How is it that a 35% increase in EPA spending before the freeze thereby freezing in a huge increase is OK? Do they really think we are that stupid? Or are they really just plain crooks? And without any increase at all either before or after a freeze it doesn't matter because the rules they put in place or going to cost us a whole ton of money....
The number that came out today indicates way over a $trillion deficit this year. They say with a straight face that it will be going down after that. When has any spending ever gone down except when the Republican Congress during the Clinton years forced the issue?
Jenny is going to lay the State of the State on us this week. Good grief!
Get a good night's sleep. Rough road ahead.
God bless............
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
FDR Resemblance?
Random Thoughts:
Does anyone else get the vibes that Obama studied old photos of FDR to get his tilt of the head just right so he can look "patrician" or as I see it, arrogant?
While the President takes his little ego trips does anyone else ever wonder how many more citizens will be hurt financially while he ignores the issues to make political points?
Now we're going to pay the Taliban $500 million to stop fighting with Al Quaida? If that money is funneled through the UN what are the odds that it will shrink appreciably through corruption and fraud? I'm thinking 100-1.
And even if they agree to stop fighting, if they do see any cash, what will be the end result? Odds about 100-1 again that nothing will really change?
If anyone ever says to us that "there is no difference between Democrats and Republicans and there's no reason to vote" we certainly have evidence to the contrary with the past year's activity in Washington---
Hindsight is always 20/20, but it sure would have been nice if we had zeroed in on the jobs problem before Mr. Obama decided he would rather be a successful one term President rather than a mediocre two termer. Again, how many people were hurt who may not have been had the priorities been changed.
Have a relaxing Sunday-
God bless..........
Does anyone else get the vibes that Obama studied old photos of FDR to get his tilt of the head just right so he can look "patrician" or as I see it, arrogant?
While the President takes his little ego trips does anyone else ever wonder how many more citizens will be hurt financially while he ignores the issues to make political points?
Now we're going to pay the Taliban $500 million to stop fighting with Al Quaida? If that money is funneled through the UN what are the odds that it will shrink appreciably through corruption and fraud? I'm thinking 100-1.
And even if they agree to stop fighting, if they do see any cash, what will be the end result? Odds about 100-1 again that nothing will really change?
If anyone ever says to us that "there is no difference between Democrats and Republicans and there's no reason to vote" we certainly have evidence to the contrary with the past year's activity in Washington---
Hindsight is always 20/20, but it sure would have been nice if we had zeroed in on the jobs problem before Mr. Obama decided he would rather be a successful one term President rather than a mediocre two termer. Again, how many people were hurt who may not have been had the priorities been changed.
Have a relaxing Sunday-
God bless..........
Friday, January 29, 2010
Don't Spend the Savings!
The Prez wants to shut down NASA thereby saving a whole bunch of money that he can spend on something else. STOP! Don't spend it. Isn't there a way to have your cake and eat it too?
How about letting private enterprise take over? A consortium or conglomerate could generate funds to integrate their present staffs of space guys and girls, hire the NASA employees who already know what they are doing and have at it.
Frankly, I don't know enough about any potential money making aspects of a project such as sending man to the moon and beyond, but we have always had dreamers and adventurers who are willing to invest in the future. People like JFK maybe. Most of us are probably more like Obama than we'd like to admit--you know, kinda timid and wimpy on taking chances, but methinks it is exciting enough for me to watch someone else successfully climb the tallest mountains and marvel at some of the things others do and most of us just might dream about.
Speaking of the President, has it occurred to anyone else that he seems to be manifesting the traits of ADD? Lately he has been jumping from place to place and subject to subject and as Judge Judy is fond of saying, "You don't have to have a good memory if you tell the truth." Says one thing to one group and the opposite to another group. Can't tell the players without a program anymore.
Another Friday evening has come and gone,
so have a good weekend--
God bless...........
How about letting private enterprise take over? A consortium or conglomerate could generate funds to integrate their present staffs of space guys and girls, hire the NASA employees who already know what they are doing and have at it.
Frankly, I don't know enough about any potential money making aspects of a project such as sending man to the moon and beyond, but we have always had dreamers and adventurers who are willing to invest in the future. People like JFK maybe. Most of us are probably more like Obama than we'd like to admit--you know, kinda timid and wimpy on taking chances, but methinks it is exciting enough for me to watch someone else successfully climb the tallest mountains and marvel at some of the things others do and most of us just might dream about.
