You remember that PPP release which told us that "Barrett would win the election if it were held today"? Came out about a week ago.
LegalInsurrection polled (cough) a Ph.D. candidate in polling...
Say someone wishes to know how many people abandoned Walker in hindsight for Barrett, and wants to adjust for this oversampling. This makes sense because the poll asks who previously voted for Walker, so we can compare changes within the same group. This means that the slight difference in voter composition is unlikely to matter, since we are comparing the same people. It is unlikely that a slightly different voter composition would have a significantly different amount of change. In the PPP poll, the group sampled went from claiming they voted 47-47 to giving Barrett a 45-52 advantage, creating a 7 point deficit for Walker
Long story short: the poll is extremely unreliable.
...From what we know, despite the somewhat unrepresentative sample, it looks like Walker has probably lost a bit of support between November and the PPP poll, since even ridiculously optimistic assumptions only account for half of his losses. Is it possible that even after adjusting for union support and people lying about for whom they voted, there is some other factor that contributed to the retrospective tie that can explain away Walker’s losses? In theory, yes, but it is extremely unlikely. Is it possible that this is due to sampling error? Yes, but again, the difference is large enough that that is also unlikely. Hopefully I have shown how little an impact small differences tend to have on final numbers.
For you math geeks, go to the link.
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Just a Quick Review of the "Disaster" in Education
George Mitchell points us to this article.
...For a variety of reasons, from one year to the next, schools almost always have more real revenue for each of their enrolled students. For the past hundred years, with rare and short exceptions and after controlling for inflation, public schools have had both more money and more employees per student in each succeeding year. Teacher salaries have increased more than 42 percent in constant dollars over the past half century, while educators’ working conditions, health plans, and retirement arrangements have become ever more commodious. Moreover, school-related revenues and employment levels have increased even when the economy (as measured by Gross Domestic Product or GDP) turned down, unlike what typically happens in sectors such as manufacturing and retail sales, where recessions trigger cutbacks in personnel and profits.
As for the future of MPS:
School district insolvencies are rare and most often the result of administrative or school board mismanagement and malfeasance, rather than from the consequence of diminished revenues and systematic budget cuts.
Why? Simple.
School district politics, including those surrounding funding issues and taxation, tend to be dominated by self-interested coalitions of parents and school district employees. For these constituents, the costs of becoming informed and actively participating in school district decisionmaking are low relative to the benefits to be gained. Employee-parent coalitions tend to dominate local school-board elections and ballot measures regarding school funding (see “The Union Label on the Ballot Box,” research, Summer 2006). Their self-interest and favorable predisposition provide schools with political protection against budget cuts when the overall economy turns down
There is a lot more at the link.
Suffice it to say that the "crisis" is staring at you in the graph at the top of this post. Don't be fooled by the guy to whom I owe the HT for this item!!
The "Rights" of Public Employees
Bet you didn't know that these are "rights" subject to bargaining for State-Pampered Employees.
...When a local union meets the following conditions are subject to bargaining:
1. lighting,
2. vision care and examinations,
3. noise,
4. chairs,
5. desks,
6. footrests,
7. adjustable terminals and keyboards,
8. work environment design (wall cover, carpet, windows),
9. room temperature,
10. Starting of vehicles during cold weather is subject to collective bargaining.
11. Paid time off to donate blood.
12. Viagara
The DECOR of the OFFICE? What, extra pay if avocado is present?
Need to adjust the angle of the dangle of the keyboard? Try matchbooks, twit. Too cold? Too hot? Is the color of the desk or chair passe?
Rights, eh? Right up there with "life, liberty, happiness."
And for WEAC and the AFSCME, these "rights" trump the right to life.
HT: Sykes
...When a local union meets the following conditions are subject to bargaining:
1. lighting,
2. vision care and examinations,
3. noise,
4. chairs,
5. desks,
6. footrests,
7. adjustable terminals and keyboards,
8. work environment design (wall cover, carpet, windows),
9. room temperature,
10. Starting of vehicles during cold weather is subject to collective bargaining.
11. Paid time off to donate blood.
12. Viagara
The DECOR of the OFFICE? What, extra pay if avocado is present?
Need to adjust the angle of the dangle of the keyboard? Try matchbooks, twit. Too cold? Too hot? Is the color of the desk or chair passe?
Rights, eh? Right up there with "life, liberty, happiness."
And for WEAC and the AFSCME, these "rights" trump the right to life.
HT: Sykes
Another Doylet Screw-Job
All you have to do is pass the bill.
Then you get to find out what's actually in it.
Then you get to find out what's actually in it.
In June 2009, just as the governor's massive budget bill was about to be approved, leaders of the state Assembly added 66 pages of changes affecting everything from highway projects to school funding.
Buried in that so-called super amendment: a new property tax exemption for a $12 million privately owned student housing facility near the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The move stuck Madison taxpayers with a $238,000 bill.
There was no public hearing, no study of who would be affected.
That's because lawmakers used what they admit is an inside trick to fast-track exemptions and bypass the committee set up to review exemption proposals. They introduce exemptions as amendments late in the process, after public hearings, when the budget is certain to pass.
And, if they want an exemption when there is no budget bill pending, they introduce it as an income tax credit. Then they immediately transform the credit into the desired exemption, a maneuver that also sidesteps the review panel.
Since Madison taxpayers were the victims (this time), should we care?Let the Fleebags Save Face? Why?
Scott Walker has given the (D) Fleebags plenty of extra room on their leash--to the point of winking at their presence in the State during "negotiations."
His emails prove it; Walker gave them more bargaining-room on salary, more employees to organize, a break on the representation elections, and a few other goodies.
Nope. "All reasonable offers will be refused" is the current position of the irresponsible sore-loser crowd. "To Hell with duty. To Hell with the Wisconsin electorate's November decisions. To Hell with responsible fiscal governance. To Hell with the children who will pay these debts."
That's what Walker, the Fitz Boyzzz, and voters are being told by Miller & Co.
Our Madison correspondent thinks there is "anger" outside of Dane County.
Gee. I wonder why.
His emails prove it; Walker gave them more bargaining-room on salary, more employees to organize, a break on the representation elections, and a few other goodies.
Nope. "All reasonable offers will be refused" is the current position of the irresponsible sore-loser crowd. "To Hell with duty. To Hell with the Wisconsin electorate's November decisions. To Hell with responsible fiscal governance. To Hell with the children who will pay these debts."
That's what Walker, the Fitz Boyzzz, and voters are being told by Miller & Co.
Our Madison correspondent thinks there is "anger" outside of Dane County.
Gee. I wonder why.
Barrett (!!?!!) Inveighs Against "Big Brother"
The irony of Tom Barrett, Statist, decrying "Big Brother" is ......extreme.
...Senate Bill 30 (SB30) says if a police officer or firefighter lives in a city that requires residency, that worker would be allowed to live anywhere in the county in which they reside or any adjacent county.
...Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett does not support the bill. In a release Tuesday afternoon, he said the following: "Since 1930, the City of Milwaukee has had residency as a condition of employment and, in that time, the City has had no problem in attracting job applicants...We don’t need big brother, State Government interfering in our local affairs,...
Department of Education. HHS. ObamaCare. EPA.
State Department of Public Instruction and Sex Ed. State DNR. State Mandated Recycling. State-Mandated Public Employee Bargaining.
Jam it, Tommy.
...Senate Bill 30 (SB30) says if a police officer or firefighter lives in a city that requires residency, that worker would be allowed to live anywhere in the county in which they reside or any adjacent county.
...Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett does not support the bill. In a release Tuesday afternoon, he said the following: "Since 1930, the City of Milwaukee has had residency as a condition of employment and, in that time, the City has had no problem in attracting job applicants...We don’t need big brother, State Government interfering in our local affairs,...
Department of Education. HHS. ObamaCare. EPA.
State Department of Public Instruction and Sex Ed. State DNR. State Mandated Recycling. State-Mandated Public Employee Bargaining.
Jam it, Tommy.
Fop Flop: NPR Spinning, Schiller Canned
Mr Schiller, pinky carefully elevated, foppishly opines on the TEA Party:
“radical, racist, Islamaphobic, Tea Party people,” Schiller says, they’re “not just Islamaphobic, but really xenophobic, I mean basically they are, they believe in sort of white, middle-America gun-toting. I mean, it’s scary. They’re seriously racist, racist people.”
Juan Williams tells Hannity that Schiller 'is demolishing the brand' of NPR.
Maybe. If one pays attention to the local NPR broadcasts and transcripts, it is not clear at all that NPR's 'journalism' is even remotely 'balanced.' It is commonplace to read or hear half, or less than half, of the story.
NPR, now facing a $400Million cut in its revenues, went into panic.
The comments contained in the video released today are contrary to everything we stand for, and we completely disavow the views expressed. NPR is fair and open minded about the people we cover.
Not true. Schiller expressed the weltanschuung of NPR management. Maybe he exceeded the NPR norm by 10%. But in an organization as highly politicized as NPR management, he fits right in.
If you don't believe that, ask Juan Williams.
“radical, racist, Islamaphobic, Tea Party people,” Schiller says, they’re “not just Islamaphobic, but really xenophobic, I mean basically they are, they believe in sort of white, middle-America gun-toting. I mean, it’s scary. They’re seriously racist, racist people.”
Juan Williams tells Hannity that Schiller 'is demolishing the brand' of NPR.
Maybe. If one pays attention to the local NPR broadcasts and transcripts, it is not clear at all that NPR's 'journalism' is even remotely 'balanced.' It is commonplace to read or hear half, or less than half, of the story.
NPR, now facing a $400Million cut in its revenues, went into panic.
The comments contained in the video released today are contrary to everything we stand for, and we completely disavow the views expressed. NPR is fair and open minded about the people we cover.
Not true. Schiller expressed the weltanschuung of NPR management. Maybe he exceeded the NPR norm by 10%. But in an organization as highly politicized as NPR management, he fits right in.
If you don't believe that, ask Juan Williams.
Forever Secret: Obama's Big Pharma Meetings
There are some things that the American public simply should not know, right?
The White House has rejected a request from the House Energy and Commerce committee for information about "every meeting, briefing or telephone call" the administration had with non-governmental parties in the lead up to, and wake of, passage of the health care law. --TPM quoted at Examiner
Obama's meetups with Big Pharma, hospitals, and the docs.
A little secrecy now and then, some profits, a little cheese for every mouse.
What do YOU care, peasant?
The White House has rejected a request from the House Energy and Commerce committee for information about "every meeting, briefing or telephone call" the administration had with non-governmental parties in the lead up to, and wake of, passage of the health care law. --TPM quoted at Examiner
Obama's meetups with Big Pharma, hospitals, and the docs.
A little secrecy now and then, some profits, a little cheese for every mouse.
What do YOU care, peasant?
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Clear--Eyed Read on WI Employee Rights
A couple of guys read the Civil Service code in Wisconsin law--you know, the one that all union employees will have to "suffer" under after Walker's plan goes through.
...Moreover, they will still be protected by civil service laws that provide job security and perks beyond anything seen in the private sector.
Which does not count holidays.
BTW, to my knowledge the last 5-weeks-vacation after 25-years' employment in the private sector in Wisconsin went bye-bye about 20 years ago. I think it was at JI Case in Racine.
...Moreover, they will still be protected by civil service laws that provide job security and perks beyond anything seen in the private sector.
The majority of those benefits are mandated by Wisconsin's Municipal Employment Relations Act (MERA), section 230 of the Wisconsin Code (the code) entitled "State Employee Relations," and other civil service laws.
They read (fairly, IMHO) the provisions of the code (see the link.)
One item of note:
...Every new employee who has worked one to five years automatically receives 104 hours off annually, with the vacation time increasing substantially every five years. Those working for over 25 years get a whopping 216 hours off each year -- almost five and a half weeks!Which does not count holidays.
BTW, to my knowledge the last 5-weeks-vacation after 25-years' employment in the private sector in Wisconsin went bye-bye about 20 years ago. I think it was at JI Case in Racine.
