Ortonville man dies after MSU-UM game
"A 25-year-old Ortonville man died Saturday night after he fell and hit his head following the college football game between Michigan State and U-M, police said.
The incident happened at a residence on Gunson in East Lansing, said Sgt. Mark VandeWouwer. The man, who had been drinking, was not a student at MSU, he said...... The man's name had not been released. "
Monday, October 05, 2009
ACORN embezzlement was $5 million, La. attorney general says
ACORN embezzlement was $5 million, La. attorney general says
"Louisiana's attorney general has broadened the scope of an investigation of ACORN to include a possible embezzlement of $5 million a decade ago within the community organization, five times more than previously reported."
"Louisiana's attorney general has broadened the scope of an investigation of ACORN to include a possible embezzlement of $5 million a decade ago within the community organization, five times more than previously reported."
Taliban Afghan momentum due to lack of troops
Taliban Afghan momentum due to lack of U.S. troops
The Taliban has the momentum in Afghanistan now because of the inability of the United States and its allies to put enough troops into the country, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Monday"
What great leaders Obama has!
The Taliban has the momentum in Afghanistan now because of the inability of the United States and its allies to put enough troops into the country, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Monday"
What great leaders Obama has!
Letterman apologizes to wife on Monday's show
Letterman apologizes to wife on Monday's show
"David Letterman apologized to his wife on Monday's 'Late Show,' saying she had been 'horribly hurt by my behavior.'
The late-night host vowed to repair his relationship with his wife, Regina Lasko.
'Let me tell you folks, I got my work cut out for me,' said Letterman, according to an early transcript of the program released by CBS."
Hey gals!
Is this guy funny or what?
"David Letterman apologized to his wife on Monday's 'Late Show,' saying she had been 'horribly hurt by my behavior.'
The late-night host vowed to repair his relationship with his wife, Regina Lasko.
'Let me tell you folks, I got my work cut out for me,' said Letterman, according to an early transcript of the program released by CBS."
Hey gals!
Is this guy funny or what?
Corporate Welfare for Mickey Mouse
Corporate Welfare for Mickey Mouse
"Earlier this month, the Senate passed the Travel Promotion Act by a lopsided margin of 79–19. The name is innocuous enough. Read the fine print, however, and the bill becomes rather less appealing. It’s corporate welfare for Mickey Mouse.
Here’s a little background on the bill. The TPA directs the Department of Homeland Security to impose a $10 fee on foreign citizens who visit America under the visa-waiver program. That program lets people from 35 countries, mostly in Europe, travel to the U.S. without first obtaining a visa. Instead, travelers register with DHS’s online security system before coming to this country.
The DHS fee could bring in hundreds of millions of dollars over the next decade. (In 2006 alone, the United States welcomed some 18 million visitors from visa-waiver countries.) The fees will be used to fund a new nonprofit known as the Corporation for Travel Promotion. Its mission is to “promot[e] the United States of America to world travelers,” and it will do so via multimillion-dollar ad campaigns.
What could be wrong with that?"
PLENTY! READ IT ALL!!
"Earlier this month, the Senate passed the Travel Promotion Act by a lopsided margin of 79–19. The name is innocuous enough. Read the fine print, however, and the bill becomes rather less appealing. It’s corporate welfare for Mickey Mouse.
Here’s a little background on the bill. The TPA directs the Department of Homeland Security to impose a $10 fee on foreign citizens who visit America under the visa-waiver program. That program lets people from 35 countries, mostly in Europe, travel to the U.S. without first obtaining a visa. Instead, travelers register with DHS’s online security system before coming to this country.
The DHS fee could bring in hundreds of millions of dollars over the next decade. (In 2006 alone, the United States welcomed some 18 million visitors from visa-waiver countries.) The fees will be used to fund a new nonprofit known as the Corporation for Travel Promotion. Its mission is to “promot[e] the United States of America to world travelers,” and it will do so via multimillion-dollar ad campaigns.
What could be wrong with that?"
PLENTY! READ IT ALL!!
Big Government Health Care PSA
This is Obama's best argument for his big government take-over of 16% of our American economy....and your health care decisions for you and your family.
I love that guy!
And he loves me too!!!!!!
Um, isn't that ship getting a little close?
Um, isn't that ship getting a little close?
"From the Enchantment of the seas.
OK, so we're sitting in port.
A few of us are on the pool deck watching the Carnival Legend pull out of port.
As we're watching it, it's getting closer and closer.
It looked like the wind was pushing the other ship toward us. I looked down and saw a tug boat try to get between the two boats, but it was too late.
Then the collision became inevitable.
There was some crunching and breaking glass noises and the ship rocked to one side a little.
It was such a slow crash that it was barely noticeable.
We could see scraped paint on the other ship, Really, nobody was hurt and we're waiting for the all-clear from the Harbor master to leave port."
"From the Enchantment of the seas.
OK, so we're sitting in port.
A few of us are on the pool deck watching the Carnival Legend pull out of port.
As we're watching it, it's getting closer and closer.
It looked like the wind was pushing the other ship toward us. I looked down and saw a tug boat try to get between the two boats, but it was too late.
Then the collision became inevitable.
There was some crunching and breaking glass noises and the ship rocked to one side a little.
It was such a slow crash that it was barely noticeable.
We could see scraped paint on the other ship, Really, nobody was hurt and we're waiting for the all-clear from the Harbor master to leave port."
Barney Frank (D-Fannie Mae) Comes To Talk To Michigan Democrats (with video)
theblogprof: TEA PARTY Protest Breaks Out As Barney Frank (D-Fannie Mae) Comes To Talk To Michigan Democrats (with video)
"TEA PARTY Protest Breaks Out As Barney Frank (D-Fannie Mae) Comes To Talk To Michigan Democrats (with video)
With Michigan being in the state that it is in - highest unemployment in the nation for 40 straight months, in a perpetual budget hole due to Democrat tax and spend policies that necessitated a short state shutdown (again), it was only appropriate that Democrats brought in Barney Frank to speak at their dinner yesterday in Troy, MI.
Especially since Democrats in the state have proposed this 5-point program to lift Michigan back into prosperity:
Hiking the minimum wage to $10 an hour for all workers.
Imposing a blanket moratorium on home foreclosures for 12 months.
Cutting utility rates 20% across the board.
Requiring all employers to provide health care to their employees.
Hiking, by $100 a week, and extending, for six months, unemployment benefits.
And no, that's not a joke. About 600 Democrats came to the dinner."
"TEA PARTY Protest Breaks Out As Barney Frank (D-Fannie Mae) Comes To Talk To Michigan Democrats (with video)
With Michigan being in the state that it is in - highest unemployment in the nation for 40 straight months, in a perpetual budget hole due to Democrat tax and spend policies that necessitated a short state shutdown (again), it was only appropriate that Democrats brought in Barney Frank to speak at their dinner yesterday in Troy, MI.
Especially since Democrats in the state have proposed this 5-point program to lift Michigan back into prosperity:
Hiking the minimum wage to $10 an hour for all workers.
Imposing a blanket moratorium on home foreclosures for 12 months.
Cutting utility rates 20% across the board.
Requiring all employers to provide health care to their employees.
Hiking, by $100 a week, and extending, for six months, unemployment benefits.
And no, that's not a joke. About 600 Democrats came to the dinner."
GVSU reverses course, sends bills to Michigan Promise students because scholarship's future in doubt
GVSU reverses course, sends bills to Michigan Promise students because scholarship's future in doubt
"Grand Valley State University is now telling students to expect bills to make up for potentially lost Michigan Promise scholarships.
President Thomas J. Haas sent an e-mail to students Monday saying the university is reversing course and now is assuming that the scholarships of up to $4,000 will be lopped out of the still-undecided state budget.
'I am disappointed beyond words that the state of Michigan cannot keep its promise to you,' he said in the letter.
Students had been credited for up to $500 for the scholarship on their fall semester tuition bills. Now they'll be billed for the amount and can pay in two monthly installments"
"Grand Valley State University is now telling students to expect bills to make up for potentially lost Michigan Promise scholarships.
President Thomas J. Haas sent an e-mail to students Monday saying the university is reversing course and now is assuming that the scholarships of up to $4,000 will be lopped out of the still-undecided state budget.
'I am disappointed beyond words that the state of Michigan cannot keep its promise to you,' he said in the letter.
Students had been credited for up to $500 for the scholarship on their fall semester tuition bills. Now they'll be billed for the amount and can pay in two monthly installments"
Bing: AFSCME won't budge; more layoffs may come
Bing: AFSCME won't budge; more layoffs may come
"Bing said the city has presented its final offer to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 25, which represents about 3,500 of the 13,000 workers.
But he said the union has rejected any concessions, including his call for a 10 percent pay cut"
"Bing said the city has presented its final offer to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 25, which represents about 3,500 of the 13,000 workers.
But he said the union has rejected any concessions, including his call for a 10 percent pay cut"
Teacher perks bleed budget dry
Teacher perks bleed budget dry
"The study conducted by analyst Kenneth Braun finds salaries for Michigan public school teachers are $12,000 above the national average.
If paychecks for the state's nearly 110,000 teachers were lowered to the average of other states, taxpayers would save $1.3 billion a year -- or exactly the amount of the deficit in the 2010 budget.
The salary discrepancy is a surcharge of $789 per pupil. And it keeps Michigan teachers the fourth-highest paid in the nation......
... Benefits for public school teachers cost taxpayers $2.6 billion a year or about $1,600 per pupil. That's 41 percent above the national average and consumes roughly 35 percent of school district budgets."
At least our bankrupt state is close to #1 in a couple of things!
"The study conducted by analyst Kenneth Braun finds salaries for Michigan public school teachers are $12,000 above the national average.
If paychecks for the state's nearly 110,000 teachers were lowered to the average of other states, taxpayers would save $1.3 billion a year -- or exactly the amount of the deficit in the 2010 budget.
The salary discrepancy is a surcharge of $789 per pupil. And it keeps Michigan teachers the fourth-highest paid in the nation......
... Benefits for public school teachers cost taxpayers $2.6 billion a year or about $1,600 per pupil. That's 41 percent above the national average and consumes roughly 35 percent of school district budgets."
At least our bankrupt state is close to #1 in a couple of things!
What's new in Windows 7?
Komando Toolbox
"Q. I’ve heard a lot about Windows 7.
But I don’t know much about it.
What’s new in Windows 7?
Can I upgrade my machine without losing my data and programs?
A. Yes, Microsoft’s marketing machine has been working overtime.
But many are still confused about Windows 7.
Let’s get that cleared right up!"
"Q. I’ve heard a lot about Windows 7.
But I don’t know much about it.
What’s new in Windows 7?
Can I upgrade my machine without losing my data and programs?
A. Yes, Microsoft’s marketing machine has been working overtime.
But many are still confused about Windows 7.
Let’s get that cleared right up!"
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Capitalism: The Real Story
CARPE DIEM: Capitalism: The Real Story
"Michael Moore: Capitalism did nothing for me."
The data show that capitalism has actually done a lot for Michael Moore, and the millions of others living in countries with higher levels of economic freedom and capitalism."
