Monday, May 25, 2009

Will Obama Eradicate Conservative Broadcasting?

Straight out of Hugo Chavez's playbook, Obama is pointing his sights at conservative broadcasting. In the following article by Brian Maloney, he states that "Obamists have talk radio crackdown plan in place".

The plan is:

1. Don't call on conservative reporters at White House press conferences.

2. Shorten station license renewal period to three years, and have liberal FCC hacks in place to destroy and confiscate licenses.

3. The have already eliminated the new electronic rating system that showed huge ratings for conservative talk radio.

4. When the stations economics have been destroyed by the costs incurred in re-licensing and compliance with FCC regulations and remedies, give the licenses to minorities and other pro-Obama firms through taxpayer "bailouts".

Sounds a lot like Hugo, doesn't he.

Inspired by Hugo

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Obama's favoritism to Unions: Good or Bad?

An interesting article on Rightwingnews advanced the theory, with some support, that hedge fund managers and others who finance companies with unions, may have second thoughts and may not support these companies in need. Obama's Chrysler settlement and the proposed GM settlement leapfrogs the unions over secured creditors, making a mockery of the Rule of Law.

Will Obama's Actions Decimate Unions?

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Taxpayers Pay Big for Government Employees Benefits

The disparity between both the cost and extent of benefits for public employees and those in the private sector is enormous. Add to that the fact that the public roles are increasing at an alarming rate and private sector jobs are decreasing due to the economy, and you have another permanent crisis in the making and the citizenry is getting angry.

As Glen Reynolds states: "Right now the Political Class is more interested in explaining that anger away than in doing anything about it. But I think a tipping point is in the offing."

Glenn Reynolds: Public Pension Update

Baltimore Public/Private Divide

Friday, May 22, 2009

Auto Industry - Can We Learn from the Past?

The US auto industry, now facing bankruptcy and/or possible government takeover, is now reaping the spoils of government regulation, union excesses and management's recklessness and inability to negotiate workable contracts with those same unions. As with the garment and steel industries, union contracts were viable in good times, but completely unmanageable in flat economies or worse. Perhaps a lesson can be learned from the makeover and resurgence of the steel industry here in the USA.


Steel Industry

The book "Steel Phoenix" describes the effects that excessive labor agreements and government regulations had on the demise of the Steel Industry in the late 70's and 80's and the resultant job losses, plant shutdowns and relocations. Only thru a complete change in the methods, work rules, employee involvement and facility modernizations, finally agreed to by the USWA, did the Industry arise from the dead. Pages 308 and 309 of the book's preview, refer to the new ways in which management and unions participated under what was called the "New Directions Bargaining Program"

Steel Phoenix by Christopher Hall

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Comic Relief - Igor Marxo

It looks like Igor found that missing Obama birth certificate.

Igor Marxo

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Soak The Rich, Lose the Rich - WSJ

This is true whether it is a state or the Federal Government doing the increase. Businesses move from higher tax states to lower, US businesses move to other countries to escape Federal tax increases. This is lose, lose for everyone. Jobs are lost and tax revenues are lost.

An article By ARTHUR LAFFER and STEPHEN MOORE in The Wall Street Journal Monday states the facts.

Soak the Rich, Lose the Rich

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Pelosi - The Daily Show

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Anne Wortham - No He Can't


Anne Wortham is an outspoken critic of President Obama's liberal policies. As an educator she has spoken out against the policies that I call "Slavery by the Liberals" in my May 4th blog. We need to bring more attention to educators that have the common sense and education to see the Liberal agenda for what it is.

Wortham on the Obama Disaster

Friday, May 15, 2009

Tactics for radicals

Saul Alinski was recently mentioned in an O'Reilly segment citing tactic #5 below for the growing number of far left pundits and administration officials using ridicule to demean those that do not agree with their positions, i.e. attacks on Palin, Bush, Chaney, Limbaugh, Miss California, Hannity, etc.

Wikipedia: Alinsky's teachings influenced Barack Obama in his early career as a community organizer on the far South Side of Chicago. Working for Gerald Kellman's Developing Communities Project, Obama learned and taught Alinsky's methods for community organizing.

