We learn today that the NSA's spying is nothing at all compared to that of Facebook.
Facebook is not just looking at user's personal information, interests, and online habits but also to your private conversations,
revealed a new report. According to NBC report, this may be the case as
Kelli Burns, a professor at University of South Florida states, "I
don't think that people realize how much Facebook is tracking every move
we're making online. Anything that you're doing on your phone, Facebook
is watching." the professor said. --NBC quoted at Ticker
Having that app open on your cellphone allows FB to listen to everything, including the sounds surrounding you at the time.
Maybe NSA has that too. Where's Snowden when you need him?
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Monday, May 30, 2016
Memorial Day
The "requiem aeternam" from Verdi's Requiem, sung by the best living talent, Renee Fleming.
(Start at 4:00; the section ends at 7:35.)
Fleming was one of the featured artists in this year's Memorial Day concert (public TV) broadcast from Washington DC last night.
This section of the work is very challenging for both the soloist and the chorus. Fleming not only sings it correctly; she sings it as the prayer it is. If you don't get it after hearing her sing it, you'll never get it at all.
For our fallen, Memorial Day, 2016.
(Start at 4:00; the section ends at 7:35.)
Fleming was one of the featured artists in this year's Memorial Day concert (public TV) broadcast from Washington DC last night.
This section of the work is very challenging for both the soloist and the chorus. Fleming not only sings it correctly; she sings it as the prayer it is. If you don't get it after hearing her sing it, you'll never get it at all.
For our fallen, Memorial Day, 2016.
Sunday, May 29, 2016
Can We Afford the Regulators--and the (R) Congress?
These stats are shockers.
Total spending on federal regulatory activity has jumped almost 18% in real terms since Obama took office, reaching $56 billion this year. That outpaced overall economic growth, which has climbed a total of 13% since 2008.
Over those same years, the number of jobs at these regulatory agencies climbed by 11.8% — to almost 280,000 workers — while the number of private sector jobs has growth by 8.5%.
To put these numbers in perspective: If GDP had grown as fast as the federal regulatory budget, the economy would be $696 billion bigger today. If private sector employment had kept pace with the growth in regulatory jobs, there would be 3.7 million more people at work. quoted at ColdFury
Wasn't Paul Ryan the Chairman of Budget during the last few years? It would appear that Nancy Pelosi occupied that position.
Didn't Ron Johnson tell us that he's going to cut Big Gummint?
This is all so confusing.
Total spending on federal regulatory activity has jumped almost 18% in real terms since Obama took office, reaching $56 billion this year. That outpaced overall economic growth, which has climbed a total of 13% since 2008.
Over those same years, the number of jobs at these regulatory agencies climbed by 11.8% — to almost 280,000 workers — while the number of private sector jobs has growth by 8.5%.
To put these numbers in perspective: If GDP had grown as fast as the federal regulatory budget, the economy would be $696 billion bigger today. If private sector employment had kept pace with the growth in regulatory jobs, there would be 3.7 million more people at work. quoted at ColdFury
Wasn't Paul Ryan the Chairman of Budget during the last few years? It would appear that Nancy Pelosi occupied that position.
Didn't Ron Johnson tell us that he's going to cut Big Gummint?
This is all so confusing.
What Happened to America? And the Catholic Church?
Noted at AOSHQ's Book Thread, a new offering by a WaTimes columnist which
...lights up the massive, Moscow-directed penetration of America's most hallowed halls of power, revealing not just the familiar struggle between Communism and the Free World, but the hidden war between those wishing to conceal the truth and those trying to expose the increasingly official web of lies...It was this moral surrender to deception and self-deception, West argues, that sent us down the long road to moral relativism, "political correctness," and other cultural ills...
There is a parallel, of course: the Soviet Union's penetration of the Catholic Church, directed by Stalin and his successors.
That "moral relativism" thing is directly related to the current fad of "gradualism" in moral theology, notable for its presence in Amoris Laetitia. That gradualism is preceded by deChardin's "Omega" flapjaw, by the way. Can't really have one without the other.
The book? Diana West's American Betrayal: The Secret Assault on Our Nation's Character
...lights up the massive, Moscow-directed penetration of America's most hallowed halls of power, revealing not just the familiar struggle between Communism and the Free World, but the hidden war between those wishing to conceal the truth and those trying to expose the increasingly official web of lies...It was this moral surrender to deception and self-deception, West argues, that sent us down the long road to moral relativism, "political correctness," and other cultural ills...
There is a parallel, of course: the Soviet Union's penetration of the Catholic Church, directed by Stalin and his successors.
That "moral relativism" thing is directly related to the current fad of "gradualism" in moral theology, notable for its presence in Amoris Laetitia. That gradualism is preceded by deChardin's "Omega" flapjaw, by the way. Can't really have one without the other.
The book? Diana West's American Betrayal: The Secret Assault on Our Nation's Character
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Spectator Sport: Smell the Sweat
This election season, for us #NeverTrump types, will be a spectator sport.
And you can already smell the sweat from the "professional operative" class of (R) types who will not be employed by The Donald.
See, The Donald may well win this election by virtue of two key elements: the MSM, which makes its money on trainwrecks/if-it-bleeds-it-leads stories, and his innate understanding of how to use the MSM. He's beat them like rented mules and they keep coming back for more.
Popcorn!!
And you can already smell the sweat from the "professional operative" class of (R) types who will not be employed by The Donald.
See, The Donald may well win this election by virtue of two key elements: the MSM, which makes its money on trainwrecks/if-it-bleeds-it-leads stories, and his innate understanding of how to use the MSM. He's beat them like rented mules and they keep coming back for more.
Popcorn!!
The Donald Will Corn-a-Hole You
When you're pandering for votes in Iowa, you say you'll corn-a-hole the rest of the country.
That's what The Donald did.
Maybe he should run his helicopter on pure corn liquor. Or heat his building with it.
Or jam it where the sun never shines.
That's what The Donald did.
Maybe he should run his helicopter on pure corn liquor. Or heat his building with it.
Or jam it where the sun never shines.
Friday, May 27, 2016
Sensenbrenner Loves Him Some EPA Regs
We noted below that Speaker Ryan allowed an amendment favoring trannies to some House bill. The entire bill was rejected later, thank God.
Now comes Jim Sensenbrenner, who finds that MORE EPA regulation is just fine and dandy. Sensenbrenner poses as a Conservative when he's at home, by the way. Apparently the 9th and 10th Amendments do not apply when he's in D.C. but make for good sound-bites at home.
You don't have to know much about Congress to know that the co-sponsors of the bill are among the most rabid Big Gummint types in the country, by the way.
Rand Paul objects to Senate passage. Good luck with that; McConnell has campaign contributions to collect, ya'know.
Now comes Jim Sensenbrenner, who finds that MORE EPA regulation is just fine and dandy. Sensenbrenner poses as a Conservative when he's at home, by the way. Apparently the 9th and 10th Amendments do not apply when he's in D.C. but make for good sound-bites at home.
You don't have to know much about Congress to know that the co-sponsors of the bill are among the most rabid Big Gummint types in the country, by the way.
Rand Paul objects to Senate passage. Good luck with that; McConnell has campaign contributions to collect, ya'know.
On the Biden-for-Bernie Switcheroo
Rumors abound that Bernie Sanders will be switched out and Joe Biden will be switched in at the Dem Convention because the Hildebeeste will be indicted.
Comment of the day:
...There's no way the establishment Democrats are going to hand over control of their cozy racket to a crazed geriatric communist who wasn't even a member of their party a few months ago....
Yah. Reince couldn't have said it better.
Comment of the day:
...There's no way the establishment Democrats are going to hand over control of their cozy racket to a crazed geriatric communist who wasn't even a member of their party a few months ago....
Yah. Reince couldn't have said it better.
Josh Hammer Is Dead-Wrong
By and large, one agrees with Josh Hammer's opinion-piece on Conservative problems with The Donald.
But one sector of the essay is dead-wrong.
Stop Complaining About H-1B Visas...To put it simply, H-1B recipients are the most meritorious of all foreign workers. They are disproportionately more skillful, more highly educated, more assimilated and/or more likely to easily assimilate, and unambiguously help the economy more than any other class of immigrants....
