Candice Miller Says She Will Be Pork-Free in 2010 [Mackinac Center]
"The Club for Growth tracked 68 amendments to strip pork from bills and found that Candice Miller, R-Harrison Township, voted for them only 31 percent of the time in its 2009 RePORK Card"
promises, promises.......
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Michael Steele's spending spree angers donors
Michael Steele's spending spree angers donors
"Republican National Chairman Michael Steele is spending twice as much as his recent predecessors on private planes and paying more for limousines, catering and flowers – expenses that are infuriating the party's major donors who say Republicans need every penny they can get for the fight to win back Congress.
Most recently, donors grumbled when Steele hired renowned chef Wolfgang Puck's local crew to cater the RNC's Christmas party inside the trendy Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue, and then moved its annual winter meeting from Washington to Hawaii."
Good god!
They've learned NOTHING!
"Republican National Chairman Michael Steele is spending twice as much as his recent predecessors on private planes and paying more for limousines, catering and flowers – expenses that are infuriating the party's major donors who say Republicans need every penny they can get for the fight to win back Congress.
Most recently, donors grumbled when Steele hired renowned chef Wolfgang Puck's local crew to cater the RNC's Christmas party inside the trendy Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue, and then moved its annual winter meeting from Washington to Hawaii."
Good god!
They've learned NOTHING!
Youth-led, pro-life movement for human rights!
Live Action Youth-led, pro-life movement for human rights!
"New undercover footage shows staff at a Milwaukee, WI Planned Parenthood abortion clinic counseling a purportedly 14-year-old statutory rape victim not to tell anyone about her 31-year-old boyfriend and coaching her how to obtain an abortion without her parents' consent.
The new video, seventh in a series from Live Action documenting similar behavior in 5 other states, comes amid recent controversy about Planned Parenthood's compliance with state laws regarding minors and abortion"
"New undercover footage shows staff at a Milwaukee, WI Planned Parenthood abortion clinic counseling a purportedly 14-year-old statutory rape victim not to tell anyone about her 31-year-old boyfriend and coaching her how to obtain an abortion without her parents' consent.
The new video, seventh in a series from Live Action documenting similar behavior in 5 other states, comes amid recent controversy about Planned Parenthood's compliance with state laws regarding minors and abortion"
The Canadian Press: 'My heart, my choice,' Williams says, defending decision for U.S. heart surgery
The Canadian Press: 'My heart, my choice,' Williams says, defending decision for U.S. heart surgery
"An unapologetic Danny Williams says he was aware his trip to the United States for heart surgery earlier this month would spark outcry, but he concluded his personal health trumped any public fallout over the controversial decision.
In an interview with The Canadian Press, Williams said he went to Miami to have a 'minimally invasive' surgery for an ailment first detected nearly a year ago, based on the advice of his doctors.
'This was my heart, my choice and my health,' Williams said late Monday from his condominium in Sarasota, Fla."
Canadian style "health care".
Where are the canucks gonna go when we get it here?
"An unapologetic Danny Williams says he was aware his trip to the United States for heart surgery earlier this month would spark outcry, but he concluded his personal health trumped any public fallout over the controversial decision.
In an interview with The Canadian Press, Williams said he went to Miami to have a 'minimally invasive' surgery for an ailment first detected nearly a year ago, based on the advice of his doctors.
'This was my heart, my choice and my health,' Williams said late Monday from his condominium in Sarasota, Fla."
Canadian style "health care".
Where are the canucks gonna go when we get it here?
Climategate Meets the Law
Climategate Meets the Law: Senator Inhofe To Ask for DOJ Investigation (Pajamas Media/PJTV Exclusive)
"Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) today asked the Obama administration to investigate what he called “the greatest scientific scandal of our generation” — the actions of climate scientists revealed by the Climategate Files, and the subsequent admissions by the editors of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report (AR4).
Senator Inhofe also called for former Vice President Al Gore to be called back to the Senate to testify.
“In [Gore's] science fiction movie, every assertion has been rebutted,” Inhofe said.
