Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Good advice?



I called my stockbroker and asked him what I should be buying.
He said, "If the current administration is in office much longer,
canned goods and survival gear are your best bet."

Hat tip to Mike L!

You know, I can't figure out if Obama is just incompetent, a nice word for stupid, or if he has actually been trying to destroy the country.

But you know, it doesn't matter. Results are what counts.

submit to reddit OnTwitter I am Lesabre1

"Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them." - Karl Popper

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves.” - William Pitt

"Logic. There is little logic among the cultural elite, maybe because there is little omnipresent fear of job losses or the absence of money, and so arises a rather comfortable margin to indulge in nonsense." - Victor Davis Hanson

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

The Chicago way


"With less than $1 billion currently available for federal disaster assistance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is temporarily suspending payments to rebuild roads, schools and other structures destroyed during spring tornadoes in Joplin, Mo. and southern states in order to pay for damage caused by Hurricane Irene."

Translation. Fogitaboudit. Youse guys didn't vote the right way.

I would say, "Can you believe it?" But yes. Yes. It is very easy to believe that Obama and his mob will do this.

submit to reddit OnTwitter I am Lesabre1

"Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them." - Karl Popper

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves.” - William Pitt

"Logic. There is little logic among the cultural elite, maybe because there is little omnipresent fear of job losses or the absence of money, and so arises a rather comfortable margin to indulge in nonsense." - Victor Davis Hanson

Monday, August 29, 2011

Warning. Gag reflex may be induced.


This is who and what we are paying for.

Now. Guess what happens to the zebra?


submit to reddit OnTwitter I am Lesabre1

"Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them." - Karl Popper

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves.” - William Pitt

"Logic. There is little logic among the cultural elite, maybe because there is little omnipresent fear of job losses or the absence of money, and so arises a rather comfortable margin to indulge in nonsense." - Victor Davis Hanson

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Shark swiming in the streets of San Juan, PR


And yes, it's fake.

But if this was New York, wouldn't that picture be of an alligator from the sewer?

Hat tip to CaseyOR at TalkLeft

Besides, aren't their plenty of sharks on Wall Street?

submit to reddit OnTwitter I am Lesabre1

"Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them." - Karl Popper

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves.” - William Pitt

"Logic. There is little logic among the cultural elite, maybe because there is little omnipresent fear of job losses or the absence of money, and so arises a rather comfortable margin to indulge in nonsense." - Victor Davis Hanson

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

World's shortest books



MY BLACK GIRLFRIENDS
By Tiger Woods
____________________________________________
THINGS I LOVE ABOUT MY COUNTRY

By Jane Fonda & Cindy Sheehan
Illustrated by Michael Moore
Foreword by George Soros
________________________________________
MY CHRISTIAN ACCOMPLISHMENTS
& HOW I HELPED AFTER KATRINA

By Rev Jesse Jackson & Rev Al Sharpton
______________________________________
THINGS I LOVE ABOUT BILL
By Hillary Clinton
_________________
Sequel: THINGS I LOVE ABOUT HILLARY
By Bill Clinton
_________________
THINGS I CANNOT AFFORD
By Bill Gates
____________________________________
THINGS I WOULD NOT DO FOR MONEY
By Dennis Rodman
_________________________________
THINGS WE KNOW TO BE TRUE
By Al Gore & John Kerry
_____________________________________
GUIDE TO THE PACIFIC
By Amelia Earhart
____________________________________
HOW TO LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST
By Dr. Jack Kevorkian
__________________________________
TO ALL THE MEN WE HAVE LOVED BEFORE
By Ellen de Generes & Rosie O'Donnell
__________________
GUIDE TO DATING ETIQUETTE
By Mike Tyson
__________________________________
THE AMISH PHONE DIRECTORY
_______________________________________
MY PLAN TO FIND THE REAL KILLERS
By O. J. Simpson
_________________________________________
HOW TO DRINK & DRIVE SAFELY
By Ted Kennedy
_________
MY BOOK OF MORALS
By Bill Clinton
With introduction by
The Rev. Jesse Jackson
____________________________________________________
HOW TO WIN A SUPERBOWL
BY THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS
___________________________________________________
AND, JUST ADDED
My Complete Knowledge of Military Strategy

By Nancy Pelosi
________________________________________________________
And the shortest book of them all......................
THINGS I DID TO DESERVE THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
by Barack Obama

Hat tip to Mike L!




submit to reddit OnTwitter I am Lesabre1

"Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them." - Karl Popper

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves.” - William Pitt

"Logic. There is little logic among the cultural elite, maybe because there is little omnipresent fear of job losses or the absence of money, and so arises a rather comfortable margin to indulge in nonsense." - Victor Davis Hanson

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

That hurts




So there I was happily chain sawing away when, to get a better angle, I moved my foot.