Wikipedia: Alinsky advises his followers that the poor have no power and that the real target is the middle class: "Organization for action will now and in the decade ahead center upon America's white middle class. That is where the power is. ... Our rebels have contemptuously rejected the values and the way of life of the middle class. They have stigmatized it as materialistic, decadent, bourgeois, degenerate, imperialistic, war-mongering, brutalized and corrupt. They are right; but we must begin from where we are if we are to build power for change, and the power and the people are in the middle class majority."

Tactics for Radicals
1) Power is not only what you have but what the enemy thinks you have (Alinsky 1972: 127).

2) Never go outside the experience of your people (Alinsky 1972: 127).

3) Wherever possible go outside of the experience of the enemy (Alinsky 1972: 127).

4) Make the enemy live up to their own book of rules (Alinsky 1972: 128).

5) Ridicule is man's most potent weapon (Alinsky 1972: 128).

6) A good tactic is one that your people enjoy (Alinsky 1972: 128).

7) A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag (Alinsky 1972: 128).

8) Keep the pressure on (Alinsky 1972: 128).

9) The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself (Alinsky 1972: 129).

10) The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition (Alinsky 1972: 129)

Rules for Radicals
1) One's concern with the ethics of means and ends varies inversely with one's personal interest in the issue, and one's distance from the scene of conflict (Alinsky 1972: 26).

2) The judgment of the ethics of means is dependent upon the political position of those sitting in judgment (Alinsky 1972: 26-9)

3) In war, the end justifies almost any means (Alinsky 1972: 29-30).

4) The judgment of the ethics of means must be made in the context of the times in which the action occurred and not from any other chronological vantage point (Alinsky 1972: 30-2)

5) Concern with ethics increases with the number of means available (Alinsky 1972: 232-34).

6) The less important the end, the more one engage in ethical evaluations about means (Alinsky 1972: 34).

7) Success or failure is a mighty determinant of ethics (Alinsky 1972: 34).

8) The morality of a means depends upon whether the means is being employed at a time of imminent defeat or imminent victory (Alinsky 1972: 34-5).

9) Any effective means is automatically judged by the opposition as being unethical (Alinsky 1972: 35-6).

10) You do what you can with what you have and clothe it with moral garments (Alinsky 1972: 36-45).

Obama has learned his lesson well.

Community Organizing and Rules for Radicals

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Obama's Budget - Projected Deficits

The following graph shows the effect the new Federal budget has on the deficit. Obviously this is not sustainable and Moodys has already threatened to downgrade US Treasury debt, thus causing increased interest costs to the taxpayers and more deficits. Individuals have to get their finances in order and so does the government. We can only hope it is not too late by the time of the midterm elections.


Monday, May 11, 2009

Amends from a Recovering Liberal

In many ways the word "civil" has been absent in political dialogue for a number of years, both on the extreme Left and Right. However personal attacks, and even violence, by the left on anyone expressing conservative views are becoming the norm and are endangering our society. Attacks on Miss California for her mainstream marriage opinions, Governor Palin and Rush Limbaugh for their conservative ideology have escalated to the nth degree.

I believe that with the election of an extreme left President, the left has been emboldened and feel that they are untouchable and are supported by a biased press. Where is the MSM when you need them to focus on restoring a sense of civility to political dialogue?

The following article is written by a Leftist who has seen the light.
Amends from a Recovering Liberal

Chaney on Powell & Limbaugh

At least one politician tells it like it is.

To Bob Schieffer's astonishment, when he wrapped up his Sunday interview by asking former Vice President Dick Cheney where he comes down between Rush Limbaugh and Colin Powell who both say the Republican Party would be “better off” without the other, Cheney declared: “I'd go with Rush Limbaugh.”

Cheney related on CBS's Face the Nation how “my take on it was Colin had already left the party. I didn't know he was still a Republican.” Schieffer was surprised: “So you think that he's not a Republican?” Cheney explained: “I just noted he endorsed the Democratic candidate for President this time, Barack Obama. I assume that that's some indication of his loyalty and his interests.” To which an astounded Schieffer pressed Cheney to reaffirm his choice: “And you said you take Rush Limbaugh over Colin Powell?” Cheney confirmed his preference.

From the Sunday, May 10 Face the Nation:

BOB SCHIEFFER: Rush Limbaugh said the other day the that the party would probably be better off if Colin Powell left and just became a Democrat. Colin Powell said Republicans would be better off if they didn't have Rush Limbaugh speaking for them. Where do you come down?

