankrupting that program. Congress has really been the spender-bees here although I agree, Bush should have wielded the veto pen. I do see that as party pay-back and yielding to fear of unpopularity. We have been paying for wars for years and years and years and years. Bush should have pulled the military out of all the dam countries we are in from wars past, especially those that were reticent to participate in the Iraq war but eager to reap benefits of that war.
Common Sense. Very few people are gifted with common sense. I don't know that I could say one way or the other if Bush has common sense or not. Honestly I don't see him as out of touch as many of the others we call leaders. Like it or not many did welcome the Americans as liberators. Like it or not unions run the school systems and it is not for the children it is for their purposes. No disagreement with misplaced loyalty to lousy employees. And the mission accomplished? He was honoring a specific group returning and my disappointment was actually their inability to articulate that, rather let it be something that was used "against" the war effort. Please, don't quote Clinton when talking about common sense. Clinton grew up in a dysfunctional family and he went on to be dysfunctional partner in his own family. Clinton's reality is more in his head than in reality.
The biggest-Crisis. Do you really believe that Bush should have jumped up at that grade school and began to fret, as did Mayor Nagin as the waters continued to rise? Hindsight is a terrific view. Check your timeline. Bush entered the classroom at 9:03am. He was told approximately 2 or 3 minutes later that a second plane had hit the towers. He left the classroom at 9:13am. Quite honestly I cannot imagine the President of the United States jumping up, telling those kids we were under attack and then having a news conference. Those few minutes he "sat" there his aids were able to at least collect a few pieces of information and he could end the session without alarming the children. And to say he was a coward and just flew around is just stupid. Do you think there is a plan in place to protect the president? Do you think it would have been prudent to go to Washington when clearly there were still planes unaccounted for and reports had at least one heading for Washington? This statement has always made my head want to explode. Honestly, does anyone believe that we don't whisk the President away to keep him or her safe, no matter what? The Secret Service pretty much makes that kind of determination in a scenario such as 9/11. And had he galloped back to Washington everyone would have lamented what a stupid cowboy he was. Sure didn't see any congress people hanging around when they heard planes were headed in their direction. As a matter of fact they were all running away from the Capitol.
A Hell of a Mess. I do agree that we are in a hell of a mess. I think we are winning the war. If Iacocca thought we were running the biggest deficit in the history of the country in 2008, holy shit, he must me frothing at the mouth now! Are we losing our manufacturing edge to Asia? Entitlement has crippled companies and they can not compete with countries that are dying for a piece of the pie. Most "high costs" that stifle our economy are precipitated by government intrusion. High gas prices? Well let's discuss this one. We can't drill here. We tax the hell out of gasoline and we love to punish the oil companies. Bad, evil, money making oil companies. Oh wait, shit, that was the only stock my portfolio held that actually was making money I am planning on for retirement. Hapless Jimmy Carter sat there in his cardigan sweater telling us to turn down the heat and walk places. We have been crippled energy-wise since the Carter days! Not one plan, not one, came out of that catastrophe back in the 70's. Schools are a mess because unions have taken the professionalism out of teaching and made it something else. Real teachers are leaving in droves. Putting aside unions as a problem that plagues our education system, we have government bodies that expect teachers to be "parents" to the children they are supposed to be educating. Schools and educators are expected to give kids breakfast, teach them hygiene and report on misdeeds by the parents. They can not touch the children nor can they actually reprimand kids in their classrooms. If they hurt a child's feelings they could lose their jobs! Really, are our leaders going to come from this system? Parents that either don't care enough to see to it their kids eat or brush their teeth or parents so namby-pamby they don't want their precious ones to ever have hurt feelings!
