Friday, April 09, 2010

Moody's Downgrades Los Angeles From Aa2 To Aa3

Moody's Downgrades Los Angeles From Aa2 To Aa3
"In the meantime, as we have been saying for about, oh, 12 months, munis are about to implode.
Here is Moody's, actually being just a year behind the curve on this one."

Liberal Fortress of Los Aneles is (Surprise!) Broke

Liberal Fortress of Los Angeles is (Surprise!) Broke
"Meanwhile, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa continues his war against private enterprise. His game plan for L.A.'s economic stimulus recovery sounds familiar: spend like drunken liberals; empower unions to bleed the hopelessly over-taxed taxpayers; and create vast new bureaucracies to handicap the private sector. Case in point:

As the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power seeks a hefty taxpayer rate hike, a Daily News review of salary data shows the average utility worker makes $76,949 a year -- or nearly 20 percent more than the average civilian city worker.

More than 1,140 of the utility's employees -- or about 13 percent -- take home more than $100,000 a year."

And that's before benefits and retirement at 48.

Prague Surrender

Prague Surrender
"Arms Deal:
President Obama signs away U.S. nuclear security and gives the Russians a veto over whether we can defend ourselves.
Our nuclear umbrella is in tatters as another piece of paper proclaims peace in our time.

Completing a process of disarmament and appeasement that manifested itself in the dismantling and defunding of U.S. military power that began with his inauguration, President Obama signed a new strategic arms limitation treaty with a grinning and very happy Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday in the Czech capital."

Union Memo Hints At Gov.'s Death - wcbstv.com

Union Memo Hints At Gov.'s Death
"The memo is the latest salvo in a war of words between Christie and the union over wage and benefits concessions.

The Record of Bergen County obtained the Bergen County Education Association memo that includes a closing prayer:

'Dear Lord this year you have taken away my favorite actor, Patrick Swayze, my favorite actress, Farrah Fawcett, my favorite singer, Michael Jackson, and my favorite salesman, Billy Mays.
I just wanted to let you know that Chris Christie is my favorite governor.'"

CBO chief says debt 'unsustainable'

Too Hot Not to Note: CBO chief says debt 'unsustainable'
"The nation’s fiscal path is “unsustainable,” and the problem “cannot be solved through minor tinkering,” the head of the Congressional Budget Office said Thursday morning."

Federal pay ahead of private industry

Federal pay ahead of private industry
"Overall, federal workers earned an average salary of $67,691 in 2008 for occupations that exist both in government and the private sector, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The average pay for the same mix of jobs in the private sector was $60,046 in 2008, the most recent data available.

These salary figures do not include the value of health, pension and other benefits, which averaged $40,785 per federal employee in 2008 vs. $9,882 per private worker, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis."

Thursday, April 08, 2010

A Goy and his Blog » Blog Archive » Romer: “America is too stupid to understand my superfantastic advanced Math skillz!!!1!”

A Goy and his Blog » Blog Archive » Romer: “America is too stupid to understand my superfantastic advanced Math skillz!!!1!”: "Romer: “America is too stupid to understand my superfantastic advanced Math skillz!!!1!”"

Four shootings in three weeks put Muskegon neighborhoods on alert | - MLive.com


Four shootings in three weeks put Muskegon neighborhoods on alert

'What's frustrating is that people who know information won't talk to us,' said Muskegon Director of Public Safety Anthony Kleibecker. '
The community needs to step up and talk to us.
It's only a matter of time before a child gets struck by a stray bullet.'"

Well, duh....
If the scumbags aren't any different from the "people", what do we expect?
Our own "Detroit on the lake" is the result of the unions/teacher/libs takeover of our children's education and morals.
And the left demands the answer is more money from the safe/educated areas funnelled to the scumbags who have created this hell on Lake Michigan.

Gimmee a break!

Bogus report: Researchers find Michigan tax credits well spent on job creation


Researchers find Michigan tax credits well spent on job creation
"The report looks at the economic impact of MEGA compared to the alternative of funneling its resources to other government spending.
In doing so, researchers estimate the program increased the state's employment by 18,000 jobs between 1996 when it was created and 2007, according to the report.