This is unambiguous poppycock. Norm Matloff, who is no Conservative, has written extensively about the H-1B problem, and has proven beyond the shadow of a doubt--statistically--that the H-1B visa is used largely to import cheap labor. H-1B's are NOT 'more skillful, and more highly educated'. They are (mostly) ordinary programmers whose educational credentials are (mostly) from sub-par to mid-road colleges.
But they are very cheap to keep; they are the white-collar version of the common illegal laborer.
But one sector of the essay is dead-wrong.
Stop Complaining About H-1B Visas...To put it simply, H-1B recipients are the most meritorious of all foreign workers. They are disproportionately more skillful, more highly educated, more assimilated and/or more likely to easily assimilate, and unambiguously help the economy more than any other class of immigrants....
This is unambiguous poppycock. Norm Matloff, who is no Conservative, has written extensively about the H-1B problem, and has proven beyond the shadow of a doubt--statistically--that the H-1B visa is used largely to import cheap labor. H-1B's are NOT 'more skillful, and more highly educated'. They are (mostly) ordinary programmers whose educational credentials are (mostly) from sub-par to mid-road colleges.
But they are very cheap to keep; they are the white-collar version of the common illegal laborer.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Shocked? Paul Ryan, Tranny-Pal
Paul Ryan--who IS being opposed this election--allowed a (D) amendment to HR 5055.
That amendment enshrines trannies in Federal law as a "protected class."
What the Hell is the matter with Ryan?
UPDATE: HR 5055 failed to pass with the amendment in place, but Grothman voted FOR it. New question: What the Hell is the matter with Grothman?
That amendment enshrines trannies in Federal law as a "protected class."
What the Hell is the matter with Ryan?
UPDATE: HR 5055 failed to pass with the amendment in place, but Grothman voted FOR it. New question: What the Hell is the matter with Grothman?
Why Trump? Dreher's Theory
Rod Dreher thinks that the fecklessness of the 'tolerance' bunch--which happens to include a lot of mid/upper-class white folks--will push Trumpism over the top.
...middle-class male culture, at least white male culture, doesn’t know how to nurture a healthy masculinity. The middle-class white American church certainly doesn’t. Eventually, the provocations of Social Justice Warriors, especially when they are race-based, is going to empower the militant whites, especially those drawn to pagan masculinity, and they are going to do what the rest of us would not do: Fight. This, because the best — that is, those who want peace, civility, and tolerance — lack all conviction to defend the conditions under which we can have those things against their enemies.
Trump is a vulgar, crass, alpha-male brute. But he doesn’t care what SJWs and liberals say about him. He fights, and sometimes fights as dirty as they do. That’s not nothing. White liberal middle-class society and many bourgeois conservatives have demonized within themselves, collectively and individually, the instinct that would have given them the strength to fight civilization’s enemies on the Left and on the Right. It’s partly because of self-hating white people...
He fears that this silent acquiescence will have serious, negative, consequences.
...without a forceful, effective, unambivalent response to the unhinged militant left, sooner or later the forces of white supremacy are going to organize the dispossessed, demoralized, chaotic white rabble, and the SJWs, as well as the Washington elites, aren’t going to know what hit them. God knows I’m not saying I want this to happen, but I think it probably will happen if we continue on this current trajectory. Slouching rough beasts and all that....
Dreher tends to be apocalyptic, but he's usually more correct than not. He DID--accurately--predict that SCOTUS would "authorize" queer marriage, about 2 years before those idiots did so. So we should take this seriously, and stop shilly-shallying around to be "polite" and "tolerant."
The sooner, the better.
By the way, this guy has similar thoughts.
...middle-class male culture, at least white male culture, doesn’t know how to nurture a healthy masculinity. The middle-class white American church certainly doesn’t. Eventually, the provocations of Social Justice Warriors, especially when they are race-based, is going to empower the militant whites, especially those drawn to pagan masculinity, and they are going to do what the rest of us would not do: Fight. This, because the best — that is, those who want peace, civility, and tolerance — lack all conviction to defend the conditions under which we can have those things against their enemies.
Trump is a vulgar, crass, alpha-male brute. But he doesn’t care what SJWs and liberals say about him. He fights, and sometimes fights as dirty as they do. That’s not nothing. White liberal middle-class society and many bourgeois conservatives have demonized within themselves, collectively and individually, the instinct that would have given them the strength to fight civilization’s enemies on the Left and on the Right. It’s partly because of self-hating white people...
He fears that this silent acquiescence will have serious, negative, consequences.
...without a forceful, effective, unambivalent response to the unhinged militant left, sooner or later the forces of white supremacy are going to organize the dispossessed, demoralized, chaotic white rabble, and the SJWs, as well as the Washington elites, aren’t going to know what hit them. God knows I’m not saying I want this to happen, but I think it probably will happen if we continue on this current trajectory. Slouching rough beasts and all that....
Dreher tends to be apocalyptic, but he's usually more correct than not. He DID--accurately--predict that SCOTUS would "authorize" queer marriage, about 2 years before those idiots did so. So we should take this seriously, and stop shilly-shallying around to be "polite" and "tolerant."
The sooner, the better.
By the way, this guy has similar thoughts.
Huzzah!! Brad Schimel Sues Obozo
Good. AG Schimel joined a suit against Obozo's tranny-potty game.
Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel joined attorneys general and school districts from across the United States today in challenging the Obama Administration’s new Title IX policy. In the latest example of the Obama Administration’s unlawful executive overreach, which re-interprets the word “sex” to include “gender identity,”...
Happy to see that Wisconsin still believes in the 9th and 10th Amendments.
Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel joined attorneys general and school districts from across the United States today in challenging the Obama Administration’s new Title IX policy. In the latest example of the Obama Administration’s unlawful executive overreach, which re-interprets the word “sex” to include “gender identity,”...
Happy to see that Wisconsin still believes in the 9th and 10th Amendments.
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Why Trump? Republican Enablers, That's Why
We're still #NeverTrump here. But ya'know, there's a long list of transgressions which have fueled the Trumpkins.
Yes, Speaker Ryan, you enabled this crap (and a lot more), just as did your cohort in the Senate. So man up, take responsibility, and shut off the purse.
Or watch, ninny-nannying, as the country goes down the porcelain tube.
- Fast and furious: ATF perpetrates a fraud to get people killed and pin the blame on Americans.
- Obamacare: obviously unconstitutional with its individual mandate, and wrecks the healthcare system
- Massive bailouts and spending initiatives from a drunken, insolvent government
- EPA out of control, DOE sadly in control
- The Feds going to some trouble and expense to make government shutdowns exceptionally painful for Americans
- Bungled, interminable wars
- The Benghazi debacle and coverup
- The Secretary of State conducting illegal business on an illegal email server, greatly to the benefit of a hostile foreign power
- The creeping normalization of NSA snooping on Americans not involved in any official investigation
- The OPM hack: A strategic defeat both devastating and historically unique. Agents of a hostile foreign power were put in charge of securing our most sensitive information, with predictable results.
- The VA scandal: veterans dying while bureaucrats falsify records and collect bonuses
- The transmutation of our institutions of learning into hotbeds of mental illness and hysteria
- A general “can’t do” attitude as regards securing our border with Mexico
- The President, in negotiation with Iran over nuclear weapons, actively and energetically represents Iranian interests, without trying to win even the most marginal concessions for America.
Yes, Speaker Ryan, you enabled this crap (and a lot more), just as did your cohort in the Senate. So man up, take responsibility, and shut off the purse.
Or watch, ninny-nannying, as the country goes down the porcelain tube.
It Begins in Baraboo (!!)
The Feds are now "investigating" a Wisconsin Lutheran grade school for:
...sending home letters telling parents and students that they expect students to live within Christian values while at school....
Seems that the school asked for birth certificates of the students so that it could make sure there were no Bathroom/Locker Room Incidents of Tranny. This is a new front on the War Against Nature--the persecution of religious beliefs.
The school accepts Fed moneys for busing and lunch programs, ergo it must bend its knee to the current god, as defined by Obozo and his ally, the Freedom From Religion pustule.
...sending home letters telling parents and students that they expect students to live within Christian values while at school....
Seems that the school asked for birth certificates of the students so that it could make sure there were no Bathroom/Locker Room Incidents of Tranny. This is a new front on the War Against Nature--the persecution of religious beliefs.
