Why Default on U.S. Treasuries is Likely

Why Default on U.S. Treasuries is Likely
"Many predict that, instead, the government will inflate its way out of this future bind, using Federal Reserve monetary expansion to fill the shortfall between outlays and receipts.
But I believe, in contrast, that it is far more likely that the United States will be driven to an outright default on Treasury securities, openly reneging on the interest due on its formal debt and probably repudiating part of the principal."

Yikes!
Read it all...and cower in your basement!

Why Most Journalists Are Democrats: A View from the Soviet Socialist Trenches

Why Most Journalists Are Democrats: A View from the Soviet Socialist Trenches

Very scary!

Very true!

Very MUST read!

Hoekstra voted FOR "Clunker2" !

But his website might have you believing he didn't.
Is Pete RINOing before our eyes?

Not to mention this bill is exactly what we DON'T want from any republican.

I guess it's time to check out the other GOPer candidates for governor to see if ANY is a true, BRAVE, conservative.

Representative Pete Hoekstra
"Washington, Jul 31 -
U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, today heavily criticized the bureaucracy managing the 'Cash for Clunkers' program.
'The red tape involved in ‘Cash for Clunkers’ is creating a major backlog in providing rebates to dealers and causing used cars to pile up,' Hoekstra said. 'If the government cannot manage a $1 billion automobile program, how can we expect it to manage a $1.5 trillion health care program?'
The original Consumers Assistance to Recycle and Save Act of 2009 (H.R. 1550) – otherwise known as the Cash for Clunkers bill – would offer a voucher worth up to $4,500 toward a new, more fuel efficient car in exchange for trading in an older vehicle that achieves a fuel economy rating of 18 miles per gallon or less, has been insured for a year and is in 'drivable condition.'
The House today voted to include an additional $2 billion for the original $1 billion program. Much of the money has been committed, but the government has failed to pay out a vast majority of it because of the bureaucracy involved. Examples include the 21-page paperwork process, one hour to complete one form and rejections on claims for no reason.
'The program needs major improvement for it to work effectively,' Hoekstra said. 'Cash for Clunkers looks good on paper, but its delivery has so far been a disaster for dealerships.'"

Here's the roll call on Clunker 2:
http://www.gop.gov/portfolio/votes/111/1/682

North Muskegon, Heights post offices on list for possible closure

North Muskegon, Heights post offices on list for possible closure
"The post offices in Muskegon Heights and North Muskegon are among a list of nearly 700 offices across the country that are potential candidates to be closed as the U.S. Postal Service deals with staggering financial losses.
The Postal Service has been struggling with a sharp decline in mail volume as people and businesses switch to e-mail both for personal contact and bill paying.
The agency is facing a nearly $7 billion potential loss this fiscal year despite a 2 cent increase in the price of stamps in May, cuts in staff and removal of collection boxes."

Amazing that FedEx and UPS have been paying taxes for decades and the USPS just continues to suck up American tax dollars.

Alabama's Jefferson County makes massive job cuts

Alabama's Jefferson County makes massive job cuts
"Alabama's debt-ridden Jefferson County laid off about two-thirds of its 3,600 employees on Monday because of plummeting revenues, a move that will sharply curtail services in areas ranging from roads to courthouses."

This is HUGE!
I never understood the employee's or the union attitudes.
Did they think the endless raises and benefits would continue forever?
Muskegon County may be in the same boat.

Changing state's 56-year-old ban on Sunday car sales would help dealers

Changing state's 56-year-old ban on Sunday car sales would help dealers - MLive.com: "When West Michigan residents leave church this morning, some will head for Sunday brunch at their favorite restaurant.
Others will eat at home, but they might stop for milk at the grocery store or pick up Grandpa's medicine at the pharmacy on the way. Another contingent will hit the mall or even shop for a book at Family Christian stores.
But one thing they won't do is buy a car.
Michigan's 56-year-old blue law forbids Sunday car sales in counties with more than 130,000 people. The legislation passed when the Chevy Bel-Air, the Nash Rambler Country Club sedan and the Ford Crestline Victoria all rolled through town.
If the law sounds as rusty as that Rambler would be today, its wording won't dissuade you:
'It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to engage in the business of buying, selling, trading or exchanging new, used or second-hand motor vehicles or offering to buy, sell, trade or exchange, or participate in the negotiation thereof, or attempt to buy, sell, trade or exchange any motor vehicle or interest therein, or of any written instrument pertaining thereto, on the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday.'"

Amazing that our state has such a destructive law...... oh...wait a minute.... not so amazing...

Bummer!

The 5 myths of health care reform

The 5 myths of health care reform
"The Lesson :
Socialism fails, because a roomful of bureaucrats can't possibly have the same knowledge as millions of patients, nurses and doctors.
Socialized medicine, like most other government takeovers of the private sector, will end up doing the opposite of what it is intended to do.
Instead of helping Americans improve medical care, it will make it worse.
Much worse."

Read it all!

Indy Transponder

Indy Transponder

My Oshkosh 2009: A real life hero; an amazing coincidence; the most beautiful airplane ever

My Oshkosh 2009: A real life hero; an amazing coincidence; the most beautiful airplane ever:

“Excuse me, I hope you don’t mind the interruption, but I was in Stalag Luft III with the man who jumped from that plane.”