Vrakas on Sykes: "Do More With Less"
As the Sykes-Forum plays out, we just heard Dan Vrakas (Waukesha County Exec) defend Walker's budget-repair proposal with the catch-phrase that "Government must do more with less."
I respectfully submit that Dan Vrakas is wrong.
The whole POINT of the 2-year-old TEA Party movement is that "Government should do LESS, and with less money, too!!"
Nice catch-phrase.
Wrong premise.
(Spoken with the real-life perspective of one who would LOVE to see a private contractor plow North Avenue instead of Waukesha County.)
I respectfully submit that Dan Vrakas is wrong.
The whole POINT of the 2-year-old TEA Party movement is that "Government should do LESS, and with less money, too!!"
Nice catch-phrase.
Wrong premise.
(Spoken with the real-life perspective of one who would LOVE to see a private contractor plow North Avenue instead of Waukesha County.)
Sex and the Single Girl
OK, that headline is trolling for hits.
Get over it.
Douthat drew attention to a book, for which Douthat is taking incoming pretty heavily.
Their research, which looks at sexual behavior among contemporary young adults, finds a significant correlation between sexual restraint and emotional well-being, between monogamy and happiness — and between promiscuity and depression.
This correlation is much stronger for women than for men. --McCain quoting Douthat
McCain has a little fun with the thesis. He cites the Genesis/Luke 'covenant' connection (familiar to those who attended the recent Men of Christ confab) and then writes:
...ask yourself this: What if Regnerus and Uecker are right?
Get over it.
Douthat drew attention to a book, for which Douthat is taking incoming pretty heavily.
Their research, which looks at sexual behavior among contemporary young adults, finds a significant correlation between sexual restraint and emotional well-being, between monogamy and happiness — and between promiscuity and depression.
This correlation is much stronger for women than for men. --McCain quoting Douthat
McCain has a little fun with the thesis. He cites the Genesis/Luke 'covenant' connection (familiar to those who attended the recent Men of Christ confab) and then writes:
...ask yourself this: What if Regnerus and Uecker are right?
What would be the consequences of having scientific proof that pre-marital chastity and marital fidelity — “One Life, One Wife” – confer socio-economic advantages not only on individuals who uphold such values, but also produce advantages for the larger society?
The implications for public policy, I’ll leave to the wonks. Rather, I suggest the likelihood that this scientific insight could lead people to consider the possibility that the Bible is actually true.
No wonder Echidne’s head is exploding. Ideas have consequences.
Heh."It's Fiscal" for Sure
Walker's office has noted a few of the more egregious union-pig "collective bargains."
In Milwaukee County alone, because the union collectively bargained for paid time off, fourteen employees receive salary and benefits for doing union business. Of the fourteen, three are on full-time release for union business. Milwaukee County spent over $170,000 in salary alone for these employees to only participate in union activities such as collective bargaining.
Then there's the Green Bay teacher deal, the Prison Guard Deal (2.5 x base if you lie about 'sick time,') the Madistan $100K Bus-Driver deal, and the Porn On School Computers deal.
One wishes that Walker would elaborate--extensively--on the "work rules" crap, not just the "gimme more money" crap.
In the end, work-rules cost far more than pensions. Ask GM. Or Chrysler.
HT: PowerLine
In Milwaukee County alone, because the union collectively bargained for paid time off, fourteen employees receive salary and benefits for doing union business. Of the fourteen, three are on full-time release for union business. Milwaukee County spent over $170,000 in salary alone for these employees to only participate in union activities such as collective bargaining.
Then there's the Green Bay teacher deal, the Prison Guard Deal (2.5 x base if you lie about 'sick time,') the Madistan $100K Bus-Driver deal, and the Porn On School Computers deal.
One wishes that Walker would elaborate--extensively--on the "work rules" crap, not just the "gimme more money" crap.
In the end, work-rules cost far more than pensions. Ask GM. Or Chrysler.
HT: PowerLine
Ron Schilling: Short-Termer
Don't know the name?
He's the bag-man for NPR (they call him President NPR Foundation and SVP Development--which translates "bag-man." Get the money, put it in the bag.)
Anyhow, Schilling has opinions about TEA Party people.
The fun starts around 2:00 on the video, or you can read this:
“The current Republican Party, particularly the Tea Party, is fanatically involved in people’s personal lives and very fundamental Christian – I wouldn’t even call it Christian. It’s this weird evangelical kind of move,” declared Schiller, who runs NPR’s foundation.
.....Schiller wastes little time before attacking conservatives. The Republican Party, Schiller says, has been “hijacked by this group.” The man posing as Malik finishes the sentence by adding, “the radical, racist, Islamaphobic, Tea Party people.” Schiller agrees and intensifies the criticism, saying that the Tea Party people aren’t “just Islamaphobic, but really xenophobic, I mean basically they are, they believe in sort of white, middle-America gun-toting. I mean, it’s scary. They’re seriously racist, racist people.”
Hey, Ron! See that big bus just behind you? The one that's accelerating?
By the way, Schilling IS a 'short-termer.' He's going to be running the Aspen Institute next month. First thing he'll do: make sure there are no TEA Party people on the housekeeping staff.
HT: Gateway
He's the bag-man for NPR (they call him President NPR Foundation and SVP Development--which translates "bag-man." Get the money, put it in the bag.)
Anyhow, Schilling has opinions about TEA Party people.
The fun starts around 2:00 on the video, or you can read this:
“The current Republican Party, particularly the Tea Party, is fanatically involved in people’s personal lives and very fundamental Christian – I wouldn’t even call it Christian. It’s this weird evangelical kind of move,” declared Schiller, who runs NPR’s foundation.
.....Schiller wastes little time before attacking conservatives. The Republican Party, Schiller says, has been “hijacked by this group.” The man posing as Malik finishes the sentence by adding, “the radical, racist, Islamaphobic, Tea Party people.” Schiller agrees and intensifies the criticism, saying that the Tea Party people aren’t “just Islamaphobic, but really xenophobic, I mean basically they are, they believe in sort of white, middle-America gun-toting. I mean, it’s scary. They’re seriously racist, racist people.”
Hey, Ron! See that big bus just behind you? The one that's accelerating?
By the way, Schilling IS a 'short-termer.' He's going to be running the Aspen Institute next month. First thing he'll do: make sure there are no TEA Party people on the housekeeping staff.
HT: Gateway
More of "Holder's People"--in NYC
The Holder Department of "My People's Justice" is suing NYC over its fire-department hiring practices.
Here's an editorial on the issue:
...Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.'s obsession with racial grievance-mongering could get Americans burnt to a crisp in their own homes. That's because his Justice Department is trying to force the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) to hire flunkies who got 70 percent wrong on a basic, fire-related multiple-choice, open-book test. The exam was used to screen applicants to the fire academy. More than 90 percent of black and Hispanic test-takers passed, which isn't enough for liberals addicted to affirmative action...
The indefatigable Ms. King, notably involved in the Philly vote-suppression whitewash, is also a playah.
HT: AmSpec
Here's an editorial on the issue:
...Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.'s obsession with racial grievance-mongering could get Americans burnt to a crisp in their own homes. That's because his Justice Department is trying to force the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) to hire flunkies who got 70 percent wrong on a basic, fire-related multiple-choice, open-book test. The exam was used to screen applicants to the fire academy. More than 90 percent of black and Hispanic test-takers passed, which isn't enough for liberals addicted to affirmative action...
The indefatigable Ms. King, notably involved in the Philly vote-suppression whitewash, is also a playah.
HT: AmSpec
"Protect the Little Guy?" Not Rosen of MATC
You might have heard that MATC faculty members earn more than UW-M faculty members.
And you might have heard that the (non-elected-tax-taking) MATC Board approved a super-rich contract for MATC faculty.
Some union people are more equal than other union people.
Members of the Milwaukee Area Technical College Board had strong words for Gov. Scott Walker on Monday before approving a new contract for some of the college's lowest-paid employees that will protect their collective bargaining rights for two years but impose pension and health insurance premium concessions the governor is demanding from public workers.
And you might have heard that the (non-elected-tax-taking) MATC Board approved a super-rich contract for MATC faculty.
Some union people are more equal than other union people.
Members of the Milwaukee Area Technical College Board had strong words for Gov. Scott Walker on Monday before approving a new contract for some of the college's lowest-paid employees that will protect their collective bargaining rights for two years but impose pension and health insurance premium concessions the governor is demanding from public workers.
Compared with a three-year contract the board approved last month for MATC teachers and paraprofessionals, the concessions in the two-year contract approved Monday for MATC service workers are markedly more severe.
Who's "Shamed" now?
'Petroloo' for Obama? Make It Happen!
It's clear that the President's agenda includes expensive energy.
So perhaps it's time to start the '12 campaign.
...A day should not go by on which Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker John Boehner aren’t giving a press conference about how Obama’s energy policies are to blame for the soaring price at the pump and for killing domestic energy jobs at home.
...Obama’s Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has blocked the exploration for and production of shale oil in the Rockies, Dakotas, and elsewhere, even though we sit atop enough shale oil reserves to last us a century alone. Let’s repeat that. Just in shale oil, America’s energy needs could be met for 100 years, without the use of any imports.
Obama has stopped exploration in the Gulf, and in Alaska, too.
At $4.50 or $5.00/gallon, an economic recovery is not going to happen.
So perhaps it's time to start the '12 campaign.
...A day should not go by on which Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker John Boehner aren’t giving a press conference about how Obama’s energy policies are to blame for the soaring price at the pump and for killing domestic energy jobs at home.
...Obama’s Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has blocked the exploration for and production of shale oil in the Rockies, Dakotas, and elsewhere, even though we sit atop enough shale oil reserves to last us a century alone. Let’s repeat that. Just in shale oil, America’s energy needs could be met for 100 years, without the use of any imports.
Obama has stopped exploration in the Gulf, and in Alaska, too.
At $4.50 or $5.00/gallon, an economic recovery is not going to happen.
WI Pension Fund Is OK. But Not Health Fund
Huh. Bill Gates put up a nice interactive map which shows both future pension obligations of the several States--AND future health-care obligations.
You've heard that the Wisconsin pension funding is OK, and it is.
But the health-funding?
Ugh. About 20% of future obligations.
HT: RedStates
You've heard that the Wisconsin pension funding is OK, and it is.
But the health-funding?
Ugh. About 20% of future obligations.
HT: RedStates
Monday, March 07, 2011
Not Quite the Whole "Retirement" Story
Something's missing here.
...many teachers nearing retirement age are putting in their papers.
...many teachers nearing retirement age are putting in their papers.
For school districts, a glut of retiring teachers is a double-edged sword, because while schools can avoid layoffs by simply not filling positions vacated by retirees, the districts are also stuck with paying for retirements and other post-employment benefits (OPEB) guaranteed under current contracts. If the governor's budget bills pass, schools will have much less funding to cover those costs, but they will still pay for the previously negotiated retirement packages guaranteed to teachers.
Really?
What about the fact that the remaining faculty is paid less than near-retirement veterans? (Or aren't they?) And if the Districts have to hire new teachers, won't they be paid less?
Meantime, the Districts are still taking in the same prop-tax dollars as last year, right?
Where's all that money going?
TSA Inching Toward "Papiere, Bitte...."
A while back, TSA agents took over the Savannah (GA) railroad station and searched everyone who entered.
Amtrak does not approve. Here's the first half of the story.
Amtrak Police Chief John O’Connor said he first thought a blog posting about the incident was a joke. When he discovered that the TSA’s VIPR team did at least some of what the blog said, he was livid. He ordered the VIPR teams off Amtrak property, at least until a firm agreement can be drawn up to prevent the TSA from taking actions that the chief said were illegal and clearly contrary to Amtrak policy.
“When I saw it, I didn’t believe it was real,” O’Connor said. When it developed that the posting on an anti-TSA blog was not a joke, “I hit the ceiling.”
TSA has been formally dis-invited from Amtrak stations.
But there's a little more which is of interest.
...The group involved is TSA’s VIPR operation, which deals with surface transportation. VIPR is short for “visible intermodal protection and response.” It turns out that VIPR has been far more active than imagined. Teams have searched bus passengers all over the country, have done similar things at train stations, and have even blocked traffic on bridges to search trucks and cars. That even included the busy Chesapeake Bay Bridge near Washington.