He believes Vice President Gore should defend himself and his movie before Congress."
Oh boy!
"Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) today asked the Obama administration to investigate what he called “the greatest scientific scandal of our generation” — the actions of climate scientists revealed by the Climategate Files, and the subsequent admissions by the editors of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report (AR4).
Senator Inhofe also called for former Vice President Al Gore to be called back to the Senate to testify.
“In [Gore's] science fiction movie, every assertion has been rebutted,” Inhofe said.
He believes Vice President Gore should defend himself and his movie before Congress."
Oh boy!
This is gonna be great!
Idaho Senate panel to debate pension boost
Idaho Senate panel to debate pension boost
"Idaho government retirees mounted the steps of the Capitol on Monday to urge lawmakers not to 'tamper' with a proposed 1 percent pension increase in March for 33,000 state and local government retirees.
House Republicans passed a resolution to block the increase last week."
GOPers standing tall against the overpaid, underworked teachers unionistas?
Who'd of guessed!
"Idaho government retirees mounted the steps of the Capitol on Monday to urge lawmakers not to 'tamper' with a proposed 1 percent pension increase in March for 33,000 state and local government retirees.
House Republicans passed a resolution to block the increase last week."
GOPers standing tall against the overpaid, underworked teachers unionistas?
Who'd of guessed!
Obama's surge in government jobs
Obama's surge in government jobs
"But some figures about the prosperous state of public employees explains this amazing disconnect between Obama and the rest of the country.
It turns out that while the public sector is still hemorrhaging jobs (7 million jobs lost since the recession started), government workers are flourishing like never before.
The Obama boom is essentially a government employee boom."
"But some figures about the prosperous state of public employees explains this amazing disconnect between Obama and the rest of the country.
It turns out that while the public sector is still hemorrhaging jobs (7 million jobs lost since the recession started), government workers are flourishing like never before.
The Obama boom is essentially a government employee boom."
Monday, February 22, 2010
"Fly Muskegon"?
Driving back from Indiana last weekend we saw 3 billboards imploring us to "Fly Muskegon".
The billboards are WORTHLESS.
Who made the contract and how much of our tax dollars were spent on this idiotic boondoggle.......again?
Price and convenience are the main reasons consumers make their flight decisions.
Everyone knows that there are at least some flights out of MKG so the "close to my home or business" factor only applies to those closer to MKG than to GRR.
The billboards are WORTHLESS.
Who made the contract and how much of our tax dollars were spent on this idiotic boondoggle.......again?
Price and convenience are the main reasons consumers make their flight decisions.
Everyone knows that there are at least some flights out of MKG so the "close to my home or business" factor only applies to those closer to MKG than to GRR.
A fairly small arc.
And the parking is a bit cheaper and MKG is FAR more customer friendly than GRR.
But the main reason most non-business and many business travelers would choose one airport over another is price.
And MKG is usually not price competitive.
Add in the smaller plane and limited number of airlines and flights and "voila", another few hundred thousand dollars (or more) down the drain to attract an unneeded airline to our airport.
So we waste more tax money to pay off a well connected billboard company and continue to make our community a laughing stock to the rest of west Michigan.
Is no one outraged?
And the parking is a bit cheaper and MKG is FAR more customer friendly than GRR.
But the main reason most non-business and many business travelers would choose one airport over another is price.
And MKG is usually not price competitive.
Add in the smaller plane and limited number of airlines and flights and "voila", another few hundred thousand dollars (or more) down the drain to attract an unneeded airline to our airport.
So we waste more tax money to pay off a well connected billboard company and continue to make our community a laughing stock to the rest of west Michigan.
Is no one outraged?
Shinseki: US will fix broken VA disability system
Shinseki: US will fix broken VA disability system
"Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki said he's making it a top priority this year to tackle the backlog of disability claims that has veterans waiting months - even years - to get financial compensation for their injuries."
Remember, these are the folks who want to EXPAND their control over your health care.
Think about it, if they won't do right by our injured military.......our American heroes!
"Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki said he's making it a top priority this year to tackle the backlog of disability claims that has veterans waiting months - even years - to get financial compensation for their injuries."
Remember, these are the folks who want to EXPAND their control over your health care.
Think about it, if they won't do right by our injured military.......our American heroes!
What do you think they're gonna do to you and your family?
Oh yeah.... and the VA is broke too.
Tea Party Nation: On the Movement's Rapid Rise, Protests - TIME
Tea Party Nation: On the Movement's Rapid Rise, Protests - TIME
"Small Is Beautiful
Now those people have a sort of political home.
Across the country, from Muskegon, Mich., to Wetumpka, Ala., Tea Party meetings are being convened in restaurants and living rooms and libraries and office buildings — and online."
"Small Is Beautiful
Now those people have a sort of political home.
Across the country, from Muskegon, Mich., to Wetumpka, Ala., Tea Party meetings are being convened in restaurants and living rooms and libraries and office buildings — and online."
And we meet tonight to get Muskegon Patriots revved up again!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Works and Days » Where Did Our Real Wealth Go?
Works and Days » Where Did Our Real Wealth Go?
"(A citizen who believes by birthright that he is to be taken care of by the state always hates the state that can never do enough, in the fashion that the country who is taken care of militarily always hates its protector.)"
(HT AL)
"(A citizen who believes by birthright that he is to be taken care of by the state always hates the state that can never do enough, in the fashion that the country who is taken care of militarily always hates its protector.)"
(HT AL)
Thursday, February 18, 2010
BILL O’REILLY SUPPORTS GUN CONFISCATION DURING WEATHER EMERGENCIES? That’s funny. O’Reilly calls t…
BILL O’REILLY SUPPORTS GUN CONFISCATION DURING WEATHER EMERGENCIES?
That’s funny.
O’Reilly calls the opposing position “extreme,” but such gun confiscation is illegal under federal statute, and as a matter of constitutional law; in fact, the city of New Orleans lost a lawsuit over gun confiscation during Katrina.
But then, O’Reilly’s no libertarian, to put things mildly.
And he’s consistently weak on the law, also to put things mildly.
Still, he should have been better briefed for this show, as he came across looking like a fool, and making his “extreme” guest look sober and well-informed by comparison.
UPDATE:
How radically anti-gun is Bill O’Reilly here?
Even Barack Obama voted the other way. (Thanks to reader John Stober for the link).
Posted at by Glenn Reynolds at 9:47 pm"
That’s funny.
O’Reilly calls the opposing position “extreme,” but such gun confiscation is illegal under federal statute, and as a matter of constitutional law; in fact, the city of New Orleans lost a lawsuit over gun confiscation during Katrina.
But then, O’Reilly’s no libertarian, to put things mildly.
And he’s consistently weak on the law, also to put things mildly.
Still, he should have been better briefed for this show, as he came across looking like a fool, and making his “extreme” guest look sober and well-informed by comparison.
UPDATE:
How radically anti-gun is Bill O’Reilly here?
Even Barack Obama voted the other way. (Thanks to reader John Stober for the link).
Posted at by Glenn Reynolds at 9:47 pm"
Smelly Passenger Kicked Off Plane: Odor Disturbed Others on Flight
Smelly Passenger Kicked Off Plane: Odor Disturbed Others on Flight
"'People were just mumbling and staring at him,' Walsh told the Prince Edward Island Guardian, describing the man as unkempt.
'The guy next to me said, 'It's brutal.''"
"'People were just mumbling and staring at him,' Walsh told the Prince Edward Island Guardian, describing the man as unkempt.
'The guy next to me said, 'It's brutal.''"
State auditors report pension debt
State auditors report pension debt
"The state's five pension systems are collectively under funded by more than $62 billion, according to a new financial report released Tuesday by state auditors.
That liability was $8 billion more than the previous year, an increase of 14.7 percent."
"The state's five pension systems are collectively under funded by more than $62 billion, according to a new financial report released Tuesday by state auditors.
That liability was $8 billion more than the previous year, an increase of 14.7 percent."