The school accepts Fed moneys for busing and lunch programs, ergo it must bend its knee to the current god, as defined by Obozo and his ally, the Freedom From Religion pustule.
Buy. More. Ammo.
Katie Couric, Student of Dan Rather
When a "journalist" can't get what they want from an interview, they simply change stuff.
Fortunately, a lot of people are wise to the technique, so they run their own recordings.
Fortunately, a lot of people are wise to the technique, so they run their own recordings.
Milwaukee a Murder-Leader
Isn't this special? Milwaukee gets national notice.
For its increase in murders this year.
...New crime statistics show that in Milwaukee, St. Louis, Baltimore and Washington, murders are up over 43 percent in just one year....
D.A. Chisholm is busy chasing Conservatives. When he's done, he'll get right to this.
For its increase in murders this year.
...New crime statistics show that in Milwaukee, St. Louis, Baltimore and Washington, murders are up over 43 percent in just one year....
D.A. Chisholm is busy chasing Conservatives. When he's done, he'll get right to this.
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Ten Large Lies About the Catholic Church
A non-Catholic sociologist has written a book which debunks 10 Large Lies about the Catholic Church. It makes for interesting reading. An essay remarking on the lies appeared today at PJMedia.
In the essay, the usual lies and myths about the Inquisition, "Hitler's Pope" (which was actually a creation of Joseph Stalin's "disinformation" apparatchiks), the Crusades, the "secret gospels", the 'massacres of pagans,' the (not-at-all) "Dark Ages," the Church's significant and positive influence on science, her opposition to slavery, her very cautious outlook on "kings," and her nurturing of free markets are all taken apart.
We don't expect that any amount of scholarship will stop the assaults on the Church, of course. We don't expect that the MSM will even note the existence of this book. And even if this book proves 100% effective, someone will come up with more half-truths or lies.
But thinking people will know better.
In the essay, the usual lies and myths about the Inquisition, "Hitler's Pope" (which was actually a creation of Joseph Stalin's "disinformation" apparatchiks), the Crusades, the "secret gospels", the 'massacres of pagans,' the (not-at-all) "Dark Ages," the Church's significant and positive influence on science, her opposition to slavery, her very cautious outlook on "kings," and her nurturing of free markets are all taken apart.
We don't expect that any amount of scholarship will stop the assaults on the Church, of course. We don't expect that the MSM will even note the existence of this book. And even if this book proves 100% effective, someone will come up with more half-truths or lies.
But thinking people will know better.
Sunday, May 22, 2016
More Truth About Texas
Caught at Sipsey
The Tahoe is also Texas' version of the 3/4T, distinct from the Suburban, which is the Texas Deuce-and-a-half.
The Tahoe is also Texas' version of the 3/4T, distinct from the Suburban, which is the Texas Deuce-and-a-half.
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Legal, Yes. Questionable Judgment, Yes
Here's the story:
A Wisconsin appellate court tossed out the loitering conviction against a man who was cited during a stroll he took in 2013, which happened to be near a school while carrying an AR-15 on his shoulder and a gun on his hip....
Under Wisconsin law, one may legally open-carry if there is no evidence of criminal or malicious intent.
We think that the fellow is utterly lacking in judgment.
A Wisconsin appellate court tossed out the loitering conviction against a man who was cited during a stroll he took in 2013, which happened to be near a school while carrying an AR-15 on his shoulder and a gun on his hip....
Under Wisconsin law, one may legally open-carry if there is no evidence of criminal or malicious intent.
We think that the fellow is utterly lacking in judgment.
Friday, May 20, 2016
Welfare-Taker Takes $20 Million Out of US?
Seems that a few Somalians living in the US have taken up to $20 million--in cash--out of the US and to Somalia, which happens to have a lot of ISIS-types.
The transporters are welfare recipients, which raises a question....right?
But ObozoJustice is too busy prosecuting cake-makers and tranny-tossers, or lying to Federal judges in Oklahoma, to give a damn.
The transporters are welfare recipients, which raises a question....right?
But ObozoJustice is too busy prosecuting cake-makers and tranny-tossers, or lying to Federal judges in Oklahoma, to give a damn.
Tranny-Tosser Under Arrest
A security guard at a D.C. grocery was arrested for tossing a tranny from the ladies' room. Prolly going to be a hate-crime prosecution. Tranny claims to be "emotionally traumatized."
That's nothing compared to the trauma some of us would inflict if he had trotted into a ladies' room behind one of our grand-daughters.
That's nothing compared to the trauma some of us would inflict if he had trotted into a ladies' room behind one of our grand-daughters.
Thursday, May 19, 2016
EPA to Ruin More Engines
Appears that the Corn-a-Holers have dumped more dollars into the Obozo/(D) accounts.
The Environmental Protection Agency wants to increase the amount of renewable fuel in the nation's gasoline supply by about 700 million gallons in 2017....
...The agency proposed adding 18.8 billion gallons of renewable fuel to gasoline in 2017 in the newest Renewable Fuel Standard announced Wednesday afternoon. That would cause renewable fuel to make up 10.44 percent of the nation's gasoline supply in 2017...
Note that the percentage of corn liquor per gallon rises ONLY because EPA wants to jam an extra 18.8B gallons of liquor into the supply.
Corn-a-Hole interests just can't stand a real market. They want guaranteed income.
Meantime, millions are starving for lack of corn.
The Environmental Protection Agency wants to increase the amount of renewable fuel in the nation's gasoline supply by about 700 million gallons in 2017....
...The agency proposed adding 18.8 billion gallons of renewable fuel to gasoline in 2017 in the newest Renewable Fuel Standard announced Wednesday afternoon. That would cause renewable fuel to make up 10.44 percent of the nation's gasoline supply in 2017...
Note that the percentage of corn liquor per gallon rises ONLY because EPA wants to jam an extra 18.8B gallons of liquor into the supply.
Corn-a-Hole interests just can't stand a real market. They want guaranteed income.
Meantime, millions are starving for lack of corn.
The Commencement Speech You'll Never Hear
While we're on the topic of trenchant commentary (see below), take 10 minutes to read Neal Boortz's never-heard commencement speech. Boortz is a libertarian, so use caution; but you'll get the idea.
You'll also know why he was never invited to give the speech.
(Also courtesy AOSHQ.)
You'll also know why he was never invited to give the speech.
(Also courtesy AOSHQ.)
Gotta Love Mencken!
H L Mencken was a newsman back in the day when that did not mean "press-release-reader." While he had some serious flaws, he was clairvoyant on a few matters.
Here's one:
“The most erroneous assumption is to the effect that the aim of public education is to fill the young of the species with knowledge and awaken their intelligence, and so make them fit to discharge the duties of citizenship in an enlightened and independent manner. Nothing could be further from the truth. The aim of public education is not to spread enlightenment at all; it is simply to reduce as many individuals as possible to the same safe level, to breed and train a standardized citizenry, to put down dissent and originality. That is its aim in the United States, whatever the pretensions of politicians, pedagogues and other such mountebanks, and that is its aim everywhere else.” --quoted at AOSHQ
Particularly delicious is his use of the word 'mountebank' in reference to politicians and pedagogues. Graduates of publikscrewels may have to look up the word, of course.
Here's one:
“The most erroneous assumption is to the effect that the aim of public education is to fill the young of the species with knowledge and awaken their intelligence, and so make them fit to discharge the duties of citizenship in an enlightened and independent manner. Nothing could be further from the truth. The aim of public education is not to spread enlightenment at all; it is simply to reduce as many individuals as possible to the same safe level, to breed and train a standardized citizenry, to put down dissent and originality. That is its aim in the United States, whatever the pretensions of politicians, pedagogues and other such mountebanks, and that is its aim everywhere else.” --quoted at AOSHQ
Particularly delicious is his use of the word 'mountebank' in reference to politicians and pedagogues. Graduates of publikscrewels may have to look up the word, of course.
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Insurer Sues ObozoCare for $223 Million
Remember, the health insurance industry lobbied hard for ObozoCare. Now they got it. Good and hard.
...Highmark is suing the government demanding payment of almost $223 million, the full amount to which the health insurer says it is legally entitled for 2014 under an Obamacare program designed to limit the business risk of selling plans...
That's the "risk corridor" program.
Lie down with dogs, get up withfleeced fleas.
