Write your Congressmen

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Guantanamo Torture Camp

I wonder when the hand-wringers will get their facts straight.

FOXNews.com - Inside Guantanamo Bay, a Study in Contrasts - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News:
"Camp 4, also known as Camp Delta, is a different story. Inside were bunks for the most highly compliant detainees. And for their good behavior, the detainees receive special privileges, including up to 18 hours a day outside in a communal setting, where they can play volleyball or soccer. There is even art class, which is extremely popular. For safety reasons, at least one leg is chained to the floor.

There is TV, too. The favorite show of the alleged Al Qaeda and Taliban detainees is the deep sea fishing show off the coast of Alaska called 'The Deadliest Catch.' No one can explain why."

Obama Promises...

ABC News: Obama Promises Lower Mortgage Costs, New Loans:
"President Barack Obama on Saturday promised to lower mortgage costs, offer job-creating loans for small businesses, get credit flowing and rein in free-spending executives as he readies a new road map for spending billions from the second installment of the financial rescue plan."

How about reining in free-spending democrats?

Jesse and Al and the NAACP, Oh MY!?

The death of racism - that's what most every pundit has been saying since Barack Obama was elected the first black president of the US. Now, we have another example: Michael Steele has been elected the first black leader of the Republican Party.

The question is, where are Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and the NAACP? Or, for that matter, why didn't the Democrats have blacks in their leadership roles? There's a saying about blacks in the South vs the North: The former hates the race, but loves the people, the latter does the opposite. This may be proof.

I haven't heard a peep from the racist trifecta of Jackson, Sharpton and NAACP since the election. My bet is that they're cooking up another ploy to define whites as racist. They have to, otherwise they're out of a job - as they should have been for the last 25 years.

A note to the unholy trilogy: maybe you can get a job selling buggywhips; those are also obsolete.


Steele elected to lead Republican Party -- baltimoresun.com:
"Washington - Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele survived a five-hour ballot marathon to win election yesterday as the first African-American chairman of the Republican Party."

Obama's Free Ride

Obama's looking for a free ride. He's likely to get a pretty easy one, given that congress is in the democrats' hands. However, the job of the opposition party is to - duh - oppose. Only through opposition can the people be served, because all points of view will be considered. As they say, competition improves the breed.

Given that the amount of money being spent is beyond monumental, opposition (Obama calls is "bickering) is not just appropriate, it is demanded.


Washington Times - Obama: Nation can't afford bickering over stimulus:
"President Obama Saturday morning called on the Senate to quickly pass his more than $825 billion economic stimulus plan, saying Americans 'have little patience' for political bickering and noting that while the bill isn't perfect, it can jumpstart job creation.

Mr. Obama said in his weekly radio address it is 'good news' the U.S. House passed his bill this week, though he did not mention that zero Republicans voted for it."

Friday, January 30, 2009

And Justice for Whom?

9/11 Families Outraged by Obama Call to Suspend Guantanamo War Crimes Trials - Presidential Politics | Political News - FOXNews.com:
"'[Closing Guantanamo] demeans their deaths because we seem to be more concerned with the rights of detainees than we are with the justice that is being denied to my sailors that were killed,' said former Cmdr. Kirk Lippold, who lost 17 sailors during a suicide bombing attack on the USS Cole in 2000. A suspect in the case is being held at Guantanamo."

Getting Return for Public Money

Looks like Americans are getting a bill for 888 billion dollars, courtesy of the Democrats in Congress. Obama claims the primary reason for this: to create jobs.

Why don't we all send them a calculator. Using such, they can multiply the number of people on unemployment - said to be less than 5 million by Labor Department stats - by a suggested salary of $30,000. The resulting number? $150B . That's what it would take to get every American off the unemployment roles for 1 year. Be sure to send instructions with the calculator.

What does that do? In addition to employing people, it gets something back for the money. It increases income tax revenues, gives people a sense of pride in doing work, and most importantly will start to free up the giant money held by American banks, because there's future income for people that can be seen, which means collateral and security. The only downside: this is a giant step toward socialism. But we'll have to deal with that after the economy straightens out.

I really don't understand the efforts of congress. They say they're trying to create jobs, yet they refuse to do it in a direct manner. At the same time they make these claims, Obama is also arguing for more "public service." Why not use this newly-printed money to hire the unemployed to do these jobs Obama wants for free?