The Upjohn study differs from a similar study released by the Anderson Economic Group in March that tackled the effectiveness of several state tax incentives, including MEGA grants.

That study found a 10 percent drop in state business taxes would have more impact than MEGA grants, Bartik said, but the two studies use different assumptions and the amount of money expended each year on MEGA grants is far less than a 10 percent cut in state business taxes."

Their study doesn't include the enormous costs involved with the increase in state employees and their bloated lifetime pensions/benefits to administer these boondoggles.

That adds up to increased taxes, crappier roads and crappier other services or both.

Sorta makes a difference...right?

Greek Bonds Drop a 7th Day; Bund Spread Widens on Budget Woes - Bloomberg.com


Greek Bonds Drop a 7th Day; Bund Spread Widens on Budget Woes
“Greece continues to look like a slow-motion train crash,” Steve Barrow, head of Group of 10 currency strategy at Standard Bank Plc in London, wrote in a report.

“The crash has not occurred yet but it is coming.

Efforts to avoid a crash seem doomed to failure, whether it’s emergency loans or some other initiative."

The answer to this problem is simple.

Less government spending, workers and insane retirement benefits.

Sadly, every government (and most in the world wide MSM) are looking everywhere else for a solution.

We are doomed unless a Ronnie or Maggie lands in our world soon!

2 years after tax law, Michigan's making movies


2 years after tax law, Michigan's making movies
"The tax credit program is projected to cost the state nearly $69 million for projects completed in 2009, not counting incentives given for permanent infrastructure projects, according to the Michigan Film Office.
The potential annual bill is higher — more than $100 million — but some projects weren't finished and won't get the tax credits."

John Hantz prepared to break ground on urban farm in Detroit, but hints of suburban backup


John Hantz prepared to break ground on urban farm in Detroit, but hints of suburban backup
"While Mayor Dave Bing has offered public support for the concept of urban farming, Hantz tells Berman the city is, unfortunately, living up to its reputation as a tough place to do business."

The socialist, racists who run the hell hole called Detroit do not want white outsiders in their city.
They only want their money.
They don't want thousands of black entrepreneurs.
They want black slaves dependent on their Detroit plantation owners.

There is absolutely NO hope for the city until it is emptied, bulldozed and the population replaced by Americans who will get up in the morning and go to work.
And that ain't never gonna happen in Detroit.

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

My Way - Sports News


My Way - Sports News: "LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins delivered on their promise to help coach John Calipari return Kentucky to national prominence.
Next stop, the NBA.
The freshman All-Americans are among five Kentucky players who declared for the NBA draft on Wednesday, an exodus that includes freshman guard Eric Bledsoe, freshman center Daniel Orton and junior forward Patrick Patterson."

TEA PARTY VIOLENCE:” Union Protester Attacks Tea Partier at Fort Lauderdale Townhall M…

MORE, AHEM, “TEA PARTY VIOLENCE:
” Union Protester Attacks Tea Partier at Fort Lauderdale Townhall Meeting.

And another reason to have a camera.

Posted by Glenn Reynolds at 8:58 pm"

Double-dip recession increasingly unlikely, economists say


Double-dip recession increasingly unlikely, economists say

Over the past few days, economists have been saying that fears of a double-dip recession are starting to ease, thanks to positive economic news in the past week."
Odds are against a double-dip recession," economist Alan Greenspan told ABC's "This Week," and on NBC's "Meet the Press," the chair of Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, Cristina Romer predicted economic growth for the year of 3 percent, which she said would be enough to keep creating jobs, according to a story from CNN Money.

BULLSHIT!
Let's see how these liars are covered by the lib MSM 12 months from now.
We will spend ourselves into bankruptcy by hiring government workers (fed, state and local) and hiding the econo-disaster only so long.
The USSR (and California) taught us nothing?