Bad decision. Next thing I knew I was off balance, and falling forward. I tossed the saw away and stuck out my arm to break my fall with my hand and fingers extended. Second bad decision. I missed the fallen branch I had been working on with my hand. But not my right hand’s middle finger. I pulled the glove off and observed the finger pointing backwards about 45 degrees and slightly to the left.

Now you know why I haven’t been posting the last few days.

I managed to get the saw and me on the John Deere and back to the house. Opening the back door I announced my need to be taken to the local ER. I arrived and the real fun started.

It was about 6:00PM. I walked into the admitting room. The lady behind the glass was having an extended conversation with another female. Best I could tell it had nothing to do with anything medical. After about three minutes:

Me: “Excuse me.”

Lady on the outside turns and looks at me.

Lady inside booth: “What do you want?”

Me, holding up hand with the odd looking middle finger: “It’s either broken or badly dislocated. I need someone to look at it. I also need something to ease the pain.

Lady: “What is your name?”

Me: (Gives name)

Lady: “Have a seat I will call you.”

Me: “This is hurting me very bad. Do you know how long it will be? Can someone shoot it up to numb the pain?”

Lady: “Have a seat I will call you.” She then returns to conversation.

So I take a seat. There are two or three females sitting together. Another lady is setting by herself holding her side/chest. She is in obvious pain.

Me: “Are you okay?”

Lady in pain: “I think I have broken ribs.”

Me: “How long have you been here?”

Lady in pain: “About an hour.”

I look around. There are no cars parked in the ER area. No other people. The place is silent. I go back to desk.

Me: “Can you tell me about how long it will be? Are you backed up? Can you get me something for pain?”

Lady: “I will call you. Please have a seat.”

Me: “That doesn’t work. Can you answer my question?”

Lady: “I told you. Have a seat.”

At that point my choice was to tell her what an asshole I thought she was, and based on her attitude having her call security, or leave.

Me to my wife: “We’re going to X.” X is a medium sized private hospital about 30-40 minutes away.

Me, turning to desk: “I’m leaving.” (As if she gave a shit.)

So we went to X. They were busy but 10 minutes after I was there they had asked the necessary questions and given me something for pain. After the X Rays, etc., a young ER doctor announced:

Doctor: “It’s not broken but it is a very bad dislocation. I’m gonna numb it and put it back in place, splint it up and send you home with a scrip for some pain killers. I’ll give you a name of a specialist. See him tomorrow. If you become dizzy, nauseated or anything unusual get back to us immediately. “

So he did and I did. I left not happy but I felt like I had been treated properly and provided the necessary and correct care

Since then I have wondered what the difference between the two ERs is.

I have decided this.

The first ER is in a small local hospital that is basically used to triage for further transport to a large general hospital about 45 minutes away. It serves a large minority population, of black and Hispanic who are mostly educationally deprived and poor. The ER, I have been told, is used mostly as a primary care office. Many of the customers are illegal and do not want to discuss anything. Most of the others have little experience in complaining and are intimidated by the “system.”

The second ER is in a medium sized private hospital. It serves a mostly well educated customer base that has insurance and money. Most patients have a primary care physician, insurance and middle class finances. If they dislike the service they know how to effectively complain.

And that also defines the differences between Democrats and the Tea Party.


submit to reddit OnTwitter I am Lesabre1

"Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them." - Karl Popper “

Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves.” - William Pitt

"Logic. There is little logic among the cultural elite, maybe because there is little omnipresent fear of job losses or the absence of money, and so arises a rather comfortable margin to indulge in nonsense." - Victor Davis Hanson

Friday, August 19, 2011

Impeach Obama Now


The Constitution is plain.