I'll give an example: Baltimore is populated with people of the most filthy kind. There are entire lots in the city that are piled with trash. Breeding grounds for rats, and also human despair (how can one feel good when he has to navigate - pardon my French - shit near his home every day?). The city workers can't keep up with cleaning them. Not that the residents would do that themselves; Oh, no, the lazy !@#$%'ers. So if the US Government hired crews to do this work and sent them in, we'd have clean neighborhoods, employed people, fewer rats, and possible people taking pride in their neighborhood. Less crime, too? Let's not get crazy with this.

Anyway, I urge all of you out there to write your Senators and tell them that 1) 888 Billion dollars is too much, and 2) you demand more direct action, rather than doling out billions of dollars, which can never be monitored due to its size, to other groups who will be unaccountable for the money.

In other words, demand better from your government.


Unemployment report: Number of Americans receiving unemployment benefits has reached an all-time record. -- baltimoresun.com:
"The Labor Department reported that the number of Americans continuing to claim unemployment insurance for the week ending Jan. 17 was a seasonally adjusted 4.78 million, the highest on records dating back to 1967. That's an increase of 159,000 from the previous week and worse than economists' expectations of 4.65 million."

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Dodd Orders Treasury to Recover Billions in Wall Street Bonuses - First 100 Days of Presidency - Politics FOXNews.com

And this surprises whom?

While I applaud Dodd's efforts, he's been in the Senate Banking Committee long enough to know better.

Obama's naivete is showing, too.

Now, what about the $800B -plus that is going down the same path? Has Congress learned anything?

Dodd Orders Treasury to Recover Billions in Wall Street Bonuses - First 100 Days of Presidency - Politics FOXNews.com:
"The president reacted harshly Thursday to reports that corporate employees got paid more than $18 billion in bonuses last year."

Teaching CEOs a Lesson

Fox News is reporting that Wall Streeters and CEOs are getting the same or larger bonus payments as they did last year. This, after they were "bailed out" by American taxpayers, to the tune of BILLIONS of dollars. That's our money, folks, that's paying these bonuses.

Here's how I'm revolting (no jokes, please): I'm taking my money out of publicly traded companies and putting it into US bonds. T-Bills and US bonds are more stable, anyway, and in my experience over these last few years, they pay better, too.

At some point, we have to teach these morons what's unacceptable. Clearly, they don't know, they live in another world. So put them in the poorhouse and bring them back to Earth.

The Threat to America

I just heard an interesting concept - whom Democrats view as the threat.

Terrorists? Islam? Iran? Bankers? Illegal Immigrants? It's none of these. Democrats may actually view Republicans, and by extension, conservatives, as their main threat over all of these other, very real threats to the safety of Americans. And I'm not talking about a threat to America, I'm saying that the Democrats are more worried about the safety their own party over the safety of Americans.

I have to say, it makes sense, given Democrats' behavior. They want to redefine the "American Ideal" into something that they can more easily control, rather than 1) protect American ideals held passionately by citizens, and 2), do the actual will of the people. It's a new Stalinism. But he was far left, too.

No wonder we can't get anything out of congress.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Congressional Thievery

The Democrats are poised to plunge us further into debt with no result by doling out yet still more money into our sagging economy. Will it work? Well, it doesn't attack the problem, so it's doubtful that anything other than more US debt will be created.

Why won't it work? The problem started in the housing industry, and that has yet to be dealt with. The stimulus doesn't deal with it. TARP was supposed to, but that turned out to be a schill between the US government and the banking industry (i.e., we got suckered). If they (we) want to fix it, first fix the housing stuff, then the rest will follow as the economy recovers. Look at it this way: if a doctor only treats the symptoms, the disease will never be cured.

One potential solution: if the government were to guarantee mortgages at a rate between 1-2%, people would start to buy/sell / refinance houses again. Once that money begins to flow, everything else will fall into place - just as it fell apart when the mortgage loan economy came apart.

Once again, this is a simple remedy to what is essential a simple problem. But politicians are using it to what they consider their advantage; in the bargain, they will do the wrong thing, as they always do. If only they knew anything about economics.

How about this as part of the stimulus package: Money to send the entirety of congress back to school for at least one year's study in economics. They clearly don't understand it now.