The VIPR teams were rolled out on Dec. 12, 2005, then promptly pulled back two days later when it turned out that no one had informed numerous local governments. It was a fiasco. Several local jurisdictions said they had no interest and opted out, including the Washington Metro system. But teams, moving slowly, have apparently re-infiltrated surface transportation facilities. Unlike the TSA at airports, these teams have access to firepower. Although the TSA is not allowed to carry weapons, some armed Federal Air Marshals have been switched to ground duty.
As the editor of Trains wrote: "Why?" Was TSA advised that there were bomb-porters on the Chesapeake Bridge? In Savannah?
No word.
Are they practicing for something?
No word.
Amtrak does not approve. Here's the first half of the story.
Amtrak Police Chief John O’Connor said he first thought a blog posting about the incident was a joke. When he discovered that the TSA’s VIPR team did at least some of what the blog said, he was livid. He ordered the VIPR teams off Amtrak property, at least until a firm agreement can be drawn up to prevent the TSA from taking actions that the chief said were illegal and clearly contrary to Amtrak policy.
“When I saw it, I didn’t believe it was real,” O’Connor said. When it developed that the posting on an anti-TSA blog was not a joke, “I hit the ceiling.”
TSA has been formally dis-invited from Amtrak stations.
But there's a little more which is of interest.
...The group involved is TSA’s VIPR operation, which deals with surface transportation. VIPR is short for “visible intermodal protection and response.” It turns out that VIPR has been far more active than imagined. Teams have searched bus passengers all over the country, have done similar things at train stations, and have even blocked traffic on bridges to search trucks and cars. That even included the busy Chesapeake Bay Bridge near Washington.
The VIPR teams were rolled out on Dec. 12, 2005, then promptly pulled back two days later when it turned out that no one had informed numerous local governments. It was a fiasco. Several local jurisdictions said they had no interest and opted out, including the Washington Metro system. But teams, moving slowly, have apparently re-infiltrated surface transportation facilities. Unlike the TSA at airports, these teams have access to firepower. Although the TSA is not allowed to carry weapons, some armed Federal Air Marshals have been switched to ground duty.
As the editor of Trains wrote: "Why?" Was TSA advised that there were bomb-porters on the Chesapeake Bridge? In Savannah?
No word.
Are they practicing for something?
No word.
Walker: Miller Is a Liar
About time that the Governor call a spade a spade.
Press conference quick-take:
Walker, Legislative (R) leaders, and Walker's people have been in damn-near-constant communication with some FleeBags over the last week. Walker's people were summoned to South Beloit (or another similar garden spot)--but Miller's bozos did not show up for the appointment THEY MADE.
Miller issues a statement to the WSJ, then Miller retracts the statement.
Finally, Walker comes out and just says what we all know:
Miller is a liar.
Yes, that's the Miller whose daughter was practicing law without a license in the Doylet.
Press conference quick-take:
Walker, Legislative (R) leaders, and Walker's people have been in damn-near-constant communication with some FleeBags over the last week. Walker's people were summoned to South Beloit (or another similar garden spot)--but Miller's bozos did not show up for the appointment THEY MADE.
Miller issues a statement to the WSJ, then Miller retracts the statement.
Finally, Walker comes out and just says what we all know:
Miller is a liar.
Yes, that's the Miller whose daughter was practicing law without a license in the Doylet.
Geithner's "Delphi Maneuver" Questioned
This should be fun to watch.
Republican Reps. Mike Turner of Ohio and Dan Burton of Indiana are asking House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, California Republican, to dig into the Obama administration’s decision to cut more than 20,000 private-sector workers’ pensions and eliminate their health and life insurance plans during the General Motors (GM) bailout in 2009.
....What Turner and Burton are saying happened during the GM bailout is that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner decided to cut pensions for salaried non-union employees at Delphi, a GM spinoff, to expedite GM’s emergence from bankruptcy. The problem with that, according to the congressmen, is that Geithner decided to fully fund the pensions of union workers involved in the process – including workers associated with United Auto Workers, Steelworkers and the IUE-CWA.
And a lot of Delco/Delphi Oak Creek retirees took it in the chops on that move.
Republican Reps. Mike Turner of Ohio and Dan Burton of Indiana are asking House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, California Republican, to dig into the Obama administration’s decision to cut more than 20,000 private-sector workers’ pensions and eliminate their health and life insurance plans during the General Motors (GM) bailout in 2009.
....What Turner and Burton are saying happened during the GM bailout is that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner decided to cut pensions for salaried non-union employees at Delphi, a GM spinoff, to expedite GM’s emergence from bankruptcy. The problem with that, according to the congressmen, is that Geithner decided to fully fund the pensions of union workers involved in the process – including workers associated with United Auto Workers, Steelworkers and the IUE-CWA.
And a lot of Delco/Delphi Oak Creek retirees took it in the chops on that move.
Walker: Imadinnerjacket Disapproves
Scott Walker gets a mention from Iranian State TV. They don't like him.
...in this clip covering the protests in Wisconsin we have the requisite comparisons to Egypt, but PRESS TV also finds a firefighter willing to call Gov. Walker a dictator.
The blogpost also reports that the Russkies disapprove of Walker.
If nothing else, Scott has ALL the right enemies.
HT: Verum
...in this clip covering the protests in Wisconsin we have the requisite comparisons to Egypt, but PRESS TV also finds a firefighter willing to call Gov. Walker a dictator.
The blogpost also reports that the Russkies disapprove of Walker.
If nothing else, Scott has ALL the right enemies.
HT: Verum
A Buncha Stuff About Polling
Some interesting knowledge about the polling game from a grad (Yale) student via Jacobson.
Sunday, March 06, 2011
Earth to Obama: You Dialed the Wrong Number
Get THIS:
Desperate to avoid US military involvement in Libya in the event of a prolonged struggle between the Gaddafi regime and its opponents, the Americans have asked Saudi Arabia if it can supply weapons to the rebels in Benghazi. The Saudi Kingdom, already facing a "day of rage" from its 10 per cent Shia Muslim community on Friday, with a ban on all demonstrations, has so far failed to respond to Washington's highly classified request, although King Abdullah personally loathes the Libyan leader, who tried to assassinate him just over a year ago.
Obama must think that the House of Saud has a collective total IQ around 40. That's projection, not reality.
Desperate to avoid US military involvement in Libya in the event of a prolonged struggle between the Gaddafi regime and its opponents, the Americans have asked Saudi Arabia if it can supply weapons to the rebels in Benghazi. The Saudi Kingdom, already facing a "day of rage" from its 10 per cent Shia Muslim community on Friday, with a ban on all demonstrations, has so far failed to respond to Washington's highly classified request, although King Abdullah personally loathes the Libyan leader, who tried to assassinate him just over a year ago.
Obama must think that the House of Saud has a collective total IQ around 40. That's projection, not reality.
For Fr. Wenig, Chapter Two Begins
This comes as no surprise whatsoever:
The [Milwaukee County] district attorney’s office has concluded after reviewing the complaint that the statute of limitations prohibits a prosecution from moving forward, according to Milwaukee County Chief Deputy District Attorney Kent Lovern. --Cath. Herald via BadgerCath
But that's not the end of the story. The Archdiocese will be running its own investigation, the results of which will govern the disposition of Fr. Wenig's ministry.
Wenig is regarded as a very intelligent guy--if somewhat erratic--so I'd be surprised if the allegations are stone-cold proven.
OTOH, it wouldn't be the first time that intelligence lost out to lower passions.
The [Milwaukee County] district attorney’s office has concluded after reviewing the complaint that the statute of limitations prohibits a prosecution from moving forward, according to Milwaukee County Chief Deputy District Attorney Kent Lovern. --Cath. Herald via BadgerCath
But that's not the end of the story. The Archdiocese will be running its own investigation, the results of which will govern the disposition of Fr. Wenig's ministry.
Wenig is regarded as a very intelligent guy--if somewhat erratic--so I'd be surprised if the allegations are stone-cold proven.
OTOH, it wouldn't be the first time that intelligence lost out to lower passions.
Ireland Capitulates to the EU Plan
Given the tone of the editorial here, there may be more 'Troubles.'
The Fine Gael/Labour coalition Government is to implement in detail the outgoing Government's four-year austerity plan as approved by the EU-IMF, the Sunday Independent can reveal.
In what will amount to the most barefaced breach of election promises ever perpetrated by an incoming Government, the coalition partners' programme for government will cause uproar when it is published today.
Umnhnnnn....lemmeeseeheah.......
Isn't "Doyle" an Irish surname?
RC
The Fine Gael/Labour coalition Government is to implement in detail the outgoing Government's four-year austerity plan as approved by the EU-IMF, the Sunday Independent can reveal.
In what will amount to the most barefaced breach of election promises ever perpetrated by an incoming Government, the coalition partners' programme for government will cause uproar when it is published today.
Umnhnnnn....lemmeeseeheah.......
Isn't "Doyle" an Irish surname?
RC
The Understatement of the Year, Contender #1
Sometimes, the Cop Shop protocols lead to ......well, check this out.
A mother hurled her 18-day-old baby girl into a snowbank in south Minneapolis Saturday morning, horrified witnesses told police
...[P]olice spokesman Sgt. William Palmer [said] "I think you can only call it bad judgment on the mother's part, given what the temperature conditions were," he said. "She made a decision that was completely inappropriate."
Yah, I know. The cops have to speak in "innocent before proven guilty" language.
But WE don't.
Either this babe has attempted murder OR she belongs in a loony bin.
A mother hurled her 18-day-old baby girl into a snowbank in south Minneapolis Saturday morning, horrified witnesses told police
...[P]olice spokesman Sgt. William Palmer [said] "I think you can only call it bad judgment on the mother's part, given what the temperature conditions were," he said. "She made a decision that was completely inappropriate."
Yah, I know. The cops have to speak in "innocent before proven guilty" language.
But WE don't.
Either this babe has attempted murder OR she belongs in a loony bin.
The Madness of Madistan
Yup, it's Madison.
And as some friends I have out there will attest, the question "Why do you have a right to your money?" is NOT unusual.
There are those who just. don't. get. it. And most of them live in Madison.
And as some friends I have out there will attest, the question "Why do you have a right to your money?" is NOT unusual.
There are those who just. don't. get. it. And most of them live in Madison.
NYTimes v. MIchael Moore
I can't believe I saw this:
In all, the salaries and benefits of state employees add up to $18.5 billion, or a fifth of New York’s operating budget. Unless those costs are reined in, New York will find itself unable to provide even essential services. --NYTimes editorial quoted at LegalInsurrection
Natch, the editorial goes on to lie about Walker, Kasich, and other Governors.
...In recent weeks, Republican politicians in the Midwest have distorted what should be a serious discussion about state employees’ benefits, cynically using it as a pretext to crush unions.
Au contraire, you feeble twits!
Not one PEU will be de-certed under the Walker plan unless the membership votes to do so.
Not one penny of salary or wage will be taken from current PEU members.
Not one day of "earned" time-off/vacation/sick pay will be subtracted from PEU member accounts. (That's up to FIVE WEEKS' vacation for State employees w/25+ years' tenure.)
Not one "working conditions" line-item will be changed in the immediate future.
Not one overtime-manipulation scheme will be outlawed.
No State/Local employee will lose seniority.
ALL State/local employees will be covered by Civil Service job protections.
If that's "crushing Unions," then you won't mind while I rain down your back.
BTW, Jacobson has a lot more on the NYT's willful blindness:
The cause of the problem is not just the terms of a particular public sector union contract, it is the system which allows public sector unions to pass costs onto future generations of taxpayers and union members.
Yes, folks, the young just-joined-the-union types are going to be flattened in the stampede.
In all, the salaries and benefits of state employees add up to $18.5 billion, or a fifth of New York’s operating budget. Unless those costs are reined in, New York will find itself unable to provide even essential services. --NYTimes editorial quoted at LegalInsurrection
Natch, the editorial goes on to lie about Walker, Kasich, and other Governors.