Sarah Palin and the Politics of Grievance - WSJ.com
Dorothy Rabinowitz: Sarah Palin and the Politics of Grievance
"Though it hasn't attracted wide attention, nothing Mrs. Palin has done recently has been worthier of notice than her endorsement of Rand Paul, now running in Kentucky's GOP senate primary.
Dr. Paul, an opthamologist and radical libertarian, holds views on national security and defense that have much in common with those of the far left.
Not to mention those of the considerable body of conspiracy theorists, antigovernment zealots, 9/11 truthers, and assorted other cadres of the obsessed and deranged who flocked to the presidential candidacy of his father Ron Paul, the congressman from Texas."
"Though it hasn't attracted wide attention, nothing Mrs. Palin has done recently has been worthier of notice than her endorsement of Rand Paul, now running in Kentucky's GOP senate primary.
Dr. Paul, an opthamologist and radical libertarian, holds views on national security and defense that have much in common with those of the far left.
Not to mention those of the considerable body of conspiracy theorists, antigovernment zealots, 9/11 truthers, and assorted other cadres of the obsessed and deranged who flocked to the presidential candidacy of his father Ron Paul, the congressman from Texas."
Napolitano Meets with Muslim Brotherhood Leaders
Napolitano Meets with Muslim Brotherhood Leaders
"Last month, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and her senior staff privately met in Washington, D.C., with a select group of Muslim, Arab, and Sikh organizations.
Among the mix were three organizations directly associated with an outlawed terrorist entity — the Muslim Brotherhood."
"Last month, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and her senior staff privately met in Washington, D.C., with a select group of Muslim, Arab, and Sikh organizations.
Among the mix were three organizations directly associated with an outlawed terrorist entity — the Muslim Brotherhood."
Report: Barry violated city contract law - Washington Times
Report: Barry violated city contract law
"In addition, the report says Mr. Barry, 73, on several occasions delivered checks to Ms. Brighthaupt, accompanied her to the bank to cash the checks and then made her give him some of the money.
Ms. Brighthaupt said she gave Mr. Barry several hundred to thousands of dollars, according to the report.
Mr. Barry has said he insisted on being repaid for money he gave Ms. Brighthaupt to help her with a mortgage, car repairs and other bills."
"In addition, the report says Mr. Barry, 73, on several occasions delivered checks to Ms. Brighthaupt, accompanied her to the bank to cash the checks and then made her give him some of the money.
Ms. Brighthaupt said she gave Mr. Barry several hundred to thousands of dollars, according to the report.
Mr. Barry has said he insisted on being repaid for money he gave Ms. Brighthaupt to help her with a mortgage, car repairs and other bills."
Class Warfare's Next Target: 401(k) Savings
Class Warfare's Next Target: 401(k) Savings
"You did the responsible thing. You saved in your IRA or 401(k) to support your retirement, when you could have spent that money on another vacation, or an upscale car, or fancier clothes and jewelry.
But now Washington is developing plans for your retirement savings.
BusinessWeek reports that the Treasury and Labor departments are asking for public comment on 'the conversion of 401(k) savings and Individual Retirement Accounts into annuities or other steady payment streams.'
In plain English, the idea is for the government to take your retirement savings in return for a promise to pay you some monthly benefit in your retirement years."
"You did the responsible thing. You saved in your IRA or 401(k) to support your retirement, when you could have spent that money on another vacation, or an upscale car, or fancier clothes and jewelry.
But now Washington is developing plans for your retirement savings.
BusinessWeek reports that the Treasury and Labor departments are asking for public comment on 'the conversion of 401(k) savings and Individual Retirement Accounts into annuities or other steady payment streams.'
In plain English, the idea is for the government to take your retirement savings in return for a promise to pay you some monthly benefit in your retirement years."
Michael Moore in Muskegon
I despise Mike Moore's anti-American rhetoric and fervently believe his movies are offensive distortions of the truth. His damage to our country's reputation and our system of capitalism will be long lasting.
But I was at the $75 gig last night at Hagar's and it was pretty cool.