Natural causes cited in death of Michigan's last wild wolverine


Natural causes cited in death of Michigan's last wild wolverine
"A necropsy performed at a DNRE lab at Michigan State University showed some heart degeneration and liver congestion, but no sign of infection or trauma."

Coincidence with the Ann Arbor wolverines.
I think not!
Think about it.
4 years spent with Michigan "womyn"!
I'm thinkin' liver/heart and any other disease would do any varmit in.
And bleat for the poor UM "male" freshman.....it's gotta be ugly....

Nearly half of US households escape fed income tax

Nearly half of US households escape fed income tax
In recent years, credits for low- and middle-income families have grown so much that a family of four making as much as $50,000 will owe no federal income tax for 2009

OK but the democrats tell us we should still hate all those rich bastards...right?
....cept movie stars and baseball players....right?

Tony's Bistro RIP


The service has been exceptionally bad lately.

But the "kiddy" bar owned by our county prosecutor and county treasurer is alive and well!

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2009/10/bar_owned_by_muskegon_county_o.html

Muskegon Heights' Mayor Darrell Paige rallying residents to fill out census


Muskegon Heights' Mayor Darrell Paige rallying residents to fill out census
"After Paige finished speaking at a census rally at the Hackley Community Care Center, 2700 Baker, census workers gave out T-shirts, hats and other items printed with 2010 census slogans.
Workers also gave out census forms, which are in multiple languages, to anyone who needed them.
Forms also are available at the Muskegon Heights Library, in addition to other locations.

Shortly after giving a T-shirt to a Hackley employee, Partnership Assistant Cozette Thomas said she felt the giveaways had a good impact.

“Last year we had an event at the Muskegon Heights Festival In the Park, and a lot of people we talked to didn’t even know what the census was,” she said. “If anything else, it’s getting them to know what it’s all about.”"

Nuff said about the Heights....and lot's of free "items" from Obama.....

DMC sale foes, Cox aides to meet

DMC sale foes, Cox aides to meet
"Three Metro Detroit nonprofit groups that have raised objections to the proposed sale of the Detroit Medical Center will meet today with representatives from Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox's office to outline their concerns.

The groups charge that selling the nonprofit DMC to Vanguard Health Systems Inc., a for-profit health care company based in Nashville, Tenn., violates state law."

Huh?
Non-profits sue cuz they they want profit making companies to be illegal in Michigan?
Is there ANY reason to question why we're the last state in our country in every economic category?

Three running for two Grand Haven school board seats

Three running for two Grand Haven school board seats
"To help voters make informed choices, The Chronicle sent questionnaires to registered candidates.
The questionnaires gave candidates the opportunity to provide personal information, list their top three priorities"

Not a single candidate even mentions the mastodon in the middle of the economic room, teacher pay, benefits and retirement.

And ya gotta love the "Save money by looking for additional energy efficiencies" goal.

"Class, we will now compare the total energy cost as a percentage of the total education cost vs the total compensation of teachers/aids expenditures as a percentage of the total education cost.......can't anyone do simple math anymore!!!"

Experts: Down economy makes Michigan open to 'try new things'


Experts: Down economy makes Michigan open to 'try new things'
"Michigan could bounce back if leaders take 'a bold stroke or two,' said Joseph Lehman, president of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a Midland-based free-market think tank.
One of those strokes is bringing state government employee benefits in line with the private sector, Lehman said.

'That would amount to $5.7 billion in annual savings,' Lehman said.
The reduction in turn would attract businesses and create jobs, he said.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm has proposed a plan that would encourage 7,000 state government workers and 39,000 public school employees into retirement to address a state budget crisis.
And House Speaker Andy Dillon, D-Redford Township, who is running for governor, has proposed that state and local workers as well as teachers be lumped into a statewide pool for health care benefits, a plan that would save up to an estimated $900 million a year.

Unions oppose both plans."

Michiganders!
Understand just who our economic enemy really is!

Economy blamed for expected drop in Muskegon County population


Economy blamed for expected drop in Muskegon County population
"For the first time in 26 years, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the population of Muskegon County dropped in 2009.