Speaking of the President, has it occurred to anyone else that he seems to be manifesting the traits of ADD? Lately he has been jumping from place to place and subject to subject and as Judge Judy is fond of saying, "You don't have to have a good memory if you tell the truth." Says one thing to one group and the opposite to another group. Can't tell the players without a program anymore.
Another Friday evening has come and gone,
so have a good weekend--
God bless...........
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Remember Joe Wilson?
He was criticized for being disrespectful of the President by calling him a liar (which was true.) Wonder why the Democrats don't think it was disrespectful and discourteous when the President called out the Supreme Court? And he was wrong! Thought he was a Constitutional lawyer. Oh, well......
Just thank God you don't live in Oregon and need a job. After the unions succeeded in passing the increase in income tax which will hurt those who provide jobs these folks will just have to leave the state or line up for Medicaid and hope for more unemployment. Our dear old Michigan's public payroll indicates public employees earn 17% more than private sector employees for comparable work. In Oregon it's 30% and what do you suppose they will do when businesses and upper income types leave?
They used to have a slogan, please visit, but don't come here to live. Now they can just sit and admire their scenery and wildlife with nothing else to do.
So the President sarcastically says if anyone has a better idea than his, just bring it to him with that supercilious grin and arrogant tilt of his head. Even Olympia Snow said she advanced some ideas--each of which were not even recognized. Fat chance to get anything through on a bipartisan vote.
Not to worry, if it won't pass the legislature he'll take care of things with Executive Orders. Reminds me of the first few weeks of his administration when the mantra was "We won! Deal with it!"
He talked about trust and credibility. He should look in the mirror. He has almost single-handedly destroyed both, but he blames the Washington climate.
Last but not least, Leonard Pitts is at it again. He is calling Christianity a "cheap faith." Then says ".....the only kind of faith that matters is a life lived in the service of others." So, does he consider that for each kindness given someone has to receive it? So all those who receive are living failures?"
How did we ever get to this celebrity status thing where everyone has to have his or her fifteen minutes of fame and if you get more than that you're a better person and should be admired. Don't think so.....
God bless..............
Just thank God you don't live in Oregon and need a job. After the unions succeeded in passing the increase in income tax which will hurt those who provide jobs these folks will just have to leave the state or line up for Medicaid and hope for more unemployment. Our dear old Michigan's public payroll indicates public employees earn 17% more than private sector employees for comparable work. In Oregon it's 30% and what do you suppose they will do when businesses and upper income types leave?
They used to have a slogan, please visit, but don't come here to live. Now they can just sit and admire their scenery and wildlife with nothing else to do.
So the President sarcastically says if anyone has a better idea than his, just bring it to him with that supercilious grin and arrogant tilt of his head. Even Olympia Snow said she advanced some ideas--each of which were not even recognized. Fat chance to get anything through on a bipartisan vote.
Not to worry, if it won't pass the legislature he'll take care of things with Executive Orders. Reminds me of the first few weeks of his administration when the mantra was "We won! Deal with it!"
He talked about trust and credibility. He should look in the mirror. He has almost single-handedly destroyed both, but he blames the Washington climate.
Last but not least, Leonard Pitts is at it again. He is calling Christianity a "cheap faith." Then says ".....the only kind of faith that matters is a life lived in the service of others." So, does he consider that for each kindness given someone has to receive it? So all those who receive are living failures?"
How did we ever get to this celebrity status thing where everyone has to have his or her fifteen minutes of fame and if you get more than that you're a better person and should be admired. Don't think so.....
God bless..............
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
President Declares War on Senior Citizens
When the President said he had given tax breaks to 95% of the working Americans we looked at each other and voiced "that excludes seniors, right?" That's about a third of the population. Add in that group of perpetually unemployed and it makes one wonder exactly who got a tax cut and in what way--oh, yeah, more money for day care. Maybe he's already counting the forgiveness of student loans......
The President had an hour and 15 minutes to make his case and I know you aren't going to sit and read more than a couple of minutes. So we'll just toss out a couple of observations tonight and then add one or two for the next few days.
Now just how much chance do you give his energy promises? More nulear power, more off shore oil and gas drilling and more clean coal plants (remember, when campaigning he said "there is no such thing as clean coal",) and biofuel movement. The special interests who elected him will have a hissy fit and the liberal Dems in Congress are not going to go for it. Don't be fooled. Especially when I think I heard that part of the cost would be to accept global warming as a just cause so you'd better support and pay for "our share" in green power.
And a Trade commission? Doubling our exports by starting a trade war isn't going to get the job done. We've already discussed some potential problems such as a tariff on steel met with a boycott of our grains. And that would be just the beginning.