...In recent weeks, Republican politicians in the Midwest have distorted what should be a serious discussion about state employees’ benefits, cynically using it as a pretext to crush unions.
Au contraire, you feeble twits!
Not one PEU will be de-certed under the Walker plan unless the membership votes to do so.
Not one penny of salary or wage will be taken from current PEU members.
Not one day of "earned" time-off/vacation/sick pay will be subtracted from PEU member accounts. (That's up to FIVE WEEKS' vacation for State employees w/25+ years' tenure.)
Not one "working conditions" line-item will be changed in the immediate future.
Not one overtime-manipulation scheme will be outlawed.
No State/Local employee will lose seniority.
ALL State/local employees will be covered by Civil Service job protections.
If that's "crushing Unions," then you won't mind while I rain down your back.
BTW, Jacobson has a lot more on the NYT's willful blindness:
The cause of the problem is not just the terms of a particular public sector union contract, it is the system which allows public sector unions to pass costs onto future generations of taxpayers and union members.
Yes, folks, the young just-joined-the-union types are going to be flattened in the stampede.
Editorialist Paradise Re-Found!!
Irresistible, no matter how much or little you value the context.
The Hudson Institute has an article this week that provides an excellent summary of disquieting events in Pakistan’s remote northern province of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Yup. Gilgit-Baltistan.
Thousands of big-city newspaper editorialists have been looking for a substitute for "Afghanistan" now that "Afghanistaning" is no longer the Editorialists' Fantasy where you could write whatever righteous balderdash you wanted to and, frankly, no one gave a damn. Even better, it never affected circulation!
That ended about 9 years ago. Unpleasantries, US forces, all that.
NOW, for editorialists everywhere, there's ........
Gilgit-Baltistan!
Doesn't flow quite as well as "Afghanistan," but ya' know, these things are hard to come by. You take what you can get.
You're welcome.
HT: HotAir
The Hudson Institute has an article this week that provides an excellent summary of disquieting events in Pakistan’s remote northern province of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Yup. Gilgit-Baltistan.
Thousands of big-city newspaper editorialists have been looking for a substitute for "Afghanistan" now that "Afghanistaning" is no longer the Editorialists' Fantasy where you could write whatever righteous balderdash you wanted to and, frankly, no one gave a damn. Even better, it never affected circulation!
That ended about 9 years ago. Unpleasantries, US forces, all that.
NOW, for editorialists everywhere, there's ........
Gilgit-Baltistan!
Doesn't flow quite as well as "Afghanistan," but ya' know, these things are hard to come by. You take what you can get.
You're welcome.
HT: HotAir
Obama Desperate to Shut Down the Government
It's been mentioned that Obama really, really, really wants to shut down the Government, as his boyzzzzz think they can pin the "disaster" on the Republicans.
Note how well the MSM colluded with the (D) liars last time around. They succeeded: Gingrich became the Worst Nightmare Your Kids Ever Had.
So. In order to have this nightmare, Obama needs an excuse.
President Barack Obama would veto the House-approved long-term spending bill for the federal government that contains the Pence Amendment, a measure that would de-fund the Planned Parenthood abortion business.
Obama is happy to sacrifice 1/3rd of a million lives in order to keep Death Panels.
Or something like that.
Note how well the MSM colluded with the (D) liars last time around. They succeeded: Gingrich became the Worst Nightmare Your Kids Ever Had.
So. In order to have this nightmare, Obama needs an excuse.
President Barack Obama would veto the House-approved long-term spending bill for the federal government that contains the Pence Amendment, a measure that would de-fund the Planned Parenthood abortion business.
Because of that provision and other pro-life riders that stop abortion funding globally and in the District of Columbia, the Washington Times indicates “Obama has issued a veto threat on that bill, saying House Republicans’ cuts are unacceptable.” --LifeSite News quoted at Gateway
Obama is happy to sacrifice 1/3rd of a million lives in order to keep Death Panels.
Or something like that.
What's Wrong With This Picture?
Gateway mentions the boycott threats in Wausau. Sorta mild-mannered stuff. Far more .......ahhhh.......direct and.....ummn...... menacing letters have been issued in Manitowoc County.
But I'm intrigued by the fact that Da Union apparently thinks it's necessary to provide TEACHERS with a pre-written form letter so the TEACHERS can threaten a boycott.
Ummnnnnnhhhh......
Aren't TEACHERS supposed to be able to formulate a 4-graf letter on their own, stating the reason for the letter, providing evidence for claims, (etc.)?
Don't TEACHERS have to go 2 kalleje? Pass tests? Bkum sertafyed?
Whatever DID they learn there?
But I'm intrigued by the fact that Da Union apparently thinks it's necessary to provide TEACHERS with a pre-written form letter so the TEACHERS can threaten a boycott.
Ummnnnnnhhhh......
Aren't TEACHERS supposed to be able to formulate a 4-graf letter on their own, stating the reason for the letter, providing evidence for claims, (etc.)?
Don't TEACHERS have to go 2 kalleje? Pass tests? Bkum sertafyed?
Whatever DID they learn there?
Michael Moore's Synchronization Problems
Ahhhhh, the cash-laden Michael Moore. Popcorn, anyone?
"The country is awash in wealth and cash," he said. "It's just not in your hands."
Mike's solution? SUE the bastards.
Our solution? Limits on collective bargaining.
Moore said people in Wisconsin "have aroused a sleeping giant, known as the working people."
"Right now, the earth is shaking and the ground is shifting under the feet of those who are in charge," he said. "Your message has inspired people in all 50 states: 'We have had it.'
Wrong-O, Mikie. You get an "F" in Political History.
The earth shook two years ago April with the birth of the TEA Party, and the ground shifted on the first Tuesday in November '10.
The April message? "We have had it." The November message? "Tax-takers are no longer going to hold us hostage."
But Moore does get one answer right:
"What is certain, Madison is only the beginning."
Followed by Columbus, Albany, Trenton, Sacramento, and.....finally.......D.C.
"The country is awash in wealth and cash," he said. "It's just not in your hands."
Mike's solution? SUE the bastards.
Our solution? Limits on collective bargaining.
Moore said people in Wisconsin "have aroused a sleeping giant, known as the working people."
"Right now, the earth is shaking and the ground is shifting under the feet of those who are in charge," he said. "Your message has inspired people in all 50 states: 'We have had it.'
Wrong-O, Mikie. You get an "F" in Political History.
The earth shook two years ago April with the birth of the TEA Party, and the ground shifted on the first Tuesday in November '10.
The April message? "We have had it." The November message? "Tax-takers are no longer going to hold us hostage."
But Moore does get one answer right:
"What is certain, Madison is only the beginning."
Followed by Columbus, Albany, Trenton, Sacramento, and.....finally.......D.C.
The Usual Suspects Don't Like Walker's Plans
The JS notes that a meeting was held.
Hundreds of parents, teachers and school supporters packed the School District of Greenfield administrative building Saturday afternoon to discuss how Gov. Scott Walker's $834 million cut to K-12 education spending is likely to impact southeastern Wisconsin's school districts.
OK.
...It was also clear that neither Pertl nor the majority of the audience members were in favor of the governor's proposals to drop the requirement for schools in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program to take the annual state achievement test.
OK.
But here one begins to get a sense of the crowd's real motivation:
It was clear the audience also opposed Walker's proposal to drop the requirement that teachers in independent charter (public) schools have a teaching license, and to allow them to teach with just a bachelor's degree.
So then this line, deadpanned by the JS writer, requires a bit of investigation:
The event included speakers from organizations such as the Wisconsin PTA and was sponsored in large part by the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools.
Sure enough. The WAES "Membership" page consists of WEA, WISDOM (the Alinsky-ites), and some stray dogs and cats.
From that group, it's not hard to find a "crowd of hundreds" who oppose any sensible plan.
UPDATE: When I said "The Usual Suspects," I wasn't kidding.
Hundreds of parents, teachers and school supporters packed the School District of Greenfield administrative building Saturday afternoon to discuss how Gov. Scott Walker's $834 million cut to K-12 education spending is likely to impact southeastern Wisconsin's school districts.
OK.
...It was also clear that neither Pertl nor the majority of the audience members were in favor of the governor's proposals to drop the requirement for schools in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program to take the annual state achievement test.
OK.
But here one begins to get a sense of the crowd's real motivation:
It was clear the audience also opposed Walker's proposal to drop the requirement that teachers in independent charter (public) schools have a teaching license, and to allow them to teach with just a bachelor's degree.
So then this line, deadpanned by the JS writer, requires a bit of investigation:
The event included speakers from organizations such as the Wisconsin PTA and was sponsored in large part by the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools.
Sure enough. The WAES "Membership" page consists of WEA, WISDOM (the Alinsky-ites), and some stray dogs and cats.
From that group, it's not hard to find a "crowd of hundreds" who oppose any sensible plan.
UPDATE: When I said "The Usual Suspects," I wasn't kidding.
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Can't Rebuild WI Capitol; Spent $770Million on Mosques
Well, that headline is actually a non-sequitur.
Sorta.
It's reported that the US is spending $770 million to repair mosques all over the Middle East.
No wonder there's a TEA Party.
I don't care if this started with Obozo or Bush. It should stop, now.
(We do NOT see $770 million to replace Coptic churches bombed by Muslims, do we???--not that I would advocate rebuilding them with US tax dollars, either...)
Sorta.
It's reported that the US is spending $770 million to repair mosques all over the Middle East.
No wonder there's a TEA Party.
I don't care if this started with Obozo or Bush. It should stop, now.
(We do NOT see $770 million to replace Coptic churches bombed by Muslims, do we???--not that I would advocate rebuilding them with US tax dollars, either...)
Friday, March 04, 2011
Crying Towel Time
Excerpt from a letter at FrZ's place:
The poor father has decided to go along with Mum and Dad and Joe and they are at present overnight in ___. Today Joe was sleeping while his Dad was crying along beside him. He awoke, he is 2 and a half, and asked his Dad why he was crying? ‘Don’t you see the two angels standing next to the bed. They are bewdiful’ he said.
OK, that convinced me to say a prayer....
The poor father has decided to go along with Mum and Dad and Joe and they are at present overnight in ___. Today Joe was sleeping while his Dad was crying along beside him. He awoke, he is 2 and a half, and asked his Dad why he was crying? ‘Don’t you see the two angels standing next to the bed. They are bewdiful’ he said.
OK, that convinced me to say a prayer....
For Owen
The Texan out there in West Bend prolly saw this.
It's worth seeing by you others.
Once and God permitting, never again!
It's worth seeing by you others.
Once and God permitting, never again!
LaHood's Nascent Statism
Evidently LaHood doesn't have actual, ya' know, productive stuff to do.
So he comes up with anile program suggestions financed by.....yup....the taxpayer.
Wisconsin Reps. Jim Sensenbrenner, Paul Ryan and Tom Petri have introduced a bill that would prohibit the secretary of transportation from providing funds to state and local governments for the use of motorcycle-only traffic checkpoints.
But they also mentioned Step Two:
"Also, it's outrageously intrusive. Nobody is suggesting pulling cars off the road for unscheduled inspections, so why are motorcycle riders being harassed?"
Cars were NEXT year's plan, Congressman.
So he comes up with anile program suggestions financed by.....yup....the taxpayer.
Wisconsin Reps. Jim Sensenbrenner, Paul Ryan and Tom Petri have introduced a bill that would prohibit the secretary of transportation from providing funds to state and local governments for the use of motorcycle-only traffic checkpoints.
But they also mentioned Step Two:
"Also, it's outrageously intrusive. Nobody is suggesting pulling cars off the road for unscheduled inspections, so why are motorcycle riders being harassed?"
Cars were NEXT year's plan, Congressman.
The Right Perspective
The Spotted Horse has returned and has a great perspective on the upcoming hit to MPS:
This is more like a bulldozer knocking over a gutted building as the first step in urban renewal.
Well, a nuke would be quicker.
This is more like a bulldozer knocking over a gutted building as the first step in urban renewal.
Well, a nuke would be quicker.
And the NEA Supports.......(!!!??)