"Michael Moore: Capitalism did nothing for me."
The data show that capitalism has actually done a lot for Michael Moore, and the millions of others living in countries with higher levels of economic freedom and capitalism."
Mug a Hoodie: Tories promise they will put 100,000 in jail to clear Britain's streets of thugs
Mug a Hoodie: Tories promise they will put 100,000 in jail to clear Britain's streets of thugs
"Thousands of thugs will be locked up in a fresh crackdown on the horrific lawlessness that blights so many towns and cities in Britain if the Conservatives win power.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling is to introduce new laws to tackle violent crime - and he will ditch Labour’s policy of releasing prisoners because there are not enough cells.....
They will also outline a huge welfare shake-up, aimed at stripping the work-shy and forcing them back into work and proposals to reform care for the elderly."
"Thousands of thugs will be locked up in a fresh crackdown on the horrific lawlessness that blights so many towns and cities in Britain if the Conservatives win power.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling is to introduce new laws to tackle violent crime - and he will ditch Labour’s policy of releasing prisoners because there are not enough cells.....
They will also outline a huge welfare shake-up, aimed at stripping the work-shy and forcing them back into work and proposals to reform care for the elderly."
County taxi regulations proposal reaches dead end
County taxi regulations proposal reaches dead end
"After researching ordinances in cities like Kalamazoo, Waters had redrafted the proposal.
Her proposal had called for the state to regulate taxicabs similar to limousine operators.
Trip fares would have been agreed upon prior to a taxi picking someone up, instead of the traditional ticking meter.
“That would have been completely unworkable,” McEnvoy said. “When you drop someone off at Meijer, how long would you wait for them to shop?”
Is Waters as stupid as her proposal?
"After researching ordinances in cities like Kalamazoo, Waters had redrafted the proposal.
Her proposal had called for the state to regulate taxicabs similar to limousine operators.
Trip fares would have been agreed upon prior to a taxi picking someone up, instead of the traditional ticking meter.
“That would have been completely unworkable,” McEnvoy said. “When you drop someone off at Meijer, how long would you wait for them to shop?”
Is Waters as stupid as her proposal?
Bronze statue of patron lumber baron will oversee his park
Bronze statue of patron lumber baron will oversee his park
"The sculpture is another project of Downtown Muskegon Development Corp.’s Public Art Committee, which also made possible the Richard Hunt “Muskegon, Together Rising” sculpture in the traffic circle."
Oh boy!
More "art" spending!
"The sculpture is another project of Downtown Muskegon Development Corp.’s Public Art Committee, which also made possible the Richard Hunt “Muskegon, Together Rising” sculpture in the traffic circle."
Oh boy!
More "art" spending!
Death is Milliseconds Away…
Death is Milliseconds Away…
"Unless there’s some Photoshop trickery afoot here, this photo makes you want to shout, “He’s behind you!”, because you know that the cute little robin is as good as a gone."
"Unless there’s some Photoshop trickery afoot here, this photo makes you want to shout, “He’s behind you!”, because you know that the cute little robin is as good as a gone."
15 Most Stupid Forehead Tattoos - Oddee.com
15 Most Stupid Forehead Tattoos - Oddee.com: "Does the cursive make this f* word tattoo more elegant? (Link)"
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Guns allowed in Arizona bars starting Wednesday
Guns allowed in Arizona bars starting Wednesday
"Bartender Randy Shields was serving British brews and Arizona ambers as usual at Shady's bar in east Phoenix when he saw a customer walk in with a hunting knife strapped to his hip.
A disturbing image flashed through his mind — 'that knife sliding between my ribs.'
The customer willingly turned over the knife while he was in the bar, but Shields still worries about a new Arizona law that goes into effect Wednesday that will allow guns into Arizona bars and restaurants that serve alcohol.
Under the law, backed by the National Rifle Association, the 138,350 people with concealed-weapons permits in Arizona will be allowed to bring their guns into bars and restaurants that haven't posted signs banning them."
The silence from the MSM when dead, drunk Arizonians ....don't appear....will be deafening.
"Bartender Randy Shields was serving British brews and Arizona ambers as usual at Shady's bar in east Phoenix when he saw a customer walk in with a hunting knife strapped to his hip.
A disturbing image flashed through his mind — 'that knife sliding between my ribs.'
The customer willingly turned over the knife while he was in the bar, but Shields still worries about a new Arizona law that goes into effect Wednesday that will allow guns into Arizona bars and restaurants that serve alcohol.
Under the law, backed by the National Rifle Association, the 138,350 people with concealed-weapons permits in Arizona will be allowed to bring their guns into bars and restaurants that haven't posted signs banning them."
The silence from the MSM when dead, drunk Arizonians ....don't appear....will be deafening.
A VICTORY FOR FREE SPEECH: Pittsburgh-Area College Allows Student to Advocate for Concealed Carry
A VICTORY FOR FREE SPEECH:
"A VICTORY FOR FREE SPEECH: Pittsburgh-Area College Allows Student to Advocate for Concealed Carry on Campus, Abandons Repressive Policy.
Chalk another one up to F.I.R.E. — an institution worthy of your support."
"A VICTORY FOR FREE SPEECH: Pittsburgh-Area College Allows Student to Advocate for Concealed Carry on Campus, Abandons Repressive Policy.
Chalk another one up to F.I.R.E. — an institution worthy of your support."
U.S. Review of Battle Disaster Sways Strategy on Afghanistan
U.S. Review of Battle Disaster Sways Strategy on Afghanistan
"The history is replete with wrong turns at every point of the unit’s mission, starting with the day it was reassigned to Afghanistan from training for Iraq."
"The history is replete with wrong turns at every point of the unit’s mission, starting with the day it was reassigned to Afghanistan from training for Iraq."
Editorial: West Michigan perfect home for March Madness
Editorial: West Michigan perfect home for March Madness
"There’s so much happening here that would appeal to an NCAA crowd. Grand Rapids, which would be the center of the action, has lots to offer in terms of nightlife and restaurants. But Muskegon, Grand Haven and Holland would put the icing on the cake for a West Michigan weekend fans would remember for a lifetime.
Depending on the weather, indoor and outdoor events showing off Lake Michigan could be planned.
When the Local Organizing Committee puts in its bid for the 2014, 2015 and 2016 games, we suggest they broaden their appeal to include the lakeshore communities. If the bid is awarded, certainly the lakeshore communities could offer coordinating events."
West Michigan in March!
What a concept!
Hoop fans would just love a 45 mile drive through the drizzle to wallow in our March Misery on the lake.
This has got to be the brain pupa of the delusional Paul Keep.
"There’s so much happening here that would appeal to an NCAA crowd. Grand Rapids, which would be the center of the action, has lots to offer in terms of nightlife and restaurants. But Muskegon, Grand Haven and Holland would put the icing on the cake for a West Michigan weekend fans would remember for a lifetime.
Depending on the weather, indoor and outdoor events showing off Lake Michigan could be planned.
When the Local Organizing Committee puts in its bid for the 2014, 2015 and 2016 games, we suggest they broaden their appeal to include the lakeshore communities. If the bid is awarded, certainly the lakeshore communities could offer coordinating events."
West Michigan in March!
What a concept!
Hoop fans would just love a 45 mile drive through the drizzle to wallow in our March Misery on the lake.
This has got to be the brain pupa of the delusional Paul Keep.
LeanLogistics preps for move, add 580 jobs in Holland | West Michigan Business - - MLive.com
LeanLogistics preps for move, add 580 jobs in Holland
"The company’s efforts have been aided by tax incentives approved by the Michigan Economic Growth Authority.
The City Council has an Oct. 14 public hearing on the company’s request for a renaissance zone, the first step for local tax breaks on the project.
The economic development agency Lakeshore Advantage aided LeanLogistics’ efforts to expand."
A triple play of government tax incentives!
From our bankrupt government.
And so it goes.....
"The company’s efforts have been aided by tax incentives approved by the Michigan Economic Growth Authority.
The City Council has an Oct. 14 public hearing on the company’s request for a renaissance zone, the first step for local tax breaks on the project.
The economic development agency Lakeshore Advantage aided LeanLogistics’ efforts to expand."
A triple play of government tax incentives!
From our bankrupt government.
And so it goes.....
Muskegon County to save $200,000 through early retirements
Muskegon County to save $200,000 through early retirements
"Two incentives were on the table, but employees could only choose one. For employees with fewer than 25 years with the county, a credit of three years is applied toward the retirement medical plan. In other words, someone with 22 years could retire with medical insurance that is offered to those with 25 years’ tenure.
Also, employees who qualified to retire early were offered the option of collecting an increase of 200 hours in the employee’s “vacation bank.” That would be a $4,000 incentive, before taxes, for someone who makes $20 an hour.
The $200,000 annual savings takes into account salaries and benefits. While 10 of the positions are expected to be filled, the new hires will have lower salaries and less benefits than their predecessors."
This giant gift to Muskegon county employees may...and I mean "may" save the county $200,000 but if was really true wouldn't there be a simple way to track the savings..... and report it back to us taxpayers?
Yeah right. Just like all the other "savings" generated by the county "leadership".
And there is the idiocy of having to pay for the same position while the retiree gets a bonus AND a significant pension and health benefits paid by the state retirement fund.
So we're sorta paying 2 folks for one job? Yep!
And EVERY other county in the state is doing the same thing...so our broke state will get broker.
Now that's leadership!
"Two incentives were on the table, but employees could only choose one. For employees with fewer than 25 years with the county, a credit of three years is applied toward the retirement medical plan. In other words, someone with 22 years could retire with medical insurance that is offered to those with 25 years’ tenure.
Also, employees who qualified to retire early were offered the option of collecting an increase of 200 hours in the employee’s “vacation bank.” That would be a $4,000 incentive, before taxes, for someone who makes $20 an hour.
The $200,000 annual savings takes into account salaries and benefits. While 10 of the positions are expected to be filled, the new hires will have lower salaries and less benefits than their predecessors."
This giant gift to Muskegon county employees may...and I mean "may" save the county $200,000 but if was really true wouldn't there be a simple way to track the savings..... and report it back to us taxpayers?
Yeah right. Just like all the other "savings" generated by the county "leadership".
And there is the idiocy of having to pay for the same position while the retiree gets a bonus AND a significant pension and health benefits paid by the state retirement fund.
So we're sorta paying 2 folks for one job? Yep!
And EVERY other county in the state is doing the same thing...so our broke state will get broker.
Now that's leadership!
Hoekstra workshop to focus on federal government contracts | Muskegon News - - MLive.com
Workshop to focus on federal government contracts
"U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, is hosting a federal procurement/contracting workshop Thursday at Grand Valley State University’s Lake Michigan Center in Muskegon, 740 W. Shoreline.
The event is 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m."
"U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, is hosting a federal procurement/contracting workshop Thursday at Grand Valley State University’s Lake Michigan Center in Muskegon, 740 W. Shoreline.
The event is 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m."
