Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Sunday, March 06, 2011
Jean-Jacques Jihad - Andrew C. McCarthy -
"The one thing that absolutely could not be tolerated was true freedom, the liberty of the individual. For Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the “social compact” would otherwise be “an empty formula.” The irreducible core of the utopia he envisioned, the “undertaking which alone can give force to the rest,” was quite simply this: “Whoever refuses to obey the general will shall be compelled to do so by the whole body.”
Ah, yes, the “general will.” For this, every modern totalitarian movement is indebted to the 18th-century Genevan philosopher who claimed, in The Social Contract, that a man’s compulsory servitude to the state — the embodiment of this general will — “means nothing less than that he will be forced to be free.” Rousseau was what we today call “Orwellian” long before there was an Orwell. “Freedom” was nothing more than submission."
The February Jobs Report: Solid but Not Stellar
The February jobs report was a solid report — not quite a champagne-popping event, merely one more indicator that the recovery is on firm ground and job gains will continue in future reports. While a decline of 0.1 in the unemployment rate is statistically insignificant, it indicates that the rather sharp declines of 0.4 in both December and January were more than just a statistical blip. It is still likely that the unemployment rate will rise slightly as workers re-enter the labor force, but it would be surprising to see the rate leaping back over 9.5 percent.
There are indications that some of the anemic payroll-survey numbers from January were weather-related. The job gains in construction and transportation are more likely due to a bounce back from the weather rather than attributable to true growth.
While the February job gains of 222,000 is a good start, job growth needs to be much stronger to make up for the labor slack since December 2007. Hopefully, future reports will show over 300,000 new private-sector workers. The household survey shows that the number of employed workers is about 10 million below where it should be to return to the same level of employment before the recession began. At the rate of last month’s job growth, it would take seven years for the labor market to fully recover, a time period that is simply too long.
Thursday, March 03, 2011
Obama's leeriness of the press
POLITICO 44: "When President Obama popped by the briefing room today, he declined to take a question on Libya but promised the press throng that he would take 'a couple' tomorrow, when Mexican President Felipe Calderon is at the White House.
A couple may even be overstating it -- when Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was here, the 'press availability' consisted of one question per side. Obama, it seems, does not like the uncontrolled Q&A.
Why should you care? It goes to accountability. It's not enough for leaders to emote about policy. They should explain, defend and answer questions, as well. Grappling with the unscripted news media encounter is a good skill for politicians."
A couple may even be overstating it -- when Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was here, the 'press availability' consisted of one question per side. Obama, it seems, does not like the uncontrolled Q&A.
Why should you care? It goes to accountability. It's not enough for leaders to emote about policy. They should explain, defend and answer questions, as well. Grappling with the unscripted news media encounter is a good skill for politicians."
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
Farrakhan:
Mideast uprisings will come to US - Chicago Breaking News: "Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan predicted on Sunday that America faces imminent uprisings that mirror those in the Middle East.
“What you are looking at in Tunisia, in Egypt … Libya, in Bahrain … what you see happening there … you’d better prepare because it will be coming to your door,” Farrakhan said in a booming voice, thousands of followers cheering in his wake."
“What you are looking at in Tunisia, in Egypt … Libya, in Bahrain … what you see happening there … you’d better prepare because it will be coming to your door,” Farrakhan said in a booming voice, thousands of followers cheering in his wake."
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Yahoo! News
Obama says Gadhafi must leave Libya 'now' "WASHINGTON – Ratcheting up the pressure, President Barack Obama on Saturday said Moammar Gadhafi has lost his legitimacy to rule and urged the Libyan leader to leave power immediately."
Well, Obama has lost his legitimacy so he should leave office now!
Openly defying the will of the people who want the budget cut.
Openly defying the rule of the and the constitution When a federal judge ruled Obamacare unconstitutional yet has proceeded to implement it.
Is promoting and urging people to take to the streets and protest a fairly elected Governor and senate To inhibit a functioning democracy.
Friday, February 25, 2011
American Thinker:
Leaders Among Us: "Leaders Among Us
By Peter Heck
The time for pretense has passed. As a nation, we are on the cusp of an economic cataclysm if immediate steps are not taken to correct our unbalanced national checkbook. As our debt already spirals out of control, the specter of the unfunded liabilities of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, looms ominously on the horizon. When the retirement of the baby boom generation hits with blunt force, our economic state will be in shambles and our country will default.