Compulsory dues support this bullshit.
“Oral sex, masturbation, and orgasms need to be taught in education,” Diane Schneider told the audience at a [United Nations conference] panel on combating homophobia and transphobia. Schneider, representing the National Education Association (NEA), the largest teachers union in the US, advocated for more “inclusive” sex education in US schools. --quoted at The Winning McCain
Almost makes me understand jihad.
“Oral sex, masturbation, and orgasms need to be taught in education,” Diane Schneider told the audience at a [United Nations conference] panel on combating homophobia and transphobia. Schneider, representing the National Education Association (NEA), the largest teachers union in the US, advocated for more “inclusive” sex education in US schools. --quoted at The Winning McCain
Almost makes me understand jihad.
Think Mexico is a Spring Break Destination?
Here's about 5 minutes of Ma Deuce, AR, and AK gunfire--almost continuous--in Juarez. (It's the second video on this link.)
More casualties there than in Afghanistan last year.
Have kiddies who like Mexico as a spring-break spot?
Play that for them.
HT: Verum
More casualties there than in Afghanistan last year.
Have kiddies who like Mexico as a spring-break spot?
Play that for them.
HT: Verum
You Can't Make This Up, Greenspan Edition
One hopes that Ticker heard this wrong, but ........
"If you disregard the currency dislocation we've created, the commodity price spike we've created (with our money printing and this the currency dislocation) and the worldwide currency problems (particularly in the Euro) then the economy is very strong."
--rough quotation of Greenspan from Ticker
Disregarding the earthquake, the residents of Christchurch are all very alive and healthy.
"If you disregard the currency dislocation we've created, the commodity price spike we've created (with our money printing and this the currency dislocation) and the worldwide currency problems (particularly in the Euro) then the economy is very strong."
--rough quotation of Greenspan from Ticker
Disregarding the earthquake, the residents of Christchurch are all very alive and healthy.
Employment Better? Not Necessarily
The good news is that nonfarm payroll employment increased by 192K (BLS.)The bad news: less and less people are actually working.
This is partly demographic--the Boomers are retiring and not being replaced 1-for-1 by young 'uns, and partly the fact that there are a lot less jobs out there.
Another factor: the U-6 gang who just plain gave up looking for work, or are forced-part-time workers.
The unstated: if you're over 50 years of age, you're not going anywhere fast in the job market.
HT: Ticker
Don't Repair the Capitol
So there's about $5 million in damage to the marble at the Capitol.
Near as I can tell, the State of Wisconsin doesn't have the money to pay for the repairs.
And if our Capitol-Denizens think that the taxpayers of this State SHOULD repair the Capitol, they are wrong. The Rissers, Carpenters, and Cullens don't deserve a pretty office environment.
If Risser wants 'pretty,' then let Risser pick up the tab.
Near as I can tell, the State of Wisconsin doesn't have the money to pay for the repairs.
And if our Capitol-Denizens think that the taxpayers of this State SHOULD repair the Capitol, they are wrong. The Rissers, Carpenters, and Cullens don't deserve a pretty office environment.
If Risser wants 'pretty,' then let Risser pick up the tab.
"What Part of 'UN-CONSTITUTIONAL' Don't You Understand?"
That's not quite what Judge Vinson wrote, but it is exactly what he meant.
...Vinson confirmed that his January ruling killed ObamaCare stone dead. He was harshly critical of the Administration’s conduct since then, saying he did not expect them to “effectively ignore the order and declaratory judgment for two and one-half weeks, continue to implement the Act, and only then file a belated motion to clarify.”
...Explaining why he did not include a specific injunction against implementation of ObamaCare against the plaintiffs in his case (which include over half the states in the country), Vinson cited precedent that establishes “a long-standing presumption that officials of the Executive Branch will adhere to the law as declared by the court. As a result, the declaratory judgment is the functional equivalent of an injunction.”
The judge had never met the Obama Administration.
But because lawbreaking deserves a break (?), Vinson gave the Obama Crowd (D-Lawless) exactly one week to file an appeal for an expedited review at either the 11th Circuit OR in SCOTUS.
After that, the State-plaintiffs could tell Obama & Co. to put the law where the sun never shines.
...Vinson confirmed that his January ruling killed ObamaCare stone dead. He was harshly critical of the Administration’s conduct since then, saying he did not expect them to “effectively ignore the order and declaratory judgment for two and one-half weeks, continue to implement the Act, and only then file a belated motion to clarify.”
...Explaining why he did not include a specific injunction against implementation of ObamaCare against the plaintiffs in his case (which include over half the states in the country), Vinson cited precedent that establishes “a long-standing presumption that officials of the Executive Branch will adhere to the law as declared by the court. As a result, the declaratory judgment is the functional equivalent of an injunction.”
The judge had never met the Obama Administration.
But because lawbreaking deserves a break (?), Vinson gave the Obama Crowd (D-Lawless) exactly one week to file an appeal for an expedited review at either the 11th Circuit OR in SCOTUS.
After that, the State-plaintiffs could tell Obama & Co. to put the law where the sun never shines.
Thursday, March 03, 2011
Apparently Ryan Means Business
He spoke with the AmSpec and ATR.
...Ryan is clearly focused on getting control of trillions of dollars of expenditures not just billions. He wants "to go after the drivers of our debt" which means entitlement reform. In fact, he insists that the Republicans will actually make such proposals regardless of the political heat it will, inevitably, generate. This will necessitate a massive public education campaign to communicate to voters the causes and consequences of our current predicament.
...Ryan is clearly focused on getting control of trillions of dollars of expenditures not just billions. He wants "to go after the drivers of our debt" which means entitlement reform. In fact, he insists that the Republicans will actually make such proposals regardless of the political heat it will, inevitably, generate. This will necessitate a massive public education campaign to communicate to voters the causes and consequences of our current predicament.
Is entitlement reform a third-rail issue? "We aren't in the conventional moment," opined the Budget Chairman. Spending has escalated so much, the European sovereign debt crises are so visible, that "we are obliged to offer an alternative vision," notwithstanding the heated controversy which will result.
...The current Administration's push towards an American version of a kind of European social democracy, with cradle to grave entitlements, "is not who we are," said the Representative from Janesville, Wisconsin. His goal is to restore "an opportunity society with a safety net."
"At the end of the day, it is a cultural thing," claimed Ryan. The choice is between a government-subsidized hammock or an ethic of self-reliance. He framed the question as, "What kind of people do we want to be?"
...Chairman Ryan focused on the ultimate problem caused by the Obama Administration's seemingly endless spending and taxing with its inexorable negative impact on business investment and job creation. Citing the late Nobel Prize winner, Milton Friedman, he observed that "Today's deficits are tomorrow's tax increases." This self-evident truth, not lost on the nation's business leaders, creates uncertainty in the economy and depresses risk-taking and investment. To put it another way, Ryan said that spending and endless, massive borrowing "come at the expense of long-term growth."Only $7 Million in Damages, Plus $5 Million for Cops
The news item did not mention poop-cleanup costs.
State officials said Thursday that damage to the marble inside and out the State Capitol would cost an estimated $7.5 million.
S'pose those flea-infested dope-smoker plastic-banana good time Charlies and Charlottes will pay up??
State officials said Thursday that damage to the marble inside and out the State Capitol would cost an estimated $7.5 million.
Cari Anne Renlund, chief legal counsel for the state Department of Administration, said in Dane County court that estimates of damage to marble includes $6 million to repair damaged marble inside the Capitol, $1 million for damage outside and $500,000 for costs to supervise the damage.
Much of the damage apparently has come from tape used to put up signs and placards at the CapitolS'pose those flea-infested dope-smoker plastic-banana good time Charlies and Charlottes will pay up??
The Murder Rate Down, Shootings Continue
Elementary facts.
On TV ... Everybody shoots and no one gets killed; someone gets shot, falls down and dies; or someone clutches their shoulder and tell their police partner I’ll be alright, take care of her. In real life, unless someone’s shot in the head ... they are not going to die straight away. And maybe not even then. And maybe not later, either. Ask any ER staff member: most gunshot victims survive.
That's the reason that the "murder rate" goes down: much better ER procs and treatment.
It's also a reason FOR a CCW law in Wisconsin.
By the way, four States now have "no license" CCW laws. Wisconsin should join them.
On TV ... Everybody shoots and no one gets killed; someone gets shot, falls down and dies; or someone clutches their shoulder and tell their police partner I’ll be alright, take care of her. In real life, unless someone’s shot in the head ... they are not going to die straight away. And maybe not even then. And maybe not later, either. Ask any ER staff member: most gunshot victims survive.
That's the reason that the "murder rate" goes down: much better ER procs and treatment.
It's also a reason FOR a CCW law in Wisconsin.
By the way, four States now have "no license" CCW laws. Wisconsin should join them.
The Usual Suspects, Indeed!!
A bunch of nuns came out foursquare, lying like rugs along the way, for PEU's in Wisconsin.
Badger takes down their statement line-by-line.
Who's included??
He told one of my daughters that 'by the time you're 21, you, too, could be a priest!'--at which my wife broke out in laughter while the daughter simply gave him the "You're Crazy!" stare.
Fortunately, my wife's laughter was not utterly derisive. She was merely grateful that I was not present to smack the silly turkey upside the head.
Badger takes down their statement line-by-line.
Who's included??
Benedictine Women of Madison at Holy Wisdom Monastery
Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes
Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa
Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, La Crosse, WI
Racine Dominican Leadership Team
School Sisters of Notre Dame
Servants of Mary, Ladysmith, WI
Sisters of the Divine Savior - USA
Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi Leadership Team
Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross Leadership Team
Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis Leadership Team
At a funeral for a beloved member of the SSND's at their convent in Elm Grove, a "priest" of this Archdiocese visited with my wife and children (I was chatting with others at the time).He told one of my daughters that 'by the time you're 21, you, too, could be a priest!'--at which my wife broke out in laughter while the daughter simply gave him the "You're Crazy!" stare.
Fortunately, my wife's laughter was not utterly derisive. She was merely grateful that I was not present to smack the silly turkey upside the head.
Contempt/Arrest/Jail for FleeBags!
Latest:
Senate resolves to hold Fleebags in contempt.
Subjects them to arrest and forcible appearance in Senate, but NOT if they are out of State.
Prison actually could follow, but not likely.
Senate resolves to hold Fleebags in contempt.
Subjects them to arrest and forcible appearance in Senate, but NOT if they are out of State.
Prison actually could follow, but not likely.
Batteries Available, Extra-Cheap!!
The Volt is........ahhhh..........not charging in the right direction. It's not *cough* electrifying the public.
Peruse Chevrolet's February sales release, and you'll notice one number that's blatantly missing: the number of Chevy Volts sold. The number – a very modest 281 – is available in the company's detailed data (PDF), but it certainly isn't something that GM wants to highlight, apparently. Keeping the number quiet is a bit understandable, since it's lower than the 321 that Chevy sold in January.
...it's also lower than the 326 that sold in December.
Finished-goods inventory remains. A LOT of inventory.
HT: Weasel
Peruse Chevrolet's February sales release, and you'll notice one number that's blatantly missing: the number of Chevy Volts sold. The number – a very modest 281 – is available in the company's detailed data (PDF), but it certainly isn't something that GM wants to highlight, apparently. Keeping the number quiet is a bit understandable, since it's lower than the 321 that Chevy sold in January.
...it's also lower than the 326 that sold in December.
Finished-goods inventory remains. A LOT of inventory.
HT: Weasel
Krugman's Ignorant House of Cards
If Krugman's simple-minded education errors are a proxy for his economic "thought," then my pal Struppster is probably considering honorable suicide.
Here IowaHawk utterly and completely demolishes a Kruggie rant.
HT: VerumSerum
Here IowaHawk utterly and completely demolishes a Kruggie rant.
To recap: white students in Texas perform better than white students in Wisconsin, black students in Texas perform better than black students in Wisconsin, Hispanic students in Texas perform better than Hispanic students in Wisconsin. In 18 separate ethnicity-controlled comparisons, the only one where Wisconsin students performed better than their peers in Texas was 4th grade science for Hispanic students (statistically insignificant), and this was reversed by 8th grade. Further, Texas students exceeded the national average for their ethnic cohort in all 18 comparisons; Wisconsinites were below the national average in 8, above average in 8.