State Budget Crisis Not Fixed » Mike Bouchard For Governor-some good ideas
Budget Crisis Not Fixed » Mike Bouchard For Governor
In September, Bouchard announced his proposals for avoiding a budget crisis in the future. His proposals include:
* First; every day after May 15 without a budget will cost every legislator and statewide officeholder a day’s pay.
* Second; no non-essential legislation should be considered until a budget is adopted.
* Third; the state should adopt a two-year rolling budget and use externally verified numbers with a three-year projection."
In September, Bouchard announced his proposals for avoiding a budget crisis in the future. His proposals include:
* First; every day after May 15 without a budget will cost every legislator and statewide officeholder a day’s pay.
* Second; no non-essential legislation should be considered until a budget is adopted.
* Third; the state should adopt a two-year rolling budget and use externally verified numbers with a three-year projection."
Muskegon, MI Employment Trends
Muskegon, MI Employment Trends
versus Muskegon Unemployment Levels 1 year ago http://www.localetrends.com/metro/muskegon_michigan_home.php?MAP_TYPE=m12_ue
Sad but true unemployment links.
Hat tip to "pete"-the-commenter below.
versus Muskegon Unemployment Levels 1 year ago http://www.localetrends.com/metro/muskegon_michigan_home.php?MAP_TYPE=m12_ue
Sad but true unemployment links.
Hat tip to "pete"-the-commenter below.
Cuti's Sports Bar and Grill reverses smoke-free policy after business slumps
Cuti's Sports Bar and Grill reverses smoke-free policy after business slumps
"A Muskegon bar owner who wanted to protect the health of his employees says he lost so much business in a 10-day period after going smoke-free that he feared a closure if he didn’t reverse the decision."
"A Muskegon bar owner who wanted to protect the health of his employees says he lost so much business in a 10-day period after going smoke-free that he feared a closure if he didn’t reverse the decision."
ABSOLUTELY NO VOTER FRAUD...
ABSOLUTELY NO VOTER FRAUD
"Here’s the tougher question:
How many people voted illegally in other, fraudulent ways?
How many voted as one of the many fake names registered in the repeated and well-covered registration scandals of last year?
How many took advantage of the well-known fact that if you falsely register someone who’s dead or in prison -- which volunteers with the ACORN criminal enterprise did in Wisconsin last fall -- and you show up at a polling place to vote under that name, no one will ask you for any identification that could expose the fraud?
No such fraud took place, insist those who say vote fraud isn’t a problem (these, generally, would be people on the same political page as ACORN, uncoincidentally).
How do they know? They just know. They saw nothing, ergo . . .
Well, there was fraud, as the Milwaukee Police reported.
But more to the point:
If, despite similar assurances that our porous voting system nonetheless suffered no fraudulent voting by felons, we learn only now that about 200 felons voted undetected, what possible belief can anyone have that no one pulled off a much harder-to-detect fraud, especially after so much registration fraud was uncovered?
Answer: No such belief is sustainable other than by sheer, politically motivated wish that such vote fraud remain viable and useful."
"Here’s the tougher question:
How many people voted illegally in other, fraudulent ways?
How many voted as one of the many fake names registered in the repeated and well-covered registration scandals of last year?
How many took advantage of the well-known fact that if you falsely register someone who’s dead or in prison -- which volunteers with the ACORN criminal enterprise did in Wisconsin last fall -- and you show up at a polling place to vote under that name, no one will ask you for any identification that could expose the fraud?
No such fraud took place, insist those who say vote fraud isn’t a problem (these, generally, would be people on the same political page as ACORN, uncoincidentally).
How do they know? They just know. They saw nothing, ergo . . .
Well, there was fraud, as the Milwaukee Police reported.
But more to the point:
If, despite similar assurances that our porous voting system nonetheless suffered no fraudulent voting by felons, we learn only now that about 200 felons voted undetected, what possible belief can anyone have that no one pulled off a much harder-to-detect fraud, especially after so much registration fraud was uncovered?
Answer: No such belief is sustainable other than by sheer, politically motivated wish that such vote fraud remain viable and useful."
9.8% unemployment in September
9.8% unemployment in September
"Unemployment in the United States hit 9.8% in September, despite the $787 billion stimulus that a Democratic Congress passed without a single Republican vote in the House and only 2 in the Senate.
"Unemployment in the United States hit 9.8% in September, despite the $787 billion stimulus that a Democratic Congress passed without a single Republican vote in the House and only 2 in the Senate.
That is roughly 2 points higher than the 7.8% that the White House had promised for September if the stimulus package became law.
There has been a net loss of 3 million jobs since the stimulus was passed."
The Coming Public-Sector Pension Crisis
The Coming Public-Sector Pension Crisis
"The only real question left is who gets stuck with most or all of the bill for the sort of old-school program in Cincinnati and most other governmental units around the country: The people in it or the rest of us."
"The only real question left is who gets stuck with most or all of the bill for the sort of old-school program in Cincinnati and most other governmental units around the country: The people in it or the rest of us."
Minimum Wage Increase Leads to Higher Teen Unemployment Rate
Minimum Wage Increase Leads to Higher Teen Unemployment Rate
"Earlier this year, economist David Neumark of the University of California, Irvine, wrote on these pages that the 70-cent-an-hour increase in the minimum wage would cost some 300,000 jobs.
Sure enough, the mandated increase to $7.25 took effect in July, and right on cue the August and September jobless numbers confirm the rapid disappearance of jobs for teenagers.
The September teen unemployment rate hit 25.9%, the highest rate since World War II and up from 23.8% in July. Some 330,000 teen jobs have vanished in two months.
Hardest hit of all: black male teens, whose unemployment rate shot up to a catastrophic 50.4%"
If things don't get better fast (and they won't) it will be a long hot summer in the cities.
"Earlier this year, economist David Neumark of the University of California, Irvine, wrote on these pages that the 70-cent-an-hour increase in the minimum wage would cost some 300,000 jobs.
Sure enough, the mandated increase to $7.25 took effect in July, and right on cue the August and September jobless numbers confirm the rapid disappearance of jobs for teenagers.
The September teen unemployment rate hit 25.9%, the highest rate since World War II and up from 23.8% in July. Some 330,000 teen jobs have vanished in two months.
Hardest hit of all: black male teens, whose unemployment rate shot up to a catastrophic 50.4%"
If things don't get better fast (and they won't) it will be a long hot summer in the cities.
Making the World Safe for Medicaid Fraud
Making the World Safe for Medicaid Fraud
"Americans expect to show a photo ID when they board a plane, enter many office buildings, cash a check or even rent a video -- but rarely in voting or applying for government benefits such as Medicaid.
Many Democrats seem to view asking citizens for proof of identity as an invasion of privacy -- though what's really being protected is the right to commit identity fraud."
"Americans expect to show a photo ID when they board a plane, enter many office buildings, cash a check or even rent a video -- but rarely in voting or applying for government benefits such as Medicaid.
Many Democrats seem to view asking citizens for proof of identity as an invasion of privacy -- though what's really being protected is the right to commit identity fraud."
Friday, October 02, 2009
It’s Only Anti-Social
It’s Only Anti-Social
"The deep spiritual sickness of contemporary Britain is evident in the following comment on the inquiry in the liberal newspaper,
The Guardian: “Although much of the abuse centred on the taunts about the children’s disabilities, police failed to recognise it as a hate crime rather than simple antisocial behaviour, which would have made it a far higher priority.”
In other words, the seriousness of an offense committed in Britain now depends upon who the victim is.
If a person is not of an identifiably protected group, he or she is not entitled to police intervention against abusive stone- and bottle-throwing youths.
He is not entitled to protection at all.
The Guardian’s article appears to accept that such behavior, so long as it targets a member of an unprotected group, is merely undesirable—“anti-social” rather than obviously criminal.
The rule of law is fast evaporating in Britain; we are coming to live in a land of men, not of laws."
Sick and frightening!
"The deep spiritual sickness of contemporary Britain is evident in the following comment on the inquiry in the liberal newspaper,
The Guardian: “Although much of the abuse centred on the taunts about the children’s disabilities, police failed to recognise it as a hate crime rather than simple antisocial behaviour, which would have made it a far higher priority.”
In other words, the seriousness of an offense committed in Britain now depends upon who the victim is.
If a person is not of an identifiably protected group, he or she is not entitled to police intervention against abusive stone- and bottle-throwing youths.
He is not entitled to protection at all.
The Guardian’s article appears to accept that such behavior, so long as it targets a member of an unprotected group, is merely undesirable—“anti-social” rather than obviously criminal.
The rule of law is fast evaporating in Britain; we are coming to live in a land of men, not of laws."
Sick and frightening!
La Raza President Wants Health Care Reform for ‘Everyone,’ Including Illegal Aliens
La Raza President Wants Health Care Reform for ‘Everyone,’ Including Illegal Aliens
"National Council of La Raza President Janet Murguia said that health care reform should include “everyone,” and this means illegal immigrants as well because with more people paying into the system it might lower the costs of health care"
"National Council of La Raza President Janet Murguia said that health care reform should include “everyone,” and this means illegal immigrants as well because with more people paying into the system it might lower the costs of health care"
MSNBC’s Schultz Blames 'Right-Wing Talkers' for Obama Olympic Defeat; Compares GOP to Hanoi Jane
MSNBC’s Schultz Blames 'Right-Wing Talkers' for Obama Olympic Defeat; Compares GOP to Hanoi Jane
"Enter MSNBC's Ed Schultz. During his Oct. 2 MSNBC show, the liberal host launched into a rant blaming the Republican Party and went as far as comparing the party to the anti-American antics put on by Jane Fonda during the Vietnam War."
"Enter MSNBC's Ed Schultz. During his Oct. 2 MSNBC show, the liberal host launched into a rant blaming the Republican Party and went as far as comparing the party to the anti-American antics put on by Jane Fonda during the Vietnam War."
Many Medical Devices Still Taxed Under Baucus Health Bill
Many Medical Devices Still Taxed Under Baucus Health Bill
"But the tax, expected to raise about $40 billion over the next decade, is still in the bill and includes items like:
Pacemakers
Hip joint replacements
Gastrointestinal tubes
Artificial hearts
Hearing aids
Porcelain teeth
Heart defibrillators
Prosthetic heart valve rotators
Powered wheelchairs
Ventilators
Groups like the Medical Device Manufacturer's Association said that the tax would hurt them, as well as those who need medical devices.
'Virtually all medical device providers would be affected,'"
"But the tax, expected to raise about $40 billion over the next decade, is still in the bill and includes items like:
Pacemakers
Hip joint replacements
Gastrointestinal tubes
Artificial hearts
Hearing aids
Porcelain teeth
Heart defibrillators
Prosthetic heart valve rotators
Powered wheelchairs
Ventilators
Groups like the Medical Device Manufacturer's Association said that the tax would hurt them, as well as those who need medical devices.
'Virtually all medical device providers would be affected,'"
Central Florida Enjoys Break From Heat
Central Florida Enjoys Break From Heat
"In fact, Daytona Beach International Airport reported a record-tying low of 58 degrees at 3:33 a.m.
That tied the previous record set back in 2001, when we had another cool start to October."