...Highmark is suing the government demanding payment of almost $223 million, the full amount to which the health insurer says it is legally entitled for 2014 under an Obamacare program designed to limit the business risk of selling plans...
That's the "risk corridor" program.
Lie down with dogs, get up with
Really. A Bubble-Blowing "Gun"
Read it and weep.
A 5-year-old kindergarten student at Southeast Elementary in Brighton, CO was suspended from school after she brought a *gun onto school grounds.
*a clear, plastic princess bubble-blowing gun
Seriously.
The salvation of Colorado will occur when the schools are run by people who are actually sane.
A 5-year-old kindergarten student at Southeast Elementary in Brighton, CO was suspended from school after she brought a *gun onto school grounds.
*a clear, plastic princess bubble-blowing gun
Seriously.
The salvation of Colorado will occur when the schools are run by people who are actually sane.
Sykes' False Premise
About 95% of the time, I agree with Charlie Sykes' vision of politics. On the occasions when we differ, I've made it clear--not that it makes any difference to Charlie.
Anyhow.
Sykes writes that Priebus' latter-day conversion to Trumpism is debasing to the (R) Party and Priebus. But I fear that Charlie's essay is based on a false premise: that the (R) Party is 'conservative.' It is not--and Charlie has made that point a million times on his show.
I warned my fellow conservatives what life would be like if they embraced Donald Trump: They would spent the next six months having to defend, rationalize, or evade every slur, every insult, every falsehood, every outrage. They would be held hostage to every tweet, every outburst.
Unfortunately, Reince Priebus now seems determined to illustrate that point...
After a few grafs of What's Wrong With Trump (just a highlight reel), Charlie gets to this:
....Your job is not to carry water for The Orange Duce, it is to somehow salvage the GOP. You need somehow to separate the fate of the GOP from Trumpism, or risk redefining your party for a generation. ...
The premise is that the (R) Party of, say, 1992-present, is actually conservative. This is false.
It is true that the (R) label has a Conservative component which is significant. But the (R) Party, at least since GWBush, has actually been the 'Less-Statist, Less-Unhinged Party' and--worse--it has been the Enabling Party for the worst President in history, a 'man' so utterly anti-Right Order that he has spit upon and smashed every single moral and ethical constraint known to man. And done so with glee and full knowledge of his actions.
Sorry, Charlie: there's no "there" there in Priebus' party any more--at least, not enough to make a difference. We're still on the same side on 95% of the issues, but the (R) Party? It's been AWOL for a long, long, time.
Anyhow.
Sykes writes that Priebus' latter-day conversion to Trumpism is debasing to the (R) Party and Priebus. But I fear that Charlie's essay is based on a false premise: that the (R) Party is 'conservative.' It is not--and Charlie has made that point a million times on his show.
I warned my fellow conservatives what life would be like if they embraced Donald Trump: They would spent the next six months having to defend, rationalize, or evade every slur, every insult, every falsehood, every outrage. They would be held hostage to every tweet, every outburst.
After a few grafs of What's Wrong With Trump (just a highlight reel), Charlie gets to this:
....Your job is not to carry water for The Orange Duce, it is to somehow salvage the GOP. You need somehow to separate the fate of the GOP from Trumpism, or risk redefining your party for a generation. ...
The premise is that the (R) Party of, say, 1992-present, is actually conservative. This is false.
It is true that the (R) label has a Conservative component which is significant. But the (R) Party, at least since GWBush, has actually been the 'Less-Statist, Less-Unhinged Party' and--worse--it has been the Enabling Party for the worst President in history, a 'man' so utterly anti-Right Order that he has spit upon and smashed every single moral and ethical constraint known to man. And done so with glee and full knowledge of his actions.
Sorry, Charlie: there's no "there" there in Priebus' party any more--at least, not enough to make a difference. We're still on the same side on 95% of the issues, but the (R) Party? It's been AWOL for a long, long, time.
TownHall Writer: BUY MORE AMMO!!
A nice young fellow at TownHall takes up the mantra.
I have never, ever had anyone tell me that he had too much ammunition. Not in a combat zone, not in a civil disaster, not even in peacetime. Never....Buying ammo is a no-lose proposition. Look, the worst thing that happens if you buy more ammo is that you have more ammo.
He's an Army veteran, acquainted with the word "necessary."
Lots of other wisdom there; read the whole thing.
I have never, ever had anyone tell me that he had too much ammunition. Not in a combat zone, not in a civil disaster, not even in peacetime. Never....Buying ammo is a no-lose proposition. Look, the worst thing that happens if you buy more ammo is that you have more ammo.
He's an Army veteran, acquainted with the word "necessary."
Lots of other wisdom there; read the whole thing.
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Little Sisters of the Poor Defeat Obozo!
SCOTUS decides in favor of the Little Sisters of the Poor.
Obozo retreats to the nearest ladies' room to pout.
Obozo retreats to the nearest ladies' room to pout.
Monday, May 16, 2016
Some Piggies Cry a Lot. Right, Tom Barrett?
Headline in today's fishwrap/propaganda sheet tells us that Milwaukee's apparent Mayor, Tom Barrett, is whining and crying that 'Milwaukee won't get its share of lead-pipe abatement funds' from the eeeeeeeeeeeevil Walker regime.
'S OK, Tommy boy. Milwaukee's been stealing money from the suburbs for THIRTY YEARS in the form of MMSD taxes and fees. And then sending raw sewage into Lake Michigan, to boot.
We'll send a few bricks of Government cheese for your whine.
'S OK, Tommy boy. Milwaukee's been stealing money from the suburbs for THIRTY YEARS in the form of MMSD taxes and fees. And then sending raw sewage into Lake Michigan, to boot.
We'll send a few bricks of Government cheese for your whine.
NYTimes Just Can't Write "Communist"
Here's a mid-length article about Venezuela's agony--which was brought on by the Communists Hugo Chavez and his successor Maduro. Read the whole thing; it's worth knowing what actually happens when the SHTF.
The crisis is aggravated by a political feud between Venezuela’s leftists, who control the presidency, and their rivals in congress. ...
Well, yes, Communists are "leftists." But which of the two terms is a better descriptor? Hubert Humphrey and LBJ were 'leftists.' But they did not bring the US to ruin. Obama, another Communist, won't either--but not for lack of trying.
HT: Zippers
...This
nation has the largest oil reserves in the world, yet the government
saved little money for hard times when oil prices were high. Now that
prices have collapsed — they are around a third what they were in 2014 — the consequences are casting a destructive shadow across the country.
Lines for food, long a feature of life in Venezuela, now erupt into
looting. The bolÃvar, the country’s currency, is nearly worthless.
Well, yes, Communists are "leftists." But which of the two terms is a better descriptor? Hubert Humphrey and LBJ were 'leftists.' But they did not bring the US to ruin. Obama, another Communist, won't either--but not for lack of trying.
HT: Zippers
Who Started It? Her Name Is Charlotte
Here's a point that the press-release-readers (national and local) do not make. Ever.
...North Carolina’s Governor and state legislature did not just decide to convene a special session of the legislature and start a fight over bathrooms. They were responding to overreach by the city of Charlotte, NC, which has thus far escaped all blame and is never mentioned in Tobin’s piece.
Charlotte, NC passed an ordinance that not only required businesses to allow men to use the women’s restroom, but specifically refused to exempt churches and religious organizations. Charlotte decided to impose that burden on conscientious objectors in the culture war who object because the claims made by transgender advocates violate both the laws of science and the tenets of every major religion....
So yah, the news-readers just spew the queer propaganda. What--you thought otherwise?
...North Carolina’s Governor and state legislature did not just decide to convene a special session of the legislature and start a fight over bathrooms. They were responding to overreach by the city of Charlotte, NC, which has thus far escaped all blame and is never mentioned in Tobin’s piece.
Charlotte, NC passed an ordinance that not only required businesses to allow men to use the women’s restroom, but specifically refused to exempt churches and religious organizations. Charlotte decided to impose that burden on conscientious objectors in the culture war who object because the claims made by transgender advocates violate both the laws of science and the tenets of every major religion....
So yah, the news-readers just spew the queer propaganda. What--you thought otherwise?
Sunday, May 15, 2016
The Real "Gender" War
Propagandists have known for centuries that in order to control the argument, one must first control the language. Thus, the propagandists-of-queer adopted "gender". You see, "gender" has nothing to do with essence, and everything to do with accident.