DICK CHENEY: Well, if I had to choose, in terms of being a Republican, I'd go with Rush Limbaugh I think. My take on it was Colin had already left the party. I didn't know he was still a Republican.

SCHIEFFER: So you think that he's not a Republican?

CHENEY: I just noted he endorsed the Democratic candidate for President this time, Barack Obama. I assume that that's some indication of his loyalty and his interests.

SCHIEFFER: And you said you take Rush Limbaugh over Colin Powell?

CHENEY: I would, politically.

—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Photo Op that Terrorized NYC

I know that every taxpayer believes that the $357,000, the photo at the site below cost , is worth every penny. Right now, no one will admit why it was taken. I guess the camera person (politically correct) needed a job.

Air Force 1 Photo

China has Cancelled America's Credit Card

In my March 19th post "Inflation Looms" it was obvious that the spending plans of the Obama administration would create a major funding abyss for the US. This is just the start:

By W.C. Varones ~ May 3rd, 2009 @ 7:34 pm

Congressman Mark Kirk says that China has “canceled America’s credit card.”

China, wary of the troubled US economy, has already “canceled America’s credit card” by cutting down purchases of debt, a US congressman said Thursday.

China has the world’s largest foreign reserves, believed to be mostly in dollars, along with around 800 billion dollars in US Treasury bonds, more than any other country.

But Treasury Department data shows that investors in China have sharply curtailed their purchases of bonds in January and February.
Representative Mark Kirk, a member of the House Appropriations Committee and co-chair of a group of lawmakers promoting relations with Beijing, said China had “very legitimate” concerns about its investments.
“It would appear, quietly and with deference and politeness, that China has canceled America’s credit card,” Kirk told the Committee of 100, a Chinese-American group.

“I’m not sure too many people on Capitol Hill realize that this is now happening,” he said.

I’ve been seeing signs of this happening for two years. It has taken far longer than I expected to play out. I attribute that to China’s illiquid portfolio conundrum. China knows that American Treasuries and the dollar are garbage, but as the biggest holder, it can’t dump them without destroying the value of its holdings, and at the same time destroying the ability of the American consumer to purchase Chinese exports.

Over the past couple years it appears China has been diversifying away from the dollar into other currencies, commodities, and equities, but not actually dumping Treasury debt. The problem now is that Obama’s deficits are so much bigger than prior years (and the off-budget bank bailout guarantees and Social Security and Medicare liabilities are so huge) that we need someone to step up and buy a whole lot more of our debt. That’s apparently not going to be China.

Hence Helicopter Ben’s plan for the Fed to print money to buy Treasury debt. That worked for a couple weeks. Note the sharp drop in 10-year Treasury rates in mid-march as Bernanke revealed his dastardly plan:

Yes, he shocked the bond market for a couple weeks into believing in cold fusion: Treasury can borrow and spend as much as it wants without causing higher interest rates because the Fed can just print as much money as it needs to buy all the Treasury debt. I’m sure that theory would make an award-winning paper at Bernanke’s Princeton economics department, but in the real world, it doesn’t work like that. Please see Zimbabwe and Weimar Germany.

So, yes, we still do need real buyers of our debt. Bernanke’s cold fusion only fooled the bond market for a couple weeks. Bond yields are now higher than they were before Bernanke announced his plan.

Our fiscal and monetary policy are the equivalent of children playing with matches around a gasoline can. China is the guy walking past who the kids ask for $100 to go get some more matches and gasoline. Trust us, we’re good for it.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Rationing Health Care

The battle is heating up over Obama's plan to nationalize health care even though the US health care system is known throughout the world as the best, and those countries, with socialized medicine, show significant waiting lists for "elective" surgery and rationing of care to senior citizens.

The costs of our current system are great and some reform is needed. Unnecessary tests needed to stave off potential lawsuits could be eliminated. Government regulations that require years and millions of dollars for testing of drugs could be amended to cut back on the needless "red tape" . Local hospitals do not need all the latest multi-million dollar innovative pieces of equipment, just to satisfy the egos of the doctors on the boards. Regional centers, with all the latest gadgets, could be used for this purpose.

The following article is a good summary of the direction this debate is taking. The Coming of Zero Care

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Torture Techniques - "SameO, SameO"

Interrogation techniques used by the Bush administration (and coincidentally, Dems who were briefed, did not object) did not break with past practices. Again, this is just a ploy by the leftists to gain politically and turn attention away from what they are doing to the economy.