More "proof" of global warming!
"In fact, Daytona Beach International Airport reported a record-tying low of 58 degrees at 3:33 a.m.
That tied the previous record set back in 2001, when we had another cool start to October."
More "proof" of global warming!
Greg Norman, Chris Evert say they have separated
Greg Norman, Chris Evert say they have separated
"Just 15 months after they were married, golf star Greg Norman (FSY) and tennis great Chris Evert announced they have separated."
"Just 15 months after they were married, golf star Greg Norman (FSY) and tennis great Chris Evert announced they have separated."
GOP seeks 72-hour window to read bills
GOP seeks 72-hour window to read bills
"Most recently, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi brought the Democrats' global-warming bill to the floor 16 hours after they unveiled a 316-page amendment that rewrote much of the legislation...
At a press conference weeks later, Mrs. Pelosi promised to let lawmakers have two days to read the health care bill before she schedules a vote on it."
The democrats voted down this "72 hour window to read the bills" promise.
Imagine the arrogance of these democrat thugs!!!!!
Yes, there is a difference between the democrat and GOPer parties.
"Most recently, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi brought the Democrats' global-warming bill to the floor 16 hours after they unveiled a 316-page amendment that rewrote much of the legislation...
At a press conference weeks later, Mrs. Pelosi promised to let lawmakers have two days to read the health care bill before she schedules a vote on it."
The democrats voted down this "72 hour window to read the bills" promise.
Imagine the arrogance of these democrat thugs!!!!!
Yes, there is a difference between the democrat and GOPer parties.
John Fund: Congress Needs a 72-Hour Waiting Period - WSJ.com
John Fund: Congress Needs a 72-Hour Waiting Period
On Wednesday, the Senate Finance Committee voted 12 to 11 to reject a proposal to require a 72-hour waiting period and a full scoring of the bill by the Congressional Budget Office before the committee casts any final vote.
Only one Democrat, Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, voted for the waiting period.
Although Barack Obama campaigned last year for transparency and openness in government, their idea has languished in committee since June.
It has 67 Republican and 31 Democratic co-sponsors—a rare show of bipartisanship. .....
But the notion of a 72-hour waiting period is anathema to Democrats"
On Wednesday, the Senate Finance Committee voted 12 to 11 to reject a proposal to require a 72-hour waiting period and a full scoring of the bill by the Congressional Budget Office before the committee casts any final vote.
Only one Democrat, Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, voted for the waiting period.
Although Barack Obama campaigned last year for transparency and openness in government, their idea has languished in committee since June.
It has 67 Republican and 31 Democratic co-sponsors—a rare show of bipartisanship. .....
But the notion of a 72-hour waiting period is anathema to Democrats"
Jobless rate reaches 17 percent in September - Yahoo! Finance
Jobless rate reaches 9.8 percent in September
"If laid-off workers who have settled for part-time work or have given up looking for new jobs are included, the unemployment rate rose to 17 percent, the highest on records dating from 1994."
"If laid-off workers who have settled for part-time work or have given up looking for new jobs are included, the unemployment rate rose to 17 percent, the highest on records dating from 1994."
What Michelle Obama told the International Olympic Committee about her Chicago (and father)
What Michelle Obama told the International Olympic Committee about her Chicago (and father)
"Sports were a gift I shared with my dad -- especially the Olympic Games.
Some of my best memories are sitting on my dad's lap, cheering on Olga and Nadia, Carl Lewis, and ...
... others for their brilliance and perfection. Like so many young people, I was inspired."
What a nice story!
20 year old Michelle (born in 1964) sitting on her dad's lap while watching Carl Lewis win the gold in his first Olympic visit (1984)..........ummm does anyone find this lie bigtime creepy?
And the poor guy had MS while big Miche was watching TV on dad's lap!
What a family!
"Sports were a gift I shared with my dad -- especially the Olympic Games.
Some of my best memories are sitting on my dad's lap, cheering on Olga and Nadia, Carl Lewis, and ...
... others for their brilliance and perfection. Like so many young people, I was inspired."
What a nice story!
20 year old Michelle (born in 1964) sitting on her dad's lap while watching Carl Lewis win the gold in his first Olympic visit (1984)..........ummm does anyone find this lie bigtime creepy?
And the poor guy had MS while big Miche was watching TV on dad's lap!
What a family!
Finance Committee Democrat Won’t Read Text of Health Bill, Says Anyone Who Claims They’ll Understand It ‘Is Trying to Pull the Wool Over Our Eyes’
Finance Committee Democrat Won’t Read Text of Health Bill, Says Anyone Who Claims They’ll Understand It ‘Is Trying to Pull the Wool Over Our Eyes’
"Sen. Thomas Carper (D.-Del.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, told CNSNews.com that he does not “expect” to read the actual legislative language of the committee’s health care bill because it is “confusing” and that anyone who claims they are going to read it and understand it is fooling people.
“I don’t expect to actually read the legislative language because reading the legislative language is among the more confusing things I’ve ever read in my life,” Carper told CNSNews.com."
"Sen. Thomas Carper (D.-Del.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, told CNSNews.com that he does not “expect” to read the actual legislative language of the committee’s health care bill because it is “confusing” and that anyone who claims they are going to read it and understand it is fooling people.
“I don’t expect to actually read the legislative language because reading the legislative language is among the more confusing things I’ve ever read in my life,” Carper told CNSNews.com."
Representative Pete Hoekstra to Host Health Care Town Hall Meeting in Muskegon
Representative Pete Hoekstra
"Hoekstra to Host Health Care Town Hall Meeting in Muskegon
U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, will host a public town hall meeting on health care in Muskegon on Monday, Oct. 5 at the Reeths-Puffer Rocket Centre for the Fine Arts Auditorium."
"Hoekstra to Host Health Care Town Hall Meeting in Muskegon
U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, will host a public town hall meeting on health care in Muskegon on Monday, Oct. 5 at the Reeths-Puffer Rocket Centre for the Fine Arts Auditorium."
Olympics | Live - 2016 Olympics decision day
Olympics Live - 2016 Olympics decision day
"BBC News' Adam Brookes in Chicago: 'The shock of Chicago's elimination was greater for the fact that it came in the first round.
And greater for the fact that President Obama had taken valuable hours from his packed and tense political schedule to travel to Copenhagen.
The afro-american host on CNN looks like he's gonna cry..... bummer dudes.
But there is still:
1. It's bush's fault!
2. The other guys cheated!
3. We're sending in ACORN to do a recount!
This vote just saved our country about $100 billion!
Right on!
"BBC News' Adam Brookes in Chicago: 'The shock of Chicago's elimination was greater for the fact that it came in the first round.
And greater for the fact that President Obama had taken valuable hours from his packed and tense political schedule to travel to Copenhagen.
The afro-american host on CNN looks like he's gonna cry..... bummer dudes.
But there is still:
1. It's bush's fault!
2. The other guys cheated!
3. We're sending in ACORN to do a recount!
This vote just saved our country about $100 billion!
Right on!
Kausfiles : Rattner's Legacy: The Chooch Is At the Door
Rattner's Legacy: The Chooch Is At the Door
GM's sales are down 45% from last September (when sales were already bad enough to drive the company into banrkuptcy). Chrysler is down 42%. Ford is only down 5%. Car buyers are clearly punishing the two bailout recipients brutally. Robert Farago of Truth About Cars predicts that GM and Chrysler will both 'go down by the end of next year' without a second, new federal bailout. The only question, he says, is whether the two bailed out manufacturers will need the cash before the 2010 midterm elections."
GM's sales are down 45% from last September (when sales were already bad enough to drive the company into banrkuptcy). Chrysler is down 42%. Ford is only down 5%. Car buyers are clearly punishing the two bailout recipients brutally. Robert Farago of Truth About Cars predicts that GM and Chrysler will both 'go down by the end of next year' without a second, new federal bailout. The only question, he says, is whether the two bailed out manufacturers will need the cash before the 2010 midterm elections."
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Bra converts to gas-mark, creator wins IgNobel | The Australian
Bra converts to gas-mark, creator wins IgNobel The Australian: "ENGINEERS who invented a brassiere that converts quickly into a gas mask, pathologists who determined that beer bottles can crack your skull even when empty and Irish police officers who mistakenly wrote tickets to 'Driver's License' have all won 'IgNobel' prizes.
Prizes also went to Zimbabwe for issuing banknotes that range in value from one Zimbabwean cent to 100 trillion Zimbabwean dollars, Mexican scientists who made diamonds out of tequila and executives of four Icelandic banks that suffered spectacular collapses.
The IgNobel prizes are given out by the Harvard-based humor magazine Annals of Improbable Research.
The Public Health prize went to Elena Bodnar of Illinois, who designed and patented a bra that can be quickly converted into a pair of gas masks, one for the brassiere wearer and one to be given to some needy bystander.
Ireland's police won the literature prize from writing more than 50 traffic tickets to a frequent visitor and speeder named Prawo Jazdy."
Prizes also went to Zimbabwe for issuing banknotes that range in value from one Zimbabwean cent to 100 trillion Zimbabwean dollars, Mexican scientists who made diamonds out of tequila and executives of four Icelandic banks that suffered spectacular collapses.
The IgNobel prizes are given out by the Harvard-based humor magazine Annals of Improbable Research.
The Public Health prize went to Elena Bodnar of Illinois, who designed and patented a bra that can be quickly converted into a pair of gas masks, one for the brassiere wearer and one to be given to some needy bystander.
Ireland's police won the literature prize from writing more than 50 traffic tickets to a frequent visitor and speeder named Prawo Jazdy."
Detroit Bribes Students to Boost School Attendance
Detroit Bribes Students to Boost School Attendance
Public school districts across Michigan mobilized Wednesday to boost attendance for Count Day, the annual fall roll call that largely determines how much money each district receives under the state's per-pupil funding system.
Students in Detroit were treated to free meals, ice-cream parties, T-shirts, celebrity visits and a chance to win iPods and a plasma-screen TV — just for showing up for class.
Districts received an average of $7,810 per student last year, but that could decline by more than $200 a pupil this year as Michigan looks to close a $1.7 billion budget hole.
Every student in class Wednesday represented funding for the school year."
Public school districts across Michigan mobilized Wednesday to boost attendance for Count Day, the annual fall roll call that largely determines how much money each district receives under the state's per-pupil funding system.
Students in Detroit were treated to free meals, ice-cream parties, T-shirts, celebrity visits and a chance to win iPods and a plasma-screen TV — just for showing up for class.
Districts received an average of $7,810 per student last year, but that could decline by more than $200 a pupil this year as Michigan looks to close a $1.7 billion budget hole.
Every student in class Wednesday represented funding for the school year."
Sympathy for the Devil
Sympathy for the Devil
"So is this what am I saying: that President Bare Heart is at the helm, with a bunch of loose cannons possibly running the show?
That he's giving a wink-wink to miscreants both here and abroad?
That the New Weird Order is starting to unhinge the already unbalanced, and bring new, vulnerable people, into its fold?
That Obamaphobia is real, and we ignore it at our peril?
Yes.
But don't listen to me.