Here's Webster on "gender":
1 a : a subclass within a grammatical class (as noun, pronoun, adjective, or verb) of a language that is partly arbitrary but also partly based on distinguishable characteristics (as shape, social rank, manner of existence, or sex) and that determines agreement with and selection of other words or grammatical forms b : membership of a word or a grammatical form in such a subclass c : an inflectional form showing membership in such a subclass
2 a : sex b : the behavioral, cultural, or psychological traits typically associated with one sex ...
It's the secondary definition which is of interest. Notice (b): 'behavioral, ...psychological traits...'? That's the usage of the queer propagandists. "Behavioral, cultural, psychological" attributes are, in fact, accidents, not essence.
Notice that the MSM (among others) parrots the term? It's in their scripts. They will never use the term "sex" as in "The baby is of the male sex." That's because "sex" connotes essence (albeit secondary; the principal essence is "human" or "bird" or "fish.")
For the artful liar, "gender" as in #2 above is a gift which will keep on giving. Utilizing the term allows re-defining humans. We saw a glimpse of this redefinition process in Kennedy's infamous 'whatever you want to be' language at SCOTUS and that hairball has simply grown since then. Like all hairballs, it's a sticky, ugly, mess, the composition of which you really don't want to know.
So when you hear that term "gender" it is foolhardy to engage an argument. You will lose unless you are actually dealing with a 'behavioral, cultural, psychological' discussion. Force your interlocutor to admit to essence: sex.
UPDATE: See also this post from Grim.
Here's Webster on "gender":
1 a : a subclass within a grammatical class (as noun, pronoun, adjective, or verb) of a language that is partly arbitrary but also partly based on distinguishable characteristics (as shape, social rank, manner of existence, or sex) and that determines agreement with and selection of other words or grammatical forms b : membership of a word or a grammatical form in such a subclass c : an inflectional form showing membership in such a subclass
2 a : sex
It's the secondary definition which is of interest. Notice (b): 'behavioral, ...psychological traits...'? That's the usage of the queer propagandists. "Behavioral, cultural, psychological" attributes are, in fact, accidents, not essence.
Notice that the MSM (among others) parrots the term? It's in their scripts. They will never use the term "sex" as in "The baby is of the male sex." That's because "sex" connotes essence (albeit secondary; the principal essence is "human" or "bird" or "fish.")
For the artful liar, "gender" as in #2 above is a gift which will keep on giving. Utilizing the term allows re-defining humans. We saw a glimpse of this redefinition process in Kennedy's infamous 'whatever you want to be' language at SCOTUS and that hairball has simply grown since then. Like all hairballs, it's a sticky, ugly, mess, the composition of which you really don't want to know.
So when you hear that term "gender" it is foolhardy to engage an argument. You will lose unless you are actually dealing with a 'behavioral, cultural, psychological' discussion. Force your interlocutor to admit to essence: sex.
UPDATE: See also this post from Grim.
Saturday, May 14, 2016
THE Analysis of "Pluralism"
Historian James Hitchcock, 1979:
“The media’s alleged commitment to pluralism,” says Hitchcock, “is at base a kind of hoax. The banner of pluralism is raised in order to win toleration for new ideas as yet unacceptable to the majority. Once toleration has been achieved, public opinion is systematically manipulated first to enforce a status of equality between the old and the new, then to assert the superiority of the new over the old. A final stage is often the total discrediting, even sometimes the banning, of what had previously been orthodox.” Hitchcock quotes T.S. Eliot, who put the matter most bluntly: “Paganism holds all the most valuable advertising space.” --quoted by Esolen at Crisis
It's helpful to know the dictionary-definition of "tolerate," of course. Then you'll understand why it's true that we 'tolerate' Obozo.
“The media’s alleged commitment to pluralism,” says Hitchcock, “is at base a kind of hoax. The banner of pluralism is raised in order to win toleration for new ideas as yet unacceptable to the majority. Once toleration has been achieved, public opinion is systematically manipulated first to enforce a status of equality between the old and the new, then to assert the superiority of the new over the old. A final stage is often the total discrediting, even sometimes the banning, of what had previously been orthodox.” Hitchcock quotes T.S. Eliot, who put the matter most bluntly: “Paganism holds all the most valuable advertising space.” --quoted by Esolen at Crisis
It's helpful to know the dictionary-definition of "tolerate," of course. Then you'll understand why it's true that we 'tolerate' Obozo.
Venezuela & Brazil: Latest Communist Failures
Both Venezuela and Brazil are "led" by Communists--who are called 'socialists' by the running-dog US press.
Venezuela is now subject to food riots.
And Brazil's Olympic Games venue will not be complete--nor even close to sanitary.
Obozo took a helluva run at bringing the US into the same situation. So far, he's not quite successful.
Venezuela is now subject to food riots.
And Brazil's Olympic Games venue will not be complete--nor even close to sanitary.
Obozo took a helluva run at bringing the US into the same situation. So far, he's not quite successful.
Texas Leads. Where's Wisconsin?
Here's a notable statement from the Lieutenant Governor of Texas.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) told school administrators they should "not enact" the policy mandated by the Obama administration that students be allowed access to restrooms and locker rooms according to their "gender identity" rather than their biological sex....
He's right, of course.
So. Where is the corresponding statement from anyone in the Walker Administration?
It's here:
Gov. Scott Walker is also weighing in.
"I think the bottom line is issues like that need to be addressed at the local level. That's what we elect school boards for. It's not an issue the federal government should be involved in, nor for that matter the state. Really it should be left up to the local school districts," he said.
Not exactly a thunderous response, but clearly in line with the 10th Amendment.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) told school administrators they should "not enact" the policy mandated by the Obama administration that students be allowed access to restrooms and locker rooms according to their "gender identity" rather than their biological sex....
He's right, of course.
So. Where is the corresponding statement from anyone in the Walker Administration?
It's here:
Gov. Scott Walker is also weighing in.
"I think the bottom line is issues like that need to be addressed at the local level. That's what we elect school boards for. It's not an issue the federal government should be involved in, nor for that matter the state. Really it should be left up to the local school districts," he said.
Not exactly a thunderous response, but clearly in line with the 10th Amendment.
Friday, May 13, 2016
RoJo, the Big Spender (!)
Seems that Ron Johnson is now a Certified Member of the Establishment.
The U.S. Senate’s first spending bill of 2016 allocates $261 million more than President Barack Obama requested and lacks significant conservative amendments, but it still sailed to passage Thursday in the Republican-led chamber.
Only 8 Senators voted against this pig.
RoJo was NOT one of them. So "the Reformer" has folded like a cheap suit.
The U.S. Senate’s first spending bill of 2016 allocates $261 million more than President Barack Obama requested and lacks significant conservative amendments, but it still sailed to passage Thursday in the Republican-led chamber.
Only 8 Senators voted against this pig.
RoJo was NOT one of them. So "the Reformer" has folded like a cheap suit.
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
McCain and Musk for Massive Fail!!
Seems that Senator McCain has a love affair with Elon Musk. That may create a problem.
...“Two Republican powerhouses (Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain [Ariz.] and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy [Calif.]) teamed up Wednesday to introduce a bill that would stop U.S. military reliance on Russian-made rocket engines (RD-180) for its national security space launches.”...
OK. Screw the dirty Russkis!! Dethrone Putin, The Enemy!! Right??
Umhhhnnnmmm.....
...you can’t actually end our reliance on Russian rockets – unless you have a viable alternative ready to go. The United States does not....
Enter Elon Musk, the father of the self-immolating Tesla; the Tesla whose gull-wing doors don't work well, if at all; the Tesla whose battery-power is great, except in the frozen North during winter....and who thinks that by sleeping on his factory floor, he can solve all the problems.
The Musk whose solar electric empire derives almost all of its revenues from sucking the life out of taxpayers....
Yah, that Musk. He also owns a private space-rocket business!
...“Sen. McCain pushed these restrictions in close coordination with SpaceX, which stands much to gain by eliminating competition. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was recently certified for some of these launches by the Air Force, albeit under intense political pressure from the Obama administration….SpaceX has…suffered numerous delays and anomalies....
"Delays and anomalies"--just like the Tesla!!