Perhaps the most striking thing in these numbers is the within-state gap between white and minority students. Not only did white Texas students outperform white Wisconsin students, the gap between white students and minority students in Texas was much less than the gap between white and minority students in Wisconsin. In other words, students are better off in Texas schools than in Wisconsin schools - especially minority students.
You can read the whole thing at the link.HT: VerumSerum
A Little More on Hypocrisy
Since Buffett makes nicey-nicey to Obama, this story doesn't draw too much attention.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack confirmed the jury's findings against [Vanderbilt Mortgage] and Clayton Homes Inc. and CMH Homes Inc. in a 13-page judgment.
Seems that the company collected mortgage payments for FOUR YEARS AFTER they had released their lien on the mobile home.
So about Warren?
Who is Clayton Homes? One of the largest mobile home builders in the United States, owned by Berkshire Hathaway. Warren Buffet's company.
By the way, another of Warren's companies makes guaranteed-to-break oven cookstones. We oughta know, having returned THREE of them in 8 months.
HT: Ticker
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Janis Graham Jack confirmed the jury's findings against [Vanderbilt Mortgage] and Clayton Homes Inc. and CMH Homes Inc. in a 13-page judgment.
Seems that the company collected mortgage payments for FOUR YEARS AFTER they had released their lien on the mobile home.
So about Warren?
Who is Clayton Homes? One of the largest mobile home builders in the United States, owned by Berkshire Hathaway. Warren Buffet's company.
By the way, another of Warren's companies makes guaranteed-to-break oven cookstones. We oughta know, having returned THREE of them in 8 months.
HT: Ticker
This Guy Claims to be a Republican
Good ol' RAG claims all sorts of Pubbie affiliations and fealties.
Which tells you more about Lee Dreyfus than anything else.
Which tells you more about Lee Dreyfus than anything else.
The Genesis of "Regulatory Costs"
Interesting.
Theodore Roosevelt has now thought out and matured his doctrine of Socialism. It is not the Marxian Socialism. . . Mr. Roosevelt achieves the redistribution of wealth in a simpler and easier way. He leaves the land, the mines, the factories, the railroads, the banks--all the instruments of production and exchange--in the hands of their individual owners, but of the profits of their operation he takes whatever share the people at any given time may choose to appropriate to the common use. The people are going to say, We care not who owns and milks the cow, so long as we get our fill of the milk and cream. Marx left Socialism in its infancy, a doctrine that stumbled and sprawled under the weight of its own inconsistencies. Mr. Roosevelt's doctrine is of no such complexity. It has all the simplicity of theft and much of its impudence --NYTimes editorial, 1913 quoted at PowerLine
Now we know the theoretical genesis of using public utilities as cash-cows for Government projects, such as the "We'll Run Digital Internet to South Noplace at Your Expense" tax--or the hidden taxes that utilities pass on for "Greenification" projects.
Theodore Roosevelt has now thought out and matured his doctrine of Socialism. It is not the Marxian Socialism. . . Mr. Roosevelt achieves the redistribution of wealth in a simpler and easier way. He leaves the land, the mines, the factories, the railroads, the banks--all the instruments of production and exchange--in the hands of their individual owners, but of the profits of their operation he takes whatever share the people at any given time may choose to appropriate to the common use. The people are going to say, We care not who owns and milks the cow, so long as we get our fill of the milk and cream. Marx left Socialism in its infancy, a doctrine that stumbled and sprawled under the weight of its own inconsistencies. Mr. Roosevelt's doctrine is of no such complexity. It has all the simplicity of theft and much of its impudence --NYTimes editorial, 1913 quoted at PowerLine
Now we know the theoretical genesis of using public utilities as cash-cows for Government projects, such as the "We'll Run Digital Internet to South Noplace at Your Expense" tax--or the hidden taxes that utilities pass on for "Greenification" projects.
Alexis Stewart, Alien Creature
Planet Moron discovers hypocrisy privilege has its consequences.
Alexis Stewart, co-host of “Whatever With Alexis and Jennifer” on SiriusXM radio and daughter of Martha Stewart, believes handguns should be banned, telling The New York Times:
“I don’t believe people should be allowed to have guns in America.”
She owns a .357 magnum.
There are three possible explanations for this:
- She does not know that New York is in America.
- She is not aware that a .357 magnum is a gun.
- She is not a “people.”
Holdren: 'It Was Cold Before It Was Hot'
This Eric Holdren czar-creature obviously influenced John F'n Kerry.
In that study Holdren wrote, “The effects of a new ice age on agriculture and the supportability of large human populations scarcely need elaboration here.” Holdren went on to write that the effects could “generate a tidal wave of proportions unprecedented in recorded history.”
That was 1971.
Now Holdren tells us that it's WARMING, not cooling.
Disaster de jour. Whatever. In another 30 years, it will be "climate stability" that threatens your grandma and your chilluns.
Follow the research money.
HT: Hot Air
In that study Holdren wrote, “The effects of a new ice age on agriculture and the supportability of large human populations scarcely need elaboration here.” Holdren went on to write that the effects could “generate a tidal wave of proportions unprecedented in recorded history.”
That was 1971.
Now Holdren tells us that it's WARMING, not cooling.
Disaster de jour. Whatever. In another 30 years, it will be "climate stability" that threatens your grandma and your chilluns.
Follow the research money.
HT: Hot Air
The Young Obama
From an essay by a fellow who met Obama back in the Oxy College days:
Whatever impact our encounter might have had on him, I know something about what Barack Obama believed in 1980. At that time, the future president was a doctrinaire Marxist revolutionary, although perhaps -- for the first time -- considering conventional politics as a more practical road to socialism.
Evidently Obama took the 'conventional politics' road toward the Revolution.
HT: ConYankee
Whatever impact our encounter might have had on him, I know something about what Barack Obama believed in 1980. At that time, the future president was a doctrinaire Marxist revolutionary, although perhaps -- for the first time -- considering conventional politics as a more practical road to socialism.
Evidently Obama took the 'conventional politics' road toward the Revolution.
HT: ConYankee
The Smell in the Capitol
400 protesters remain in the Capitol, most of which are 15th-year UW Madison students.
It's reliably reported that at least one of them is relieving himself--that is to say, taking a dump-- without using a toilet.
Yes, it smells.
It's reliably reported that at least one of them is relieving himself--that is to say, taking a dump-- without using a toilet.
Yes, it smells.
Collusion on Budget Repair for Union Gains
Given what we know about the corruption of the (D) Party in Wisconsin (see, e.g., Jim Doyle), this should not really come as a surprise.
But it does, anyway. I'll have to re-adjust my "cynicism" dial to 'maximum'.
But it does, anyway. I'll have to re-adjust my "cynicism" dial to 'maximum'.
Read the e-mails between Senate Minority Leader Mike Miller and Madison Mayor Dave Ciesliewicz. It appears the 14 Senators orchestrated their trip to Illinois to buy time for unions all over the state to work out new deals. --Channel 6
Those would include Racine Schools, Waukesha Schools, MATC, the City of Madison, and others yet to be revealed.
Read it again: the FleeBags left to ensure that better deals for public-employee unions were made.
And yes, it was Miller's daughter who practiced law without a license in the Doylet regime.
"Reasonable" School Salary?
My crack-smoking research department, fueled by his monthly cheese-allotment, finds the following:
Library Media Specialist, Abrams Elementary, Oconto Falls School District, $153,905.00 Salary, $31,418.00 Benefits
Not bad, and apparently a part-time job.
As the research guy says, "You can look it up!!!"
Library Media Specialist, Abrams Elementary, Oconto Falls School District, $153,905.00 Salary, $31,418.00 Benefits
Not bad, and apparently a part-time job.
As the research guy says, "You can look it up!!!"
Even MORE Good Walker-Budget News
The fact, alone, that the Sierra Club doesn't like Walker's budget is good news. Since they are in high dudgeon about it, we read their press release.
Lo and behold!! Your clothes and dishes will be cleaner under Walker's budget!!
Finally, provisions to rollback rules to control phosphorus pollution threaten to wipe out the delicate agreement among agricultural groups, municipalities, and environmentalists that was achieved last year
.....Sierra yips and yaps about $1++Billion in cost of algae-blooms, yadayadayada.
But not about the cost of doing your laundry twice, nor of running the dishwasher twice AND burning hot water in pre-scrubbing the dishes.
BTW, the Effete Elites of Madison are prancing, dancing, and twirling insults:
"Symbolic value to dads and amys out in manure country? "
Well, we don't wear sequin-loaded underalls....
Lo and behold!! Your clothes and dishes will be cleaner under Walker's budget!!
Finally, provisions to rollback rules to control phosphorus pollution threaten to wipe out the delicate agreement among agricultural groups, municipalities, and environmentalists that was achieved last year
.....Sierra yips and yaps about $1++Billion in cost of algae-blooms, yadayadayada.
But not about the cost of doing your laundry twice, nor of running the dishwasher twice AND burning hot water in pre-scrubbing the dishes.
BTW, the Effete Elites of Madison are prancing, dancing, and twirling insults:
"Symbolic value to dads and amys out in manure country? "
Well, we don't wear sequin-loaded underalls....
Manhunt for Holperin Starts Today
One wonders if Mr. Barthel will be calling Dog the Bounty-Hunter.
An Oconto County judge ruled Wednesday that the state Senate "must enforce its own rules" and refused to order state Sen. Jim Holperin to appear in Madison.
...Kevin Barthel of Lakewood filed a complaint Tuesday arguing that Holperin's refusal to return to the Capitol represents a failure to carry out his duties as an elected official. The complaint still can move forward once it is delivered to Holperin.
It would make for great TV to watch Dog and his folks drag Holperin into Madistan. Civics lessons for the kiddies and all that.
An Oconto County judge ruled Wednesday that the state Senate "must enforce its own rules" and refused to order state Sen. Jim Holperin to appear in Madison.
...Kevin Barthel of Lakewood filed a complaint Tuesday arguing that Holperin's refusal to return to the Capitol represents a failure to carry out his duties as an elected official. The complaint still can move forward once it is delivered to Holperin.
It would make for great TV to watch Dog and his folks drag Holperin into Madistan. Civics lessons for the kiddies and all that.
Boehner/Cantor Have Manhood Problems
Boehner and his little Sancho, Cantor, just don't get it.
Republicans made a strategic blunder by stripping the bill of language that defunds ObamaCare and Planned Parenthood.
So say Bachmann and King, who happen to be correct.
Boehner/Cantor get the chillywillies when Harry Reid utters 'shutdown', and Harry wants Planned Parenthood's abortion machine and ObamaCare.
So Harry whispers the "s" word and the Speaker of the House goes all fetal position.
Hey, John, stop crying and man up. Tell Sancho to try it, too.
Republicans made a strategic blunder by stripping the bill of language that defunds ObamaCare and Planned Parenthood.
So say Bachmann and King, who happen to be correct.
Boehner/Cantor get the chillywillies when Harry Reid utters 'shutdown', and Harry wants Planned Parenthood's abortion machine and ObamaCare.
So Harry whispers the "s" word and the Speaker of the House goes all fetal position.
Hey, John, stop crying and man up. Tell Sancho to try it, too.
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
About Ethan Allen
It's going to be a difficult time for 290+ employees of Ethan Allen and Southern Oaks. Those facilities will be closing to consolidate juvie-prison near Irma.
...Ethan Allen staff members interviewed Wednesday said they thought Ethan Allen was the likely candidate to stay open because 70% of the juveniles incarcerated at Ethan Allen and Lincoln Hills are from southeastern Wisconsin.
Actually, the BEST reason to close Ethan Allen is that Irma is 4 hours by car.
...Ethan Allen staff members interviewed Wednesday said they thought Ethan Allen was the likely candidate to stay open because 70% of the juveniles incarcerated at Ethan Allen and Lincoln Hills are from southeastern Wisconsin.
Actually, the BEST reason to close Ethan Allen is that Irma is 4 hours by car.