Don't listen to anyone: not the mental midgets who call you 'racist;' not your brother in law who says you're nuts; not the Talking Heads who paint you as stupid trash.
Pay attention to no one, to nothing, except the light of truth revealing itself to you."
"So is this what am I saying: that President Bare Heart is at the helm, with a bunch of loose cannons possibly running the show?
That he's giving a wink-wink to miscreants both here and abroad?
That the New Weird Order is starting to unhinge the already unbalanced, and bring new, vulnerable people, into its fold?
That Obamaphobia is real, and we ignore it at our peril?
Yes.
But don't listen to me.
Don't listen to anyone: not the mental midgets who call you 'racist;' not your brother in law who says you're nuts; not the Talking Heads who paint you as stupid trash.
Pay attention to no one, to nothing, except the light of truth revealing itself to you."
Young thugs at Walmart
My Walmart experience last night.
I pushed my cart to my car and was, surprisingly, surrounded by 4 young "mixed race" (in the old days we'd call them black) thugs.
They taunted me "hey, how 'bout some money for the children?" and "don't you care" and more but I was so shocked that I just went to my car and started to put my groceries in my trunk.
And, like yellow jacket bees they came back and demanded "hey, how 'bout some money..."
I charged them and said get away... they ran a bit and laughed at me.
As I finally closed my trunk, they were still close and I had to yell at them again to get them away from me.
I'm almost 6 foot tall.
How do women protect themselves?
These 12-17 year old monsters are cruising our Walmart parking lot.
Does anyone care?
And the "event" happened at the Norton Walmart.
I reported it to the asst. store manager today and he was concerned and said they'd take my report very seriously.
With our governor emptying prisons and 50% of young people unemployed, this may be a harbringer of our future.
I pushed my cart to my car and was, surprisingly, surrounded by 4 young "mixed race" (in the old days we'd call them black) thugs.
They taunted me "hey, how 'bout some money for the children?" and "don't you care" and more but I was so shocked that I just went to my car and started to put my groceries in my trunk.
And, like yellow jacket bees they came back and demanded "hey, how 'bout some money..."
I charged them and said get away... they ran a bit and laughed at me.
As I finally closed my trunk, they were still close and I had to yell at them again to get them away from me.
I'm almost 6 foot tall.
How do women protect themselves?
These 12-17 year old monsters are cruising our Walmart parking lot.
Does anyone care?
And the "event" happened at the Norton Walmart.
I reported it to the asst. store manager today and he was concerned and said they'd take my report very seriously.
With our governor emptying prisons and 50% of young people unemployed, this may be a harbringer of our future.
Dealers stunned after Saturn deal with Penske collapses, GM prepares to shut down brand
Dealers stunned after Saturn deal with Penske collapses, GM prepares to shut down brand
"Saturn Corp., established two decades ago by General Motors Co. as an innovative import fighter, will disappear after entrepreneur Roger Penske's firm unexpectedly ended talks to acquire its dealer network"
"Saturn Corp., established two decades ago by General Motors Co. as an innovative import fighter, will disappear after entrepreneur Roger Penske's firm unexpectedly ended talks to acquire its dealer network"
Roman Polanski's real "defense"
Roman Polanski's real "defense"
"Polanski can, of course, argue extenuating circumstances at a sentencing hearing. However, the truth seems to be that he just wants to have sex with young girls. As he put it a few years after he fled to Europe:
If I had killed somebody, it wouldn't have had so much appeal to the press, you see? But... f___ing, you see, and the young girls. Judges want to f___ young girls. Juries want to f___ young girls. Everyone wants to f__ young girls!"
"Polanski can, of course, argue extenuating circumstances at a sentencing hearing. However, the truth seems to be that he just wants to have sex with young girls. As he put it a few years after he fled to Europe:
If I had killed somebody, it wouldn't have had so much appeal to the press, you see? But... f___ing, you see, and the young girls. Judges want to f___ young girls. Juries want to f___ young girls. Everyone wants to f__ young girls!"
Do American Schoolkids Need 9/11 Education?
Do American Schoolkids Need 9/11 Education?
"In Shira Engelhart's 4th grade class in Virginia, students asked why the pilots on the plane didn't just say 'no' to the hijackers on 9/11.
In his journal, an elementary school student offered a possible explanation that the attacks were perpetrated by German soldiers during the period when there were frequent wars between the U.S. and Germany.
When Ms. Engelhart asked her class what happened on 9/11, eight out of 24 of her students knew that something bad occurred but were not sure what, while the rest of her class did not know the day is significant."
"In Shira Engelhart's 4th grade class in Virginia, students asked why the pilots on the plane didn't just say 'no' to the hijackers on 9/11.
In his journal, an elementary school student offered a possible explanation that the attacks were perpetrated by German soldiers during the period when there were frequent wars between the U.S. and Germany.
When Ms. Engelhart asked her class what happened on 9/11, eight out of 24 of her students knew that something bad occurred but were not sure what, while the rest of her class did not know the day is significant."
Senators turn back ID requirement for immigrant healthcare - The Hill's Blog Briefing Room
Senators turn back ID requirement for immigrant healthcare
- The Hill's Blog Briefing Room: "Senators turn back ID requirement for immigrant healthcare
By Jeffrey Young - 09/30/09 01:03 PM ET
Senate Finance Committee Democrats rejected a proposed a requirement that immigrants prove their identity with photo identification when signing up for federal healthcare programs.
Finance Committee ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said that current law and the healthcare bill under consideration are too lax and leave the door open to illegal immigrants defrauding the government using false or stolen identities to obtain benefits.
Grassley's amendment was beaten back 10-13 on a party-line vote.
The bill, authored by committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), would require applicants to verify their names, places of birth and Social Security numbers. In addition, legal immigrants would have to wait five years, as under current law, after obtaining citizenship or legal residency to access federal healthcare benefits such as Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program or receive tax credits or purchase insurance through the exchange created by the legislation.
But the would not require them to show a photo ID, such as a drivers license. Without that requirement, the bill 'remains dearly lacking when it comes to identification,' Grassley said. 'Frankly, I'm very perplexed as to why anyone would oppose this amendment,' he said.
But Democratic Sen. Jeff Bingaman, who represents the border state of New Mexico, said that the type of fraud Grassley said he wants to prevent is highly uncommon. 'The way I see the amendment, it's a solution without a problem,' Bingaman said."
- The Hill's Blog Briefing Room: "Senators turn back ID requirement for immigrant healthcare
By Jeffrey Young - 09/30/09 01:03 PM ET
Senate Finance Committee Democrats rejected a proposed a requirement that immigrants prove their identity with photo identification when signing up for federal healthcare programs.
Finance Committee ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said that current law and the healthcare bill under consideration are too lax and leave the door open to illegal immigrants defrauding the government using false or stolen identities to obtain benefits.
Grassley's amendment was beaten back 10-13 on a party-line vote.
The bill, authored by committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), would require applicants to verify their names, places of birth and Social Security numbers. In addition, legal immigrants would have to wait five years, as under current law, after obtaining citizenship or legal residency to access federal healthcare benefits such as Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program or receive tax credits or purchase insurance through the exchange created by the legislation.
But the would not require them to show a photo ID, such as a drivers license. Without that requirement, the bill 'remains dearly lacking when it comes to identification,' Grassley said. 'Frankly, I'm very perplexed as to why anyone would oppose this amendment,' he said.
But Democratic Sen. Jeff Bingaman, who represents the border state of New Mexico, said that the type of fraud Grassley said he wants to prevent is highly uncommon. 'The way I see the amendment, it's a solution without a problem,' Bingaman said."
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Morning Bell: Government-Run Health Care by Next Thursday?
Morning Bell: Government-Run Health Care by Next Thursday?
"So just how close are we to being inflicted with the Obama/Moore dream of anti-capitalist, competition-free, government-run health care?
Closer than many realize.
Multiple sources on the Hill have told The Foundry that as early as next week, the Senate could be debating Obamacare.
Senate Majority Leader Reid has stated an intention to take the HELP Committee product and merge it with the Senate Finance Committee markup that is expected to be over by this Thursday or Friday.
Their plan is to proceed to a House passed non-health care bill to provide a shell of legislation to give Obamacare a ride to the House and then straight to the President’s desk."
Read this!
The democrats are gonna stick it to us if we are asleep!
"So just how close are we to being inflicted with the Obama/Moore dream of anti-capitalist, competition-free, government-run health care?
Closer than many realize.
Multiple sources on the Hill have told The Foundry that as early as next week, the Senate could be debating Obamacare.
Senate Majority Leader Reid has stated an intention to take the HELP Committee product and merge it with the Senate Finance Committee markup that is expected to be over by this Thursday or Friday.
Their plan is to proceed to a House passed non-health care bill to provide a shell of legislation to give Obamacare a ride to the House and then straight to the President’s desk."
Read this!
The democrats are gonna stick it to us if we are asleep!
When I'm happy, so is family, says First Lady Michelle Obama
When I'm happy, so is family, says First Lady Michelle Obama
"First Lady Michelle Obama revealed a hidden White House truth: If she's happy, chances are, so is her husband.
'Throughout my life, I've learned to make choices that make me happy and make sense for me. Even my husband is happier when I'm happy,' she said in an interview with Prevention magazine, which hits newsstands next week."
Yes, it's true that most husbands are happier when their wives are "happy" but this interview is creepy.
Doncha ya think?
"First Lady Michelle Obama revealed a hidden White House truth: If she's happy, chances are, so is her husband.
'Throughout my life, I've learned to make choices that make me happy and make sense for me. Even my husband is happier when I'm happy,' she said in an interview with Prevention magazine, which hits newsstands next week."
Yes, it's true that most husbands are happier when their wives are "happy" but this interview is creepy.
Doncha ya think?
President Obama Finances Offshore Drilling in Brazil
President Obama Finances Offshore Drilling in Brazil
"You read that headline correctly.
Unfortunately, the Obama Administration is financing oil exploration off Brazil.
The U.S. is going to lend billions of dollars to Brazil's state-owned oil company, Petrobras, to finance exploration of the huge offshore discovery in Brazil's Tupi oil field in the Santos Basin near Rio de Janeiro."
"You read that headline correctly.
Unfortunately, the Obama Administration is financing oil exploration off Brazil.
The U.S. is going to lend billions of dollars to Brazil's state-owned oil company, Petrobras, to finance exploration of the huge offshore discovery in Brazil's Tupi oil field in the Santos Basin near Rio de Janeiro."
Chenille Sisters in concert Friday
Chenille Sisters in concert Friday
"Sweet, silly, serious and satisfying is what listeners can expect from the Chenille Sisters in concert this Friday."
See them!
"Sweet, silly, serious and satisfying is what listeners can expect from the Chenille Sisters in concert this Friday."
See them!
Wednesday is count day for schools across Michigan
http://www.wzzm13.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=114184&catid=48
"Last year, Grand Rapids Public Schools had its best count day in nearly a decade, beating enrollment projections by fifty percent."
50% INCREASE!
Sup wit dat?????
Don't the teachers take ATTENDANCE EVERY DAY?