...Shortly after the Air Force’s certification of the Falcon 9, a catastrophic failure in June led to the complete loss of both the vehicle and all of its taxpayer-funded cargo, thus grounding the vehicle. The company was already over two years late developing the Falcon 9 and now has a substantial backlog of its current launch schedule, which raises the question of what the launch priorities will be if it does resume flights.”...
We're all for private enterprise. But we're not all for failures.
...“Two Republican powerhouses (Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain [Ariz.] and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy [Calif.]) teamed up Wednesday to introduce a bill that would stop U.S. military reliance on Russian-made rocket engines (RD-180) for its national security space launches.”...
OK. Screw the dirty Russkis!! Dethrone Putin, The Enemy!! Right??
Umhhhnnnmmm.....
...you can’t actually end our reliance on Russian rockets – unless you have a viable alternative ready to go. The United States does not....
Enter Elon Musk, the father of the self-immolating Tesla; the Tesla whose gull-wing doors don't work well, if at all; the Tesla whose battery-power is great, except in the frozen North during winter....and who thinks that by sleeping on his factory floor, he can solve all the problems.
The Musk whose solar electric empire derives almost all of its revenues from sucking the life out of taxpayers....
Yah, that Musk. He also owns a private space-rocket business!
...“Sen. McCain pushed these restrictions in close coordination with SpaceX, which stands much to gain by eliminating competition. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was recently certified for some of these launches by the Air Force, albeit under intense political pressure from the Obama administration….SpaceX has…suffered numerous delays and anomalies....
"Delays and anomalies"--just like the Tesla!!
...Shortly after the Air Force’s certification of the Falcon 9, a catastrophic failure in June led to the complete loss of both the vehicle and all of its taxpayer-funded cargo, thus grounding the vehicle. The company was already over two years late developing the Falcon 9 and now has a substantial backlog of its current launch schedule, which raises the question of what the launch priorities will be if it does resume flights.”...
We're all for private enterprise. But we're not all for failures.
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
The ObozoCare Agony for Consumers
Below we mentioned a few pain-points for employers dealing with ObozoCare.
Now it's the consumers' turn!!
...in Virginia, Anthem Inc and Carefirst BlueCross BlueShield are proposing 15.8% and 25% increases respectively. In Oregon, the increases are stunning to say the least. Providence Health Plan, currently the largest insurer for people buying coverage through the Oregon health exchange, is seeking an average increase of 29.6%. Not to be outdone, Moda Health Plan Inc, another large insurer for the state, is proposing a premium increase of 32.3% - this is after a 25% hike last year. For some context as to how out of control premium increases will be for those enrolled in Oregon, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest is asking for an increase of 14.5%, the second lowest percentage increase in the state. Insurers seeking double digit rate increases are citing higher than expected medical costs...
Ron Johnson will explain it all to you, of course.
Now it's the consumers' turn!!
...in Virginia, Anthem Inc and Carefirst BlueCross BlueShield are proposing 15.8% and 25% increases respectively. In Oregon, the increases are stunning to say the least. Providence Health Plan, currently the largest insurer for people buying coverage through the Oregon health exchange, is seeking an average increase of 29.6%. Not to be outdone, Moda Health Plan Inc, another large insurer for the state, is proposing a premium increase of 32.3% - this is after a 25% hike last year. For some context as to how out of control premium increases will be for those enrolled in Oregon, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest is asking for an increase of 14.5%, the second lowest percentage increase in the state. Insurers seeking double digit rate increases are citing higher than expected medical costs...
Ron Johnson will explain it all to you, of course.
Monday, May 09, 2016
ObozoCare: The Next Agony
Courtesy Schenck CPA's we learn that ObozoCare 2016 will be even more of a pain for employers. That's always a good way to reduce both profits and motivation, of course--which seems to be the REAL objective of the program.
Sample:
...a large employer is one that employed at least 50 full-time and full-time equivalents, with full time being 30 hours a week or more.
To determine this, you must look at each calendar month of 2015 and determine the number of full-time employees. Then take the remaining employees (the part-time employees) and divide their total number of hours for the month by 120 hours to determine the full-time equivalents. Do this for each month and average the 12 months, rounding down. If you have 50 or more, you are a large employer for 2016 and have a Form 1095C reporting requirement. You may also be subject to an employer mandate penalty if you fail to offer insurance or if you fail to offer affordable insurance....
And that's the simple part. Wait!! There's more!!
...For 2016, to avoid the failure to offer insurance penalty of $2,160 per employee, an employer must offer insurance to 95% of its full-time employees. Therefore, the room for error is only 5% of the full-time employees (or 5 employees, whichever is higher). Should an employer fail to hit 95% (by even 1%), the failure to offer insurance penalty will kick in, even though the employer did offer and pay for insurance for 94% of its full time employees. Contrast this with 2015 in that employers only had to hit 70% of its full-time employees to avoid the penalty....
And EVEN MORE (which is too complex to explain)!!!!
...the determination of which employees are full-time is a very complicated process. The IRS created two methods for determining full-time employees: the monthly measurement method and the lookback measurement method. The IRS regulations contain the specifics of each of these methods. The methods are fairly complicated to apply. For some employers, it is relatively easy to determine full-time employees; for others, it is not. Not doing this correctly could spell disaster....
We will quibble. ObozoCare spelled "disaster" a long time ago. Now it's merely a matter of degree.
Sample:
...a large employer is one that employed at least 50 full-time and full-time equivalents, with full time being 30 hours a week or more.
To determine this, you must look at each calendar month of 2015 and determine the number of full-time employees. Then take the remaining employees (the part-time employees) and divide their total number of hours for the month by 120 hours to determine the full-time equivalents. Do this for each month and average the 12 months, rounding down. If you have 50 or more, you are a large employer for 2016 and have a Form 1095C reporting requirement. You may also be subject to an employer mandate penalty if you fail to offer insurance or if you fail to offer affordable insurance....
And that's the simple part. Wait!! There's more!!
...For 2016, to avoid the failure to offer insurance penalty of $2,160 per employee, an employer must offer insurance to 95% of its full-time employees. Therefore, the room for error is only 5% of the full-time employees (or 5 employees, whichever is higher). Should an employer fail to hit 95% (by even 1%), the failure to offer insurance penalty will kick in, even though the employer did offer and pay for insurance for 94% of its full time employees. Contrast this with 2015 in that employers only had to hit 70% of its full-time employees to avoid the penalty....
And EVEN MORE (which is too complex to explain)!!!!
...the determination of which employees are full-time is a very complicated process. The IRS created two methods for determining full-time employees: the monthly measurement method and the lookback measurement method. The IRS regulations contain the specifics of each of these methods. The methods are fairly complicated to apply. For some employers, it is relatively easy to determine full-time employees; for others, it is not. Not doing this correctly could spell disaster....
We will quibble. ObozoCare spelled "disaster" a long time ago. Now it's merely a matter of degree.
Is "Pro-Nehlen" Identical With "Pro-Trump"?
This year's political picture is so confusing that it is near-Byzantine. So the last thing a responsible columnist should do is to insinuate that "Anti-Ryan" is identical to "Pro-Trump."
When one reads Paul Nehlen's platform, one doesn't find too much "Trumpism" there. It's always possible that Nehlen will become more a Trumpkin as time goes on--in which case, evaluations can change.
Meantime, Nehlen's positions on immigration, visa abuse, budget matters, trade, and accountability are quite sensible.
And it's about time that Paul Ryan actually IS held accountable for his time in office, ain'a???
When one reads Paul Nehlen's platform, one doesn't find too much "Trumpism" there. It's always possible that Nehlen will become more a Trumpkin as time goes on--in which case, evaluations can change.
Meantime, Nehlen's positions on immigration, visa abuse, budget matters, trade, and accountability are quite sensible.
And it's about time that Paul Ryan actually IS held accountable for his time in office, ain'a???
Nehlen Shoots and Scores!
Frankly, I don't think that Paul Nehlen needs Sarah Palin if his advertising remains this good.
Paul Ryan may look like a very secure Congressman, but Ryan has a lot of baggage. He enables Obozo's spend/debt schemes, is an open-borders True Believer, and has been less than honest (to put it mildly) about his responsibility for the continuation of ObozoCare--which has cost the US military a lot, by the way.
Being The Boehner's designated successor won't help him either.