De-Fund TSA
Sorry, but this stuff is more than one toke over the line.
Newly uncovered documents show that as early as 2006, the Department of Homeland Security has been planning pilot programs to deploy mobile scanning units that can be set up at public events and in train stations, along with mobile x-ray vans capable of scanning pedestrians on city streets.
...Ginger McCall, an attorney with EPIC [said] “It’s a clear violation of the fourth amendment that’s very invasive, not necessarily effective, and poses all the same radiation risks as the airport scans.”
Oh, yah, the 4th Amendment. In the "living" Constitution, is that still there?
To Boehner, Ryan, Cantor: de-fund these bozos.
Newly uncovered documents show that as early as 2006, the Department of Homeland Security has been planning pilot programs to deploy mobile scanning units that can be set up at public events and in train stations, along with mobile x-ray vans capable of scanning pedestrians on city streets.
...Ginger McCall, an attorney with EPIC [said] “It’s a clear violation of the fourth amendment that’s very invasive, not necessarily effective, and poses all the same radiation risks as the airport scans.”
Oh, yah, the 4th Amendment. In the "living" Constitution, is that still there?
To Boehner, Ryan, Cantor: de-fund these bozos.
The Love A-Crumbling: MSM on Obama
Politico is a relatively important chunk of the MSM.
And now Politico, too, is seeing Teh Won for what he really is.
When President Obama popped by the briefing room today, he declined to take a question on Libya but promised the press throng that he would take "a couple" tomorrow, when Mexican President Felipe Calderon is at the White House.
A couple may even be overstating it -- when Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was here, the "press availability" consisted of one question per side. Obama, it seems, does not like the uncontrolled Q&A.
Why should you care? It goes to accountability. It's not enough for leaders to emote about policy. They should explain, defend and answer questions, as well. Grappling with the unscripted news media encounter is a good skill for politicians.
Obama in particular appears to have an aversion to the brief sessions...
Can you say "Empty Suit"??
And now Politico, too, is seeing Teh Won for what he really is.
When President Obama popped by the briefing room today, he declined to take a question on Libya but promised the press throng that he would take "a couple" tomorrow, when Mexican President Felipe Calderon is at the White House.
A couple may even be overstating it -- when Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was here, the "press availability" consisted of one question per side. Obama, it seems, does not like the uncontrolled Q&A.
Why should you care? It goes to accountability. It's not enough for leaders to emote about policy. They should explain, defend and answer questions, as well. Grappling with the unscripted news media encounter is a good skill for politicians.
Obama in particular appears to have an aversion to the brief sessions...
Can you say "Empty Suit"??
More Good News in Walker Budget
Observed by people who keep track of this stuff:
Governor Walker’s 2011-2013 biennial budget bill eliminates family planning funding under the Title V Maternal and Child Health program, repeals a current law mandate forcing public and private health insurers to cover contraceptives and removes men aged 15-44 from the Medicaid Family Planning Waiver Program.
IOW, Planned Parenthood will have to find private funding for its agenda.
Good.
Governor Walker’s 2011-2013 biennial budget bill eliminates family planning funding under the Title V Maternal and Child Health program, repeals a current law mandate forcing public and private health insurers to cover contraceptives and removes men aged 15-44 from the Medicaid Family Planning Waiver Program.
IOW, Planned Parenthood will have to find private funding for its agenda.
Good.
"Bubbles" Greenspan: NOT a Prophet
"Bubbles" Greenspan, who (frankly) never saw anything wrong with anything, offered testimony 10 years ago.
The most recent projections from OMB and CBO indicate that, if current policies remain in place, the total unified surplus will reach about $800 billion in fiscal year 2010, including an on-budget surplus of almost $500 billion. Moreover, the admittedly quite uncertain long-term budget exercises released by the CBO last October maintain an implicit on-budget surplus under baseline assumptions well past 2030 despite the budgetary pressures from the aging of the baby-boom generation, especially on the major health programs.
These most recent projections, granted their tentativeness, nonetheless make clear that the highly desirable goal of paying off the federal debt is in reach and, indeed, would occur well before the end of the decade under baseline assumptions.
Yah, that worked out real good, ain'a?
HT: AmSpec
The most recent projections from OMB and CBO indicate that, if current policies remain in place, the total unified surplus will reach about $800 billion in fiscal year 2010, including an on-budget surplus of almost $500 billion. Moreover, the admittedly quite uncertain long-term budget exercises released by the CBO last October maintain an implicit on-budget surplus under baseline assumptions well past 2030 despite the budgetary pressures from the aging of the baby-boom generation, especially on the major health programs.
These most recent projections, granted their tentativeness, nonetheless make clear that the highly desirable goal of paying off the federal debt is in reach and, indeed, would occur well before the end of the decade under baseline assumptions.
Yah, that worked out real good, ain'a?
HT: AmSpec
A Little Humor Break
Chief Justice Roberts in the AT&T decision:
"The protection in FOIA against disclosure of law enforcement information on the ground that it would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy does not extend to corporations. We trust that AT&T will not take it personally."
Well, yes.
HT: Bayou
"The protection in FOIA against disclosure of law enforcement information on the ground that it would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy does not extend to corporations. We trust that AT&T will not take it personally."
Well, yes.
HT: Bayou
Article One Section 22, Wisconsin Constitution
Here's what Walker's been quoting:
The blessings of a free government can only be maintained by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality and virtue, and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles
That would be Article One, Section 22 of the WI Constitution.
HT: Marketplace
The blessings of a free government can only be maintained by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality and virtue, and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles
That would be Article One, Section 22 of the WI Constitution.
HT: Marketplace
Wiggy Finds Good Budget Item!
Leave it to Wiggy to read the entire summary. Somebody has to.
Anyhoo.......
On page 38 of the budget, “The bill exempts from state and local sales and use taxes vegetable oil or animal fat that will be converted into motor vehicle fuel that is exempt from motor vehicle fuel taxes because it is used by an individual in his or her personal motor vehicle.”
Nothing about re-insuring the vehicle warranty, yet.
Anyhoo.......
On page 38 of the budget, “The bill exempts from state and local sales and use taxes vegetable oil or animal fat that will be converted into motor vehicle fuel that is exempt from motor vehicle fuel taxes because it is used by an individual in his or her personal motor vehicle.”
Nothing about re-insuring the vehicle warranty, yet.
The Intellectualoids Describe Budget-Repair Bill
Pure comedy gold.
KUDOS to the woman who interviewed these paragons of citizenship, especially the brick-thrower member of the Operating Engineers.
KUDOS to the woman who interviewed these paragons of citizenship, especially the brick-thrower member of the Operating Engineers.
The REAL Fun Begins: Barthel v. Holperin
There are only a couple of references to this:
Meanwhile, Kevin Barthel of Lakewood filed paperwork Tuesday in Oconto County Circuit Court seeking an order to force Sen. Jim Holperin (D-Conover) to return to the Senate chamber.
That's one, from the JS online.
The other is in Esenberg's blog.
Meanwhile, Kevin Barthel of Lakewood filed paperwork Tuesday in Oconto County Circuit Court seeking an order to force Sen. Jim Holperin (D-Conover) to return to the Senate chamber.
That's one, from the JS online.
The other is in Esenberg's blog.
FleeBags Illegally Taking Money from Howie Dean?
Well, well.
Former Vermont Governor and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, a one-time presidential candidate, is the founder of a group that by mid-day of President's Day had raised over $100,000 in a slush fund to "back" the on-the-lam Wisconsin Democratic State Senators.
Only one small problem:
The Dean Dollars are being specifically funneled to the Wisconsin State Senate Democratic Committee (SSDC) -- an apparent violation of Wisconsin election law that pointedly says, according to the Wisconsin Election Board's Legal Counsel in a 2005 decision, that the "SSDC may not accept a contribution of more than $6,000 from a single committee in a calendar year."
Count on this: the Dane County Sheriff will not lift a finger to preserve law and order in this case.
Former Vermont Governor and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, a one-time presidential candidate, is the founder of a group that by mid-day of President's Day had raised over $100,000 in a slush fund to "back" the on-the-lam Wisconsin Democratic State Senators.
Only one small problem:
The Dean Dollars are being specifically funneled to the Wisconsin State Senate Democratic Committee (SSDC) -- an apparent violation of Wisconsin election law that pointedly says, according to the Wisconsin Election Board's Legal Counsel in a 2005 decision, that the "SSDC may not accept a contribution of more than $6,000 from a single committee in a calendar year."
Count on this: the Dane County Sheriff will not lift a finger to preserve law and order in this case.
The Utilities: Doing In Their Customers for Profit!!
Reading the headline might give one the impression that I've joined the Left-O-Wacky parade.
Wrong deduction.
Top power company CEOs rained on the Republican parade Tuesday as Congress eyes legislation forcing an outright halt to EPA climate change rules.
As to the rest: their motto could be "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." See, just like with the Wisconsin utilities who caved in on Doylet's energy plan (Last One Outta Here, Please Turn Off the Lights), the utilities are NOT concerned with cost/benefit.
The utilities are guaranteed a profit, no matter how stupid, inane, or un-workable the Gummint-mandated plan. "Wanna burn grass? Leaves? Dirt? Water? No problem-o! The consumer pays for it, we don't!"
It's long past the time when utilities had the interests of rate-payers/consumers at heart. Now it's only a matter of kowtowing to the Zeitgeist.
Keep that in mind.
Wrong deduction.
Top power company CEOs rained on the Republican parade Tuesday as Congress eyes legislation forcing an outright halt to EPA climate change rules.
The leaders - from American Electric Power, NextEra Energy, Southern Co. and Dominion Resources - said to varying degrees that they support allowing the EPA to proceed on a "reasonable" time frame on greenhouse gas rules for power plants, petroleum refiners and other major stationary sources. --Politico, quoted at AmSpec
As to the rest: their motto could be "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." See, just like with the Wisconsin utilities who caved in on Doylet's energy plan (Last One Outta Here, Please Turn Off the Lights), the utilities are NOT concerned with cost/benefit.
The utilities are guaranteed a profit, no matter how stupid, inane, or un-workable the Gummint-mandated plan. "Wanna burn grass? Leaves? Dirt? Water? No problem-o! The consumer pays for it, we don't!"
It's long past the time when utilities had the interests of rate-payers/consumers at heart. Now it's only a matter of kowtowing to the Zeitgeist.
Keep that in mind.
Wowzers!! Wisconsin Budget
It's about what one would expect from an honest public servant, and it's what Walker delivered.
The State will no longer be Santa-and-Fairy-Godmother to profligate schools and municipalities. (Milwaukee and Milwaukee, respectively.) The State will no longer hog-tie UW-Madison with silly Legislative and bureaucratic claptrap. (Nass, are you listening?)
The State will no longer extract the gold fillings from its taxpayers' teeth in order to subsidize the lifestyles of the benefit-besotted.
And the State will have only 1/10th of its budget-cycle overdraft at the end of 2 years. (Doyle, Thompson, are you embarrassed?)
Philosophically, I do not like Walker's 'cap' of property-taxes. That's a slap at the principle of subsidiarity, which would allow municipals and schools to tax their OWN constituents at any rate they choose. On the other hand, the 'cap' will prevent hangings of local officials who raise taxes to accomodate *cough* certain *cough* Special Interests (PEU folks, do you hear this?)
Let's hope that the Governor, in his next budget, allows locals to tax-at-will. Then, when Milwaukee and Madison are emptied of inhabitants, there will be truly affordable housing!!
The State will no longer be Santa-and-Fairy-Godmother to profligate schools and municipalities. (Milwaukee and Milwaukee, respectively.) The State will no longer hog-tie UW-Madison with silly Legislative and bureaucratic claptrap. (Nass, are you listening?)
The State will no longer extract the gold fillings from its taxpayers' teeth in order to subsidize the lifestyles of the benefit-besotted.
And the State will have only 1/10th of its budget-cycle overdraft at the end of 2 years. (Doyle, Thompson, are you embarrassed?)