The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

The particulars:

(CBS/AP) WASHINGTON - The Obama administration said Thursday it will allow many illegal immigrants facing deportation the chance to stay in this country and apply for a work permit, while focusing on removing from the U.S. convicted criminals and those who might be a national security or public safety threat.

snip

The official said the change will give authorities the chance to keep some cases from even reaching the court system. The message to agents in the field, the official said, would be "you do not need to put everyone you come across in the system."

CBS

That is like telling the police that they have the power to decide who has violated the law. And by Obama allowing this to happen he puts himself in the position of being an accomplice.

If Congress is to have any credibility left then it must stand up and say no. The House should immediately vote Articles of Impeachment and the Senate should move promoptly, no more than 120 days, to try Obama.







submit to reddit OnTwitter I am Lesabre1

"Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them." - Karl Popper

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves.” - William Pitt

"Logic. There is little logic among the cultural elite, maybe because there is little omnipresent fear of job losses or the absence of money, and so arises a rather comfortable margin to indulge in nonsense." - Victor Davis Hanson

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Time to catch up........


The summer garden, except for the Okra, is history. The candy plants just keep on producing and will until a killing frost arrives around 11/1 although the quantity will slowly drop.

The squash, both crook neck and patty pan, did well as did the bell peppers and tomatoes. The cabbage was outstanding in slaw and as well as cooked with salt pork and new potatoes. Still have some peppers, onions and squash in the fridge. The cucumbers did okay, but it wasn't really a bumper crop. Too hot? Don't know.

On 8/1 dug up the garden and planted for fall. Squash, cucumbers and beans. Turnips next week. Everything is up and growing like crazy. Chopped it out today and fertilized. The iffy part is if they will mature and allow a bountiful harvest before the first frost. You never know.

Chain sawing continues but only one is left that I am doing.



This one is going to take a front loader to get rid of the stump.














submit to reddit OnTwitter I am Lesabre1

"Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them." - Karl Popper

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves.” - William Pitt

"Logic. There is little logic among the cultural elite, maybe because there is little omnipresent fear of job losses or the absence of money, and so arises a rather comfortable margin to indulge in nonsense." - Victor Davis Hanson

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

The honeymoon is over.


You know the honeymoon is over when the comedians start.


The liberals are asking us to give Obama time.
We agree...and think 25 to life would be appropriate.
--Jay Leno

America needs Obama-care like
Nancy Pelosi needs a Halloween mask.
--Jay Leno

Q: Have you heard about McDonald's'
new Obama Value Meal?
A: Order anything you like
and the guy behind you has to pay for it.
--Conan O'Brien

Q: What does Barack Obama
call lunch with a convicted felon?
A: A fund raiser.
--Jay Leno

Q: What's the difference between
Obama's cabinet and a penitentiary?
A: One is filled with tax evaders, blackmailers,
and threats to society.
The other is for housing prisoners.
--David Letterman

Q: If Nancy Pelosi and Obama were on a boat
in the middle of the ocean and it started to sink,
who would be saved?
A: America!
--Jimmy Fallon

Q: What's the difference between
Obama and his dog, Bo?
A: Bo has papers.
--Jimmy Kimmel

Q: What was the most positive result of
the "Cash for Clunkers" program?
A: It took 95% of the Obama bumper
stickers off the road.
--David Letterman

Hat tip to Dave T!



submit to reddit OnTwitter I am Lesabre1

"Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them." - Karl Popper

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves.” - William Pitt

"Logic. There is little logic among the cultural elite, maybe because there is little omnipresent fear of job losses or the absence of money, and so arises a rather comfortable margin to indulge in nonsense." - Victor Davis Hanson

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Let's go out for a drink!


Us guys have it easy.

Hat tip to whoever sent me this. I am having a Senior Moment.

submit to reddit OnTwitter I am Lesabre1

"Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them." - Karl Popper

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves.” - William Pitt

"Logic. There is little logic among the cultural elite, maybe because there is little omnipresent fear of job losses or the absence of money, and so arises a rather comfortable margin to indulge in nonsense." - Victor Davis Hanson

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Little help, please.....


Looks like that starboard engine has been blowing a little oil and smoke. Maybe that's why 11 Boat is being snubbed up to the seaplane tender.