And Mike was almost humble and very down to earth. And very likeable.
There were about 40 people, more if you count the volunteers providing food and a band.
And his short talk to the adoring crowd was strong on "support the arts" and wonder at the "big empty building down the road" (Sappi) and the Frauenthal. "Is that really your downtown?" he said almost hoping it wasn't.
He prattled on about the mess that Flint/Muskegon is today but threw no big stones.
He seemed to think a "non-profit" theatre was somehow better than a for-profit theatre.
But on the whole I came away with the feeling he was kind of a good guy.
I even got a photo of my man Mike and me!
I imagine I'd have felt the same way after a fun night with Bernie Maddoff.
His movies are Goebbels style propaganda but if he helps The Harbor, why not?
I love going into the belly of the beast.
But I was at the $75 gig last night at Hagar's and it was pretty cool.
And Mike was almost humble and very down to earth. And very likeable.
There were about 40 people, more if you count the volunteers providing food and a band.
And his short talk to the adoring crowd was strong on "support the arts" and wonder at the "big empty building down the road" (Sappi) and the Frauenthal. "Is that really your downtown?" he said almost hoping it wasn't.
He prattled on about the mess that Flint/Muskegon is today but threw no big stones.
He seemed to think a "non-profit" theatre was somehow better than a for-profit theatre.
But on the whole I came away with the feeling he was kind of a good guy.
I even got a photo of my man Mike and me!
I imagine I'd have felt the same way after a fun night with Bernie Maddoff.
His movies are Goebbels style propaganda but if he helps The Harbor, why not?
I love going into the belly of the beast.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
CNN Celebrates Obama Stimulus With a Birthday Cake
CNN Celebrates Obama Stimulus With a Birthday Cake
"Over at the most trusted name in news, they sure know how to party when it's called for.
That was evident this afternoon on CNN Newsroom when anchor Ali Velshi gushed:
Happy birthday, dear stimulus.
Our producer Ben Tinker (ph) baked this cake.
It is a stimulus happy birthday -- first birthday cake, which is also a pie chart.
It is the birthday of the stimulus. It is actually very --"
This... is ....CNN.. how pathetic!
"Over at the most trusted name in news, they sure know how to party when it's called for.
That was evident this afternoon on CNN Newsroom when anchor Ali Velshi gushed:
Happy birthday, dear stimulus.
Our producer Ben Tinker (ph) baked this cake.
It is a stimulus happy birthday -- first birthday cake, which is also a pie chart.
It is the birthday of the stimulus. It is actually very --"
This... is ....CNN.. how pathetic!
Michigan Home-Care Providers File Class Action Suit Challenging Union Boss/Granholm Unionization Scheme
Michigan Home-Care Providers File Class Action Suit Challenging Union Boss/Granholm Unionization Scheme
"With free legal aid from National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation attorneys, a group of Michigan home-based day-care providers have filed a class action federal lawsuit against government union officials and Governor Granholm's Administration for illegally forcing them to pay union dues."
The good guys are fighting back!
(HT to Paula)
"With free legal aid from National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation attorneys, a group of Michigan home-based day-care providers have filed a class action federal lawsuit against government union officials and Governor Granholm's Administration for illegally forcing them to pay union dues."
The good guys are fighting back!
(HT to Paula)
John Stossel on Forced Unionization : Whose Business is It Anyways 2/10/10
John Stossel on Forced Unionization : Whose Business is It Anyways 2/10/10
These scumbags will be in Muskegon at the Holiday Inn today at 6:00PM
These scumbags will be in Muskegon at the Holiday Inn today at 6:00PM
Obama Envoy Vouched for Convicted Terrorist?
Obama Envoy Vouched for Convicted Terrorist?
Fox News – doing what the Obama-approved outlets won’t — takes a look at the newest Obama envoy. The report tells us:
President Obama’s new envoy to the Organization of Islamic Conference, Rashad Hussain, is at the center of a controversy over remarks attributed to him defending a man who later pleaded guilty to conspiring to aid a terrorist group.