Amazing story from an amazing venue.

I had hoped to attend but ......

Uncovered Video: Obama Explains How His Health Care Plan Will ‘Eliminate’ Private Insurance

Uncovered Video: Obama Explains How His Health Care Plan Will ‘Eliminate’ Private Insurance

Proof... but no surprise from our prevaricator-in-chief.

Car Dealer Giving Away Free AK-47's With New Trucks!

You gotta watch this one to the end!

Can-do spirits!

Can-do spirits!
"Stacy Slagor had never entered a cooking contest in her life, but she couldn't resist the San Diego County Fair's SPAM recipe competition this summer.
“I like SPAM and I like the fair, so why not?” figured the 40-year-old UCSD employee."

NPR's sophestry with kids!

http://ncane.com/01n

Okay, sports fans, get a load of this — it will not make you happy, I wager. Last week, a friend of mine wrote,
Hi, Jay,

I have to recount to you an incident that involved my daughter a few days ago. Here goes:

Both of my daughters participate in a student-run theater group called Act 2 Act whose purpose is to raise money for human-rights causes. They are rehearsing The Diary of Anne Frank, to be performed this weekend. They have been doing local radio interviews to promote the play.

My twelve-year-old is playing Anne, and her director — the founder of the group — is 16. They did an interview by phone with an NPR correspondent. She asked some odd, leading questions such as “Isn’t this the first time you’ve ever done something helpful like this?” and “What does this have to do with President Obama?” The answer to the first question is “No, we do this sort of thing regularly,” and the answer to the second is, “Well, nothing.” The kids were really put on the spot. It was all strange and disconcerting.

Well, everything became clear when the interview aired later in the evening. The correspondent shaped the piece to insinuate that the kids had been inspired by Barack Obama to start this theater company and do this play. OMG! (As the kids say.) We all know the NPR mindset, but to stoop so low and take away from these kids their own heartfelt inspiration — that was just disgusting.
Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting. Could you remind me, once more, why we have government radio, and government TV, anyway? I guess this is what Dan Rather means by “public media” (as if privately owned media weren’t public). It’s bad enough when an ordinary, commercial outlet is shoddy, misleading, or mendacious. But a taxpayer-funded outlet?This may be mere emotion talking, but if there’s one reform I’d like to see, it is to do away altogether with government media in this liberal republic (and you know I mean liberal in an older, honorable sense).

Racial insights!

Racial insights!
"It's my committee's opinion that it violates our 'Best Practices List' to act as if you're calling the police chief to report the supposedly racist officer who came to help you.
It's also considered highly inappropriate, in terms of race relations, to begin screaming at the officer insipid questions such as 'Do you know who I am?' and 'Do you know who you are messing with?'"

Read the comments

Dufus loses winning lottery ticket
"It was a $500,000 answer to his prayers and it was in his back pocket. And then, suddenly, it wasn't. On his way to a Florida Lottery office Wednesday to claim his half-million-dollar prize, Louis Tolentino, a 69-year-old retiree who lives near Wellington, lost the ticket(Snip)in his excitement he forgot to sign the ticket. Without his signature, anyone who finds it could turn it in as his or her own."

Muskegon's Leggett hopes to step into starting role for Spartans

Muskegon's Leggett hopes to step into starting role for Spartans
"The former Muskegon Big Red came out of spring practice with a slight edge over a group of talented but inexperienced running backs, according to Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio."

ABC NEWS: Geithner Won’t Rule Out New Taxes For Middle Class. Hey, wait, I thought Obama promised …

Geithner Won’t Rule Out New Taxes For Middle Class.
"ABC NEWS: Geithner Won’t Rule Out New Taxes For Middle Class.
Hey, wait, I thought Obama promised that no one making less than $250,000 a year would see a tax increase?"

Who'd of guessed?

Patients forced to live in agony after NHS refuses to pay for painkilling injections

Patients forced to live in agony after NHS refuses to pay for painkilling injections
"Tens of thousands with chronic back pain will be forced to live in agony after a decision to slash the number of painkilling injections issued on the NHS, doctors have warned."

Why Sarah Palin Fans Feel Betrayed

Why Sarah Palin Fans Feel Betrayed
"To be conservative is to be betrayed on a regular basis.
You send your kids to a school that tries to slyly indoctrinate them into liberalism, you come home to watch an “unbiased” news show that covers almost every story differently based on whether a Republican or Democrat is involved, and then you try to unwind by watching TV shows that take guarded shots at the values you cherish.....

.......There’s only one Sarah Palin and there’s not another soul on the national stage who can even come close to filling her high heels.

At a time when the Republican Party has lost so many seats in Congress that it’s teetering on the brink of irrelevancy, Palin’s detractors on the right should ask themselves how much sense it makes to help the liberal media try to tear down the biggest star in the conservative movement."

Where is the Public Outrage Over Pensions?

Where is the Public Outrage Over Pensions?
"You might be reading my blog wondering where is public outrage over pensions?
For example, how can PSP Investments lose billions and still pay their top officers bonuses, allowing them to get extremely well compensated in a terrible year?