Here's Nehlen's opening salvo (at his website):
Like many people in this district, I’ve had the opportunity to meet Paul Ryan personally. He’s shaken my hand. He’s looked me in the eye. He’s made promises to me and many others about policies he would and would not support on behalf of this district. We’ve all watched as he’s broken every single one of those promises.
Get the popcorn. This will be fun to watch.
Paul Ryan may look like a very secure Congressman, but Ryan has a lot of baggage. He enables Obozo's spend/debt schemes, is an open-borders True Believer, and has been less than honest (to put it mildly) about his responsibility for the continuation of ObozoCare--which has cost the US military a lot, by the way.
Being The Boehner's designated successor won't help him either.
Here's Nehlen's opening salvo (at his website):
Like many people in this district, I’ve had the opportunity to meet Paul Ryan personally. He’s shaken my hand. He’s looked me in the eye. He’s made promises to me and many others about policies he would and would not support on behalf of this district. We’ve all watched as he’s broken every single one of those promises.
Get the popcorn. This will be fun to watch.
Rediscovering Tonelson
We had followed Alan Tonelson's writings a number of years ago, but lost track of him. Tonelson has concentrated on "real-world" economic indicators--pocketbook stuff--for around 30 years, and is the leading counter-voice to the Establishment's "free-trade" blather.
Thanks to Norm Matloff, we found him again. And just as before, Tonelson has a few things to say about free trade.
The government’s first estimate of first quarter, 2016 gross domestic product (GDP) showed that the real trade deficit hit its highest level ($566.6 billion) since the first quarter of 2008. As a result, trade cut weak inflation-adjusted first quarter growth of 0.54 percent annualized by 0.34 percentage points – the biggest drag after the drop in gross private fixed investment (0.60 percentage points).
That's something you don't hear from the usual RadioMouths, eh?
...The new first quarter numbers mean that trade has now slowed cumulative growth during this already sluggish U.S. recovery by 9.37 percent – despite the dramatic drop in the country’s oil trade shortfall. The quarter’s real trade deficit was driven mainly by falling real exports. Real goods exports worsened for the third straight quarter,....
...which explains the mass layoffs at Caterpillar and Joy (Harnischfeger)...
...and real services imports rose for the sixth straight quarter and hit their sixth consecutive quarterly record ($486.2 billion)....
...which includes the "data services" and "customer services" work that used to be performed by US workers. Think Disney and Abbott Labs, e.g.
And then there's his take on TPP, which demonstrates that Obozo is a lawyer (he lies whenever his lips are moving).
...Maybe President Obama believes that repeating even the most laughably off-base contentions endlessly will make them true? Or convincing? It’s hard to look at his new Washington Post op-ed urging passage of his Pacific Rim trade deal and conclude anything else. The article makes clearer than ever that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) makes sense for the United States only if Americans ignore everything known about the agreement itself, about U.S. trade with the eleven other signatories, and about the region’s economics and commerce....
Like it or not, Tonelson's essays illuminate one of the reasons that Trump-ism is regnant: the "free trade" boys are just as wrong now as when PJBuchanan blew George Bush I out of the water years ago. Either the FedGov exists to promote the welfare of US citizens, or it exists to promote the welfare of the world's citizens.
Lots of folks think the former is the priority. The GOPe? Not so much.
Thanks to Norm Matloff, we found him again. And just as before, Tonelson has a few things to say about free trade.
The government’s first estimate of first quarter, 2016 gross domestic product (GDP) showed that the real trade deficit hit its highest level ($566.6 billion) since the first quarter of 2008. As a result, trade cut weak inflation-adjusted first quarter growth of 0.54 percent annualized by 0.34 percentage points – the biggest drag after the drop in gross private fixed investment (0.60 percentage points).
That's something you don't hear from the usual RadioMouths, eh?
...The new first quarter numbers mean that trade has now slowed cumulative growth during this already sluggish U.S. recovery by 9.37 percent – despite the dramatic drop in the country’s oil trade shortfall. The quarter’s real trade deficit was driven mainly by falling real exports. Real goods exports worsened for the third straight quarter,....
...which explains the mass layoffs at Caterpillar and Joy (Harnischfeger)...
...and real services imports rose for the sixth straight quarter and hit their sixth consecutive quarterly record ($486.2 billion)....
...which includes the "data services" and "customer services" work that used to be performed by US workers. Think Disney and Abbott Labs, e.g.
And then there's his take on TPP, which demonstrates that Obozo is a lawyer (he lies whenever his lips are moving).
...Maybe President Obama believes that repeating even the most laughably off-base contentions endlessly will make them true? Or convincing? It’s hard to look at his new Washington Post op-ed urging passage of his Pacific Rim trade deal and conclude anything else. The article makes clearer than ever that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) makes sense for the United States only if Americans ignore everything known about the agreement itself, about U.S. trade with the eleven other signatories, and about the region’s economics and commerce....
Like it or not, Tonelson's essays illuminate one of the reasons that Trump-ism is regnant: the "free trade" boys are just as wrong now as when PJBuchanan blew George Bush I out of the water years ago. Either the FedGov exists to promote the welfare of US citizens, or it exists to promote the welfare of the world's citizens.
Lots of folks think the former is the priority. The GOPe? Not so much.
Friday, May 06, 2016
Claire Wolfe's Sagacity
The Captain resigns from politics. He understands the OT injunction: "Put not your trust in princes."
Along the way, he quotes Claire Wolfe:
...Yeah, it hurts. But it hurts like growing up and learning that Santa didn’t really put those presents under the tree....
Yup.
Along the way, he quotes Claire Wolfe:
...Yeah, it hurts. But it hurts like growing up and learning that Santa didn’t really put those presents under the tree....
Yup.
Thursday, May 05, 2016
Open-Borders Ryan Stamping His Feet
Saw the presser on CNN.
Paul Ryan doesn't give a fig for fiscal conservatism. He MAY give a fig for the 10th Amendment. But all he wants Trump to do is to tear down that wall and let un-vetted "refugees" from the Middle East into the country.
K? Yah, we know that, Paul.
Paul Ryan doesn't give a fig for fiscal conservatism. He MAY give a fig for the 10th Amendment. But all he wants Trump to do is to tear down that wall and let un-vetted "refugees" from the Middle East into the country.
K? Yah, we know that, Paul.
The Donald Goes GoldmanSachs
Yah, he's an "outsider," so he picks a Goldie guy as finance director. Who happens to be another big-time (D) donor, too.
#NEVERTrump
#NEVERTrump
The Convention Looms Larger
Caught by Grim:
...the best solution for rolling back the extraordinary growth, power, and increasing corruption of the federal government is the convention of states, the Article V remedy for a runaway president and an out-of-control Congress. If two-thirds of states submit an application for a convention to propose constitutional amendments, then any proposed amendments can be ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures — circumventing the federal government entirely....quoting David French
No matter who wins the Presidency, Article V will capture a lot more favorable attention in the next couple of years.
...the best solution for rolling back the extraordinary growth, power, and increasing corruption of the federal government is the convention of states, the Article V remedy for a runaway president and an out-of-control Congress. If two-thirds of states submit an application for a convention to propose constitutional amendments, then any proposed amendments can be ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures — circumventing the federal government entirely....quoting David French
No matter who wins the Presidency, Article V will capture a lot more favorable attention in the next couple of years.
Forecasting Trump. Really?
Scott Walker (and many, many others) are going Vichy. The most common excuse is voiced here:
...Walker said Trump would be superior to Clinton on Supreme Court nominations, taxes, regulation and the size of government.....
Really? And how do you know this, Gov'nor?
What we DO know, pertinent to "size of government," is what Trump said: that the main functions of the Federal Government are "security, housing, education, and healthcare."
That pretty much KO's 'regulation' and 'size of government' chatter, no?
We also know that Trump's knowledge of the Constitution appears to have been formed by watching Disney movies; it certainly doesn't come from having actually read the document. Therefore, it is whistling past a graveyard to presume that The Donald will make a "good" appointment to SCOTUS. For all we know, it could be someone picked from the cast of "Survivor."
...Walker said Trump would be superior to Clinton on Supreme Court nominations, taxes, regulation and the size of government.....
Really? And how do you know this, Gov'nor?