.......Well, this seems like it’s worth looking into.
A helpful profile on Al-Arian is here.
But let’s not be coy here.
Hussain is the designated man to continue the suck-uppery to the “Muslim World,” which Obama was personally conducting in Cairo and via his televised addressed to the Iranian Supreme Leader at the start of his presidency."
Thank God for FoxNews and the internet!
Fox News – doing what the Obama-approved outlets won’t — takes a look at the newest Obama envoy. The report tells us:
President Obama’s new envoy to the Organization of Islamic Conference, Rashad Hussain, is at the center of a controversy over remarks attributed to him defending a man who later pleaded guilty to conspiring to aid a terrorist group.
.......Well, this seems like it’s worth looking into.
A helpful profile on Al-Arian is here.
But let’s not be coy here.
Hussain is the designated man to continue the suck-uppery to the “Muslim World,” which Obama was personally conducting in Cairo and via his televised addressed to the Iranian Supreme Leader at the start of his presidency."
Thank God for FoxNews and the internet!
Cell phone ban in school speed zones in effect, under radar
Cell phone ban in school speed zones in effect, under radar
"School districts and police officials are using e-mails, letters and warnings to publicize a new state law that has taken many parents by surprise because it prohibits the use of a hand-held cell phone while driving in a school zone.
Since the law took effect Jan. 1, officials have scrambled to inform parents who dial away while performing the daily rite of dropping off or picking up their children amid a thicket of cars, buses and darting pedestrians.
Many find the law confusing, and even some police officials complain that it will be difficult to enforce.
'Personally, I think the police have better things to do than sit in the parking lot of schools and watch for people talking on the phone,'"
"School districts and police officials are using e-mails, letters and warnings to publicize a new state law that has taken many parents by surprise because it prohibits the use of a hand-held cell phone while driving in a school zone.
Since the law took effect Jan. 1, officials have scrambled to inform parents who dial away while performing the daily rite of dropping off or picking up their children amid a thicket of cars, buses and darting pedestrians.
Many find the law confusing, and even some police officials complain that it will be difficult to enforce.
'Personally, I think the police have better things to do than sit in the parking lot of schools and watch for people talking on the phone,'"
Hazelwood man dies after 10 calls to 911 over two days
Hazelwood man dies after 10 calls to 911 over two days
"In his first call to 911, Curtis Mitchell sounded calm, explaining to dispatchers that his 'entire stomach [was] in pain.'
By the time his longtime girlfriend made a 10th call nearly 30 hours later, she was frantic.
He wasn't breathing.
He was cold to the touch.
'Oh God, oh God,' Sharon Edge sobbed to dispatchers.
'I've been trying to get an ambulance over here for three days.'
Paramedics arrived at their Hazelwood home as Ms. Edge tried to resuscitate the 50-year-old, but it was too late.
'I sat up here with him, watching him die,' Ms. Edge said Tuesday, after city officials apologized to her and pledged immediate changes in emergency response after Mr. Mitchell's death on Feb. 7.
'They didn't do their jobs like they were supposed to.'"
But government run health care is way less complicated and would be run much better than this.
"In his first call to 911, Curtis Mitchell sounded calm, explaining to dispatchers that his 'entire stomach [was] in pain.'
By the time his longtime girlfriend made a 10th call nearly 30 hours later, she was frantic.
He wasn't breathing.
He was cold to the touch.
'Oh God, oh God,' Sharon Edge sobbed to dispatchers.
'I've been trying to get an ambulance over here for three days.'
Paramedics arrived at their Hazelwood home as Ms. Edge tried to resuscitate the 50-year-old, but it was too late.
'I sat up here with him, watching him die,' Ms. Edge said Tuesday, after city officials apologized to her and pledged immediate changes in emergency response after Mr. Mitchell's death on Feb. 7.
'They didn't do their jobs like they were supposed to.'"