These problems do not appear lost on President Obama. Congratulating himself for bringing us out of a recession, he has touted a new era of fiscal sobriety. But after telling Tea Party Americans that he was going to 'call their bluff' and propose 'difficult choices' to get our runaway deficits under control, what did the president offer in terms of a budget? He put forth a plan that would see the federal government borrow more money in his four years than under the previous 43 presidents combined. And what tough choices did he recommend to rectify the massive unfunded liabilities that are preparing to devour our economy? None."
By Peter Heck
The time for pretense has passed. As a nation, we are on the cusp of an economic cataclysm if immediate steps are not taken to correct our unbalanced national checkbook. As our debt already spirals out of control, the specter of the unfunded liabilities of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, looms ominously on the horizon. When the retirement of the baby boom generation hits with blunt force, our economic state will be in shambles and our country will default.
These problems do not appear lost on President Obama. Congratulating himself for bringing us out of a recession, he has touted a new era of fiscal sobriety. But after telling Tea Party Americans that he was going to 'call their bluff' and propose 'difficult choices' to get our runaway deficits under control, what did the president offer in terms of a budget? He put forth a plan that would see the federal government borrow more money in his four years than under the previous 43 presidents combined. And what tough choices did he recommend to rectify the massive unfunded liabilities that are preparing to devour our economy? None."
Gaddafi: Barakeh Obama is friend - Israel News, Ynetnews
"Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi considers the US president a blessing to the Muslim world. In a speech published in London-based al-Hayat newspaper on Saturday, Gaddafi praised Barack Obama, called him a 'friend' and said there is no longer any dispute between his country and the US."
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Conservative Blog & Conservative News Source for Right of Center Activists | RedState
"Former[?] Communist and White House “Green Jobs Czar,” Van Jones, is partnering with Moveon.org in calling on progressives to engage in a massive protest at state capitols in all 50 states this Saturday."
Democrat urges unions to 'get a little bloody when necessary' - The Hill's Blog Briefing Room
"Sometimes it's necessary to get out on the streets and 'get a little bloody,' a Massachusetts Democrat said Tuesday in reference to labor battles in Wisconsin.
Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.) fired up a group of union members in Boston with a speech urging them to work down in the trenches to fend off limits to workers' rights like those proposed in Wisconsin."
Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.) fired up a group of union members in Boston with a speech urging them to work down in the trenches to fend off limits to workers' rights like those proposed in Wisconsin."
Monday, February 14, 2011
American Thinker: The Coming Battle for Egypt
American Thinker: The Coming Battle for Egypt
The Coming Battle for Egypt
By Steve McCannThe Egyptians, in what has become the first social networking-precipitated revolution, (as described by Google marketing executive Wael Ghonim) have succeeded in the first phase of revolution. They have forced the resignation of the face of the Egyptian government for the past thirty years: Hosni Mubarak. With the military now assuming power, the rest of the world and in particular the citizens of the United States will quickly and at their country's peril turn their attention to other matters.
However, history has shown, starting with the French Revolution in 1789 through the Iranian Revolution in 1978, that these uprisings succeed or fail based on either economic or social factors or a combination of both, particularly when there is no one standing in the wings ready to assume immediate power.
However, history has shown, starting with the French Revolution in 1789 through the Iranian Revolution in 1978, that these uprisings succeed or fail based on either economic or social factors or a combination of both, particularly when there is no one standing in the wings ready to assume immediate power.
UPDATE 1-Gaddafi tells Palestinians: revolt against Israel | News by Country | Reuters
UPDATE 1-Gaddafi tells Palestinians: revolt against Israel | News by Country | Reuters: "TRIPOLI, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Palestinian refugees should capitalise on the wave of popular revolts in the Middle East by massing peacefully on the borders of Israel until it gives in to their demands, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said on Sunday.
Gaddafi is respected in many parts of the Arab world for his uncompromising criticism of Israel and Arab leaders who have dealings with the Jewish state, though some people in the region dismiss his initiatives as unrealistic."
Gaddafi is respected in many parts of the Arab world for his uncompromising criticism of Israel and Arab leaders who have dealings with the Jewish state, though some people in the region dismiss his initiatives as unrealistic."
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Thomas Sowell : The Fallacy of "Fairness" - Townhall.com
The Fallacy of "Fairness"
If there is ever a contest to pick which word has done the most damage to people's thinking, and to actions to carry out that thinking, my nomination would be the word "fair." It is a word thrown around by far more people than have ever bothered to even try to define it.
This mushy vagueness may be a big handicap in logic but it is a big advantage in politics. All sorts of people, with very different notions about what is or is not fair, can be mobilized behind this nice-sounding word, in utter disregard of the fact that they mean very different things when they use that word.