Why use 2 freak days a year when the ACTUAL date is right there?
Oh...meebee we already no...dont wee.....$$$$$$$...ours not theirs.......
"Last year, Grand Rapids Public Schools had its best count day in nearly a decade, beating enrollment projections by fifty percent."
50% INCREASE!
Sup wit dat?????
Don't the teachers take ATTENDANCE EVERY DAY?
Why use 2 freak days a year when the ACTUAL date is right there?
Oh...meebee we already no...dont wee.....$$$$$$$...ours not theirs.......
Airliner crash simulation planned at airport Wednesday
Airliner crash simulation planned at airport Wednesday
"Despite visible flames, an actual fuselage and 90 “victims,” the emergency-type situation at the Muskegon County Airport scheduled for this morning was only a drill.
A full-scale simulation of a commercial airliner crash was being held to help train Norton Shores firefighters in the event an actual, similar crash takes place at the airport."
Ok..... now where are the ....... airliners?
Seriously, there is an enormous amount of tax payer dollars spent on this rarely used airport.
The state is broke, the county is broke, Norton Shores is broke.
When will someone suggest privatizing this white elephant
"Despite visible flames, an actual fuselage and 90 “victims,” the emergency-type situation at the Muskegon County Airport scheduled for this morning was only a drill.
A full-scale simulation of a commercial airliner crash was being held to help train Norton Shores firefighters in the event an actual, similar crash takes place at the airport."
Ok..... now where are the ....... airliners?
Seriously, there is an enormous amount of tax payer dollars spent on this rarely used airport.
The state is broke, the county is broke, Norton Shores is broke.
When will someone suggest privatizing this white elephant
“how to date a tall chick.”…
“how to date a tall chick.”…: "FROM SUSANNAH BRESLIN, advice on “how to date a tall chick.”"
Supreme Court Takes Case on Reach of Gun Rights
Supreme Court Takes Case on Reach of Gun Rights
"The Supreme Court will decide whether the constitutional right of individuals to own firearms trumps state and local laws, reviving the legal battle over gun rights in America."
They're baaarack....
"The Supreme Court will decide whether the constitutional right of individuals to own firearms trumps state and local laws, reviving the legal battle over gun rights in America."
They're baaarack....
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Even in Capitalists’ Bad Times, Europe’s Socialists Suffer - NYTimes.com
Even in Capitalists’ Bad Times, Europe’s Socialists Suffer - NYTimes.com: "A specter is haunting Europe — the specter of Socialism’s slow collapse."
Officials: Fed will need to boost rates quickly - Yahoo! Finance
Officials: Fed will need to boost rates quickly - Yahoo! Finance: "To prevent inflation from taking off, the Federal Reserve will need to start boosting interest rates quickly and aggressively once the economy is back on firmer footing, Fed officials warned Tuesday."
Monday, September 28, 2009
$25 million in U.S. aid on the way-Detroit to get lion's share of state package
$25 million in U.S. aid on the way
"The most recent wave of economic stimulus funding will infuse more than $25 million into cash-strapped Michigan communities to spur job creation, clean up blight, stave off foreclosures and fix crumbling bridges, roads and water mains."
"The most recent wave of economic stimulus funding will infuse more than $25 million into cash-strapped Michigan communities to spur job creation, clean up blight, stave off foreclosures and fix crumbling bridges, roads and water mains."
Does Asset Allocation Still Work?
Pension Pulse: Does Asset Allocation Still Work?
"Richard Bookstaber, author of A Demon of Our Own Design, recently wrote an excellent piece in Seeking Alpha, Why I'm Skeptical About Asset Allocation:"
"Richard Bookstaber, author of A Demon of Our Own Design, recently wrote an excellent piece in Seeking Alpha, Why I'm Skeptical About Asset Allocation:"
No government immunity for pension fund trustees
No government immunity for pension fund trustees
"A class action suit seeking to hold the Detroit General Retirement pension fund (DGR) trustees accountable for their investment decisions has been approved in what is said to be a precedent setting case.
Wayne County Circuit Court judge Amy Hathaway has certified a class action filed on behalf of over 9,000 pension plan participants and beneficiaries alleging the responsibility of several present and former DGR trustees' for losses of over US$100m."
"A class action suit seeking to hold the Detroit General Retirement pension fund (DGR) trustees accountable for their investment decisions has been approved in what is said to be a precedent setting case.
Wayne County Circuit Court judge Amy Hathaway has certified a class action filed on behalf of over 9,000 pension plan participants and beneficiaries alleging the responsibility of several present and former DGR trustees' for losses of over US$100m."
Pumped-up pensions squeeze city
Pumped-up pensions squeeze city
"In 2001 and 2005, the Atlanta City Council approved substantial increases in pension benefits for city workers — but didn’t figure out how to pay for them.
Those decisions are not only hobbling city finances now, they threaten to cripple the city budget for years to come."
"In 2001 and 2005, the Atlanta City Council approved substantial increases in pension benefits for city workers — but didn’t figure out how to pay for them.
Those decisions are not only hobbling city finances now, they threaten to cripple the city budget for years to come."
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Furor Over Alan Carlin, a Climate Change Skeptic - NYTimes.com
Furor Over Alan Carlin, a Climate Change Skeptic - NYTimes.com: "It is true that Dr. Carlin’s supervisor refused to accept his comments on a proposed E.P.A. finding, since adopted, that greenhouse gases endangered health and the environment, and that he did so in a dismissive way."
Gates hints at more Iran nuke sites
Gates hints at more Iran nuke sites
"Defense Secretary Robert Gates strongly hinted on Sunday that Iran may be concealing other nuclear facilities in the country, beyond the uranium enrichment facility disclosed Friday by President Barack Obama and other leaders at the G-20 Summit.
This Week host George Stephanopoulos asked Gates if the newly discovered site is 'the only secret site that we know of.'
After a pause, Gates said, 'I'm not going to get into that. I would just say that we are watching closely.'"
"Defense Secretary Robert Gates strongly hinted on Sunday that Iran may be concealing other nuclear facilities in the country, beyond the uranium enrichment facility disclosed Friday by President Barack Obama and other leaders at the G-20 Summit.
This Week host George Stephanopoulos asked Gates if the newly discovered site is 'the only secret site that we know of.'
After a pause, Gates said, 'I'm not going to get into that. I would just say that we are watching closely.'"
If the police won't tackle young thugs any more, then what ARE they for?
MELANIE PHILLIPS: If the police won't tackle young thugs any more, then what ARE they for?
"Ten days ago, I happened to be on a panel of 'talking heads' at the annual conference of the Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales. Against a backdrop of concern about the impact of looming public expenditure cuts, the panel were asked to name one thing they thought the police might usefully stop doing.
"Ten days ago, I happened to be on a panel of 'talking heads' at the annual conference of the Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales. Against a backdrop of concern about the impact of looming public expenditure cuts, the panel were asked to name one thing they thought the police might usefully stop doing.
I suggested they should drop their obsession with 'diversity' and, rather than pursuing people under 'hate crime' laws for giving offence to others, should concentrate on tackling the yobbery on housing estates where besieged residents felt the police had abandoned them.
It is fair to say my remarks were not greeted with widespread acclaim.
It is fair to say my remarks were not greeted with widespread acclaim.
Officers seemed stunned that I could challenge the sacred cow of 'diversity'.
I thought about this discussion when I read of the appalling case of Fiona Pilkington, who was driven to set fire to herself and her 18-year- old daughter Francecca in her car as a result of a decade of harassment they had suffered at the hands of local yobs.
The details of this awful case make you weep. For more than ten years, the Pilkingtons lived under siege in Barwell, Leicestershire, from a gang of thugs who pelted the house with stones, set fences on fire, pushed fireworks through the front door, taunted Francecca, who had a mental age of four, and threatened and assaulted Mrs Pilkington's son, Anthony, now 19.
The inquest has yet to reach its verdict. But the coroner has said the tragedy could have been prevented if the police and council authorities had taken the family's complaints seriously.
And the evidence produced at the inquest was sufficiently horrifying for the Home Secretary to be reportedly planning to highlight the case in his speech to this week's Labour conference.
For although she called them no fewer than 33 times, none of the criminals who were making her life so unbearable was ever charged with a criminal offence.
When asked to explain this failure, the police response was astounding.
Superintendent Steve Harrod told the inquest that 'low-level anti-social behaviour is mainly the responsibility of the council'.
Come again, Superintendent? So what are the police for? Whatever happened to the first duty of the police to 'preserve public tranquillity'? No wonder the Home Secretary is spitting tacks.
Certainly, the local councils in this case can also be faulted in failing to share information about this family's situation. But at one point Anthony was marched at knife-point into a shed and threatened with an iron bar. If this isn't a police responsibility, what is?
Many, many other unfortunate people are being forced to live in a similar state of siege from local yobs, with the police unable or unwilling to end the attacks. Other police forces, accused of ignoring the plight of terrorised residents, have claimed that the hurdles erected by prosecutors mean they can't get criminals to court.
There may be something in that. But to Superintendent Harrod it appears that the police can only prevent crime if the criminal justice system is avoided altogether. The police, he said, had to avoid youngsters being 'criminalised' because if they went to jail they were more likely to re-offend.
And the evidence produced at the inquest was sufficiently horrifying for the Home Secretary to be reportedly planning to highlight the case in his speech to this week's Labour conference.
For although she called them no fewer than 33 times, none of the criminals who were making her life so unbearable was ever charged with a criminal offence.
When asked to explain this failure, the police response was astounding.
Superintendent Steve Harrod told the inquest that 'low-level anti-social behaviour is mainly the responsibility of the council'.
Come again, Superintendent? So what are the police for? Whatever happened to the first duty of the police to 'preserve public tranquillity'? No wonder the Home Secretary is spitting tacks.
Certainly, the local councils in this case can also be faulted in failing to share information about this family's situation. But at one point Anthony was marched at knife-point into a shed and threatened with an iron bar. If this isn't a police responsibility, what is?
Many, many other unfortunate people are being forced to live in a similar state of siege from local yobs, with the police unable or unwilling to end the attacks. Other police forces, accused of ignoring the plight of terrorised residents, have claimed that the hurdles erected by prosecutors mean they can't get criminals to court.
There may be something in that. But to Superintendent Harrod it appears that the police can only prevent crime if the criminal justice system is avoided altogether. The police, he said, had to avoid youngsters being 'criminalised' because if they went to jail they were more likely to re-offend.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1216561/MELANIE-PHILLIPS-If-police-wont-tackle-young-thugs-ARE-for.html#ixzz0SMVZsCRk
This story made me cry.
This story made me cry.
If AIDS Went the Way of Smallpox
If AIDS Went the Way of Smallpox
"Millions of children across Africa still die of measles simply because the vaccine doesn’t reach them,” said Barry Coleman, founder of Riders for Health, a British charity that buys and fixes motorcycles for African health workers. People with AIDS don’t need, he added, “another breakthrough that does not reach those who need it most.”"
It's not about children... it's about more money from the west to the crooks who control these scum countries.