Hat tip to Dave T!

submit to reddit OnTwitter I am Lesabre1

"Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them." - Karl Popper

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves.” - William Pitt

"Logic. There is little logic among the cultural elite, maybe because there is little omnipresent fear of job losses or the absence of money, and so arises a rather comfortable margin to indulge in nonsense." - Victor Davis Hanson

No good deed goes unpunished!


The Australian outback town of Broken Hill will no longer host the production of a Mad Max sequel after record rains made the surrounding countryside too green to pass for a post-apocalyptic landscape.

No doubt caused by man made global warming.


submit to reddit OnTwitter I am Lesabre1

"Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them." - Karl Popper

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves.” - William Pitt

"Logic. There is little logic among the cultural elite, maybe because there is little omnipresent fear of job losses or the absence of money, and so arises a rather comfortable margin to indulge in nonsense." - Victor Davis Hanson

Thursday, August 11, 2011

A trillion here, a trillion there...


Can we blame S&P for the downgrade? Well, some say no more than we can blame the Post Office for putting up “Wanted Posters.” Yet we hear that the Regime is investigating S&P.

At the same time they are blaming the Tea Party. A group of loosely organized people who have no elected representatives, no fund raising organization, no nationally recognized leaders and no national means of communications, although as England and Egypt have discovered, perhaps Social Media and the Internet have replaced the Man on a White Horse. Email may have replaced the screaming crowds of worshipers. Indeed, Obama may have been the last “Dear Leader” who will have the capability to appear in front of us and mouth platitudes while draped in self righteousness to a chanting crowd of fainting females.

Email is cooler. Twitter is quick and Face Book commands attention. Yet they all, unlike old political speech, have an ability to be read by millions and a permanence. Just ask the so-called scientists at "East Anglia University" how quickly your “private” emails can effectively destroy a political movement. And, yes that is what the so-called “Global Warming” hoax is. But I digress.

To return to the downgrade, it is interesting that the RINOs of our elected officials and vaunted opinion makers, while making vague remarks intending to damn the Tea Party with faint praise, mutter such things as, “doing their job," etc., etc., etc., about S&P and the downgrade.

Really??? Aren’t these the same people who ignored the impending collapse of the housing market and what that would do to the banks? And it wasn’t like they weren’t warned. When Clinton expanded Freddie and Fannie in 1999:

''Fannie Mae has expanded home ownership for millions of families in the 1990's by reducing down payment requirements,'' said Franklin D. Raines, Fannie Mae's chairman and chief executive officer. ''Yet there remain too many borrowers whose credit is just a notch below what our underwriting has required who have been relegated to paying significantly higher mortgage rates in the so-called subprime market.''

Snip

''From the perspective of many people, including me, this is another thrift industry growing up around us,'' said Peter Wallison a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. ''If they fail, the government will have to step up and bail them out the way it stepped up and bailed out the thrift industry.''

Fannie Mae, the nation's biggest underwriter of home mortgages, does not lend money directly to consumers. Instead, it purchases loans that banks make on what is called the secondary market. By expanding the type of loans that it will buy, Fannie Mae is hoping to spur banks to make more loans to people with less-than-stellar credit ratings.

NY Times

Was the dog asleep? Not really.

The plan is an acknowledgment by the administration that oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- which together have issued more than $1.5 trillion in outstanding debt -- is broken. A report by outside investigators in July concluded that Freddie Mac manipulated its accounting to mislead investors, and critics have said Fannie Mae does not adequately hedge against rising interest rates

NY Times

What the dogs were was unconcerned. They were making tons of money from the industry they were supposed to be watching and if their words suggested that just maybe bundles of mortgages, which previously had 5% trash had morphed into bundles composed of 95% trash, who was going to take the blame for allowing the expansion?? Better to whistle by the graveyard and hope the Feds could stabilize things with interest rate cuts. And if things collapsed, the government would fix it. After all, we had done it before in SE Asia, why not for America?

And it was working. By April of 2008 the housing market, while shaky, was much better and looked to be stabilized. But there was a snake in the bushes just waiting to strike. Oil prices. And they went from around $90 a barrel in April/May to $145 by mid July and the economy started its collapse.

Some blamed the “exploding” demand from China and India. Some blamed the weak dollar being driven into commodities triggering a bubble in oil prices by the speculators. The former was wrong. The latter was correct to a degree. But the icing on the speculators cake was that the Democrats, driven by the EcoTerrists in their base, indicated that they would do nothing to prevent the assumed pending shortage. Note the assumed. In fact, during May the Democrats, in control of both Houses of Congress, stopped all attempts by the Republicans to increase drilling by opening up Federal lands and seas by removing restrictions.