The More Things Stayed the Same, the More Things Changed

Interrogation's Law - Yale Law School

Rule of Law

The government's involvement in the reorganization of Chrysler and GM shows total disrespect for the "Rule of Law" which all government employees, including Pres. Obama, are sworn to protect. It is about time that at least one of his legal advisers apprised him of this and not worry about the so-called torture issue smokescreen.

The following is a great synopsis of what is happening to the secured lenders and what "rewards" are to be given to the UAW (Obama supporters). Obama's Pinstripe Revolution

Obama's Global Tax Raid - WSJ Today

At a press conference on Monday, Pres. Obama proposed new tax reforms against US owned companies in foreign countries, stating as the purpose, the elimination of tax cheats, increasing investment in the USA and bringing back jobs to this country. Again the only result of this is the initial increase in taxes the government will get their hands on, followed quickly by a significant decrease in revenues when the effects of the changes mature.

The following is an excerpt from the WSJ referring to the global impact of these new rules:

"Some of Mr. Obama's advisers understand all this, but then their real goal isn't tax reform or U.S. competitiveness. It's a revenue grab, one made easier by the fact that overseas tax "avoidance" is easily demagogued. To that political end, Mr. Obama conflates tax deferral with the off shoring of jobs -- hence the sly reference to Bangalore, India. With trillions of dollars of new spending, the White House and Treasury are desperate for new tax sources to pay for it all.
But even as a revenue raiser, this is likely to fail. Fewer companies will keep their headquarters in the U.S., especially small or mid-sized firms that can slip away without becoming a political target. Those companies that can't flee will sooner or later demand relief from Congress, which will be happy to create even more loopholes.
If Mr. Obama's proposal has a silver lining, it is that he has embraced the principle that tax rates matter to investment decisions. If his new and short-sighted proposal becomes law, he and all Americans will discover just how much."


Obama's Global Tax Raid

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Libertarian Platform - A Good Read

The Libertarian Platform is a good read for Republicans who are concerned about Governmental interference in almost every facet of our lives. Perhaps many of these "Principles" are also good for our party.

Libertarian Platform

Monday, May 4, 2009

Modern Day Slavery

Slavery is still an issue, but now is a weapon against the liberals. The welfare state and the failure of our education system to educate minorities has kept them in bondage, beholden to the Government and their liberal slave owners. The Dems, with their aversion to vouchers, by killing the D.C. experimental project even thought it was succeeding, shows their contempt for the people they pretend to represent. "Modern Day Slavery" should be a talking point for every Republican.

The liberal agenda is to make all people into their "Slaves". Power is what it is all about, not to the people, but to the government. Minorities were the unwitting first step.

This article by Joseph C. Phillips on Civil Rights and education is to the point. Keeping Our Eyes on the Prize

Which party stands in the way of the poor minorities to gain a better education? Which Party Promotes Racism

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Jack Kemp

Jack Kemp died last evening after a long bout with cancer, but his legacy, in the Republican Party, lives on. A rabid "supply sider", Jack made his mark during the Reagan years and his economic direction helped President Reagan usher in one of the greatest expansions of the economy in American history.

Read the following article to find out more about this uncommon man.

The Importance of Jack Kemp

Muslim Demographics - A Changing World

Our children will live under Muslim control if the site below is an accurate prediction of the future. This is a must viewing for those who value our customs and way of life.

Muslim Demographics - a Changing World

Saturday, May 2, 2009

John Simpson's Platform for the 21st Century

We need to re-invent the Republican Party and this is but one view to be considered.

John Simpson's Platform for the 21st Century/

Friday, May 1, 2009

Letter from the Boss

To All My Valued Employees,

There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of this company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy has changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the good news is this: The economy doesn't pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job however, is the changing political landscape in this country.

However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help you decide what is in your best interests. First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers against employees, you have to understand that for every business owner there is a Back Story. This back story is often neglected and overshadowed by what you see and hear.

Sure, you see me park my Mercedes outside. You've seen my big home at last years Christmas party. I'm sure; all these flashy icons of luxury conjure up some idealized thoughts about my life.