Muskegon County’s 2009 estimated population was 173,951 people, down 618 or 0.35 percent."

OK, I get it.
It's "the economy's" fault.
It has nothing to do with our elected leader's votes and decisions.
Just "the economy".
Isn't that code for "Bush's fault"?

Federal survey finds homelessness, shelters are more expensive than housing | - MLive.com

Federal survey finds homelessness, shelters are more expensive than housing
"A new federal survey finds that housing the homeless in emergency shelters can be more costly than the typical cost of rent or transitional housing.
For Grand Rapids, the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment is just under $600, compared to a cost of $744 a month at the Guiding Light Mission.

And while the mission also offers three meals a deal and day shelter for that cost, Executive Director Stuart Ray said the point is this: It costs more to house the homeless than prevent the loss of a home in the first place.

'My belief system says we ought to do everything we can to help people reach their full potential. This is the last place they want to be.'

The Department of Housing and Urban Development analyzed the cost of homeless programs in six places nationwide, including Kalamazoo.
It found that it costs $1,614 to house a family in an emergency shelter there per month, compared with $813 per month for transitional housing and $881 per month for permanent housing."

Grab your wallets, folks!
Here they come again!
The Obamaians want to go back to...you guessed it...Chicago style PUBLIC HOUSING!

The above article sorta ignores that "nationwide" isn't necessarily Muskegon or west Michigan.
And the Guiding Light offers more than food and lodging.
They've got to deal with those who need help.

But who cares?
Free "health care", free student "loans", free housing!
Sounds sorta soviet to me.
And Obama wants to bring it to your neighborhood soon!

Jenison superintendent to announce cutback plan Monday

Jenison superintendent to announce cutback plan Monday
"Superintendent Tom TenBrink said recommendations concerning reductions to next year's school budget could be announced at Monday's upcoming board meeting.
The district is 'waiting as long as we can because the climate keeps changing,' he said.
Factors include whether the state will make another per-pupil funding cut.
While he's expecting a minimum deficit of $3.9 million, TenBrink hopes retirements will offset the need for layoffs.
Last year's reductions included switching to privatized custodial services.
A budget must be in place by June 30.
The board meets at 7:30 p.m. in the Jenison High School media center."

The real problem is the phrase they dare not speak: "teachers are paid too much for too little work and retire with too much benefits way too early".
And they get automatic triple raises every year.
Ya can't fix the problem if ya deny there is a problem.
Right?

West Michigan community leaders take field trip to see wind turbines in action

West Michigan community leaders take field trip to see wind turbines in action
"All of those who impulsively and emotionally oppose the wind turbine proposals need to become better educated on the wind industry, Muskegon City Commissioner Sue Wierengo said.

“This is fascinating to come and see how they work and what they look like,” Wierengo said.
“To have a (negative) gut reaction like they did in Pentwater is just stupid.
There is a lot to explore and learn, but I am favorably impressed.”"

This is what too many of our Muskegon elected "leaders" think of us uneducated little people.

The Rape of America

American Thinker: The Rape of America
"Let's start by analyzing the mind of a rapist.
His goal: Domination and absolute power, through any means necessary."

West Michigan community leaders take field trip to see wind turbines in action

West Michigan community leaders take field trip to see wind turbines in action
"Next in the community conversation and debate on whether to embrace the wind turbine industry will come May 4 when Michigan Great Lakes Offshore Wind Council gathers at Muskegon Community College for a public information meeting on state policies for offshore wind turbines.
The meeting for public input and discussion begins at 6 p.m."

Mark your calendars!

Health care overhaul spawns mass confusion for public

Health care overhaul spawns mass confusion for public
"Two weeks after President Barack Obama signed the big health care overhaul into law, Americans are struggling to understand how — and when — the sweeping measure will affect them"

G.M. and Chrysler Pensions Underfunded by $17 Billion

G.M. and Chrysler Pensions Underfunded by $17 Billion
"The pension plans at General Motors and Chrysler are underfunded by a total of $17 billion and could fail if the automakers do not return to profitability, according to a government report released Tuesday."