"Millions of children across Africa still die of measles simply because the vaccine doesn’t reach them,” said Barry Coleman, founder of Riders for Health, a British charity that buys and fixes motorcycles for African health workers. People with AIDS don’t need, he added, “another breakthrough that does not reach those who need it most.”"
It's not about children... it's about more money from the west to the crooks who control these scum countries.
More school: Obama would curtail summer vacation - Yahoo! News
More school: Obama would curtail summer vacation
"Obama and Duncan say kids in the United States need more school because kids in other nations have more school.
'Young people in other countries are going to school 25, 30 percent longer than our students here,' Duncan told the AP. 'I want to just level the playing field.'
While it is true that kids in many other countries have more school days, it's not true they all spend more time in school."
Another scam to shovel more money from us taxpayers to the big teacher's unions!!!
Fight this outrage!
"Obama and Duncan say kids in the United States need more school because kids in other nations have more school.
'Young people in other countries are going to school 25, 30 percent longer than our students here,' Duncan told the AP. 'I want to just level the playing field.'
While it is true that kids in many other countries have more school days, it's not true they all spend more time in school."
Another scam to shovel more money from us taxpayers to the big teacher's unions!!!
Fight this outrage!
Despite pressure, McChrystal to hold firm on request for troops
Despite pressure, McChrystal to hold firm on request for troops
"McChrystal also stated that he had only spoken to Obama once in 70 days since taking over as commander in the eight-year-old war."
"McChrystal also stated that he had only spoken to Obama once in 70 days since taking over as commander in the eight-year-old war."
Social Security strained by early retirements
Social Security strained by early retirements
"Big job losses and a spike in early retirement claims from laid-off seniors will force Social Security to pay out more in benefits than it collects in taxes the next two years
"Big job losses and a spike in early retirement claims from laid-off seniors will force Social Security to pay out more in benefits than it collects in taxes the next two years
Fresh doubts over Hitler's death after tests on skull reveal it is a woman's
Fresh doubts over Hitler's death after tests on skull reveal it is a woman's
"Adolf Hitler may not have shot himself dead and perhaps did not even die in his bunker, it emerged yesterday.
A skull fragment believed for decades to be the Nazi leader’s has turned out to be that of a woman under 40 after DNA analysis."
"Adolf Hitler may not have shot himself dead and perhaps did not even die in his bunker, it emerged yesterday.
A skull fragment believed for decades to be the Nazi leader’s has turned out to be that of a woman under 40 after DNA analysis."
Mich. stares down 2nd govt. shutdown in 3 years
Mich. stares down 2nd govt. shutdown in 3 years
"Economically beleaguered Michigan faces a possible government shutdown - shuttering highway rest areas, state parks, construction projects and the state lottery - if lawmakers fail to reach a budget deal in the next few days.
The state with the nation's highest unemployment rate has a nearly $3 billion shortfall.
Federal recovery act money will fill more than half the gap, but the spending cuts or tax increases needed to fill the rest have caused bitter infighting at the state Capitol."
"Economically beleaguered Michigan faces a possible government shutdown - shuttering highway rest areas, state parks, construction projects and the state lottery - if lawmakers fail to reach a budget deal in the next few days.
The state with the nation's highest unemployment rate has a nearly $3 billion shortfall.
Federal recovery act money will fill more than half the gap, but the spending cuts or tax increases needed to fill the rest have caused bitter infighting at the state Capitol."
Meet blonde martial arts ace Ashley Wolfe who battled two squaddies
Meet blonde martial arts ace Ashley Wolfe who battled two squaddies
"The 5ft 3in martial arts ace - who was invited to the bash at Woolwich Barracks in South East London with her husband - admitted knocking a sergeant out cold.
She said: 'I gave him a left hook to the side of the head. He was tall and well built - but fell down like a house of cards.'"
"The 5ft 3in martial arts ace - who was invited to the bash at Woolwich Barracks in South East London with her husband - admitted knocking a sergeant out cold.
She said: 'I gave him a left hook to the side of the head. He was tall and well built - but fell down like a house of cards.'"
ROTTEN TOMATOES: Worst of the Worst 2009
ROTTEN TOMATOES: Worst of the Worst 2009: "Over the last decade, we've collected reviews for thousands of movies. Most films, even profoundly mediocre ones, can expect to receive at least cursory support from the pundits. However, once in a while, a film will take such a critical drubbing that further attention is warranted. That's where our Worst of the Worst list comes in. We've compiled a veritable cornucopia of dull, foolhardy, and outright terrible films, from legendary duds (Battlefield Earth) to chuckle-deficient comedies (Epic Movie), from hapless sequels (Basic Instinct 2) to scare-free would-be fright fests (Alone in the Dark)."
Homeowners fight against the wind
Homeowners fight against the wind
"In the Champagne household, there are two opinions on the whirling wind turbines that surround the family's home of 35 years. Gene Champagne is bothered by the thumping, rumbling sound of the blades that loom like giants over the house.
The noise disturbs his sleep and destroys his TV reception.
Flickering shadows from sun on the blades run around rooms."
"In the Champagne household, there are two opinions on the whirling wind turbines that surround the family's home of 35 years. Gene Champagne is bothered by the thumping, rumbling sound of the blades that loom like giants over the house.
The noise disturbs his sleep and destroys his TV reception.
Flickering shadows from sun on the blades run around rooms."
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Barack Obama's amazingly consistent smile
Barack Obama's amazingly consistent smile
"Ladies and gentlemen, your President is a robot.
Or a wax sculpture.
Maybe a cardboard cutout.
All I know is no human being has a photo smile this amazingly consistent."
This is weird!
"Ladies and gentlemen, your President is a robot.
Or a wax sculpture.
Maybe a cardboard cutout.
All I know is no human being has a photo smile this amazingly consistent."
This is weird!
Sardine Room going out of business
Sardine Room going out of business
"The Sardine Room, 2536 Henry, will go out of business after serving its last customers Sunday, co-owner Chris Anderson said."
Sad... for the owners and Muskegon county.
With so many Muskegon companies biting the dust it's amazing there's any dust left in Muskegon.
"The Sardine Room, 2536 Henry, will go out of business after serving its last customers Sunday, co-owner Chris Anderson said."
Sad... for the owners and Muskegon county.
With so many Muskegon companies biting the dust it's amazing there's any dust left in Muskegon.
MSU coaching records after 30 games
MSU coaching records after 30 games: "MSU coaching records after 30 games
MD: 17-13
JLS: 17-13
BW: 16-14
NS: 17-12-1
GP: 13-16-1
MW: 9-21
DR: 16-12-2
DS: 16-13-1
Does it really even matter who the coach at MSU is? Good coaches, bad coaches, young coaches, old coaches, veteran coaches, rookie coaches - the results are the same."
MD: 17-13
JLS: 17-13
BW: 16-14
NS: 17-12-1
GP: 13-16-1
MW: 9-21
DR: 16-12-2
DS: 16-13-1
Does it really even matter who the coach at MSU is? Good coaches, bad coaches, young coaches, old coaches, veteran coaches, rookie coaches - the results are the same."
Friday, September 25, 2009
Ensign receives handwritten confirmation
Ensign receives handwritten confirmation
"Ensign receives handwritten confirmation
This doesn't happen often enough.
Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) received a handwritten note Thursday from Joint Committee on Taxation Chief of Staff Tom Barthold confirming the penalty for failing to pay the up to $1,900 fee for not buying health insurance.
Violators could be charged with a misdemeanor and could face up to a year in jail or a $25,000 penalty, Barthold wrote on JCT letterhead. He signed it 'Sincerely, Thomas A. Barthold.'
The note was a follow-up to Ensign's questioning at the markup."
"Ensign receives handwritten confirmation
This doesn't happen often enough.
Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) received a handwritten note Thursday from Joint Committee on Taxation Chief of Staff Tom Barthold confirming the penalty for failing to pay the up to $1,900 fee for not buying health insurance.
Violators could be charged with a misdemeanor and could face up to a year in jail or a $25,000 penalty, Barthold wrote on JCT letterhead. He signed it 'Sincerely, Thomas A. Barthold.'
The note was a follow-up to Ensign's questioning at the markup."
Thursday, September 24, 2009
HSBC bids farewell to dollar supremacy
HSBC bids farewell to dollar supremacy
"The dollar looks awfully like sterling after the First World War,' said David Bloom, the bank's currency chief.
'The whole picture of risk-reward for emerging market currencies has changed.
It is not so much that they have risen to our standards, it is that we have fallen to theirs.
It used to be that sovereign risk was mainly an emerging market issue but the events of the last year have shown that this is no longer the case.
Look at the UK – debt is racing up to 100pc of GDP,' he said"
"The dollar looks awfully like sterling after the First World War,' said David Bloom, the bank's currency chief.
'The whole picture of risk-reward for emerging market currencies has changed.
It is not so much that they have risen to our standards, it is that we have fallen to theirs.
It used to be that sovereign risk was mainly an emerging market issue but the events of the last year have shown that this is no longer the case.
Look at the UK – debt is racing up to 100pc of GDP,' he said"
Detroit Public Schools-SAY WHAT!!
Detroit Public Schools
"The Detroit News today writes about a possible scandal regarding building construction and land purchases by Detroit Public Schools.
The district paid more than $156.2 million for services it may have obtained for $15 million, according to The News"
A $100 million scam!!!!!
This isn't the biggest story of the month?
How low have we sunk?
"The Detroit News today writes about a possible scandal regarding building construction and land purchases by Detroit Public Schools.
The district paid more than $156.2 million for services it may have obtained for $15 million, according to The News"
A $100 million scam!!!!!
This isn't the biggest story of the month?
How low have we sunk?
Culture of corruption: Rangel and his Ethics Committee foxes
Culture of corruption: Rangel and his Ethics Committee foxes
Charlie Rangel puts a whole new twist on walking-around money.
He doled it out to Ethics Committee Democrat members walking around on the Hill.
And it’s paying off."
Charlie Rangel puts a whole new twist on walking-around money.
He doled it out to Ethics Committee Democrat members walking around on the Hill.
And it’s paying off."
Forum Listing
Forum Listing: "25146. New editor mean change?
by episode2, 9/24/09 16:15 ET
In bicycle accident report they actually give the name of the driver of the car.
It was not her fault and her name was still stated.
The last editor withheld a city commissioners name who accidently killed someone while driving for months.
Odd?"
Look how they cover the "white cop-black serial perp" story.
Maybe we can get a nifty race riot with some cool burning and Jenny will give us a visit!
Wow, we'd be almost as cool as Benton Harbor!
But we read nothing about the impending bankruptcy of our county. And our cities here in Muskegon.
The "new" Chronicle is a more vapid version of the old "county corruption...whatutalkinabout" Chronicle with a smaller carbon footprint.
Imagine the awards the Chronicle's reporters could win if they really investigated what is going on in our county and local cities/townships.
Two kids with a videocam took down the disgusting ACORN.
And there is NO ONE in Muskegon to report on the facts here?
Bummer Muskegon.
by episode2, 9/24/09 16:15 ET
In bicycle accident report they actually give the name of the driver of the car.