However, what you don't see is the BACK STORY : I started this company 28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 300 square foot studio apartment for 3 years. My entire living apartment was converted into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company, which by the way, would eventually employ you. My diet consisted of Ramen Pride noodles because every dollar I spent went back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a defective transmission. I didn't have time to date. Often times, I stayed home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying. In fact, I was married to my business -- hard work, discipline, and sacrifice.

Meanwhile, my friends got jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made a modest $50K a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove flashy cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes. Instead of hitting the Nordstrom's for the latest hot fashion item, I was trolling through the discount store extracting any clothing item that didn't look like it was birthed in the 70's. My friends refinanced their mortgages and lived a life of luxury.

I, however, did not. I put my time, my money, and my life into a business with a vision that eventually, someday, I too, will be able to afford these luxuries my friends supposedly had. So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9am, mentally check in at about noon, and then leave at 5pm, I don't. There is no "off" button for me. When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have the freedom. I eat, and breathe this company every minute of the day. There is no rest. There is no weekend. There is no happy hour.. Every day this business is attached to my hip like a 1 year old special-needs child.

You, of course, only see the fruits of that garden -- the nice house, the Mercedes, the vacations... You never realize the Back Story and the sacrifices I've made. Now, the economy is falling apart and I, the guy that made all the right decisions and saved his money, have to bailout all the people who didn't. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed a decade of my life for. Yes, business ownership has is benefits but the price I've paid is steep and not without wounds.

Unfortunately, the cost of running this business, and employing you, is starting to eclipse the threshold of marginal benefit and let me tell you why: I am being taxed to death and the government thinks I don't pay enough. I have state taxes. Federal taxes. Property taxes. Sales and use taxes. Payroll taxes. Workers compensation taxes. Unemployment taxes. Taxes on taxes. I have to hire a tax man to manage all these taxes and then guess what? I have to pay taxes for employing him. Government mandates and regulations and all the accounting that goes with it, now occupy most of my time.

On Oct 15th, I wrote a check to the US Treasury for $288,000 for quarterly taxes. You know what my "stimulus" check was? Zero. Nada. Zilch.The question I have is this: Who is stimulating the economy? Me, the guy who has provided 14 people good paying jobs and serves over 2,200,000 people per year with a flourishing business? Or, the single mother sitting at home pregnant with her fourth child waiting for her next welfare check?

Obviously, government feels the latter is the economic stimulus of this country.The fact is, if I deducted (Read: Stole) 50% of your paycheck you'd quit and you wouldn't work here. I mean, why should you? That's nuts. Who wants to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, I agree which is why your job is in jeopardy.

Here is what many of you don't understand .... to stimulate the economy you need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had suddenly government mandated to me that I didn't need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of depositing that $288,000 into the Washington black-hole, I would have spent it, hired more employees, and generated substantial economic growth. My employees would have enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut in the form of promotions and better salaries. But you can forget it now. When you have a comatose man on the verge of death, you don't defibrillate and shock his thumb thinking that will bring him back to life, do you? Or, do you defibrillate his heart? Business is at the heart of America and always has been. To restart it, you must stimulate it, not kill it.

Suddenly, the power brokers in Washington believe the poor of America are the essential drivers of the American economic engine. Nothing could be further from the truth and this is the type of change you can keep.

So where am I going with all this? It's quite simple. If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, my reaction will be swift and simple. I'll fire you and your coworkers. You can then plead with the government to pay for your mortgage, your SUV, and your child's future. Frankly, it isn't my problem any more. Then, I will close this company down, move to another country, and retire. You see, I'm done. I'm done with a country that penalizes the productive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, will be my citizenship. So, if you lose your job, it won't be at the hands of the economy; it will be at the hands of a political hurricane that swept through this country, steamrolled the constitution, and will have changed its landscape forever. If that happens, you can find me sitting on a beach, retired, and with no employees to worry about.....Signed, THE BOSS

"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."
Margaret Thatcher

Supreme Court Opening

With the announced retirement of Justice David Souter, President Obama will nominate his first Supreme Court Justice. Justice Souter is a moderate to liberal Justice; however, Pres. Obama will most likely nominate someone to the extreme left. We can only hope the conservative and moderate Justices hold on long enough so that the balance does not shift more to those who believe in judicial activism.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103694193

Interesting item on filibusters here: http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-141442394.html

Politically Correct Language

You may get a kick out of some of these alternatives. As if we do not have more important things to concern ourselves with. http://www.sideroad.com/Business_Communication/politically-correct-language.html