But government run health care is way less complicated and would be run much better than this.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Foreigners cut Treasury stakes; rates could rise - Yahoo! Finance
Foreigners cut Treasury stakes; rates could rise - Yahoo! Finance: "A record drop in foreign holdings of U.S. Treasury bills in December sent a reminder that the government might have to pay higher interest rates on its debt to continue to attract investors.
China reduced its stake and lost the position it's held for more than a year as the largest foreign holder of Treasury debt. Japan retook the top spot as it boosted its Treasury holdings.
The Treasury Department said foreign holdings of U.S. Treasury bills fell by a record $53 billion in December. That topped the previous record drop of $44.5 billion in April 2009.
Private analysts, though, were split over the significance of the decline. Some doubted that the drop in foreign holdings of short-term Treasuries signified growing unease about holding U.S. debt. They noted that net purchases of longer-term Treasury debt rose in December by $70 billion.
But other economists saw the decline as a warning signal. They fear that foreigners, especially the Chinese, have begun to worry about record-high U.S. budget deficits and are looking to diversify their holdings."
China reduced its stake and lost the position it's held for more than a year as the largest foreign holder of Treasury debt. Japan retook the top spot as it boosted its Treasury holdings.
The Treasury Department said foreign holdings of U.S. Treasury bills fell by a record $53 billion in December. That topped the previous record drop of $44.5 billion in April 2009.
Private analysts, though, were split over the significance of the decline. Some doubted that the drop in foreign holdings of short-term Treasuries signified growing unease about holding U.S. debt. They noted that net purchases of longer-term Treasury debt rose in December by $70 billion.
But other economists saw the decline as a warning signal. They fear that foreigners, especially the Chinese, have begun to worry about record-high U.S. budget deficits and are looking to diversify their holdings."
American Thinker Blog: Tea Party truths
American Thinker Blog: Tea Party truths: "Tea Party truths
Russ Vaughn
Glenn Reynolds, better known to bloggers of our persuasion as Instapundit, absolutely nailed it in his WSJ article this past weekend entitled, What I Saw at the Tea Party Convention. What is so effective is the way Reynolds sets the stage with his lead paragraph and the two following:
There were promises of transparency and of a new kind of collaborative politics where establishment figures listened to ordinary Americans. We were going to see net spending cuts, tax cuts for nearly all Americans, an end to earmarks, legislation posted online for the public to review before it is signed into law, and a line-by-line review of the federal budget to remove wasteful programs.
These weren't the tea-party platforms I heard discussed in Nashville last weekend. They were the campaign promises of Barack Obama in 2008.
Mr. Obama made those promises because the ideas they represented were popular with average Americans. So popular, it turns out, that average Americans are organizing themselves in pursuit of the kind of good government Mr. Obama promised, but has not delivered. And that, in a nutshell, was the feel of the National Tea Party Convention. The political elites have failed, and citizens are stepping in to pick up the slack.
Well that's a nutshell that foaming-mouthed liberals like Olbermann, Matthews, Maddow and the Puffington Host will be gagging on."
Russ Vaughn
Glenn Reynolds, better known to bloggers of our persuasion as Instapundit, absolutely nailed it in his WSJ article this past weekend entitled, What I Saw at the Tea Party Convention. What is so effective is the way Reynolds sets the stage with his lead paragraph and the two following:
There were promises of transparency and of a new kind of collaborative politics where establishment figures listened to ordinary Americans. We were going to see net spending cuts, tax cuts for nearly all Americans, an end to earmarks, legislation posted online for the public to review before it is signed into law, and a line-by-line review of the federal budget to remove wasteful programs.
These weren't the tea-party platforms I heard discussed in Nashville last weekend. They were the campaign promises of Barack Obama in 2008.
Mr. Obama made those promises because the ideas they represented were popular with average Americans. So popular, it turns out, that average Americans are organizing themselves in pursuit of the kind of good government Mr. Obama promised, but has not delivered. And that, in a nutshell, was the feel of the National Tea Party Convention. The political elites have failed, and citizens are stepping in to pick up the slack.
Well that's a nutshell that foaming-mouthed liberals like Olbermann, Matthews, Maddow and the Puffington Host will be gagging on."
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