Fed to hold rates near zero, kickstart economy | Reuters

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Why Baltimore is Like a Shoot-em-up

Baltimore's Criminal Justice System has been a complete disaster for decades. here's but one sad example:

Wounded officer arrested same defendant in '07

A Baltimore man charged with the attempted murder of a police officer who was trying to make an undercover drug purchase Friday night was arrested in December 2007 by the same officer, court records show.

According to online court records, Baltimore police Officer Dante Arthur was the complainant when Sean A. Cox was charged with trespass and possession of marijuana Dec. 27, 2007.

Cox, whose address is listed in the 6100 block of Alta Ave., pleaded guilty to the possession charge in Baltimore District Court and was fined $75 in March 2008. The trespass charge was dropped.

Anthony Guglielmi, director of public information for the Police Department, said last night that he had no information about Cox's previous arrest by Arthur.

Cox, 22, was one of three men charged with attempted murder in the shooting Friday of Arthur, who was working undercover outside a housing complex in the 400 block of Orchard St., in the Seton Hill neighborhood.

Arthur, an eight-year veteran of the Police Department, was listed in critical but stable condition last night at Maryland Shock Trauma Center. He was shot twice in the face.

Prior arrest records
In addition to Cox, police arrested Antwan Cox, 19, of the 400 block of Orchard St., and Sean Smith, 23, of the 400 block of Mount Holly St.

Each was charged with attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault and other offenses. All have prior arrest records, according to police.

Police said Arthur and his partner, Officer Daniel Harper, were working in plain clothes in the 500 block of Orchard St. about 8 p.m. Friday when Sean Cox approached and offered to sell them cocaine. When they attempted to arrest him, police said, Cox became violent and tried to take Arthur's weapon. Cox then broke free and fled.

Police said Antwan Cox and Smith opened fire on Arthur and Harper and that both officers fired back. Arthur was shot in the cheek and jaw.

Smith was found by police inside 550 Orchard St. with a .357 magnum revolver believed to have been used in the shooting as well as a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun. Smith had a gunshot wound in his left calf.

Antwan Cox was arrested at Maryland General Hospital, police said, where he was seeking treatment for a gunshot wound to the right leg.

Police said they had not determined whether Sean and Antwan Cox are related. The three defendants were arrested Saturday.

Police union President Robert F. Cherry said Arthur is in good spirits and his doctors expect a full recovery.

The union official said one bullet shattered the officer's jaw and several teeth while the other grazed a cheek.

Drug complaints
The shooting took place in the Orchard Mews complex in Seton Hill.

Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, Seton Hill combines some of the city's oldest rowhouses with the troubled complex where the shooting took place, an area where neighbors say dealers run an open-air drug market.

Unemployment benefits sought for part-time workers -- baltimoresun.com

More moronic plans from the US's worst governor, Maryland's Martin O'Malley.

MO'M wants to pay homage to the labor unions by allowing them to collect "service fees" from workers not in, nor represented by, the union. Clearly, this is a payback to the unions. It's also a violation of the US Constitution, Article 4, dealing with due process.

So again, the Democrats unashamedly reveal the their corruption at every level.

Unemployment benefits sought for part-time workers -- baltimoresun.com:
"Another O'Malley labor-related initiative would give state collective bargaining groups the ability to seek 'service fees' from nonunion workers. The legislation would not require the fees, but it would allow unions to ask employees to vote on the issue."

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Suckered by the Nonprofit

While watching Meet the Press today, I saw an ad for RePower America. The idea is to promote clean electric energy, electric cars, and the notion that they are more friendly to all people. The ad states something along the lines of "not being suckered by big oil and power companies." The commercial is avaiable on their website.

Well, nuts. Maybe they can think they won't be suckered by the "big oil companies," but how about being suckered by not just the big electric companies, but by the big political issue organizations who promote this simplistic nonsense? Beware the nonprofit.

I'm all for renewable electricity. I'd like to see the government move in this direction. However, governments have a nasty habit of not keeping tier eye on the ball. It's just not what politicians do; they watch out for themselves.

Here in Maryland, our legislature didn't mind the store concerning electricity and electrical power generation, and we ended up with a situation of having only one company who generates our power, which led to a 72% increase in prices in one year. Since then, the price has been steadily increasing. If you have an electric car and you plug it into your house, that's where you're getting your "fuel," and you're paying those inflated rates.

Kinda makes gasoline look more attractive, don't it?