Philosophically, I do not like Walker's 'cap' of property-taxes. That's a slap at the principle of subsidiarity, which would allow municipals and schools to tax their OWN constituents at any rate they choose. On the other hand, the 'cap' will prevent hangings of local officials who raise taxes to accomodate *cough* certain *cough* Special Interests (PEU folks, do you hear this?)
Let's hope that the Governor, in his next budget, allows locals to tax-at-will. Then, when Milwaukee and Madison are emptied of inhabitants, there will be truly affordable housing!!
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
The ObamaConomy
Applicants at Oshkosh Truck Corp lining up for ~700 jobs.(Pic credit JSOnline Mark Hoffman)
In the six quarters since the recession ended, the economy under Barack Obama has grown by about 4.4%, and by only 2.7% in the most recent four quarters. By comparison, in the six quarters after the early 1980s recession ended while Ronald Reagan presided, GDP increased by almost 10%, with 8.5 points of that growth taking place during quarters three through six.
The glaring shortfall in growth under Obama might not be so troubling but for the catastrophic results it has caused in the employment market. In mid-January, I noted, based on data available at the time, that Reagan’s first six post-recession quarters saw the creation of over 4 million jobs, while only 72,000 jobs were created during Obama’s comparable six quarters.
Incompetence, doctrinaire Socialism, direct sabotage of private-sector.
You expected better results?
PJ Media
HooBoy! A New Conspiracy Theory!!
Well, this will keep some folks busy for months--at least.
In the [Pentagon-commissioned] report, financial analyst Kevin Freeman argues that the 2008 economic crisis was assisted by outside forces.
How?
HT: PJ Media
In the [Pentagon-commissioned] report, financial analyst Kevin Freeman argues that the 2008 economic crisis was assisted by outside forces.
How?
- The first phase was a speculative run-up in oil prices that generated as much as $2 trillion of excess wealth for oil-producing nations, filling the coffers of Sovereign Wealth Funds, especially those that follow Shariah Compliant Finance.
- The second phase appears to have begun in 2008 with a series of bear raids targeting U.S. financial services firms that appeared to be systemically significant.
- The risk of a Phase Three has quickly emerged, suggesting a potential direct economic attack on the U.S. Treasury and U.S. dollar.
HT: PJ Media
Location, Location, Location
USA Today did the study.
Wisconsin is one of 41 states where public employees earn higher average pay and benefits than private workers in the same state, a USA TODAY analysis finds. Still, the compensation of Wisconsin's government workers ranks below the national average for non-federal public employees and has increased only slightly since 2000.
What the last sentence tells you is that under the Thompson/Doylet regimes, Wisconsin Government has damn near killed private-sector earnings.
More Big Gummint, anyone????
HT: The Winning McCain
Wisconsin is one of 41 states where public employees earn higher average pay and benefits than private workers in the same state, a USA TODAY analysis finds. Still, the compensation of Wisconsin's government workers ranks below the national average for non-federal public employees and has increased only slightly since 2000.
What the last sentence tells you is that under the Thompson/Doylet regimes, Wisconsin Government has damn near killed private-sector earnings.
More Big Gummint, anyone????
HT: The Winning McCain
Feathers and Birds
Long story short: white-slavery billionaire (15-y.o. sex-slaves) gets sweetheart deal from FBI instead of 2,865 years in Leavenworth.
He parties!!
Buried in this weekend’s story about Virginia Roberts was mention of a party Epstein had thrown in December for his pal Prince Andrew. On the guest list: Woody Allen, Charlie Rose, George Stephanopolous and Katie Couric.
A most enlightening list.
HT: Verum
He parties!!
Buried in this weekend’s story about Virginia Roberts was mention of a party Epstein had thrown in December for his pal Prince Andrew. On the guest list: Woody Allen, Charlie Rose, George Stephanopolous and Katie Couric.
A most enlightening list.
HT: Verum
The Commies and Socialists in Madistan
Who's REALLY occupying the State Capitol?
Big Government, via PowerLine, has a video.
Oh, and just for the record:
“No one can be at the same time a sincere Catholic and a true Socialist” Pius XI, 1931
Big Government, via PowerLine, has a video.
Oh, and just for the record:
“No one can be at the same time a sincere Catholic and a true Socialist” Pius XI, 1931
"Re-Shoring" to Canada???
There is noticeable movement to "re-shore" manufacturing from PRChina to the USA. Lots of good reasons behind it, yadayada.
But maybe that "USA" destination is only temporary. The CEO of 3M issues a not-very-subtle threat:
"I judge people by their feet, not their mouth," 3M CEO George Buckley told the Financial Times of London on Monday. "We know what his instincts are -- they are Robin Hood-esque. He is anti-business.
But maybe that "USA" destination is only temporary. The CEO of 3M issues a not-very-subtle threat:
"I judge people by their feet, not their mouth," 3M CEO George Buckley told the Financial Times of London on Monday. "We know what his instincts are -- they are Robin Hood-esque. He is anti-business.
"Politicians forget that business has choice," Buckley went on. "We're not indentured servants and we will do business where it's good and friendly. If it's hostile, incrementally, things will slip away. We've got a real choice between manufacturing in Canada and Mexico -- which tend to be pro-business -- or America." IBD via PowerLine
As the PowerLine author observes, Mexico may self-eliminate based on the level of drug-mob violence.
Hmmm.
Grassley to Vote Against Corn-A-Holing You?
Egads.
When Chuck Grassley (R-Corncobbers) states that he may vote against ethanol subsidies and e15 mandates, you know the Corn-A-Hole bunch is in deep silage.
Grassley announced that he might vote against ethanol subsidies and from moving the country from e10 to e15 in an upcoming Senate spending bill, in an effort to reduce the federal deficit.
Frankly, I don't believe that Grassley will ever vote against ethanol, no matter how many people starve to death due to high corn prices.
When Chuck Grassley (R-Corncobbers) states that he may vote against ethanol subsidies and e15 mandates, you know the Corn-A-Hole bunch is in deep silage.
Grassley announced that he might vote against ethanol subsidies and from moving the country from e10 to e15 in an upcoming Senate spending bill, in an effort to reduce the federal deficit.
Frankly, I don't believe that Grassley will ever vote against ethanol, no matter how many people starve to death due to high corn prices.
"60% Support Bargaining"? Cooking the Books
The NYT/CBS poll will be flogged by all the usual suspects.
Too bad. The most significant suspects in this case are the poll-designers.
...First, the partisan split in the sample gave a ten-point advantage to Democrats. Their sample for this poll had a D/R/I split of 36/26/31, an absurd sample for political polling. In December, Rasmussen’s general-population survey put Republicans ahead, 36.0% to 34.7% for Democrats.
...Next, 20% of the poll’s respondents claim to come from union households. However, only 11.9% of American workers belong to a union, according to a report published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics last month
...Finally, 25% of respondents are either public employees or share a household with a public employee. Federal employees comprise less than 2% of the workforce at around 2 million. Overall, the US has 22.22 million government employees out of an employed workforce of 130.27 million, according to the Current Employment Statistics survey at the BLS. Government employment accounts for 17% of all workers
The most meaningful number is "registered voters" who self-describe as "independent." THEY move election results, and THEY are 70/30 unsympathetic to the Public Trough Gang.
Too bad. The most significant suspects in this case are the poll-designers.
...First, the partisan split in the sample gave a ten-point advantage to Democrats. Their sample for this poll had a D/R/I split of 36/26/31, an absurd sample for political polling. In December, Rasmussen’s general-population survey put Republicans ahead, 36.0% to 34.7% for Democrats.
...Next, 20% of the poll’s respondents claim to come from union households. However, only 11.9% of American workers belong to a union, according to a report published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics last month
...Finally, 25% of respondents are either public employees or share a household with a public employee. Federal employees comprise less than 2% of the workforce at around 2 million. Overall, the US has 22.22 million government employees out of an employed workforce of 130.27 million, according to the Current Employment Statistics survey at the BLS. Government employment accounts for 17% of all workers
The most meaningful number is "registered voters" who self-describe as "independent." THEY move election results, and THEY are 70/30 unsympathetic to the Public Trough Gang.
What We Need is 82 'Teacher Quality' Programs!!
The GAO releases a report today. Among the findings:
On teacher quality, the report identified 82 programs that often have similar descriptions and goals and are spread across 10 federal agencies, including the Department of Education, the Department of Energy and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Nine of these programs are linked to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Fifty-three of the programs are relatively small, receiving $50 million or less, "and many have their own separate administrative processes."
And every single one is 100% effective, right?
There's a LOT of info at the link. But if you're inclined to clinical depression, don't read the article.
On teacher quality, the report identified 82 programs that often have similar descriptions and goals and are spread across 10 federal agencies, including the Department of Education, the Department of Energy and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Nine of these programs are linked to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Fifty-three of the programs are relatively small, receiving $50 million or less, "and many have their own separate administrative processes."
And every single one is 100% effective, right?
There's a LOT of info at the link. But if you're inclined to clinical depression, don't read the article.
Defining the Terms for Failure and Permeaucracy
Hayward (formerly known as Doctor Zero) essays on Gummint duplication and waste.
Well, yah, water is wet, the sun is hot, death, taxes.....you know the drill. But there's a paragraph here that deserves attention:
Government programs succeed through failure. A program that actually “solved” whatever problem prompted its creation would be wiped out. A bureaucrat who runs a tight ship, and brings his operation in under budget, will be “rewarded” with a smaller budget. Every single organ of our federal government is working tirelessly to solve a problem that is much worse than originally anticipated, and therefore requires increased funding.
This relates directly to the post below, wherein Klein discovered that death is inevitable. While the Gummint will never title a program "The Bureaucracy for Elimination of Human Death," the Gummint does have programs which will "restore the environment" and "eliminate consumer fraud" and "eliminate poverty." In fact, there are several Gummints which all promise those results, at the Federal, State, and local levels.
Ergo, so long as there is one particle of dust invading the 'clean' air, or one lousy crook ripping off Granny, or one person who is "poor" (whatever that is in this society), the Gummint program still has a mandate.
It's not that Gummint workers actually seek "failure" of their program.
It's that, by defining the terms, Legislators have ensured Permeaucracy. Yes, legislators are cynics. It's their job. Or, as Ernie would say: "Fooled you, Bert!" (We note that 'eliminating fraud' does not include eliminating legislators...)
Well, yah, water is wet, the sun is hot, death, taxes.....you know the drill. But there's a paragraph here that deserves attention:
Government programs succeed through failure. A program that actually “solved” whatever problem prompted its creation would be wiped out. A bureaucrat who runs a tight ship, and brings his operation in under budget, will be “rewarded” with a smaller budget. Every single organ of our federal government is working tirelessly to solve a problem that is much worse than originally anticipated, and therefore requires increased funding.
This relates directly to the post below, wherein Klein discovered that death is inevitable. While the Gummint will never title a program "The Bureaucracy for Elimination of Human Death," the Gummint does have programs which will "restore the environment" and "eliminate consumer fraud" and "eliminate poverty." In fact, there are several Gummints which all promise those results, at the Federal, State, and local levels.
Ergo, so long as there is one particle of dust invading the 'clean' air, or one lousy crook ripping off Granny, or one person who is "poor" (whatever that is in this society), the Gummint program still has a mandate.
It's not that Gummint workers actually seek "failure" of their program.
It's that, by defining the terms, Legislators have ensured Permeaucracy. Yes, legislators are cynics. It's their job. Or, as Ernie would say: "Fooled you, Bert!" (We note that 'eliminating fraud' does not include eliminating legislators...)
Lefty Blogger Discovers Nature!
No kidding, Captain Obvious:
The problem, the researchers say, is that the medical system just isn't that good at keeping people from dying. "Health care services use by itself had little explanatory effect on the income-mortality association (4.3 percent) and no explanatory effect on the education-mortality association," they conclude. --Klein, quoted at Examiner
See Genesis 1.
The problem, the researchers say, is that the medical system just isn't that good at keeping people from dying. "Health care services use by itself had little explanatory effect on the income-mortality association (4.3 percent) and no explanatory effect on the education-mortality association," they conclude. --Klein, quoted at Examiner
See Genesis 1.
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