Think I am wrong? Well, Bush issued his EO in August rescinding the previous restrictions and the Democrats followed in the early Fall. Damnably late and neither actually did anything logical like saying that no one can trade commodity futures unless they can demonstrate that they can take or receive the results of the trade. But it did pop the bubble and gasoline prices, slowly following oil, dropped from $4.00 plus in mid July ’08 to $1.81 the day Obama was inaugurated in 1/09. (He immediately took steps to undo what Congress had done, but that’s another story.)

The results speak for themselves.

Gas Prices

Drilling ban reinstated

Now let us fast forward to 2011 from 2007/2008. What is the same and what is different? Well, the banks and corporations were making tons of money from the government. Oil prices had/have been slowly inching upward. Unemployment had/has been slowly inching upwards.

The Feds had/have kept/cut interest rates driving commodity prices up. Check not only oil but corn, soybeans, cotton. (Of course corn has been impacted by our silly energy policy of using it to produce alcohol for 10% of our gasoline.)

In 2008 the Federal Budget was expanding. In 2011 the Federal Budget is expanding.

But in 2008 no one was shouting that we couldn’t keep this up forever and no one was pointing out that the debt was approaching our GDP.

Well in 2010 and 2011, the Libertarian members of the Tea Party were. Some politicians of the Conservative bent were. People started sending emails, twitter was twittering and Face Book displayed the image of our Senior Citizens all agreeing with each other.

The Republicans had actually won the House and were talking about stopping borrowing unless they got big cuts. Even Obama entered calling for a grand scheme with cuts and revenue increases. Bernie starts talking about QE3. The U6 Unemployment rate is around 18%.

What’s a credit agency to do? Well, one thing they don’t want is for their clients to take it in the shorts all at once. The banks, the large corporations and Wall Street were and are hooked on easy money. Let the crazy Republicans get into a fight with the crazier Democrats and who knows?? People are talking about defaults. Worse, the credit agencies can’t ignore this. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me is one of the golden rules of business. If the credit limit was not extended and default happened on just some of the government’s obligations the result would be a helluva market hit.

So S&P decided to enter into politics. It said, you must extend the credit limit. And it even gave a number on how, along with the extension, the debt could be reduced. That was a mistake. They foolishly drew a line in the sand.

The credit limit was raised but S&P’s recommendations were not accepted. They were now trapped. If not doing what they wanted was accepted they would be like a bank credit line manager telling a business it must do certain things or suffer a credit lowering and then doing nothing when the business didn’t do what it was told. A toothless dog is no dog at all.

All S&P has to sell is its reputation and influence. Lose that and it is effectively dead. So they gave us a tongue whipping for not doing what we were told and then dropped us to AA+. Lower than France. Lower than Switzerland.

Has this helped? No. The market has taken a big hit. The future is uncertain and business does not expand to a large degree into an uncertain market

Blame S&P? Does anyone on this planet actually think we are less credit worthy than France? If, as we use to say in the Cold War, the rocket goes up whom do you trust to maintain western civilization? The US or Switzerland?

Blame S&P? Damn right. They had to know what the markets would do and yet they did what they did to try and recover some “face” lost in 2008. A corporation welding that much power and willing to use it for its self interest irrespective of the damage it does to the country should be blamed.

In the final analysis of any situation you are either with us or against us.





submit to reddit OnTwitter I am Lesabre1

"Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them." - Karl Popper

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves.” - William Pitt

"Logic. There is little logic among the cultural elite, maybe because there is little omnipresent fear of job losses or the absence of money, and so arises a rather comfortable margin to indulge in nonsense." - Victor Davis Hanson

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Brother can you spare a trillion?




The Left is fixated on government jobs. They remember being told at their Father's knee about CC Camps, WPA, TVA, etc,, etc. And these things were good. My Father and two uncles went to CC Camp, earned money, stayed out of trouble and became better citizens.

The problem is this. As FDR's failure to stop the Depression showed outside of actual government jobs, new jobs are not created by government spending.

The company receiving the money creates the jobs.