A main objection to this ad, though, should be that we're not supposed to notice who really profits: the electric industry and nonprofits promoting this. Somehow, we won't be "suckered" by them. RePower America will profit mightily. And I'll bet if one looks into it, RePower has some linkage to the electric industry. Either way, it's still big industry promoting itself to not be such.

I wonder how much Cathy Zoi, the CEO of RePower, makes?

Whenever someone says they're doing you a favor, keep your eyes open in all directions. I bet they've got a hand in your pocket.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Immigration - the other way

Wouldn't it be a hot one if we were forced to import electricity from Mexico? Meaning, we'd better get our asses in gear!

Mexico fires up $550 million wind farm - USATODAY.com:
"LA VENTOSA, Mexico — Mexico inaugurated one of the world's largest wind farm projects Thursday as the nation looks for alternative energy, in part to compensate for falling oil production.

"Mexico is trying to exploit its rich wind and solar potential after relying almost exclusively on petroleum for decades. With oil production down by 9.2% in 2008, Mexico now is turning to foreign companies, mainly Spanish, to tap its renewable riches."

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Ethics? What's Ethics?

Local developer enters slots competition -- baltimoresun.com:
"A politically connected Baltimore developer has teamed up with Hard Rock International to bid on one of five Maryland slot-machine licenses, the Orlando-based restaurant and casino operator announced yesterday.

Hard Rock, which runs more than 120 cafe restaurants and several hotels and casinos around the world, has signed an exclusivity agreement with Baltimore's Banks Contracting Co. Inc., owned by Kenneth R. Banks, who is also treasurer of the state Democratic Party."

Scenes from the Inaugural Ball

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Was it Appropriate?

I saw a bit of the inauguration today (no normal person should be able to sit through all of that nonsense), and was taken aback at the official benediction made by civil rights leader Reverend Joseph Lowery. In the course of contrasting the past and future of the myriad American racial groups in the country, he said, "...And white will embrace what is right."

He's implying that whites have never done the "right" thing in the past; that they should in future.

This wholly racist remark is not appropriate in any setting, other than perhaps a black church where pretty much anything can be and is said about whites; however, this was a formal part of the inauguration of the 43rd President of the United States, the first black elected to that office. Does this set the tone for racial developments in the future? Is it an indication that blacks have payback in mind?

At the least, Lowery is a racist. At the worst, he is an insider to the President's office, and is therefore speaking for his administration. But this is made all the worse by it being an official part of our historic inauguration.

And I object.

Monday, January 19, 2009

We all Paid for Springsteen?

Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce and others played at the Obama thing yesterday. Not for free, either.

So, if Ol' Bruce is such a supporter, shouldn't he have donated his time and talent?

Seems to me that all this money would be better spent helping the people that these "progressives" complained weren't being helped by the prior administration. Your tax dollars at work.

Such is the way of the uber-rich, the celebrity, and the politically connected.

ABC News: What Recession? The $170 Million Inauguration

ABC News: What Recession? The $170 Million Inauguration:
"The country is in the middle of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, which isn't stopping rich donors and the government from spending $170 million, or more, on the inauguration of Barack Obama

"'We have a budget of roughly $45 million, maybe a little bit more," said Linda Douglas, spokeswoman for the inaugural committee.

"That's more than the $42.3 million in private funds spent by President Bush's committee in 2005 or the $33 million spent for Bill Clinton's first inaugural in 1993.

"Douglas said that this will be the "most open and accessible inauguration in history," with members of the general public able to participate on a greater scale than ever before.

"'The money is going toward providing events which we hope are going to connect people, make them feel like we are all in this together and reinforce the notion that when we pull together, we're stronger," Douglas said. "And we need to pull together to face the challenges that are before us today."

"Among the expenses: a Bruce Springsteen concert, the parade, large-screen TV rentals for all-free viewing on the national Mall, $700,000 to the Smithsonian Institution to stay open and, of course, the balls, including three that are being pitched as free or low cost for the public."

Friday, January 9, 2009

Public Service

I'm sitting here watching Leon Panetta blow smoke about his career of "public service." He is talking about his commitment to it, and the foundation he started called - surprisingly - The Panetta Institute. He says its purpose is to encourage young people in careers of public service. But what the hell does that mean?

Public service on the one hand could be policy work for the government. On the other, it could be fixing streets. Which does Panetta advocate?