Some years ago, for example, there was a big outcry that various mental tests used for college admissions or for employment were biased and "unfair" to many individuals or groups. Fortunately there was one voice of sanity-- David Riesman, I believe-- who said: "The tests are not unfair. LIFE is unfair and the tests measure the results."
Monday, February 08, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Monday, December 21, 2009
The Extraordinary Measures Needed to Kill the Bill — Updated with Vote Numbers
The corruption of using the public treasury as a check book to buy the votes of Senator Nelson and Senator Sanders — in the face not only overwhelming public opposition, but also in the face of a public that now wants Congress to do nothing on health care — means that extraordinary measures are needed to kill ObamaCare.
This plan, if executed properly, will kill the bill and it will give opponents two more bites at the apple, after it passes the Senate.
There are some atmospheric conditions that will help this plan work. For example, both sides of the net roots should cease fire on posts against each other. There must be a truce until the bill is dead. The target is the bill, not each other.
So, for those on the left who have decided to kill this bill, they are welcome to join in this the kill-the-bill fun.
Rationale: There are many reasons in agreement between the right and the left and the American public about why this bill must be killed:
1. It will increase health care costs;
2. The individual mandate is massive government intrusion on individual freedom, and is a gift to the private insurers, and disproportionately impacts lower-income families;
3. The fantasies of CBO’s assumptions notwithstanding, this bill will accelerate our march to financial insolvency; and,
4. Passage of the bill merely reinforces the practice of buying votes with debt issued by the U.S. Treasury;
5. Among many other reasons, in the words of Howard Dean, the bill does more harm than good.
The Plan: First, conservatives will object to the appointment of the conferees. This is not a motion, so it is non-debatable. An objection cannot be overcome unless the Senator making the objection caves. Let’s hope Senator McConnell agrees with this approach — but regardless, the objection shall be made.
This forces two votes in the U.S. House, one vote to amend the Senate bill on the House floor, since the Senate bill likely cannot pass the House unamended, and will force another vote on final passage of the amended House bill.
So, first, conservatives force two votes in the House, by preventing the appointment of the conferees, and therefore, preventing a House-Senate Conference.
Second, the left will focus on three separate issues to kill the bill in the House. The object of these issues is not to support these policies per say, but to add items to the House bill that will be so objectionable that when the bill goes back over to the Senate, that the Dems lose one or more of their 60 votes.
The Public Option: The progressive’s net roots should hold accountable the Democratic House members who said they would not vote for the bill if there was no public option. Progressives need to produce enough votes to force the public option back into the bill. Forcing the public option back into the bill is in the progressive’s interest since it will show they have the political power to do it, and will set a precedent for a new health care reform baseline in the House for Democrats. It is in conservative’s interest for this to happen because if it does, Senator Lieberman’s vote reverts to a NO.
The Nelson Buy-Off: Both the left and the right net roots will focus on pulling the Nebraska and Vermont free pass on increased Medicaid spending, on the basis that it is a corrupt back room deal that may be unconstitutional on the basis that it violates the equal protection clause (the 14th amendment to the Constitution.)
Unions: Unions must pull the Senate tax on Cadillac health plans, and replace it with the House tax on individuals. (I know, I can’t believe I just wrote that either!) This will force Senators, when the bill goes back to the Senate, to oppose the bill which could force the Dems lower than 60 votes.
Hold the No Votes: Conservatives need to hold and add one or two more no votes to the 39 House votes against the bill, among those Democrats who have concerns about their own re-election or who have announced their retirement — since the leverage from the Speaker has substantially decreased. If every No vote on the original House bill holds, there only needs to be two additional no votes.
Pro-Life and Pro-Abortion Forces: In short, have at it. Given the Stupak amendment majority in the House, the pro-lifers must stick Stupak back on the bill, so that when it is sent back to the Senate, the pro-abortion majority can pull Stupak back off. When the bill goes back to the Senate, the pro-abortion forces can remove Stupak, just as they did a couple of weeks ago. Once Stupak is pulled again from the Senate it must go back to the House to be amended, or die there.
I am willing to coordinate these actions with the left in real-time, and work with the Progressives who want to kill the bill — to share intelligence and whip counts. This way the left and the right working together will accomplish not only what we want, but what the American people want.
Oh, I did not mention this in the original post, but should have:
we do not need any more than 42 votes on the House floor, and last time there were 39 No votes.
Assuming we have a hard base of 25 no Dem votes, then the net roots need to produce eight House votes on either the abortion or public option question.
The Stupak folks ought to be able produce ten additional no votes.
This is not difficult math. And MoveOn.org is already telling its members to oppose the Senate bill
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