The problem with massive government spending is this:

What do we spend it on?

Pick the wrong thing and you lose, just like anyone "investing" in a start up that doesn't fly loses.

A huge chunk of the stimulus went to state and local governments. That means the money was filtered at least twice. The results? Hundreds of thousands of dollars to create one job. Politicians did what they do. Take care of themselves and friends.

That didn't work well.

Some jobs were saved by the GM/Chrysler bailout, but no new jobs were created.

A few jobs were "created" by so-called green energy companies. But the actual numbers are low.

Now Obama is back to "shovel ready" construction projects. Problem is, there are relatively few of these on a national basis. And the new ones require some local funding so that money has to be acquired along with the permits, etc. After that is done the project can move forward but in today's world you have fewer people using better equipment.

In other words, those grainy black and white film shows of hundreds of men shoveling away ain't gonna happen now.

The boom in the 80's and 90's came from new technology. Government investment in NASA, defense spending and the Internet unloosed an avalanche of new processes, products and markets. Unfortunately we allowed the companies who profited from these to move them off shore.

So if we are going to spend another trillion or so in search of 5% unemployment it has to be spent on something new.

Cold fusion? Cancer cures? The list is endless and while money is being expended on some already, what is out there to become the new Internet? You know we haven't even extended high speed Internet service to locations outside the urbs and burbs.

Partially posted on TalkLeft

submit to reddit OnTwitter I am Lesabre1

"Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them." - Karl Popper

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves.” - William Pitt

"Logic. There is little logic among the cultural elite, maybe because there is little omnipresent fear of job losses or the absence of money, and so arises a rather comfortable margin to indulge in nonsense." - Victor Davis Hanson

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Walking the dog!


If dogs could talk!

"Hey, I know you said you were going to take me for a walk, but this is ridiculous!"

Link to war dogs

Hat tip to Larry P!


submit to reddit OnTwitter I am Lesabre1

"Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them." - Karl Popper

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves.” - William Pitt

"Logic. There is little logic among the cultural elite, maybe because there is little omnipresent fear of job losses or the absence of money, and so arises a rather comfortable margin to indulge in nonsense." - Victor Davis Hanson

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Internet Protocol



Click here for information


submit to reddit OnTwitter I am Lesabre1

"Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them." - Karl Popper

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves.” - William Pitt

"Logic. There is little logic among the cultural elite, maybe because there is little omnipresent fear of job losses or the absence of money, and so arises a rather comfortable margin to indulge in nonsense." - Victor Davis Hanson

Friday, August 5, 2011

The Pack is back!


Green Bay Packers Question:

Last year……After the Packers / Bills game, Buffalo released quarterback Trent Edwards.

During the Packers / Eagles game, the Packers injured Philadelphia quarterback Kevin Kolb. Philadelphia then had to play backup quarterback Michael Vick.

During a playoff game against the Eagles, the Packers injured Michael Vick and another backup was needed.

After the Packers / Cowboys game, Dallas fired Wade Phillips and most of his staff.

After the Packers / Vikings game, Minnesota fired Brad Childress and most of his staff.

Four weeks after losing to the Packers, the 49er's coach Mike Singletary and most of his staff were fired and replaced.

During the Bears Playoff game, the Packers injured Jay Cutler and backup Todd Collins forcing the Bears to go with 3rd string quarterback Caleb Hanie.

Question:

Is it just me, or did the Packers create more jobs than Obama last year?

Hat Tip to Dave T!

submit to reddit OnTwitter I am Lesabre1

"Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them." - Karl Popper

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves.” - William Pitt

"Logic. There is little logic among the cultural elite, maybe because there is little omnipresent fear of job losses or the absence of money, and so arises a rather comfortable margin to indulge in nonsense." - Victor Davis Hanson

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Punny is as punny does


Hat tip to Mike L and Mack E!


submit to reddit OnTwitter I am Lesabre1

"Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them." - Karl Popper

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves.” - William Pitt

"Logic. There is little logic among the cultural elite, maybe because there is little omnipresent fear of job losses or the absence of money, and so arises a rather comfortable margin to indulge in nonsense." - Victor Davis Hanson

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

A chuckle here a chuckle there


My neighbour got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.

Exxon-Mobil laid off 25 Congressmen.

McDonald's is selling the 1/4 ouncer

Angelina Jolie adopted a child from America.