And it's not just PSP. The same is happening in many other large public Canadian pension funds, including CPPIB where top officers got millions with their bonuses after losing a whopping $24 billion in FY 2009.

So where is the outrage?
I just came back from Greece where if even a fraction of this came out in the media, there would be riots in the streets.
The same can be said about other European countries, especially in France.

But 'civilized' Canadians seem to be sleepwalking while their pensions are dwindling.
The unions are keeping silent too.
Why?
Maybe because they know that the federal and provincial governments are on the hook to pay out pension benefits even if the public pension plans are severely underfunded.
Why make a fuss when you know the government will come in and shore up the plan?"

Segway rental service offers tours of Grand Rapids

Segway rental service offers tours of Grand Rapids
"Segway Tours of Grand Rapids, began his rental operation in May.......
Kaback rents the two-wheeled scooters at $50 for a half-hour ride....
....The prices are on par with Segway rentals in Fort Lauderdale, Chicago and other cities, he said.
Kaback said he owns eight Segways, which he bought for $38,000. "

Good luck......but I sure hope he didn't get "stimulus" money for this.

Birthers Versus True Believers

Birthers Versus True Believers
"Let's think big (in a small-minded way) - suppose the original certifcate has Obama as 'Barry', with attendant documentation formally changing his name to 'Barack' when Obama was in his teens or twenties. That would be a hard memory lapse to explain, and sort of mar the current version of his 'Dreams From My Father' story."

Gordo's Musings

I watched the local news shows this morning and they were ALL talking about how SUCCESSFUL the cash for junk cars was.

Like they were surprised that the government giving out free money was popular to those who got the free money.

Isn't EVERY "free money" program popular?

Are these TV folks seriously stupid or just lying to us?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The same folks who complain about EVERY government department (road repair, cops, non-synchronized stop lights, giant deficits, et al, etcetera....) are totally convinced that Obama and Rom Emanuel (with help from Nancy Pelosi and Barney Frank) will run our entire health care system with precision, efficiency and economy.

ARE THEY NUTS???????

update:

the rest of us are just too stupid....

http://belowthebeltway.com/2009/08/01/andrea-mitchell-people-are-too-stupid-to-know-whats-good-for-them/

MSU kicker, Brett Swenson looking for great year

Brett Swenson not worried about kicking award
"Swenson was only the third Spartans kicker to score 100 points in a season, joining Paul Edinger and Dave Rayner, and he was tied for fourth in the NCAA for field goals made but was overlooked as a Groza semifinalist late in the season."

Weird headline but nice story AND stats!

Dealers Race to Get Their Clunkers Crushed

Dealers Race to Get Their Clunkers Crushed
"Until they can certify that the car has been decommissioned, they cannot submit their paperwork to be repaid."

Unbelievable!
They've got to destroy the car BEFORE they can even submit the paperwork!!!!!!

And if it's rejected AFTER the destruction of the customer's car, Great Leader's minions will say "never mind"?

Dealers Race to Get Their Clunkers Crushed

Dealers Race to Get Their Clunkers Crushed
"We spent a couple of days earlier this week following the whole complex program, from dealer to scrap heap, and found twists and turns in it that are making it a nightmare now for everyone involved.
The program requires that the clunkers be put out of service for good, so dealers must destroy the engines on cars that are traded in.
We watched this process yesterday at the DCH Paramus Honda in Paramus, N.J. It is quite laborious and potentially dangerous.
And it certainly is final."

So, these same geniuses are gonna use the same methodology on your wife or daughter's breast lump.

Are there really THAT many fools in our country who believe that Obama and his cronys can deliver better, CHEAPER health care than our current system?

10 Reasons Why American Healthcare Is Better Than You've Been Told

10 Reasons Why American Healthcare Is Better Than You've Been Told

Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin & My Skip Gates Question

Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin & My Skip Gates Question
"They are not, however, to paraphrase the late Sen. Patrick Moynihan, entitled to their own facts, or entitled to invent a scenario in which the White House somehow prompted me to ask Obama about Gates at his press conference last week"

Except this "expose" proves the "how" and "why" Mr Brilliant chose her as the last questioner.

Is this TV gal so ignorant that she doesn't believe her own words?

youbetchya!!!!

Cash for Clunkers May Cost Up to $45,354 Per Vehicle

Cash for Clunkers May Cost Up to $45,354 Per Vehicle
"Meanwhile, if all buyers have qualified for the higher $4,500 rebate, the 'cash for clunkers' program will mean a marginal increase in car sales of 22,000 this quarter. $1 billion divided by 22,000 means a net cost to the government of $45,354 per car."

Walking the walk

Walking the walk - Mark Steyn
"This picture, which Rich noted yesterday, has gone around the world, and has been generally considered to be worth the proverbial thousand words, or a thousand White House beers.

What I find oddest about the whole business is that it's an official White House photograph by an official White House photographer from the official White House website.

So at some point some number of Obama flacks must have figured that this pic makes our guy look good: Are they so monarchically besotted that what most people find jarring about the shot is what the image boys actually like about it?"