I have no doubt Panetta and his ilk desire to elevate the workings of government employees beyond what they are: bureaucrats. Exceedingly well-paid bureaucrats.

In these notions, I always come back to the concept of performance; when was the last time you received good service from your government? When did you think you got value for your tax dollar? When was the last time you called Social Security with a simple question, and it was answered politely? Or quickly? Or was answered at all?

Use the pothole test: how much trouble is it to get a pothole fixed in front of your house.

Still there, is it? I thought so.

No wonder judges give "public service" as a punishment to first-time criminal offenders.

Maybe Panetta's institute will advocate the policy of actually fixing potholes.

Monday, January 5, 2009

In Hollywood, Everyone is Coming Out!

I like this idea at the same time that I don't. What I really hope for is that "artists" will keep their mouths shut.

I normally find conservatives to make more compelling arguments than other folk, having logic at the core of their opinions. However, actors in particular, no matter their political bent, have a seemingly impossible time enunciating what they have on that day, much less putting forth a reasoned opinion on a complicated political topic.

Bo Derek, God Bless her heart (and other parts), has her head in the right place when she tries to talk conservative politics. But please don't; no one knows what the hell she's saying.

Liberal or conservative, it's all bad for an actor to take a political stand. I want my actors to remain transparent, so I can enjoy them in their roles. I used to like Tim Robbins; I thought he was a great actor. Now, all I can think of when I see him is the liberal nonsense he spews. His political rants are so disjointed it's as if he's retarded. Now, if he's in a movie, I automatically think it must be liberal.

What does that mean about a movie - "liberal?" It means it has a viewpoint, and it's going to try to make me think a certain way about a topic. When all I wanted to see is a good story, told well.

The problem with Robbins resonates with his squeeze, Susan Sarandon, as well as the ilk of Sean Penn, and the Goof-of-the-Decade Ed Asner, or any of a litany of really remarkable actors. I can't watch any of them in a fictional role anymore; I keep waiting for them to go off on a liberal monologue.

Why? Because they've fouled up something critical to movies working at all: they've ruined the audience's ability to suspend disbelief. Their real personalities transcend anything they could do as actors, and make it impossible for them to overcome themselves.

Not being able to realize this brings us back to the notion that actors are retarded... no, wait, that's unkind to those who actually are mentally handicapped. Actors are people with no apparent handicap yet they still act that way. Sheesh, what a stupid group of whining rich people...

So, Hollywood, have your political views, but please keep them to yourself - for the sake of the "art" that you claim you make.

FOXNews.com - Hollywood Conservatives Encouraged to Come Out of the Closet - Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment:
"After years of silence, conservatives are coming out of the closet.

Andrew Breitbart, the conservative founder of Breitbart.com and author of 'Hollywood Interrupted: Insanity Chic in Babylon,' is launching a Web site he hopes will help challenge the status quo in what he believes has been a one-party, left-tilting town. Set to debut on Jan. 6, 'Big Hollywood' will be a place where center, right and libertarian-leaning celebrities and industry-insiders can weigh in on Hollywood politics, offer film, television and movie reviews, and have an open forum for political discussion.

'Our goal,' says Breitbart, who lives in Los Angeles, 'is to create an atmosphere of tolerance — something that does not exist in this town.'

"...They say liberal celebrities still have an easier time "being political" than conservatives do.

"Sean Penn is out dancing with dictators, and no one gives him flak. Instead they give him Oscar nominations," says Klavan. "Jon Voight may have some semblance of job security, but he still has to be careful about what he says."

Bureaucrats

"Bureaucrats write memoranda both because they appear to be busy when they are writing and because the memos, once written, immediately become proof that they were busy.
- Charles Peters"

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Obama And That Other Ponzi Scheme

Obama And That Other Ponzi Scheme - December 31, 2008:
"DECEMBER 31--As if being linked to one high-profile criminal case weren't enough, President-elect Barack Obama's name may soon pop up in another federal prosecution, this one involving a massive Ponzi scheme (no, the other massive Ponzi scheme). In addition to the Rod Blagojevich pay-for-play probe, Obama could figure in the upcoming fraud trial of Norman Hsu, the disgraced Democratic fundraiser who was charged last year with operating a $60 million pyramid scheme. According to investigators, Hsu, a major Hillary Clinton fundraiser, pressured investors to donate money to political candidates with whom he was aligned."