There isn't a bureaucrat around that would protect the rights of the majority of travelers for fear of being labeled a racist or a hater. Excuse me, last I heard it wasn't a dam old lady that commandeered four airplanes with the intent of using them as weapons, or bombed the Cole, or the American Embassy in Beirut in 83, the American Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya & Tanzania in 98 or Yemen in 2008. But profiling would be "racist". We cannot even get this hapless bunch of politicians to pass a stinking travelers bill of rights. Oh that is because the airlines don't want it. The people do, but hell, we are the little people. The protection most of us have in the air now is the hope there will be enough passengers on board that will not sit still for such a takeover! But rest assured, because airlines line the pockets of politicians, you can be held hostage by the Airline for hours and hours and hours, without water, food or compensation for that lost time. Now that is outrageous!
The auto industry was floundering when Mr. Iacocca rescued one of them. How did it happen that the Big 3 are no more? Is that a serious question? Greedy companies that figured protectionism by the government would keep them safe is surely part of it. Is the backbone of our country honestly an industry that didn't have enough pride or fore site to reach the future? If so we are in a world of hurt. Sadly an entire state has been decimated by this industry and the blame and subsequent care of those folks falls on the United States Government? Crazy time indeed.
Mediocrity is accepted when something is better than nothing. That is what has become the norm for many Americans. They have no dream. Whose fault is that? To listen to Iacocca he blames Fox News for scaring politicians to inaction. Has he seen how many channels are available to people? Clearly Fox has some pretty good numbers but really, do you honestly blame Fox for the hapless crew we call Congress? May I remind you and everyone that Congress had lower numbers than even Bush did? Action by congress has now put our children's children's children in debt! America was not Robin Hood Land, it was the land for dreams. People come from all over the world (surely our borders attest to this) to get a piece of that dream. And there are those of us that are here that believe in that dream. We aren't the millionaires or the high charged company executives that go begging to the government for money, we are simply the chumps that keep it all going. But be careful, even chumps have a breaking point and I would say many of us are just about there. We are tired of being called racists. We are tired of being portrayed as stupid. We are sick to death of being talked down to. And we are REALLY done with the stinking elite that think they know better than we do about every aspect of our lives.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Hillary Clinton
I know, this is really catty (meow, meow), but someone needs to tell Hillary that red, dark lipstick is out. Come on woman, you wanted to be leader of the free world! Read Charla's book or something. Mature women (and yes, I am a "mature" woman) should not wear that aging dark lipstick. Get out there and get a pleasant pink for God's sake!! It isn't the 80's or the 90's!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Is Obama on drugs???
Really, listening to his speech (God, isn't he just the greatest speaker in the history of the world?), I don't know who he was talking about. Bi-partisan bill? With who? A responsible bill that is going to spend billions and billions and billions without one ounce of accountability and no way to measure any kind of success? No pork? No special interest? Transparency? Truly, is there anyone in the world with half of a Washington pea brain that believes that? I think what most of us learned is that the Chicago politician is either smart like a fox or a stupid dupe. Clearly he appears to have been rolled by his party. The items in this bill-a bill that not one single person that voted on it actually read-are not meant to stimulate this laboring economy. It is payback. And I don't think we are going to realize for years to come what the real cost will be. On the flip side, just as when he was campaigning and never really had to explain anything, he created panic {I was reminded of the "We're all going to die"-Ray Nagen-Mayor of New Orleans} and knew to get this done he had to jam it through and dam, jam it through he did. Then when people became unduly worked up our leader comes out with the stern Dad talk. Does he believe what he says or does he just talk to hear himself talk? I'm not sure which is more frightening.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Obama tries to set the tone but Congress is tone deaf
