Take that subpoena and shove it! I don't intend to cooperate anymore

As if he had in the past.

So now Obama has told Congress to take their subpoena and shove it. Solyndra went belly up and the tax payers got screwed twice. First when Obama loaned the $533 billion and again when the tax payers were put in second place for a payback.

Despicable. Disgusting. Crony capitalism at its worst yet Obama defends it as necessary if we are to “compete with China.”

One of the major problems of the Left is that it fails to understand the difference between building infrastructure, which the government does well and technology birthing which the government can do well and picking what companies to support which is known as crony capitalism and as Solyndra showed, the government is lousy at.

Notice that I moved from the affirmative “does” to the possible “can” to “the government is lousy at.”

I brought up the Internet for a reason. Government sponsored much of the early research in the name of national defense. (I guess all you peaceniks didn't like that!) Government was also instrumental in establishing worldwide standards and protocols.

At that point private industry took over... you may have heard of IBM, Microsoft and Apple (among others)… and developed hardware and software that did what people wanted.

The next question was, how do we connect all these computers to each other?? Again private industry took over and developed SONET lightwave transport, then DWDM systems and fiber optic cable to carry the signals. You may have heard of ATT, ITT, Northern Telecom (Nortel) and Ciena among others. Then we had the local telephone companies, GTE, ATT, Continental, PTI and the inter city transport companies, Level 3, Quest, ATT also among others.

At the same time the government expanded their previous deregulation of the network with the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and there was an explosion of capability and capacity and a lowering of prices unprecedented in the modern world.

The Internet, made possible by Government assistance, was made affordable by private industry. Many companies were started. Many failed. But the market was successful in allocating enough money to allow enough companies to succeed that I now can get local service, long distance voice service and 1.5 MB Internet service for around $65/month.

Cellphone service was also impacted because if you could set at your desk and talk to the world... Then you needed to be able to talk to your customers while waiting to board a flight at the airport. And as technology expanded, you also needed Internet access.

Was some of the above painful? Yes. The world changed and some people became rich and successful. Some became just successful (I put myself in that bracket.) Some people lost nice secure jobs and they didn't make the leap.

That’s life in the fast lane, boys and girls. What we have to decide is if we want 4% unemployment and a lot of new millionaires… or 9% unemployment and a lot old millionaires being taken care of by the government.





"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

Cain and sexual harrassment

Let me say up front that I do not “know” if Herman Cain is innocent of the charges brought against him.

But I am sure of one thing. The way we have chosen to punish and prevent sexual harassment is wrong. Why?

Because if a person decides that they have been sexually harassed then they deserve to have their day in court. And the person accused of sexual harassment decides they are not guilty then they deserve to have their day in court. Or, if both agree, they can have a hearing and settle on a result.

But here is the difference in what happens and what I think should happen. The “result” should be made in full public view. Found guilty? Everyone knows. Found not guilty? Everyone knows? A settlement reached? Everyone knows. Everyone knows the facts as presented and they know the results. And they know it forever.

If we did that we would know what Herman Cain’s accusers claim he did. And we would know what the settlements were.

And we could judge if the claims were worthy of our attention and belief and if they really speak to Cain’s ability to be President. After all, we judged Clinton and said, "No problem."

There should be no political opponents using anonymous sources. As Sgt. Friday said, “Just the facts, mam.”

Of course barring a change in our legal system that is unlikely to happen. Lawyers are hired to win, not demonstrate the facts of the matter. Of course if the facts help us reach a conclusion we consider “just” all the better.

And lawyers, unlike what we see on TV, do not want to go into court. They want to win. So if they can settle and get what their clients want, then they have done their job. In most civil cases Side A wants money to sooth their anger at being wronged. Side B does not want to pay the money. In some cases the result is a public trial. In too many cases there is a settlement. A private settlement in which neither side can tell what the settlement was.

Some will claim that a private settlement allows the aggrieved person to be compensated without the embarrassment and emotional strain that a public one would. That may be true, but it lays the groundwork for future claims such as we have now with Cain.

Others will claim that a private settlement saves time and money because going to court is expensive and in too many cases sexual harassment is “he said – she said” and “you had to be there.” That’s true enough, but if everyone knew a public trial/settlement might be the result then people would be more careful in what they say and do. And people would be more careful in what they claim.