A truckload of Americans was caught sneaking into Mexico.

A picture is now only worth 200 words.

When Bill and Hillary travel together, they now have to share a room.

I saw a Mormon with only one wife.

Parents in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and had to learn their children's names.

And, finally.... I was so depressed last night thinking about the economy, wars, jobs, my savings, Social Security, retirement funds, etc., I called the Suicide Hotline. I got a call centre in Pakistan, and when I told them I was suicidal, they got all excited, and asked if I could drive a truck.

Hat tip to NYShooter at TalkLeft

submit to reddit OnTwitter I am Lesabre1

"Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them." - Karl Popper

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves.” - William Pitt

"Logic. There is little logic among the cultural elite, maybe because there is little omnipresent fear of job losses or the absence of money, and so arises a rather comfortable margin to indulge in nonsense." - Victor Davis Hanson

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

What caused this mess


While we push and shove over the debt ceiling, I think it helpful to revisit on how the economy was destroyed using the housing market as the car bomb.

First, you have to remember the Community Reinvestment Act. This was a piece of social engineering that said that banks had to loan money to people who lived in certain areas and who had questionable credit.

The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA, Pub.L. 95-128, title VIII of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1977, 91 Stat. 1147, 12 U.S.C. § 2901 et seq.) is a United States federal law designed to encourage commercial banks and savings associations to help meet the needs of borrowers in all segments of their communities, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.[1][2][3] Congress passed the Act in 1977 to reduce discriminatory credit practices against low-income neighborhoods, a practice known as redlining.[4][5]

The Act requires the appropriate federal financial supervisory agencies to encourage regulated financial institutions to help meet the credit needs of the local communities in which they are chartered, consistent with safe and sound operation (Section 802.) To enforce the statute, federal regulatory agencies examine banking institutions for CRA compliance, and take this information into consideration when approving applications for new bank branches or for mergers or acquisitions (Section 804.)[6]

Link

No doubt a warm and wonderful thing. Of course what happened was that the activists grabbed it and used it to make banks do their bidding.

But even that wasn’t enough. During the Clinton Administration credit was expanded.

Published: September 30, 1999

In a move that could help increase home ownership rates among minorities and low-income consumers, the Fannie Mae Corporation is easing the credit requirements on loans that it will purchase from banks and other lenders.

The action.....-- will encourage those banks to extend home mortgages to individuals whose credit is generally not good enough to qualify for conventional loans.

Snip

''From the perspective of many people, including me, this is another thrift industry growing up around us,'' said Peter Wallison a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. ''If they fail, the government will have to step up and bail them out the way it stepped up and bailed out the thrift industry.''

NYT Link

Well, it took 4 years but some people caught on that a problem was looming.

By STEPHEN LABATON

Published: September 11, 2003

The Bush administration today recommended the most significant regulatory overhaul in the housing finance industry since the savings and loan crisis a decade ago.

Under the plan,.....a new agency would be created within the Treasury Department to assume supervision of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac....

The new agency would have the authority, which now rests with Congress, to set one of the two capital-reserve requirements for the companies. It would exercise authority over any new lines of business. And it would determine whether the two are adequately managing the risks of their ballooning portfolios.

The plan is an acknowledgment by the administration that oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- which together have issued more than $1.5 trillion in outstanding debt -- is broken. A report by outside investigators in July concluded that Freddie Mac manipulated its accounting to mislead investors, and critics have said Fannie Mae does not adequately hedge against rising interest rates.

snip

Significant details must still be worked out before Congress can approve a bill. Among the groups denouncing the proposal today were the National Association of Home Builders and Congressional Democrats who fear that tighter regulation of the companies could sharply reduce their commitment to financing low-income and affordable housing.

''These two entities -- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- are not facing any kind of financial crisis,'' said Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts, the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee. ''The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing.''
NYT Link

The new regulations were blocked and almost 6 years later to the day we had the melt down.

We need to keep the above in mind as the Lefties do their “Anybody but Obamie” shake and bake.

submit to reddit OnTwitter I am Lesabre1

"Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them." - Karl Popper

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves.” - William Pitt

"Logic. There is little logic among the cultural elite, maybe because there is little omnipresent fear of job losses or the absence of money, and so arises a rather comfortable margin to indulge in nonsense." - Victor Davis Hanson

Monday, August 1, 2011

New fleet MPG averages


Sometimes I read things that are just so stupid I actually jump. Such as this claim from the President regarding his new edict that car MPG fleet average must be doubled.