The tone I am hearing is a very clueless one. Rather tone-deaf I would say.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Letter from Senator Kohl regarding Stimulus Bill
Dear Ms. Draeger:
Americans everywhere are suffering due to the economic downturn, with jobs, life savings, and basic needs at stake. Our economy has officially been in a recession since December 2007, and America has lost 2.6 million jobs in that time, the biggest loss since 1945. I support a broad recovery package to help struggling families through these difficult times and jumpstart our faltering economy through sound investments. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this issue, and welcome this opportunity to respond. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 strikes a balance between government investments and tax breaks to foster economic development and help Americans make ends meet. The package invests in energy independence, education, health care, transportation, job training, and small businesses. Additionally, the legislation includes tax breaks such as the "Making Work Pay" tax credit, which reduces payroll taxes for middle class Americans and increases take home pay on every paycheck. Existing federal benefits for disabled veterans and seniors will also be increased to help these vulnerable populations, and the earned income tax credit will be expanded to assist the nation's struggling working families. I am working hard to ensure the recovery package helps those Americans who need it most. I led efforts in the Senate to include $1 billion for job training programs to help displaced workers update their skills, because putting people back to work is fundamental to restarting the economy. As Chairman of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, I supported a temporary boost in food stamps. I also fought for school breakfasts and lunches, and the Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC). With people losing their jobs, I am committed to keeping resources in place to help families put food on the table. Most economists agree that a food stamp increase, because of the way food stamps are distributed and spent, is one of the quickest ways for government to stimulate the economy. While I believe an expansive recovery package is necessary to confront the recession, it is critical for Congress to spend these funds prudently and avoid waste, fraud, and abuse. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act does not include any earmarks. The legislation uses formula-based funding that flows directly to the states. Formula funding allows state and local officials - who best know state and local needs - to direct resources to the highest priority projects. They can also direct resources to projects that are most "ready to go." I will keep your thoughts in mind as the legislation comes before the full Senate. I have heard from many Wisconsinites with a wide range of viewpoints on this issue, and I appreciate every letter and phone call I receive because they help me to know what is important to people back home. Please do not hesitate to contact me again in the future if I can be of any further assistance to you. Sincerely,
Herb Kohl
U.S. Senator
My Reply:
Mr. Kohl, with all due respect, your reply to my letter concerning the out of control spending package is simply stupid! Food stamps do not stimulate the economy. While I believe there certainly is a place for WIC and food stamps, this economic recovery bill is not it. Critical for Congress to safe guard where the money goes and how it is spent? Are you kidding me? Number one, it is quite apparent that many in Congress haven't a clue why lower taxes make sense because they simply don't pay them. Or they write in loop holes to profit from various tax laws. Direct funds to "ready to go" projects? Pet projects I guess, that sure is the way the package looks. And this line from your letter; "The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act does not include any earmarks." lets me know you are clueless. Those of us that work hard, pay our taxes, help our kids and our parents and save for our retirement are just sick and tired of this. Where on God's green earth do you think this money is going to come from? Are you going to sell the Bucks and give everybody money? No, it will come from us, our children and our grandchildren. And we pass on to them NO opportunity for any kind of American Dream. All the meddling from government in business and peoples personal lives is one of the reasons we are in this mess. When you are broke the only way to get back on your feet is to STOP SPENDING. We little people know that. Clearly the economy is really in the tank now because there isn't anyone with an ounce of sense and a few dollars that will spend now. You guys have backed us in to the poor house and the few pennies we have left we have to hold on too. Outrageous, simply outrageous!