What we DO know, pertinent to "size of government," is what Trump said: that the main functions of the Federal Government are "security, housing, education, and healthcare."
That pretty much KO's 'regulation' and 'size of government' chatter, no?
We also know that Trump's knowledge of the Constitution appears to have been formed by watching Disney movies; it certainly doesn't come from having actually read the document. Therefore, it is whistling past a graveyard to presume that The Donald will make a "good" appointment to SCOTUS. For all we know, it could be someone picked from the cast of "Survivor."
Gun-Sales Warning to Stupid Folks
There is good news.
This April saw the most gun-related background checks of any April on record, making it the 12th month in a row to achieve a high water mark for gun sales....Thus far 2016 is on pace to pass 2015 as the best year on record for gun-related background checks....
Go ahead. Make our day!!
This April saw the most gun-related background checks of any April on record, making it the 12th month in a row to achieve a high water mark for gun sales....Thus far 2016 is on pace to pass 2015 as the best year on record for gun-related background checks....
Go ahead. Make our day!!
Wednesday, May 04, 2016
RoJo Goes Careerist Politician
Just like "Cassius" Fitzgerald, good ol' RoJo is playing for the career in politics.
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson says he won’t hesitate supporting the reality TV star and real estate mogul.
“I am going to certainly endorse the Republican nominee, and obviously it looks like that will be Mr. Trump,” Johnson, R-Wis., said Wednesday in Eau Claire....
Good, Ron. You'll get what you deserve.
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson says he won’t hesitate supporting the reality TV star and real estate mogul.
“I am going to certainly endorse the Republican nominee, and obviously it looks like that will be Mr. Trump,” Johnson, R-Wis., said Wednesday in Eau Claire....
Good, Ron. You'll get what you deserve.
Scott Fitzgerald Pees His Pants
Sen. Fitzgerald of Jefferson (who is as ambitious as Cassius) has commanded (R) voters to vote for Trump.
The funny part? Fitzgerald noted that Trump is a 'populist'.
Well, Senator, if the (R) Party poohbahs--such as yourself--failed to discern the populism which began with the TEA Party rally IN MADISON (you idiot), why in Hell should anyone follow your pathetic whining pleadings now?
Further: Fitzgerald states that "Republicans" made Trump the nominee. He's wrong. Trump voters are Democrat Party members who--for some reason--dislike the TraitorQueen and the gadfly. Or--as is more likely--they are as racist and misogynist and un-informed as is Trump.
Or both.
The funny part? Fitzgerald noted that Trump is a 'populist'.
Well, Senator, if the (R) Party poohbahs--such as yourself--failed to discern the populism which began with the TEA Party rally IN MADISON (you idiot), why in Hell should anyone follow your pathetic whining pleadings now?
Further: Fitzgerald states that "Republicans" made Trump the nominee. He's wrong. Trump voters are Democrat Party members who--for some reason--dislike the TraitorQueen and the gadfly. Or--as is more likely--they are as racist and misogynist and un-informed as is Trump.
Or both.
Did the NYTimes Get One Right?
Noticed by Vox Populi:
...Republican leaders have for years failed to think about much of anything beyond winning the next election. Year after year, the party’s candidates promised help for middle-class people who lost their homes, jobs and savings to recession, who lost limbs and well-being to war, and then did next to nothing. That Mr. Trump was able to enthrall voters by promising simply to “Make America Great Again” — but offering only xenophobic, isolationist or fantastical ideas — is testimony to how thoroughly they reject the politicians who betrayed them....NYT at Vox
We don't see much to argue with there. The Ruling Class Republicans have done their damndest to kill off actual Conservatism and are now suffering from "Glock Leg."
Smooth move!
(Oh, RoJo: remember all those promises to 'do whatever I can to stop ObozoCare'? Remember those? Yah, I thought so.)
...Republican leaders have for years failed to think about much of anything beyond winning the next election. Year after year, the party’s candidates promised help for middle-class people who lost their homes, jobs and savings to recession, who lost limbs and well-being to war, and then did next to nothing. That Mr. Trump was able to enthrall voters by promising simply to “Make America Great Again” — but offering only xenophobic, isolationist or fantastical ideas — is testimony to how thoroughly they reject the politicians who betrayed them....NYT at Vox
We don't see much to argue with there. The Ruling Class Republicans have done their damndest to kill off actual Conservatism and are now suffering from "Glock Leg."
Smooth move!
(Oh, RoJo: remember all those promises to 'do whatever I can to stop ObozoCare'? Remember those? Yah, I thought so.)
Reince's Turd
Priebus bleating:
...we all need to unite...
"Unite" behind a racist misogynist pathological liar?
...we all need to unite...
"Unite" behind a racist misogynist pathological liar?
Tuesday, May 03, 2016
Imagine...
...that you are the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and you will have either Hillary or the CarnyBarker as the C-in-C.
LBGQT (Etc.) Music?
Madness is more fully upon us. A state music-educators' association has declared that grade-school music instruction must now be LBGQT-friendly.
The implication is that "music"--or art of any sort--can no longer be transcendental. Well, that is logical; it follows the derogation of God which has been in process since the Progressive Idea began the slow drawing-down of blinds in the West.
Shall we hold our breath until Obama's favorite siren-song, that of the Muslim call to worship, goes LBGQT??
The implication is that "music"--or art of any sort--can no longer be transcendental. Well, that is logical; it follows the derogation of God which has been in process since the Progressive Idea began the slow drawing-down of blinds in the West.
Shall we hold our breath until Obama's favorite siren-song, that of the Muslim call to worship, goes LBGQT??
The
Massachusetts Music Educators Association has published an article
warning school music teachers across the state that they must provide
“LGBTQ-friendly” classrooms or else risk having a “hostile” climate that
impairs students’ academic success and mental health. - See more at:
http://moonbattery.com/#sthash.tFf3zPsa.dpuf
The
Massachusetts Music Educators Association has published an article
warning school music teachers across the state that they must provide
“LGBTQ-friendly” classrooms or else risk having a “hostile” climate that
impairs students’ academic success and mental health. - See more at:
http://moonbattery.com/#sthash.T3UvdhZ0.dpuf
The
Massachusetts Music Educators Association has published an article
warning school music teachers across the state that they must provide
“LGBTQ-friendly” classrooms or else risk having a “hostile” climate that
impairs students’ academic success and mental health. - See more at:
http://moonbattery.com/#sthash.T3UvdhZ0.dpuf
Sunday, May 01, 2016
Trump Smashed by Hillary Vote
Fuggedabout Donald's bullshit braggadocio; Hillary has FAR more votes than he does.
12 million HRC, 10 million Trump.
Face it, Donald: you're a loser.
12 million HRC, 10 million Trump.
Face it, Donald: you're a loser.
The Donald, Summed Up
Can't add anything to this summary:
...He gets his foreign policy ideas from Michael Moore and Code Pink (or worse yet, from Vladimir Putin); his abortion views are grounded in his sympathy with Planned Parenthood; he supports socialized medicine in the form of single-payer healthcare, higher taxes, more government spending, and Herbert Hoover’s trade policy. He’s never met a bailout or a crony-capitalist deal he didn’t like, or a Democrat he wouldn’t donate to. He’s astonishingly ignorant, emotionally unstable, and wholly incapable of saying no to Democrats. Trump is a spoiled, entitled rich kid who shows not the slightest understanding of the American way of up-by-the booststraps striving to better yourself; in Trump’s world, the rich get richer by having the right friends, and everybody else is a serf who needs the government to protect them from foreign competition....
Why #NeverTrump is the only position to hold.
...He gets his foreign policy ideas from Michael Moore and Code Pink (or worse yet, from Vladimir Putin); his abortion views are grounded in his sympathy with Planned Parenthood; he supports socialized medicine in the form of single-payer healthcare, higher taxes, more government spending, and Herbert Hoover’s trade policy. He’s never met a bailout or a crony-capitalist deal he didn’t like, or a Democrat he wouldn’t donate to. He’s astonishingly ignorant, emotionally unstable, and wholly incapable of saying no to Democrats. Trump is a spoiled, entitled rich kid who shows not the slightest understanding of the American way of up-by-the booststraps striving to better yourself; in Trump’s world, the rich get richer by having the right friends, and everybody else is a serf who needs the government to protect them from foreign competition....
Why #NeverTrump is the only position to hold.
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