He said something about equal pay for equal time. Not sure of the exact word he used but it certainly wasn't equal pay for equal work.
Out of Iraq by August? Let's see now. Gitmo was to be closed in a year. That mght be done by August which would mean it took 19 months instead of 12. My guess on Iraq would then make it approx 50% longer so they just might make it home for Christmas.
That deficit of trust in Washington starts at the top. Did you notice he didn't use the word "transparency" once? And if he didn't believe he could fix all those problems he has been talking about, why did he promise he would on the campaign trail?
Michelle is really going to be busy. First she has to figure out how to put all the overweight kids on a diet and then she has to work for the military. Those 23 or more people on her payroll might come closer to earning their high paying salaries. And since she had never had a reason to be proud of our country until the Democrats nominated her husband for President, will her heart really be in helping the military? I hope he is finished with his apology tours. That might make it a little easier for her.
That's enough for this time-
And as the Governor of Virginia said in his speech, God bless this great country of ours.
The President had an hour and 15 minutes to make his case and I know you aren't going to sit and read more than a couple of minutes. So we'll just toss out a couple of observations tonight and then add one or two for the next few days.
Now just how much chance do you give his energy promises? More nulear power, more off shore oil and gas drilling and more clean coal plants (remember, when campaigning he said "there is no such thing as clean coal",) and biofuel movement. The special interests who elected him will have a hissy fit and the liberal Dems in Congress are not going to go for it. Don't be fooled. Especially when I think I heard that part of the cost would be to accept global warming as a just cause so you'd better support and pay for "our share" in green power.
And a Trade commission? Doubling our exports by starting a trade war isn't going to get the job done. We've already discussed some potential problems such as a tariff on steel met with a boycott of our grains. And that would be just the beginning.
He said something about equal pay for equal time. Not sure of the exact word he used but it certainly wasn't equal pay for equal work.
Out of Iraq by August? Let's see now. Gitmo was to be closed in a year. That mght be done by August which would mean it took 19 months instead of 12. My guess on Iraq would then make it approx 50% longer so they just might make it home for Christmas.
That deficit of trust in Washington starts at the top. Did you notice he didn't use the word "transparency" once? And if he didn't believe he could fix all those problems he has been talking about, why did he promise he would on the campaign trail?
Michelle is really going to be busy. First she has to figure out how to put all the overweight kids on a diet and then she has to work for the military. Those 23 or more people on her payroll might come closer to earning their high paying salaries. And since she had never had a reason to be proud of our country until the Democrats nominated her husband for President, will her heart really be in helping the military? I hope he is finished with his apology tours. That might make it a little easier for her.
That's enough for this time-
And as the Governor of Virginia said in his speech, God bless this great country of ours.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Random Acts of_________
Kindness-per last night's posting on compassion I was reminded that we are presently in the throes of the kind of activity we are known for best: helping others in times of need. The Haiti situation is garnering much attention and many dollars and what might be called in-kind contributions via the woman and man hours sent by all kinds of organizations, government and military from our country.
Common sense-the first place the Cadillac tax on health care plans should be levied is on the Congress and a good share of the government work force (courtesy of the man of the house.)
Hypocrisy-The Democrat Senatorial Campaign Committee is going to war against the Supreme Court's decision to allow corporations to practice what the unions have been so good at for a long, long time. No problem agreeing that unions are made up of people, but what do they think corporations are composed of? Every stockholder is a person or made up of many, many people acting in concert. They are planning to "call out" the Republicans who like the decision. Really?
Embarrassment-Liberal Democrats keep telling us that we should be concerned with what the world thinks of us. I can't help wondering if they are thinking we are lowering ourselves to the likes of Venezuela, Haiti or any other government where bribery and corruption are the methods of governing. In the olden days they may not have liked us much, but they respected us for our strength, the protection we provide for weaker countries, foreign aid even if they wasted it, our dependence on the law as our basic rule of governing. Now they are probably thinking that our leaders are just like any other where nefarious services are sold to the highest bidder. Sorta reminds us, and maybe them, of the Mafia or the Chicago mobs.
Dismay-watching the White House in denial flailing at ideas to float before the State of the Union address tomorrow to see if any get a positive reaction. My take? I'll think The Man is serious if he announces the grounding of Air Force I
so he can stay home and get down to business instead of acting like the Tourist in Chief.