It was not her fault and her name was still stated.
The last editor withheld a city commissioners name who accidently killed someone while driving for months.
Odd?"
Look how they cover the "white cop-black serial perp" story.
Maybe we can get a nifty race riot with some cool burning and Jenny will give us a visit!
Wow, we'd be almost as cool as Benton Harbor!
But we read nothing about the impending bankruptcy of our county. And our cities here in Muskegon.
The "new" Chronicle is a more vapid version of the old "county corruption...whatutalkinabout" Chronicle with a smaller carbon footprint.
Imagine the awards the Chronicle's reporters could win if they really investigated what is going on in our county and local cities/townships.
Two kids with a videocam took down the disgusting ACORN.
And there is NO ONE in Muskegon to report on the facts here?
Bummer Muskegon.
New Jobless Last Week At 530,000. AP Calls It Good News Because They Expected Higher! A Weekly Pattern Is Developing Here With "Unexpected" At Center
theblogprof: New Jobless Last Week At 530,000. AP Calls It Good News Because They Expected Higher
A Weekly Pattern Is Developing Here With 'Unexpected' At Center
The AP has used the word 'unexpectedly' in almost every release with regard to the economy.
Here are a few headlines and snippets from the AP in particular:
New jobless claims drop unexpectedly to 530,000 [9/24/2009]
New jobless claims drop unexpectedly to 545K [9/17/2009]
Construction spending rises unexpectedly [8/3/2009]
New jobless claims unexpectedly plunge to 601,000 [5/7/2009]
There are many more examples, but these beg the question: 'just what does the AP expect?'
Rule #1 of biased journalism - always keep expectations low.
The corollary to rule #1 is 'always keep expectations high when a Republican is in office.'"
A Weekly Pattern Is Developing Here With 'Unexpected' At Center
The AP has used the word 'unexpectedly' in almost every release with regard to the economy.
Here are a few headlines and snippets from the AP in particular:
New jobless claims drop unexpectedly to 530,000 [9/24/2009]
New jobless claims drop unexpectedly to 545K [9/17/2009]
Construction spending rises unexpectedly [8/3/2009]
New jobless claims unexpectedly plunge to 601,000 [5/7/2009]
There are many more examples, but these beg the question: 'just what does the AP expect?'
Rule #1 of biased journalism - always keep expectations low.
The corollary to rule #1 is 'always keep expectations high when a Republican is in office.'"
CBO Smacks Obama For The Second Time This Month - Project Obama Medicare Plan Will Save Virtually Nothing!
CBO Smacks Obama For The Second Time This Month - Project Obama Medicare Plan Will Save Virtually Nothing!:
"Here' the response to Obama on his claim that the Congressional Budget Office projections are such that real dollars are not involved:"
click to see the video!
"Here' the response to Obama on his claim that the Congressional Budget Office projections are such that real dollars are not involved:"
click to see the video!
Michigan Subsidies Fail
Michigan Subsidies Fail
"A central belief in Washington and most state capitals nowadays is that government should 'invest' in certain businesses—'clean tech,' say, or manufacturing—to drive job creation.
We hope it all turns out better than it has in Michigan.
For the past 14 years, Lansing politicians have offered $3.3 billion in tax credits through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and spent another $1.6 billion in outlays to create and retain jobs.
The subsidies have ranged from tax breaks for Hollywood, to money for new industrial plants, to millions for TV ads starring Jeff Daniels and Tim Allen talking about business and tourism in the state.
It's one of the largest experiments in smokestack chasing in American history, but one thing it hasn't done is create jobs.
An exhaustive new 100-page study by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a Michigan think tank, has reviewed where all the money has gone and what came of it.
The study finds that for every 100 jobs that were promised with these tax credits over 14 years, only 29 arrived.
Dare we call this cash for clunkers?"
The Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency recently found that "if a film production company spent $10.0 million in Michigan, the State will gain less than $700,000 in income and sales tax revenues but will pay out about $4 million to the production company."
"A central belief in Washington and most state capitals nowadays is that government should 'invest' in certain businesses—'clean tech,' say, or manufacturing—to drive job creation.
We hope it all turns out better than it has in Michigan.
For the past 14 years, Lansing politicians have offered $3.3 billion in tax credits through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and spent another $1.6 billion in outlays to create and retain jobs.
The subsidies have ranged from tax breaks for Hollywood, to money for new industrial plants, to millions for TV ads starring Jeff Daniels and Tim Allen talking about business and tourism in the state.
It's one of the largest experiments in smokestack chasing in American history, but one thing it hasn't done is create jobs.
An exhaustive new 100-page study by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a Michigan think tank, has reviewed where all the money has gone and what came of it.
The study finds that for every 100 jobs that were promised with these tax credits over 14 years, only 29 arrived.
Dare we call this cash for clunkers?"
The Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency recently found that "if a film production company spent $10.0 million in Michigan, the State will gain less than $700,000 in income and sales tax revenues but will pay out about $4 million to the production company."
So in a state with the highest unemployment rate in the nation at 15%, taxpayers last year gave out $48 million in subsidies to Hollywood millionaires.
Almost $5 BILLION spent for this?
The rules murdering our troops
The rules murdering our troops
"When enemy action kills our troops, it's unfortu nate. When our own moral fecklessness murders those in uniform, it's unforgivable.
In Afghanistan, our leaders are complicit in the death of each soldier, Marine or Navy corpsman who falls because politically correct rules of engagement shield our enemies.
Mission-focused, but morally oblivious, Gen. Stan McChrystal conformed to the Obama Way of War by imposing rules of engagement that could have been concocted by Code Pink:
* Unless our troops in combat are absolutely certain that no civilians are present, they're denied artillery or air support.
When enemy action kills our troops, it's unfortunate. When our own moral fecklessness murders those in uniform, it's unforgivable.
* If any civilians appear where we meet the Taliban, our troops are to "break contact" -- to retreat.
These ROE are a cave-in to the Taliban's shameless propaganda campaign that claimed innocents were massacred every time our aircraft appeared overhead. (Afghan President Mohammed Karzai and our establishment media backed the terrorists.)
Read the entire column.
"When enemy action kills our troops, it's unfortu nate. When our own moral fecklessness murders those in uniform, it's unforgivable.
In Afghanistan, our leaders are complicit in the death of each soldier, Marine or Navy corpsman who falls because politically correct rules of engagement shield our enemies.
Mission-focused, but morally oblivious, Gen. Stan McChrystal conformed to the Obama Way of War by imposing rules of engagement that could have been concocted by Code Pink:
* Unless our troops in combat are absolutely certain that no civilians are present, they're denied artillery or air support.
When enemy action kills our troops, it's unfortunate. When our own moral fecklessness murders those in uniform, it's unforgivable.
* If any civilians appear where we meet the Taliban, our troops are to "break contact" -- to retreat.
These ROE are a cave-in to the Taliban's shameless propaganda campaign that claimed innocents were massacred every time our aircraft appeared overhead. (Afghan President Mohammed Karzai and our establishment media backed the terrorists.)
Read the entire column.
If our "president" won't allow us to win, it's time to bug out.
And fear for the world and our country that we have such hollow "leaders".
And fear for the world and our country that we have such hollow "leaders".
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Liberal Lies About National Health Care, Part 5
Liberal Lies About National Health Care, Part 5
"But just to check my recollection, I looked up the Times' own coverage of the 1994 congressional races.
Republicans won a landslide election in 1994 based largely on the 'Contract With America,' which, according to the Times, promised 'tax cuts, more military spending and a balanced-budget amendment.' Far from complaining about Clinton incompetently failing to pass health care, the Times reported that Republicans were 'unabashedly claiming credit for tying Congress up in knots.'
These claims were immediately followed by ... oh, what was that word again? Now I remember ...
LANDSLIDE!
It was almost as if the voters agreed with the Republicans in opposing Clinton's risky health care scheme, then voted accordingly."
"But just to check my recollection, I looked up the Times' own coverage of the 1994 congressional races.
Republicans won a landslide election in 1994 based largely on the 'Contract With America,' which, according to the Times, promised 'tax cuts, more military spending and a balanced-budget amendment.' Far from complaining about Clinton incompetently failing to pass health care, the Times reported that Republicans were 'unabashedly claiming credit for tying Congress up in knots.'
These claims were immediately followed by ... oh, what was that word again? Now I remember ...
LANDSLIDE!
It was almost as if the voters agreed with the Republicans in opposing Clinton's risky health care scheme, then voted accordingly."
I’M PRETTY SURE THEY’RE FALLING INTO A TRAP: ACORN Sues Hidden-Camera Filmmakers
I’M PRETTY SURE THEY’RE FALLING INTO A TRAP: ACORN Sues Hidden-Camera Filmmakers, Breitbart.com.
It should be fun to do discovery on this one.
Plus, from the A.P., How the ACORN ‘pimp and hooker’ videos came to be.
UPDATE: Reid Refuses to Hold ACORN Hearings.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Politico: Barney Frank Turns Against Acorn.
Posted at by Glenn Reynolds at 7:55 pm"
click and be enlightened!
It should be fun to do discovery on this one.
Plus, from the A.P., How the ACORN ‘pimp and hooker’ videos came to be.
UPDATE: Reid Refuses to Hold ACORN Hearings.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Politico: Barney Frank Turns Against Acorn.
Posted at by Glenn Reynolds at 7:55 pm"
click and be enlightened!
Rupert Cornwell: Stay and fight – or cut and run?
Rupert Cornwell: Stay and fight – or cut and run?
"Six months after proclaiming a new commitment to the war in Afghanistan, President Barack Obama
is under growing pressure to make what would amount to a U-turn in US policy and scale back America's commitment to a conflict that many experts – and a majority of the public – now fear may be unwinnable.
The debate, which divides Mr Obama's most senior advisers, was thrown into stark relief by the leaked report of General Stanley McChrystal, the commander of US and allied forces in Afghanistan, warning that the war might be lost within a year without a further boost in troop strength and a major change in strategy to combat the spreading Taliban insurgency."
"Six months after proclaiming a new commitment to the war in Afghanistan, President Barack Obama
is under growing pressure to make what would amount to a U-turn in US policy and scale back America's commitment to a conflict that many experts – and a majority of the public – now fear may be unwinnable.
The debate, which divides Mr Obama's most senior advisers, was thrown into stark relief by the leaked report of General Stanley McChrystal, the commander of US and allied forces in Afghanistan, warning that the war might be lost within a year without a further boost in troop strength and a major change in strategy to combat the spreading Taliban insurgency."
White supremacist groups call for protests in bus attack
White supremacist groups call for protests in bus attack
"White supremacist groups say they want hate crime charges filed in the Belleville West bus attack case and are encouraging a protest.
How dare they?
Everyone knows our President has supported the "FACT" that only whites can be racist.
(though there may be a sorta percentage problem... never mind....)
"White supremacist groups say they want hate crime charges filed in the Belleville West bus attack case and are encouraging a protest.
How dare they?
Everyone knows our President has supported the "FACT" that only whites can be racist.
(though there may be a sorta percentage problem... never mind....)
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