Yes, Virginia. There is a Santa Claus and some people make things up for a variety of reasons. Especially if they know a quick and private cash settlement is on the way. And I am not including the ladies involved in the Cain matter.

But to return to Cain, the ladies involved have been released from the confidentially agreement. One has declined to comment. Cain has said that what he did was note that the lady was the same height as his wife, placing his hand just under his chin.

You can call that what you like. But based on the lack of other information I don’t call it sexual harassment. And based on the public’s response, the majority of Americans join with me.

Are we right? Are we wrong? It appears we will never know.


"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

As I was driving home this week worrying about all the crap going on in the world and here in the USA and at how my life was falling apart when I saw a yard sign that said:

NEED HELP?

CALL JESUS

1-800-005-3787

Out of curiosity and desperation, I did.


A Mexican showed up with a lawn mower.


Hat tip to Mike L!



"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

Anybody wanna make a bet on which way he'll go?

DECISION SHIFT – The Obama administration is about to make a major decision on whether to approve the controversial Keystone XL pipeline that would bring oil from Canada to our Gulf Coast refineries. The decision was expected to be made by the State Department, but President Obama now hints that he personally will make it. It is critical that the pipeline be built. It will make us less dependent on the Mideast, and will add thousands of jobs. Modern technology can allow us to do this safely. Obama can appeal to his pre-industrial-age base by deciding against the line, and he'll make the Mideast oil nations happy. Or, he can appeal to the majority of Americans, even at the risk of some Saudi grumbling, or whatever they do over there. I'm not betting either way.

Link to Urgent Agenda

"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

Faster than a speeding bullet!

Or you could just vote to re-elect Obama!

Hat tip to Bill T!

"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

A day in the life of an Occupy Wall Street protester

This is just so delicious. Click here.

Hat tip to Jimmy M!

"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

Outside of rock and roll we Tennesseans

have never been known for leading the parade on "social issues" but I am happy to report that we have had our very own protesters for long enough to get the government to pass some rules about who, when and how people can use public areas.

This, as sure as night follows day, yielded this.

The judge released the nutcakes because he claims the law had not been in effect long enough for the people to know they were violating it.

Twenty-nine protesters arrested in Nashville, Tennessee at 3 AM on Friday for refusing to comply with a newly-enacted city rule banning “overnight occupation” have been released after a judge refused to sign criminal trespassing warrants against them.

According to The Tennessean, Night Court Magistrate Tom Nelson explained in an email to Davidson County’s General Sessions judges that “he ordered all of the protesters released from custody because the state had not given the protesters adequate notice that it was changing the rules.”

Link

Of course the Guv disagreed.

It was my understanding that we were going to enforce the curfew from the very beginning," Haslam said after attending a University of Tennessee trustees meeting in Knoxville. "In 14 hours, you should have time to decide whether you're going to stay or not."

Well yes. Yes you should. And everyone but the judge knows that the intent of the protesters was to be arrested. You know, resume enhancement for when they later run as Democrats for some elective office.

Haslam said his administration was responding to complaints from lawmakers and the general public about sanitary conditions and safety on Legislative Plaza.

Link

So the question is, how long will an activist judge be able to let the activists be active???

In the meantime, it seems that we have some actions taking place that are not usually performed in public.

There have been fights, including one relatively vicious slugfest involving brass knuckles, and this week state troopers were dispatched to deal with reports of “public urination and of two individuals committing a sexual act in public,” Safety Department spokeswoman Jennifer Donnals says. The sex act reportedly was taking place beneath a magnolia tree in full view of a state legislator’s office window. No arrests were made.

Ah, the old candy is dandy but magnolia is quicker move.

And only two???? What has happened to our youth?

I understand the legislator had no idea as to what was happening.

But then lack of knowledge is not an unusual thing among our elected officials.

Gomez, a 21-year-old college dropout and drifter from Kansas, concedes things may have gotten a little out of control, but he says that’s the way of forward-thinking movements. Dealing with the “stressed out” homeless has hamstrung Occupy Nashville, which started on Oct. 7, and prevented the protesters from gaining much traction in publicizing their grievances against greedy Wall Street and cash-happy politics, he says.

Link

And don't you just find the mouthing of a 21 year old college drop out just so.....just so....how can I say this....... Enlightening???? Yes. That's it. I always look for 21 year old college drop outs whenever I feel the need to educate myself on economics and taxes.

Doesn't everyone?

"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