Bottom line: Hope is one of the "top three" that keep us going and we need a lot of it these days. Talk about Faith, Hope and Love is usually followed by "and the greatest of these is love" but I gotta tell you, without hope in the future of our country these days we'd have a tough time working out the love angle.
God bless...........
Common sense-the first place the Cadillac tax on health care plans should be levied is on the Congress and a good share of the government work force (courtesy of the man of the house.)
Hypocrisy-The Democrat Senatorial Campaign Committee is going to war against the Supreme Court's decision to allow corporations to practice what the unions have been so good at for a long, long time. No problem agreeing that unions are made up of people, but what do they think corporations are composed of? Every stockholder is a person or made up of many, many people acting in concert. They are planning to "call out" the Republicans who like the decision. Really?
Embarrassment-Liberal Democrats keep telling us that we should be concerned with what the world thinks of us. I can't help wondering if they are thinking we are lowering ourselves to the likes of Venezuela, Haiti or any other government where bribery and corruption are the methods of governing. In the olden days they may not have liked us much, but they respected us for our strength, the protection we provide for weaker countries, foreign aid even if they wasted it, our dependence on the law as our basic rule of governing. Now they are probably thinking that our leaders are just like any other where nefarious services are sold to the highest bidder. Sorta reminds us, and maybe them, of the Mafia or the Chicago mobs.
Dismay-watching the White House in denial flailing at ideas to float before the State of the Union address tomorrow to see if any get a positive reaction. My take? I'll think The Man is serious if he announces the grounding of Air Force I
so he can stay home and get down to business instead of acting like the Tourist in Chief.
Bottom line: Hope is one of the "top three" that keep us going and we need a lot of it these days. Talk about Faith, Hope and Love is usually followed by "and the greatest of these is love" but I gotta tell you, without hope in the future of our country these days we'd have a tough time working out the love angle.
God bless...........
Monday, January 25, 2010
Compassion Equals Civilization
Our pastor shared this story as part of his homily Sunday.
A reporter once asked the noted anthropologist Margaret Mead what evidence she had used in determining the beginning of civilization. He expected that either an arrow or flintstone might be the answer or possibly on a higher plane it could be a musical instrument or a bowl or something of that nature. Her answer apparently surprised him.
She said it was a "broken, but healed, femur." She went on to explain that it demonstrated that when misfortune fell upon the injured person it was obvious that someone, whether it be a family member or just some kindly person, would have had to wait on him or her allowing the bone to heal. Someone would have had to gather food and bring it to the injured person. Someone had to have had compassion for another and manifested that feeling long enough for the injury to heal.
My personal addition is that Margaret Mead, herself, had to be much more than just a scientist interested in facts and evidence. Her interpretation tells us as much about her as about her research. It is no wonder she is thought of so highly.
And of course you are wondering how this relates to politics. I can only say that we should be able to expect no less compassion from those we elect to represent us. Redistribution of wealth is certainly not compassionate--stealing from one group of people to give to others based solely on numbers seems to be missing the point.
The new "middle class" gift giving seems to miss it by a mile. If a family of 4 with two kids in college making $250,000 a year with two sets of parents to take care of would seem to be just as needy as a couple with no children and no needy parents in the $85,000 bracket. Just grabbing numbers out of the air, but you get the picture. Think about it.
God bless..........
A reporter once asked the noted anthropologist Margaret Mead what evidence she had used in determining the beginning of civilization. He expected that either an arrow or flintstone might be the answer or possibly on a higher plane it could be a musical instrument or a bowl or something of that nature. Her answer apparently surprised him.
She said it was a "broken, but healed, femur." She went on to explain that it demonstrated that when misfortune fell upon the injured person it was obvious that someone, whether it be a family member or just some kindly person, would have had to wait on him or her allowing the bone to heal. Someone would have had to gather food and bring it to the injured person. Someone had to have had compassion for another and manifested that feeling long enough for the injury to heal.
My personal addition is that Margaret Mead, herself, had to be much more than just a scientist interested in facts and evidence. Her interpretation tells us as much about her as about her research. It is no wonder she is thought of so highly.
And of course you are wondering how this relates to politics. I can only say that we should be able to expect no less compassion from those we elect to represent us. Redistribution of wealth is certainly not compassionate--stealing from one group of people to give to others based solely on numbers seems to be missing the point.
The new "middle class" gift giving seems to miss it by a mile. If a family of 4 with two kids in college making $250,000 a year with two sets of parents to take care of would seem to be just as needy as a couple with no children and no needy parents in the $85,000 bracket. Just grabbing numbers out of the air, but you get the picture. Think about it.
God bless..........
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