Americans everywhere are suffering due to the economic downturn, with jobs, life savings, and basic needs at stake. Our economy has officially been in a recession since December 2007, and America has lost 2.6 million jobs in that time, the biggest loss since 1945. I support a broad recovery package to help struggling families through these difficult times and jumpstart our faltering economy through sound investments. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this issue, and welcome this opportunity to respond. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 strikes a balance between government investments and tax breaks to foster economic development and help Americans make ends meet. The package invests in energy independence, education, health care, transportation, job training, and small businesses. Additionally, the legislation includes tax breaks such as the "Making Work Pay" tax credit, which reduces payroll taxes for middle class Americans and increases take home pay on every paycheck. Existing federal benefits for disabled veterans and seniors will also be increased to help these vulnerable populations, and the earned income tax credit will be expanded to assist the nation's struggling working families. I am working hard to ensure the recovery package helps those Americans who need it most. I led efforts in the Senate to include $1 billion for job training programs to help displaced workers update their skills, because putting people back to work is fundamental to restarting the economy. As Chairman of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, I supported a temporary boost in food stamps. I also fought for school breakfasts and lunches, and the Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC). With people losing their jobs, I am committed to keeping resources in place to help families put food on the table. Most economists agree that a food stamp increase, because of the way food stamps are distributed and spent, is one of the quickest ways for government to stimulate the economy. While I believe an expansive recovery package is necessary to confront the recession, it is critical for Congress to spend these funds prudently and avoid waste, fraud, and abuse. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act does not include any earmarks. The legislation uses formula-based funding that flows directly to the states. Formula funding allows state and local officials - who best know state and local needs - to direct resources to the highest priority projects. They can also direct resources to projects that are most "ready to go." I will keep your thoughts in mind as the legislation comes before the full Senate. I have heard from many Wisconsinites with a wide range of viewpoints on this issue, and I appreciate every letter and phone call I receive because they help me to know what is important to people back home. Please do not hesitate to contact me again in the future if I can be of any further assistance to you. Sincerely,
Herb Kohl
U.S. Senator
My Reply:
Mr. Kohl, with all due respect, your reply to my letter concerning the out of control spending package is simply stupid! Food stamps do not stimulate the economy. While I believe there certainly is a place for WIC and food stamps, this economic recovery bill is not it. Critical for Congress to safe guard where the money goes and how it is spent? Are you kidding me? Number one, it is quite apparent that many in Congress haven't a clue why lower taxes make sense because they simply don't pay them. Or they write in loop holes to profit from various tax laws. Direct funds to "ready to go" projects? Pet projects I guess, that sure is the way the package looks. And this line from your letter; "The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act does not include any earmarks." lets me know you are clueless. Those of us that work hard, pay our taxes, help our kids and our parents and save for our retirement are just sick and tired of this. Where on God's green earth do you think this money is going to come from? Are you going to sell the Bucks and give everybody money? No, it will come from us, our children and our grandchildren. And we pass on to them NO opportunity for any kind of American Dream. All the meddling from government in business and peoples personal lives is one of the reasons we are in this mess. When you are broke the only way to get back on your feet is to STOP SPENDING. We little people know that. Clearly the economy is really in the tank now because there isn't anyone with an ounce of sense and a few dollars that will spend now. You guys have backed us in to the poor house and the few pennies we have left we have to hold on too. Outrageous, simply outrageous!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Tom Daschle
What I did not see in this article about Tom Daschle is the penalty portion of not paying ones taxes. Also want to know how many years they are going to go back. I've got a news flash for you. Ordinary people and ordinary businesses that are audited pay back tax, interest and yes a pretty dog-gone hefty penalty if they are found to have "under paid or under declared". What bullshit this is. Daschle knew darn well he didn't pay tax on imputed income. No one goes through this whole stinking tax preparation process and doesn't know. He didn't claim because he thought he could get away with it. And he did.
Is there anyone besides congress that thinks this is not just a "little" error? Puh-lease! We have the foxes and the wolves guarding the hen house here and man oh man, it is a good old boys club!
Change and Hope. What exactly is the change here? And what are we hoping for? SUCKERS! Looks like Mr. Hope & Change can actually stand up and be for the same old same old.
Does make you ask yourself why in the heck you pay your taxes? And if you get caught not paying, will you get to say oh sorry, here is the money. A little interest but no penalty? No procto on the previous ten years? If you believe that I have some land over here................
Is there anyone besides congress that thinks this is not just a "little" error? Puh-lease! We have the foxes and the wolves guarding the hen house here and man oh man, it is a good old boys club!
Change and Hope. What exactly is the change here? And what are we hoping for? SUCKERS! Looks like Mr. Hope & Change can actually stand up and be for the same old same old.
Does make you ask yourself why in the heck you pay your taxes? And if you get caught not paying, will you get to say oh sorry, here is the money. A little interest but no penalty? No procto on the previous ten years? If you believe that I have some land over here................
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