For American families, the president said the agreement - which will be subject to a mid-course review - means filling up the car every two weeks, instead of every week. That would save $8,000 in fuel costs over the life of a vehicle, he said

Link

You know, you hardly have to break out a calculator to see how silly and juvenile this is.

Current average is 27 MPG. New is 54. Let’s say that you travel 12000 miles a year. That’s 444 gallons of gasoline at $3.50 is $1555. Now the new usage is 222 gallons at $3.50 or $777. At that rate it would take 10.29 years to save $8000.

And that assumes you don’t replace the car. BTW – A Chevy Volt is around $45000.

And that assumes that the oil companies won’t increase prices as volume drops to maintain profits.

You know, I don't mind the lies. But dumb lies anger me.




submit to reddit OnTwitter I am Lesabre1

"Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them." - Karl Popper

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves.” - William Pitt

"Logic. There is little logic among the cultural elite, maybe because there is little omnipresent fear of job losses or the absence of money, and so arises a rather comfortable margin to indulge in nonsense." - Victor Davis Hanson

Alan Simpson and The Electric Debt Commission



This is the perfect post for August 1, 2011.

Alan Simpson, Senator from Wyoming , Co-Chair of Obama's deficit commission, calls senior citizens the Greediest Generation as he
compared "Social Security" to a Milk Cow with 310 million teats.
August, 2010.

Here's a response in a letter from a unknown farmer in Montana ....
I think he is a little ticked off! He also tells it like it is !
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hey Alan, let's get a few things straight..

1. As a career politician, you have been on the public tit for FIFTY
YEARS.

2.. I have been paying Social Security taxes for 48 YEARS (since I was 15
years old. I am now 63).

3 My Social Security payments, and those of millions of other
Americans, were safely tucked away in an interest bearing account for
decades until you political pukes decided to raid the account and give
OUR money to a bunch of zero ambition losers in return for votes, thus
bankrupting the system and turning Social Security into a Ponzi scheme
that would have made Bernie Madoff proud.

4. Recently, just like Lucy and Charlie Brown, you and your ilk pulled the
proverbial football away from millions of American seniors nearing
retirement and moved the goalposts for full retirement from age 65 to
age 67. NOW, you and your shill commission are proposing to move the
goalposts YET AGAIN.

5 I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying into Medicare
from Day One, and now you morons propose to change the rules of the
game.. Why? Because you idiots mismanaged other parts of the economy
to such an extent that you need to steal money from Medicare to pay
the bills.

6. I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying income taxes our
entire lives, and now you propose to increase our taxes yet again. Why?
Because you incompetent bastards spent our money so profligately that
you just kept on spending even after you ran out of money. Now, you come
to the American taxpayers and say you need more to pay off YOUR debt.

To add insult to injury, you label us "greedy" for calling "bullshit" on
your incompetence. Well, Captain Bullshit, I have a few questions for
YOU.

1. How much money have you earned from the American taxpayers during
your pathetic 50-year political career?

2. At what age did you retire from your pathetic political career, and
how much are you receiving in annual retirement benefits from the
American taxpayers?

3. How much do you pay for YOUR government provided health insurance?

4. What cuts in YOUR retirement and healthcare benefits are you
proposing in your disgusting deficit reduction proposal, or, as usual,
have you exempted yourself and your political cronies?

It is you, Captain Bullshit, and your political co-conspirators called
Congress who are the "greedy" ones. It is you and your fellow nutcases
who have bankrupted America and stolen the American dream from
millions of loyal, patriotic taxpayers. And for what? Votes. That's right,
sir. You and yours have bankrupted America for the sole purpose of
advancing your pathetic political careers. You know it, we know it, and
you know that we know it.

Hat tip to Larry P!


submit to reddit OnTwitter I am Lesabre1

"Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them." - Karl Popper

“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants. It is the creed of slaves.” - William Pitt

"Logic. There is little logic among the cultural elite, maybe because there is little omnipresent fear of job losses or the absence of money, and so arises a rather comfortable margin to indulge in nonsense." - Victor Davis Hanson